7 journalists, media pros from 4 countries in 2026 DVJ Program

By Ron Lopez, 2026 DVJ Program Coordinator;  Feb.  25, 2026

MANILA, Philippines --  Seven journalists and media professionals from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Mongolia and the Philippines shall consist this year's batch of students of the Diploma in Visual Journalism (DVJ) program, the Asian Center for Journalism (ACFJ) at the Ateneo de Manila University announced.  

The DVJ, which is the flagship program of ACFJ, is a blended learning course designed for working journalists in the Asian region. This is the 10th year of the program, which started a new cycle February.   

This year’s cohort is composed of: 

• Jhon Marlou Abcede, a photographer from the Philippines;  
• Amartuvshin Amarsaikhan, a media professional from Mongolia;
• Wali-Ul Haque, a visual journalist  from Bangladesh;
• Joanna Marie Robles, a multimedia journalist from the Philippines.
• Marie Joyce Siason, a visual storyteller from the Philippines;
• Sinorn Thang, a reporter  from Cambodia;  and
• Leana Vibal, a lifestyle journalist from the Philippines. 

The program combines theoretical approach and ethical fundamentals with practical multimedia skills that seek to elevate the participants’ competency in an increasingly competitive journalism industry.

At the end of the 10-month course, students will produce an in-depth multimedia story and a photo essay about socially relevant topics, which will be presented on campus before a panel of experts. 

The program kicked off in February and will run until November.  

Five media professionals finished the program successfully in November 2025. 

A mentorship session will be introduced in this year’s iteration for the first time. Under the scheme, students will be paired with the vast network of DVJ alumni to guide them in their final projects.

The program is supported by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Media Programme Asia through scholarships to selected students. 

Founded in 2000, the ACFJ is a leading hub for journalism education in Asia, serving over 300 journalists across the region through various programs.