The Varsitarian P.Y. 2018-2019 Issue 10

Volume XCI, No. 10 • May 28, 2019 THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSIT Y OF SANTO TOMAS Manila, Philippines

FINISH LINE. A candidate for graduation from the College of Science rejoices upon passing through the historic Arch of the Centuries. The tradition capped off UST’s send-off ceremonies on May 24..

MARY JAZMIN D. TABUENA

UST sends off 10,186 graduates Glorious finish for Golden Tigresses THE UST Golden Tigresses ended another season with a heartbreak, losing to the Ateneo de Manila Lady Eagles in the best-of-three series for the UAAP women’s volleyball title.

Ateneo reclaimed the crown in dominant fashion, sweeping an error-plagued UST, 25-17, 25-22, 25-22, in Game 3 of the Season 81 finals at the Mall of Asia Arena last May 18.

The Lady Eagles’ height made the difference and had a 14-3 advantage in the blocking department. Ateneo also scored 29 easy points off the Tigresses’ errors.

Most Valuable Player (MVP) Sisi Rondina and Rookie of the Year Eya Laure kept UST Tigresses PAGE 16

WHAT'S INSIDE UNIVERSITY

The Labor department has ordered the UST Faculty Union to get members’ approval for the controversial distribution of P22 million in savings.

GRACIOUS IN DEFEAT. Season 81 women’s volleyball MVP Cherry Ann Rondina sings the UST Hymn one last time as she ends her five-year stint in the Golden Tigresses with a runner-up finish.

ENRICO MIGUEL S. SILVERIO

SpecialReport

Reduced teaching load sought to improve UST’s QS ranking

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By JOB ANTHONY R. MANAHAN

EDITORIAL

UNLESS the academic load of faculty members is reduced and the criteria for faculty research are revised, the University will not rise in the Quacquarelli-Symonds (QS) World University Rankings, researchers said.

The University must reduce the academic units of faculty members so they can devote more time for research, said Prof.

Joyce Arriola, director of UST’s Research Center for Culture, Arts and Humanities.

“If you’re the faculty and so

After the May elections, the young bloods who toppled political dynasties have a chance to redefine what a true public servant is.

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EVANGELIZATION WOES

The Catholic Church continues to face challenges in evangelization almost 500 years since the arrival of Christanity in the Philippines.

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much is expected of you, such as to publish one article a year in a Scopus, you will opt to teach na lang because that’s your comfort zone….bago ka makasulat ng article ang classes mo ay seven... may klase ka pa din na marami,” Arriola told the Varsitarian.

Faculty members have to render 21 teaching units and are urged to publish scholarly works locally or internationally, Arriola said.

She suggested that the full Reduced PAGE 3

THE UNIVERSITY sent off 10,186 graduates in this year’s Baccalaureate Mass and exit through the Arch of the Centuries on May 24.

Rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. reminded the graduating Thomasians of the importance of “sustained love and forgiveness.”

“My graduating Thomasians, stop being ‘ghosters,’ this is not the kind of love that Jesus wants,” Dagohoy said. “Love has to be sustained, taken good care of and protected from those who want to destroy it.”

Graduating students were given “mission crosses” to symbolize their objective of putting their Thomasian education to good use after leaving the University.

The Mass ended with the Ceremony of Light to remind graduating students of their duty to spread the light of the Christian faith.

A pyro-musical display with the theme of “Avengers: Endgame” and iconic band Queen followed the Mass. A recessional parade through the Arch of the Centuries capped the event, signaling the end of the students’ college life.

The Faculty of Arts and Letters produced the biggest number of graduating students this academic year at 1,529, followed by the Faculty of Pharmacy with 1,083 candidates and the College of Commerce and Business Administration with 975.

Graduates PAGE 5

Grant for humanities research launched IN A BID to strenghten research in the humanities, UST has established an annual research grant through an endowment from the family of the late businessman Antonio Cabangon Chua.

The UST Research and Endowment Foundation, Inc. signed last Feb. 26 an agreement with the Cabangon Chua family and the ALC Group of Companies to formally establish the UST-Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua Research Award for the Humanities.

The UST Department of Literature will accept submissions for the research award until June 7 this year. Two researchers will be given the award every year.

Submissions must involve a biography and a detailed documentation of a Thomasian artist who had contributed Research PAGE 5

2 News

Assistant News Editor: Kevin A. Alabaso

MAY 28, 2019

USTFU told: Explain funds distribution UST FACULTY Union (USTFU) President George Lim has failed to secure the approval of the union’s special general assembly for last year’s distribution of P22 million in savings.

Lim was supposed to explain the distribution of P22 million in union funds upon an order from the labor department, but there was no quorum during the heavily guarded assembly at the Medicine auditorium on May 28.

“We understand [that the lack of attendees] means that many of our faculty members could no longer be dissuaded from prior commitments,” Lim said in a statement.

The Labor department has ordered union officials to explain to members the controversial distribution of union savings last year, following a complaint filed by a group of faculty members.

In a resolution dated May 9, a mediator-arbiter of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) told USTFU President George Lim and other officials to call for a general assembly and justify the distribution of P22 million in funds.

“Failure on the part of the respondents to comply with the directive and/or failure to obtain a majority (in the general assembly)… will result [in] the restitution by the members of the respective amounts received by them to the USTFU union funds,” the resolution read.

Lim wrote members in a letter dated May 22: “I understand everyone is busy at this time of the academic year, but in compliance with the Order, we are calling for an [assembly]… Please be present so we can lay this issue to rest.”

He said he was “saddened” by the complaint filed by a group of faculty members in February against the “majority” of the officers.

Lawyer Danielito Jimenez, legal counsel of the complainants, said the resolution of the labor department pointed to Lim’s violation of union by-laws.

“It is bewildering why he is only saddened now when the case was filed months ago… The [complainants] took a noble stand to question what they felt was legally and morally wrong… a distribution of savings coming from incumbent, retired and separated [USTFU] members,” he told the Varsitarian.

Jimenez said the directive from the labor department should pave the way for “proper assemblies” in the future.

He clarified that the restitution of the union fund distribution was not yet final, as it must be resolved in a final resolution of the DOLE. Faculty members Rene Tadle, Noel Asiones, Michelle Desierto, Leonardo Guevarra Jr., Gemma Aboy, John Vincent Ignacio and Ramil Sotelo Sasi filed a complaint against USTFU officials before the DOLE in February, citing the alleged unjust distribution of USTFU savings.

The complainants opposed the release of P22 USTFU PAGE 5

Faculty retirees given honors THE UNIVERSITY honored 45 retiring faculty members for their years of service to the Thomasian community last May 8 at the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes O.P. Building.

In his message, UST Rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. emphasized the faculty members’ role in making UST known as “one of the best schools.”

“An institution of higher learning is [only] as good as its teaching force,” Dagohoy said.

“We experience both success and failure in our journey, but in the end, we know that we have learned quite a lot and have become better persons,” he added.

Prof. Ricardo Agbayani, head of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine who had served the University for 35 years, led this year’s roster of retirees and delivered the response on behalf of the retiring faculty members. “[The greatest reward] is not the success, the awards [nor] the recognitions [we may receive].

As an educator, the greatest reward was that I was able to help students finish their studies,” Agbayani said in his speech.

Agbayani was the director of the Institute of Physical Therapy, the present-day College of Rehabilitation Sciences, for four years. He served as dean for three years. “[I’m glad] they (UST) are able to appreciate the efforts we have done and the contributions we have given to the University. We are part of the triumphs and improvement of the University,” Agbayani told the Varsitarian.

Vice Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. and Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Cheryl Peralta joined the annual ceremony.

The faculty retirees were the following: Associate Professors Tobias Bonaobra and Ma. Rebecca Penafiel and Mr. Enrico Cinco (College of Architecture); Asst. Prof. Amanda Lachica and Associate Professors Emmanuel Lopez, Ferdinand Lopez and Reynaldo Reyes (Faculty of Arts and Letters); Lawyer Alberto Dolosa and Assoc. Prof.

Mercurio Elenzano (College of Commerce and Business Administration); Retirees PAGE 5

Seminarian leads graduating batch A SEMINARIAN from the UST Central Seminary was named valedictorian of the graduating batch of 2019 after obtaining a general weighted average of 1.126.

In his speech during the annual Student Awards’ Day on May 17, Bro. John Alfred Rabena urged graduates to “live up to the mission” of UST outside the four corners of the institution. “[O]ur education does not end in the cultivation of our IQ (intelligence quotient), nor in the feeding of ideas. We opt to live up to the mission of our University—to spread the light, Lumina Pandit,” said Rabena, who is also the president of the Faculty of Philosophy Students’ Forum.

The seminarian who hails from Ilocos Sur, said the measure of a Thomasian’s education is how they stand up for justice and defend the truth.

“Panalo ang Tomasino dahil siya ay may paninindigan sa katotohanan. Panalo ang Tomasino dahil siya’y nagmamahal. Panalo ang pamilyang Tomasino dahil ang bawat isa ay tumatayo para sa salitang ‘tayo,’” he said.

Rabena said he was dedicating his award to his father who had passed away.

“He was active in the social ministry, and [that] inspired me to become more like him,” Rabena told the Varsitarian.

Rabena was among the recipients of the Rector’s Academic Award, UST’s highest academic recognition, during the UST Student Awards at the Quadricentennial Pavilion on May 17, Friday.

Other recipients of the Rector’s Academic Award were Sem. Jomari Joseph Aragones (Faculty of Sacred Theology), Henrick Ryan Fong (Faculty of Medicine and Surgery), Simon Miguel Lopez (Faculty of Pharmacy), Monique de la Cruz Bernardino (Faculty of Arts and Letters), Xiorence Cai (Faculty of Engineering), Sean Kalel Garcia (College of Education), Rizza Loren Osmillo (College of Science), Rhoma Raine Manzo (College of Architecture), Ma. Angela Camille Salas (College of Commerce and Business Administration), Kristina Balangue (Conservatory of Music), Maria-Jayne Lerma (College of Nursing), Wingmay Yves Alegado (College of Rehabilitation Sciences), Jianne Seminarian PAGE 5

Bro. John Alfred Rabena delivers his acceptance speech during the Student Awards Day at the Quadricentennial Pavilion on May 17.

GENIELYN ROSARIO M. SORIANO

‘Teaching is a blessing,’ ex-Rector tells faculty, non-teaching staff TEACHING is a blessing.

This was the message of three-time UST rector Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, O.P during the 20th Dangal ng UST Awards held in honor of faculty members and non-teaching staff for their years of service in UST. De la Rosa reminded professors to look at teaching as a vocation and not just as a profession. “[I]niisip natin lagi ‘yong hirap at ‘yong obligasyon ng pagtuturo,” he said. “[Teaching, as a] vocation, is a choice.

It is what defines your presence in the world, it also reflects your identity and orients you towards your destiny,” he added.

De la Rosa also urged Thomasian professors to remember their goal as teachers.

“Sa loob ng dalawang dekada, ang mga gurong Tomasino ay nagtagumpay sa pagbibigay at pagpapanatili ng karangalan sa pagiging guro,” he said.

Rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. said the true success of Thomasian educators should not only be measured by the number of their awards or their skill in research.

“Ang husay at maayos na kalagayan ng maraming Tomasino sa iba’t-ibang larangan, ay pagpapatunay sa husay ng gurong Tomasino,” he said.

The Gawad Benavides Award, a loyalty award, was granted to 37 awardees who had served the University for 20 years. Also, 39 professors who had served the University for 25 years, 20 professors for 30 years, and 22 professors for 35 years of service.

Professors Marilyn Mabini (Faculty of Engineering); Carmelita Cardona and Rodolfo Rabor (Faculty of Pharmacy); Ma. Corazon Zaida Gamilla, Josephine Lumitao and Edgardo Orlina (Faculty of Medicine and Surgery); Ma. Rebecca Penafiel (College of Architecture); and Evangeline Timbang

(College of Tourism and Hospitality Management) received the award for 40 years of service in UST. Most of the Gawad Benavides awardees were from the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery—36 professors.

The San Lorenzo Ruiz Award was given to those with outstanding achievements or were recognized in the national or international scene.

San Lorenzo Ruiz awardees were College of Science professors Allan Patrick Macabeo and Mario Tan; Artlets professor Paul Castillo; College of Education professor Anna Cherylle Ramos; Faculty of Pharmacy Dean Aleth Therese Dacanay; and College of Accountancy Dean Patricia Empleo.

Leonardo Guevarra of the Faculty of Pharmacy received the Gawad San Alberto Teaching PAGE 5

Usapang Uste

Si John Paul II at ang kabataang Filipino DINALA noong ika-15 ng Mayo sa UST ang blood relic ni San Juan Pablo II, ang Santo Papa na naging lalong malapit sa puso ng maraming Tomasino dahil sa pagdalo niya sa World Youth Day na ginanap sa Maynila noong 1995.

Idinaos mula ika-10 hanggang ika-15 ng Enero 1995, iyon ang unang World Youth Day na ipinagdiwang sa Asya. Dinaluhan ito ng 233 delegado mula sa Bosnia, Egypt, India, Thailand, Ukraine, Cuba, Sudan at iba pa.

Bilang bahagi ng pagdiriwang, ginanap ang International Youth Forum sa Continuing Medicine Education (kasalukuyang Medicine Auditorium) ng Unibersidad. Walong delegado ang kumatawan sa Pilipinas.

Layunin ng pagtitipong ito na paigtingin ang komunikasyon sa pagitan ng mga kabataan at mga namumuno sa Simbahan. Inorganisa ito ng Pontifical Council for the Laity sa tulong ng pamunuan ni P. Rolando de la Rosa, OP,

rektor ng UST. Inihalintulad ni Padre de la Rosa ang pagtitipon sa Tore ng Babel at “miracle of tongues” dahil sa kabila ng pagkakaiba-iba ng wika, nakapagbahagi pa rin ng kuwento ang mga kabataang delegado sa isa’t isa.

Bilang kinatawan ng kabataang Filipino, ipinabatid ng dating punong patnugot ng Varsitarian na si Karen Torralba ang mensahe ng kabataan sa Santo Papa sa pagtitipon sa UST grandstand.

Binigyang-diin ni Torralba na hindi dapat matakot ang kabataan na ipakita ang kanilang mga ideya at opinyon, bagkus ay ipaglaban ito nang may paninindigan. Hinikayat niya na pakinggan ng Simbahan ang mga kabataan.

Tomasino Siya Kilala si Justice Angelina Gutierrez bilang alagad ng batas at sa hindi niya matatawarang serbisyo sa hudikatura.

Si Gutierrez ay kumuha ng kursong abogasya sa Faculty of Civil Law ng Unibersidad at nagtapos noong 1960. Pinagpatuloy niya Usapang Uste PAGE 12

MAY 28, 2019

News 3

Engineering reclaims Pautakan crown THE FACULTY of Engineering made a comeback championship in the 42nd installment of Pautakan, the longest-running intercollegiate quiz contest in the country on May 27 at the Medicine auditorium.

