Perspectives

by DANEA PATRICIA T. VILOG There is something about art that seems to draw people to underestimate its aesthetic value for surface-level beauty and discount its ability to preserve a culture of underlying politics that everyone seems very pumped up to openly debate on these days. The artist I was a decade ago cared for none of that and instead paid more attention to aesthetics over anything else. I don't remember when I first picked up a pencil and decided that the hobby I'd be pouring most of my skills on would be absently scratching graphite on paper, but I knew I could never shake it off, even if I wanted to. Art will always find me, apparently. I entered a formal art school six years ago. The idealistic fool that I was thought I was going to flourish with the pitiful a

by FATE EMERALD M. COLOBONG We entered this University, this Faculty, as curious and excited freshmen with no thoughts other than the need to explore this new world called our college life. But as we adapted, as we got to know our group of friends, created our college identities, and discovered all the intricate details of our desires and ambitions, we dared to dream of what we could accomplish after college, of the endless absolutes of what we will become. Some people—a rare few—actually stay true to their freshman dreams, while the rest of us find new dreams in other pursuits or settle for what life gives us and fall into a routine. To euphemize, we go with the flow. We began to build relationships with different people, found family in friendships. We learned to settle for

by ALI IAN MARCELINO V. BIONG ‘Di talaga ako maplanong tao. Medyo huli na nang mapag-isipan ko kung saan ba ako mag-aaral. Nagkataon, ang dalawang ate ko’y parehong Tomasino. Onting tanong-tanong, onting research, at ayun—may dream school na ‘ko: UST. Ang totoo, ang pagka-hindi ko maplanong tao ay mas akma sa katotohanang ‘di ako sigurado kung ano ang pangarap ko talaga. Sumasabay lang ako sa agos ng buhay, at matagal-tagal na rin akong nagpatangay. Noong grade six, nahuli ako ng titser kong nagseselpon; pinagyayabang ko kasi sa tropa ko ang drawing kong samurai. Dinampot ni Sir Dulay mula sa kamay ko ang gadyet at agad nakita ang malabong litrato ng isang mandirigmang Hapones, may kabayo pa sa gilid. “Bumalik ka mamayang alas dos, sa faculty room,” aniya. Bilang bagong

by CORHEINNE JOYCE B. COLENDRES I have always had everything planned. I knew what I wanted to do since the beginning; I had a planner that detailed my entire day and how I should go through it, I rarely made split-second decisions because I have had everything laid out since dawn broke in. I had a lot of things figured out until the time’s ticking reminded me that we are nearing the end of a journey. I know that I am one of the many people who have not quite figured out what to do once we exit the Arch. There is a choice to take up a master’s degree, or perhaps, I can build my way up toward becoming a corporate slave. I can also take a much-needed rest, around one or two months. The possibilities have become endless, and as a person who has planned out her entire life, this is ne

by KRISTELLA DANIELLE S. BOO “Okay, you lead the prayer!” I bet you have heard this request—more of a demand—a lot of times from your relatives. When you ask why you should, they would respond, “Because you are studying in UST.” It is not that I do not want to lead the people in putting themselves in the presence of the Lord, but it is the fact that I do not understand why they would automatically equate studying in a Catholic institution to merely learning how to pray. Four years of stay in the university has changed my views toward Catholic schools. Back when I was in high school, when I was studying in a “semi-private, semi-public” school, I had a few acquaintances from a Catholic school in our province who shared with me how tiring their morning routines were. They als

by REYANNE LOUISSE AMPONG Each one of us faces victories and setbacks in life and we have different ways to celebrate them or deal with them. There are times when you just feel like everything is going downhill and there are also times when a wave of sadness suddenly hits you out of nowhere. In trying times, a rush of courage flows within you that you suddenly believe you can face whatever it is that is hurdling you back. Scintilla—a spark, hint, or trace; a very small amount of something. When I was thinking of my column name, I just knew this had to be it because, for me, just a little spark of hope is enough to continue ahead and brave the things that I have to face. I am a firm believer that we all have our seasons to bloom and to fall. It is a never-ending cycle, but t

By ALI IAN MARCELINO V. BIONG Hoy mga bobo! Anong karapatan niyong pagsalitaan nang masama si idol Attorney G? Ako, fans niya na ako simula no’ng mura-murahin niya ‘yung mga tagasunod no’ng dating chief justice ba ‘yon!? Basta, ‘yun! May nakuha pa nga tayong magandang meme doon, e. ‘Yung iba bang politiko o abogado, kaya ba ‘yun, ha? Wala! Kasi si Atty. G lang may kaya noon, mga bobo! ‘Di gaya niyong mga trolls at Dilawan, pareho kami ni Atty. G na mga TRUE-BLOODED MARCOS LOYALIST. Pinaglalaban namin ang tama. Sino bang may pake do’n sa sinasabing bilyong pisong ill-gotten wealth ng mga Marcos na DIUMANO ay ninakaw? Sabi nga ni Atty. G sa debate, sinauli na raw ng mga Marcos ‘yung ari-arian nila sa bansa, tulad no’ng mga mansyon, paintings, at ‘yung Sto. Niño shrine. O, kit

By CORHEINNE JOYCE B. COLENDRES Youth development is an important aspect of the formation of society. As the next generation that will advance what is already established, or a generation that will fix the broken remnants of what their forefathers left for them, the youth holds a pivotal role in nation-building. However, when the figures of authority who promised to uphold the standards of the youth’s development end up turning their backs against the people whom they swore to serve and protect, one must acknowledge that dark times truly lie ahead. The National Youth Commission (NYC) Chairperson Ronald Cardema’s haunting proposal to revoke the scholarships of students who take part in alleged anti-government antics drew flak from lawmakers, citizens, and various groups. Despit

By LUIS MIGUEL B. ARUCAN With a heavy heart, Pope Francis courageously stood behind the podium to face 190 male prelates. He finally addressed the Church’s decades-long issue of child abuse. The result was disappointing. I implore the reader to open his mind to new perspectives before reading on. If you are religious, acknowledge that I will only respect your right believe and not your beliefs themselves. Nothing, not even religion, can be guarded on a pedestal and not be held accountable for the evil that exists because of it, regardless of whether the evil was committed in its name or as a result of its practices. The Pope should be applauded for raising the issue of pastoral child abuse to the global stage for the first time. However, his solution is flimsy and is as spine

By FATE EMERALD M. COLOBONG On July 5, 1991, the Philippine government enacted the Campus Journalism Act, which aims to protect the freedom of campus journalists and campus publications. However, what good is a law that protects the establishment of a free campus press if school administrations can decide that they are bigger than the law? In my two years of writing in the Issues or special reports section of the Flame, first as a staffer and now as the section editor, I was often asked if I am not scared of writing articles that might “trigger” the administration, especially now that I’m a graduating student. There was also a time when one of my sources asked me if my press freedom was being trampled upon. That time, I was working on an article about a controversy co