MANILA – Veteran journalist Inday Espina-Varona has won a Hildegarde Award for her opinion piece on the plight of the Lumad.

Now on its 10th year, the Hildegarde Awards was established by St. Scholastica's College to recognize the exemplary works of women in the media and its allied fields.

Espina-Varona, a blogger/contributor of news.abs-cbn.com, was recognized by the award-giving body for her opinion piece ''They're killing teachers and children, Mr. President."

READ: THEY'RE KILLING TEACHERS AND CHILDREN, MR. PRESIDENT

Espina-Varona wrote the piece at the height of public outrage over the killing of several Lumad leaders in Mindanao.

Now on its 10th year, the Hildegarde Awards was established by St. Scholastica's College to recognize the exemplary works of women in the media and its allied fields.

The veteran journalist has been pursuing stories about the plight of the Lumad.

Espina-Varona, who once headed ABS-CBN News' citizen journalism arm ''Bayan Mo, I-Patrol Mo,'' dedicated the award to slain indigenous peoples and those still suffering from injustices.

She likewise offered the recognition to her fellow journalists in the province.

''What makes it really special, however, is that the article, 'They're Killing Teachers and Children,' was and remains the blog that probably best reflects my personal political and creative bents,'' Espina-Varona said.

''Para sa inyo, Michelle Campos, Alcadev Lumad Caraga Region, sa iyo JR, kay Apad, Bandam at sa lahat na mga kapatid na Lumad, mula Surigao hanggang Davao, na nagbuwis ng buhay, dugo, pawis at luha para sa lupang tinubuan.

''Para din ito sa alternative at provincial media na pilit na inilabas ang katutuhanan sa kabila ng panganib sa kanilang buhay. Tagasulat lamang po kami. Ang Lumad po ang bayani. Isang karangalan na makilala sila bilang mga kapatid."

Below are some of the stories and opinion pieces of Ms. Espina-Varona on the plight of the Lumad:

Filipino indigenous children face crisis

Pope Francis and the song of Apad

Lumad 'goddess' storms sanctuary of threatened IPs

Lumad want Catamco out of House IP body

Behind the word war, a tragedy

Lumad children will not forget

UNCHR rep praises gov't efforts for lumad refugees

Slain Lumad leader's child to PNoy: Your peace is of the graveyard

CHR: Lianga, Pangatucan deaths are 'extra-judicial killings'

UNHCR: Presence of NGOs, religious needed in besieged lumad communities

UNHCR to pull plug on Minda operations as lumad displacement woes heat up

Displaced Lumad nix resettlement; vow no surrender of ancestral lands

No paradise lost for lumad children

Children are war targets in PH's last frontiers

On eve of APEC Summit, PH leaders ignore cost of 'development' on social margins

Truth the biggest casualty of APEC

Let's talk impunity, Mr. President