The Flame (student publication)

Frontpage of December 2022 issue of The Flame
Type	Student publication
Format	Broadsheet and Magazine
Owner(s)	University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Arts and Letters
Editor-in-chief	Zoe Airabelle Aguinaldo[1]
Associate editor	Joss Gabriel Oliveros
Managing editor	Mari Ymanuel Roxas
Founded	October 16, 1964 (1964-10-16)
Language	English, Filipino
Headquarters	St. Raymund de Peñafort Building, Quezon Drive, UST, Sampaloc, Manila
Website	www.abtheflame.net

The Flame (AB The Flame, The Flame, or F) is the official student publication of the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Arts and Letters (UST AB). Founded in October 1964 under the leadership of Rey Datu, it provides news to the Artlet community of the university. The lampoon issue is called The Phlegm.

The publication comprises eight sections: news, special reports, sports, features, culture, literature, perspectives, and art.

The Flame also publishes the literary portfolio Dapitan, named after Dapitan Street at the north side of the college.[2] In its 60th year celebration on November 12, 2024, Dapitan 2023: Panopticon which was delayed due to budget constraints released its first physical copy since the COVID-19 pandemic.[3][4]

History

The Flame traces its origins to 1964 when it emerged from the merger of Blue Quill and the Journal of Arts Science, predating the consolidation of the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters and the College of Liberal Arts.[5]

It was established to provide a unified voice for the student body, known as "Artlettes."

Rey Datu, a former vice president of the Faculty of Arts and Letters Student Council, assumed the role of its inaugural editor-in-chief.[6]

During the political climate of the 1970s, marked by Martial Law Proclamation No. 108, The Flame transitioned into the Journal of the Humanities.[7]

Despite facing challenges such as censorship and financial constraints, it continued to serve as a platform for discussing governmental issues, showcasing essays and articles contributed by members of the Artlet community.[8][9]

In September 1972, amidst martial law, The Flame published an all-Tagalog issue named Lagablab. Concerns over potential rebellion charges prompted the disposal of thousands of copies.[10]

On May 11, 1992, The Flame released a lampoon issue titled The Phlegm, offering humorous critiques of the general elections. It also has a literary folio, Dapitan, named after Dapitan Street.

Notable people

• Ramon Francisco, late associate editor of Manila Bulletin, served as the editor-in-chief of The Flame.[11][12]
• Bong Osorio, former member of the editorial board of The Flame, was the late vice president of ABS-CBN for Corporate Communications.[13]
• Ophelia Dimalanta also served as the student adviser for the publication.[14]
• Ronald Llamas, political analyst and activist who served as presidential adviser for political affairs under the presidency of Noynoy Aquino.[15]
• Glenda Gloria, co-founder and executive of Rappler, served as a news writer.[16]
• Sandra Aguinaldo, news reporter of 24 Oras and host of I-Witness, was the former editor-in-chief of The Flame.[17]
• Ephraim Bie, who ranked first in the 2023 Philippine Bar Examinations, previously served as a writer for The Flame.[18][19]
• Angelo Suarez, advertising copywriter also known for poet-activist was also served as the editor-in-chief.[20]
• Aaron Favila, photographer for Associated Press.
• Ronald Llamas, political analyst who served a presidential advisor during Benigno Aquino III's term served as a features editor.[21][22]

References

1. The Flame. "EDITORIAL STAFF Publication Year 2023-2024". The Flame. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
2. The Flame. "Dapitan". The Flame. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
3. Salaya, Rafael Paolo (14 November 2024). "Artlets publication relaunches literary folio". The Varsitarian.
4. Literary, The Flame (2024-11-09). "The Flame marks 60th anniversary with Dapitan 2023 launch". The Flame. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
5. Official prospectus, UST Faculty of Arts and Letters, 2006.
6. The Flame. "The Flame". Retrieved 24 March 2024.
7. "About The Flame". The Flame. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
8. Santos, Tomas (16 November 2008). "The darkest years remembered". The Varsitarian. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
9. Santos, Tomas (14 September 2011). "UST during the dark days of dictatorship". The Varsitarian. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
10. Osorio, Bong R. "The university of my deep affection". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
11. Luci-Atienza, Charissa. "Francisco, former Manila Bulletin associate editor, passes away". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
12. Cayongcat, Ahmed Khan H. (2020-08-01). "Ramon Francisco, journalist, editor and educator, writes 30". Retrieved 2024-03-25.
13. ABS-CBN News. "ABS-CBN mourns the passing of advertising and PR leader Ramon Osorio". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
14. D’Bayan, Igan. "Requiem for Lady Polyester". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
15. Jimenez-David, Rina (2011-09-01). "An unusual arrangement". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
16. "Media Ownership Monitor Philippines –Rappler.com". VERA Files. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
17. Santos, Tomas U. (2008-11-17). "Sandra Aguinaldo: Behind the camera". Retrieved 2024-03-26.
18. Relativo, James. "Ephraim Bie, 2023 Bar Exams 1st placer, is UST's 5th topnotcher in history". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
19. Buan, Lian (2023-12-05). "UST student journalist is 2023 Bar top passer: 'Hard work pays off'". RAPPLER. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
20. Literary, The Flame (2024-11-09). "The Flame marks 60th anniversary with Dapitan 2023 launch". The Flame. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
21. Jimenez-David, Rina (2011-09-01). "An unusual arrangement". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
22. Santos, Tomas U. (2008-11-17). "The spirit of people power". Retrieved 2024-11-24.

External links

• The Flame
• issuu.com/abtheflame