Engineering dethroned the USTAlfredo M. Velayo (AMV) College of Accountancy, which kept the historic revolving championship trophy for the past two years, with a 110-point lead in the final round.

“It was relieving po kasi dalawang taon na po kaming talo, na-achieve namin ‘yong goal namin na makuha ang 12th championship,” Engineering Team Captain Joseph Matthew Caballas told the Varsitarian in an interview.

Accountancy missed its “three-peat” goal after placing second with 130 points.

The Faculty of Pharmacy landed on the third spot with 75 points, while the Faculty of Arts and Letters got 70 points.

Back-to-back champion Caballas defended his individual category title with 195 points, beating challenger Danvhar Nojara of Accountancy with 125 points.

Mark Fillippe Pastor of Education bagged the third spot with 105 points.

The veteran resource persons for this year’s Pautakan were Selwyn Clyde Alojipan (Science and Technology), Jose Ramon Lorenzo (General Information), Judy Lim Gabriel (Mathematics), Jerome Ong (General History), Jose Neil Garcia (Humanities) and Jose Victor Torres (UST History).

ABS-CBN Sports and Action reporter Angelique Manto and UAAP Seasons 80 and 81 courtside reporter Migs Gomez were the quiz masters of this year’s Pautakan.

AMV dedicates win to late teammate The Accountancy team dedicated its second-place Pautakan finish to a member who passed away last year.

The Faculty of Engineering claims its 12th Pautakan championship after dethroning the UST-AMV College of Accountancy on May 27 at the Medicine auditorium.

ENRICO MIGUEL S. SILVERIO

Former Civil Law dean Reduced teaching load sought Augusto Aligada Jr., 92 to improve UST’s QS ranking TRIBUTES poured in for former Civil Law dean Augusto Aligada Jr. who passed away at the age of 92 last May 21 after a bout with pneumona.

Aligada was one of the longestserving professors of the University, having taught for more than 50 years.

He first taught at the College of Commerce in 1964 while serving as secretary of Adamson University’s College of Law. In a Mass at the Santisimo Rosario for Aligada on May 22, Civil Law Regent Fr. Isidro Abaño paid tribute to the late professor for “illuminating others.”

“Dean Aligada [was] not just a bright light that is shining, but the shining light that is illuminating others so that, in turn, they can catch the light and they themselves become the shining light,” he said in his homily as quoted by UST’s website.

Newly appointed Supreme Court Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier said Aligada did not only “teach us with his mind [but] with his heart and soul.”

“We lost an outstanding educator, brilliant lawyer, amazing person, loyal friend and the embodiment of a true Thomasian, but gained an ally in heaven,” Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina told the Varsitarian in a text message.

Aligada was appointed UST Civil Law Department chairman in 1989 and became a Bar reviewer in 1986.

“Dean Augusto Aligada Jr. was the most feared and most loved of all professors in UST Law. Everyone was scared of him inside the classroom but anywhere else, he had the kindest and [most gentle] heart,” Dwardsky Laxa, a former student of Aligada in Civil Law, said in his Facebook post.

“Having been under your guidance in most of my civil law journey, I only

FROM PAGE 1

Dean Augusto Aligada’s photo in The Thomasian Yearbook 2005.

have the kindest words for you Dean.

Maraming salamat po,” Asst. Prof.

Danielito Jimenez, a former student of Aligada, also said on Facebook.

Aligada spent his secondary education in Colegio de San Juan de Letran, before finishing it in the University in 1947.

He then took up associate in arts, a two-year pre-law course, at the old College of Liberal Arts in UST. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in law in 1953.

Aligada received The Outstanding Thomasian Alumni Award in 2009.

Aligada’s remains were brought to UST on Tuesday, May 22 and were moved to the Mt. Carmel Church in Quezon City on the same day.

Interment was held on May 26, Sunday, at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina. ANGELIKA V. ORTEGA

academic load be reduced to 12.

Arriola, who has doctorates in communication and literature, also expressed dismay on the number of students per class, blaming it on the University’s “business model” that accepts too many enrollees.

“If a university will not protect its faculty, take care of it, if the faculty is [burdened] at the end of the day, overworked with 44 students in a class, checking [papers] and then you expect them to return the papers after a week, that’s too much,” she said.

This was not the first time a faculty member raised such concerns, as the first consolidated Collective Bargaining Agreement draft, which was distributed to UST Faculty Union (USTFU) members for review in September 2018, proposed a reduction of the faculty members’ academic loads, among others.

The panel also proposed to cut the number of students for laboratory and lecture classes to conform with the standards of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations University Quality Network, which recommends no more than 30 students per class.

UST is ranked within the 801-1000 bracket of the QS worldwide university rankings, a position it has held since 2018. It clung to the 701+ bracket for four consecutive years before landing on the current spot.

UP remained the only school in the Philippines ranked in the top 500 universities in the world, while UST is still the only university in the country with a QS four-star rating.

According to the QS Top Universities website, a university with a fourstar rating is “highly international, demonstrating excellence in both research and teaching, and provides an excellent environment for students and faculty.”

UST retained its perfect fivestar ranking in employability, facilities, social responsibility

and inclusiveness.

The QS world ranking is based on six factors: academic reputation (40 percent), employer reputation (10 percent), facultystudent ratio (20 percent), citations per faculty (20 percent), international faculty ratio (five percent) and international student ratio (five percent).

Research criteria hit Arriola said the criteria of excellence for faculty researchers in the University should be revised. She lamented how the framework leans in favor of the sciences, when there are also “quality publications” that should be taken into consideration in the pointing system.

The criteria, obtained by the Varsitarian, showed that researches refereed internationally in the Institute of Scientific Information (ISI) or researches that are in Scopus, a bibliographic database of academic journal articles worldwide, would award 40 points to a faculty member, compared with non-ISI or nonScopus indexed researches that score 20 points.

A scholarly work published nationally is equivalent to 15 points Reduced PAGE 10

4 Opinion

MAY 28, 2019

Editorial

Our damaged culture, our vacuous democracy THE RESULTS of the May elections show that while Filipinos have taken to democracy as a matter of practice, they hardly have grown in democratic maturity. Filipinos vote according to their stomach, their self-interest, not according to their conscience or for the common welfare.

More often than not, Filipinos confuse electing men and women to power not on merit and what the commonweal demands, but based on narrow self-interest, such as jobs, education, and shelter (or securing spaces they have squatted on). Never mind the candidates’ moral turpitude, corruption, lack of education, lack of experience, and incompetence in office. As long as candidates kowtow to the voter’s narrow self-interest, they will get the votes of Filipinos. No wonder vote-buying has worsened through the years.

Who could blame the poor, anyway? They have grown desperate and they will sell anything--their dignity, their soul, their vote-- to make the ends meet for their families. Politicians know too well to use all of this to their advantage.

An election demographic showed that more than 48 million voters came from Class D or the middle class, 9.8 million from the poorest, while only 3.7 million from classes A, B and C. It is no wonder, therefore, that the slate endorsed

by President Duterte handily won. The country’s next Senate will see the likes of Bato de la Rosa, the madman in Malacañang’s butcher responsible for carrying out his genocidal war on drugs; Bong Go, the President’s crony who refused to participate in debate forums during the campaign; and actor Bong Revilla Jr., whose silly dancing in his campaign ads should show how show biz could sugarcoat and even obscure the alleged plunder of the tens of millions of pesos for which he has been indicted in a graft court.

Once again, the outcome of the senatorial elections in this country has proven a complete mockery of the previous generations of lawmakers– men and women of intellect, dignity and respect. In electing more crooks to the Senate, Filipinos have consented to Duterte’s governance –full of vulgarity, sexism, misogyny, bloodshed, despotism, treasonous accommodation of totalitarian Communist China, and intolerance of public criticism.

All of this should confirm James Fallows’ claim three decades ago when democracy was restored after the Edsa revolution of the Filipinos’ “damaged culture.” It may be that because of the widespread vote-buying and Duterte’s distaste for criticism and dissent and his naked despotic ways, that the damage has worsened. Philipine democracy is not only damaged or flawed; it is vacuous. Definitely, it is blighted.

Editorial PAGE 5

FOUNDED JANUARY 16, 1928 CHRISTIAN DE LANO M. DEIPARINE Editor in Chief KLIMIER NICOLE B. ADRIANO Managing Editor LEXANNE O. GARCIA Associate Editor JULIA CLAIRE L. MEDINA News Editor KEVIN A. ALABASO Assistant News Editor MA. ANGELICA D. GARCIA Sports Editor ARIANNE AINE D. SUAREZ Special Reports LOUISE CLAIRE H. CRUZ Features Editor ELMER B. COLDORA Literary Editor LYON RICARDO III M. LOPEZ Circle Editor DEEJAE S. DUMLAO Photography Coordinator NATHANAEL JONAS S.J. RODRIGO Art Director News Ahmed Khan H. Cayongcat, Angelika V. Ortega, Neil Joshua N. Servallos Sports John Ezekiel J. Hirro, Faith Yuen Wei N. Ragasa, Ivan Ruiz L. Suing, Theresa Clare K. Tañas, Justin Robert Valencia Special Reports Lady Cherbette Agot, Job Anthony R. Manahan, Klyra V. Orbien Literary Karl Ben L. Arlegui, Jessica Joy C. Buenafe, Briana Michaela C. Diche, Matthew Dominic D. Dimapawi, Hailord N. Lavarias, Therese Marie F. Ungson Filipino Vivienne Audrey P. Angeles, Malic U. Cotongan, Joselle Czarina S. de la Cruz, Francis Agapitus E. Braganza Witness Eugene Dominic V. Aboy, O.P., Mariel Celine L. Serquiña Science and Technology Miguel Alejandro IV A. Herrera, Beatriz Avegayle S. Timbang Circle Jiselle Anne C. Casucian, Nolene Beatrice H. Cruicillo, Katrina Isabel C. Gonzales Art Mariane Jane A. Cadiz, Alisa Joy T. del Mundo, Mari Kloie D. Ledesma, Jury P. Salaya, Rica Mae V. Soriente Photography Hazel Grace S. Posadas, Enrico Miguel S. Silverio, Jose Miguel J. Sunglao, Mark Darius M. Sulit, Mary Jazmin D. Tabuena Editorial Assistant Jose Miguel S. del Rosario FELIPE F. SALVOSA II Assistant Publications Adviser JOSELITO B. ZULUETA Publications Adviser

Letters/comments/suggestions are welcome in the Varsitarian. Only letters with signatures and corresponding contact details will be entertained. Original manuscript contributions must be typewritten, double-spaced, on regular bond paper, and should include a signed certification bearing the author’s name, address, year and college. The identity of the writer may be withheld upon request. The editors will not be responsible for the loss of materials. Contributions must be sent to THE VARSITARIAN, Rm. 105, Tan Yan Kee Student Center, University of Santo Tomas, España, Manila.

Commerce major—odd woman out COMMITTING to an institution for three years is no easy feat. It takes a lot of perseverance, courage, and dedication.

When I entered the Arch of the Centuries during the ritual freshman walk, I knew nothing about the Varsitarian. I just wanted to hone my creativity in writing and write in any publication on campus.

I came from the College of Commerce and Business Administration, a college that is quite irrelevant in journalism. We are more trained to face statistics and graphs than focus on societal issues.

It was just another day in summer ‘16 in UST at the Tan Yan Kee Student Center when I saw in a poster outside the Varsitarian office that the University’s official student paper was looking for applicant writers.

Angeli Cantillana, then managing editor of the ‘V,’ handed us application forms.

Back then, I had no idea that I would one day succeed her after two years.

I was only equipped with my love for reading and a

Not all change is growth. One must look if the change one is undergoing is either progress or regress. To be a ‘V’ staffer is to go through the former. stint in feature and literary writing back in high school when I entered ‘V.’ I didn’t really expect to leave ‘V’ with such wisdom.

Being the only Commerce student in this prestigious publication. I was the odd woman out.

I was assigned to the Circle (Arts and Culture) section as a writer. I did not know what that meant at first.

But being a Circle writer for two years made me a more holistic person.

I was fortunate to have my eyes opened to the beauty, importance and relevance of culture and the arts in the Philippines, something that many have yet to learn, much

less appreciate.

Covering arts and culture events did not only feed my eyes with aesthetics; I also got a crash course on social issues such as corruption, poverty and inequality.

My second year in the V was a dilemma between commitment and practicality. I had to juggle being a University scholar, student and writer each day.

But I prevailed somehow.

I became the managing editor of the Varsitarian in on my third year. From being a writer to joining the editorial board, it was a big leap. Being in the editorial board tested; I had to be

decisive, zealous, strategic, and resilient. There were hard decisions that may have seemed unfair for those who do not fully understand – but these things, we had to make in the best interests of the publication.

The ‘V’ is not a place for faint-hearted people. It is a lair of strong-willed ones who have the capability and dedication to keep on pursuing excellence. Those who truly love the V are those who do not merely complain about how he lacks in fulfilling the demands of the publication, but instead, finds a way to fill in those gaps.

In the ‘V,’ you have to grow every day just like how the publication evolved in 91 years.

As my term at the Varsitarian ends, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the people who helped me evolve in this publication year: To “Sirs” Lito Zulueta, Felipe Salvosa II and Christian Esguerra, thank you for your patience and guidance in becoming a student journalist and managing editor, the In Medias Res PAGE 14

Ang patuloy na paglaban at paninindigan SA MGA polisiyang ipinatutupad nito, lantarang ipinakikita ng administrasyong Duterte ang kawalang pakialam nito sa kapakanan ng mga kabataan. Sa kabila nito, mas kinakailangang magpakatatag at patuloy na manindigan ang mga kabataan para sa tama at sa katotohanan.

Tatlong taon mula nang maluklok ang pangulo, patuloy ang pagdanak ng dugo ng mga napapatay sa laban kontra iligal na droga. Patuloy ang pagkadamay ng mga menor de edad tulad ni Kian Loyd de los Santos at iba pang mga kabataan na direksyon ang kinakailangan at hindi balang ibinabaon ng kapulisan sa kanilang mga katawan.

Sa katatapos na halalan, nakagugulat ang harap-harapang garapalan sa pulitika sa pagkapanalo ng “Duterte Youth” bilang isang party-list group sa Kongreso.

Sino naman kaya ang kinakatawan nito, gayong hindi naman bulag ang kabataan sa mga aksyong ginagawa ng pamahalaan? Sila ay mulat sa patuloy na kawalan ng katarungan sa lipunan at kani-kanilang mga pamantasan. Ang tanging kinakatawan ng Duterte Youth ay ang mga pilit na nagbubulagbulagan at nagbibingi-bingihan sa hinaing ng mga mahihirap at naaapi ng pasistang estado na pinamumunuan ni Duterte.

