The Flame (student publication)

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.
 * Bong Osorio, former member of the editorial board of The Flame, was the late vice president of ABS-CBN for Corporate Communications.
 * Ophelia Dimalanta also served as the student adviser for the publication.
 * Glenda Gloria, co-founder and executive of Rappler, served as a news writer.
 * Sandra Aguinaldo, news reporter of 24 Oras and host of I-Witness, was the former editor-in-chief of The Flame.
 * Ephraim Bie, who ranked first in the 2023 Philippine Bar Examinations, previously served as a writer for The Flame.