Sublime Torch Publication

𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟓, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 | 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲

Every September 15, the world marks the International Day of Democracy, a celebration of people and their place in shaping society. It honors the freedom to speak, the right to choose, and the courage to take part in matters that reach beyond the self.

Established by the United Nations in 2007, the observance shines a light on values that keep communities moving forward—equality, human rights, freedom, and participation. These may sound like words written on paper, but they take life in ordinary moments: a hand raised to ask a question, an opinion freely shared, or a choice made without fear. In these small acts, the spirit of democracy quietly lives.

Not every voice carries the same sound, nor does every person see the world through the same window. Yet democracy makes space for these differences, allowing many thoughts to meet without requiring them to become one. It is in this meeting of voices that understanding can begin.

With this freedom comes a responsibility to listen as much as we speak, to respect differences without turning them into walls, and to remember that having a voice also means making room for others.

The celebration may pass, but its meaning should linger in the choices people make and the spaces they create for one another. For democracy remains alive when people are free to speak, willing to listen, and brave enough to let others be heard.

✍️ | 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐳𝐜𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐚, 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫
🎨 | 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐛𝐨ñ𝐚, 𝐋𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭

𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐔𝐒 𝐀𝐃𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐑𝐘 | 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐌𝐢𝐝𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞

The Pre-Midterm Examinations for the First Semester of the Academic Year 2026-2027 are scheduled from September 14 to 19, 2026.

Make sure to take note of your respective schedules and prepare accordingly.

Good luck, Mabinians!

𝐁𝐌𝐂 𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝟒𝐭𝐡-𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐍𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Fourth-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students of Mabini Colleges, Inc. attended the Bicol Medical Center (BMC) Student Affiliates Orientation Program on September 13, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the MRI Hall, in preparation for their clinical affiliation at BMC in the second semester of Academic Year 2026–2027.

Peñafrancia R. Felix, RN, Nurse III and Affiliation Coordinator of BMC, spearheaded the orientation, which focused on the hospital’s policies, practices, and responsibilities that student affiliates are expected to observe during their clinical training.

The morning sessions covered the Clinical Orientation, which introduced BMC’s mission and vision and the Nursing Service’s mission, vision, and policies. This was followed by a discussion on Affiliation Policies, which outlined the guidelines and responsibilities of student affiliates.

In the afternoon, the sessions focused on Infection Prevention and Control Policies, Documentation Policies in BMC, and Emergency Preparedness. The discussions highlighted proper infection-control practices, clinical documentation, and appropriate responses during emergencies.

The orientation provided the student affiliates with a clearer understanding of BMC’s clinical standards and expectations as they prepare for their hospital-based training next semester.

✍️ | 𝐍𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚, 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫
📷 | 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐳𝐢𝐞 𝐀𝐢𝐥𝐚 𝐋𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐬, 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟 𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

𝐌𝐂 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐃

Mabini Colleges, Inc. participated in the 3rd Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) today, September 10, 2026.

In adherence to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Memorandum No. 15, s. 2026, the institution took part in the earthquake drill to strengthen disaster preparedness and ensure an immediate and coordinated response during emergencies.

Mac Gregor Estacion, RCrim, Assistant Dean of the College of Criminal Justice Education and the institution's Disaster Risk Reduction Management Coordinator, highlighted that there are four different exit points in the institution which can be used during actual emergencies to facilitate faster evacuation.

Meanwhile, various government agencies in Daet, Camarines Norte also took part in NSED and conducted their respective evacuation activities and drills.

The conduct of the quarterly earthquake drills tests the coordination and preparedness of different agencies and institutions during actual disasters and emergencies.

✍️ | 𝐌𝐚. 𝐊𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐋. 𝐍𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐥, 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫-𝐢𝐧-𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟
📷 | 𝐉𝐚𝐞𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐊𝐢𝐦 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬, 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟 𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭; 𝐏𝐚𝐮𝐥 𝐕𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬, 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟 𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭; 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐈𝐬𝐚𝐚𝐜, 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐍𝐨𝐜𝐡𝐞!

The Sublime Torch family greets a warmest birthday wishes to our talented Staff Writer, Ms. Rendaugh Noche. May this new chapter bring you stories worth telling. May you find experiences enough to turn into powerful writing. May you have all the chances to grow to learn to sharpen your craft.

Keep holding your pen with purpose. Keep writing with compassion. Keep standing strong with courage as you leave your mark in campus journalism.

Again happy birthday, Rendaugh! May you keep creating keep inspiring and keep shining. Wishing you an fruitful year ahead.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐒 𝐈 𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐖
by Zoe Aveline Franchesca Lovidice • Scorpius

I once drew on the skin of my wrists and arms,
Not to call upon death nor sound the alarms,
Just when the numbness settles deep
And certain thoughts begin to creep.