Mas kinakailangang magpakatatag at patuloy na manindigan ang mga kabataan para sa tama at katotohanan.

Bukod pa rito, ang Duterte Youth ay pinangungunahan ng dating tagapangulo ng National Youth Commission na si Ronald Cardema. Kanyang pilit dinedepensahan ang mga polisiya ng kaniyang pangulo at sumuporta pa nga sa pagpapabiling sa dating diktador na si Ferdinand Marcos sa Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Isang bahid sa reputasyon ng mga kabataan na sila at katawanin ng Duterte Youth, isang grupong pinaglalaban lamang ang kagustuhan ng kanilang sinasambang diyos at tagapagligtas na si Duterte.

Ang grupong ito ay walang imik sa mga buhay ng kabataan na nalalagas sa “Tokhang” ni Duterte, sa mga kabataang nauulila dahil napagbibintangan ang kanilang mga magulang,

at sa mga kabataang nais ipakulong ng estado sa pagbababa ng edad ng criminal responsibility sa bansa.

Nakaatang sa mga nakatatanda ang responsibilidad na gabayan ang mga kabataan nang hindi sila malihis ng landas na tinatahak sa buhay.

Tulad na nga ng kasabihan, ang ginagawa ng matatanda ay nagiging tama sa mata ng mga bata. Kaya naman dapat mas magsumikap din ang nakatatandang henerasyon na mag-iwan ng tamang ehemplo sa mga pag-asa ng bayan.

Tulad ng lipunang Filipino, hindi rin nawawala ang mga kaso ng kawalang hustisya sa Unibersidad.

Kasama na rito ang kaso ni Hannah Rondilla, isang freshman mula sa College

of Education na pinatawan ng parusang suspensyon sa pagsubok niyang mag-organisa ng isang samahan ng mga organisasyon sa Unibersidad at ng diskurso sa mga isyung panlipunan tulad na lang ng pagbaba ng edad ng criminal responsibility.

Hindi nabigyan ng patas na proseso ang mag-aaral dahil walang nakadalong magulang at abogado sa pagdinig na ginanap sa Student Welfare and Development Board ng kaniyang kolehiyo, kahit na pinakiusapan niya ang administrasyon na bigyan pa siya ng panahon upang siya ay maikakatawan ng maayos.

‘Di naman makalilimutan na noong nakaraang taon ay kinailangan pang magkaroon ng pangalawang kaso ng pisikal na pang-aabuso laban sa magaaral mula sa College of Science na si Kyle Viray, upang siya ay mapatalsik sa Unibersidad.

Sa kasalukuyan naman, suspendido pa rin ang mga operasyon ng mga fraternities at sororities sa Unibersidad sa bisa ng isang utos mula sa Office for Student Affairs matapos ang pagkamatay ng Civil Law freshman na si Horacio “Atio” Castillo III mula sa hazing sa kamay ng Aegis Juris Fraternity.

Umalma na ang mga samahan mula sa Faculty of Medicine and Surgery dahil hindi Tinker PAGE 10

Opinion 5

MAY 28, 2019

Growth and fulfillment in the ‘V’ GROWING does not happen overnight.

Before the Varsitarian, I had been the sort of person who found comfort in routines. I had always played things safe and my first two years in college were witnesses to this.

As an incoming journalism junior plagued with doubts and insecurities, I gathered the courage to apply for a staff position in the official student publication of the University. It was the biggest risk I had ever taken.

I took my admission into the “V” as a validation of my decision to pursue a career in writing. But I quickly realized that the publication required so much more than knowing how to put words on paper.

Aside from writing skills, one must develop legwork skills to be able to produce competent stories.

This, I learned, is what sets a writer and a journalist apart.

Alongside putting each edition of the paper to bed, one should also help in organizing extraeditorial activities. From

The ‘V’ forced me to set aside my fears and take on the demands of working for a student paper that has stood strong and has fostered a culture of excellence for more than nine decades. inviting speakers for events to securing companies to become sponsors, a V staffer must be willing to learn and to do the grunt work.

I entered the V as a fainthearted, journalism student, who decided to give the official student publication a shot with the hope of adding an experience to her otherwise bland curriculum vitae and maybe learn a thing or two about writing from the student paper.

But it did not take long for me to outgrow my training wheels. The V forced me to set aside my fears and take on the demands of working for a student paper that has stood strong and has fostered

a culture of excellence for more than nine decades.

Being a part of the V is an honor, but it also entails a lot of sacrifice. To balance my work and academic load, there were times when I had to let go of what little time I could have had left for myself.

As the end of the publication year nears, I would like to thank the people who have been with me throughout my stay in the Varsitarian.

To Professors Lito Zulueta, ir Felipe Salvosa II and Christian Esguerra, our mentors in the V, your guidance has been invaluable in shaping who I am as an aspiring journalist.

To my friends who have

become my second family, I would not have survived the past two years without your constant support. Thank you for staying with me through the brunt of the work and the tiny victories. They say you build lifelong relationships with the people you go through the toughest times with. I am lucky to have gone through th e hardships with all of you.

To the Special Reports team for publication years 2017 to 2018 and 2018 to 2019, working with you for the past two years has been my greatest learning opportunity in college and for this, I can only ever be grateful. It has been a privilege to write for the Special Reports section.

To my parents, I never would have graced the pages of the Varsitarian without your efforts to send me to UST. Thank you for your unwavering support and patience.

To the V, you trusted me before I trusted myself. I have not just become a better writer, but also a better person because of you.

Editorial: Our damaged culture, our vacuous democracy FROM PAGE 4

In local politics, there are indications of waning political dynasties.

For the first time in decades, no kin of convicted plunderer Joseph “Erap” Estrada will sit in Congress.

The family patriarch himself was unseated as mayor of the country’s capital, much to his dismay; he lost even in his own barangay.

The Estradas lost San Juan too, where Erap began his political career in 1969.

In Pasig, the Eusebio clan that has ruled the industrialcommercial city for nearly three days also lost.

But in other cities and provinces, dynasties continued to hold sway. The picture therefore is mixed.

New politicians who

have unseated or deposed political dynasties now a chance to end a cycle that has been in Philippine politics since time immemorial, and raise a new generation of an electorate that would scrutinize their candidates well and make an informed choice come election day.

But they should be warned of turning out to be

the very same kind of people they have defeated. Power is all too blinding, especially when one thinks he is a god and that money and influence can solve all his problems.

In the same way that the Catholic faithful were urged not to “leave out God” in voting booths, so should those elected be reminded too when in power.

Seminarian leads graduating batch FROM PAGE 2

Nicole Uy (College of Fine Arts and Design), Mae Andrea Bernal (Institute of Physical Education and Athletics), Bill Julius Ocampo (UST-AMV College of Accountancy), Lyka de los Santos (College of Tourism and Hospitality Management) and Tobiel Franc Gaspi (Institute of Information and Computing Sciences).

The Varsitarian, along with 16 other student organizations and 17 students, received the Benavides Outstanding Achievement Award for excelling in regional, national or international competitions, conferences or congresses.

Recipients of the Pope Leo XIII Community Development Award, which is given to students for their involvement in community development activities, were Rome Voltaire Gomez (Graduate School);

Joseph Rafael Mauleon (Pharmacy); Kaye Angeline Jimenez (Science); and Karen Daryl Brito, John Dennhel Cruz and Aubrey Gonzal (Office for Student Affairs); and 15 student organizations.

Students who have led and organized activities that contributed to the welfare of Thomasians and other organizations outside the University were conferred the Quezon Leadership Award.

Recipients of the award were outgoing Central Student Council President Francis Gabriel Santos, John Dennhel Cruz and Jan Lucas Quilala (Office for Student Affairs); Karen Regina Calumpang (Arts and Letters); Michael Angelo Abad, Christine Joy Aban, Niña Mae Blanco and Avryll Jhet Pidoc (Commerce); Rome Voltaire Gomez (Graduate

School); Patricia Mae Asedillo (Engineering); Justine Frances Cabalay, Timothy Justin Lopez and Joseph Rafael Mauleon (Pharmacy); Anna Katrina Roxas (Rehabilitation Sciences); and Mianne Airish Hernandez and Carl Lexter Tan (Medicine and Surgery).

Seven students, which included UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball Most Valuable Player (MVP) Cherry Ann Rondina and judo MVP Dither Tablan, and eight other teams received the Pope John Paul II Outstanding Achievement Award for their achievements in sports and the arts.

Ten student organizations received the St. Dominic de Guzman award for their outstanding performance in organizing activities relevant to the University’s mission.

FROM PAGE 2

Sollano, Jr.; Associate Professors Alfred Belmonte, Rolando Cabatu, Poderoso Casuela, Jr., Froilan de Leon, Aurea Llanera, Ma. Noemi Salazar, Jerry Santos; and Assistant Professors Romeo Fernandez and Edgardo Tan (Faculty of Medicine and Surgery); Asst. Prof. Christian Dicioco (College of Nursing); Prof. Angelita Sarile and Assistant Professors Rebecca David and Ma. Teresa Suratos (Faculty of Pharmacy); Asst.

Prof.

Edna Sanchez, long-time adviser of the Salinggawi Dance Troupe (Institute of Physical Education and Athletics); Assoc. Prof. Abner Manaloto, Prof. Alicia Aguinaldo, Assoc. Prof. Susana Baldia

JOINING the ‘V’ as a lensman was the most foolish decision I made, or so I, a sociology major, thought. I was the fool with the right tools and the wrong manual.

Through the years, there was never a definite path that I planned on taking. The mindset was to “go with the flow,” and with it, I managed to survive my stay in high school, but not for long. I was ambitious, dreaming of many things –- have money, save mother Earth, be immortal for the love of knowledge and even becoming the president of the country.

That I was living in a harsh and cruel world

The ‘V’ is not for the timid and faint-hearted. Your skills are not enough, but with a heart driven by passion and teamwork, you are sure to survive. hit my noggin during college--farmers being killed, the press repressed of their freedom, the people deprived of their human rights. It was at that moment I knew that apathy should have no room in a good and just society, that closing one’s eyes to society’s affairs is a sin against mankind. It reminded me of an entry in one of Karl Marx’s essay, ‘The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Napoleon’: “History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce”.

But even before Marx, social iniquity had been prevalent. Is history really repeating itself or could it be that mankind has just been clinging to its vices and stuboorn habit?

My three-year stay at the Varsitarian can be regarded as a blessing in disguise. Buy pounding the beat and covering key issues and evens, journalism, I found out, complements by sociological training.

By being a sociology student and a photojournalist of the V, I am in the best of both worlds.

The ‘V’ exposed me to outstanding opportunities. It gave me the freedom to grow and improve my craft, as well as my character.

The Varsitarian, for me, is a medium to educate and learn. It was more than just pen and paper, rather it was also a tool in practicing democracy.

Three years was too much for some, even for me. However, like objects in this realm, it will have an end and that I should know when to say goodbye.

Luckily for me, I wasn’t completely alone.

I am eternally grateful to my friends and family, who have helped me through life’s rollercoaster ride.

To the staff, don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone every once in a while. Don’t let yourself be limited to a certain point, rather be flexible.

In this industry, you must remind yourself that you are not the best, rather you can bring out the best in someone.

The ‘V’ is not for the timid and faint-hearted.

Your skills are not enough, but with a heart driven by passion and teamwork, you are sure to survive.

Throughout my journey, I can regard the ‘V’ as more than just a newsroom, it is a second home.

For my farewell, I would love to end with the maxim of the V’s photography staff: “Mata sa langit, paa sa lupa.”

UST sends of 10,186 graduates

Faculty retirees given honors Assoc. Prof. Eufemio Barcelon and Assistant Professors Rosa Lumbrera and Beatriz Ribleza (College of Education); Mr. Cesar Jucutan (Education High School) and Mr. Carlos Marnilego and Ms. Imelda Paula Rosales (Junior High School); Prof. Edna Quinto, Assoc. Prof. Ma. Victoria Amon and Asst. Prof.

Lourdes Baldelomar (Faculty of Engineering); Associate Professors Lilia de Jesus and Cynthia Loza (College of Fine Arts and Design); Professors Ricardo Agbayani, Roy Cuison, Ditas Christina Decena, Reynaldo Javate, Irma Lee, Ma. Philomena Lopez, Remedios Ong and Jose

The St. Albertus Magnus award, which is given to students for outstanding research, was given to 10 students and eight groups.

Becarios de Santo Tomas was the sole recipient of the Tradition of Excellence Award, an honor given to organizations that have won awards for five consecutive years.

UST Rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. led the conferment of awards.

Also present were Vice Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P., Secretary General Fr. Jesus Miranda, Jr., O.P., Fr. Pablo Tiong, O.P., vice rector for religious affaris, Fr. Rolando Castro, O.P., vice rector for finance, Prof. Maribel Nonato, vice rector for research and innovation and Prof. Cheryl Peralta, vice rector for academic affairs. ANGELIKA V. ORTEGA

More than just a newsroom

FROM PAGE 1

and Asst. Prof. Joyce Llana (College of Science); and librarian Ma. Theresa Estoya. AHMED KHAN H. CAYONGCAT and NEIL JOSHUA N. SERVALLOS

Research

FROM PAGE 1 to the improvement of Filipino arts and culture.

An incentive of P150,000 will be given to each recipient of the award.

A recipient must finish the research within a year under the supervision of a senior scholar or specialist on arts and culture.

Upon completion of their research, recipients must present their final outputs in a public lecture in the University.

The number of graduating students per faculty and college this year is as follows: College of Accountancy (686), College of Architecture (320), Faculty of Canon Law (5), Faculty of Civil Law (74), College of Education (432), Faculty of Engineering (817), Faculty of Philosophy (8),

Teaching FROM PAGE 2

Magno Award for outstanding research in the health sciences, while Andrea Vargas of the Faculty of Pharmacy was cited for outstanding research in science and technology.

Moises Norman Garcia and Maria Rosario Virginia Garcia received the same award for their outstanding research in the social sciences and education.

Artlets professor

College of Fine Arts and Design (626), Graduate School (250), Graduate School of Law (12), Institute of Information and Computing Sciences (639), Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (136), Faculty of Medicine and Surgery (490 medicine graduates with 22 clinical audiology graduates),

Conservatory of Music (128), College of Nursing (386), College of Rehabilitation Sciences (293), Faculty of Sacred Theology (68), College of Science (797) and College of Tourism and Hospitality Management (410). NEIL JOSHUA N. SERVALLOS

Chuckberry Pascual received two Gawad San Alberto Magno for his outstanding research in Humanities and Social Sciences, and for his book “Ang Nawawala.” Artlets and UST Graduate School professor Augusto Antonio Aguila also took home the Gawad San Alberto Magno Award for his creative works in his book “Carnival of Hate: Stories.”

