The Varsitarian P.Y. 2015-2016 Issue 02

Volume LXXXVII, No. 2 • September 26, 2015 THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSIT Y OF SANTO TOMAS Manila, Philippines

Union chief faces stiff challenge FACULTY members will troop to the polling booths on Sept. 28 to elect a new set of union officials, amid lingering questions over the impact of the K to 12 scheme on job security and last year’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the UST administration.

The incumbent president, Dr. George Lim, faces off with his former number two, longtime union executive Rene Luis Tadle, and Jove Jim Aguas for the top post in the 1,500-strong UST Faculty Union (USTFU).

Lim’s “Kabalikat” slate is running on a platform of continuity of programs and professionalization of the union, faculty unity, and “respect” for UST and its officials, while Tadle’s “Lead 4 Change Alliance” ticket wants “union transformation” and vows there will be “no teacher left behind.”

Aguas, a philosophy professor, is running as an independent on a platform of a “collaborative, collegial and proactive, rather than reactive” faculty union.

Lim’s party also vows to “maintain the utmost integrity in the performance of our duties; maintain transparency of all activities and transactions; distribute all excess funds to the membership equitably.”

Former Science dean named professor emeritus FOR HIS scientific contributions and 46 years of service to the Thomasian community, UST’s top scientist was conferred the title professor emeritus in ceremonies at the Medicine Auditorium last Sept. 3.

Prof. Fortunato Sevilla was given the highest title bestowed by the University to a faculty member who has attained not only the rank of full professor, but has also achieved academic excellence and significant influence in his or her field.

Rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. described Sevilla as ‘‘a force to be reckoned with in the field of chemistry,’’ and commended him for being an inspiration to students as well as to other members of the academe.

“He is gently loved by students whom he inspired to commit themselves to excellence. [T]he people who have come today to witness and celebrate this milestone in his remarkable career have surely been touched by him. His name alone, when mentioned, evokes both admiration and respect,” Fr. Dagohoy said in his address of concession.

In his acceptance speech, Sevilla highlighted the importance of student-teacher relationship in research and in teaching. While new technology is prevalent in modern teaching methods, teachers still play a very important role in shaping excellent and exemplary students, he said. “[M]aaalala ng mga estudyante ang mga guro na nagturo sa kanila, at hindi ang mga computer na kung saan sila natuto.

[M]alakas at mabisa ang pakikiugnay ng mga mag-aaral at guro sa laboratoryong pananaliksik.

Sevilla

Emeritus PAGE 3

PUMPED UP. The UST Growling Tigers are poised to defend the general championship this UAAP Season 78.

Photo taken during the UAAP Opening Ceremony at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Sept. 5.

BASILIO H. SEPE

Thomasians honored in 65th Palanca Awards THOMASIAN winners in this year’s Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature included a former Varsitarian editor and their works tackled contemporary concerns in social realist style.

Faculty of Arts and Letters alumnus John Pacala won first prize in Maikling Kuwento for his entry, Ang Reyna ng Espada at ng mga Pusa, about an old homosexual prisoner who turns down the executive clemency granted him for obvious humanitarian reasons because he would rather stay behind bars and enjoy the freedom he has ironically discovered there which he never felt outside.

The Political Thomasians PAGE 10

Referendum on Lim? The USTFU election is turning out to be a referendum on the tenure of Lim, who is part of the medical faculty. Last year, union negotiators led by Lim himself struck a new collective bargaining deal with the UST administration for the years 2011-2016, but not without acrimony.

The Lead 4 Change Alliance candidate for vice president for legal affairs, lawyer Danielito Jimenez of the Faculty of Arts and Letters, claims faculty members got the raw end of the deal under Lim’s CBA. Leave benefits in the new CBA are nothing to crow about as they are already mandated by existing laws, he said.

“These benefits under the CBA do not differ from the legally mandated labor standards and cannot therefore be considered a product of negotiation,” Jimenez said in an interview.

UST administrators, meanwhile, were able to get their way, particularly in the system of promotion and faculty classification.

“During the general assembly, I tried to raise the [concerns regarding CBA], but what happened that time was that they prevented us from raising concerns,” Jimenez claimed.

The CBA states that “a female faculty member is entitled to 60 days leave with full pay based on her gross monthly compensation” while “pregnant faculty members are entitled to maternity leave for a Union PAGE 5

Three profs eye labor union presidency, vow to deal with K to 12 transition THREE professors are vying for the presidency of the UST Faculty Union (USTFU), all vowing to deal with the problems posed by the coming K to 12 transition.

The candidates are Dr. George Lim of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery who is running for reelection, and from the Faculty of Arts and Letters, Rene Luis Tadle and Jove Jim Aguas.

The K to 12 transition is turning out to be a major issue in the campaign, as college teaching loads would be reduced beginning next year. High school students will be spending two more years in senior high school or grades 11 and 12, instead of graduating to college. Because of this, UST will offer only 13 programs to freshmen next year.

The UST administration is proposing several measures to cushion the impact, among them tapping displaced professors to teach in the soonto-be-opened UST Senior High School (SHS). Professors will also have the option of doing office work, taking research loads or going on

sabbatical or study leaves.

The three presidential candidates agree that there must be a system of distributing teaching loads as well as protecting salary rates and tenure.

Tadle said getting assigned to senior high school would not guarantee that a faculty member's salary would be the same as in college.

“The salary rates of faculty members must be maintained because in the first place it is just a [transition] period,” he said in an interview with the Varsitarian.

Tadle maintained that UST could afford to maintain salary rates given its financial standing.

Aguas said UST's proposals need to be validated.

“Drastically, maaapektuhan [ang teaching load]. If before we’ve been accepting 10,000 students, now [it will be] just around 5,000. Pagdating doon sa distribution ng load, kailangan doon transparent, gaano kalaki ‘yung paghahati-hatian,” said Aguas.

Lim said professors’ salaries should not be cut during the K to 12 transition.

“Pagdating doon sa financial

[aspect], retained ‘yung salary scale regardless kung saan siya mapunta; regardless kung mapunta siya sa kolehiyo o sa SHS kasi itong mga tenured na ito, nagbigay na ng service sa University,” Lim said in an interview.

Thirty-five other candidates are eyeing other positions in the faculty union.

Running under Lim’s Kabalikat are: Patrick Ellis Go for executive vice president, Abegail Nierras for internal vice president, Pablito Marasigan Jr. for external vice president, Susan Petilla for secretary general; James Platon for vice president for labor eductation and research, Aurora Cristina Bermudez for vice president for legal affairs, Jonathan Cabero for vice president for grievance and complaints, Joyce Tan for treasurer, Marie Anne Lourdes Guanzon for auditor, and Arlene de Leon for public relations officer.

Kabalikat’s candidates for the USTFU board of directors are: Claudine Say, James Mark Nidea, Frederick Roy Manubay, George Chao, Profs PAGE 3

Lim

Tadle

Aguas

2 News

Editor: Dayanara T. Cudal

SEPTEMBER 26, 2015

AB Student Council opposes hair regulation THE STUDENT Council of the Faculty of Arts and Letters (ABSC) wants the college administration to suspend the implementation of the so-called “hair policy” prohibiting long hair for males and “loud” hair color, amid opposition from students.

The ABSC requested for a consultation and suspension of the new policy in a letter to the Artlets Dean’s Office last Sept. 8, after meeting with representatives of the Board of Majors (BOM) on Sept. 1.

In a statement released on Facebook last Sept.

13, the ABSC said the choice of hairstyle and hair color did not affect students’ learning or obstruct other people’s rights.

“In fact, we believe that this could contribute to the holistic development of an individual,” the statement read.

The statement mentioned Artlets Dean Michael Anthony Vasco as saying during a meeting with council officers last Sept. 11 that he was supportive of freedom of expression in the college, with limits, and that he was open to a dialogue with those opposed to the policy.

“Dean Vasco was firm in his response that even freedom has its limitations. He believes that the Artlets’ freedom to wear different hairstyles and hair colors has been abused,” the ABSC said.

The ABSC also said Vasco would allow long hair for men “as long as they look neat.” For hair color, Vasco preferred “blonde, burgundy and brown,” the ABSC claimed.

Jan Dominic Castro, ABSC president, said the council would seek another dialogue with the college administration to know the reason behind the policy.

“We want to uphold the liberality in AB as well as the freedom of expression of beliefs and personalities of the students,” Castro told the Varsitarian.

The “Good Grooming Policy” of the University’s Code of Conduct and Discipline, contained in the UST Student Handbook, states that: “Unless otherwise allowed by the administrators of the particular Faculty/College/Institute School for specific reasons, male students are not allowed to sport long hair. Hair should not touch the collar of the uniform. The use of hairpins, pony tails, headbands, etc. by male students is likewise not allowed.” There is no mention of hair color.

Social media campaign The groups Union of Journalists of the PhilippinesUST and Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights-UST campaigned against the hair policy on social media early this month. The groups claimed that security guards had begun asking for the IDs of students deemed to have violated the grooming policy at the entrance of St. Raymund’s Building, and instructing the same students to claim their IDs at the Dean’s Office.

The social media campaign drew mixed reactions, with negative views mostly coming from alumni and outsiders.

Said Facebook user Dan Mendoza on the UJPUST Facebook page: “I honestly don’t care whatever reason UST is getting strict on its hair policy. I’m not even from UST to begin with. But rules are rules. Lagi na lang ba gagamitin ang ‘freedom of expression’ para i-justify ang paglabag sa rules? Why do some Regulation PAGE 3

UST improves in Electrical Eng’g, Med Tech boards THE UNIVERSITY aced the recent licensure examinations in electrical engineering and medical technology, with Thomasians making it to the top 10 list of passers.

UST emerged as the top school in the board exams for electrical engineers after getting a 98.61-percent passing rate, with 71 out of 72 Thomasian examinees making the cut, results from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) showed.

This was higher than last year's 95.16 percent, wherein 59 out of 62 Thomasian examinees passed the exams.

Thomasian Cyrus Evangelista placed eighth with a score of 89.60 percent. Evangelista shared the spot with Arger Bondoc of Holy Angel University, Abrehn Gacang of the University of Southeastern PhilippinesDavao City, Orlando Jularbal of Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University-San Fernando and Gerald Mirano of Rizal Technological University.

The national passing rate went up to 63.01 percent, with 2,536 examinees passing the test out of 3,772, from last year's 59.89 percent, in which 2,190 passed out of 3,661 examinees.

UST improved in the medical technology licensure Boards PAGE 5

Mercury Drug founder conferred with honorary degree THE FOUNDER of the country’s largest chain of drug stores has vowed to continue supporting the education of pharmacy students in the Philippines, as he received an honorary doctorate from UST, the first school of pharmacy in the country.

“I have devoted my life in service of others, especially those who wish to pursue their own dreams and aspirations.

In fact I’m happy to say I’m happy to do this, granting scholarships to deserving students to complete their pharmacy education here at UST,” Que said in his address during solemn investitute rites at the Medicine Auditorium last Sept. 9.

UST Rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. emphasized Que’s contributions to the pharmaceutical industry and corporate social responsibility.

“The pharmaceutical industry looks up to him as a source of inspiration not only for his distinctive brand of leadership, introducing many firsts in his field and exceptional work ethics which [are] truly worth emulating, but also for his incomparable humanitarian work,” Fr. Dagohoy said.

As a philanthropist, Que spearheaded programs to make medicines available to poor cities and municipalities, such as Bigay Lunas and Bigay Kalusugan.

In March 1945, the opening of the first Mercury Drugstore in Bambang, Manila marked the birth of the country’s pharmaceutical retail industry.

The University confers honorary doctorates on those who have attained exceptionally meritorious achievements in the arts, the sciences, the humanities and public service, in accordance with the rules and conditions established by the Commission in Higher Education.

CLARENCE I. HORMACHUELOS

PIONEER. Mariano Que, founder of the country’s largest chain of drugstores, was conferred by the University with an honorary doctorate degree last Sept. 9 at the Medicine Auditorium.

G.L. CADUNGOG

Junior HS enhances English proficiency focus UST JUNIOR High School (JHS) has renewed its ties with an international testing firm to develop English-language proficiency among students and ensure the quality of its teaching staff.

Crispin Javier, UST-JHS English coordinator, said the partnership with Hopkins International Partners Inc., authorized representative of the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) in the Philippines, seeks to help the University attain high-quality English language instruction.

TOEIC is a global standard for measuring English language proficiency developed by the Educational Testing Service of Princeton, New Jersey. It consists of two equally graded tests of comprehension assessments.

Faculty members, guidance counselors and some support staff are required to take

Usapang Uste NOON pa man, hinihimok na ng Simbahan at ng Unibersidad ang mga Katolikong manunulat na panatilihin ang kagandahan ng kulturang pampanitikan.

Taong 1959 nang maglabas ang Varsitarian ng isang lathalaing tumatalakay sa “Catholic Writing” sa bansa.

the TOEIC annually while students can take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). TOEFL is one of the two major English-language tests in the world, the other being the International English Language Testing System.

UST-JHS is the first academic institution in Manila to certify its students with the TOEFL Junior and Institutional Testing Program (ITP) tests, school officials said.

The TOEFL Junior test, intended for students ages 11–14, is a general assessment of middle school-level English-language proficiency. It has three sections: reading comprehension, listening comprehension, and language form and meaning. The Junior Comprehensive test has four sections: reading comprehension, listening comprehension, speaking and writing.

The TOEFL ITP test is a paperbased assessment used to evaluate the

English-language proficiency of nonnative English speakers. The test contains new and previously administered TOEFL test questions and is used for placement, progress evaluation and exit testing, among others.

“It is important for every young Thomasian to be TOEFL-certified in order to assess his or her level of proficiency and determine if international standards are truly met in terms of English language fluency,” Javier said in an email.

Administrators, academic coordinators and head teachers took the TOEIC in Academic Year 2013-2014.

Javier said TOEIC-certified teachers “reflect the level of competence evident in UST-JHS,” adding that consistent high marks in previous tests could be attributed to the performance of the faculty. JEROME P. VILLANUEVA

Panitikang Katoliko itinaguyod Sa artikulong isinulat ni Gregorio Brillantes, isang Palanca Award Hall of Famer at isang batikang manunulat sa katha, binigyang-diin ang tungkulin ng mga Katolikong paaralan sa paggabay sa mga kabataang manunulat.

Ayon kay Brillantes, inaasahang mayroong natatanging pagpapahalaga sa sagradong pananaw ang isang Katolikong manunulat dahil malaking dagok sa mga manunulat ng modernong panahon ang mga makabagong ideolohiya tulad ng sekularisasiyon.

Kung sino pa raw ang mga produkto ng mga Katolikong paaralan, sila pa ang nagiging biktima ng mga baluktot na paniniwala.

M a r u p o k din aniya ang mga

kabataang manunulat sa bugso ng kanilang damdamin kung kaya’t naaapektuhan ang kalidad ng kanilang mga akda. Bunsod daw ito ng kawalan ng espirituwal at metapisikal na pundasiyon ng isang Katoliko.

Ilan lamang ang mga akda ng historyador at peryodistang si Nick Joaquin na “Guardia de Honor” at “The Legend of the Dying Woman” sa mga kathang nabanggit sa lathalain na nararapat maging batayan ng tamang paraan ng Katolikong pagsulat.

Isa rin si Bienvenido Santos, isang premyadong nobelista, sa mga Katolikong manunulat na nakapaglimbag ng mahuhusay na akda.

Ani Brillantes, bilang mga kabataan ng isang Kristiyanong bayan, dapat maging bihasa ang mga Katolikong manunulat hindi lamang sa mga akda ng mga

tanyag na banyagang manunulat tulad nina Faulkner at Malraux.

Dapat din nilang kilalanin ang mga Katolikong sina Claudel, Graham Greene, Sigrid Undset at Santo Tomas de Aquino.

“A Catholic writer, to be effective, must also be a thinker,” ayon kay Brillantes, na mariing pinabulaanang puro misteryo at kababalaghan ang itinuturo ng Simbahan.

Pangunahing tungkulin din aniya ng isang Katolikong manunulat ang ipahayag ang mga turo ng Simbahan sa pamamagitan ng panitikan.

Dagdag pa niya, hindi nililimitahan ng relihiyon ang “pagka-sining” ng isang akda.

Sa katunayan, sinasalamin nito ang sanlibutan at pinagtitibay ang humanismo.

Usapang Uste PAHINA 11

Assistant Editor: Danielle Ann F. Gabriel

SEPTEMBER 26, 2015

Research project calls for ‘inclusive education’

By KATHRYN JEDI V. BAYLON and ALHEX ADREA M. PERALTA CHILDREN with “special needs” belong to a regular classroom, not in special schools, according to UST’s education experts.

The College of Education, College of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Science, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery and the Research Center for Culture, Education and Social Issues (RCCESI) have begun a project advocating for “inclusive education” that seeks to put children with disabilities in regular classrooms instead of special education centers.

The program will assess, through research, the learning needs of children and the most common learning disabilities in eight areas: Pasig and Makati in the National Capital Region, Laguna and Albay in Luzon, Cebu and Capiz in Visayas, and Caraga and Butuan in Mindanao, said Maripia Rabacal, assistant professor at the

College of Education, the lead unit.

