Faces Archives - The Flame

Jan122019 No Comments

Neil Sebastian brings reality to the reel

By SYRAH VIVIEN J. INOCENCIO and JOAHNA LEI E. CASILAO IN A time when apathy is said to persist among the youth, Neil Sebastian promotes interest in social issues through what he creates best: films. The budding filmmaker marries his beliefs and advocacies with every film he produces. Similar to how a little pebble creates ripples when dropped into water, Neil aims to make an impact on his audience one film at a time. “‘Yung mga goal ko na gawin na film [is] something that makes people think, makes people decide, makes people know about a certain issue. I always make sure that [the film] is something relevant,” he says. The philosophy freshman also asserts that a film should consist of the filmmaker’s stand on a social matter. For him, it is not only about spreading aware

Jan22019 2 Comments

A resilient daughter’s silent battle cry

Faces

AN ALARM goes off at 4 a.m., which obviously startled Jelena Candice Santos. She quickly turns off the device in fear of waking up the whole household who also had a fairly long day yesterday. Candice lingers for a minute after she awakens, bracing herself for yet another day of making ends meet. On her way to prepare breakfast, the young lady walks past her parents’ room and catches a glimpse of her mom sleeping; she is quickly reminded of the circumstances that require her to be strong. As Candice descends to the kitchen, she sees that her older sister is already up as well and they proceed to cook breakfast side by side. “Tulungan kami ngayon, although minsan hindi talaga maiwasan na may times na naiisip namin na bakit ang endless nung problems, bakit hindi natatapos,” s

Jan22019 No Comments

UST Sinag Ballroom Dance Company steps into the limelight

Faces

THE STUDIO is filled with upbeat music, its rhythm compelling the people in dancing shoes to warm up in preparation for the intense training that is about to commence. Some dancers stretch their bodies, preparing it for a tiring rehearsal, while others practice swinging in tiptoes like poetry in motion. Members of UST Sinag Ballroom Dance Company sway in perfect synchronization as if they are used to the rigor of ballroom dancing, their faces painted with smiles proving their love for dancing. Notable Artlet dancers are seen scattered in different areas of the studio: Rochelle Salvador is preparing materials in one corner, Reign Juanico is training with his seniors, and Kathreen Dave enters the studio a minute later. Like ballerinas in music boxes, the lives of these Arle...

Jan22019 No Comments

Paul Castillo moves the world one word at a time

Faces

By LORRAINE B. LAZARO and THERESE MARIE F. UNGSON JUST AS artists have their craft, Paul Castillo has his words. He uses his passion for writing to leave an impact on the world. While revisiting his journey, a smile appears on his face. For Paul, writing is not just a simple act of composition—writing must give back to society and be a part of history. Despite being in his 30s, the writer ensures that he is able to incorporate the traditions of writing while keeping up with the trends of society. Being a former NSTP facilitator and now an instructor under the Faculty’s Department of Literature as well as a resident fellow at the Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies, Paul had the chance to view the world through a wider perspective and share it with today’s ge

Nov252018 No Comments

Charisse Orozco is living the dream

Faces

By JOY THERESE C. GOMEZ and LORRAINE B. LAZARO JUST a few seconds before entering the court, the thumping of her heart joins the beating of the drums as her world pauses for a while. As she ascends, Charisse “Chase” Orozco is welcomed by flashing lights, a cheering crowd, and the chilling court air. Immediately, she was captivated by the FilOil Flying V Center and became ready to face the crowd and tell the tale of two basketball teams going head-to-head in the 94th season of National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA). Standing with a microphone in one hand and a notebook in the other, Chase greets the frenzied crowd with a smile as she walks onto the court. Little does the audience know that her calm demeanor masks the two worlds she is juggling: listening to the ha

Nov182018 No Comments

Copyworld is ready to rise from the ashes

Faces

NOT a day goes by when the streets outside the University of Santo Tomas are not filled with the diverse sounds of the chattering students, the blaring horns of vehicles, and the roarings of distant passersby. Antonio St. is a place where students take time to breathe fresh air—a break from the commotion and raucous caused by the pressures and demanding deadlines of the four corners of the classroom. It is a place where time stops while the world continues moving, with booming food stalls and student-related businesses like computer shops and photocopying centers being the heart and soul of the street. Quite unusual as it may seem, Antonio St. was hushed and the surroundings that were commonly filled with people were suddenly emptied out as there were no classes due to a national

Nov162018 No Comments

Noelle Capili brings the people’s battle to social media

Faces

IN THE eyes of many, Noelle Capili is naturally high-spirited and a classic class clown. Little do they know, she is also a social media-savvy activist fighting the good fight and tearing down stereotypes. Born in the era of advanced technology, Noelle can always be found on social media documenting her daily experiences and expressing her thoughts one tweet at a time. Even with her fascination with the said medium, the activist never thought of using social media as a platform to air out her sentiments and give voice to the people who cannot speak up on their frustrations in society. Eventually, Noelle used social media to express her sentiments and beliefs. She helped bring the battle on the streets into the pixels of the four-cornered screen. “[P]arang makikita mo k

Oct312018 No Comments

Timothy Bernardino and Stephen Fortes tune-up to the rhythm of their dreams

Faces

Having always been musicians at heart, two Artlet alumni have found a home in their band, Where’s Ramona?. When their simple dream of becoming musicians was born inside Room 4N of the Tan Yan Kee building, Timothy “Moti” Bernardino and Stephen “Tep” Fortes, with the encouragement of their bandmates, began to treat music as their other half in life during and after college. Pursuing a dream may sometimes contradict with one’s customary routine; however, this did not apply to the two friends who both pursued their passion, which made them who they are now: musicians. Behavioral science alumnus Moti and journalism graduate Tep made their way into the world of music and found friends for keeps along the way. Dream chasing Despite being new to the OPM scene, Moti (drummer) and Tep

Oct172018 No Comments

Christine Francisco brings passion to the court

Faces

By JOY THERESE C. GOMEZ and SYRAH VIVIEN J. INOCENCIO KNOWN FOR her knack for going the extra mile in the volleyball court, the ferocious middle blocker Christine Dianne Francisco has emerged as the new team captain of the UST Golden Tigresses. Tin, as she is fondly called, followed the sports legacies of her brother and grandparents, former Thomasian volleyball player Justin Francisco, former UST athletic director Felicitas Francisco, and member of the 1954 Philippine team for the World Basketball Championship (now FIBA World Cup) Ben Francisco. She began her career as a Thomasian volleyball player during her sophomore high school year. Tin shares that the start of her volleyball journey was not a walk in the park as she joined her first volleyball team without even knowin

Sep242018 No Comments

Elmer Ligon is redefining public service

Faces

REBELLIOUS and a nonconformist in his college years, who would have thought that Elmer Timothy “Timmy” Ligon had a knack for serving people other than himself? During his years in the Faculty of Arts and Letters, Timmy was not one to adhere to the confining rules of the University. However, he eventually realized the importance of these rules later in his life. “Syempre nung una ‘di mo ma-a-appreciate ‘yung kung ano ‘yung binibigay sayo ng school. [...] Very traditional ang UST [...] and dapat mag-follow ka ng rules. [...] Well, na-apply ko ‘yun nung nagtrabaho ako, ‘yung later part na lang actually. ‘Oo nga pala, tama pala,’ pero dati ‘di ko na-appreciate ‘yun,” he expresses. Despite being a political science major, Timmy never really expected to end up in the realm of public