BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — A veteran journalist whose career has helped shape generations of reporters in Negros and Western Visayas has received one of the most meaningful recognitions of his professional life, underscoring the lasting influence of journalism beyond the stories published in newspapers.
Allen V. del Carmen was honored with the MassKara Legacy Award during the MassKara Media Appreciation Night at the SMX Convention Center in Bacolod City on October 19, 2026, in recognition of his decades of writing, editing, teaching, mentoring and service to journalism.
According to local news outlet Digicast Negros, the award recognizes del Carmen’s contributions to the development of journalism in Negros Island and Western Visayas, where he has helped train aspiring reporters and editors through university teaching, newsroom work and writing workshops.
His recognition highlights an often-overlooked aspect of the media profession: a journalist’s legacy is measured not only by the stories he or she produces, but also by the people who learn to tell stories because of that work.
Five decades of journalism and mentorship
Del Carmen’s professional journey spans approximately five decades of newspaper writing and editing. He was also associated with several publications that helped shape the regional media landscape, including The Visayan Daily Star, Today’s News and Views—the predecessor of SunStar Bacolod—Negros Weekly Magazine and Negros Now Daily.
He also contributed to sports journalism and became known as a mentor to journalists across universities, newsrooms and training workshops.
His work has helped influence the character of reporting in Negros and Western Visayas, where local journalists play an important role in documenting community concerns, public affairs and regional developments.
The award citation described him as a figure regarded by many in the industry as a father of modern journalism in Western Visayas and Negros Island.
Journalism that extends into the community
Beyond newspaper work, del Carmen has pursued journalism education and community engagement.
At the University of St. La Salle, he introduced a service-learning approach that connected academic instruction with community service. The initiative encouraged journalism students to participate in civic engagement activities in both urban and remote barangays across Negros.
One of the initiatives focused on peace-building and literacy within Bacolod City’s Muslim community, particularly in Barangay 31. The program later expanded to the Madrasah classroom at Graciano Lopez Jaena Elementary School, where student involvement continued.
The engagement lasted approximately 15 years and contributed to del Carmen’s 2024 research publication, The Maranao Muslims (from Marawi City) in Bacolod City: History and Development. The work received funding through a small grant from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
In 2015, he also organized an international service-learning initiative for the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia, bringing more than 200 university students and faculty members from across Asia to participate in post-Typhoon Yolanda rehabilitation activities in Negros Occidental, Iloilo and Capiz.
His academic and research work extended beyond the Philippines, with presentations in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Taiwan and India, as well as visiting journalism lectures at universities in Myanmar and Indonesia.
These initiatives demonstrate how journalism education can extend beyond writing and reporting to include civic participation, cultural understanding and community development.
An emotional message from the awardee
Del Carmen was unable to attend the October 19 ceremony because he had the flu. His response was read by journalist Nanette Guadalquiver.
In his message, he expressed gratitude for being recognized not only for his work as a writer and editor, but also for his contributions as a researcher and educator who helped young people discover the challenges and rewards of newspaper journalism.
He also reflected on seeing former students become reporters, journalists and editors in their own right.
For a journalism mentor, that may be one of the clearest measures of a lasting professional legacy: the next generation continuing the work, telling important stories and serving their communities.
Another MassKara honor recognizes festival leadership
The same event also recognized Rodney Mitz Ascalon, president of the Bacolod Gugma Foundation Inc. and director of the MassKara Festival, with the Legacy Mover Award.
Ascalon was recognized for his leadership in helping carry forward the celebration, which remains closely tied to Bacolod City’s cultural identity.
According to Digicast Negros, Ascalon was also preparing to leave for the United States to reside there permanently, making the recognition particularly significant as he concluded his role in leading the festival.
Other organizations and groups honored during the event included the Bacolod City Communication Office, Capitol Brats, the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, the Negros Press Club, Negros Bloggers, the Bacolod Online Media and Influencers Circle, and the City Hall Press Corps.
MassKara is more than a celebration of smiles
The awards took place as Bacolod marked its 47th MassKara Festival, a celebration rooted in the city’s history of hardship, resilience and collective recovery.
The Philippine News Agency reported that the 2026 festival drew an estimated 630,000 people across key venues and activity areas on its final day, October 18. The celebration also highlighted the importance of coordination among local authorities, organizers and community partners.
MassKara’s history helps explain why recognition of journalists, community leaders and cultural organizers carries significance beyond a single awards night. The festival has become a platform for celebrating people whose work helps preserve the city’s identity and strengthen its communities.
A legacy that continues through others
Del Carmen’s MassKara Legacy Award recognizes more than an accomplished career in journalism. It also celebrates the teachers, editors and mentors who help ensure that regional stories continue to be told accurately and responsibly.
In an era when information travels rapidly across social media and online platforms, experienced journalists and educators remain important in developing reporting skills, strengthening public understanding and preparing future media professionals.
For Bacolod and Negros, del Carmen’s legacy lives not only in the publications he helped build or the stories he wrote, but also in the journalists he trained and the communities his work helped reach.
His recognition offers a powerful reminder: the most enduring headlines may be the ones that inspire the next generation to tell their own stories.