The project team is composed of eight researchers: assistant professors Marichou Beltran and Bernard Saldivar of the College of Education; College of Science Assoc.

Prof. Marie Antonette Vargas; College of Rehabilitation Sciences assistant professors Donald Lipardo, Georgina Mojica and Karen Ongtangco; Hubert Ramos of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery and RCCESI Research Associate Eleanor Bahrami-Tranquilin.

“The inclusive education program will help public school teachers develop skills in handling children with disabilities and special needs,” Bahrami-Tranquilin told the Varsitarian in an interview.

The program will develop screening tools based on the inclusive education program of the Department of Education, to let teachers know the condition of students in their areas.

“The screening tools will help the teachers in monitoring the progress of the students in learning. Teachers will be able

Ex-president of ABSC discloses sanctions over lost funds TWO FORMER officers of the Faculty of Arts and Letters Student Council (ABSC) will not get certificates of good moral character due to “gross negligence” as a result of the loss of P50,000 in council funds last year, the Varsitarian has learned.

Former ABSC president Marie Jann Klaire Lazo told the Varsitarian the college’s verdict was relayed by the Student Welfare and Development Board (SWDB) through a resolution that was mailed directly to her and former treasurer Julienne Avila. Avila has yet to respond to requests for comment.

The resolution also stated that Avila, a political science senior, would have to render 50 hours of community service, Lazo said. Lazo however was not required to render community service, having graduated from the journalism program last May. The former student council president declined to show the SWDB resolution to the Varsitarian, saying she was

Emeritus FROM PAGE 1

Dito ay sabay silang nakakakita ng bagong kaalaman, natututo, nagiisip at napapalawak ang kanilang pananaw,” said Sevilla.

Sevilla, an advocate of the Filipino language, also called for the use of the national language in instruction. Lectures, he said, were

forbidden to do so, but agreed to discuss its contents in an interview.

Lazo described the resolution as “fair” but said she was considering filing a motion for reconsideration before the SWDB or an appeal before the Office of Student Affairs. The motion for reconsideration or appeal must be filed within 10 working days from the date the resolution was received.

“The resolution helps para matahimik na rin ang AB community and to help the present ABSC,” Lazo said.

Lazo admitted to negligence on her part, saying she was lenient with the way funds were handled.

The SWDB conducted an extensive investigation prior to issuing the resolution.

Before the probe, officers of the previous student council shelled out money to pay for the P50,000 allegedly lost right inside the ABSC office on October 23, 2014. The cash was inside Avila’s bag. ALHEX ADREA M. PERALTA better understood and disseminated when the medium used was familiar to everyone.

“Sa pagtuturo ng agham tulad ng Chemistry, mas mabuti kung ito ay malapit sa araw-araw na kabuhayan. Madali at malalim ang pagtanggap ng panayam kung ang mga salita ay pamilyar. Mabilis na maiuugnay ang agham sa pang araw-araw na kabuhayan sa ganitong pamamaraan,” he said.

to determine how their students are doing in terms of their cognitive development as well as physical development,” Rabacal explained.

The program will also come up with “Pre-referral Intervention Manuals,” which will seek develop gross motor skills, fine motor skills, cognitive skills, communication skills, social emotional skills and self-help skills of the children with special needs, according to the UST website.

The proposal for an inclusive education project was made by an international funding agency in 2011 during the term of Fr. Rolanda de la Rosa, O.P. as rector, and was approved in June 2014.

The push for inclusive education is based on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s Salamanca Statement of 1994, an international agreement that states that all persons with disabilities should learn in the least restrictive environment, the general education program.

‘Commerce fire could have been prevented’—fire officer NO SPRINKLERS, no well-trained personnel.

These were the findings of the investigation into the fire that broke out last July 5 at the fourth floor of St. Raymund de Peñafort Building, which forced the College of Commerce and Business Administration to temporarily hold classes in other buildings.

“Kung may sprinklers [ang building], hindi naman magiging malala ‘yung sunog. Factor pa na hindi well-trained ‘yung nag-respond sa sunog, kung saan nagkaroon pa siya ng difficulty of breathing,” said Senior Fire Officer 4 John Joseph Jalique, head of the investigating unit at the Manila Fire Department, in an interview.

Antonio Espejo, in-house mechanical engineer at the UST Facilities Management Office (FMO), confirmed that there were no sprinklers installed in the building.

The FMO installed automatic fire extinguishers in every room of St. Raymund’s, which also houses the Faculty of Arts and Letters, following the incident, Espejo said.

According to the official fire investigation report obtained by the Varsitarian, the University also “failed to submit a copy of [its] Fire Sevilla has earned accolades for his work in analytical chemistry.

His researches on chemical sensors and biosensors have been acknowledged locally and internationally.

Last July 9, Sevilla was named academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology, one of the scientific body’s highest distinctions. ALHEX ADREA M. PERALTA

Profs

FROM PAGE 1 Beatriz Ribleza, Benedicto Ducat, and Revenendo Vargas.

Running under Tadle’s Lead 4 Change Alliance are: Elvis Llarena for excecutive vice president, Edilberto Gonzaga for internal vice president, John Vincent Igancio for external vice president, Danielito Jimenez for vice president for leagal affairs, Jose Ngo for vice president for grievance and complaints, Rouena Villarama for secretary genaral, Elizabeth Kapulong for public relations officer, Almanzor Macmod for auditor, and Rebecca Adri for sergeant at arms.

Running for the board of directors under Tadle are: Noel Asiones, Mary Rose Coronel, Michelle Desierto, Norman Garcia, Emerito Gonzales, Archie Resos Ramil Sasi, and Vercie Subaldo.

USTFU will hold its elections on Sept. 28. CLARENCE I. HORMACHUELOS

and Earthquake Drill Certificate.”

UST however joined the Metro Manila-wide “shake drill” last July 30.

The fire department report ruled out arson and said an overheated airconditioning unit in Room 405 started the fire. But the accounts of witnesses were not sufficient to establish the definite cause of fire, it added.

“After careful examination and thorough analysis of the burnt patterns at the fire scene and based on the testimonies given by witnesses, the Investigator (Jalique) believed that the fire originated [in] Room 405,” the report stated.

Damage to equipment such as refrigerators, ceiling fans, a television set, a microwave oven and a projector was estimated at P7.6 million.

Jalique said he was not given access to closed-circuit television video.

Espejo bared that the FMO would soon install sprinklers in different buildings in UST, as recommended by the fire department.

“Umpisahan namin maglagay ng sprinkler system sa [Faculty of] Engineering at [College of] Education kasi ‘yun ‘yung matataas na buildings, and then the others will follow,” Espejo said. KATHRYN JEDI

V. BAYLON

Regulation

News 3

UST retains QS world rank UST HAS kept its spot in the latest QuacquarelliSymonds (QS) world university rankings, holding on to the 701+ bracket while three other Philippine universities slid in the annual listing.

The University of the Philippines (UP) remained the country’s top university despite slipping to the 401-410 bracket from last year’s 367th place. Ateneo de Manila University also went down to the 501-550 bracket from the 461470 bracket last year.

De La Salle University joined UST in the 701+ bracket, after figuring in the 651-700 bracket last year.

In the subject rankings, Ateneo and UP secured spots in the 101-150 bracket in English Language and Literature, while La Salle placed in the 151-200 bracket. UST has failed to get a spot in the subject area after landing in the 101150 bracket in 2011.

State-run UP was the only Philippine university to rank in Modern Languages (151200 bracket), Agriculture (151-200 bracket), Medicine (251-300 bracket), Development Studies (51-100 bracket), Politics and International Studies (151-200 bracket) and Communication and Media Studies (151-200 bracket).

In Sociology, UP and Ateneo placed in the 151-200 and 101-150 brackets respectively.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology continued to dominate the world rankings, after being named the top university worldwide with a perfect score of 100 for the fourth consecutive time since 2012.

Meanwhile, the National University of Singapore remained the top university in Asia, improving its rank to 12th place from last year’s 22nd.

The highest ranking for UST in the QS survey came in 2008, when it landed in the 401500 bracket. The survey started in 2004.

This year, a total of 891 institutions were ranked by the London-based QS consultancy, with more than 76,700 academics and 44,200 employers surveyed and more than 3,500 institutions considered.

The QS rankings are based on five criteria, namely: academic reputation (40 percent), employer reputation (10 percent), faculty to student ratio (20 percent), citations per faculty (20 percent), international faculty ratio (5 percent) and international student ratio (5 percent). DAYANARA T. CUDAL

Rehab Sciences offers course in Italian therapy

FROM PAGE 2

By JEROME P. VILLANUEVA

people always have this sense of entitlement? Ganyan na ba talaga katigas ang ulo ng mga estudyanteng Pinoy? Freedom is not absolute.”

Said Randy Q. Villanueva: “Meanwhile, in other parts of the country, hordes of talented kids dream of going to college but cannot because they have no means. Instead, they are working themselves to the bone to help their parents in feeding their siblings. Offered the chance to study in UST, I doubt if they would be enraged by a hair policy. I’m not trying to be condescending. I’m just saying there are nobler things to fight for.”

Facebook user Xave meanwhile commented: “To suggest that students must obey without questioning is to suggest that they cannot think for themselves. To suggest that these students who do question the status quo should just go and find another school is to suggest that the University is not a place of free thought.”

Said U.G. Naguit: “It is disappointing to see ‘educated’ citizens asserting their so-called ‘values’ and imposing their status quo mentality. It is even more disheartening to see ‘educated’ people shunning Thomasians merely for daring to question the sudden implementation of the haircut and hair color policy in the UST-Faculty of Arts and Letters.”

ALHEX ADREA M. PERALTA

THE PHYSICAL Therapy program of the College of Rehabilitation Sciences (CRS) offered a course on an Italian therapy technique called “fascial manipulation” early this month.

The six-day diploma course on fascial manipulation was held Sept. 3 to 9 at Alfredo M. Velayo Hall and was led by Alessandro Pedrelli, vice president of the Fascia Manipulation Association based in Italy.

Fascial manipulation was developed by Luigi Stecco, an Italian physiotherapist. It involves the fascia, a sheet of connective tissue fibers that forms beneath the skin enclosing and attaching muscles and other internal organs. It serves as an additional treatment for patients suffering from musculoskeletal disorders or pain in the body’s joints, muscles and nerves.

The course was attended by 27 professionals consisting of physiotherapists, chiropractors, rehabilitation doctors and bodyworkers from the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan.

Valentin Dones, chairman of the physical therapy program, said the technique would be integrated in the program curriculum. Faculty members are also planning to write research papers on fascial manipulation, he said.

“It has penetrated the market in the US, not just in Europe. It is becoming evidence-based,” Dones said in an interview.

Mark Serra, a CRS faculty member and president of RehabTrends Inc., said his company was eyeing a partnership with UST because of the quality of its research.

Serra said fascial manipulation could serve as initial therapy for patients set to undergo surgical procedures.

The training program could pave the way for research collaboration between the CRS and the Italian association.

4 Opinion

SEPTEMBER 26, 2015

Editorial

Mockery of separation of church and state ACCUSING Justice Secretary Leila de Lima of being behind the criminal complaint filed by expelled Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) minister Isaias Samson Jr. against the INC leadership for alleged illegal detention, tens of thousands of the sect's members took to Edsa and surrounding streets to demand that the case be withdrawn, that De Lima stop meddling in the affairs of the INC, and for the government to respect the separation of church and state.

The 1987 Constitution provides that the “separation of church and state shall be inviolable” and “no law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed.

No religious test shall be required for the exercise of civil or political rights.”

The separation clause is actually an expression of the secular republican rule that the state cannot establish its own religion. “Non-establishment of religion” is therefore a rule against the state, not against religion.

The prohibition is one-sided, yes. This is because while the state has police and taxing powers, religion has none. Having powers, the state has the tendency to abuse them, which is historically proven by the Reign of Terror that followed the Fall of the Bastille, Napoleon's excesses, the Mexican torching of the churches, the antiChristian persecutions that triggered the Spanish civil war, and even the raid of convents and abuse of religious during the Marcos dictatorship.

But is the state abusing its powers and bullying the INC—and perhaps favoring other churches over the INC—when it accepted the criminal complaint of an exminister of the INC on his alleged detention in the hands of the sect’s leaders?

No. In the first place, the complainant is not anymore an INC member—he was kicked out in fact by the church elders after he, along with other ministers, including estranged kin of the INC “pope” himself, complained they were being held against their will by the INC leadership.

Although the INC leaders denied that the exminister and the others were detained, they did not deny that an internal conflct was brewing. This was very obvious to everyone in the country, especially since the Philippine National Police (PNP), headed by an official recommended to the post by the INC, suspiciously set a detachment to bar the gate of the house where the estranged relatives of the INC head minister, Eduardo Manalo, were holed up in, apparently to stop them from getting out and talking to the press. News TV cameras showed the policemen stopping food deliveries to the house, and it took an officer from the Commission on Human Rights to stop the apparent harassment and human rights violation by the PNP. Of course, the PNP, headed by someone said to be an INC ally, explained that Editorial PAGE 14

FOUNDED JAN. 16, 1928 LORD BIEN G. LELAY Editor in Chief ANGELI MAE S. CANTILLANA Managing Editor ARIANNE F. MEREZ Associate Editor DAYANARA T. CUDAL News Editor DANIELLE ANN F. GABRIEL Assistant News Editor MARY GILLAN FRANCES G. ROPERO Special Reports Editor ERIKA MARIZ S. CUNANAN Features Editor ALILIANA MARGARETTE T. UYAO Literary Editor MARIA KOREENA M. ESLAVA Patnugot ng Filipino MARIE DANIELLE L. MACALINO Witness Editor DARYL ANGELO P. BAYBADO Acting Circle Editor RHENN ANTHONY S. TAGUIAM Online Editor ROBERTO A. VERGARA, JR. Assistant Online Editor AVA MARIANGELA C. VICTORIA Art Director BASILIO H. SEPE Photography Editor News Kathryn Jedi V. Baylon, Clarence I. Hormachuelos, Alhex Adrea M. Peralta, Jerome P. Villanueva Sports Carlo A. Casingcasing, Delfin Ray M. Dioquino, John Chester P. Fajardo, Philip Martin L. Matel, Randell Angelo B. Ritumalta Special Reports Paul Xavier Jaehwa C. Bernardo, Monica M. Hernandez Features Mary Grace C. Esmaya, Maria Corazon A. Inay, Vianca A. Ocampo Literary Zenmond G. Duque II, Cedric Allen P. Sta. Cruz Filipino Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas, Bernadette A. Paminutan Witness Krystel Nicole A. Sevilla, Lea Mat P. Vicencio Science and Technology Mia Rosienna P. Mallari, Kimberly Joy V. Naparan, Julius Roman M. Tolop Circle Amierielle Anne A. Bulan, Ma. Czarina A. Fernandez, Ethan James M. Siat Art Kirsten M. Jamilla, Freya D.L.R. Torres, Iain Rafel N. Tyapon Photography Alvin Joseph Kasiban, Amparo Klarin J. Mangoroban, Miah Terrenz Provido

FELIPE F. SALVOSA II Assistant Publications Adviser JOSELITO B. ZULUETA Publications Adviser Letters/comments/suggestions/contributions 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 a writer may be withheld upon request. The editors will not be responsible for the loss of materials. Contributions must be sent to THE VARSITARIAN office, Rm. 105, Tan Yan Kee Student Center Bldg., University of Santo Tomas, España, Manila.

Laudato Si’: Eradicating ‘pollution’ POPE Francis’ declaration of the first day of September as the annual World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creations is arguably the best time for the Pope to reiterate that being stewards of Creation does not only mean people should protect the enviroment, but that they should also check the human corruption and spiritual “pollution” that have caused the environmental crisis--among several crises--in the first place.

With “Laudato Si’,” his second encyclical, Pope Francis has called for the revitalization of God’s creation and reminded the faithful that along with upholding life, practicing charity, promoting justice, and observing morality, they must also protect the environment.

Pope Francis’ 168-page encyclical can be summarized thus: humanity cannot free the “pollution-plagued” world from trafficking of endangered species while remaining completely indifferent to human trafficking, unconcerned about the poor, or destroying another human being deemed unwanted.

This is a challenge for the Philippines, the largest Catholic

Humanity cannot free the world from pollution while remaining completely indifferent or unconcerned about the poor, or destroying another who is deemed unwanted. nation in Asia.

Climate change, pollution, decline in the quality of human life, social breakdown, and global inequality, cited by Pope Francis as major “pollutions” of the Earth, are experienced by most Filipinos.

The country has seen the reckless exploitation of the environment in the name of financial gain.

Corruption, drug and human trafficking, and killings populate the news headlines. Gross iniquity in social and economic relations show the intractability of the problems facing many Filipinos.

The rich and the powerful prey on the weak and the powerless.

Pope Francis blames the

intractability of the environmental disaster facing the globe on the “lords” of political and economic power. The same lords are to blame for social and economic iniquity facing Philippine society.