No professor was named to the Hall of Fame, as no one received at least three Gawad

San Alberto Magno or Gawad Santo Domingo trophies.

Held at the Medicine Auditorium, the annual Dangal ng UST awards has been organized by the UST Faculty Union and the UST administration since 1998. It recognizes faculty members, guidance counselors and librarians who have made outstanding contributions to the University in the fields of teaching, research and service. NEIL JOSHUA N. SERVALLOS

6 Witness

MAY 28, 2019

Relic of John Paul II visits UST THE UNIVERSITY welcomed the blood relic of St. John Paul II, the Pope who visited UST twice first in 1981 and in 1995, on May 15.

Three-time UST rector Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, O.P., in his homily for the welcome Mass for the late Pontiff’s relic, said the faithful should focus on living a good life instead of their popularity.

Politicians and celebrities, he said, become “people of the past” but saints like John Paul II will remain and continue to make Jesus Christ present in our lives.

“Show to others the unconditional love of God and feel how much God loves you,” he said in his homily. “We don’t just remember [Pope St. John Paul II], we bring him to our deepest pain, our request for healing. Our praises to God, we send through him.”

De la Rosa stressed that popularity transcends the legacy of the life of a saint. “‘Yong mga politiko, lalo na ‘yong mga nanalo, they are very famous, although some say they are notorious. ‘Yong mga pictures nila, nakapaskil sa mga poste. Nakakita na ba kayo ng taong tumitingin sa

mga pictures ng mga senador na ‘to o mga tumatakbong senador at kinakausap sila? Addressing them?

Wala,” he said.

The Eucharist is not a God but it is the presence of Jesus Christ that the faithful celebrate, which St. John Paul II taught, he added.

Calling for the end of selfdemotion, de la Rosa reminded the youth of St. John Paul II’s message that God loves them unconditionally.

“Nobody is perfect until he is loved. So, especially the young people who are here, you are loved unconditionally by God. Don’t [try] to value yourself in terms of the opinions of other people. Kung tinitingnan niyo sa ilan na ba ang likes niyo at kaunti lang, ang baba ng tingin niyo sa sarili niyo,” he said.

The blood relic stayed in the University until May 16. The visitation was part of the year-long pilgrimage of the relic in celebration of the Year of the Youth.

De la Rosa also described his “resurrection experience” during the pope’s visit to UST in 1995. “[Reurrection experience] is when you are able to tell yourself, ‘I am never the same again.’ Why? Because the presence of a saint brings a transforming grace,” de la Rosa, who was UST rector during the 1995 papal visit, said.

Throughout his pontificate,

Pope St. John Paul II visited 129 countries. He visited the country twice — in 1981 and during the World Youth Day festivities in 1995.

In his first visit, the Varsitarian released a special issue that tackled how the Pope St. John Paul II beatified five Thomasians, as well as St. Lorenzo Ruiz and 11 missionaries who were martyred in Nagasaki, Japan in 1637.

The late pontiff is known as the “saint-maker,” as he beatified 1,388 faithful and canonized more than 470 saints at St. Peter’s Square.

The Varsitarian also released a 24-page special issue on Pope St. John Paul II’s return to the Philippines in 1995 for the World Youth Day. In UST, John Paul II urged Filipinos put primacy on the ethical, the human person and one’s spirit above anything.

He also called on the Filipino youth to be self-disciplined and ready to change false values that had enslaved young people and adults.

St. John Paul II released the papal encyclical Evangelium Vitae or The Gospel of Life, which rejected threats to the dignity of life such as murder, abortion, euthanasia and the death penalty.

In his exhortation Familiaris Consortio, St. John Paul II stressed that the divorced and remarried

cannot receive communion since “their state and condition of life objectively contradict that union of love between Christ and the Church which is signified and effected by the Eucharist.”

Allowing them to receive the Eucharist would lead to error and confusion on the Church’s teaching on the indissolubility of marriage, he wrote.

On May 18, 1920, he was born Karol Józef Wojtyla in Wadowice, Poland.

When he was elected pope in 1978, he took the name John Paul II. His episcopal motto was inspired by St. Louis de Montfort, “Totus Tuus” – I am completely yours.”

On May 13, 1981, he survived an assassination attempt in St. Peter’s Square. Two years later, he visited and forgave his attacker, Ali Agca, in Rebibbia Prison.

Pope John Paul II died on April 2, 2005, due to Parkinson’s disease.

He was canonized by Pope Francis on April 27, 2014.

MARIEL CELINE N. SERQUIÑA

Catechetical ministry in PH facing dire challenges ALMOST 500 years after the the arrival of Christianity to the Philippines, the Catholic Church continues to face challenges in the evangelization and catechism of Filipinos.

Researcher Clarence Batan of the Research Center for Social Sciences and Education (RCSSED) lamented how catechism in Philippines has been understood only in terms of teaching children about basic doctrines and not as a “lifelong learning” of the faith.

“When one talks about catechetical ministry as a process of understanding our faith, we seem to always be in the Grade 1 level…. [T]hat is not what catechesis is all about. The key to doing catechesis for us is adult catechesis,” Batan told the Varsitarian.

Batan said Filipinos were merely “sacramentalized” and acquainted with religious rituals without being able to deepen their understanding of religion or applying the teachings in their personal lives.

“Kailangan mong gawin ‘yung rituals, pero other than the rituals, tuloy ang pag-aaral ng pananampalataya para matranslate mo sa pang-araw-araw na buhay,” he said.

The Philippines is the fifth largest Christian country in the world, with Roman Catholics accounting for 81 percent of its population.

According to the National Catechetical Studies (NCS), a joint research project

by RCSSED and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Episcopal Commission on Catechesis, there are about 40,000 to 50,000 catechists nationwide, majority of whom are women.

Batan, who leads the NCS research team, explained that catechists are regarded as “second-class citizens” in the Church who are compelled to engage in other Church-related activities other than their ministry as catechists.

“This is a group of volunteers who are happy, committed, satisfied, kahit hindi sila binabayaran at kahit ang dami nilang sakripisyo. Catechists really seem to play a role at the frontiers of the Church... [T]hey are fascinatingly in love with God,” he said.

Batan emphasized that the Church should give more support to the catechetical ministry in the country which is the “focal point” of the faith.

He added that the catechetical ministry must be given attention in seminaries to increase awareness and support from the Church hierarchy on the needs of catechist and catechetical centers.

“Seminary formation is critical. I really don’t think that there is emphasis on catechesis. Kailangan yung CCC (Catechism) man lang ay kabisado ng lahat ng pari at magpapari. Kung yung mga pari,

hindi nila alam yung CCC, paano pa yung iba,” he added.

Batan also called for a more inclusive and innovative approach in the catechetical ministry, which covers family, liturgical, parish and community-based catechesis, wherein male and youth catechists can participate.

In a pastoral statement last Jan. 28, the CBCP talked about the state of catechism in the country, calling for “better and more appropriate ways of communicating the faith.”

“When people do not understand our essential doctrines as Roman Catholic Christians, we have also ourselves to blame. It could also mean we have failed in our preaching. Perhaps we have not been effective enough in our catechesis about the faith,” CBCP President Archbishop Romulo Valles wrote.

Bishop Jose Mallari, chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Catechesis and Catholic Education, said the Church needs to reach out to the marginalized which is part of the work of the Holy Spirit.

“This project would entail a lot from us, and it will demand a lot of Catechetical PAGE 10

New UST parish priest priest named THE INSTALLATION rites of Fr. Paul Reagan Talavera, O.P. as the new parish priest of the Santisimo Rosario in UST is set on June 4.

Talavera will be the 15th parish priest of the Santisimo Rosario, established in 1942 under the Archdiocese of Manila.

The solemn rites will be presided by Msgr. José Clemente Ignacio, vicar general and moderator curiae of the Manila archdiocese.

Talavera is the outgoing regional treasurer of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines.

He is finishing his term as principal and prefect of discipline of the Angelicum School in Iloilo City. He is also the outgoing secretary of the Association of Religious Men in the Archdiocese of Jaro.

In 2010, he became assistant treasurer of Santo Domingo Parish in Quezon City.

Talavera will replace Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P. who served the Santisimo Rosario parish for three years and was appointed regent of the College of Science in February.

He finished his bachelor’s degree in theological studies at UST in 2007 and his master’s degree at De La Salle University in 2011.

The Santisimo Rosario Parish, which also serves as the University chapel, became a parish on March 21, 1942 by decree of Manila Archbishop Michael O’ D o u g h e r t y.

JOSELLE CZARINA S. DE LA CRUZ

New book explores Blessed Mother’s various titles INFINITELY worthier of adulation than the mother-of-dragons-turned-mad-queen Daenerys Targaryen, Mary, the Blessed Mother, has everyone dazzled by her titles.

In his book “A Sky Full of Stars,” Catholic writer Joby Provido explains the meaning behind the 52 titles attributed to the Virgin Mary in the Litany.

The book’s title came from the depiction of Mary’s cloak as the blue sky adorned with stars, signifying Christians under her mantle of protection and role as a refuge for sinners.

“It is intended for Catholics who pray the Litany who have been puzzled about some of her titles like Mystical Rose, Tower of David, Tower of Ivory, House of Gold and Ark of the Covenant,” Provido, who obtained his theology degree at the University of Notre Dame, told the

Varsitarian.

Heavily backed by the Sacred Scriptures and Church teaching, the book is easy to read even for those who are clueless in the field of theology.

After every reflection, the reader is aided by a short description of the titles, which emphasizes the Blessed Mother’s role in connection to God and the Church.

“When invoking this title, consider that: Mary is the beautiful neck of the Church where God’s grace flows to us,” Provido wrote, explaining the title “Tower of Ivory.”

Originally known as the Litany of Loreto, the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a series of invocation that calls to mind the titles attributed to her from scripture or by the Church.

“We learn about Mary through her titles because they point to the qualities that we revere in her… as a result, we would like to know her more intimately through prayer and meditation of the mysteries of the rosary,” he explained in the book.

Provido pointed out that Mary plays an “integral part in the plan of God as our mother protector, model, intercessor, and channel of grace.”

“We acknowledge her blessedness when we say he is the ‘preeminent and wholly unique member of the Church. It is a declaration that she surpasses all creation and we can’t stop talking about it,” he added.

Dubbed as “a people in love with Mary,” Filipinos are known for their traditions of piety dedicated to the Blessed Mother, such as celebrating Flores de Mayo and Marian processions.

The Catechism for Filipino Catholics states that “the typical ‘Filipino’ approach to Christ… is with and through Mary. Devotion to Mary has always been intertwined with [devotion to]

Christ.”

Catholics also mark May as the month of Mary and October as the month of the Holy Rosary.

Granted imprimatur by Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco, “A Sky Full of Stars” is a testament to the enduring devotion of Filipino Catholics to the Mother of God. Provido gives a wonderful guide to all Christians who want to know more about the Blessed Virgin, who is the “perfect reflection” of her Son. The book invites its readers to grow in deeper love for the Blessed Mother, who continually draws her children closer to Jesus Christ.

“If Christ, our Lord, and God, loved his mother so much, how can we say we are another Christ if we don’t love Mary?” Provido wrote, explaining the title, “Mother Most Amiable.”

“A Sky full of Stars” was published by Central Books Inc. in November 2018 and is available at Amazon and Café Inggo at Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City. EUGENE DOMINIC V. ABOY, O.P.

Editor: Arianne Aine D. Suarez

MAY 28, 2019

Special Reports 7

Dynasties, old fogeys crumble in 2019 polls

By KLYRA V. ORBIEN THE FALL of political dynasties in the 2019 elections is a ray of hope for Philippine politics, experts said.

Asst. Prof. Dennis Coronacion, chairman of the UST Political Science department, said the decline of several clans in local politics came to him as a shock.

“It is really a surprise, it has given me a renewed sense of purpose as a member of the academe--there’s still hope [for Philippine politics],” he told the Varsitarian.

In Metro Manila, former vice president Jejomar Binay, whose political stronghold is Makati, lost to Kid Peña for a congressional seat.

Binay told reporters just few days before the elections that he knew he had the victory in the bag.

In Manila and San Juan, the Ejercito-Estrada clan lost in its own bailiwick after a 48-year rule.

The family patriarch, former president Joseph “Erap” Estrada, a convicted plunderer, was dethroned as mayor of the Philippine capital, even losing in his own barangay. His niece, Jerika, lost in her bid for a council seat in Manila’s fourth district.

In San Juan, where Erap’s political career began in 1969 as mayor, Francis Zamora defeated Janella Ejercito Estrada for the city’s mayoralty race.

The Eusebios of Pasig ended their 27-year dominance after losing to a newbie in the political scene, Vico Sotto.

Outside Metro Manila, the Magsaysays’ reign in Zambales crumbled as they lost congressional, council and vice mayoral seats.

Leyte’s Codilla clan toppled as it lost its 27-year-old grip to another familiar name in Leyte politics–the Torres-Gomez family.

In Cebu’s fifth district, the 70-year-old reign of the Duranos ended, with the election of 38-year-old Duke Frasco.

‘Thirst for new blood’ For Froilan Calilung, who teaches at the Faculty of Arts and Letters, new names triumphed in the local arena because of the public’s demand for new ideas on the table.

“People are demanding something new, something different, something fresh,” he told the Varsitarian.

Political saturation, Calilung said, was also the reason for the fall of old names in the local elections.

“When you look at the dynamics, the incumbents rely on their track record, while the newcomers rely on their political promises,” Calilung said.

Coronacion said the tides turned because of the electorate’s dissatisfaction with the way old problems plaguing the cities were addressed by old politicians.

“The bigger reason why those voters did not vote for the members of the dynasties is because of their disappointment. To a large extent it is because of their frustration,” he said.

‘Replaced, not removed’ Edwin Martin, a political science professor, said political dynasties have not been completely removed but were merely replaced. He emphasized that the old names were replaced because of “leadership fatigue.”

“Well, itong mga political dynasty they have been long entrenched in their respective areas so, ang nangyari they have been complacent already na ‘hindi na kami magtrabaho anyway kami naman ‘yong lalabas dyan,’” Martin said.

He said the complacency of political clans cost them their seats as people clung to the new promises of budding politicians.

Castillo warned, however, that the election of new politicians was not necessarily a good thing.

“Having somebody newly elected doesn’t mean that there’s going to be good change,” he said.’

Old dogs, old tricks Despite a win for new names in the local elections, some political clans remained victorious in provinces and in their respective districts.

The “Solid North” of Ilocos Norte elected another Marcos; Matthew Marcos-Manotoc is the new provincial governor, replacing his mother, former governor Imee Marcos who won a Senate seat.

Ilocos Norte’s vice governor and second district representative posts were also won by the Marcoses.

The Pineda clan of Pampanga retained power as it secured the gubernatorial and vice-gubernatorial posts. The Yap family of Tarlac remained in power as reelectionist bets won the gubernatorial and congressional posts.

