Page 18 - The Flame

This Just In

CAMILLE ANNE M. ARCILLA, Scenes Editor

Untimely death of a relationship

A was surprised for I did not even a part of. an excerpt from Paz Marquez-
FRIEND once told me that
Let me take the chance to
Benitez’s Dead Stars. It says, “So
in writing fiction, “death
finish most of the items in the
is the best subplot there
he had been seeing the light of
helped me along the way. With
Two of us in our class be-
is.” It sounds too tragic, but I exam. thank all the people who have all these years—since when?—
must admit that I also find this came part of the Flame. There a mushy line I say, you are the dead stars, long extinguished,
remark applicable in real life. were often cheers and teases “flame” that lighted my darkest yet seemingly still in their ap-
Death, which is often as- whenever they discover that we days. pointed places in the heavens.”
sociated with the end of all life were members of the publica- To my mentors, Kuya Ray- Like dead stars, this endeav-
forms, also connotes bidding tion. don, Ate Kristine, Ate Krzl, Ate our may face its “death”, but its
farewell. When someone dies, I remember my first cover Athena, Kuya Mark, and Ate memories will shine the bright-
that person says good bye to where I went to the taping of Rose-An, this issue would not be est forever.
the world. Richard Gutierrez’s Asero near possible if you did not continue ***
It may seem that I am exag- Marcos Highway to interview the glory of this publication. We In all honesty, I have dragged
gerating the circumstances but I one of the icons in the field of owe you a lot. myself in writing this column
perceive my despedida here in production design, Sir Noel To my “thesis-mates”, I know piece. I even failed to meet the
Flame as an untimely “death” of Flores. I can also recall how a you have been very, very consid- deadline because of too much
our four-year relationship. This certain folk singer ignored me erate with all my affiliations, but thinking of what I wanted to im-
is because of the fact that join- in the National Museum after I know we can do this. March is part to the present generation
ing the official student publica- chasing her in her book launch already nearing. of Artlets students.
tion of the Faculty of Arts and just to get a one-on-one inter- To the staff of the Varsitarian In my college life, I have re-
Letters (Artlets) breathed life to view. and the Journalese, I consider alized that there are lessons we
my college writing career. Despite the much interest these two publications as my can learn deeply even if they are
It was such a romance stay- and effort I gave in my first two “mistresses” that came along not intentionally taught to us:
ing in the Flame. Like a boy- years, the enthusiasm unfortu- after Flame. But I do not regret - There are professors who
meets-girl relationship, ev- nately began to flicker in me. anything because it is through are really good with their craft,
erything that happened was There were times when peo- them that I met some of the but cannot impart the knowl-
unexpected. ple would ask, “Hindi pa ba kayo most awesome writers in UST. edge to their students effec-
During my freshman year, al- magre-release ng Flame? Once To this Faculty, I may not tively.
most everyone in my year-level a year lang naman ang issues be the brightest student in my - For writers, you cannot
was eager to join the different niyo, ‘di ba?” class, but I will always claim with learn how to write by just earn-
organizations present in the Fac- Admittedly, there was a full pride that, “Galing akong ing a bachelor’s degree in jour-
ulty. Unlike them, joining these certain phase in my stay where UST-AB!” nalism. You have to practice it.
groups did not catch my inter- I lost interest and grew tired To my Flame family, espe- - In order to survive the me-
est. I had this mindset that I do of writing for the Flame. I was cially to my Scenes “kids”, you dia industry, you always have to
not need another burden since thinking, “Cover na naman, eh are lucky to be part of one of the beat the deadline.
I have to endure balancing both hindi naman napa-publish.” most prestigious publications in Always remember that Athe-
my academics and my work to It was only in my third year the University. If ever there is a na is the goddess that symbol-
maintain my scholarship. Be- when my interest in this publica- time when you are losing hope izes our Faculty. Being the deity
lieve me, it was never easy. tion came back. I was promoted in what you do, always remem- of wisdom, she should always
Then one Friday morning, news editor and it led to the re- ber the reason why you are per- serve and maintain her purpose.
I bumped into a poster blaring vival of my lost enthusiasm for severing in the first place. Grab every opportunity that
with the text, “The Flame Call it. To my family, who is by my studying offers. Do not waste
for Applicants.” Right then and It continued until now as I side all along, thank you for nev- any moment, and do not get out
there, I decided to give it a shot. am down to my last year. The er failing to show support and of school without gaining life-
The first batch of initial ex- Flame has been a witness to my love whenever I need it. All of time lessons that will aid you in
amination was scheduled the life at the University. these, I dedicate to you. your day-to-day existence.
following Sunday. Half-hearted- But as the cliché goes, “all And to the big guy up there, I thought of those advices as
ly, I took the exam. good things come to an end.” God, “salamat.” I say it in Fili- survival tips that might come in
Almost a month after, my This is the last issue for this aca- pino to express it more deeply. handy sometime soon.
name got in the list of neo- demic year, and sadly, this will Nothing can express my Well, fellow Artlets students,
phytes for the publication. I also be the last one that I will be sentiments any better than good luck! F

18 | FLAME