The Dolphin (student publication)


The Dolphin is the official student publication of John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University - Arevalo. It is published once or twice every semester by the JBLFMU-Arevalo Publication in Santo Niño Sur, Arevalo, Iloilo City, Philippines.

History

The Dolphin was established in 1960 by the Iloilo Maritime Academy, the former name of the institution. Nelson Torre, a Radio Telegraph student of IMA became the first editor-in-chief. The publication was named after the sea creature that commonly served as a friend to sailors. Dolphins usually like to show off to passing ships and swim the depths of the oceans for survival, thus 'The Dolphin' was coined as the official name of the publication.
In 1972, the academy was expanded and named as John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation, after its founder Capt. Juan Bautista Lacson. This was followed by the birth of the three units JBLFMU-Arevalo in 1973, JBLCF–Bacolod in 1974, and JBLFMU–Molo in 1976. Despite the changes, the publication remained down-the-line in its service to the institution.
In 1976, the Ministry of Public Information VI organized the first Regional College Press Conference and Awards. The Dolphin won 2nd Best College Magazine in Western Visayas. The following year, it won Best Cover Design for the magazine category.
It remained as the official student publication of the institution until 1986 when the departments were split. Students of the Associate in Marine Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Customs Administration had JBLCF Beacon as their publication while the students of Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation had The BSMT Chronicles.
Over time, confusion emerged as to which really is the official student publication of JBLCF. In 1988, the renaissance of The Dolphin prompted the three units to all agree and publish it again. During this year, the publication joined the COPRE where it won 3rd Best Magazine Layout. However, in the mid 1990s, the three units went back in publishing separate publications. The Carrier was published by JBLCF-Bacolod while The Seagull was published by JBLFMU-Molo. The Dolphin remained as the official student publication of JBLFMU-Arevalo. The Harbor Light became the system's official publication which is now published as the JBLFMU system's annual report.
Gradually, The Dolphin started to show diversity as it carried not just maritime related articles but stories relevant to society, politics, and the environment. In 2010, as The Dolphin celebrated its 50th year, Majella Angelie L. Parreño became its first female editor-in-chief. The Dolphin has unfolded its pages as a community paper which served not just the students but the communities linked to John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University.
In March 2019, The Compass, the official student publication of the senior high school department of JBLFMU-A was published separately from The Dolphin with Anthony Ken J. Bucasas as its first editor-in-chief.

Publications

The Dolphin Magazine

The magazine includes documentaries, interviews, feature articles on development communication, technology, health, and tourism. It also includes Filipino articles such as Lutong Atin, Kultura, Sining, and Makataong Kawilihan. Articles written in Hiligaynon and Karay-a are occasionally included. Across the Miles is a unique section in the magazine which shows post cards from university alumni. The section also existed in the early 1990s but it was named Keep in Touch.
Another distinct quality of the magazine are the specifications and layout. It is one of the first college magazines in Western Visayas to publish full colored pages, the first to combine different lamination on its cover such gold stamp ; matte and plastic lamination ; spot and sand lamination on matte paper ; and the first magazine in Western Visayas to use the crystal 3D lamination. In 2013, the first soft-bound version of the magazine was published with 48 full-colored pages. In March 2014, during the second semester of school year 2013-2014, the first journal size version of The Dolphin Magazine was published.
The highest over-all awards received by the magazine are 2nd Best Magazine during the first COPRE in 1976; 3rd Best Magazine, COPRE 2007; 2nd Best Magazine, COPRE 2008; 3rd Best Magazine, COPRE 2011; 4th Best Magazine, COPRE 2014; and 2nd Best Magazine, COPRE 2015. In 2007, it won Best Magazine during the 3rd SanAg Campus Press Awards.

Inscriptions

Inscriptions is the literary folio of The Dolphin and was first published as a literary section of the magazine. It includes artworks, short stories, poems, and haiku written in English, Filipino, Hiligaynon, and Kinaray-a. Among the highest awards of the folio are 2nd Best Literary Folio during the COPRE 2011, and Best Literary Folio during The Spectrum Fellowship 2012 National Campus Journalism Conference & 2nd National Campus Press Awards.

The Dolphin Newsletter

The newsletter of The Dolphin includes school news, an editorial, an editorial cartoon, editorial columns, news features, sports features, sports news, and community news. The section To Whom It May Concern includes opinions coming from the students, either anonymously or in pseudonym. While the section Yours Truly provides answers and feedback to selected submissions in the previous To Whom It May Concern. Among the highest awards of the newsletter are Best Newsletter during the COPRE 2012; Best Newsletter during the 2nd Central Echo Journalism Summit in 2013 ; and Best Newsletter, COPRE 2014.

The Dolphin Tabloid

The tabloid version of The Dolphin was published in the 1990s and early 2000s. The last tabloid version was published during the second semester of school year 2012-2013 and was divided into news and features fold.

Balitang Lumba-lumba

A wall newspaper was published by The Dolphin in 2010 but Balitang Lumba-lumba was coined after the promotion of the use of the mother-tongue language. Balitang Lumba-lumba was first published in 2013 with news articles written in Hiligaynon.

Scholarships

The Dolphin offers scholarships for its editorial staff every semester. The editor-in-chief avails 100% tuition fee discount, 75% for associate editor, and 50% for the rest of the staff. New applicants need to pass the screening while the previous staff is subject to retention based on their scores in the retention exam, academic records, and performance in the publication.

Editors-in-Chief

1976 College Press Conference and Awards - PIA VI
1988 College Press Conference and Awards - PIA VI
2004 College Press Conference and Awards - PIA VI
2007 College Press Conference and Awards - PIA VI
3rd SanAg Campus Press Awards
2008 College Press Conference and Awards - PIA VI
2009 College Press Conference and Awards - PIA VI
SanAg Campus Press Awards
2011 College Press Conference and Awards - PIA VI
  • 2nd Best Literary Folio
  • 3rd Best Magazine
  • 3rd Best Magazine Cover Design
  • 3rd Best Magazine Layout
  • 3rd Best Filipino Page
  • 4th place, Smart Telecommunications Best Online Campus Blog
The Spectrum National Fellowship and National Journalism Conference and Awards
2012 College Press Conference and Awards - PIA VI
2nd The Central Echo Journalism Summit
2013 College Press Conference and Awards - PIA VI
2014 College Press Conference and Awards - PIA VI
10th The Spectrum Fellowship and National Journalism Conference and Awards
2015 College Press Conference and Awards - PIA VI
2016 College Press Conference and Awards - PIA VI
2017 College Press Conference and Awards - PIA VI
2019 College Press Conference and Awards - PIA VI