The Spectrum (USLS)
Encyclopedia
The Spectrum is one of the oldest student publications in the Philippines
; its history dates back to 1956. Its monthly newspaper, bimonthly magazine, and annual literary folio Scribe are published by the students of the University of St. La Salle
in Bacolod City
.
The Spectrum joined the annual Western Visayas College Press Conference and Awards (COPRE) in 1976. COPRE was and is still being sponsored by the Philippine Information Agency under the Office of the President of Philippines.
The first issue of The Spectrum magazine came out when the Fundamentals of Journalism class of 1978 was able to produce it as part of their semestral requirements. The editor-in-chief then was Isabel C. Urra. Two years later, The Spectrum won its first COPRE awards: Western Visayas’ Second Best Magazine and Second Best Filipino and Literary pages.
, The Spectrum produced issues filled with post Marcos-related articles and pictures of the scenario in the province. In the middle of the 1990s, Scope, The Spectrum’s investigative arm was created, first published as a separate newsletter. Scope aimed to instigate change through investigative journalism so as to improve the university’s academic system.
In 1991–1993, the publication won the COPRE Region 6’s Best Newspaper for three consecutive years paving the way for The Spectrum to grab the most coveted Graciano Lopez-Jaena Award. To accommodate literary pieces in prose and poetry, The Spectrum released its first literary folio – Scribe1995.
In the 90s, The Spectrum won first place awards in COPRE's categories for newspaper and magazine, besting publications from colleges and universities all over the region.
In 2004, The Spectrum became the Grand Prize winner of the National Campus Investigative Journalism Award sponsored by The Varsitarian, the official student publication of the University of Santo Tomas
. It was for the Scope section in the July 2004 magazine featured the “Probing into the STM Program” investigative piece. The article created an impact on the university’s policy regarding the Student Team Managers Program that resulted in its abolition.
In 2004–2005 The Spectrum and its writers amassed a total of 31 major and minor COPRE awards and recognitions. In February 2005, the Spectrum Negroswide Campus Journalism Fellowship had its debut. It was participated by various college and high school campus journalists all throughout Negros Occidental
. A year later, The Spectrum fellowship was held again and, this time, student journalists from Negros Oriental’s prominent schools like Silliman University
and Negros Oriental State University
came to participate.
On September 27-29, 2007 under Manuel Jeffrey Ordaniel Sistoso as editor-in-chief The Spectrum transformed its annual fellowship into "The First National Campus Journalism Conference." It was held at Santuario De La Salle, Bacolod City. The event invited several of the country’s top personalities in the field of writing and journalism to share their expertise and experiences. Among them are ANC’s The Explainer and Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist Manuel L. Quezon III for opinion writing, Mother Earth Foundation vice chair Chin Chin Gutierrez
for the role of media in environmental consciousness, UP Institute for Creative Writing director Carmelo “Vim” Nadera for Filipino writing and nationalism in writing and journalism, Palanca Awardee Angelo Suarez for creative writing and performance poetry, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism Training officer Yvonne Chua for investigative reporting, multi-awarded children’s book author Jean Lee Patindol for peace and conflict journalism, and women’s rights advocate Atty. Rowena Guanzon for gender-sensitive journalism.
The fellowship gathered the most senior Filipino young writers, campus journalists, artists and advisers from campus-based publications all over the Philippines.
In the same school year, The Spectrum hosted the 4th National Lasallian Schools Press Conference (LSPCon 2008). The event featured topics such as peace and conflict journalism, gender-sensitive communications, and nationalism in writing and journalism, among others.
LSPCon 2008 invited Vim Nadera, with two-time Salanga Grand Prize Winner for Children's Literature Jean Lee Patindol, Palanca awardee and performance poet Angelo Suarez, former magazine editor Jessica Zafra, among others.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
; its history dates back to 1956. Its monthly newspaper, bimonthly magazine, and annual literary folio Scribe are published by the students of the University of St. La Salle
University of St. La Salle
The University of St. La Salle , located in La Salle Avenue, Bacolod City, Philippines, is a Catholic private university run by the De La Salle Brothers. Established in 1952 as La Salle College-Bacolod, it is the second oldest campus originally founded by the congregation in the country...
in Bacolod City
Bacolod City
The City of Bacolod , is a highly urbanized midsize Philippine city. It is the capital of the Negros Occidental province. Having a total of 499,497 inhabitants as of August 1, 2007, it is the most populous city in the Western Visayas Region. It is currently ranked as the 17th most populous city in...
.
Early years
In the school year 1956-1957 The Spectrum was born in an exclusive school for boys. That time, the then La Salle College was populated by less than 1,000 from prep to college. The Spectrum came out once every quarter in tabloid form, printed on white paper which was the standard during that time. Although the high school and college shared the same flag for their publications, they had separate issues prepared by their 30-member staff. Oscar L. Hilado (college) and Mario Guariňo (high school) were the first editors-in-chief of The Spectrum. When La Salle opened its doors to female students in 1966, Lourdes Carisma Barredo became the first female editor-in-chief of the publication three years later.The Spectrum joined the annual Western Visayas College Press Conference and Awards (COPRE) in 1976. COPRE was and is still being sponsored by the Philippine Information Agency under the Office of the President of Philippines.