They are the ones whose interests have led to the despoiliation of the environment.

In the fight to protect the environment, young people have a leading role.

More Filipino Catholics should support the Global Catholic Change Movement, an international petition aiming to cut excessive carbon emissions and to assist the vulnerable in coping with the effects of environmental changes.

In the Archdiocese of Manila alone, more than 1,000 priests, religious, and lay leaders have signed the petition.

This support would be essential as Church leaders call for a global climate treaty during the Paris Climate Change Conference in November.

Even before the release of the encyclical, Pope Francis already said that Filipinos, especially the youth, can do something to preserve God’s Creation.

“We need to see, with the eyes of faith, the beauty of God's saving plan, the link between the natural environment and the dignity of the human person. As stewards of God's Creation, we are called to make the earth a beautiful garden for the human family,” the Pope said in his undelivered speech during his visit to the University last Jan. 18.

As citizens of a predominantly Catholic nation, we are expected to act as global leaders in terms of virtuous culture and upholding morality. Thus, we should not let the passage of bills and promulgation of laws that we think contradict Church’s teachings and destroy human life and dignity.

Manila traffic, no big deal?

AUTHOR Dan Brown's infamous statement of Manila as the “gates of hell” may have caused quite an uproar among Filipinos two years ago, but given the current situation of traffic and transportation woes in the city, one may have to treat the line as gospel truth rather than an exaggeration.

Being a regular commuter, I have had my fair share of times uttering curse words out of sheer annoyance that despite an early morning start, a major gridlock is bound to have me late and distressed.

I have had instances wherein a 30-minute travel from Makati to Shaw Boulevard became a three-hour excursion.

To commuters haggling with EDSA on a daily basis, it is always a toss-coin between putting up with the long MRT lines and playing the waiting game inside a bus reminiscent of a sardines can.

But atleast, the traffic is “not fatal.” Or so says Transport and Communications Secretary Joseph Abaya in a TV interview last Aug. 17.

He was quick to downgrade his shocker of a description to “not burdensome” before later on apologizing for his remarks all in all.

A year ago, several government officials have taken it upon themselves to

The road congestion problem should not be merely seen as a commuter concern or a social media rant, but a serious threat that could derail the country’s economy. take the challenge of riding public transport on rush hour to immerse themselves in the life of a daily commuter. Whether that was campaigning strategies or sincere gestures to improve the transport system is another story.

News outfits reported the Philippines as ranking fifth among countries with the worst traffic conditions in the world and third in Asia.

Adding insult to injury, the dismal traffic situation is said to be costing the country P2.4 billion a day. According to a report done by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the daily traffic grind affects commuters' productivity hours, health, fuel costs among others.

Putting a monetary equivalent on the time wasted on the road may be unlikely, but picture the possibilities of having the two to three hours a day spent

on commute translated to extra hours with family or on study.

The mammoth road congestion problem should not be merely seen as a commuter concern or a social media rant by the late and the haggard. It is a serious threat that could derail the country's economy.

With pollution being one of the obvious consequences of the influx of vehicles on the road, health concerns also rise and so does the hospital bill. Higher fuel costs due to turtle speeds during traffic also means bad news for transport operators and owners who will be making less profit.

On a larger scale, the horrendous traffic blunder likewise affects the country's foreign investments scene.

During my internship, I had the chance to talk with European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Vice President for Membership

and Business Services, Florian Gottein, who said that one of the main hindrances he sees in the development of the country is on infrastructure, noting that potential investors would be less likely to set their eyes on the Philippines if the difficult traffic situation persists.

According to architect and urban planning expert, Jun Palafox, an average Manila resident spends 28,000 hours of his economic life in traffic. That is almost three years of wasted time—nothing too serious to fret about apparently, as far as the government's transport sector is concerned.

With all due respect, the efforts to have Manila roads facelifted are recognized.

However, I fear for the amount of dedication authorities are putting on the battle against decongesting the city. We have seen time and time again road repairs and coding schemes in varying shades of success.

There is re-building but not exactly renewal, so are we really inching closer to solving the root of the problem?

With politicians playing urban planners and calling the shots without considering the long-term consequences of a mixand-match type of construction, our transport system will truly be a laughing stock, if it does not prove to be fatal, at least in the long run.

SEPTEMBER 26, 2015

Pia Cayetano law promotes athlete piracy EVEN THE country's premiere collegiate sports league is not immune from dirty politics.

Just last August 28, President Aquino signed Republic Act (RA) 10676 or the Student-Athletes Protection Act junking the two-year residency enforced by the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) on high school athletes opting to play for another school in collegiate level.

Under the new law, student athletic associations like the UAAP and the National College Athletic Association (NCAA) are barred from imposing residency requirements on high school athletes who are transferring to another college.

Amid strong opposition by some UAAP-member schools, the bill's proponent, Sen. Pia Cayetano, who is supposed to conduct inquiries “in aid of legislation,” was successful in having the bill passed. She might have probably forgotten that the issue of UAAP residency was clearly not in aid of legislation.

The publicity generated by her intervention has surely

Narra

FROM PAGE 10 take care of the flowers for the tikbalang to give to his bride?” she thought sadly. Gently parting her fingers, the young Lourdes released the butterfly’s wings, and watched it fly back into the underbrush. Suddenly, a piece of green fruit dropped in front of her.

Then she remembered hearing the leaves rustle, and a low rumbling sound coming from the trunk.

“Salamat po,” she thought she heard a soft, feminine voice say. Lourdes scurried home, both frightened and curious as to what had happened.

“Is that true? Did the tree

Union FROM PAGE 1

maximum of 60 days for normal delivery and 78 days for caesarian delivery.”

Also, “every male faculty member shall be entitled to a paternity leave of seven working days with full pay for the first four deliveries or miscarriages.”

Republic Acts 7322 and 8187, however, already mandate maternity and paternity leave benefits, respectively.

‘CBA a negotiation’ Jimenez said he would “push for better terms and conditions of employment over and above labor standards” should he win in the USTFU polls.

Lim acknowledged that some CBA provisions may not be “advantageous” to the faculty, but pointed out that it would be unrealistic to expect the union to obtain all of its demands during CBA talks.

“There are provisions that

Boards FROM PAGE 2 exams. The passing rate went up to 95.36 percent, with 329 passing the test out of 345 examinees. This was higher than last year’s 93.30 percent, in which 209 Thomasian examinees passed out of 224.

However, UST failed to make it to the list of top schools this year.

Last year, UST ranked 10th on the list of top performing schools.

Marelle Yamzon placed third and led this year’s batch of Thomasian medical technologists, scoring 90.10 percent.

Two other Thomasians made it to the top 10. Eunice Licudine

With its successful high school athletic program, UST, among the eight UAAPmember schools, has always been the foremost victim of piracy.

Much has also been said about Dindin Santiago, who after winning a championship with the Golden Tigresses in UAAP Season 72, opted to play for National University with her sister Jaja Santiago who also used to be a part of UST High School girls' volleyball team.

Despite the mercenary ways of some athletes it has trained, UST has managed to keep afloat, even reclaiming the UAAP general championship last year.

Schools like UST invest on young people to develop their athletic and intellectual potential and in order for them to prepare for bigger competitions like UAAP. But RA 10676 puts to shame a school's effort in training athletes and empowering them.

This law may promote freedom among young athletes to decide on where they would want to study and play for, but the fact they can easily shift their allegiance when lured with better prospects and offers by other schools means that the Cayetano law is actually abetting piracy

influenced other lawmakers in agreeing with the pretentious provisions of this law, which actually promotes athletes piracy.

With its successful high school athletic program, UST, among the eight UAAP-member schools, has always been the foremost victim of piracy.

Who can forget the controversy involving Ana Dominique Bartolome, a star swimmer from UST High School, who, just as UAAP Season 76 was about to begin, transferred to and represented the University of the Philippines, so that four UAAP-member schools boycotted the swimming

competition.

Bartolome and her parents even filed a complaint against UST and UAAP and perhaps because Cayetano, a UP alumna, gave public comments supporting her, the judge ruled in her favor.

In 2010, Alyssa Valdez, arguably the best volleyball player in the country today, shifted and played for Ateneo de Manila University after getting all the benefits from her four-year stay as a high school volleyball player in UST. Together with her was Kim Fajardo, one of the assets of the De La Salle University's Women's Volleyball Team at present.

really talk to you?” Pia asked.

Lourdes remained silent and simply smiled. Outside, the leaves of the narra rustled, as the summer breeze passed through the branches and flowers.

Pia gawked askance from her grandmother to the tree.

Lourdes looked out the window, as if caught in deep thought. A car horn once again broke the silence. Pia quickly packed up her things and walked to the back door. She opened the door and almost went through the threshold before peering back at her grandmother.

Lourdes smiled, and Pia smiled back. She continued her walk outside to take one last look at the tree, while Lourdes

lumbered towards the car to greet Conrado.

She stood where Lourdes once stood: beneath its rustling leaves and in front of its massive trunk. She gazed up at the colossal wooden tower. In her periphery, a pair of gleaming, bright blue wings caught her attention. In the bushes nearby, a butterfly struggled to free itself from a spider’s web. She picked up a twig and reached out for it, letting the tiny insect’s legs latch on, as she pulled it close to her.

The butterfly flapped its wings and freed itself from the strands of web that entangled it, silently flying off into the brush.

A rustling sound emanated from the canopy and a green,

disc-shaped fruit shortly fell in front of her. Puzzled, she looked up and stared at the canopy.

“Salamat po,” a voice echoed back, seemingly from the tree and similar to her grandmother’s.

Surprised, she looked around and saw Lourdes talking to Conrado, who waved his hand and beckoned Pia to the car. She leaned down, picked up the fruit and rushed up the steps, back through the living room and out the front door into the waiting vehicle. Peeking out the car window, she held the fruit tightly, taking one last look of awe at her grandmother and the tree as the engine propelled the car back onto the dirt road.

may not be to the advantage of the faculty members. We do not claim [that the CBA] is a perfect instrument. Hindi naman pwedeng lahat gusto nila, or lahat gusto namin [ang ilagay] kasi hindi na CBA `yon. CBA is a negotiation,” Lim said in an interview.

The CBA also performs the role of informing faculty members of their benefits, which is why benefits already mandated by law were included in last year’s deal, he added.

“There are so many benefits provided by law that the faculty members are not even aware of. If you do not put it there, [the more] they will not be aware of that information,” Lim said.

At any rate, Lim said USTFU officials never obliged members to ratify the document last year.

“The document is presented to everybody. We did not coerce anyone to vote for its ratification.

So na-ratify `yan, more than 80 percent [voted for it],” Lim said.

K to 12 woes Tadle, who quit the USTFU vice presidency to run against Lim, meanwhile scored the lack of immediacy in information dissemination to union members, particularly on University policies in relation to the K to 12 scheme.

A reduction of teaching loads is expected beginning 2016 as high school students will spend two more years in senior high school instead of graduating to college. UST has reduced its program offerings to just 13 from 56 for the next academic year.

“I think there is a need for a more assertive leadership and someone who is really knowledgeable regarding the things that must be done. Nakita ko talaga na may kakulangan sa policy in relation to K to 12 and I think we have to be more proactive in protecting the rights and interests of faculty members,” Tadle said in an interview.

Tadle’s Lead 4 Change Alliance promises to deal with problems concerning the K to 12 transition through a

“trifocal approach”: urging the government to enact policies protecting faculty members, partnership and dialogue between the UST administration and the union to prevent job cuts, and coordination with nongovernment organizations like the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines in upholding labor-friendly policies for faculty members that will be affected by the transition.

ranked eighth with a score of 89.50 percent, sharing the spot with Jessica Jane Rivera of San Lorenzo Ruiz College of Ormoc and Jan Mark Lester Roxas of Far Eastern University.

Cian Michael Rayco placed ninth with a score of 89.40 percent, sharing the spot with Marc Frederick Soco of Velez College, Nasudi Pastores of Cagayan State University-Andrews Campus, and Grace Joy Apale and Monique Mondragon of San Pedro College of Davao City.

The national passing rate stood at 83.64 percent, with 4,048 examinees making the cut out of 4,840. This was higher than last year’s passing rate of 82.60 percent, in which 2,986 examinees passed

out of 3,615.

Meanwhile, the University recorded a 66.67-percent passing rate in the licensure exams for chemists, with 32 passers out of 48. This was lower than last year’s 78.26-percent passing rate, in which 36 out of 46 Thomasian examinees passed.

UST’s Justine Vigo secured eighth place with a score of 88 percent.

The national passing rate stood at 53.70 percent this year, with 414 making the cut out of 771 examinees. This was lower compared with last year’s 59.72 percent, in which 421 passed out of 705 examinees. KATHRYN JEDI V.

Smokers

BAYLON, DAYANARA T. CUDAL and DANIELLE ANN F. GABRIEL

Line PAGE 14

Transparency, full disclosure Aguas is proposing to form a special committee to address K to 12 issues and another committee focused on CBA negotiations.

Aguas’ platform stresses the need for “advancement in academic excellence” through a support system for faculty research and publication as well as financial incentives. Aguas also vows to ensure “good governance and administration” through full disclosure of USTFU spending and the publication of yearly financial reports. C.I. HORMACHUELOS and K.J.V. BAYLON

FROM PAGE 13

usually a breaker during social drinking,” he added.

Curbing the addiction Despite smoking’s popularity, the government has formed regulations to help curb the negative effects of smoking.

Primary to this endeavour is the Tobacco Act of 2003 that serves as a guide to tobacco control. Other related laws include the Philippine Clean Air Act and the Philippine Sin Tax Reform Act of 2012, which increased taxes on vices such as smoking.

More recently are the directives

Opinion 5

Patama ng pamahalaan, tama nga ba?

“HINDI naman sa gobyerno napupunta ang ipinapadalang dolyar ng mga overseas Filipino workers (OFW) kaya hindi ito nararamdaman direkta sa ekonomiya ng bansa.”

Ito ang napabalitang pahayag ni presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda bilang tugon sa samu’t saring pambabatikos na inani ng administrasyong Aquino patungkol sa plano ng Bureau of Customs na ipatupad ang pag-iinspeksiyon at pagdadagdag ng buwis sa mga “balikbayan boxes.”

Habang naghahanap ako ng mga detalye nito ilang araw matapos pumutok ang balita, maging ang infographic na nakita ko sa social media noong ika-23 ng Agosto ay hindi ko na makita.

Walang kahit na isang balita tungkol dito at kinumpirma ito ng isang opinion column sa Manila Times ng kolumnistang si Ben Kritz, “I was unable to find a reliable (as in, non-social media) source for it.”

Marahil kasunod ito ng pagtanggi ni Lacierda na minaliit niya ang halaga ng remittance ng mga OFW sa ekonomiya ng bansa. Depensa niya, pakana ito ng mga kontra-administrasiyon sa kagustuhang sirain ang tingin ng mga OFW sa administrasiyon.

Pagpupunto ni Lacierda, hindi epektibo ang No Remittance Day (NRD) dahil pamilya naman na nakikinabang sa mga padala ng kanilang mga kamag-anak mula sa abroad ang direktang apektado nito.

“Iyong remittance po ng mga OFWs po, hindi po napupunta po 'yan sa ano... napupunta po 'yan sa kanilang mga kamag-anak,” aniya.

Hindi naman talaga niya ito sinabi. Nagpasaring lang siya.

Nagparinig. Gaya ng madalas niyang gawin bilang tugon sa mga isyung binabato sa Malacañang. Matatandaang maging ang UST ay hindi nakaligtas dito nang sabihin ni Lacierda na ang big university na tinutukoy ng Pangulo sa kaniyang huling State of the Nation Address ay “definitely not Jesuit.”

Hindi naman na bago ang taktikang ito ng mga miyembro ng kasalukuyang administrasiyon—ang magpasaring at magpaligoy-ligoy.

Hindi kailangan ng napakatalinong tao upang ipakahulugan ang sinabi niya. Gaya ng hindi niya direktang sinabing Dominikong Unibersidad, hindi rin niya direktang sinabing hindi apektado ng remittances ang ekonomiya ng bansa.

Hindi naman na bago ang taktikang ito ng mga miyembro ng kasalukuyang administrasiyon—ang magpasaring at magpaligoyligoy para sakaling makaramdam ang mga pinatatamaan nila, wala silang panghahawakang direktang salita.

Pero tulad ng sinabi ni Kritz, hindi na importante kung ano at kung kailan ito sinabi ni Lacierda. Aminin man niya o hindi, mali pa rin ito.

Ang sinasabi niyang dahilan kung bakit hindi epektibo ang NRD ang siya namang sinabi ni Rosemarie Edillon, direktor ng National Economic and Development Authority, na dahilan kung bakit malaki ang gampanin ng OFW remittance sa pagpapaunlad ng ating ekonomiya—ang pagderetso ng mga ito sa mga kamaganak nila.

Bukod kasi sa ginagamit na panustos sa kanilang mga pangangailangan tulad ng pagkain, bahay at edukasiyon, ipinapasok ito sa bangko na dumadagdag sa pondong pinaiikot ng huli na kalauna’y gagamitin rin bilang puhunan sa mga negosyo.

