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 is the official student publication of the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Arts and Letters. It was established in 1964 after the merger of the Blue Quill and the Journal of Arts Science, in order to serve the interests of the newly unified student body—known as the Artlettes. Rey Datu, who had previously served as vice president of the Faculty of Arts and Letters Student Council, became its first editor‑in‑chief.[5]
Originally focused on the issues of the Arts and Letters community and the University, The Flame later expanded its scope during the turbulent political climate of the 1970s. Amid Martial Law—marked by Proclamation No. 1081—the publication transitioned into the Journal of the Humanities to include essays and articles addressing national issues.
During Martial Law, the student newspaper faced challenges such as censorship and financial constraints.[6][7] In September 1972, the editorial board published an all‑Tagalog issue titled Lagablab. Due to concerns that the content might be construed as inciting rebellion, thousands of copies were either disposed of or, in some cases, burned to prevent detection by authorities. Notably, editorial board member Bong Osorio distributed some copies before the remainder was destroyed.[8]
Over the years, The Flame has featured contributions from many esteemed writers. Among those who have contributed to its literary folio, Dapitan (named after Dapitan Street) are Palanca Award–winning authors and poets such as Rebecca Añonuevo, Joel Toledo, Edgar Calabia Samar, Eros Atalia, and Merlinda Bobis, as well as Benedict “Ned” Parfan, Angelo Suárez, Nerisa del Carmen Guevarra, Jose Victor Torres, and Lourd Ernest de Veyra. The late Artlets dean Ophelia Dimalanta—who also served as a publication adviser—was among its contributors. The publication’s alumni include not only celebrated writers but also prominent professionals in law (e.g. Avelino Sebastian, Jr. and 2024 bar topnotcher Ephraime Bie) and media (such as journalist Sandra Aguinaldo, authors Angelo Suárez and J. Pocholo Goitia, and associate editor Parfan).[9] Torres, for instance, served as The Flame’s publication adviser in 2008, while notable alumni Glenda Gloria (co-founder and executive editor of Rappler) and Aaron Favila (a photographer for the Associated Press) have also contributed to its legacy. Palanca Award–winning author and journalist Joselito Zulueta—currently the publication adviser of The Varsitarian—is another proud alumnus.
On May 11, 1992, The Flame released a lampoon issue titled The Phlegm, which offered humorous critiques of the general elections. The publication also continues to feature its literary folio, Dapitan.
In recent years, The Flame has garnered recognition in mainstream Philippine media for its investigative and human‑interest stories. Its reporting on the financial burdens imposed on UST faculty and staff by the Manila City Ordinance No. 8793 (a health permit requirement) was later picked up by The Philippine Star.[10] In 2024, The Flame also published the inspiring story of Roberto Solis—a 63‑year‑old journalism student—chronicling his journey to complete his degree.[11]
In February, The Flame published an editorial on a case of alleged censorship involving a student organization. The editorial sarcastically thanked the Office for Student Affairs (OSA) for the ensuing bad press, a move that led to significant campus debate over issues of press freedom. TomasinoWeb, a UST‑based media outlet, eventually resumed operations on March 8, 2024, following the appointment of an interim adviser.[12]
Notable people
Ramon Francisco, late associate editor of Manila Bulletin, served as the editor-in-chief of The Flame.[13][14]
Bong Osorio, former member of the editorial board of The Flame, was the late vice president of ABS-CBN for Corporate Communications.[15]
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