The first issue of The Spectrum magazine came out when the Fundamentals of Journalism class of 1978 was able to produce it as part of their semestral requirements. The editor-in-chief then was Isabel C. Urra. Two years later, The Spectrum won its first COPRE awards: Western Visayas’ Second Best Magazine and Second Best Filipino and Literary pages.
Post-Marcos years
Right after the ousting of then-president Ferdinand MarcosFerdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
, The Spectrum produced issues filled with post Marcos-related articles and pictures of the scenario in the province. In the middle of the 1990s, Scope, The Spectrum’s investigative arm was created, first published as a separate newsletter. Scope aimed to instigate change through investigative journalism so as to improve the university’s academic system.
In 1991–1993, the publication won the COPRE Region 6’s Best Newspaper for three consecutive years paving the way for The Spectrum to grab the most coveted Graciano Lopez-Jaena Award. To accommodate literary pieces in prose and poetry, The Spectrum released its first literary folio – Scribe1995.
After the 1990s
In 2004, The Spectrum became the Grand Prize winner of the National Campus Investigative Journalism Award sponsored by The Varsitarian, the official student publication of the University of Santo Tomas
University of Santo Tomas
The Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, The Catholic University of the Philippines , is a private Roman Catholic university run by the Order of Preachers in Manila. Founded on April 28, 1611 by archbishop of Manila Miguel de Benavides, it has the oldest extant university charter in the...
. It was for the Scope section in the July 2004 magazine featured the “Probing into the STM Program” investigative piece. The article created an impact on the university’s policy regarding the Student Team Managers Program that resulted in its abolition.
In 2004–2005 The Spectrum and its writers amassed a total of 31 major and minor COPRE awards and recognitions. In February 2005, the Spectrum Negroswide Campus Journalism Fellowship had its debut. It was participated by various college and high school campus journalists all throughout Negros Occidental
Negros Occidental
Negros Occidental is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is Bacolod City and it occupies the northwestern half of Negros Island; Negros Oriental is at the southeastern half...
. A year later, The Spectrum fellowship was held again and, this time, student journalists from Negros Oriental’s prominent schools like Silliman University
Silliman University
Silliman University is a private research university located in Dumaguete, Philippines. Established in 1901 as Silliman Institute by the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, it was the first American private school to be founded in the country. The University is named after Dr...
and Negros Oriental State University
Negros Oriental State University
Negros Oriental State University, formerly Central Visayas Polytechnic College), is a public university in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, Philippines...
came to participate.
The Spectrum at 50
The publication celebrated its 50th anniversary in the school year 2006–2007 with Ms. Krysl Marie E. Santiago as editor-in-chief. The holding of the 3rd Annual Spectrum Campus Journalism Fellowship was the main event. The fellowship that gathered campus journalists from all over Visayas had Inquirer columnist and ANC host Manuel Quezon III, Palanca awardee and performance poet Angelo Suarez and Peace Journalism Network National Coordinator Jean Lee Patindol, who was a 1988-89 editor-in-chief of The Spectrum, as resource speakers.The Spectrum at present
The Spectrum now packages itself as more than just a publication. It now holds the title the Official Student Media Corps of the University of St. La Salle. The current editor-in-chief is Kurt Tee.On September 27-29, 2007 under Manuel Jeffrey Ordaniel Sistoso as editor-in-chief The Spectrum transformed its annual fellowship into "The First National Campus Journalism Conference." It was held at Santuario De La Salle, Bacolod City. The event invited several of the country’s top personalities in the field of writing and journalism to share their expertise and experiences. Among them are ANC’s The Explainer and Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist Manuel L. Quezon III for opinion writing, Mother Earth Foundation vice chair Chin Chin Gutierrez
Chin Chin Gutierrez
Maria Carminia Lourdes Cynthia Arnaldo Gutierrez , better known as Chin Chin Gutierrez, is a Filipino actress and environmentalist.-Early life:...
for the role of media in environmental consciousness, UP Institute for Creative Writing director Carmelo “Vim” Nadera for Filipino writing and nationalism in writing and journalism, Palanca Awardee Angelo Suarez for creative writing and performance poetry, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism Training officer Yvonne Chua for investigative reporting, multi-awarded children’s book author Jean Lee Patindol for peace and conflict journalism, and women’s rights advocate Atty. Rowena Guanzon for gender-sensitive journalism.
The fellowship gathered the most senior Filipino young writers, campus journalists, artists and advisers from campus-based publications all over the Philippines.
In the same school year, The Spectrum hosted the 4th National Lasallian Schools Press Conference (LSPCon 2008). The event featured topics such as peace and conflict journalism, gender-sensitive communications, and nationalism in writing and journalism, among others.
LSPCon 2008 invited Vim Nadera, with two-time Salanga Grand Prize Winner for Children's Literature Jean Lee Patindol, Palanca awardee and performance poet Angelo Suarez, former magazine editor Jessica Zafra, among others.
Notable alumni
- Oscar Hilado, first editor-in-chief (1956-57), now chairman of Phinma Group and the Philippines' 27th richest man.
- Jean Lee Patindol, 1988-89 editor-in-chief, two-time Salanga Awardee on Children's Literature, national coordinator of Peace and Conflict-Sensitive Journalism Network-Philippines; her two children's books are available in the US and the Philippines.
- Hannah Papasin, former editor-in-chief of Sun Star Bacolod.
- Joel Torre, former sports writer of The Spectrum, now a renowned Filipino actor.
- Rafael Coscolluela, former governor of Negros Occidental.