“Zero dependence on remittances is probably very ambitious.

In reality, overseas remittances are a significant part of a country’s economy, whether developed, developing or at any stage of economic development,” ani Edillon.

Hindi na kailangan ang makailang pagbibigay-diin o ang detalyadong pagpapaliwanag tungkol sa halaga ng remittances sa ekonomiya dahil alam kong alam ito ni Lacierda o kung sino man sa mga miyembro ng administrasiyon.

Higit pa sa malaking epekto ng OFW remittances sa ekonomiya ang dahilan kung bakit hindi dapat ipatupad ang mga hakbang ng Customs. Liban sa usapin ng pagbubuwis sa mga balikbayan boxes, mas ikinababahala ng mga OFWs at ng kanilang mga kaanak ang paraan ng pag-iinspeksiyon ng Customs na, hindi lingid sa kaalaman ng marami, may salik ng invasion of privacy at lantarang pagnanakaw. to add picture-based warnings on the effects of smoking to cigarette packs.

Yana believes the problem with suppressing rampant smoking in the country through these methods is lack of national presence.

“I don’t think there ever was an idea that smoking was good,” she said. “I believe a smoker should already know what can happen if one would continue doing the vice.”

“I became a bit agitated because my consumption was affected [by picture-based warnings],” Matthew said. “I think the picture-based warning lessened people’s tendency to smoke.”

Glenn added the sin tax law may have affected smokers financially. Having allocated a budget for smoking in his allowance, higher cigarette prices definitely affected his smoking habit. “Smoking is an expensive vice,” he said. “Your budget for a day is decreased, and sometimes money allotted for commuting is spent on cigarettes.”

According to Mazo, the therapy for quitting smoking begins with the smoker wanting to be “cured” of the vice.

“If the smoker is willing to stop the habit, he will have selfcontrol to get better and successfully stop smoking,” he said. RHENN ANTHONY S. TAGUIAM and JULIUS ROMAN M. TOLOP

6 Special Reports

Editor: Mary Gillan Frances G. Ropero

SEPTEMBER 26, 2015

New cards, old trains

By PAUL XAVIER JAEHWA C. BERNARDO and MONICA M. HERNANDEZ APPARENTLY, not all systems upgrades result in improvement.

For many Thomasians, riding the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT) lines is a daily ascent to calvary. The implementation of a “unified ticketing system” for the three existing rapid rail transit lines has exacerbated commuter woes.

The new “contactless” tickets, known as “beep cards,” were introduced by AF Payments Inc. under a public-private partnership or PPP contract. AF Payments is owned by two big conglomerates, Ayala Corp. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp.

Users can load a minimum of P12 and a maximum of P10,000 worth of prepaid credits into each ticket. The new tickets replaced the old magnetic cards in LRT Line 2 beginning July, followed by southbound LRT Line 1 stations last Aug. 16.

Michael Sagcal, spokesman of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), said the unified ticketing system, formally known as the Automated Fare Collection System, would generate a “net positive” to government revenues.

Student feedback has been mostly negative, however, as the transition to the new cards has not been smooth.

Train services remain poor, students pointed out.

Razbert Uy, a Communication Arts junior who regularly rides the LRT Line 2 that runs from Recto Avenue in Manila to Santolan in Pasig, said the funds used for the ticketing upgrade could have been used to increase the number and improve quality of coaches.

“Kasi ang nagawa ng [beep cards], mas napadali ‘yung pagpasok ng mga tao sa mismong station, sa platform, pero kulang naman ‘yung trains para ma-accommodate ‘yung tao,” Uy said.

Angela Martinez, an Accountancy freshman, said ticket-vending machines often malfunctioned. “Mas gumulo lang ‘yung service ng LRT kasi hindi pa naman nagfa-function ng maayos ‘yung iba[ng machines] at saka kulang-kulang pa ‘yung ticket,” Martinez said.

Color-coded coupons serve as temporary tickets for northbound LRT Line 1 stations that are still in the process of upgrading their turnstiles for the new system. For MRT Line 3, AF Payments finished testing in August.

For her part, Central Student Council President Anna Mariz Mangalili said the beep cards proved to be convenient for students.

“So far ang lagi ko kasing naririnig na reklamo is more on service mismo ng train,” Mangalili said in an interview.

Metro Manila has three rapid transit lines.

Construction of LRT Line 1 began in October 1981 under Electrowatt Engineering Services of Zurich, Switzerland. The Baclaran to Central stations were completed in December 1984, and the Central Station to Monumento segment opened in 1985.

The Balintawak and Roosevelt stations were added in 2010. Line 1 has a total of 20 stations spanning 19.65 kilometers.

MRT Line 3 started operations in 1999. It has 13 stations, spanning 16.9 kilometers from Taft Avenue in Pasay to North Avenue in Quezon City.

LRT Line 2, which has 11 stations and runs 13.8 kilometers from Recto to Santolan, was built with funding from the Japanese government, and started operations in 2003.

Contractor to benefit Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares said the DOTC should focus instead on urgent matters, particularly train services.

“What is the use of having an improved ticketing system if passengers still experience service interruptions such as mismanaged signaling and train overhaul?” Colmenares said in an email to the Varsitarian.

He said his party, Bayan Muna, did not oppose the ticketing system upgrade but considered its benefits “effectively diminished” amid other problems of the rapid transit lines.

“The government cannot even competently hire a long-term maintenance contractor and ensure that the latter fulfills its duties,” he added.

Peter Maher, chief executive officer of AF Payments, concessionaire of the ticketing project, said the beep cards were ideal for commuting students who take more than one train line daily.

The beep cards enable shorter queuing time and make transfers from one rail system to another easier, Maher said in an interview.

The DOTC is also considering allowing the use of beep cards in retail transactions with convenience stores, fast-food restaurants, and other means of transportation like buses. This will be similar to Hong Kong’s Octopus Card.

Colmenares however said the government should not allow such projects to be taken advantage of by forprofit corporations.

The ticketing project is a “waste of government’s funds because it could have, at an amount [it] could shoulder, procured, installed, and operated the Automatic Fare Collection System on its own,” he added.

The unified ticketing project costs P1.72 billion. AF Payments holds a 10-year contract including a two-year development period. The Ayala-Metro Pacific tandem beat rivals SM and the

Comworks-Berjaya and MegawideSuyen consortia in a public bidding conducted by the DOTC in January 2014.

Train lines to be upgraded Lawyer Hernando Cabrera, spokesman of the state-owned LRT Authority, blamed congestion for disruptions in the LRT lines. “[One of the] causes of operation disruptions is mostly the number of passengers, especially in Line 1,” Cabrera said in an interview. “Sometimes the train would not operate or break because of overloading.”

However, Cabrera said the two LRT lines would be extended, and 120 coaches for 30 trains, at four coaches per train, would soon be added to accommodate growth in the number of passengers.

Sagcal said the maintenance of LRT Line 1 and construction of the LRT Line 1 extension would soon be transferred to the Light Rail Manila Consortium, another Ayala-Metro Pacific business venture.

“We are supposed to turn it over to them, the operations and maintenance, [on] Oct. 1 this year at the latest,” he said.

Despite legal disagreements with the MRT Corp., owner of the MRT Line 3 concession, the DOTC has bought 48 new light rail vehicles (LRV) from Dalian Locomotive and Rolling Stock Company of China.

Sagcal said the modernization of MRT Line 3 units would maximize the

capacity of trains to 900,000 passengers per day from 540,000.

“Of course there are a lot of other issues in MRT such as changing the rails and the signaling system,” Sagcal said.

Sagcal said the lack of investment of both the private sector and government was the primary cause of railway disintegration, noting that the old line operated by the Philippine National Railways had been shortened to 56 kilometers from 700-800 kilometers.

“Pinabulok [‘yung train system]. It is a matter of continuously investing in your infrastructure,” Sagcal said.

New lines delayed Construction plans for LRT Lines 4 to 6 have been pending since the 1980s due to the “negligence” of previous administrations, said Sagcal.

Construction of Lines 4 and 6 was finally approved by the board of the National Economic and Development Authority, headed by President Benigno Aquino III, last Sept. 4.

Line 4 will run 11 kilometers from the SM City in Taytay to the intersection of Ortigas Avenue and EDSA at Ortigas Center in Pasig. Line 6 will run 19 kilometers from Niyog in Bacoor, Cavite – the terminus of the LRT Line 1 extension from Baclaran to Cavite province – to Dasmariñas City.

In addition to Lines 4 and 6, the DOTC plans to build MRT Line 7 that will run from EDSA to San Jose del Rail PAGE 14

UST Library keeps up with advances in technology

By MARY GILLAN FRANCES G. ROPERO DESPITE rapid technological innovation and the growing popularity of e-books, the UST Miguel de Benavides Library is confident that its services remain significant and relevant to its main clientele—students of the University.

Prefect of Libraries Fr. Angel Aparicio, O.P. said the library’s continuous acquisition of both traditional (printed) and modern (electronic) resources keeps it relevant.

“The library is using [a] variety of resources, from the traditional ones to the most modern ones. If the library is not using that, perhaps the library will become irrelevant,” he said in an interview with the Varsitarian.

Moreover, the Miguel d e

Benavides Library is in the process of digitizing its collections and has scanned and uploaded an estimate one million pages to its website.

“The problem is that we cannot [do it at] full blast because we lack personnel, but we are working on that. I think we already have [online] not only the heritage collection, but also the publications, especially the journals. We are going into that direction,” Fr. Aparicio said.

Pri-ann Tinapunan, a Library and Information Science professor at the College of Education, agreed and noted that the UST Library has a rich collection of rare books as well as printed and electronic resources.

“We are not only holding the latest resources for our students and users, but we are also holding historical and rare materials, which are preserved by the library for the next generation,” she said.

Fr. Aparicio encouraged Thomasians to use the library’s electronic resources like EBSCO, JSTOR, Taylor & Francis Online and Science Direct, all of which can be accessed remotely or on campus.

“Freshmen students receive general information. Throughout the year, we encourage faculty members and students to come to orientations, particularly on databases,” he said.

The library has 64 electronic journals, 19 electronic databases, four e-books databases, two local databases, and one on-trial database.

Thomasians may browse the library’s catalogue online through the

UST Online Public Access Catalog. The library holds 265,816 titles and 361,899 volumes of books.

The UST Library is also planning to equip the soon-to-open UST Senior High School with a “paperless” or “bookless” library.

Limited resources Ma. Theresa Lubang, head librarian of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, said a library’s stable technical infrastructure (website uptime) was of utmost importance, to allow students to use electronic resources effectively.

There are three criteria in acquiring new reference material, she said: the resource should be appropriate for teaching, curriculum development and research. Reference materials for teaching are those used by professors in their lesson plans.

Curriculum development reference materials are those included in course syllabi and are recommended reading materials for the students.

Research reference materials are for those in the graduate programs.

However, library budgets are limited, she said. Because libraries are not degree-granting institutions, they do not have alumni and therefore, donations rarely come in.

Libraries are also not yet prepared for disasters and recovery, citing libraries lost in the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda, Lubang said.

“There is no local expertise to restore and rebuild [libraries]. Staff lack registered and professional librarians. Sometimes, you will get non-professionals [and] you need to train them,” she added.

Training at UST The UST Library contributes to the development of future library professionals

by serving as a venue for training Library and Information Science undergraduates for one semester, said Tinapunan.

“We are very grateful [to the library] for allowing us to train our [students] there, because when they train for off-campus library practicum, [the students] are on their own. We are helping [the library] because they, too, are helping us,” she said.

Although the UST Library can compete with any academic library in the country, there is still much room for improvement, Fr. Aparicio said.

“We are aware of our shortcomings but given the budget that we have, I think we are working quite well,” he added.

Thomasians pay a library fee ranging from P1,000 to P2,500 per term. Revenues are used to acquire new reference materials as well as pay for electronic subscriptions and the maintenance of the library itself.

The number of books borrowed as of the beginning of the academic year increased to 13,904 from last year’s 13,619, data from the Miguel de Benavides Library showed. The Faculty of Arts and Letters borrowed the most books for the month of August, at 1,989 books or 14 percent of the total.

A total of 130,981 books were checked out in the previous academic year. The highest number of books borrowed was in October 2014, with 19,919 books checked out of the library that month. A cumulative number of 808,156 library users were recorded last academic year.

Built in the 17th century, beginning with the library of Miguel de Benavides, O.P., third archbishop of Manila and founder of UST, as well as those of Fr. Diego Soria and Hernando de los Rios Coronel, the UST Library is considered the oldest library in the Philippines. With reports from MARY GRACE C. ESMAYA

Editor: Erika Mariz S. Cunanan

Features 7

SEPTEMBER 26, 2015

Thomasian puts up ‘Harry Potter’-inspired cafe

By ERIKA MARIZ S. CUNANAN and VIANCA A. OCAMPO YOU DON’T need a port key, floo powder, Knight Bus, or Hogwarts Express to experience Hogsmeade and have a taste of the famous Butterbeer.

Nicole Guanio, a Business Economics

Guanio

graduate of 2014, came up with a Harry Potterthemed café called The Nook Café on the famous Maginhawa food strip last July which continues to leave Potterheads spell-bound with all of its quirky charms.

Butterbeer, a frothy drink that was adopted from the Three Broomsticks pub in Harry Potter, is the signature drink of the Nook Café, which allowed it to gain the favor of many Harry Potter fans in and out of the metro.

The quaint café has a small interior, brandishing different Harry Potter collectables.

Customers are allowed to borrow robes, wands, books, and other memorabilia.

It also features a hammock and a “quidditch broom,” both suspended mid-air, as well as the famous “cupboard under the stairs” that used to be Harry’s room when he lived with his foster family.

‘Small talk over good food’ Growing up reading Harry Potter books, Guanio’s dream of setting up a Harry Potterinspired café was sparked during a visit to Universal Studios in Japan where she was able to get a glimpse of “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” a themed area that featured food, structures, and merchandises related to J. K. Rowling’s piece.

“Naisip ko na sa café ko nalang ilagay yung love ko for Harry Potter. At least, hindi siya mawawala sa akin,” she said. “Lagi akong naghahanap ng maliliit na coffee shops na hindi alam ng mga tao, kaya ang ‘nook’ which means corner, parang reading nook, dito na

pupunta yung mga katulad ko.”

To make sure that her dream café would turn out the way she envisioned it, Guanio strictly supervised the whole project and personally bought everything inside her store—from the wooden pillars up to the painted drawers.

From the little figurines to the stacked books on the shelf, Nicole openly shares her Harry Potter collection with her customers, allowing them to get a feel of the magic inside her cafe.

“Masakit nung una na ipahiram ‘yung mga collection ko, ngayon pinapahiram ko na yung scarf ko, pero nasanay na ako. Babalik din naman ako doon sa Universal Studios to get new Harry Potter collectables,” Nicole said.

Even though she had a rocky start with people just passing by her shop, Nicole’s first few weeks in business were filled with small talk over good food with her fellow Potterheads.

“Meron akong isang araw na wala akong benta, ilang araw na walang tao, na P2,000 lang sales ko, pero masaya pa rin,” she said.

After several months in business, Nicole admits that she is still overwhelmed by the success of her cafe and the feedback of the customers. Even with the attention her café is getting, she still considers her first few months in business as her happiest moment so far.

“First month, masaya ako kahit hindi

ko nakukuha yung quota ko every day, kahit wala akong benta, kasi nakakausap ko lahat ng mga customers,” she recalled.

Expansion Guanio plans to expand with a Weasleythemed branch in Tagaytay next year.

“Don’t be afraid to follow your dreams.

There are three statements—‘I’ll try’, ‘I’ll try my best,’ and the last, ‘I’ll do whatever it takes.’

Dapat nandoon ka sa pangatlo. Kahit anong mangyari, huwag lang doon sa ‘I’ll try my best.’”

Theses turn into businesses CTHM alumnus: bartender extraordinaire THIS UST graduate is a world-class bartender.

Kenneth Bandivas, who obtained a bachelor’s degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management in 2011, was named winner of the “Around the World” challenge of World Class 2015, the cocktail industry’s most prestigious mixology competition.

Bandivas bested 53 other bartenders with his drinks “Bitter Felipe,” an ampalaya infused cocktail mixed with lime, and “My First Float,” a Marula flavored cocktail with rum and syrup.

Aiming to pay homage to the Filipinos, Bandivas’ “drinks with a twist” relived all-time favorite drinks, but cream liquors provided extra twists to his pieces.

World Class 2015, hosted by Diageo Reserve bar in South Africa, was held last Sept. 4.

The local leg of the world competition commenced in January followed by the semifinals held last July in Thailand, where Bandivas emerged as the World Class Philippine Bartender of the Year.

He said he was grateful to be part of an organization that promotes responsible drinking.

“I was honored to be here and to represent Philippines this year. [Diageo] World Class is the most prestigious bartending competition and I am very happy to be part of it,” Bandivas said in an email to the Varsitarian.

