04/10/2023
Igniting the Flames: the Torch’s JOURNey
Plebeian Torch – The Great Plebeian College’s official High School publication started its sparking flames way back in 2003. Before, the publication of the High School Department and College Department was joint as one with its tagline, “The Eyes and Voice of the Truth”. Since then, the joint publication already managed to join competitions which cover Pangasinan I. A fast forward of events, when Sir Jose Ramil Sibun was appointed as the Torch’s Editor-In-Chief (EIC), a resolution took place that separated the publication of the High School Department and the College Department. The High School Department’s school publication maintained its name with “The Plebeian Torch” while the College Department with its new name, “The Plebeians”. Nonetheless, the main purpose of the school’s publication was never changed.
Even back then, Plebeian Torch already had its banner waiving high as it accomplished a lot of great feats. However, the road toward success is not complete with its bumps. Since our publication back in the days was still in its beginning stages, various problems arose. Because of the lack of budget, journalists who get to compete are only limited. The Torch also had to ask the parents’ consent if they were willing to spend money for the competition’s registration fees because financial support was also one of the main problems back then.
Despite being at wits’ end with all the bumps that we have encountered, the light that Torch had ignited still prevailed as our journalists continuously bagged awards in representing our school from division to national level.
The starting point was when The Plebeian Torch first joined last 2005 in Bacarra, which also, in the same year, gave birth to our publication’s first win. Michael Davis Rapay-Rapay, with Mrs. Abela Alvis as the School Paper Adviser obtained first place in Sports Writing, as well as Jessica de Maya placing fourth. Representing Alaminos City, various campus journalists qualified for NSPC which was supposedly going to be held in Surigao. Unfortunately, private schools were not yet subsidized by the LGU's school board during those times; which means contenders from private schools like Rapayrapay had a slim chance to represent the division and even the region because of lack of financial assistance. However, this paved the way for Alaminos City Division to reconsider the plight of participating private schools in every competition whether in regional level or national level. This sad experience of Rapayrapay served as an eye opener for educational leaders in Alaminos City. Thus, contenders from private schools were given the fair opportunity to compete since they were already subsidized by the local government.
Aside from the win of Michael, various accomplishments piled up. Year 2006, Joefre Estallo won fourth place in the category of Copyreading and Headline Writing which was held in San Carlos City. Followed by the Year 2007, when April Geraldine Radovan bagged first place in Feature Writing in Manaoag, qualifying for NSPC which took place in Cotabato. Coming after is the win of John Lester Rabaya in Sta. Barbara, as he placed third in Editorial Writing, qualifying for the 2009 NSPC in Naga City). In NSPC 2017-2018, John Paul G. Cortez represented the school in his category Science and Technology Writing. Alongside the individual wins back then, the burning passion remained as the Torch’s Editorial Page won 9th place in Manaoag, followed by a remarkable victory as the newspaper’s Sports Page also won the “Best Sports Page” back then in Bacarra. The winning cycle continued with our most recent win, as Alyssa Faith Nuevo Malanum qualified for the 2022-2023 RSPC with Pamela Lorraine D. Asia as coach, accompanied by the achievements of our other campus journalists, including Torch Patrol which placed third for Radiobroadcasting (Division Level). A proof that even before, the school’s pen already proved that its ink is something that’s not easily erased.
In life – falling down is an inevitable event. The burning desire to create a remarkable path for the truth to prevail will always keep us shifting from our focus. These flames of our Torch will never go down. And though there might be a time when this beacon of light might only shed a flicker of warmth for us, it will always crawl back to the place where the passion started. Because no matter what, a fire that has already started will never stop – as long as its driving fuel never runs out.
From then, the light that illuminated the path that we are walking right now will never have its concluding mark. The Plebeian Torch had come a long way, but we wouldn’t stop here. For all the inks from people whose pens paved the way – Plebeian Torch will continue to serve as the eyes and voice of the truth, and will make its way once again to the top – like ashes starting to reignite and bring back its flames.
Written by: Jasmine Rian Cabungason
This is The Plebeian Torch, signing in for S.Y 2023-2024.