In Revilla bailiwick Bacoor,

Cavite, Lani Mercado-Revilla, wife of senatorial bet Bong Revilla, triumphed as town mayor. The Senate bet, however, was not the top choice in the senatorial race in his own bailiwick, landing in the bottom 12 in Cavite. In December 2018, Revilla was acquitted of plunder but is still facing cases for 16 counts of graft for alleged Priority Development Assistance Fund kickbacks.

In Las Piñas, the Villars’ grip tightened as Senator-elect Cynthia Villar and former senator Manny Villar’s daughter Camille Villar won a congressional seat.

The two-decade hold of the the Zubiri clan over Bukidnon continued as Jose Maria Zubiri Jr. won his third gubernatorial term. His son Manuel Zubiri won a congressional seat, after running unopposed.

In Davao, the Dutertes remained unscathed as siblings Sara Duterte and Sebastian “Baste” Duterte filled the mayoral and vice mayoral seats, respectively.

Controversy-marred presidential son Paolo Duterte won t h e congressional seat of t h e first district of Davao.

Coronacion said some dynasties continue to proliferate because of their resourcefulness and creativity.

“They are resilient, they can be toppled down but they can also go back to power. They’re very resourceful, very creative, so sooner or later you’d find them back in power again,” he said.

Martin said the prominence of political dynasties in the country is a “culturally entrenched” problem as Filipinos c a n be resistant t o change because t o traditional mindsets.

“Kapag sinabi mo sa Pilipino na ito ‘yong makabago, ito yung magandang sundin natin ngayon, hindi sila naniniwala. Siguro dahil ayaw nilang mabago ‘yung nakaugalian nila,” he said.

For Calilung, political dynasties should not always be seen in a Dynasties PAGE 14

Isko Moreno unseats Joseph Estrada as Manila mayor

Newly elected Manila mayor Isko Moreno arrives at the San Andres Complex in Manila on May 14 with his running mate Honey Lacuna, for their proclamation.

MARK DARIUS M. SULIT

FORMER vice mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso has been elected mayor of Manila, defeating incumbent and twotime mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada in the 2019 elections.

Moreno, who served for three consecutive terms as Manila vice mayor, led the mayoral race with a wide margin, at 357,925 votes versus Estrada’s 210,605.

The 44-year-old was proclaimed as the Philippine capital’s next leader on May 14, shortly after Estrada conceded his defeat.

After Estrada, a convicted plunderer and former Philippine president, former Manila mayor

Alfredo Lim came third with 138,923 votes.

Moreno was a three-term councilor in Manila’s first district. Like Estrada, he was an actor. He started as a matinee idol in the 1980s. He became Manila’s vice mayor from 2007 to 2016.

In 2016, Moreno ran for a Senate seat but lost, placing 15th overall.

Honey Lacuna, Moreno’s running mate, led the vice mayoral race with 394,766 votes. Former Manila fifth district representative Amado Bagatsing landed second with 267,286 votes. JOB ANTHONY R. MANAHAN

8 Circle

Editor: Lyon Ricardo III M. Lopez

MAY 28, 2019

BRAVO! Gloria Coronel and Irma Potenciano: divas and maestras par excellence CONSERVATORY of Music alumni and faculty paid homage to veteran sopranos and voice pedagogues Gloria DizonCoronel and Irma Ponce Enrile-Potenciano in “Pagpupugay at Pasasalamat,” the Conservatory of Music’s annual concert tribute to Thomasian performing artists last May 12 at the Cultural Center of the Philippine’s Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater).

Under the baton of Reynato Resurrection Jr., UST Symphony Orchestra (USTSO) opened the evening with Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Prometheus Overture,”

UST Conservatory pays tribute to two of Philippine music’s glorious sopranos and well-loved voice mentors followed by Franz Schubert’s “Symphony No. 8 in B minor.”

USTSO proceeded with the overture from French composer Georges Bizet’s opera “Carmen,” this time with Conservatory of Music professor Herminigildo Ranera at the helm.

Maestra Potenciano took the first solo which was Italian composer Francisco Cilea’s “Io Son l’umile ancella” from the opera “Adriana Lecouvreur.”

Potenciano, who graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in 1961 and a Master of Arts degree in 1964, has been part of the Conservatory of Music faculty for 58 years.

Her talent was honed under the tutelage of the late soprano Salvacion Oppuz-Yniguez, After her studies at the University, Potenciano pursued studies abroad, enrolling at the New England Conservatory of Music and studying under several music mentors such as Felix Wolfes, Olga Eisner, Hans Bruck, Reynaldo Reyes and Aurelio Estanislao.

Potenciano also studied under National Artist Jovita Fuentes, an opera singer and the first National Artist for Music, and Russian conductor and opera impresario Boris Goldovsky.

“I enjoy zarzuelas and operas. It’s difficult to sing operas because maraming characters, but it is harder to sing straight recital,” Potenciano told the Varsitarian.

The concert also featured performances

by Conservatory alumni and faculty members – most of whom were former students of Potenciano and Coronel – such as Rachelle Gerodias-Park, now the country’s leading soprano, and professors Elisanta Cortes, Naomi Paz Nemenzo, Mary Patrice Pacis, Ronan Ferrer and Thea Perez. They were accompanied by the USTSO under the baton of Ranera.

Music professors Perez and Ferrer sang “Makikiliti kang totoo” from the hit Filipino opera “Walang Sugat” by Fulgencio Tolentino and Severino Reyes.

“She [Potenciano] taught me that first, you should love what you do… Second, you

What makes a national artist for the visual arts?

NATIONAL artists reflect the sentiment and critical concerns of their times, according to an art historian in the lecture, “Art Appreciation: National Artists of the Philippines,” last May 18 at the Ayala Museum in Makati.

Manuel Giron, a lecturer at the University of the Philippines, stressed that every work of a National Artist served as a lens through which social concerns of his time is funneled.

“The way they [National Artists] shape Filipino art is the way their art shaped them,” he said. “Being called a ‘National Artist’ is a claim that you’re embodying a nation.”

Giron discussed the development and shift of Filipino art through history, with the Spanish colonization, the arrival of the Americans and the emergence of globalization, and how these paved the way for the Filipinos to discover their identity.

With the establishment of the Academia de Dibujo y Pintura, Filipinos were given the opportunity to hone their craft.

He emphasized the works of the first National Artist, Fernando Amorsolo, who is known for his “genre paintings.”

“His subjects were mostly rural landscapes, he painted idealized realism; a perfected way of presenting realism,” Giron said.

Amorsolo’s works are regarded as “postcard pretty” pieces that idealize his subjects.

“According to Amorsolo, art should be able to inspire people through the good and beautiful, when you look at artworks it should be able to elevate your feeling about life,” he explained.

Philippine Modernism The gears of the country’s art scene shifted when Victorio Edades, coming from America, introduced a different style and sensibility in art which is modernism hence the title “Father of Philippine Modern Art” and “National Artist for Painting” in 1976.

Edades was the co-founder of the University’s Department of Architecture (1930) and was appointed as the Director of the old College of Architecture and Fine Arts five years later.

He was a key figure in the rise of

Manuel Giron from the University of the Philippines tackles the contributions of National Artists at the Ayala Museum in Makati on May 18.

GENIELYN ROSARIO M. SORIANO.

modernism in the country, leading a group of young artists in the country who would be known as the “Thirteen Moderns” – a group of young men who turned the wheel of visual arts in country towards modernism, which included National Artists Carlos “Botong” Francisco, Galo Ocampo, Hernando Ocampo, Cesar Legaspi and Vicente Manansala.

“They did not care about presenting reality as it was, but presenting it in a personal perspective, exposing realism to expand their subject matter,” Giron said.

Considered as one of Edades’ magnum opus was the “The Builders,” a piece that depicted the hardships of manual labor in the working class. The colors of red, orange,

yellow looked as if their skins were peeling and their figures were mashed together with unrecognizable faces.

“He wasn’t concerned about presenting beauty, he was more concerned about capturing the plight of workers… if it gives you a feeling of discomfort, then he succeeded,” he said.

National artists define Filipino art “National Artists create works that represent our social reality and make a commentary through these works,” said Giron. “That is what truly makes their art Filipino.”

He emphasized how a work can be Filipino “even if it’s subject matter is

not related to anything of our country,” taking Juan Luna’s “Spoliarium,” one of the country’s most prized paintings, as an example.

“There is nothing Filipino in the subject [of the Spolarium] but it’s a Filipino responding to his realities. It’s the Filipino mind regardless of response or expression,” said Giron.

More than representing the nation, it is leaving a mark on Philippine history through art that one can view himself as a Filipino artist, according to Giron.

“It’s a form of self-consciousness, one wanting to represent one’s self in art, taking pride in how he views the world,” he said.

KATRINA ISABEL C. GONZALES

MAY 28, 2019

Circle 9

Late film art director Cesar Hernando remembered VETERAN filmmaker Cesar Hernando, whose art direction graced classic movies such as “Batch ‘81” and “Sister Stella L,” passed away last May 8 at the age of 73.

He has left behind a legacy of excellence in production design and art direction.

Hernando, who graduated from the old UST College of Architecture and Fine Arts in 1967, was the older brother of film critic and Varsitarian alumnus Mario Hernando, who had passed away in 2017. Cesar Hernando was also a professor of fine arts at the University of the Philippines.

Hernando collaborated with Mike de Leon, Raymond Red, and Lav Diaz, all internationally acclaimed Philippine filmmakers. He provided the telling physical and social geography that complemented

the powerful narratives and characters of De Leon’s “Batch ’81,” “Kisapmata” and “Sister Stella L”; Red’s ‘Bayani” and “Anino”; and Diaz’s five-hour “Batang Westside.”

Red said Hernando was noted for his humility and kindness.

“I was just beginning to make short films, but he was already an established production designer in the industry and he already regarded me as a filmmaker,” Red told the Varsitarian.

“He’s highly talented and knowledgeable, especially when it comes to history and the linkages between design, theories and elements,” added Red, whose short film, “Anino” (2000), won the Palm d’Or (grand prize for short film) of the Cannes film festival.

Red and Hernando worked together for 35 years, the start of their collaborations traced back to their days at the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation, Inc. (Mowelfund) – a non-profit social welfare and educational development foundation established by former president Joseph Estrada.

“He immediately got inspired by the movement and joined us… eventually dabbling in short films and experimental films,” Red said. “During that time, the emerging independent alternative film movement was making waves, and most of the filmmakers were coming from the Mowelfund Institute or the UP Film Center.”

Red’s 1992 feature film debut, “Bayani,” which depicts in an oblique fashion the execution of Andres Bonifacio on orders of Emilio Aguinaldo, was designed

by Hernando.

But Hernando’s most acclaimed collaboration was with Mike de Leon.

“Batch ’81” (1982), a film tackling

Actress Vilma Santos stars in the film “Sister Stella L,”

by Mike de Leon, one of the movies where Hernando was the production designer.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE DE LEON

Offemaria on religious faith— art as inquiry and interrogation THOMASIAN artist Wilfredo Offemaria Jr. combined religious iconography and popular culture in the art exhibit, “Abstraction | Obstruction: A Discourse on Faith,” mounted in celebration of National Heritage Month at the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Gallery in Intramuros.

Jacinto Robillos, who wrote the exhibit notes, said that through the various paintings, sculptures and installations, Offemaria seemed to question the relevance of faith in

today’s era of materialism and technological advancements.

The inquiry is evident in the circular painting, “First Byte: The Fall of Man.” In the work, which was inspired by Hendrik Goltzius’ “The Fall of Man,” taking the place of the forbidden fruit to which the first man and woman were drawn and inevitably fell into temptation is the Apple computer logo, so that the forbidden knowledge becomes science and technology.

“Hear Me,” inspired by Jan van Eyck’s “Head of Christ,” shows what appears to be lines covering the image of Christ. The lines take an the appearance of a pedestrian lane or bars of a jail cell. The work appears to questions faith – is it a guiding force or a delimiting of man’s freedom?

A standout is “Scutum Fidei – Shield of the Trinity,” which shows the three persons of the Holy Trinity with lines of yellow, red and blue cascading down the image.

The piece takes a more open approach to the question lingering behind the theme of the exhibit, suggesting that the idea of faith is not limited to the confines of religion but can be seen in other aspects of life and of humanity.

Some of Offemaria’s pieces from his “Visita” exhibit at the 2018 ManilArt were also on display.

“Abstraction | Obstruction: A Discourse on Faith” ran until May 31. KATRINA ISABEL C. GONZALES

10 Filipino

MAY 28, 2019

Baybayin bilang pambansang alfabeto, tinutulan BUKOD sa intensiyon na paunlarin ang identidad ng mga Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng pagsulong ng Baybayin bilang pambansang sistema ng pagsulat, marapat na bigyang-pansin din ang praktikalidad at pinagbatayang kasaysayan nito.

Naipasa sa second reading sa Kongreso ang House Bill 8785 o “Philippine Indigenous or Traditional Writing Systems Act” na nagtataguyod ng mga katutubong panulat ng bansa.

Nakapaloob dito ang pagmamandato sa Department of Education at Commission on Higher Education na isama ang “traditional writing systems” sa mga asignatura sa pagtuturo. Kasama rin ang pagmandato sa Pambansang Komisyon para sa Kultura at mga Sining bilang pangunahing ahensiya na magtataguyod ng mga polisiya ng panukalang-batas na ito.

Iginiit ni Alvin Ringgo Reyes, tagapangulo ng Departamento ng Filipino ng UST, maaari itong ibalik bilang “paksang kultural” ngunit hindi bilang pambansang sistema ng pagsulat. “[H]igit na masaklaw ang kakayahan ng kasalukuyang alpabeto na tumutugon sa kompleksidad at napakaraming pagbabago sa sistema ng panulat at patunugan (ponolohiya), lokal at

global, samantalang may limitasyon ang Baybayin na baka hindi makaya sa mga iyon,” wika ni Reyes sa Varsitarian.

Dagdag pa ni Reyes, maraming bagay ang dapat ikonsidera sa pagsulong nito kasama na ang pagsasanay sa mga guro, paglimbag ng mga materyales at pagbabago sa mga nakalimbag nang mga teksto sa Baybayin.

Binigyang-diin ni Joselito de los Reyes, tagapangulo ng naman ng Departamento ng Panitikan sa UST, na hindi lamang dapat ituon sa pagmamandato ang pagsulong ng Baybayin dahil may ibang mga suliranin sa sektor ng edukasyon ang dapat bigyang-pansin.

“Sa ngayon, umiiral pa lamang sa antas ng novelty ang paggamit ng baybayin. Wala pa sa antas ng pangangailangan para makapagtawid ng mensahe, para sa pakikipagtalastasan,” wika ni de los Reyes.