Valuing the Thomasian identity Aside from the unique taste in mixing flavors, Kenneth also exhibited his unique way of dealing with the “challenges” through valuing the

core values that the University had taught him— competence, compassion, and commitment.

“The three C’s are my core. As a Thomasian, you have to live on those core values. It will lead you to success,” he said.

Bandivas is now the general manager of Alcohol by Volume, a speakeasy bar inspired by the prohibition era during the 1920’s which offers a range of top notch drinks, most of which were crafted by Bandivas.

On his last year working at Shangri-La Singapore, he was asked to make different cocktails and concepts for the hotel. Bandivas explored the service of bartending and experimented with the different flavors available that he could use in building different drinks.

“When it comes to cocktails, I always stick to the basic methods and give it a twist. There are tons of cocktails listed and created by a lot of bartenders. As much as possible, we always try to be unique,” Bandivas said.

When he came back to the Philippines, he joined the Makati Shangri-La where he was tasked to open and manage the different outlets.

He opened the Vu’s Sky Bar and Lounge at the Marco Polo Davao Hotel last year.

Weeks before his stint in the World Class 2015, Bandivas launched “Señorita Marquez,” which he dedicated to his fiancée.

Bandivas is planning to conduct classes for people who want to learn about bartending and encourage them to contribute genuine ideas in their menu to satisfy the public with a new flair.

MARIA CORAZON A. INAY

Bandivas

SAAN tayo kakain?

For the College of Commerce and Business Administration, finding the answer to this generic question has been one of the objectives of some Thomasian entrepreneurs.

Students under the entrepreneurship program were required to establish businesses as part of their theses and, true to their objective, were able to hit this sweet spot.

Not ‘just’ a thesis Thomasian gourmets may start to recognize stores at a glance, and even formulate "food plans" before ever entering their chosen establishments. From a diversity of meals and price ranges, a prospective Thomasian may either try new meals or simply choose their “usual.”

But more than the full stomach and money well-spent, Thomasians may agree that it is the stories behind every meal that count. Some of their favorite establishments have stories of their own.

For instance, Celine Tabia would consider “Chiquitos” her “saving grace.” Celine would not have graduated in 2010 had it not been for this risky move. “[My] first business plan was rejected,” she said. “Nakita ko yung vacant space dati sa Asturias, [tapos] sabi ko, bahala na kasi wala talaga akong alam sa food.

The rest is history.”

Chiquitos came from “Chi,” Celine's nickname, and “Quito” from her grandfather. Originally a Mexican-themed restaurant, “Chi” eventually evolved into “Chicken” and Chiquitos became the allchicken restaurant it is known today.

Partners Bill Hablo and Lynice Coronado may be more well-known by their signature tapsilog from Billy's Tapa To-Go, a restaurant that specializes dishes for take-out.

The establishment of Billy’s Tapa To-Go has won for Hablo and Coronado UST’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Newcomer Tanya Macabuhay's “Snacketeers” just opened March this year with an all-

day breakfast premise.

“Several names yung tinatry namin sa DTI (Department of Trade and Industry). Maraming names na mas interesting, pero hindi nila na-approve,” she said.

“Snacketeers, if you're familiar with the Three Musketeers, [so] there's a 'recall' involved.”

Home is where the profit lies Although their menus consisted of homemade meals, it is perhaps the flexibility of their dishes that appeal to Thomasian foodies.

Chiquitos’ bestsellers buffalo chicken and chicken-based meals are worth 60 pesos. “[Ang] price range ko is P60.

Dati, P55, kaso after two years ginawa ko nang P60,” Celine said.

“Kaso kasi yung tao parang, ‘Ay, P60 na?’ [kasi] ang bilis nila magreact.”

She said that though another branch was opened in Mendiola, Chiquitos had a lot of competition.

After opening the new branch September last year, Celine eventually closed shop and settled for her Asturias branch.

“Mahirap kasi yung competition [sa Mendiola],” she said. “Maraming kainan at saka lutong-bahay, tapos sa price of 50 pesos ang dami nang [kanin at ulam].”

Celine added while she was working out with a P60 price range, a new branch on P. Noval Street or Taft Avenue may boost profit.

“Doon (P. Noval Street or Taft Avenue) ko nalang sana gustong mag-expand kasi sa UST, alam na rin siya (Chiquitos), familiar na yung mga tao,” she said. “Sa Taft, mas may kaya [yung mga customer, at] hindi sila sensitive sa prices so pwede ko na paglaruan yung prices doon.”

Billy’s Tapa To-Go, known for their signature tapsilog, offers other dishes such as liempo and other homemade fried dishes. “[We use] competitive pricing, kasi kung iko-compare mo sa iba, kailangan naibabalance mo [yung prices] para makapasok ka sa market,” Lynice said. “Mahirap kasi makipagcompete kung tataasan mo, [at] baka mahirapan kang makapasok sa market since bago ka pa lang.”

The signature tapa, which recipe came all the way from Nagcarlan, Laguna, is delivered every morning to the stall in Antonio Street. Although the small eatery specializes in take-out meals, small tables were set up on the walls of the small store for a dine-in option.

No limits to creativity Tanya did careful research on concept restaurants before coming up with a plan that eventually blossomed into Snacketeers.

“Ang gusto talaga namin i-serve is all-day breakfast, pasta and sandwiches pero we found out na dito sa school market Theses PAGE 14

8

Acting Editor: Daryl Angelo P. Baybado

CIRC

Glorious Farrales Model Ana Arambulo dons a geometric patterned halter top and shorts with matching floor-length vest from the designer’s runway show in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Socialite Chona Kasten models one of Farrales’ earlier designs—a shift dress accesorized with a scarf, pillbox hat, and gloves.

BENJAMIN “Ben” Farrales, recognized by his colleagues in the fashion world as the “Dean of Philippine fashion designers,” has received the Gawad CCP Award for Fashion Design—the highest distinction given to artists and scholars who has eked out distinguished careers in the arts and cultural scholarship by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

Farrales was honored for his remarkable contributions to the Philippine fashion industry through the use and integration of Philippine and Muslim culture in his works.

A fine arts graduate of the old UST College of Architecture and Fine Arts, Farrales is, with Salvacion Lim Higgins (the woman behind the Slims fashion school), perhaps the biggest Thomasian name in fashion. All other influential Thomasian fashion design names look up to him—Nolie Hans, Lulu Tan Gan, Danilo Franco, Larry Silva, J.C. Buendia, Edgar Allan, Edgar San Diego, Junjun Cambe, Gerry Katigbak,

Jerome Ang, Eric Pineda, and Vittorio Barba.

Born in Cotabato City on July 1, 1932, “Mang Ben,” as he is called in fashion and lifestyle circles, grew up with a keen fascination for the weaving and clothing traditions of the lumad or indigenous communities of Mindanao.

He moved to Manila to study in UST and later started his career as a fashion designer by doing apprentice work at Aurelia’s, a popular fashion boutique during the 1950’s.

Farrales then opened his first boutique in Malate where he mastered his talent in dressmaking. Even as a neophyte designer, his works were already desired among Manila’s social elite circle and admired by no less than Ramon Valera, the only National Artist in Fashion Design.

“Mang Ben” is most acclaimed for his penchant for creating Muslim-inspired gowns and attires and for his constant use of local fabrics such as piña, hablon and jusi.

Awarded as the 2005 Ten Outstanding Filipino awardee for Fashion by Junior Chamber International, a non-governmental international organization, Farrales is also known for staging big and awaited fashion shows. He was one of the first few Filipinos to successfully present a show at the Manila Hotel and

Administration alumnus, linked together an irregularshaped silver block, a glittered pink, green and white cylinder block, a multicolored and abstractlypainted tube block, and an orange and black cube speckled with miniscule silver triangles using a braided dyed orange cloth, accented by two tiny bells.

“I used whatever I can get my

One of the showstoppers during Farrales’ 50th anniversary showcase was a wedding gown and umbrella adorned with sampaguita blossoms.

2013 Farrales’ Spring/Summer 2014 collection showcased a contemporary take on the Filipiniana silhouette with a striped black-andwhite kimono top and skirt modeled by longtime muse Marina Benipayo.

also to stage solo international fashion shows such as in Muslim bridal gowns accented with capiz and pearls.

Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. He was also awarded a plaque of recognition by the In 2013, he closed the Spring Summer season Makati City’s Museum and Cultural Affairs Office for of Philippine Fashion Week, a feat only done by his “exceptional contribution to spreading awareness established and reputable designers. The show, entitled about Filipino attire through his designs and creations.”

“Ben Farrales: A Retrospective,” highlighted his blackJust January, friends and co-workers of Mang and-white collection along with his classic trademark Farrales PAGE 14 Muslim designs.

The finale show, whose closing was greeted by a standing ovation from the audience, also also featured his timeless pieces from different decades: the Kimona Filipiniana collection 1950s; Metal collection (1970); Obi collection (1983); and Maranao collection (1986).

When parts of the country was devastated by typhoon Inday in 2002, Mang Ben held a repeat performance of his 70th birthday gala, “Ben Farrales: 50 Years in Fashion,” to raise funds for typhoon victims.

It was followed by a fashion show, “Encore,” which showed his collection of Greek-inspired toga dresses and gowns. The show also included flattering figured gowns worn by beauty queens such as Melanie Marquez and Ruffa Gutierez.

His classic Filipiniana stunners were shown in “Kasuotang Pilipino” in September 2014, including Farrales at the PNB Fashion Show in June 1998. malong-inspired long-sleeved green dresses and PHOTO COURTESY OF PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER

Different artistic media bring wooden blocks to life PLAIN wooden blocks were brought to life through different artistic media by 25 artists including two Thomasians, in BaBel, or Building a Better Edifice Leisurely, an art exhibit held at the Underground Gallery in Makati Square.

Exhibit curator Nice Buenaventura designed four wooden, irregularly-shaped blocks originally intended to be stacked and re-stacked by the viewers which served as the blank slates for the artists.

This structural limitation ties the whole exhibit as different artists unveil intricate and bizarre designs the given blocks can be.

Mixed-media artist Zeus Bascon’s “Lost Charms,” a College of Commerce and Business

2002

1972

1960

A TRIBUTE TO THE legendary FASHION DESIGNER

hands on in this exhibit. I sometimes stopped on working on my pieces but I really dedicated a set of consecutive days to focus mainly on that piece,” Bascon said in an email to the Varsitarian. “I even bring the wooden blocks with me a couple of times so I can work with it once inspiration and motivation kicks in.”

Meanwhile, Costantino Zicarelli, an Advertising Arts alumnus of the College of Fine Arts and Design, used black gesso—a paint mixture usually used as a primer made from a combination of chalk, gypsum and pigment, which he partnered with graphite on paper.

Zicarelli said he underwent a hard time thinking of a design for the wooden blocks which made him resort to reusing old ideas.

“The challenging factor was using the blocks as the main work. It was stressing me out but I had a last minute decision to reuse an old idea which is a camouflage illusion,” he said.

Zicarelli’s work “Block Objects” consists of an illustration of the aforementioned shapes accentuated by precise tracings on each side of the blocks all overlaid by continuous tracings of the wood texture’s pattern. Drawn on a black canson paper, his interpretation of the wooden blocks stands out as the only tabular work in the exhibit. Stacked beside this were his work of wood prisms all painted in black.

The exhibit, which ran through early September, also featured the works of veteran artists Nilo Ilarde and Juan Alcazaren namely “Big Kick, Plain Scrap” and “Best Excuse Ever,” respectively.

Zicarelli is a contemporary artist who was one of the recipients of the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ 13 Artists Awards in 2012 while Bascon won an illustrator’s award at the 2010 Philippine Board on Books for Young People Awards.

Ebarle’s ‘Hibla 8’ weaves magic out of weaving traditions ABSTRACT ethnic motifs from Philippine native weaves are further abstracted and reworked in Jane Arrieta Ebarle’s eighth edition of “Hibla” series of paintings at the Hibla ng Lahing Filipino Gallery of the National Museum of the Philippines.

Threads on Canvas: Interweaving of Different Artistic Traditions showcases Ebarle’s abstractexpressionist acrylic-on-canvas works.

A graduate of Advertising Arts from the old UST College of Architecture and Fine Arts, Ebarle studies the works of traditional weaving communities such as the Ifugaos, Kalingas and Tausugs and interprets them in her abstract style.

But for the new series, Ebarle researched on the collection of ancient weaves from the National Museum collection.

“For instance, there is a textile related to the tribe of Kalinga so my painting will have something to complement that,” Ebarle said in an interview with the Varsitarian.

Ebarle’s 15 featured artworks have vivid colors, overlapping lines and strokes and combinations of patch-like partitions along with tribal patterns.

“I want my artworks to be culture-based because our country has a very beautiful heritage of textiles,”

Ebarle said. “My aim is a tribal context.”

“I never run out of mystical with my conne see something textured, designs,” she added.

Ebarle’s interest on she read Philippine Ethn by the Design Center of Though the artworks de black-and-white, it didn lively colors.

After showcasing t Maranaos during her sec Pinagmulan at the UST was inspired to create a interweaving thread-like birth to the “Hibla” seri “It is a struggle for signature style, which I Ebarle said.

The Hibla ng Lahin of Senator Loren Legard to preserve and reveal th Philippines. AMIERIELL

CLE

9

SEPTEMBER 26, 2015

Works of Thomasian artists fetch high bids at Leon auction WORKS by top Thomasian visual artists such as National Artists Ang Kiukok, Arturo Luz, and J. Elizalde Navarro, and Ramon Orlina and Romulo Olazo fetched high bidding prices in the Magnificent September Auction of Leon Gallery last September 13.

“Seated Figure” by Ang was sold for P10 million, the highest bid among his five other auctioned works. The expressionist painting shows a nude human figure with arms clasping the knees and with the skeletal framework highly prominent.

Luz’s “Desert Architecture” was sold for P800,000. It shows a carnationpink geometric landscape of ancient Asian temples.

Luz’s three-piece mixed media “Collage” also rose from the pegged price of P100,000 to the final hammer price of P500,000.

The famous “Permutation Series” by late abstractionist Olaza was sold for P1.75 million from a starting price of P300,000. Among four of the artworks sold from his “Diaphonous Series,” two were bought for P1.2 million, both

bearing his translucent abstract forms.

Meanwhile, sculptor and architect Orlina’s untitled emerald green-colored sculpture was sold for P550,000.

An untitled piece by UST Painting alumnus Ronald Ventura, which sold for P5.5 million, displays his style of hyperrealism. It shows a pale-white skin toned woman, sitting in a relaxed position contrasted by a dynamic, orange-colored background.

The late Oscar Zalameda’s “Portrait of Chona Kasten,” a pastel oil-on-canvas portrait of Senator Claro M. Recto’s daughter Maria Priscilla “Chona” Silos Recto-Kasten, considered a fashionista during her days, was sold for P450,000.

Works of emerging contemporary artists from the UST College of Fine Arts and Design also were sold for fabulous prices.

Titled “First to Blink,” a 122 x 152 painting of a detailed, closed-up face by Advertising Arts alumnus Ronald Caringal sold for P80,000.

“Three Very Landscapes,” Buen Calubayan’s depiction of Mt. Banahaw, fetched P550,000.

f designs and that is what’s ection with Hibla. Whenever I , I automatically picture it with

n indigenous designs began when nic Patterns, a book published f the Philippines in 2006. epicted in the book were mainly n’t stop her from visioning it in

he ethnic patterns of the cond solo-exhibit titled Museum in 2009, she series of paintings with e geometric patterns, which gave ies. r every artist to find her own accidentally found in Hibla,”

LE ANNE A. BULAN

AMIERIELLE ANNE A. BULAN

Filipino family tradition painted to life by Thomasian

s to highlight every design within

ng Filipino Gallery is a project da which has been established he rich weaving heritage of the

According to auction director Jaime Ponce de Leon, the floor prices of the artworks are reasonable and affordable.

“The auction has a good balance of contemporary and classic works so we also balance the starting prices we set,” Ponce de Leon said in an interview with the Varsitarian. “It undergoes a piece for piece basis; we don’t just consider the materials or the artwork itself. We make sure that we have something affordable for every art collector.”

The lowest floor price in the 185-piece September auction was P20,000.

Leon Gallery, which was founded in 2010, specializes in “historically important and museum quality Philippine art.” Works of Filipino master painters Juan Luna, Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo, Fabian de la Rosa and Fernando Amorsolo form the core of the gallery’s collection.

Ebarle

FAITH and the Filipino family are subjects that drove Thomasian Alexander Jorge Pingol to create Traces of Memory, an ensemble of paintings depicting the close family ties of Filipino culture.

The exhibit, which featured 25 oil-on-canvas paintings depicting tradtional Filipino family and rural life, was staged at The Podium Mall, Mandaluyong City and Galerie Raphael, Taguig City.

Works like “Unica Hijo,” “Banana Boat,” “Lola’s Favorite,” and “Mother’s Love” portray the intimate relationship between parents and son, happy family moments spent in the beach, the tender embrace between a grandmother and grandchild and the classic image of a mother and her child.

His other works, like “First Harvest”, “Green Pears” and “Big Catch”, among many others, show the lives of fishermen and farmers—a classic of Filipino rural life.

