SLU Stellaris

08/06/2026

𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲—

The short-term period may feel like an interruption to the summer vacation you have been looking forward to. It may seem like an intrusion on the inner peace, passion, or self-drive you have only recently rediscovered. However it may be viewed, this time calls us once again to be responsible in fulfilling our academic duties.

This nearly two-month period may be a new experience for some who are used to enjoying a well-deserved break at this time of the year. Some students may be returning to class because they are only one step away from their final hurrah, while others may be preparing for or have already begun their internships at last.

Different agendas, different outcomes. May we treat this short-term period as a transition toward getting closer to reaping what we have sown in the previous semesters.

𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘶𝘴 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴! 💫

By Ina Jirah Serquiña
Layout by Emmanuel Juriz Rasos

08/06/2026

𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓: 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟏

EROS | My Hunger Is Religion

Is my desire a sin?
Is my touch gross?
Is it dirty?

Is this a perversion of something pure?

I find my fingertips mapping each k**b of bone on your spine and I feel my canines ache.
I want to bite the soft flesh on your thighs and lick the blood that flows between.
I want all of you, raw and naked.

Your flesh purifies the rot I have inside of me.
Even the maggots that crawl on my every crevice crave you.

I was never religious but I imagine how loving someone is akin to worship.
Maybe that is why I never understood this hunger.

Is this how it truly is? To love?
Why am I like this? Why did it have to be you?
Is my soul broken in a way that faith can not fix?

Laying with you felt like a confession of my sins. The pale pink sheets served as our church and your breath as the candle that burns me. I sunk my fingers on your back like I was gripping on a holy rosary, delirious in singing a prayer only we could understand.

They said I would only find peace and happiness in His embrace but God is no where to be found here.
How do I profess that I found the land of milk and honey in you?
This nectar fills me with biblical greed over you.

The Greeks once told the tale of how humans came to be.

They said that we were born with two pairs of limbs and two hearts beating in sync. Fearing our power, the Gods struck us in half. This will leave us eternally searching for our other half instead of looking and reaching for the skies where they reside.

The morning comes and your warmth rests beside me.
Are you my other half?
Do you feel this hunger, too?
Did you feel the hellfire lick on you when I first kissed you?

The world will tell us we have no place in church but I already found religion in you.

This was our creation story of how two pieces of clay kneaded and smeared on each other. We do not come from each other's rib but this rebirth is better than any paradise.

By Mylene Lucas
Illustration by Camille Beray

06/06/2026

𝐎𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐎𝐍 | 𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐎 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

Oust Bato now.

The honorable gentleman from Davao City who took pride in being the alumna of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and once possessed a seemingly honorable PhD in Development Administration had disgraced the dignity of the institution he swore to uphold with his entire life. Perhaps it would have been understandable if he had disgraced the institution, being the Senate, through means of plunder and the exploitative usurpation of the country’s treasury—though it would be equally disappointing nonetheless. But no, he had to hide for the sake of a dynastical patriarch now encased in concrete of the International Criminal Court (ICC) about to be tried for the killings allegedly committed in the Philippines.

How could the “honorable gentleman,” who graduated from PMA and was honored by a PhD, be relaxed with his attendance for six months in the Senate and never be given any consequence? Even after he was asked for a Comment when the 𝘞𝘢𝘨 𝘒𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘒𝘶𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘶𝘱𝘵 group filed for an ethics complaint, there was no action from the ethics committee—Bato had no Comment.

Another act of disgrace he committed was when he sung the PMA Hymn during his stay in the Senate like some country club membership, possibly to ask sympathy from his co-alumni. When would the academy realize that the person they just defended and stood for had disrespected the Senate as an institution and a duty? To reiterate the core values of the PMA: Honor, Service, and Patriotism. Let us examine these three in the lens of our current predicament in Philippine Politics with Senator Dela Rosa.

