MANILA — From a charmingly adorable and endearing child star to a more purposeful and composed persona, Yesha Nicole Therese Camile, a former child actress, surely tickled the hearts of the public as she shared her triumphant journey as a campus journalist.

The “i-Shine Talent Camp” winner and “Hawak Kamay” star’s era as a child star came to an end in 2020 and she is now making a name in the journalism field.

The 15-year-old child actress turned campus journalist hails from Tagum City, Davao del Norte and is an incoming Grade 10 student at Tagum City National High School, where her campus journalism story also started. 

She bagged an individual award as she was named the Best TV News Presenter in Filipino Category (Secondary) at the recently concluded National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) in Carcar, Cebu. 

But her inspiring success story has not been a walk in the park. 

No overnight success, Camile had to go through various setbacks and challenges to get where she is today.

Trip down memory lane

Yesha Camile with the cast of "Hawak Kamay". Courtesy: Yesha Camile 

Camile is familiar with cameras and being on screen. In fact, she rose to fame when she auditioned and was hailed as the grand winner of “i-Shine Talent Camp”'s second season in 2013, and everything followed smoothly for her acting career and stint.

"First po, I auditioned and became the grand champion for Promil I-Shine Talent Camp Season 2, tapos yung prize po doon is may contract with Star Magic. So that's how my artista journey started...," she explained during an ABS-CBN News interview. 

By then, she had her major breaks when she was cast in some Kapamilya shows, playing Ningning in "Hawak Kamay" and Esang in “Langit Lupa” alongside Xia Vigor. 

She has also appeared in “Maalaala Mo Kaya”, “Ipaglaban Mo”, “Wansapanatym”, “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano”, “The Gift” and many more.   

"Super dami po ng fun and memorable na experience ko bilang isang child actress or Kapamilya. Pero siguro one of the fondest memories for me po is being able to work with different actors na I've looked up to and I've idolized. And I still think about it po up to this day na parang ‘Hala naka-work ko na po pala si ganito, si ganyan’... And it really amazes me kasi nakakakuha rin po ako ng tips sa kanila about how to improve my acting, myself, and even advice po sa life," she said.

But, because of the pandemic and the shutdown of ABS-CBN, Camile had no choice but to leave her acting career  and head home to Tagum City. 

Extracurricular JOURNey 

And then journalism suddenly came into picture. Since she was in her seventh grade, she has been pushed and encouraged to join journalism, noting that even her peers who are campus journalists and teachers wanted her to join the field.

“It was the year 2023, and I was in Grade 8 noong time na ‘yun. When my English teacher, Sir Erwin, convinced me to join yung vlogging na category po noon for DSPC (Districts School Press Conference),” she said. 

Camile eventually tried her luck and decided to join the audition and the training, where she was taught how to make scripts and how to find good script angles. 

After months of intensive training, she was informed by the English teacher who convinced her to join that she would be representing the school in the Mobile Journalism category. 

Courtesy: Yesha Camile

“Yung story na pinaka-proud ako is siguro the fact na we made it to NSPC (National Schools Press Conference) despite the challenges... Kasi I've been to NSPC twice na po so it's been like a rollercoaster ride na and it was also filled with unexpected things pero super amazing experience naman po talaga,” she said.

“It was very different po talaga kasi we really had to go through DSPC, tapos nag-[Regional] SPC kami tapos yung RSPC namin dalawang rounds pa po talaga ‘yun so like...the best of the best po talaga para maka-NSPC. And knowing po na we really did it, and then we even won some awards doon sa NSPC, ‘yun po talaga super nakaka-proud,” she added.

She is among the representatives of Davao Region (Region XI) who were dubbed as "streak breakers" after they dethroned Region IV-A Calabarzon's nine-time overall championship in the annual event.  

Even while juggling her tasks as a campus journalist, Camile hasn’t put her academic pursuits aside and never fails to attend classes and meet deadlines.By this, she aspires to set an example to others, especially as she is class president of her section.

She said she was lucky that her teachers were considerate enough to give campus journalists extra time to finish their requirements.

To help with society's issues

Even though journalism was not initially her cup of tea, she learned and realized to love it as days flew by. 

She shared in an interview that she is fond of and is interested in creating news stories about any political issues in the Philippines as she has been very involved in politics. 

She amplifies also that one of the major barriers in journalism is the lack of audience interest in the news and the rampant spread of fake news.

And her role as a campus journalist is now more than ever essential in combating societal issues like “fake news” peddling. 

“And as a campus journalist, gusto ko po maging inspirasyon sa generation ko and hopefully encourage a lot of people to start watching news again, para very informed po tayo sa nangyayari sa ating bansa...and not just the Philippines but the whole world as well,” she said.

“And dapat din po, we shouldn't easily believe in everything that we see in the internet lalo na po yung mga fake news… and I want to be a source of factual and unbiased news po, “ Camile shared. 

“I feel very happy po to know na I made a name not only as a child actress, but also as a campus journalist and it is such an honor. I feel very flattered and grateful lalo na po sa mga nakakakilala sa akin and sa mga sumusuporta sa akin from when I was a child actress until now as a campus journalist.” 

Camile’s story still has a long way to go but when asked what would she tell to her younger self, she said: “Stop worrying about what other people might think about her and to stop overthinking about the future because she’ll always do a good job despite what other people say and she should just do her best and always believe in God”. 

Meanwhile, for the aspiring campus journalists who have been inspired by her journey, her tip is to not stop believing in themselves and to not let their self-doubts stop them.

Courtesy: Yesha Camile

What the future holds 

Given the chance, she said she would be delighted to be back to ABS-CBN Corp., not as an actress but as one of ABS-CBN News’ reporters.

She said that she was heavily inspired by the journey of BINI Jhoanna, who was a Star Patroller on “TV Patrol”, emphasizing "she really is living the dream of all aspiring campus journalists".

As she heads to senior high school and on to college, she said she isn't closing the doors to any opportunities that may come along, especially in taking journalism related strands and programs.

“Right now, I am still in the process of trying different skills and getting to know myself better kung ano ba talaga yung gusto ko,” Camile said

“To be honest hindi ko talaga in-expect na gugustuhin kong maging journalist pero ngayon na I am a campus journalist, parang maganda rin naman po s'ya na course para I can spread more information to people and tell them all about the different problems ng ating society and the latest news po,” Camile added. 

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