Pingol’s vibrant paintings and folk art style give a certain aura of children’s book illustrations and evoke a sense of warm and homely nostalgia. He said this exhibit shows his inner nature not just as an artist but as a devout and caring family man to his wife and three children.

Pingol said Traces of Memory should refer to any nostalgic longing for the past, especially for the folk and homey traditions of Filipinos which are anchored on "faith" and family closeness.

10 Literary

Editor: Aliliana Margarette T. Uyao

SEPTEMBER 26, 2015

When the Narra Spoke

By CEDRIC ALLEN P. STA. CRUZ THE AGING narra tree in Lourdes’ garden sported a vibrant new mane.

Lemon-colored flowers bloomed amidst its leaves. “Summer is here,” it seemed to convey, as it eagerly displayed its beauty under the May sun, as it had for more than a hundred summers.

For twenty of these summers, its elderly caretaker found herself in a peaceful siesta on an antique rocking chair beneath its branches. But on this day, a car horn had broken her slumber, and she willed her arthritic legs up the stone steps back to the house, towards the living room and on to the front door.

She was greeted by a man in his forties, whose ragged jaw reminded her of her late husband.

“Mother!” he said.

“Conrado!” she replied, putting her arms around him, prompting him to do the same. Before she could release him, a disgruntled child’s voice caught her attention.

“I don’t want to stay here! I want to eat some pizza!” the child said.

Lourdes paused and examined the child—her hazelnut eyes, rosy cheeks.

She realized that five summers ago, she had rocked this child’s cradle as she sang her to sleep with a lullaby.

“Pia, try not to get on your Lola Lourdes’ nerves. Okay?”

Conrado said, but the little girl responded only with a pout,

clutching her doll closer and stomping her feet. Lourdes raised an eyebrow and slowly stretched out her arm, holding her hand towards Pia’s forehead, expecting a soft, sweet “mano po.”

The girl brushed her off and stormed into the living room. She maintained her sour expression as she threw her backpack on the bamboo sofa and took out her tablet, her eyes now glued firmly to the screen.

“I’ll be back to pick her up later, Ma. I have to go meet someone near the Barasoain Church.” Conrado said.

“By the way, have you ever thought about getting rid of all these wooden statues?” he continued, pointing to the wooden figurines which decorated her living room—tikbalang wielding spears, duwende and leprechaun mounds, and a sigbin standing on its hind legs.

“You and your father used to love collecting these when you were young,” she rebutted. “I remember when we used to go to the market to buy these after we went to church.”

Conrado merely nodded and gave his mother a kiss on the cheek as he returned to his car, and set off on the unpaved road back to town. Lourdes felt a gentle tug on her skirt.

“I’m hungry,” she said. “Do you have any cookies?”

“No, but we have some laing under the table. It is covered by—,” Lourdes said before she was cut off.

“I don’t like vegetables!” Pia yelled.

Lourdes frowned a little, but she decided to ignore her. She proceeded to the kitchen and began preparing some biscuits and hot chocolate. Midway to

Clockwork City

THIRTY minutes until the next stop His tired body colliding With shoulder after shoulder After shoulder He arrives, he departs Steps quick Impersonal

Doors now closing His static reflection Staring back Face leaden by Crunching numbers and juggling deadlines Sitting through meetings Where each face Is an electric fence And after the toil and the talk And the toil and the talk He stands up Rushing Towards caves of steel Pausing Honking Speeding to nowhere Is there nothing left But an automated progression Of day and night Stretched across infinity?

Or can he instead turn his half-imagined phrases Into brave new worlds And cities in flight?

An electric chime rings The door opens He stands there frozen Footsteps coming, going The door closes

ZENMOND G. DUQUE II

the living room, she heard a loud thud reverberating through the wooden floor.

She briskly made her way to the living room. She arrived to discover that the wooden statuette of the winged lady had been knocked off the coffee table.

Pia gazed at Lourdes, bowing her head and holding her doll close to her.

Lourdes placed the tray on the coffee table. She picked up her cane from the rack beside the sofa, and carefully bent down towards the floor, her old bones cracking as she struggled back to her feet. She returned the winged lady to her perch on the coffee table, as Pia returned to tapping the tablet screen.

Lourdes gave a loud huff, while Pia studiously paid no mind to her grandmother struggling to her feet.

Lourdes began to realize why she didn’t hear the “mano po” she expected earlier, as she straightened her body and observed Pia with a disgruntled look.

The fairy doll soon caught her attention.

“What’s her name?” she asked.

“Susie. She’s a princess,” Pia replied.

“Mine is named Maria. Maria Sinukuan. Would you like to hear her story?” she asked.

To her surprise, Pia nodded with enthusiasm and gave her grandmother an inquisitive look. Lourdes turned to her grandchild.

“When I was your age,” she began, and not once for the hours that passed did Pia move from her spot, as Lourdes told her of the legends she grew up with as a child. She recalled back then how she thought that a sneaky tikbalang would come at night and steal some flowers from the narra tree and give it to his bride. Every night, she would look out her window and try to catch it in the act, only to fall asleep and discover in the morning that some of the flowers had somehow disappeared.

She remembered how she imagined that beneath its giant roots was an ancient city of duendes. As she played along and hopped over the roots, she frequently exclaimed, “Tabi-tabi po.”

But her fondest memories were the times she went “diwata hunting” in the late afternoons under the shade of the narra tree, armed with a small butterfly net. Scouring through the garden, she searched tirelessly for winged ladies

fluttering in the bushes and thickets.

On one eventful afternoon a pair of blue wings caught her attention. She chased it around the narra tree, ducking and weaving around its trunk and hopping over its roots. Finally, trapping it in her net, she reached into it and picked the little insect by its wings.

Suddenly, she remembered her mother’s story of Maria Sinukuan, the diwata who supposedly took care of the forests and trees by controlling the blooming of the flowers and in the process disguising herself as a butterfly to hide from the humans.

“If I keep you, who would Narra PAGE 5

Thomasians honored in 65th Palanca Awards FROM PAGE 1 Science alumnus said his victory was merely added pleasure to his pursuit of his passion for writing.

“I really love to write and the Palanca Awards is like the true measure for writers,” Pacala said. “Most of the characters I write are anti-heroes, because I like themes that break moral boundaries.”

Brylle Tabora meanwhile won second prize in Dulang Pampelikula for his screenplay, Sekyu, which probes the life of a security guard who uncovers dark secrets in a building he’s guarding in Cubao.

“Sekyu” also explores power relations.

Tabora, a former managing editor of the Varsitarian, said that he followed the tradition of Cannes-winning Thomasian director Brillante Mendoza and prolific screenwriter Armando Lao. “I follow their tradition which has a very serious tone and very much grounded on realism,” he said.

Literature sophomore Lance Santiago bagged second place for Kabataan Sanaysay for his essay, “Ang Nakakakiliting Kalabit ng Bukang-Liwayway,” which emphasizes the significant role of Filipino literature in uniting the nation.

“Like what I wrote in my essay, what is the sense of reading literature if you don’t read your own?” he said.

The three Thomasian winners said the future of literature in the country does not depend alone on the writers, but also on the audience, particularly the younger generation of readers.

“If you want serious literature, there are many great local literary works people can read,” said Tabora.

Pacala said literature will never die and will only change in medium, as there are other platforms like Wattpad and blogs which can be used as alnernative media for writing.

“It simply evolves but it’s the same content. Same writing style [and] everything from the very beginning of literature,” he said.

Santiago called for quality literature.

Without quality, literature “could... eventually die,” he said. D.A.P. BAYBADO and C.A.P. STA.CRUZ

Tabora

Santiago

Pacala

Patnugot: Maria Koreena M. Eslava

Filipino 11

IKA-26 NG SETYEMBRE, 2015

Suliraning pampanitikan, tinalakay sa Asean Literary Symposium Nina JASPER EMMANUEL Y. ARCALAS at BERNADETTE A. PAMINTUAN KAWALAN ng suporta sa pagsasalin at kakulangan sa pondo ang ilan sa mga pangunahing suliranin sa panitikan ng mga bansang kasapi sa Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), ayon sa mga iskolar at mga propesor na dumalo sa Asean Literary Symposium sa Ateneo de Manila University mula ika-26 hanggang ika-28 ng Agosto.

“We love [the] English and American

Usapang Uste MULA PAHINA 2

Nakalulumbay isipin ani Brillantes na maraming magagaling na manunulat ang tumitigil sa pagsulat bunsod ng kawalan ng sapat na suporta mula sa mga kinauukulan kaya iminungkahi niya ang pagbibigay ng Unibersidad ng kaukulang benepisyo tulad ng scholarships, subsidies o travel grants.

Isang sagradong uri ng panitikan ang Katolikong panitikan. Binubuo ito ng mga simbolong kumakatawan sa mga katotohanang tanging pananampalataya lamang ang makapagpapaliwanag.

Kaugnay nito, ang mga tema ng Katolikong pagsulat ay umiikot sa kabutihan at kasamaan, biyaya’t kasalanan, buhay na walang hanggan at pagdurusa sa impiyerno, at marami pang iba.

Datapwat isang Kristiyanong bansa ang Filipinas, aminado si Brillantes na mahirap makamtan ang mahusay na Katolikong panitikan at epektibong Katolikong pagsulat kaya nangangailangan pa ang mga manunulat ang matimtimang pagsasanay at mahabang panahon.

Patuloy na pinupunan ng Simbahang Katolika ang mga pahina ng ating kasaysayan. Batid ni Brillantes na marami pa itong pagsubok na susuungin.

Aniya, ito ang dapat pangalagaan at ipaglaban ng mga kabataang manunulat.

Tomasino siya Tampok ang natatanging talento ng isang arkitektong Tomasino sa iba’t ibang proyektong panlungsod tulad ng Tourism Master Plan of Metro Manila at Urban Renewal Tourism Master Plan for the City of Manila, na kapuwa inilatag upang masolusyunan ang iba’t ibang suliranin at maibalik ang kagandahan ng mga lansangan ng Kamaynilaan.

Taglay ang kaniyang mga karanasan mula sa Canada, Estados Unidos at Filipinas, magiliw na nagsisilbi sa iba’t ibang lungsod ang arkitektong si Jose Ramon Carunungan upang pagbutihin ang disenyo ng mga

writers so much, we don’t know anything about our [Southeast Asian] neighbors. It’s always about translation,” ani Prop. Nor Faridah Binti Abdul Manaf ng International Islamic University Malaysia sa unang araw ng symposium.

Ani Manaf, ang kawalan ng pagtangkilik at pagsasalin ng mga akda mula sa rehiyong Asean ay sanhi ng kanluraning pag-iisip, o mataas na pagtingin sa mga akda ng kanluran.

“We are so busy understanding our own identity as Indonesian[s] and have no time to look at our neighbors,” pagsang-ayon ni Prop. Melani Budianta ng Universitas Indonesia.

Binigyang-diin ng dalawang propesor ang kahalagahan ng pagkakaroon ng isang wikang maaaring mag-ugnay sa bawat miyembro ng rehiyong Asean.

“If we want to work as a group then there should be a unifying language. We [must] take the effort of learning [ for example] Tagalog and Malay,” ani Manaf.

L i b a n sa kawalan ng wikang makapag-uugnay sa bawat bansa sa Asean, problema rin ang kawalan ng matatag na wikang pambansa sa kani-kaniyang bayan, ayon kay Prop. Loh Chin Ee ng Nanyang

komunidad at palakasin ang turismo sa mga ito.

Taong 1984 nang magtapos ng BS Architecture sa UST si Carunungan bago siya kumuha ng Civil Engineering sa California. Ilang taon ang kaniyang ginugol sa Amerika bago siya bumalik sa bansa noong 2002 upang kumuha ng panibagong degree sa Urban Planning sa Unibersidad ng Pilpinas.

May espesyalisasiyon siya sa larangan ng planning, architectural design at project management. Ilan lamang ang City of Valenzuela Government Center, Azure Residential Resort at Jaro Estates sa mga proyektong pinaglaanan niya ng panahon.

Katuwang ang kaniyang maybahay, isa ring arkitekto, nagtayo si Carunungan ng isang architectural firm na kinabibilangan ng mga premyadong arkitekto, interior designer at urban planner sa Filipinas.

Sa kasalukuyan, nakapagdisenyo na sila ng mahigit-kumulang 100,000 ektaryang lupain kabilang na ang ilang nasa labas ng bansa.

Layunin ni Carunungan at ng kaniyang mga kasamahan ang pagandahin at isaayos ang urbanidad sa loob at labas ng bansa habang pinangangalagaan ang kalikasan.

“Good work becomes a legacy,” ayon sa website ng kaniyang architectural firm. “Lead by example, be sensitive to the needs of the client [and] be a solution-finder.” BERNADETTE A. PAMINTUAN

Tomasalitaan Halop (PNG)—sa sinaunang lipunang Bisaya, tubog sa ginto na takip sa ngipin Hal.: Naaalala ko pa ang sinaunang kuwentong-bayan tungkol sa mahiwagang halop na kumikinang sa bibig ng isang matandang lalaki.

Mga Sanggunian: The Varsitarian: Tomo XXX Blg. 12, Enero 1959 2014 TOTAL Awards Souvenir Program.

Jose Ramon P. Carunungan. Nakuha mula sa carunungan-partners.com/

Technological University Singapore.

“We promote the ‘Speak Good English’ movement where we encourage everyone to use standard English. Singlish (pinaghalong Singaporean at Ingles) is not encouraged to be used in school,” ani Chin Ee. Dagdag pa niya, dahil sa mabilis na pag-unlad ng bansa, ginigiba ang mga institusiyong pangkasaysayan upang palitan ng mga istrukturang pangtransportasiyon na pangunahing dahilan kung kaya’t nalilimutan ng mga kabataan ang kanilang panitikan at kasaysayan.

Sang-ayon si Budianta na nagkikibitbalikat ang pamahalaan sa larangan ng panitikan na nahahayaan na lamang mabulok ang mga sinaunang manuskrito sa Indonesia na nakasulat sa Arabic, Javanese at Malay, dahil sa kawalan ng sapat na pondo.

Binigyang-pansin din ni Budianta ang katatasan ng mga akdang isinusulat sapagkat sa kaniyang bansa, unti-unti nang nawawala ang kahalagahan ng pagsusuri sa mga akda o pagkakaroon ng literary criticism na nagtatakda at nagsusuri ng mga natatanging akda sa isang bansa.

“There’s no quality writing anymore.

It has been a concern [in our country because there’s] very little literary criticism nowadays,” aniya. “We scholars focus only on research and teaching. Nobody wants to do literary criticism anymore.”

Isa ring suliranin ng mga bansang Asean—partikular na ng Pilipinas—ang kawalan ng interes sa mga kurso ng sining at panitikan dahil mas binibigyang pansin ang kulturang popular at mga araling ekonomiko at teknikal, ayon kay Prop. Michael Coroza, convenor ng symposium.

“Only few parents want to support their children’s love for arts and literature because they don’t find it practical compared to technical courses like engineering,” ani Chin Ee.

Pagsasalin Dismayado ang mga Filipinong delegado sa kultura ng pagsasalin sa bansa kung saan nauuwi lamang sa mga textbook ang mga isinaling akda sa Filipino, imbes na naililimbag nang maayos at napababantog sa mga Filipinong mambabasa.

Idiniin ni Mario Miclat, propesor ng Philippine Studies sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas at isang ring tagapagsalin, na ang pagtingin sa wikang Filipino bilang isang mas nakabababang wika kumpara sa Ingles ang ugat ng suliranin sa ating kulturang pampanitikan.

“Filipinos would not admit that they read Filipino literature,” aniya.

Dagdag pa niya, hindi lamang dapat mga akda sa Ingles ang isinasalin sa wikang Filipino kung hindi pati na rin ang mga akda ng mga karatig-bayan sa Asya na nasa wikang Indones, Lao o Malay.

Iginiit naman ni Danilo Francisco M. Reyes, assistant professor sa Department of English ng School of Humanities ng Ateneo, na nararapat parangalan ang mga Filipinong iskolar na nagsasalin ng mga akdang banyaga sa wikang Filipino at suportahan ng pamahalaan ang kanilang mga adhikain.

“We should reward translators and scholars. We should also protect them from piracies and unjust appropriations,” ani Reyes.

Layon ng tatlong araw na pagpupulong na makalikha ng ugnayan sa pagitan ng mga bansa sa Asean kung saan maaaring magbahaginan ng kani-kaniyang panitikan.

Isa sa mga hakbangin ng simposiyum ang pagkakaroon ng cross-translation project kung saan isasalin sa wikang Filipino at gagamitin sa pagtuturo ang mga akda ng iba pang bansa sa Asean.

Anim lamang sa sampung bansa sa Asean ang may kinatawan sa tatlong araw na pagpupulong: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Laos at Filipinas.

Tomasino kinilala sa paggamit ng wikang Filipino sa Pilosopiya KINILALA ang ambag ng dalawang Tomasino sa wikang Filipino sa kani-kanilang larangan sa nagdaang Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa.