Para naman kay Wennie Fajilan, dalubguro sa Departamento ng Filipino sa Unibersidad, sa pagsulong ng pambansang sistema ng pagsulat, marapat suriin kung kapuwa ito “simbolikal at functional.” “[K]ailangang timbanging mabuti kung ito nga ang pangunahing programang pangkultura na dapat

Filipinas.

Mariin namang tinutulan ni Romulo Baquiran, Jr., propesor sa Filipino sa Unibersidad ng PilipinasDiliman, ang pagsulong ng Baybayin

pagbabalik sa nakaraan dahil hindi progresibo at hindi naluluma ang wika. “[H]indi ito parang throwback lang, ang language ay tuloy-tuloy,

Fajilan.

dahil sa pagiging “impraktikal” nito at maituturing na lamang na isang paggunita sa nagdaang kultura ng bansa.

“Isa lamang itong nostalgia sa prehispanikong kultura na matagal nang naiwan. [W]alang negatibo o positibo pa nga. Pero ang praktikalidad ang pangunahing problema. Hindi magsisilbi ng anuman,” sabi ni Baquiran sa isang panayam.

Ayon pa kay Baquiran, mananatili na lamang ang Baybayin bilang isang “simbolikong yaman” ng bansa kahit na kaakibat ng pagsulong na ito ang identidad ng Filipino.

Ngunit, ayon kay Jose Enage, tagapangulo ng grupong “Baybayin Buhayin,” hindi lamang ito

buhay at nagde-develop. Kung gusto nating i-develop ang ating spoken language, ibinalik na natin ang ating mother tongue, edi isabay na natin ang writing system, ‘yon ang Baybayin,” wika ni Enage sa isang panayam.

Binigyang-diin ni Enage na mahalagang maisabatas ang pagkakaroon ng pambansang sistema ng pagsulat dahil hindi lamang pasalita ang katangian ng wika kundi mayroon ding pasulat.

“Ang malungkot may sarili tayong panulat pero hindi natin makita kasi nga hindi siya itinuturo at walang batas. [W]ala kasi tayong writing system na batas, meron tayo by law na national language, spoken, pero ang wika ay dalawang bahagi,

‘Misuse, abuse of history’ Iginiit ni Kevin Paul Mertija, propesor sa kasaysayan sa University of Makati, may matinding kakulangan ang hakbang na ito sa pagtanaw sa kasaysayan ng bansa.

“We are misusing and abusing history. Tingnan mo ‘yong context, ginagamit natin ‘yong Baybayin bilang propaganda para sa nationalist sentiment natin dahil may threat and danger talaga eh... may issue tayo sa China,” sabi ni Mertija.

Dagdag pa ni Mertija, sa matagal na panahon nang paggamit ng alpabeto bilang panulat ng bansa, makikitang “puwersahan” ang pagsulong ng Baybayin bilang pambansang sistema ng pagsulat ng

Tinker

Usapang Uste

FROM PAGE 4

FROM PAGE 2

ang kaniyang pag-aaral sa Harvard Law School kung saan kinuha niya ang mga kursong Constitutional Law, Advanced Constitutional Law, Legal Medicine, Family Law and Federal Courts para sa kaniyang post-graduate studies.

Nagtapos din siya ng American and International Law sa University of Texas at Management and Delinquency Control sa University of Southern California Delinquency Control Institute.

Matapos ito, naglingkod si Gutierrez sa iba’t ibang sangay ng gobyerno. Taong 1963 nang magsilbi siyang legal aide sa Pambansang Kawanihan ng Pagsisiyasat. Naging legal researcher din siya sa Kagawaran ng Katarungan mula 1965 hanggang 1968, judicial supervisor noong 1973, at judicial assistant sa Korte Suprema noong 1983.

Nagsilbi siya bilang national treasurer at secretary general ng Philippine Judges Association mula 1989 hanggang 1991. Siya ang naging unang babaeng pangulo ng Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judges Association sa parehong taon.

Dahil sa angking husay at kadalubhasaan sa hudikatura, samotsaring parangal ang ibinigay sa kaniya.

Si Gutierrez ang unang tumanggap ng prestihiyosong Cayetano Arellano

pagbuhusan ng oras, lakas at pondo sa gitna ng napakaraming usapin sa pagtuturo at pagtataguyod sa Filipino at mga katutubong wika kasi baka tokenism lang ito,” giit ni

Award bilang Outstanding RTC Judge of the Philippines na iginawad noong June 11, 1991.

Kinilala ng UST Law Alumni Foundation si Gutierrez noong 1991 at 1992 sa pamamagitan ng paggawad ng Award of Merit dahil sa ipinamalas na galing sa kaniyang propesyon.

Miyembro si Gutierrez ng Board of Editorial Consultants of the Supreme Court Reports Annotated.

Kasalukuyan siyang executive vice president ng UST Alumni Foundation at dekana ng Graduate School of Law sa Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.

Taong 2001 ng bigyang parangal si Gutierrez bilang The Outsantanding Thomasian Alumni Awardee sa kategoryang Law. V. A. ANGELES Tomasalitaan Kislig (png) - Paninigas ng katawan dahil sa matinding galit, takot o pagkapoot.

Nangislig ang katawan ng ginang nang malaman niyang naluklok muli ang politikong nagnakaw sa kaban ng bayan.

Sanggunian: ● TOTAL Awards 2001 ● D i k s y u n a r y o -Te s a u r o Pilipino-Ingles ni Jose Villa Panganiban

na nito maipagpatuloy ang medical missions nito sa pagsunod sa nasabing suspensyon. Isa rin itong halimbawa ng kawalan ng hustisya, dahil nadamay ang mga fraternities na sumusunod sa mga alituntunin ng Unibersidad at tumutulong pa nga sa kapuwa. Ang kailangan ng kabataan ay paggabay, at hindi paghihigpit.

Panahon na para matigil ang nangyayaring pagbubulag-bulagan sa mga sumusubok “magrepresenta” sa mga kabataan sa ating bansa.

Hindi pa huli ang lahat para bawiin ang sira nating bansa ngunit magsisimula lamang ito kung tayo mismo ang gagalaw at kokontra sa mga nakikita nating kasamaan sa paligid.

Maaari nating matawag ang sarili natin na “woke” o may sapat na

kaalaman sa mga nangyayaring hindi maganda sa ating kapaligiran ngunit dapat may aksyon din na kailangang gawin para hindi masayang ang kaalaman na ito. *** Lubos akong nagpapasalamat sa Varsitarian dahil kung hindi rito ay hindi ako mamumulat sa mga dinaranas na pagsubok ng kabataang Filipino sa lipunan, lalo na’t kung aamin ay wala akong masyadong interes noon sa mga ganitong bagay.

Dahil sa ‘V,’ nabigyan ako ng pagkakataong makapagsulat ng mga balitang maaaring nakapagmulat sa kabataang Tomasino sa kung ano ang dapat ipaglaban at ipanindigan.

Ang pananatili ko sa opisyal na pahayagang pang mag-aaral ng Unibersidad ay isang malaking parte ng buhay ko na lagi kong tatanawin na puno ng pasasalamat.

Baybayin PAGE 14

USTFU FROM PAGE 2

million in union money to members, arguing that USTFU officers were not mandated to distribute funds or savings in any form.

They claimed that USTFU officers violated Article 10, Section 4 of the union constitution and bylaws, which provides that union funds must only be used for labor education programs, collective bargaining agreements, welfare cooperative programs and other plans or programs that will promote the interest and welfare of the union and its members.

The complainants also slammed the lack of an open forum and the presence of security personnel in the USTFU general assembly on Oct. 18, 2018, where Lim announced the distribution of millions in savings.

AHMED KHAN H. CAYONGCAT, JOB ANTHONY R. MANAHAN and NEIL JOSHUA N. SERVALLOS

Catechetical ministry in PH facing dire challenges FROM PAGE 6

bishops,” Mallari said during the Mass for the launching of the NCS for 2021 last Jan. 28.

Calling for discernment and openness among the faithful, Mallari emphasized the need to pause and listen to the catechists to see and address their situation.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that “Lay people also fulfill their prophetic mission by evangelization, ‘that is, the proclamation of Christ by word and the testimony of life…

[Those] who are capable and trained may also collaborate in catechetical formation.”

The National Catechetical Study 2021 Pastoral Action Research and Intervention project aims to deepen the Church’s understanding of the “catechized, catechetical ministry and catechetical centers” in the country.

EUGENE DOMINIC V. ABOY, O.P.

Reduced teaching load sought to improve UST’s QS ranking FROM PAGE 3

while a work published locally gets five points.

The pointing system for fulllength books released through a “reputable publisher,” the framework added, goes as follows: sole authorship would give a faculty member 50 points; co-authorship, 40 points; and editor and revision contributions, 10 and five points, respectively.

The research framework, she said, should also factor in the researcher’s performance. Once the criteria are revised, incentives would follow.

“If performance-based [criteria] may be reflected in our research excellence framework, [aside from the print-based] then we can claim [research excellence] eventually,” Arriola said. “If you go around the world, all of these

research-related activities are also factored in the output of the faculty so we have to do something with the criteria,” she added.

Paolo Bolaños, chairman of UST’s Department of Philosophy, echoed Arriola’s concerns, saying there should be a “more inclusive criteria for research incentives.”

Bolaños said the University has no incentive program for researchers. He added the criteria of excellence was “questionable.”

“We have to come up with a more nuanced, more rational and more inclusive criteria for research incentives,” Bolaños said. “If they want to encourage more faculty to publish… We have to benchmark a bit, try to find out what [other universities] are doing,” he added.

The existing research scheme has also become a “policing

mechanism that does not encourage the faculty to do more research,” he said.

“A lot of faculty members don’t have the motivation… They are discouraged. Minsan they are discouraged kasi the way that they were brought, the way they were oriented, parang sa kanila it’s a burden,” he said.

Department chairmen, he said, should assist in “building the right mindset” for faculty members to do research, complemented by the necessary physical infrastructure.

The Varsitarian reached out to Nestor Ong, UST deputy director for QS rankings, but he has yet to respond.

Prof.

Maribel Nonato, vice rector for research and innovation, meanwhile, declined to comment.

‘Perception game’ Bolaños described the QS Rankings as a “perception game” where rules are imposed by an outside entity, not academic institutions.

While the game must be played by universities, he said UST should not be too preoccupied with the rankings.

“The prestige that comes with being ranked by QS is a perceptual thing… [But] it should be a guide.

As a guide, we have to pay attention to it… they come up with a criteria and they impose it on universities with different characteristics, different strengths so you’d get different results,” he said.

Arriola also urged the University to invest in its faculty members, as the QS Rankings also hinge on academic reputation

and the strength of its teaching personnel.

“It is really important for us to be known for excellence. A university should be known for its faculty, not for whether it is ISO-certified or it got the most number of accreditations in the different disciplines... QS is peer recognition,” she said.

Other universities, she said, should be able to name faculty members from the University as “stand outs” and experts from the field.

“I received communication from QS naming professors from UP, other universities aside from UST. That’s how it goes. That’s how the game is played. It is really peer recognition.

I think it is important that you are recognized in the field,” she said. With reports from LADY CHERBETTE N. AGOT

Editor: Deejae S. Dumlao

MAY 28, 2019

Lenspeak 11

12 Features

Editor: Louise Claire H. Cruz

MAY 28, 2019

Ex-Civil Law Journal editor is new Supreme Court jurist PRESIDENT Duterte has named a UST law alumna to the Supreme Court replacing Associate Justice Noel Tijam who retired in January.

Former Court of Appeals Justice Amy LazaroJavier, 62, got the appointment in March after being shortlisted for the post eight times.

“I knew I was shooting for the stars,” she told the Varsitarian. “When I didn’t get appointed for the first six nominations I never felt bad [since] I was starting from the bottom.”

While applying for a vacancy last year, Javier told the Judicial and Bar Council that she didn’t see Duterte as an enemy of women.”

The president has gone repeatedly under fire for cracking rape jokes and making misogynistic remarks.

Javier, who finished law in UST in 1982 and passed the bar that same year, headed the Supreme Court’s Committee on Gender and Responsiveness in the Judiciary.

Now a justice of the high court, she described the chamber as the “last bulwark of justice.”

“We cannot rest easy, we cannot really relax and we cannot really shed off the commitment, kasi kapag nagkamali kami, kawawa ‘yung taong bayan,” she said.

Human rights activists fear that judicial independence is being compromised under Duterte’s strongman rule.

Beginnings Javier began as a public high school teacher after earning an education degree at the Philippine Normal University. Prodded by her aunt, she took up law but continued teaching. support her family.

“I really wanted to be a teacher forever and [become] the excellent teacher that I could be,” she said.

“I could not give up teaching because we were not rich and no one would really answer the needs of my family so I have to do it.”

Atop these responsibilities then, she assumed the editorship of civil law’s official journal. “[Hindi] ko naman naramdaman [that I was the first female editor], it was not a source of power, it was a source of duty,” she said.

She started her career in public service as a trial attorney at the Office of Solicitor General in 1983 Civil Law PAGE 14

Former Court of Appeals Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier is President Duterte’s newest appointee to the Supreme Court.

New ‘doc-ttorney’ on call

By LOUISE CLAIRE H. CRUZ

LAST YEAR’S Bar examinations produced a total of 1,800 new lawyers, including Jean Joan Polido.

But unlike her peers, the 32-year-old Polido is also a medical doctor, no mean feat for this Bulacan native who once saw herself as mere “dust” (alikabok).

“Noong bata ako, mababa ang selfesteem ko, tingin ko sa sarili ko alikabok lang ako rito sa UST pero [‘yung mga magulang ko ang nagsabing] ‘Ano ka ba anak, ikaw ‘yung alikabok na puwedeng maging doctor,’” she said.

Polido earned her medicine degree in UST in 2010 and passed the board examinations the following year.

Wanting to become a cardio-thoracic surgeon, she did surgery for a year at the World Citi Medical Center where she encountered a medico-legal case which ignited her to pursue

really had no background or experience.

Taking the bar examination while being pregnant with her second child, Polido said she had doubts and hesitations since she experienced difficulty in writing due to pregnancy-related issues but still tried to give what might be her best that time hoping it was enough for her to pass.

Scared of the result, she did not go to the Supreme Court to look for her name but waited at home with her children until a friend informed her of the good news.

Pregnant when she took both the board and bar examinations, Polido considered her children as her lucky charm, having passed both on the first take. She said both fields were difficult tracks and each entailed responsibilities one should be willing to fulfill.

“Mahirap both [ang medicine and law especially] if you have a family and you’re

“In the Philippines, more of the protection goes to the hospitals, less of the patients and doctors so my mission and vision is to hope to change that.” law.

It also occurred to her that she did not want to do surgery for a long time so she decided to shift track.

In preparation for the expenses in law school, she did surgeries while teaching at the Trinity University of Asia until she enrolled in the executive program of Arellano University School of Law in 2013 which offered flexible schedules for working students.