𝘏𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘳. Was the action of Senator Dela Rosa honorable by hiding for six months while receiving the same salary? No, this is dishonorable because it disrespects the whole of the Filipino people, most especially those who elected him to acquire a senatorial seat ab initio. The people elected him to be present in the Senate to craft bills that uphold the dignity of Filipinos in all sectors. The Filipino people elected him to be present in the Senate to vote for his stances on issues. The Filipino people elected him to be present in the Senate to work. It is unfair to an ordinary Filipino if someone like Bato allows the air condition system to cool his seat down—it is dishonorable because it is disrespectful!

𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦. Yes, admittedly he served—he even recorded his speeches for public engagements. However, what was the quality of the services he provided during his six-month absence? He submitted two bills—a foreign interference bill that only favored one family and a police clearance system bill. Anything else? He lost his committee roles and further skipped the budget defense of his two holy grail committees: National Defense & Peace and Order and Dangerous Drugs. To think that he claimed himself an advocate for both sectors was and is a disgrace to behold—he was holding back the quality of both sectors.

𝘗𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘮. Surely, he could have at least passed in this aspect—wrong! The 𝘗𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘯 most especially emphasized the importance of diligence in upholding duties as part of a patriot’s life. He did have that diligence, in all fairness; unfortunately, it was not for the country. It was for the family known for their reckless bravado that fueled their propaganda machine, arrogant stature which made them entitled, and questionable methods that shattered the country to this very moment. Senator Bato’s statement in 2024 demonstrated this very well: “I will sink and swim with [former] President Duterte.” It was not a vow for the constitution nor the people, but the Dutertes.

In all of this, how can the Senate be so lax with their rules on absentee senators? This malleability is being taken advantage of because of this exact reason! The Senate itself is causing the current predicament of Philippine politics. If rules for absentee senators like Bato are not strict, how much more are the grave threats of plunderers and exploiters?

Then there was the Senate shootout—debates discussed if whether or not the incident was orchestrated or real; SILG Jonvic Remulla and PNP PBGen Jose Melencio Nartatez would claim that there was no attack in the Senate, Senator Alan Cayetano claimed otherwise, and everyone remained divided on the matter to this day. However, regardless of whatever anyone might choose to believe or whatever facts would be counted as the truth, one question still remains: how dare Senator Bato take the opportunity to run away and disappear once more? For a modern senator whose bravado was part of his optics, Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos had more cojones in the face of danger than he ever did.

Because of Bato and other “honorable senators,” the country is now in shambles and has brought shame upon the Filipinos. Because of Bato and other “honorable senators,” the Filipino spirit is broken. The Filipino people are ashamed of this kind of government.

In this regard, for the Senate to redeem itself, this I offer wholeheartedly: 𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝘽𝙖𝙩𝙤 𝙣𝙤𝙬!

By Ralph Henry Villacarlos
Illustration by Jakob Dela Cruz

01/06/2026

𝐁𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐍𝐠 𝐈𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐲, 𝐎 𝐌𝐠𝐚 𝐒𝐚𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐒𝐚 𝐇𝐮𝐧𝐲𝐨

Hindi ako nagdalawang-isip pa
sa pagpahid ng kolorete sa mukha
bago pa man sumulong upang
bulagin ang bukang-liwayway.
Samot-saring mga pangalan

Nakasabit sa balikat; ang aming
mga talata tungkol sa pagtakas
nakatirintas sa ilalim ng nakapulupot na
tuwalya. Sa bawat kanto humuhuni
ang mga mandaragit;

Sa bawat sulok kumikilos mga aswang
na kinalakihang nag-aabang sa dilim.

Sa loob ng aking tadyang: ang
bumbilya. Narito ang kinatawan
ng sinaunang himala: nabiyak na

ilaw sa tela ng kalawakan.

Hindi na maipagkakaila pa
ang tinig na kay tagal kong ikinubli
sa likod ng mga dasal at sermon.

Pagkat bago pa man hatulan
ng mabibigat na paratang,
matagal na akong binansagan
ng dagat at ng buwan
upang magsilbing lampara.

Habang ang matatalim na salita’y
dumaranak sa aking kalamnan,
patuloy ang agos ng dugong kumukulay
sa sigaw na hihilom
sa mga naghihingalong katawang
inalipusta ng mga aswang
nakakubli sa anyong kabanalan.

