The SLHS Flambeau

The SLHS Flambeau and Sta. Lucia High School extend our warmest congratulations to Ashton Almorte, Batch 2023–2024 News Editor of Ang Ningning, for successfully passing the University of the Philippines College Admission Test(UPCAT), a remarkable achievement that reflects dedication, perseverance, and excellence; as you begin this new journey, may you continue to shine and share your brilliance with the wider academic community, carrying with you the pride and support of the entire SLHS family.

Congratulations
Ashton Almorte

The SLHS Flambeau and Sta.Lucia High School proudly extend its blazing congratulations to our Batch 2023–2024 Editor-in-Chief Darren Atienza, Associate Editor-in-Chief Tessa Degamo, Chief Copyreader Alexa Hosana and publication member Rick Magana for triumphantly passing the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT).Truly, you continue to uphold the burning standard of excellence that defines our publication. With your passion ever flaming, The SLHS Flambeau stands in full support of the path you have chosen confident that you will carry this fire forward in all your future endeavors.

Congratulations!
Darren B. Atienza
Tessa Mae Degamo
Alexa Jade Hosana
Rick Stephen Magana

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 “𝗧𝗿𝘆‑𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿”

DepEd made an announcement that the public school curriculum will shift into a 3-term calendar system next school year. Officials claim it will lessen fragmentation and promote learning. Some lawmakers call it a step forward. On paper, it sounds like a strong solution. In reality, it addresses none of the issues.

“Kahit anong school calendar pa yan kung kulang ang silid-aralan, g**o, personnel at pasilidad, at kung gutom ang mga estudyante, mananatiling atrasado ang kalidad ng edukasyon.” said the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Chairperson, Ruby Bernardo in a post on Facebook. She stated her frustration that any reform of the school calendar would not change the fact that the quality of education depends on the quality of the learning environment for the students.

Step into any public school and the numbers of students will hit you hard. One teacher handles at most of 50 students in a classroom built for only 30. Desks jammed together, cruddy classrooms, noise is more prominent than the wind from the electric fans. Teachers deal with this chaos every single day. A trimester cannot shrink class sizes or give students the attention they need.

There also aren't more than enough resources to go around. According to DepEd data from 2023, only 60 percent of schools have complete textbooks for the main core subjects. School supplies, computers, and other teaching aids are missing most of the time, resulting to teachers needing to improvise or skip lessons entirely just because of the lack of aid given to them.

The plan assumes that longer timeline blocks will help improve student learning. Yet learning itself is about the conditions in which students sit and teachers work. Without the proper support, materials, or manageable workloads, students will still fall behind and teachers will be too stressed.

Consultation is another problem here, teachers say they were barely asked what they thought about what's happening. ACT’s Raymond Balce pointed out that decisions are made at the top while teachers handle the consequences. If we really want to see real reform, it requires listening to the people on the ground. Otherwise everything will go to waste.

Year after year, programs roll out promising more with less. Students still struggle with basic literacy and numeracy due to the lack of proper teaching materials and conditions to properly help them to learn.

I see the trimester system as just a new distraction that disguises itself like an action. It reads like reform, yet it does not address what matters: overcrowded classrooms, underpaid teachers, and missing resources. If education is to improve, the focus must shift from schedules to support.

If DepEd wants the trimester to matter, it must focus on what really is needed. Hire more teachers, expand classrooms, provide training, and reduce administrative burdens. Otherwise, the “new and improved” system will be new only in name, and students and teachers will still carry the same burdens forward. Continuing to be a so called, "Bandaid Solution."

🖋 : 𝗜𝘃𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗥𝗼𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘇
✏️ : 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗹 𝗘𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗺 𝗥𝗼𝗾𝘂𝗲

𝗦𝗟𝗛𝗦 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿-𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗘𝗖

Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) chairperson and Sta. Lucia High School (SLHS) teacher, Ruby Bernardo was honored in the Teacher Education Council’s (TEC’s) post made on Mar. 18 in honor of her dedication as an education advocate.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the TEC turned the spotlight to one of SLHS’ exemplary teachers, Ruby Bernardo. Bernardo serves as an advocate of teachers’ rights, improved funding for education, and education of the Lumad indigenous peoples in Mindanao. Moreover, she is also a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Women’s Network.