She admitted balancing work and law school was laborious, especially since she already had a husband and a toddler that time.

She said taking up medicine was difficult but law school was more challenging since she Jean Joan Polido

working so you have to make sure na [if] you want to be a doctor and a lawyer, you’re not just doing it kasi gusto mong sumikat o gusto mong ‘doc-ttorney’ [ang tawag sa iyo],” she said.

As a medico-legal practitioner, Polido intends to be one of the few medico-legal to advocate for doctors and patients’ rights. “[Only few medico-legal] have gotten into litigating for the rights of the [patients] so I am planning [to pursue] litigation,” she said.

“In the Philippines, more of the protection goes to the hospitals, less of the patients and doctors so my mission and vision is to hope to change that.”

Editor: Elmer B. Coldora

Literary 13

MAY 28, 2019

Young adult novel by HS alumnus raises HIV-AIDS awareness ALONG with the rise of cases of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the Philippines is worrisome statistics showing more and more young people have become infected.

In the first two months of 2019 alone, 692 Filipinos aged 15 to 24 were confirmed HIV-positive, according to the Department of Health. Despite the outbreak, stigma and discrimination hinder Filipinos from understanding the problem and helping people affected by it.

In his book, “Mga Batang Poz,” UST High School alumnus Segundo Matias Jr. challenges the limits of young adult literature by depicting HIV in its earlier stages. The book describes in detail how the illness affects the lives of the four main characters— Luis, Enzo, Gab and Chuchay—who all use alternames in their Facebook group chat named “Pete’s corner.” “Pete” means HIV. After being diagnosed, the four characters start to live their lives in the shadows. Along with the discrimination of being homosexual gay, people infected with HIV also suffer from being stigmatized, restricting them from continuing their lives outside of their illness.

Coming from different social classes, they comfort one another and bravely face up to their condition. The story distinguishes the cognitive dissonance in how each social class views the homosexual gays.

Matias truly breathes life into these characters from varying mindsets to how each of them found himself to be poz or positive with HIV. Tackling how people reacted to the characters’ health condition, Matias highlights the aftermath and frustration of being diagnosed—being shunned by family and friends, losing reputations, and sometimes losing lives.

The narratives also reveals the “alter culture” or having alter-ego accounts on social media, especially on Twitter, and how the gay youth interact in that digital space. Social media has become an avenue to connect its users and allow them to personally meet.

Matias intricately describes how men have sex with men by exposing the characters’ longing for physical touch and comfort.

In writing the book, Matias ensures that he writes as truthful as he can about the topic. He conducted interviews with doctors, nurses, and patients and often visited the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, a health research facility implementing

research programs to prevent and control country’s prevailing diseases. He also w e n t to various HIV clinics and testing centers to understand the illness better and t h e available treatment options for those w h o were diagnosed.

Clearly, Matias’s goal is to provide a platform for dialogue about HIV toward helping everyone diagnosed as poz. Matias is careful in treading the illness— making sure that he neither blames nor judges anyone—but merely giving more value to the power of having the courage to face the illness.

In this digital age, where most of the youth also employ social media to explore their sexualities, it becomes important to integrate a more open environment where people can talk about these things and promote—if not abstinence—safe sex.

It is already difficult to live with a disease with no cure, but to remain in a state of repression is something that can still be dealt with. The stigma bears down on all the poz, it pushes them away from their family and their friends, their normal lives if not for HIV PAGE 14

‘Creative nonfiction is also about other people’

Avenida 2 By convincing himself that there was nothing left behind, he departed from his dormitory, it was as if every road the tricycle took led to the rusty terminal of Avenida.

As he arrived, he hurried— bought a ticket, then rode the bus.

It was always how fast he can.

He waited for it to be full, but it had never felt full, occupied, but never full.

As the vehicle started to move, he realized there were things he left behind, but too big to fit inside his bags.

There was nothing he could do but in that moment, he knew that ride shall not be the last, but the last of what he knew was certain.

From left to right: Poet Paul Castillo, fictionist John Jack Wigley, creative writing center director Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo and resident fellow Chuckberry Pascual. PHOTO

BY GENIELYN ROSARIO M. SORIANO.

VETERAN Thomasian author Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo said creative nonfiction should not only be about the writer, but also other people.

“Do not limit yourself by writing about yourself. You can write about other people. You can write about anything. [T]he way you live life will be reflected on the way you write.” Hidalgo said during a book discussion at the Benavides Building last May 7.

Hidalgo, director of the UST Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies (CCWLS), emphasized that experiences with other people can be discussed in a creative nonfiction.

Personal interaction is more worth-sharing in one’s work, she said.

“You have to live life to the fullest, ‘yung magkaroon kang totoong kaibigan na tao, hindi yung nasa Internet [o] ‘yung virtual. Nothing beats

reality, walang kwenta ang Net compared to what you experience,” Hidalgo said.

Tips in writing Fictionist John Jack Wigley reminded budding writers of the importance of reading when writing in a genre, like creative nonfiction “Ideas are important to writers. More than writing, you should also read. When you read a lot, you also know a lot,” Wigley said.

He also noted that writing in general is not a one-way process.

“When you’re done writing, even if it’s not good, it will get better as you make revisions.

You’re not only freeing your ideas, but also yourself,” he said.

Poet Paul Castillo highlighted the significance of one’s courage when writing.He explained that fear of writing delays one’s urge to

write a good piece.

“Don’t be afraid of starting to write. The moment that you think of something, be it five words, a sentence, or a poem, write the idea down on paper,” he said.

“That plant will grow, you can get back to it, break it down into two poems or an entire collection until it finally sprouts.”

The book discussion also saw the launching of Hidalgo’s newest book “Collected Stories and Tales,” Wigley’s “Hantong: Mga Kuwento” and Castillo’s “Walang Iisang Salita.”

The event, titled “Yugto: Ang Iba’t Ibang Kabanata ng Pag-akda,” was organized by CCWLS and UST Publishing House. T. M. F. UNGSON

Hernando

Cinema.’ No one comes close to Cesar in his knowledge of cinema, both local and foreign.” De Leon said. “Cesar shared selflessly, and this was his manner of teaching, not through lectures. His enthusiasm is very clearly and indelibly seen in actual works of cinematic art. In other words, he created cinema art, not just talked about it.”

Hernando also worked as assistant director to National Artist for Cinema Ishmael Bernal in 1971 for the latter’s debut feature, “Pagdating sa Dulo.”

Hernando was a three-time recipient of the Gawad Urian award for best production design for “Kisapmata” (1981), “Bayani” (1993) and “Batang West Side” (2002).

“He was like a film encyclopedia in a way, if I need to know something or

do a research, especially on film history, he is one of the first people that I call,” Red said.

Hernando’s directorial works were “Kagat ng Dilim” (2006), which featured actor Piolo Pascual, and the short film “Gayuma” (2015).

Red said Hernando’s best trait was his selflessness. “He was not selfish,” said Red. “He would really share everything he had—all his knowledge and talent—to ensure the project would be completed.”

Hernando also did the production design of Red’s “Himpapawid” (2009), Diaz’s “Kagadanan sa Banwaan ning Mga Engkanto” (2007), and Jose Avellana’s “Kung Mawawala Ka Pa” (1993).” J.A.C. CASUCIAN and N.B.H. CRUCILLO

FROM PAGE 8

the culture of violence among greekletter campus fraternities, was one of their most notable projects together.

The film was eventually received by viewers as an allegory of the fascism and totalitarianism inherent in the martial law dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos.

“His enthusiasm is very clearly and indelibly seen in actual works of cinematic art,” De Leon said. “He created cinema art; he didn’t just talk about it.”

Hernando designed De Leon’s other acclaimed films and projects, most notable of them were “Kisapmata” (1981) and “Sister Stella L” (1984).

“I call him the ‘Filipino Man of

With accepting this— that even the seemingly, infinitely repetitive times of travelling end— he sat with such comfortability, as he found rest.

HAILORD N. LAVARIAS

Erratum

In the literary page of Volume XCI, No. 9, the photo used in the story “Ramon Muzones: First regional writer to become National Artist,” was Resil Muzones, the former’s son. We apologize for this oversight.

14 Limelight

MAY 28, 2019

Art Director: Nathanael Jonas S.J. Rodrigo

BUHAY NI SABRAY BY MARIANE JAYNE A, CADIZ

BUHAY BILLY YATO BY MARI KLOIE D. LEDESMA

CACA BY JURY P. SALAYA

HIV-AIDS

Baybayin

their illness.

By understanding their condition and providing a dialogue where they feel most welcome, maybe there is a bigger possibility for them to continue living their lives to the fullest. THERESE MARIE F. UNGSON

Pitcher

spoken at written,” wika ni Enage.

Winika rin ni Enage na walang dapat ikabigla o ikatakot ang mga Filipino dahil idadaan sa proseso ang pag-aaral ng Baybayin.

“Hindi kami nagmamadali, kung ito’y maging batas ngayon, we’re willing to wait for the next generation na magamit sa iba’t ibang application, hindi lang sa educational system natin, for the national script plus the regional script,” wika ni Enage.

Dagdag pa ni Enage: “Ang Baybayin ay visual, writing system eh, so hindi siya kaaway ng spoken, compliment sila eh, parang dalawang paa, kaliwa’t kanan.

Magkasabay dapat sila. Kapag mag-aaral ka ng language, hindi mo lang aaralin ‘yong spoken, aaralin mo rin ‘yong spoken.”

marami kaming pitcher kasi kapag wala sila, hindi ako lalakas, hindi ko malalaman kung nag-i-improve ba ako,” Cabang said.

The lefty also said he still needs to improve his endurance and the velocity of his pitch to keep up with the play in the collegiate league.

Cabang added that moving to the seniors’ team would not be a big adjustment since both teams run the same system and are both handled

by Santiago.

Cabang has currently three pitches in his bag – fastball, twoseamer and slider, but he is planning to add a fourth pitch in his arsenal.

He said Santiago, also a former UST pitcher who holds the league record for most strikeouts in a game with 24, is a big help to him with their dominant hands alike.

“Mabilis kami magkaintindihan kasi pareho kami ng dominant hand, kaliwete rin si coach Jeff, kaya kapag tinuturuan niya ako, mas master niya,” Cabang said.

Aside from pitcher, the flexible slugger could also play first base.

Cabang was also being eyed by three UAAP schools, but chose UST instead because of its reputation of pushing young athletes to pursue both academic and athletic excellence.

Although leaving his family behind to pursue his baseball career in Manila was one of the hardest decisions he made, Cabang is glad he can contribute to his dream school. JUSTIN ROBERT VALENCIA

Komplikado Ngunit, iginiit ni Fajilan na komplikado ang pagsulong nito dahil maraming mga simbolo na hindi akma sa tunog ng mga katutubo at mga banyagang wika. “[P]anibagong ortograpiya na naman ang kailangang linangin samantalang hindi pa tayo tuluyang gumagamit sa ipinapatupad na Ortograpiyang Pambansa,” giit ni Fajilan.

Wika naman ni Reyes, kasalukuyan nang isinusulong ang Ortograpiyang Pambansa at maaaring magkaroon ng problema sa pagsulong ng bagong sistema.

Pinuna rin ito ni Baquiran na sinabing maituturing itong “impraktikal” dahil hindi pa rin umuusad ang pagsulong ng paggamit ng wikang Filipino sa legal na sistema. “[M]agsisikap kaya ang mga abogado at husgado para gamitin ito sa pagsusulat at litigasyon?

Hindi. Iyong paggamit nga ng Filipino sa legal na sistema ay hindi sumusulong, ito pa kaya?” wika ni Baquiran.

Ang Baybayin ay sinaunang panulat ng mga Filipino bago pa man dumating ang mga Kastila sa bansa.

Nagmula ito sa salitang ugat na “baybay” o wastong pagsunod-sunod ng mga titik sa pagbuo ng mga salita. JOSELLE CZARINA S. DE LA CRUZ

FROM PAGE 13

Civil Law FROM PAGE 12

and later became an assistant solicitor general in 1994.

At the UST Faculty of Civil Law where she teaches, Javier said she often reminded students that in the legal profession, “you are not the boss, you are the servant.”

“You are not just doing a job, it’s a profession, it’s a vocation,” she said. F.A.E. BRAGANZA

FROM PAGE 15

FROM PAGE 10

Legends

Graduating

FROM PAGE 8

FROM PAGE 15

aims to work as a fitness trainer after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in sports and wellness management.

“Five years akong nasa UST and ‘yon ang nag-mold sa akin para maging matatag paglabas ko. Excited ako kasi ready na akong harapin ‘yong challenges ng buhay and maconquer lahat ‘yon,” he said.

After failing to defend their crown this year, Season 80 women’s lawn tennis champion Ingrid Gonzales said her next target is pursuing a

Pautakan FROM PAGE 2

Accountancy team captain Danvhar Nojara, who also won silver in the individual category, said the honor was for Mark Spencer Bumanlag, who joined the team in 2016 and specialized in the General Information category.

“Kahit hindi ito [ang] ipinangako ko [sa kaniyang] panalo, lahat ng efforts na ibinigay namin dito, kahit hindi ‘yon [naging] enough, para [sa kaniya] pa rin lahat ng ‘yon,” Nojara told the Varsitarian.

He said Bumanlag’s presence strengthened camaraderie in the team, and his absence this year was one of the difficulties the members had to face.

coaching career.

“Malaking tulong ‘yong mga values na tinuro sa akin ng UST kasi tumatak talaga sa akin lahat ‘yon, lalo na ‘yong pagiging committed. Laging sinasabi sa akin ng mga coaches ko na in order for me to become successful, kailangan ko matuto mag-commit and ayon talaga ang nagpakatatag ng loob ko,” the sports and wellness management graduate said. FAITH YUEN WEI N. RAGASA and THERESA CLARE K. TAÑAS

“Siya ‘yong naging glue na nag-stick together sa amin as a team.

He had been a great friend to us and gusto naming masuklian by giving him the title,” he said. “[But] even though we fell short, I am sure he is still proud [sa achievement namin].”

After a two-year winning streak in Pautakan, Accountancy was dethroned in the group category by its perennial rival, the Faculty of Engineering.

“May medal man o wala, lahat ng mga contestants and coaches [na naging part nitong Pautakan], winners. Naging gathering ito para mag-celebrate ng knowledge [at higit pa] ito sa mga natutuhan namin sa mga [respective] colleges namin,” he said. AHMED KHAN H. CAYONGCAT and NEIL JOSHUA N. SERVALLOS

In Medias Res FROM PAGE 4

mother of the ‘V.’ My course may not be aligned in journalism but your expertise in the field made me reach horizons.

To my fellow editorial board members, Deips and Lexanne, you have become my strength in this challenging publication year.

I would not have gotten through this year without your courage and amity.