Iginawad ng Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) kay Prop. Florentino Timbreza, propesor ng UST Graduate School, ang “Gawad Dangal ng Wikang Filipino” para sa kaniyang kontribusiyon sa pagpapaunlad ng wikang Filipino at larangan ng Pilosopiya, noong ika-19 ng Agosto sa Sulo Riviera Hotel, Lungsod Quezon.

Ipinagkakaloob ang parangal sa mga piling indibidwal na may angking kontribusiyon sa pagpapaangat ng wikang Filipino sa iba’t ibang larangan at dominyo ng kapangyarihan, ayon sa KWF. “[Binibigyang] pagpapahalaga nito (Gawad Dangal ng Wikang Filipino) ang aking matagal na pagsisikap at pagpupursigi na mapaunlad ang wikang Filipino,” ani Timbreza sa isang panayam sa Varsitarian.

Ayon sa KWF, napayabong ni Timbreza ang larangan ng Pilosopiya sa bansa mula sa kaniyang pandoktoradong disertasiyon hanggang sa ngayon.

“Nag-iwan ng mohon sa pambansang wika ang kaniyang doktoradong disertasiyon at yumanig sa daigdig ng Pilosopiya ang kaniyang unang aklat. Binuksan niya ang pinto sa mga katutubong kultura at malinaw na inilarawan ang hugis ng kaisipan at kaloobang Filipino,” pahayag ng KWF. Tinaguriang “Ama ng Pilosopiyang Filipino” si Timbreza dahil sa kaniyang pagpapalawig sa larangan ng Pilosopiya sa bansa, maging ang kaniyang paggamit ng wikang Filipino sa pagtuturo. Pinakilala rin niya ang “Pilosopiyang Filipino” na nakabatay sa mga katutubong pananaw sa bansa.

Sa katunayan, siya ang unang nakapagpalimbag ng aklat tungkol sa Pilosopiyang Filipino at kaakda ng kauna-unahan at nag-iisang ensiklopediya ng Pilosopiya sa bansa noong 1983.

Sa kasaysayan ng edukasiyon sa Filipinas, si Timbreza ang kauna-unahang nagsulat at nagdepensa ng disertasiyon gamit ang wikang Filipino para sa kaniyang pagkadoktorado sa Pilosopiya sa Unibersidad noong 1980.

Bukod sa pagiging propesor, isa ring tagasalin, kritiko at manunulat si Timbreza.

Samantala ipinagkaloob naman kay Victor Emmanuel Carmelo “Vim” Nadera Jr., dating patnugot ng Varsitarian at nagtatag ng taunang parangal pampanitikan nito na Gawad Ustetika, ang prestihiyosong “Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas” para sa Tulang Filipino, kaalinsabay ang ika-41 na Kongreso ng Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL)

noong ika-28 ng Agosto sa Ateneo de Manila University.

Mula 1988, ginagawaran ng UMPIL ang mga Filipino na malaki ang naiambag sa pagpapayabong at pagpapalaganap ng panitikan sa iba't ibang kategorya at wika katulad ng Ingles, Hiligaynon, Iloko, Filipino at Cebuano.

Para kay Nadera, naiiba ang gawad na ito sa mga naunang parangal na kaniyang natanggap sapagkat kinikilala nito ang lahat ng kaniyang ginawa sa talambuhay niya bilang isang manunulat.

“Tinuhog nito ang lahat ng mga gantimpalang nakuha mo noon hanggang ngayon. Parang sinulid itong nagkukuwintas sa iyong sampal at halik ng mga karanasan.

Ang galing nito ay galit sa ating kapuwa-manunulat,” ani Nadera sa isang email na ipinadala sa Varsitarian.

Kilala si Nadera bilang tagapasimuno ng Poetry Therapy sa bansa. Ito ang paggamit ng pagtula bilang terapiya sa mga pasyenteng may kanser at AIDS, at maging sa mga inabusong kababaihan at mga batang lansangan.

Siya rin ang pinakabatang makata na hinirang na Makata ng Taon noong 1985 ng dating Surian sa Wikang Filipino (ngayon KWF). JASPER EMMANUEL Y. ARCALAS

Timbreza

Nadera

12 Witness

Editor: Marie Danielle L. Macalino

SEPTEMBER 26, 2015

Clergy given power to absolve abortion during Holy Year POPE FRANCIS has given all priests the authority to absolve the mortal sin of abortion during the coming Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy of the Catholic Church.

In a letter last Sept. 1, Pope Francis said forgiveness must be granted to those who repent with a sincere heart through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, including those who had procured abortion.

“For this reason... I have decided, not withstanding anything to the contrary, to concede to all priests for the Jubilee Year the discretion to absolve of the sin of abortion those who have procured it and who, with contrite heart, seek forgiveness for it,” Pope Francis said.

The Pope urged priests to contribute in the enlightenment of women who had procured abortion by helping them realize the gravity of their sin and guiding them towards conversion.

“May priests fulfill this great task by expressing words of genuine welcome combined with a reflection that explains the gravity of the sin committed, besides indicating a path of authentic conversion by which to obtain the true and generous forgiveness of the Father who renews all with His presence,” the Pope said.

This is not the first time for a pope to express sympathies to those who had procured abortion. In the encyclical Evangelium Vitae released in 1995, Pope St. John Paul II said that through Sacrament of

Reconciliation, a person who had procured abortion would “also be able to ask forgiveness from” her child.

During the World Youth Day celebrations in 2011, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI let confessors absolve the sin of abortion among young women.

Jubilee or Holy Years, which usually take place every 25 years, are some of the Church’s most important events, where grave sins are pardoned under certain conditions. The last Holy Year took place in 2000, when the Church marked two millennia of Christianity.

The Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy will begin on Dec. 8 and will end on Nov. 20 next year.

talk to their children since they don’t usually open up to their parents. Here in the Church, we serve as an adjunct, and we are always here to teach these women the dangers of abortion,” he added.

Bishop Broderick Pabillo, auxiliary bishop of Manila, said the laity should be grateful to the Lord’s unending mercy, and should themselves be merciful.

“Pahalagahan natin ‘yung mercy ng Diyos sa atin, na hindi naman tayo karapat-dapat, na makasalanan tayo at tayo ay pinatatawad,” he said.

Understanding absolution for abortion Fr. Jose Maria Tinoko, O.P., dean of the Faculty of Canon Law, said abortion is a reserved sin that can only be absolved by the local ordinary, meaning the bishop or his vicar general.

“Usually, the one who can absolve is the local ordinary or the mendicant priest … However, during the Holy Year, the priest can absolve the sin and remove the censura (censures) at the same time,” Fr. Tinoko said.

According to Church law, a person who procures a complete abortion incurs latae sententiae excommunication or automatic excommunication.

Tinoko said Christians should always uphold importance of human life. “Parents should always

Abortion still a ‘grave offense’ In a pastoral letter titled “Understanding Pope Francis’ gesture rightly,” the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said abortion remains a grave offense and absolution for abortion, while making God’s mercy more visible, does not make the sin less grievous.

CBCP President and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas urged Catholics to take time to understand Pope Francis and not believe misleading reports that the Church stance on abortion had been relaxed.

“Terminating the life of an unborn child should not be among a woman’s options because her right

Dominican Order releases guide for Jubilee year pilgrimage

By MARIE DANIELLE L. MACALINO PILGRIMS will get a glimpse of St. Dominic de Guzman’s life by visiting places related to the foundation of the Order of Preachers, which is set to mark its 800th year next year.

The Coordinator of the Jubilee of the Order, in cooperation with the provincial promoters of the Jubilee, has published an itinerary guide titled “The Path of Dominic,” that contains information on places pilgrims can visit.

“To cross, 800 years later the same roads, towns and to see homes and churches that have marked Dominic’s itinerary, allows us to understand and to internalize the spirituality and the charisma he left to his Order,” the guide says.

The pilgrimage begins in Caleruega, Spain (present-day Castille-Leon) where St. Dominic was born in 1170 and first attended school.

Several places surrounding Caleruega are close to St. Dominic. These places include Gumiel de Izan, where he attended his first school from the age of seven to 14; Palencia, the city where he spent university studies at the Studium Generalis; and Burgos de Osma, where he began his priestly ministry in 1195.

Monasteries closely associated with St. Dominic’s family, such as the Silos or La Vid monastery, show that his vocation was influenced by his exemplary Christian family.

The first Dominican convent founded by St. Dominic can also be found in Segovia, Spain.

Outside Spain Pilgrims are also encouraged to visit Languedoc, southwest of France, where St. Dominic began his ministry of preaching.

St. Dominic preached in Languedoc from 1206 to 1218.

Like Caleruega, places surrounding Languedoc influenced St. Dominic’s ministry of preaching. It was in Prouilhe where St. Dominic founded a monastery to house women that he had converted from heresy. In Carcasonne, St. Dominic became vicar from 1213 to 1214.

The last destination for pilgrims is Bologna, Italy, where the Dominican Order developed and grew rapidly. Places of interest include the Basilica and the Patriarchal Convent of St. Dominic and the Church of St. Mary and St. Dominic of “Mascarella,” where St. Dominic and his brothers stayed during his visit to Italy in 1219. It was also in this place where St. Dominic died.

The pilgrimage aims not just to reintroduce St. Dominic to the faithful, but also to encourage them to dedicate their lives to preaching the Word of God. Says the guide: “The travellers will come across not only monuments, but also nuns, brothers, religious people, and [laity] who have decided to unite to Dominic’s path. This is a story that remains alive because today, like yesterday, we are sent to preach the Gospel.”

to privacy and to make decisions about herself do not extend to the life in her womb over which she enjoys no dominion at all,” Villegas said.

Villegas said that Catholics should see the Pope’s gesture as an opportunity to approach God’s mercy.

“The proper, Catholic response to the Holy Father’s gesture is for all of us, sinners, to approach the mercy of God that constantly reaches out to us, that seeks out the lost,” Villegas said. KRYSTEL NICOLE A. SEVILLA and LEA MAT P. VICENCIO

CBCP calls same-sex marriage an ‘injustice’

By LEA MAT P. VICENCIO THE CATHOLIC Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has stood firm on the Church’s consistent opposition to samesex marriage amid growing clamor among homosexuals to be given the “right” to a “holy union.”

In a pastoral letter titled “The Dignity and Vocation of Homosexual Persons,” Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, CBCP president, reiterated that same-sex marriage could not happen because, aside from a loving relationship, holy union requires procreation, which is exclusive to male and female couples.

“As it is ordered or directed to the union of man and woman, human sexuality is also ordered towards the procreation and education of children. It is in and through the conjugal union that God has willed to give man and woman a share in His work of creation,” Villegas said in the letter released last Aug. 28.

Villegas said granting homosexual couples the right to marriage would be an injustice as they would not be able to contribute to procreation. “They are not able to contribute in a proper way to the procreation and survival of the human race, and thus it would be an injustice to grant them legal recognition along with the same benefits and privileges accorded to marriage,” Villegas said.

Villegas, however, clarified that homosexual attraction is not a sin.

The Catechism of the Catholic

Church states that the Church is not against “homosexual people” but homosexual acts.

According to the Catechism, homosexual people must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity.

Bishop Broderick Pabillo, auxiliary bishop of Manila, said the ability to procreate and openness to creating life are paramount in the institution of marriage.

“Sa natural law, ang pamilya naman talaga ay babae’t lalaki. Ano ba ang purpose ng marriage? Openness to life and procreation,” Pabillo told the Varsitarian.

“With the love of the family and the married couple, is the love that is open to life. Hindi naman mangyayari ‘yan sa homosexual unions,” Pabillo said.

Anthony Perez, president of the group Filipinos for Life, said the Church would continue to oppose same-sex marriage because its role is to “teach the truth.”

“Tungkulin ng Simbahan [na] ituro ang katotohanan, kaya lalabanan ito ng Simbahan. Hindi siya makakapayag na ibahin ng tao ang tunay na diwa ng kasal,” Perez said.

US Supreme Court ruling The CBCP pastoral letter came on the heels of the June 26 US Supreme Court decision making same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states in the US. The ruling, penned by Justice Anthony Kennedy was widely praised for upholding a concept of marriage that embodies “love that

may endure even past death,” but was also roundly criticized for short-circuiting the democratic and legislative processes.

Previously, it was up to each state to legalize same-sex marriages under the US federal system of government, which divides powers between the federal and state governments.

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote a vigorous dissent, as did the three others in the minority. Roberts said the majority created a right not found in the US Constitution and past rulings, and closed the debate instead of leaving the matter to state governments.

He wrote: “The majority’s decision is an act of will, not legal judgment. The right it announces has no basis in the Constitution or this Court’s precedent. …The Court invalidates the marriage laws of more than half the States and orders the transformation of a social institution that has formed the basis of human society for millennia, for the Kalahari Bushmen and the Han Chinese, the Carthaginians and the Aztecs. Just who do we think we are?”

Local efforts begin In the Philippines, proponents of samesex marriage are taking their cue from their successful US counterparts.

Last May 18, lawyer Jesus Nicardo Falcis III petitioned the Supreme Court to give the “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender” (LGBT) community in the Philippines equal protection of the law and the right to marriage.

The petition aims to nullify parts of the Family Code or Executive Order No. 209.

Members of the LGBTS Christian Church Inc., an independent church that Injustice PAGE 14

Campus faith groups gear up for Jubilee Year of Mercy

By KRYSTEL NICOLE A. SEVILLA RELIGIOUS organizations in the University are set to hold spiritual activities to encourage the youth to be involved in works of mercy ahead of the upcoming Extraordinary Jubilee Year.

Leaders of religious organizations like the Marian Evangelization Council (MEC), the Bosconian-Thomasian Youth Movement (BTYM), and Youth for Christ (YFC) are planning a number of programs and activities to encourage Thomasians to perform works of mercy.

“Aside from our activities such as youth camps and worship nights to evangelize the youth, meron din kaming youth power na tumutulong sa ibang tao through community development and outreach,” said Andross David, president of YFC.

MEC and BTYM kicked off their Jubilee Year activities with the exhibit titled “Mater Misericordiae,” which aimed at promoting Pope Francis’ call for spiritual and corporal works of mercy.

“Itong exhibit na ‘to ‘yung way namin to promote the Jubilee Year of Mercy na sinimulan ni Pope Francis,” said Anthea Allam, MEC public relations officer.

The exhibit, which also featured the upcoming octocentenary of the Order of Preachers next year, ran from Sept. 4 to 11.

Richard Pazcoguin, assistant director of the UST Campus Ministry, said student religious organizations’ enthusiasm in evangelizing the youth showed that young people remained involved in the Church.

“I think many of our young people are still very much involved with the Church.

Nakita naman natin ‘yun nung dumating si

Pope Francis,” he said in an interview.

Pazcoguin said being uninformed about religious activities was one of the reasons behind the youth’s lack of participation in Church activities.

“The only reason they are unable to participate ay dahil hindi nila nalaman kung saan ba pwedeng pumunta. So our first duty, especially the Center of Campus Ministry, is to participate in information dissemination so that the young people will know what to do,” he said.

Hans Comagon, BTYM communications head, said encouraging Thomasians to perform works of mercy won’t be an easy job.

“Kailangan magsimula sa sarili mo kasi hindi mo naman talaga mapipilit ‘yung ibang tao na gawin ang isang bagay dahil choice nila ‘yun,” Comagon said.

Sci-Tech 13

SEPTEMBER 26, 2015

Juan, Tomas and medical marijuana THE POTENTIAL medicinal benefits of cannabis or marijuana have given a ray of hope to patients with terminal conditions, prompting some countries to allow its use for strictly medical purposes.

In the Philippines, advocates of medical marijuana want it legalized as well through a recent bill filed last May 2014.

House Bill No. 4477 or the “Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Act” calls for the legalization of the medical use of marijuana for patients with serious medical conditions such as cancer.

Rodolfo Albano III, House Deputy Minority Leader, said his bill intends “to provide accessible, affordable, and safe medical cannabis to qualifying patients.”

Though the issue on medical cannabis has long been controversial, a fatality in 2013 opened the discussion regarding its usage.

Moon Jaden Yutuc was only a year old when she died from Dravet Syndrome, a form of intractable epilepsy that begins during infancy. Cannabis oil was suggested as a form of potential treatment but Yutuc’s parents were denied permission to use it.

Hits and misses Even if marijuana is largely known for its addictive effect, numerous studies have confirmed its medical potential.

This led to the formation of the Philippine Cannabis Compassion Society (PCCS), a non-government organization comprised of doctors, patients, and other advocates.

Kimmi del Prado, founder of PCCS, said the bill would benefit patients with terminal conditions and may even avoid incidents similar to Yutuc’s.

“Aside from providing relief for patients, it assures a cheaper alternative to their current line of medication,” del Prado said in an email.

Dr. Gem Mutia, a member of PCCS and part of the doctors taking the lead in support of HB 4477, said marijuana’s potential for abuse is overpowered by its medical benefits. “[Marijuana] has recreational effects such as euphoria or an overall sense of well-being, heightened senses and creativity,” he said in an email. “[Other] medical effects [include] appetite stimulation, sedation, and pain-

relief.”