The TEC mainly aims to honor teachers dedicated in basic education, and to recognize their advocacies and achievements.

Due to her dedication and passion, she was chosen as one of the two teachers to be featured in regards to the National Women's Month, celebrated annually in March.

🖋️: 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗮 𝗔. 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀
💻: 𝗠𝗲𝗶𝗿𝗮 𝗟𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗲 𝗚. 𝗠𝗶𝘁𝗼

𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 | 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗟𝗛𝗦 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝟯𝗿𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗼𝘂𝘁, 𝗯𝗮𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗢𝗿𝗺𝗼𝗰

Sta. Lucia High School’s (SLHS) English publication, The SLHS Flambeau has won 3rd place in the Best Layout and Design Category for Secondary English out of the competing 160 publications in the category, successfully advancing to the National Schools Press Conference 2026.

The awarding ceremony was held during the first day of the Regional Schools Press Conference 2026 at the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA — Las Piñas Campus.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our supportive heads: our school paper adviser, Brian M. Bardinas, our English Department head, Elvira A. Capiral, and our principal, Noel S. Favila.

We would also like to express our gratitude to all of the involved writers, layout artists and the ideas and concepts that created the official school paper:

𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒:
Michaella Merviluz Aducal
Darr Angelo Alvarez
Gillienne Chloe Angelio
Christel Gem Athena Domasig
Samantha Flores
Dianne Mission
Jhon David Pecho
Clarence Arkell Ramirez
Marthy Wayne Sayson
Sheania Lindsay Torres

𝐎𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒:
Calvin Red Del Rosario
Maria Elaiza Dimson
Philip Miguel Madelo
Dianne Mission
Patricia Montenegro
Aaron Geoff Pallorina
Hen Son Tsai
Rushen Keira Varona

𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒:
Kristoff Seth Dela Cruz
Aviella Shirel Freeman
Aya Franceska Intal
Zelene Faith Juanitas
Chad Andrei Palaganas
Aaron Geoff Pallorina
Sky Charley Aimmee Tejada

𝐒𝐂𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒:
Christel Gem Athena Domasig
Jacob Gabriel Ducusin
Keah Enomis
Chloe Alessandra Guevarra
Philip Miguel Madelo
Aaliyah Louise Marfil
Ron Chezter Roque
Hen Son Tsai

𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐒 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒:
Zean Jarry Cañelas
Aldrich Kurt Dawa
Carlos Andrei Dizon
Krisgel Napere
Alessandra Papa
Zyrael Khyle Vencio
John Victorio Jr.

𝐏𝐇𝐎𝐓𝐎𝐉𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐒:
Chloe Alessandra Guevarra
Jacob Gabriel Ducusin
Aaron Geoff Pallorina
Ellaih Jasper So

𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐎𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐒:
Zophia Reese Araza
Zean Jarry Cañelas
Ariel Gudgad
Marvic Denise Ramilo
Charl Efreim Roque

𝐂𝐎𝐏𝐘𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒:
Adrian James Alfaro
Dion Thirdy Chiquino
Dianne Mission

𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐒:
Zean Jarry Cañelas
Jhian Thirddy Lope
Clarence Arkell Ramirez
Hen Son Tsai

Congratulations, The SLHS Flambeau, and good luck at the nationals!

🖋️: 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧
💻: 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐑𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐳

𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗬 𝗕𝗜𝗥𝗧𝗛𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗦𝗜𝗥 𝗡𝗢𝗘𝗟 𝗙𝗔𝗩𝗜𝗟𝗔!!

On this very special day, another year has flown full of memories and joy. You have truly shown hardwork and pure dedication to our school. All of the school's achievements are not possible without your kindness and support. Keep on inspiring learners and continue to enjoy every little things. May God bless you and your family. We wish you good health and all happiness in life.