Blooming bright, each jagged line—
A masterpiece or a cruel design?
Perhaps it shows from the way I heave
Or the haste in tugging my sleeve.

Yet with time, my hold became weak,
Along is the weight of which I do not often speak
And somewhere in between, the red began to fade
Into a slightly better shade.

Survived what almost could have been,
If the thread continued running thin.
Still, I would choose to live to tell the tale
Of the scars that came to be and the girl who
was labeled as ‘frail’.

🎨 | 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐬, 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐌𝐚. 𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐚 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨!

The Sublime Torch family warmly wishes a happy birthday to our talented Copy Editor. Your insights, dedication, and commitment to the publication inspire the whole team.

May your day be filled with unforgettable moments, and may you continue your passion and keep your talent that leaves an impact. Again, happiest birthday, Teresa!

𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐍 | 𝐒𝐚 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐨𝐝 𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐚

Bago pa man mapuno ng mga boses ang silid-aralan, naroon na sila.

May g**ong nagmamadaling ayusin ang mga papel. May g**ong inuulit ang kaniyang leksiyon sa isip. May g**ong ilang oras lamang ang tulog, ngunit kailangang ngumiti pagpasok ng kaniyang mga mag-aaral.

Sa harap ng pisara, tila payak ang kaniyang tungkulin: magturo.

Ngunit sa likod nito, may higit na mabigat na kuwento.

Sa mga paaralang kapos sa silid, upuan at mga kagamitan, kailangan pa rin nilang humanap ng paraan upang maging sapat ang kung anong mayroon para sa kanilang mga mag-aaral. May mga g**ong umaako ng mga gawaing bukod sa pagtuturo, at nagsisilbing tagapayo at sandigan ng mga batang may sarili ring pinapasan. Sa gitna ng mga pagbabago at hamong patuloy na hinaharap ng sistema ng edukasyon, hindi lamang leksiyon ang kanilang kailangang ihanda, kundi pati ang sarili nilang lakas para sa panibagong araw.

May mga araw na mas madaling magsulat sa pisara kaysa burahin ang pagod.

Ngunit kinabukasan, naroon pa rin sila. Muling bubuksan ang libro. Muling tatawagin ang mga pangalan ng kanilang mga estudyante. Muling ipaliliwanag ang leksiyong hindi naintindihan kahapon. At sa pagitan ng mga numero, salita, pagsusulit, at takdang-aralin, may mga bagay na hindi kailanman kasama sa syllabus: ang pagtitiyaga, ang pakikinig, at ang paniniwala sa isang batang halos hindi na naniniwala sa sarili.

At sa kabila ng lahat, may mga tagumpay na hindi kailangang iakyat sa entablado.

Minsan, sapat nang makita ang isang batang unang nakabasa nang mag-isa, isang dating tahimik na estudyanteng natutong magtaas ng kamay, o ang isang pangarap na muntik nang bitawan ngunit muling hinawakan.

Dahil ang tagumpay ng isang g**o ay hindi laging nasusukat sa medalyang natanggap ng mga mag-aaral. Minsan, dumarating ito paglipas ng maraming taon, sa isang dating estudyanteng biglang babalik at magsasabing, “Ma’am, Sir, maraming salamat po.”

Sa sandaling iyon, maaaring wala nang laman ang pisara.

Tuyo na ang tinta. Nakatupi na ang mga papel. Tahimik na ang silid-aralan.

Ngunit ang itinuro nila ay hindi na kailangang isulat muli.

Sapagkat bago sila naging g**o, sila muna ay tao.

Mga taong may sariling pagod, sariling pangarap, at sariling laban, ngunit pinipiling bumalik upang tulungan ang iba na maabot ang kanila.

At sa bawat araw na pinipili nilang magturo, may isang henerasyong unti-unting natututong mangarap.

Dahil ang tunay na marka ng isang g**o ay hindi nananatili sa pisara. Nananatili ito sa buhay ng mga taong minsan nilang tinuruan.

✍️ | 𝐍𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚, 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫
🎨 | 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐨, 𝐋𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭

𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐎𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐂𝐒 | 𝐌𝐂 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝟒𝟓.𝟕𝟔% 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐂𝐋𝐄

Mabini Colleges, Inc. recorded a 45.76% passing rate in the August 2026 Criminologists Licensure Examination (CLE), based on the official results released by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) on September 1, 2026.

A total of 27 out of 59 examinees from Mabini Colleges passed the examination, while 32 failed. First-time takers recorded a 58.54% passing rate, while repeat takers posted 16.67%, based on the official PRC results.

Congratulations to the newly successful criminologists!

✍️ | 𝐆𝐞𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐚, 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫
🎨 | 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐲 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐰 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