ST. SCHOLASTICA'S COLLEGE MANILA

Beloved Scholasticans and The Blue Flame readers,

Benedicite!

I would like to begin this letter by greeting and congratulating everyone for persisting and making it through the school year despite the countless unforeseen circumstances. Although the year was imperfect, as we are in the "now normal," it has imparted lifelong lessons and values to us in various aspects. The past few years since the pandemic have undeniably been a challenging journey. Yes, I truly understand and empathize with everyone who has faced and has been experiencing unexpected obstacles in different ways. 

While handling other responsibilities and hardships, we have been holding fast to our devices, waking up with our eyes screwed to our laptop screens, ears connected to Zoom's audio, and hands dancing on our keyboard's tiles. On the other hand, people across countries have been braving misfortunes, combatting the virus, and struggling to make ends meet. 

As the year 2023 progressed, with the adjustments established for hybrid learning, we finally had the chance to step foot again into the halls of our second home, St. Scholastica's College Manila. Indeed, this school year has opened doors to many opportunities. Rather than carelessly allowing the detrimental effects of the pandemic to take over our lives endlessly, we, Scholasticans, entered these doors filled with hope as we continue to strive for brighter days ahead.

Amidst the adversities of the pandemic, The Blue Flame consistently upholds the truth with its commitment to promoting awareness, truth, and justice. The Blue Flame has developed over time as it continues to fulfill its vision and mission, not limited to only writing articles for its newspapers but to sharing credible news online, on platforms like Facebook, for its coverage of the latest school events. This school year, The Blue Flame has maximized its capabilities to deliver information with responsible journalism. 

Thus, it is with great honor that we blissfully present The Blue Flame's first issue this school year, which encapsulates the months of August to December 2022!

As you swipe through our paper, it features the opening of SSC-M's classes for hybrid learning in our banner story. It also touches on newsworthy events, in and outside the school, such as the controversial Sim Registration Act and the return of several annual events since the pandemic struck: the 53rd WNCAA on full-swing action, the Peace Camp filled with festive activities, and the nostalgic Community Day. The Opinion section emphasizes the call to invest in technology for quality education, while the Features section showcases interesting topics like Scholastican horror stories, TikTok culture across generations, and student-friendly restaurants. Moreover, the literature section illustrates creative works like marvelous poems from the Creative Writing Club. Meanwhile, the SciTech section captures the latest and most intriguing headlines on science and technology. Finally, the Sports section proudly spotlights prodigies and rising sports stars.  

With this, we warmly welcome you to a worthwhile journey as you browse and soar through pages built by The Blue Flame's dedicated writers and journalists.

Once again, as the editor-in-chief of The Blue Flame this school year, I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude to everyone who has shared and dedicated their time and effort to the success of our first newspaper issue this year. It has been a blessing to work together with remarkable editors, writers, and artists. Gazing upon how much we, as a team, have grown throughout the years, I am delighted and grateful as it radiates hope not just for The Blue Flame's legacy but for our mission and passion to serve the community through responsible journalism. 

May you find radiant hope within these pages and enlighten others along the way as people of character and integrity, sparking a positive change for our beloved alma mater, community, society, and country.

That in all things, God may be glorified!

With sincere gratitude,

Michaela Ilagan
Editor-in-Chief