The Spectrum (USLS)
The Spectrum is one of the oldest existing student publications in the Philippines where its history dates back to the year 1956. Its monthly newspaper, bimonthly magazine and annual literary folio (Scribe) are published by the students of the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod City.
History
It was in the school year 1956-1957 when The Spectrum was born in an exclusive school for boys. That time, the then La Salle College was only populated by less then a thousand students from prep to college.
The Spectrum came out once every quarter in tabloid form, printed on white paper which was the standard during that time. Although the high school and college shared the same flag for their publications, they had separate issues prepared by their 30-member staff. Oscar L. Hilado (College) and Mario Guariňo (High School) were the first editors-in-chief of The Spectrum.
The year 1966 came and La Salle opened its doors to female students. Three years later, Lourdes Carisma Barredo became the first female editor-in-chief of the publication.
The Spectrum’s quest to uphold excellence in campus press continued when the publication joined the annual Western Visayas College Press Conference and Awards (COPRE) in 1976. COPRE was and is still being sponsored by the Philippine Information Agency under the Office of the President of Philippines.
The first issue of The Spectrum Magazine came out when the Fundamentals of Journalism Class of the year 1978 was able to produce it as part of their semestral requirements.The Editor-in-Chief then was Isabel C. Urra.
Two years later, The Spectrum won its first COPRE awards – Western Visayas’ 2nd Best Magazine and 2nd Best Filipino and Literary pages.
Right after the ousting of then Pesident Ferdinand E. Marcos, The Spectrum was able to produce issues filled with post Marcos-related articles and pictures of the scenario in the province. In the middle of the ‘90s, SCOPE, The Spectrum’s investigative arm came into existence. It was first published as a separate newsletter. Scope aimed to instigate change through investigative journalism so as to improve the University’s academic system.
From 1991-1993, the publication won the COPRE Region 6’s Best Newspaper for three consecutive years paving the way for The Spectrum to grab the most coveted Graciano Lopez-Jaena Award. To accommodate literary pieces in the form of prose and poetry, The Spectrum released its first ever literary folio – Scribe1995.
In the 90’s, The Spectrum relentlessly claimed prestige in COPRE for winning 1st Place awards in various categories for newspaper and magazine besting other publications from different colleges and universities all over the region.
In the year 2004, The Spectrum became the Grand Prize winner of the National Campus Investigative Journalism Award sponsored by The Varsitarian, the official student publication of the University of Santo Tomas. It was when the SCOPE section of the July 2004 Magazine featured the “Probing into the STM Program” investigative piece.
The article created an impact on the University’s policy regarding the Student Team Managers Program that resulted to its abolition.
In two years (2004-2005), The Spectrum and its writers amassed a total of 31 major and minor COPRE awards and recognitions making it one of the most well-established campus publications in Western Visayas.
February of 2005, the Spectrum Negroswide Campus Journalism Fellowship had its debut. It was participated by various college and high school campus journalists all throughout Negros Occidental.
February of 2006, The Spectrum fellowship was held again and this time, student journalists from Negros Oriental’s prominent schools like Silliman University and Negros Oriental State University came to participate.
The Spectrum is not only teaching its members the “what and how to write” things. The Spectrum is in fact giving its members the opportunities to grow as writers and as leaders, and more significantly as persons equipped with the right character and proper attitude necessary for successful living. As proof, several writers and editors of the publication for the past 50 years are now successful leaders and professionals in their own fields.
The Spectrum, from its humble beginnings in 1956, has presently become an institution in the upholding of campus press freedom and academic liberty. The Spectrum has helped in building the young La Salle School into the University that it is today. The same is true with its staff. The lives of the countless writers, editors, photojournalists, and artists of the publication for the past five decades would have been different if The Spectrum didn’t come into existence.
The Staff School Year 2006-07
Editor-in-Chief Krysl Marie E. Santiago
Associate Editor Manuel Jeffrey O. Sistoso
Managing Editor Kristine R. Debulgado
Newspaper Editor Patrick Jay P. Pangilinan
Magazine Editor Faith R. Dulla
Asst. Magazine Editor Judy L. Garrucha
Photos & Graphics Editor Philip M. Porras
Layout Editor Arjay D. Solitario
Newspaper Writers
Neslie Faith V. Sianson
Katherin L. Dela Cruz
Magazine Writers
Hannah Maria Alexandria L. Lacson
Katrina Rosario I. Javellana
Aira Marie A. Reyes
Janela Joy R. Libo-on
Illustrators
Ryan B. Enema
Christian D. Jison
Layout Artists
Timothy A. Escopete
Rigil Kent B. Ariola
Editorial Assistant John Marty T. Lacson
Moderator Ms. Jean Lee C. Patindol
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Some of The Spectrum's Staff. Christian Jison (Illustrator), Faith Dulla (Magazine Editor) and Jepoi Sistoso (Associate Editor) SY 2006-07.
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The Spectrum covers the 2006 University of St. La Salle Student Government General Elections.
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Delegates during the 2nd Spectrum Negroswide Campus Journalism Fellowship, February of 2006.