To the section editors, we have endured all those sleepless nights and caffeine intake to put every issues to bed. Thank you for your perseverance and dedication you have invested in “V.” To the staff, I hope you continue to have the same fire in your eyes like you had the first time you entered the publication. May you love ‘V’ in its good times but most especially in its challenging times.

The country needs more people like you to unravel the truth even if it’s unpleasant and to be the voice of our country’s cries. It’s not an easy road but it is a road worth taking.

Being in the Varsitarian for three years has given me a clearer vision of the kind of society I am living. I am more than willing to share the values it instilled in me.

Varsitarian did not change me but it led me to evolve.

Changing is enclosed in becoming different than your former state; Evolving is a gradual process that leads you to be more advanced than your current state.

As they say, not all change is growth. Hence, one must look if the change one is undergoing is either progress or regress. And to be a V staffer is to go through the former.

have to work hard and third, you have to be patient in what you do,” said Perez.

Gloria Coronel It was then Coronel’s turn to steal the show with an aria titled “Ako’y Lubayan,” also from “Walang Sugat.”

Coronel obtained her bachelor’s degree from the Conservatory of Music in 1958, and has been part of the Conservatory faculty since 1967.

After graduating from the Conservatory, Coronel furthered her studies in Music in Italy as a recipient of the Cardinal Spellman Scholarship before receiving another scholarship in Sienna from Louise Branch, an American patroness of the Arts.

“I believe what I have is God-given, I myself am wondering why, at 82, I have not lost my zest for singing,” said Coronel.

In high school, Coronel said she had been taking lessons with Oppus-Yniguez, honing her talents as an orchestra soloist under the guidance of National Artist for Music Antonino “Anong” Buenaventura.

“I am happy [to perform] with my co-performers, [and the fact] that we can entertain and give them pleasure,” Coronel said. “With the young ones, [It’s important to] educate them with our Filipino heritage.”

Gerodias-Park serenaded the audience with Johann Strauss’s “Main Herr Marquis” from the operetta “Die Fledermaus.”

“She’s just the best teacher, I learned everything from her,” Gerodias said. “She practiced what she preached – what she taught me she would apply to herself as an artist and a performer.”

The concert finale was a medley of songs by Thomasian National Artist for Music Ernani Cuenco performed by the students, alumni, faculty members and the two stars of the evening, Potenciano and Coronel.

This concert was also a way for Potenciano and Coronel to bid the Conservatory farewell as both of the professors will would be retiring from teaching. JISELLE ANNE C. CASUCIAN

Dynasties FROM PAGE 7

negative point of view.

“We have to understand that there are some political dynasties that are seen as good at performing…they are much into the level of performance, talagang makikita mo siya,” he said.

This level of performance, according to Calilung, is the reason why voters still root for familiar names as they fear losing a “working system” already established by political clans.

“Nandoon ‘yong inherent fear among [voters] that if they try somebody else, or somebody new… what they are actually experiencing right now may no longer be given to them,” he said. With reports from JOB ANTHONY R. MANAHAN

Editor: Ma. Angelica D. Garcia

Sports 15

MAY 28, 2019

What lies ahead for UST’s graduating athletes SOME graduating Thomasian athletes will continue the athletics path, while some will opt to conquer unfamiliar territories and pursue day jobs.

For Female Tigershark Angelic Saavedra, it is time to conclude her swimming career and look for another path.

Saavedra, a consistent medalist for the Female Tigersharks, said she would focus on finding a job related to her program, legal management.

She said becoming a professional player is not yet in her plans as she wants to help her family after graduation.

“UST molded me to be the person I am now and as much as I want to continue playing, I want to apply for a job first because I want to be able to help and give back all the hardwork of my parents. I want to pursue something different, something unique, other than swimming,” she told the Varsitarian.

Five-time UAAP women’s judo champion Kimberly Pantoja said she would dedicate her time reviewing for the August 2019 mechanical engineer licensure exam.

“I really want to make my parents proud kasiI will be the first Engineer safamily namin, if ever. I want to let other people know about my skills, not only in judo, but also sa career na gusto ko,” she said.

Former UAAP taekwondo Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year Aries Capispisan will likewise

Clockwise: Saavedra, Pantoja, Capispisan, Guevarra, Calbang and Gonzales.

review for the mechanical engineering boards, while also considering taking a master’s degree.

“I would like to focus on the boards kasisure right after that, opportunities will come. Even if I want to continue playing, my body says otherwise due to my injuries. I think it’s time for me to explore other boundaries,” he said.

Simultaneous tasks will not be a problem for Capispisan since his stint as a student-athlete taught him the value of time management.

“The University taught me to be resilient, especially when our team was not able to achieve the results we wanted. I expect myself to be the same goal-oriented person that I am now,” he added.

Outgoing Salinggawi team captain Alexander Guevarra said he would look for work opportunities in the digital marketing industry after finishing a degree in communication arts.

“UST helped me beyond the scholarship and the benefits kasi it helped me hone my skills I did not even know I had, especially in terms of leadership, he said.

Despite the Salinggawi failing to reach the podium this season, Guevarra is confident that the team will find redemption next year.

Meanwhile, Season 80 UAAP Best First Baseman Alwen Calbang Graduating PAGE 14

UAAP juniors’ Best Pitcher stays with UST THE UST Golden Sox have tapped a two-time UAAP juniors’ baseball Best Pitcher to boost their chances of ending their eight-year title drought in Season 82.

Hailing from Sarangani, Michael Cabang will be playing a big role for the Golden Sox, the most decorated team in baseball with 24 titles but have yet to win the championship since 2011.

The 19-year-old Cabang registered a 2.22 earned runs average (ERA) in six games for the UST high school squad in Season 81, enough for him to earn back-to-back UAAP Best Pitcher awards.

Coming from a family of gymnasts, Cabang always seemed destined for sports.

Baseball was not his first love, having played a variety of sports first before finding his current niche.

He discovered the sport through his friends and started playing when he was in fifth grade at Malalag Elementary School in Maitum, Sarangani.

He was scouted by one of the members of the Philippine Sports Commission before being introduced to national baseball team head coach Jeffrey Santiago, who also mentors the seniors’ and juniors’ baseball squads of UST.

Santiago commended Cabang’s potential to be a dominant pitcher in the years to come, the same reason he recruited him. He added Cabang would play a vital role in the senior’s division next season.

“Importante siya (Cabang) next season para makapasok kami sa finals. Isa siya sa key players lalo na sa pitching. Malaking tulong sa bullpen namin.,” the 57-year-old mentor told the Varsitarian.

In Season 80, aside from the Best Pitcher award, Cabang also emerged as a mythical nine member and the Finals Most Valuable Player en route to the Junior Golden Sox’s first ever championship in the league.

He also took home several Best Pitcher awards in the 2016 and 2017 provincial meets in Sarangani and the 2017 Angels Baseball League, where he had a 1.24 ERA and a league-best 23 strikeouts.

But despite a decorated high school career, he still hopes to step up his game in the collegiate division.

“Maraming pressure kasi maraming kalaban para sa spot sa lineup. Challenge sa akin na Pitcher PAGE 14

Cabang

Enderun eliminates Growling Tigers in PBA D-League

Tiger Brent Paraiso attempts a jump shot against St. Claire defenders last May 16.

GENIELYN ROSARIO M. SORIANO

THE UST Growling Tigers crashed out of semifinals contention in the Philppine Basketball Association Developmental League at the Jesus Christ Saves Global Organization in Cubao last May 23.

The Tigers yielded to the Family Mart Enerun Titans with the final score of 74-81.

The loss effectively booted UST out of the running for the last playoff spot as Che’lu Bar and Grill and Go For Gold-College of St. Benilde have higher quotients despite sporting identical 6-3 winloss cards.

The Titans ended their campaign at ninth place behind a 2-7 slate.

With a slim 72-68 lead in the payoff period, Enderun ended the Tigers’ momentum with an

8-0 blitz, capped by a layup from Marvin Hayes for the win.

“Maturity and decision-making ang nagkulang. Everytime na naghahabol, sometimes we become impatient and sometimes we go for the easy ones, the low-percentage shots lang,” Tigers head coach Aldin Ayo told the Varsitarian.

The Titans outscored UST in the rebounding department, 56-40, while hammering 16 second chance points. The Tigers only had seven second chance points.

Brandon Chauca spearheaded Enderun with 31 points, while Hayes posted a double-double outing of 18 markers and 12 boards.

Soulemane Chabi Yo also had a double-double of 25 points and 14 rebounds for UST. IVAN RUIZ L. SUING

Sports

MAY 28, 2019

Glorious finish for Golden Tigresses alive in the third set, forcing a 22-all tie.

But Ateneo uncorked a three-point barrage, punctuated by a Jules Samonte off-the-block kill for the win.

The Tigresses had a 20-18 advantage in the second salvo, but the Lady Eagles retaliated with a 5-0 run, topped by Finals Most Valuable Player Bea de Leon’s block kill to gain the lead, 23-20.

UST answered with a two-point swing to reduce the deficit to one, 22-23, but a de Leon kill and a Rondina attack error gave Ateneo a commanding 2-0 set advantage, 25-22.

The Lady Eagles held a slim 14-12 lead in the opening frame before unleashing an 11-5 outburst, capped by Rondina’s attack error to capture the first set, 25-17.

Kat Tolentino had a team-high 15 points, while Maddie Madayag and de Leon chalked up 10 and six markers for Ateneo.

Rondina erupted with a game-high 18 in her final game for UST, while Laure had 10 markers.

UST’s Rondina and libero Rica Rivera have both exhausted their playing years in the UAAP. Big leap After posting a Final Four era-worst 4-10 record in Season 80, the Tigresses, led by team captain Rondina, made a complete turnaround to win 10 of their 14 elimination round games this year and reach the finals for the first time since Season 72.

UST dominated Ateneo in Game 1, 25-17, 25-16, 25-20, but the Lady Eagles retaliated and won the next two games to cop their third championship in six years.

Despite the defeat, head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes Jr. said the Tigresses still took a huge leap this season.

UST dethroned three-time defending champion De La Salle University in the semifinals last May 5 and swept Ateneo in the first game of the title series last May 11.

With Rondina and Laure leading the charge for the Tigresses, UST almost ended a nine-year championship drought. “‘Yon ang maganda, though hindi namin natapos on a high note, thankful pa rin kami na nandito kami. Aayaw pa ba kami nito eh dati nga nasa seventh place kami. Pero dahil sa pagpupursigi ni Sisi, umabot kami ng Finals,” he said.

Rondina carried most of UST’s offensive workload, averaging 19.37 points per game (ppg), enough for her to earn the MVP plum and the Best Scorer and Second Best Outside Hitter awards in her final UAAP season.

Young blood UST was composed of eight rookies this year, four of which – Ysa Jimenez, KC Galdones, Laure and libero Janel Delerio, started in the Tigresses’ campaign.

Reyes said exuberance of his young team allowed UST to enter the finals for the first time since 2011, but youth also became the Tigresses’ drawback in the series.

“Masiyadong bata pa ang team namin para sa kalaban. Mayroon ngang Sisi, pero they have Madayag and others na may championship experience na,” he said.

Laure, who averaged 16.4 ppg in the elimination round, dipped to a 10.3 clip in the finals.

However, finals pressure is not all to blame, as the league’s First Best Outside Hitter sustained a left ankle sprain in the third set of Game 2 that limited her on-court contributions.

“Ang layo ng nilaro niya, 10 points, hindi nagti-10 points si Eya eh. Sana nga lang kung 100% ‘yong Laure na walang nararamdaman, baka naging iba pa ang tono. Pero ‘yong 10 points niya, parang 20 points na sa amin sa ginawa niyang sakripisyo,” Reyes said.

But with only Rondina and Rivera graduating in the team this year, Reyes remained optimistic of his team’s chances next season.

“Para sa amin, it’s beautiful. Kasi [maraming] rookies ang naglaro sa amin sa loob. Next year, ‘yong mga naka-experience ng Finals siguro, madadala nila ‘yong great learning experience namin from this season.”

Sophomore Milena Alessandrini, who sustained a left anterior cruciate ligament injury midway through the season, and former outside hitter EJ Laure are expected to be back in the fold for UST next year. JOHN EZEKIEL J. HIRRO

The Golden Tigresses huddle during the Game 3 of the UAAP women’s volleyball finals against the Ateneo de Manila Lady Eagles on May 18.

HAZEL GRACE S. POSADAS

Season 81 women’s volleyball MVP Cherry Ann Rondina faces photographers after Ateneo swept UST in the Game 3 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

ENRICO MIGUEL S. SILVERIO

Mighty Rondina unbowed by defeat IT WAS not the ending she had hoped for, but Most Valuable Player (MVP) Cherry Ann Rondina has only gratitude for UST’s runner-up finish in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament this year.

The 5’6” Cebuana, known for her grit and vicious spikes, capped off her fiveyear stint in the Golden Tigresses, as the league’s Athlete of the Year for the team sports category.

Rondina garnered four UAAP titles, including the MVP plum in the beach volleyball tournament.

But her final outing for the Tigresses ended in poor fashion with UST bowing down to Ateneo de Manila’s Lady Eagles, sweeping all three sets of Game 3 last May 18.

Despite falling short of her promised championship, Rondina said this season was a keeper, having brought UST back in the finals for the first time since 2011.

“Kahit na ‘di pinalad sa big trophy,

still, nakaabot kami rito sa finals and nabigyan pa ako ng mga awards and recognitions na nagpa-worth it sa lahat ng pagod,” she said.

Looking back at her legendary run, the sports and wellness senior has nothing but pride and gratitude in donning the black, gold and white from the beginning.

“Sa limang taon na ups and downs ko, UST lang ang naka-solve. Sa lahat ng magandang nangyayari sa buhay ko ngayon, UST ang dahilan,” she said.

“Mami-miss ko yung ganito kasi niyakap ko talaga ang UST. Sobrang minahal ko na talaga for five years,” she said.

Head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes Jr. lauded the graduating team captain and the rest of the Golden Tigresses for reviving the Thomasian spirit and uniting the UST community.

“Grabe ‘yong determination ng mga bata, lalo na si Sisi, hanggang sa inabot namin ang finals,” Reyes

told the Varsitarian. “Pinilit naming maging successful pa para makuha ang championship pero hindi na umabot eh. Pero ‘yong pusong pinakita niya, Thomasian na Thomasian.”

For now, Rondina is bound for Boracay to team up with former Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraw Bernadeth Pons to fight for the country in the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour starting May 23 at the White House Beach Station 1.

After the tournament, she said she has plans to pursue a master’s degree in the University to become a physical education professor.

Rondina also reminded the Tigresses to go all out for UST next season. “’Wag lang nilang sukuan ang gusto nila kasi, hindi mo mahahanap ang gusto mo sa isang try lang. Ako kasi, try lang nang try, hanggang makuha ko. Kinapos lang kami pero alam ko babawi sila next year.” John Ezekiel J. Hirro