THE FLAME, the official student publication of the Faculty of Arts and Letters, released the print edition of its literary folio on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at the Tan Yan Kee audio-visual room.
The literary folio, “Dapitan 2023: Panopticon,” returned to the print format after four years, using the concept of “constant surveillance” in an era defined by freedom and technological upheavals.
“Panopticon is such an ancient concept, but until now, we have experiences that make us feel like we’re inside one,” Fatima Baduria, former editor in chief of The Flame, told the Varsitarian.
“Panopticon, as a theme, was pitched by the folio’s managing editor at the time, and had a lot of nuances that we wanted to explore through the folio,” Baduria added.
The folio’s theme is based on the architectural design of a circular prison from 18th-century English social theorist Jeremy Bentham.
The “Dapitan 2023: Panopticon” showcases 21 entries in creative nonfiction, flash fiction, prose, katha, dagli, poems, both in English and Filipino, from students, professors and alumni of the Faculty of Arts and Letters.
Maria Javier, the publication’s literary editor, said the theme was conceptualized during the presidential elections in 2022.
“We learned to be critical around things kasi ‘yon ‘yong natutuhan natin when we were electing leaders during May 2022,” Javier told the Varsitarian. “So, panopticon is a creative rendition of these hard-hitting subjects that might be too hard to digest.”
Production for the literary folio began in 2022 with plans to launch in 2023. However, complications such as budgeting constraints pushed back the launch to 2024.
“I hope the Artlets who read it can also resonate with the stories in the folio and inspire them to break free from anything that makes them feel imprisoned,” Baduria said.
During the book launch, students from the Faculty of Arts and Letters who contributed to the folio read excerpts from their works.
Among the works that were presented in the launch are Angela Tabio’s prose, “The Song of the Tides,” Von Alimorong’s poem, “Two Guests; Apparition,” Marklace Talento’s tula, “Klase sa Gitna ng Pandemya,” Javier’s katha, “Paru-paro,” Francis Sta. Rosa’s dagli, “Guardia de la Cuna,” and Czerizha Adzuara’s creative nonfiction, “Yggdrasil.”
Jan Raen Carlo Ledesma, Artlets faculty member and a researcher from the UST Research Center of Culture, Arts, and Humanities, also gave a keynote lecture on the history of the panopticon and the tradition of panopticism in literature.
Prof. Melanie Turingan, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Letters, was also present at the event.
“Since we are already preparing for the 60th year of AB, which coincides with the 60th of The Flame, it’s really historical for us,” Turingan said in her afterword.
According to Javier, The Flame plans to continue with the print edition of the literary folio next year. Rafael Paolo P. Salaya