Greetings from the Official English Publication of Sta. Lucia High School

𝗙𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 | 𝗡𝗦𝗣𝗖: 𝗔 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗧𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲

They say, “expect the unexpected,” yet through it all, not one of the campus journalists of The Sta. Lucia High School (SLHS) Flambeau had expected what ties the publication to an honor one could dream of — leveling up to the National Schools Press Conference. From then to now, grasping a glimpse of nationals was nothing but a sigh of awe in dreams of reaching, with doubts that maybe the only string that ties them is just in the district, division, and regionals.

But The SLHS Flambeau was proven so otherwise when the layout team of Collaborative Desktop Publishing proudly reigned 3rd place in Layout and Page Design in secondary level (English). Held at the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta - Las Piñas Campus on Tuesday, Mar. 10, marking the day of surprise that doesn’t stir stomachs in disappointment, but ushers the corners of their lips into a grin that shares stories of what had to come before the cherry on top.

For campus journalists of the publication, the moment was like an invisible string where who could’ve known that beyond the doubts and the acceptance that they’re merely like ants in a space of amphibians, was secretly a string that led its way towards the endeavor of The SLHS Flambeau, its students, and its school paper adviser. Hope did fickle and wither through many moments in their journey, confidence was merely just trying to hold on, and dreams to such an honor were labeled as a laughing matter — but hope came, not as a shining gold medal in the face of beginnings but in the opening of new beginnings that ushers the campus journalists to believe and fight.

Beyond the glimmer of this trophy is the lesson that believing themselves as campus journalists was after all the backbone of such sweet victory, not extreme excellence nor complex nothings but the belief that like the victorious people they admire, they too can take a stand and believe there’s more ahead of them. For many of the campus journalists of the publication, “to see is to believe,” was what embedded their core. But the unexpected punch of victory proudly exclaimed that actually, “To believe is to see.”

The SLHS Flambeau started with eating kariman and pastil everyday as a starting point in harvesting winnings, and now the layout team is bound to taste morons and pakdol of Ormoc, Leyte. May God bless the continuous journey and reign of the campus journalists who started from rock bottom and is now climbing to the pinnacle, baton of truth in hand, friendship as fuel, and hope as an eye-opener.

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🖋️: 𝐀𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐥 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧
💻: 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐑𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐳

𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊: Lucians shine once more as the SLHS Likhawitan team represented by Faith Lara Moncada, Patrice Aziel Santos, and Princess Diana Brital bagged 3rd place in the best Likhawitan performance at the Regional Festival of Talents on Thursday, February 26, 2026.

The trio also took home the special award for best musical arrangement after showcasing their harmony, melody, and coordination.

The team, being guided by Mr. Alann Isaiah Pacpaco, displayed the true talents and capabilities of Lucians. Your pursuit of music and rhythm has made us proud, CONGRATULATIONS LUCIANS!

𝑯𝑨𝑷𝑷𝑬𝑵𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑵𝑶𝑾:

Lucians are poised to take center stage as they prepare to showcase their musical excellence in the Regional Festival of Talents at Pasay City South High School. With a blend of harmony, passion, and artistry, the group is ready to captivate audiences and leave a lasting impression.

The team is eager to bring home the beacon, proudly representing their school and community with confidence and pride.

Guided by their dedicated coach Mr. Alann Isaiah Pacpaco, the Kwerdas members Faith Lara Moncada, Patrice Aziel Santos and Princess Diana Brital together with their partnered Spanish Foreign Language student and coach from Batasan Hills National High School promised to bring pride and honor to Quezon City.

𝗜𝗧’𝗦 𝗢𝗨𝗧! 🔥

As Quezon City’s 10th best layout and page design, 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐋𝐇𝐒 𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮 officially unveils its newspaper for S.Y. 2025–2026.

Additionally, the newspaper’s layout will be competing in the 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔.

To fully access the issue, click on the link below or scan the QR code:

https://tinyurl.com/theflambeau
https://tinyurl.com/theflambeau
https://tinyurl.com/theflambeau