Unti-unti, kami’y babangon,
suot ang tubatub na gabay
sa aming mga yapak
patungo sa liwanag
na kailanma’y ‘di na muling
magpapaalam. Narito pa rin sa lupa,
dinuduyan mga manikang nagdadalaga,

sadyang isang bathalang sinasagisag
ng bawat wagayway
ng aking balakang.

𝘕𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘣𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘨𝘪 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘚𝘓𝘜 𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘢 𝘴𝘢 𝘣𝘶𝘸𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘨 𝘏𝘶𝘯𝘺𝘰 𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩. 𝘐𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘰𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘥 𝘯𝘨 𝘓𝘎𝘉𝘛𝘘𝘐𝘈+ 𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘨𝘺𝘢𝘯𝘨-𝘥𝘪𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘬𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘢 𝘬𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘢 𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘱.𝘕𝘨𝘢𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘶𝘸𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘢𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘶𝘺𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘮𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘭, 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘩𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘨 𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘯, 𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘨𝘢𝘱 𝘴𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘺𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘰 𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘯.

Ni Andrei Jeseuh Santos at Gabrielle Louis Paolo Santiago
Dibuho ni Manna Cal-agan

30/05/2026

17/05/2026

𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 📚✍🏼

The chapters from prelims, midterms, and finals were definitely tough, but you've survived all those plot twists thrown your way—quizzes, deadlines, sleepless nights, and unexpected boss fights.

Now, it is time to move on to the last part of the storyline—the final exams. You've made it this far, so hang in there, Stellar. Trust your preparation and shade those answers with 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦.

Go 𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘴 and close this chapter with a bang! 📝✨

Caption by Frances Mary Love Medina
Layout by Timothy Justine David

14/05/2026

𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐍𝐎𝐖 | To conclude the second semester of Academic Year 2025-2026, the Saint Louis University holds its Thanksgiving Mass in the Prince Bernhard Gym today, May 14 presided by university President Rev. Fr. Gilbert Sales, CICM.

The mass is also in line with the celebration of the Feast of St. Matthias the Apostle.

10/05/2026

𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐭𝐡 – 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬

I remember warmth
Being on her cradle, her arms wrapped on my tiny body
Her soft lullaby, easing the tears ebbed on my eye
The soft smile, her gentle yet watchful eyes on mine
I slumber peacefully, oblivious and innocent

I remember reprimands
On being on the sun for too long, playing and loitering
Checking on every corner of my body for a tiny scrap
Her furrowed brows, yet worried eyes on mine
Yet I don’t listen, scars of my childhood as a reminder

I remember encouragement
When I was about to give up, tired from the day
Soft spoken words, soft as her hand on my shoulder
Her wrinkled eyes are tearful, yet full of hope
So I pushed through, determined to face another day

I remember tears
On the day I finally achieved my lifelong dream
She doesn’t shout or scream, yet she was beaming
Her eyes doesn’t look the same, yet I know she’s proud
With a thankful heart, I offered my joy to her

My dearest, on all the seasons
I have always remembered
Your reprimands, encouragement, tears
But most of all
I remember your warmth

By Carl Madlaing
Illustration by Cyan Sison

05/05/2026

𝐎𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐘𝐎𝐍 | 𝐀𝐍𝐆 𝐃𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐆 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐎: 𝐒𝐀 𝐏𝐀𝐆𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐍 𝐍𝐆 𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐒 𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐃𝐎𝐒 𝐀𝐓 𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐀

Bumulong ang malaking bato sa kanan ni Bernardo Carpio: “Magpasalamat ka sa akin, kase kung wala ako dito sa tabi mo, edi napisa ka na ng malaking batong nasa kaliwa mo.”

Nitong nakaraang mga buwan, nasaksihan ng buong mundo ang mga naganap sa giyera sa pagitan ng Iran at ng Estados Unidos. Nararamdaman nating mga ordinaryong Pilipino ang mga pandaigdigang epekto ng sigalot na nagyayari sa kabilang dulo ng daigdig.

