Fiat Lux
The Fiat Lux is the official student publication of National Teachers College. Since its foundation, the publication has fostered an alliance whose staff members stood as empowering, democratic, and responsible individuals in the exercise of campus press freedom.
The publication is currently a member of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP). CEGP is the oldest and broadest intercollegiate alliance of student publications in the Asia-Pacific.[1]
This independent, student-run publication was first established on March 10, 1931 to 1941; reestablished in 1946; closed during the Martial Law in 1972; and reopened in 1995 up to this date.
Name[edit]
Fiat Lux is a latin word which means "Let there be Light" patterned on the official motto of NTC: Ang Karunungan ay Tanglaw.
Seal[edit]
The current seal of Fiat Lux consists of three elements which depict a burning oil lamp as adopted from the school's seal that symbolizes the consciousness and cognizance of the publication's student journalists. Behind the burning oil lamp standing on a book symbol was a stem of laurel leaves and a quill intersecting that embodies the ideals of staff in casting knowledge, wisdom, and integrity upon writing.
History[edit]
Early years[edit]
Fiat Lux was first published as a scrapbook on March 10, 1931 under the supervision of Mr. Francisco Icasiano, the adviser of the publication's maiden organization NTC Writers' Club.
Before, the main objective of the publication was to exemplify talents of NTC students with regard to writing in English, Filipino, and Spanish languages.
However, Fiat Lux ceased its production because of the World War II in 1941.
The then editors of the publication are as follows:
| Miguel Gaffud | 1931-1934 |
| Domingo Vaes | 1934 |
| Juan Hernandez | 1934-1935 |
| Soledad Lezarda-Garces | 1935 |
| Leonila Laperal | 1935-1936 |
| Amada Ayran | 1936-1938 |
| Maxima Abad | 1938-1940 |
| Naomi Zarate | 1940-1941 |
1940s[edit]
The publication revived in 1946 with the former chief editor Mrs. Soledad Lezarda-Garces became the newspaper adviser.
The then editors of the publication are as follows:
| Helen Wood | 1946-1948 |
| Manuel Ortega | 1948-1951 |
| Magdalena Palmarez | 1951-1955 |
| Veronica Vetulio | 1957-1959 |
In 1957, the publication continued its releases upon using a newsletter format which contains institutional-based coverage and reports.
1960s[edit]
During the 60s, Fiat Lux has consistently produced competent news and literary articles written in English, Filipino, and Spanish. Among the early advisers of the publication were Lourdes David in Spanish; Dr. Paz Nicasio in Filipino; Major Isagani Villa Panganiban, Patria Cordero, Teresita David, Santiago Pimentel, and Samuel Fernandez in English.
The then editors of the publication are as follows:
| Rebecca Abraham | 1966-1967 |
| Ramon Salvan | 1967 |
| Luzviminda Avil | 1967-1968 |
| Rolando Saballo | 1969-1971 |
| Rinzi Fadrilan | 1971-1972 |
In 1972, the Martial law was declared which caused the nationwide shutdown of campus publications including Fiat Lux.
1990s[edit]
On March 10, 1995, the publication was reestablished as mandated by Republic Act 7079 or the Campus Journalism Act of 1991. It was the legacy of the then NTC-Student Government (NTC-SG) president Jonathan Uy along with Jane Parica-Lacuata and Priscilla Domingo, NTC-SG advisers, who forwarded to the former NTC President Dr. Priscilla Arguelles the need of a student publication to promote and advance the voice of studentry.
Mrs. Isabelita Torrella has been the publication's adviser in English from 1995 to 2016, followed by Ms. Amalia Sadiwa from 2016 to 2017; Ms. Veronica Infantado-Fernandez from 2017 to 2018; and Ms. Jennifer Alarcon from 2018 to 2019. On the other hand, Mrs. Torrella was joined by Dr. Paz Nicasio as the publication's adviser in Filipino from 2995 to 2003; followed by Dr. Ma. Elma Cordero from 2003 to 2008; Ms. Edna Tolentino from 2008 to 2009; and Mrs. Ruth Balagat from 2009 up until today.