Ang pagsasara ng daloy ng kalakalan na dumadaan sa Kipot ng Hormuz (Strait of Hormuz) dulot ng giyera ng Iran at ng Estados Unidos nitong nakaraang mga buwan ay nagbunga ng lubhang pagtaas ng presyo ng petrolyo sa buong daigdig. Dahil nakasaklang ang bansang Iran sa kipot na ito, madali itong nakontrol ang daloy ng mga barkong dumadaan dito, at nang sa gayo’y nagawa ng Iran na pahirapan ang mga bansang kumakampi sa Estados Unidos. Talagang malaking kalamangan ang naidulot ng posisiyon ng Iran sa giyerang ito, dahil mahigit 600 bilyong dolyar na halaga ng petrolyo kada taon, o isa sa kada apat na bariles ng lahat ng petrolyo na kinokonsumo ng buong mundo ang dumadaan sa lugar na iyon.

Malaki man ito kung ituturing, wala ito kung ikukumpara natin sa daloy ng produktong dumadaan sa South China Sea. Sa rehiyong ito, mahigit kumulang 3 trilyong dolyar kada taon, o, isa sa kada lima ng lahat ng pandaigdigang kalakalan ng buong mundo ang dumadaan dito.

Hindi tuloy nakakapagtaka na ang rehiyong ito ay sadiyang nakakaakit para sa dalawang higanteng bansang nagtatagisan sa panahon natin ngayon: ang China at ang Estados Unidos. Kung sinuman ang may hawak rehiyon na ito ay siyang may hawak sa kalakaran ng buong daigdig. Kung ano ang epekto ng pagsara ng Iran sa Kipot ng Hormuz ay hindi maihahalintulad sa posibleng epekto ng pagsasara ng South China Sea.

Alam ng karamihan sa atin na ang Estados Unidos, ang ating pinakamaasahang kaalyado, ay pinapagtanggol tayo laban sa China sa West Philippine Sea. Ngunit talaga bang ginagawa nila ito bukal lamang sa kabutihan ng kanilang mga puso? Tinutulungan ng mga barko nilang subaybayan ang paggalaw ng mga barko ng China sa karagatan natin. Parati nating tinututulan ang paglapit ng mga barko ng China sa mga dagat natin ngunit bakit hindi natin kinukwestiyon ang presensiya ng barko ng Estados Unidos sa sarili nating bakuran?

Tayo ay namamagitan sa dalawang nag-uumpugang bato—sa pagitan ng Estados Unidos at ng China—at kailangan natin pag-isipang maigi kung ano ang ating susunod na hakbang. Hindi tayo pwedeng umasta na parang langgam na madaling madurog sa isang tapak lang. Ating gayahin si Bernardo Carpio: itulak palayo ang dalawang bato at tumindig sa sarili nating mga paa.

By Dima Calimut
Illustration by Trixie Camaton

04/05/2026

𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗔𝗣 | 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁’𝘀 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗢𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻

Louisian victors performed their winning pieces at the recently conducted Festival of Champions on April 30, 2026. Held at the Fr. Joseph Van den Daelen Center for Culture and the Arts (CCA) Theater of Saint Louis University (SLU), participants who won the top titles showcased their talent and eminence once again.

Highlights of the program included the One-Act Play and Tula-Dula from the School of Law, as well as standout performances in Vocal Solo and Instrumental Playing at both the Elementary and Junior High School levels. Excellent solo performances were given by John Kenneth Z. Abalos from the School of Engineering and Architecture, and Kim Kristin Julia E. Zara from the School of Accountancy, Management, Computing, and Information Studies, the same school that produced the Street Dance champion.

The Basic Education School delivered a Pop A Ca****la performance, the School of Medicine presented their All-Male Choir, and the School of Advanced Studies also made notable appearances in dance categories, including Ballroom Latin Pair and Philippine Folk Dance.

The School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts (STELA) emerged as one of the strongest contenders of the festival, securing multiple championships across major categories. Several participants also brought distinction to the school by placing within the top 4. During the Festival of Champions, STELA once again dominated in Contemporary Dance, Mixed Choir, Dance En Cuatro, and Ballroom Standard Pair.

These awards reflected strong coordination, artistic delivery, and consistency on stage, showcasing STELA’s excellence and presence at this year’s Arts Fest.

By Maria Rolaine Mactal and Larisse Beyer
Photos by Candace Timbreza