From 1995 up to this date, Fiat Lux had been under 17 editors, they are as follows:
| Jennifer Alarcon | 1995-1998 |
| Ma. Florabel Ortega | 1998-2001 |
| Shiela Fabela | 2001-2002 |
| Richard Rillo | 2002-2004 |
| Marnelli Ebreo | 2004-2005 |
| Leen Princess Gabito | 2005-2006 |
| Herlene Fernandez | 2006-2007 |
| Dave Arboleda | 2007-2009 |
| Linda Lee | 2009-2011 |
| Marwin Tatoy | 2011-2013 |
| Casimiro Reyes | 2012-2013 |
| Kai Pajutagana | 2013-2014 |
| Junissa Mabanag | 2014-2015 |
| Marc Vincent Tabaniag | 2015-2016 |
| Timothy Paular | 2017 |
| Cynthia Recto | 2017-2018 |
| Roy Jerome Barbosa | 2018-2020 |
Recent years[edit]
During the term of Reyes (2013-2014), Fiat Lux became an official member publication of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines and was continued by Pajutagana until 2014. Five years later, the alliance was only refreshed under the editorship of Barbosa.
Currently, the publication publishes articles through print and online.
Inevitably, Fiat Lux can not deny such errata on some of the articles made published in newspaper; however, the publication faced pernicious criticisms which questioned its credibility, integrity, and identity when it has published a plagiarized article.
Nevertheless, the incident did not cease the remaining committed student-journalists in their pursuance of the truth and dedication towards students by means of upholding ethical and responsible journalism.
On the other hand, as though campus publications across the country experience campus press violations, Fiat Lux is not exempt from the ongoing attacks against the media. According to CEGP, the guild has already recorded eight major offenses or campus press freedom violations such as censorship, administrative intervention, meddling by the adviser, withholding or looting of funds, libel, harassment and killings, suspension or expulsion, and non-mandatory collection of publication funds.
In an article published on Fiat Lux' Facebook page last July 2019, the comment section drew flak among the general public and concerned students. This further enraged several school personnel, tagging the publication as "tuligsa" and "anti-admin".
In Fiat Lux' Vol. XXVIII No. 1 editorial article, it stated that: "Never was an intention of a progressive student press to taint the school’s image nor to propagate false and dishonest reportage, lest the publication would lose its groundwork of integrity. Writing objectively is its way to speak the truth with no hesitation; hence, it cannot stifle the evidences and realities deemed as critical to the Institution."
The same issue has been criticized prior to the front page banner headline citing that it was misleading and incorrect.
It was immediately resolved by the publication as clarified in their press statement made published online. At the same time, Fiat Lux has published the updated headline and content on its Facebook page and on its Issuu digital platform.
There had been also an account of administrative intervention when the Office of Student Affairs headed by Dr. Ma. Elma Cordero, former Filipino adviser, meddled with the publication's editorial policy. Dated October 25, 2019, just after Ms. Jennifer Alarcon's term of advisership, the OSA persistently insisted on the need of the publication to have an adviser in English. However, it is mentioned in the existing law (RA 7079 Sec 3(d)) that appointing an adviser at the tertiary level is upon the discretion of the editors and staff of the publication.[2] Along with the current adviser of Fiat Lux, the two made negotiations without the notice of publication members. Thus, on November 13 of the same year, the editors and staff call on a meeting with the presence of Ms. Pam Wu, current Executive Vice President for Student Affairs, to discuss these matters together with OSA head and the publication adviser.
At this moment, Fiat Lux continues to develop and revamp its overall appeal as per being a "campus publication" to a legitimate "autonomous, student-run publication" from producing the usual institutional-based news articles towards releasing critical press statements and beyond school issues.
Editorial Board and Staff[edit]
Like in many other student publications, Fiat Lux' Editorial Board is the policy-making body per se. The Board decides on critical issues regarding the publication and formulates its internal rules. The Editorial Board is composed of Editor-in-Chief, Associate Editor/s (English and/or Filipino), Managing Editor/s, News Editor/s, Features Editor/s, Sports Editor, Literary Editor, and Graphic and Lay-out Artist.
On the other hand, the staff is composed of members of the publication who are either senior or junior correspondents.
Auxiliary positions such as Sports Editor and Circulations Manager may be given to staff members upon the decision of the majority of the Editorial Board.
The staff of the Fiat Lux shall be composed of bona fide students enrolled in any undergraduate programs within the College and shall be selected through a set of competitive written and/or skills examination carefully formulated and evaluated by the Editorial Board.
References[edit]
- ↑ "College Editors Guild of the Philippines". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- ↑ "R.A. 7079". www.lawphil.net. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
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