He said both the beneficial and adverse effects of marijuana were dose-dependent. Negative effects include dizziness, decreased short-term memory, abnormally-rapid heart rate, and addiction.

However, anti-medical cannabis groups such as the Philippine Medical Association, the Philippine College of Physicians, and the Philippine

Neurological Association expressed fears that allowing medical marijuana might only promote abuse.

“We cannot downplay its (marijuana) side effects and the dangers of abuse. If future studies will show no benefit and more harm, then we would have wasted all our time in contemplating to pass this bill,” Dr. Minerva Calimag, Philippine Medical Association president, said in an interview.

Dr. Anita Sangalang, a professor of Pharmacology at the UST Faculty of Pharmacy, agreed that medical marijuana has positive effects. But she said patients should not become fully dependent on it and should not replace prescribed medication.

“I know it (marijuana) may help the patient, [and] it may ease their pain. But still, it should not replace the appropriate medication for illnesses,” she said in an interview.

Sangalang added that doctors should conduct further research on medical marijuana.

The Department of Health (DOH) said it was reviewing the proposal.

In a position paper, the Medical Cannabis Research Center said that if the bill is passed, “the Philippines will lead Asean [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] in the emerging field of medicine based on whole plant cannabis extracts.”

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said in a statement last August that drug addiction is a grave offense, except on strictly therapeutic grounds.

“We cannot issue a blank rejection

to the use of marijuana for medical purposes,” Villegas said. “Catholic medical ethics allows us to use even prohibited drugs to be regulated by government in case of terminally-ill patients in order to assist them in their pain, especially in the last stage of their ailment.”

Villegas, however, emphasized that abuse and dependence to of these kind of drugs are against Christian ethics.

“Substance abuse and drug dependence are wrong, and any measure that makes abused or habituating substances within easy reach of potential abusers and dependents is morally wrong,” he said. “[The] government, no doubt, must be vigilant, and measures that facilitate access to abused substances cannot be countenanced. The family must [also] do its part and so must the community,” he added.

Members of PCCS emphasized that the issue on medical cannabis not only revolves around morality but also on the fundamental right to health and right to life.

“Health is a human right. Patients should be at least be informed of, if not given, all possible treatment options,” Mutia said.

Although methods of palliative care to patients with terminally-ill diseases include drugs such as cannabis, Villegas appealed to Filipino doctors to be vigilant.

“Physicians [should] determine carefully whether there is due proportion between the risks involved and the benefits anticipated,” he said.

KIMBERLY JOY V. NAPARAN and

RHENN ANTHONY S. TAGUIAM

‘Yosi Lane’ ‘Unfollowed’ yet still a friend: and the psychology of smokers Facebook refines filtering A REGULAR Facebook user may generate an average of 1,500 potential stories every day from friends, pages they have liked and people they follow.

According to a report from The Guardian, the news feed algorithm of the social networking site considers various factors in choosing what to show on a user's news feed.

In his blog, Facebook engineer Lars Backstrom said that out of the 1,500 stories, the algorithm filters posts to around 300 stories that it deems “of relevance” to a particular user.

The algorithm considers factors such as the “frequentness” of one’s interaction with a friend or a page, how many comments, likes and shares a post has received, a user’s previous encounters with similar types of posts, and whether those posts are being hidden or blocked.

Kelly McBride from the Poynter Institute noted that these algorithms relate to how young internet users, or the so-called “millennials,” get their share of news.

“If you look at the research on how people get their news now, you often hear this phrase: ‘If news is important, news will find me’—particularly for millennials,” said McBride in an international conference on emerging technologies last March 2014. “But behind that statement is something really important: if news is going to find you, it’s going to find you because of an algorithm.”

Roy Narra, a Journalism student, said he tends to be critical when it comes to posts appearing on his news Facebook feed, admitting that he hides posts that “annoy” him and uses the mute option whenever he decides to no longer receive updates from a specific friend.

“Gagamit lang ako ng unfriend kung talagang nakakainis na [‘yung tao] and block kapag creepy na [siya] and nakaka-bother na sa akin,” Narra said.

Sociologist Clarence Batan, director for Research Center on Culture, Education and Social Issues, said despite the shifting culture online, there is still no data whether online interactions have any effect on real life socialization.

“It's an entirely different platform from communicating face to face,” Batan said in an interview, explaining that there are different norms imposed for various setups.

In this case, how one behaves in the virtual world can be entirely unlike how he behaves in real life.

Filipinos on Facebook As of December 2013, data from the Internet World Statistics showed that there are 44,200,540 Filipinos who uses. 29,890,900 of these are Facebook users.

A study from a UK-based social media agency We Are Social revealed that the Filipinos spend the most time on online browsing compared to citizens of other countries, with an average Filipino spending 6.2 hours daily on a desktop or laptop and additional 2.8 hours on a mobile device.

Additional reports noted that Thailanders and Filipinos spend the most time on social media everyday, averaging at 3.7 hours and 4 hours, respectively.

With the influx Facebook users, information shared online can begin to be overwhelming, Narra added, with regular netizens feeling discomfort towards people who share posts abruptly.

“Kasi ‘yung iba uneducated, basta-basta na lang sila nagshe-share ng information. They don’t analyze kung totoo ba or hindi,” he said.

Batan said the question of control over Facebook requires an understanding of how a user navigates the technology.

“The premise is if you’re really into and that you’ve grown to become a digital native, then you become capable of controlling it,” he said. “If you are young and you are capable of navigating, then you can control it.”

Batan believes that there is a deeper dimension regarding the control on Facebook usage which includes two things: security and privacy.

“The reason why the likelihood of the younger users to control [Facebook] is higher than the older [ones] is because of the knowledge of accessing it,” he added. MIA ROSIENNA P. MALLARI

A CERTAIN narrow yet crowded street on the corner of Dapitan has been a hub for students and adults alike who want to spend their free time with a stick of cigarette.

Yana, a first-year graduate student, spends most of her afternoons on the busy street with a white stick teeming with nicotine. Her friends keep her company.

“I realized that the bonding is really different when I smoke with friends,” she said.

And despite the strong smell of burning leaves and cluttered cigarette butts, the claustrophobic ambiance of Antonio Street is still home.

What is in a stick “[I] first tried smoking during my 19th birthday,” Yana said. “Sa isang araw, I consume four to six sticks at siguro the longest I can stand without ‘yosi’ is three days or else nagiging uneasy na ko.”

“Matthew,” a third-year entrepreneurship student, started smoking when he was in high school and momentarily stopped by the time negative health manifestation got evident such as coughing.

Raymond Jay Mazo of the Lifestyle Related Disease Division of the Department of Health said smoking can damage every part of the body.

“Smoking causes [ailments such as] stroke, blindness, coronal heart diseases, asthma and other respiratory effects, and [may even] affect [the] reproductive system,” he said in an email.

“Children who are second-hand smokers are prone to respiratory problems, and some studies [also] indicate [that] this can cause brain tumors, lymphoma and leukemia.”

Dr. Maria Ronila Santos, unit head of the Smoking Cessation Clinic of the UST Hospital,

said smoking also causes dependence and addiction.

“Nicotine binds to dopamine receptors in the brain, causing pleasure, increased awareness, increased wakefulness and increased cognitive activity,” she said in an email. “[However], more cigarettes will be needed to satisfy the craving.”

Based on the July 2015 data of World Health Organization, cigarette smoking kills around six million people each year.

More than five million of these cases result from direct smoking, while more than 600,000 are non-smokers exposed to passive smoking.

According to the Department of Health (DOH), as of 2009, 17.3 million of the population aged 15 years old and above smoke.

Motivation to smoke Mazo said understanding smoking behavior was contingent on comprehending the three parts of smoking addiction: physiological dependence, emotional condition and psychological connection.

Physiological dependence is parallel to addiction caused by ingested nicotine which as shown in studies, affects the brain similar to the drugs, heroin and cocaine.

Addiction to tobacco is due to the growing number of nicotinic receptors in the brain, thus to reach the level of satisfaction, the tendency of a smoker is to continuously smoke and purposely fill in the emptied receptors. “[In my case], a free cut or a break from class will usually lead to both eating and smoking,” Matthew said. “Stressful days and long classes, [as well as] schoolwork come in play. Smoking can both help you forget stress and energize you.”

Oftentimes, smokers consume cigarettes based on their mood, either when happy, stressed, or sad.

“Despite its negative notion, smoking is a ‘way of life’,” Yana said. “It might have a biochemical effect to make us relax, but smoking also forms some sort of bond with friends.”

Psychologically, smoking can form part of the daily routine of smokers and could have social implications.

Junior Marketing student “Glenn” started smoking last year. Although he had a try in high school, peer pressure and stress in college led him to the vice.

“Masama siyang tignan at gawin pero this is a relief [during the times when I am] down and Smokers PAGE 5

14 Limelight

SEPTEMBER 26, 2015

Art Director: Ava Mariangela C. Victoria

BEN N' VIDES BY KIRSTEN M. JAMILLA

USTIPS BY FREYA D.L.R. TORRES

TOMAS U. SANTOS BY IAIN RAFAEL N. TYAPON

Editorial

pretending to be in the guise of purely religious affairs,” he explained in an email to the Varsitarian.

To be sure, it appears that during the rally, which paralyzed traffic in Edsa, it was government that kowtowed to the INC, with many politicians making political hay by expressing their agreement with the strange logic of the INC elders, and generally winking at them to support their base political aspirations.

The INC generally votes as a bloc and in many close contests, their vote, however small, could be decisive. So perhaps for the state--and its bevy of politicians--the INC has earned the right to “meddle” in state affairs.

But the INC overkill should be welcomed if only for the fact that it gave the state a dose of its own medicine.

Whenever Catholic leaders

criticized government policies, laws or initiatives—logging, mining, reproductive health, agrarian reform, free-market capitalism—they are always accused of violating the separation of the church and state.

The accusation is generally levelled at the clergy and the bishops, as if their ordination to holy orders generally put a stop to their Filipino citizenship.

Likewise Cafeteria Catholics apply the logic of the cafeteria to the bishops, nuns and clergy: when Cardinal Sin and the episcopal conference criticized Marcos and condemned human rights abuses, they welcomed them. But when they opposed contraception, abortion, sex education, population control, and capital punishment, they accused the clergy and religious of violating the separation of church and state.

Cafeteria Catholics--and the state

and its statist liberal champions--should be reminded that while bishops and clergy obviously employ the resources of their theology and thus, religion, in discerning social and political issues, they start off with something more basic—natural law, human rights and the dignity of the human person. When she condemns state policies, laws, and initiatives for their injustice or danger, the Church hierarchy doesn't exactly invoke the Bible or God's law, but natural law, the law written in the hearts of men. For example, the Church's opposition to contraceptives is due to the fact they have by and large harmful side effects to women who use them, if not that they are harmful to the unborn since many of them are really abortifacients.

To kill or put someone's health and life is against the natural law. That is very obvious to everyone even without a working knowledge of the Bible.

Injustice

and commercialization of varsity athletics rather than protecting athlete's rights.

Despite the law’s discouragement of student-athletes from receiving huge bonuses aside from the benefits and incentives they should get from the schools they choose, no one can ever guarantee that there are no additional bonuses that elitist schools for the affluent usually employ to lure young players. Financial benefits for the students’ families, car, condominium units, and other bribes can be given clandestinely by schools desperate to get good athletes to play for them.

In short, stopping the commercialization of varsity sports and rampant piracy is better said than done. Even Cayetano cannot implement it, and implementing the law she crafted—through her subjudice intervention in the judiciary for it to rule against the residency rules of the

private sector and her mockery of “in aid of legislation”—Senate hearings would be the least of her concerns, since she has done her part in ensuring that her alma mater, always at the tail-end of UAAP rankings, could pirate, oops, “lure” fresh talent from institutions like UST which has better-rounded sports programs that start from the grass roots and the basic-education level.

But more than a threat to their athletic programs, UAAP-member schools should consider the enactment of this law as a challenge to nurture their young athletes more, for them to gain their athletes’ loyalty.

As for the athletes, they should learn how to express gratitude to their respective schools that have helped them develop their skills, by staying and fulfilling their maximum playing years.

This should also set as a reminder for lawmakers and other government officials to focus more on their prime responsibilities as public servants and to not delve on matters involving the private sector.

‘Impossible’ But lawyer Jeremy Gatdula, professor of law at the University of Asia and the Pacific, said legalizing same-sex marriage under the 1987 Constitution was impossible, as the charter adheres to the traditional context of marriage.

“Marriage in [the Philippine] constitution is always within the context of the family and of the raising of children,” Gatdula told the Varsitarian. “In order for same-sex marriage to happen in the Philippines, there will have to be an

amendment of the Constitution. But as it stands now, marriage is safe given the traditional definition of marriage.”

The state’s interest in marriage is clearly linked to its procreative purpose, he added.

“Why should the state have any reason to actually be involved in the relationship of two people just because they’re in love?” Gatdula asked. “Under the traditional marriage institution, the interest of the state is clear. It is because of the fact that the family is taking care of the future citizens of the state.”

Article XV, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution states that “Marriage, as an inviolable social institution, is the foundation of the family and shall be protected by the State.” Section 3 states that “The State shall defend: (1) The right of spouses to found a family in accordance with their religious convictions and the demands of responsible parenthood.”

The Family Code defines marriage as “a special contract of permanent union between a man and a woman entered into in accordance with law for the establishment of conjugal and family life.”

Rail

Farrales

Monte, Bulacan via Commonwealth Avenue.

MRT Line 7 is delayed due to a legal dispute over where to put a “common terminal.” The SM retail conglomerate wants it at SM North EDSA, while Ayala wants it to be at its Trinoma mall.

“If 1980s to 1990s railway plans were enforced, people would not be on the road or end up taking the bus or buying a car,” Sagcal said. “We would not have this bad traffic.”

Ben in the fashion industry held a tribute for him, showing five decades of Farrales’ career as a fashion designer.

The tribute was divided into three parts: Pais Tropicale, which featured islandthemed dresses; Moda Maynila, which focused on contemporary and modern couture; and Farrales Filipiniana, which showcased his classical works of Musliminspired Filipiniana costumes such as the Maria Clara and the terno.

Models included Farrales’ long-time

muses such as Marina Benipayo, Sara Jane Paez, Izza Gonzales, Bambi Harper and Gem Padilla.

Lorenzo Leviste, a long-time fashion writer and contributor to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, wrote in his 2009 tribute article to Ben Farrales that “it was our own Mang Ben Farrales who became the purveyor of this Muslim style in fashion, not by choice but by design.”

Leviste told the Varsitarian in an interview that he was able to wear the signature Muslim-inspired designs of Mang Ben when he won the crown and title of Miss Universe, a gay pageant in Jade Vine Resto on United Nations Avenue

when he was just 16 years old.

“I remember it was bright green and royal purple chiffon and silk. My hair and make-up was done by Lucas Danao, the top model of that era,” he said.

The Varsitarian tried to visit Farrales in his old boutique in Malate, Manila for an interview but the in-house keeper said he doesn’t go there anymore and that he can’t be interviewed because of his critical health condition.

Now 82, Mang Ben has established himself as a legend in Philippine Fashion for his timeless creations of world-class, cultural-based clothing designs that stays true to Filipino heritage and culture.

FROM PAGE 4

the police were merely protecting the household staff--but from what? From food deliveries? Obviously for the PNP to have raised the possibility of danger should impress everyone--including law enforcers and justice authorities--that something was amiss.

In any case, it should be up to De Lima and the Department of Justice to determine if there was basis to the complaint. That is their duty.

Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina said it is only proper for the state to accept the complaint and start the process for its resolution.

“While the state cannot intervene in purely religious affairs, it cannot close its eyes to clear violations of the law

Line

FROM PAGE 5

FROM PAGE 6

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FROM PAGE 12

describes itself as “Protestant,” attempted but failed to apply for a marriage license in the Quezon City Registrar’s Office last Aug. 3.

Rev. Ceejay Agbayani, founding pastor of the LGBTS Christian Church, argued that procreation should not be the basis of marriage. “Mutual love, respect, and support [is] the essence of marriage.

Walang procreation doon,” Agbayani told the Varsitarian in an interview.

Moreover, the Church knows whereof she speaks. She puts her money where her mouth is.

When Church leaders oppose the distribution of condoms to check HIV/Aids and of contraceptives that are actually abortifacients, cafeteria Catholics and politicians condemn them, ignoring the fact that the Catholic Church runs the biggest health care system in the world that ministers to many pregnant women and HIV sufferers especially in the Third World.

Cafeteria Catholics and the state are kindred fellows: by their reductionism and capriciousness, they basically establish their own religion, like the INC perhaps, which they favor over the Catholic Church.

And then they have the gall to accuse the Catholic Church of violating the separation of church and state!

Theses

FROM PAGE 7

[ay] talagang hanap ‘yung may rice, so kailangan talaga naming mag-offer ng mga rice meals," she said. "[Kailangan] affordable ‘yung prices para meron kami nung chunk ng karamihan ng market, which is UST talaga.”

She said it would be effective to put oneself into the shoes of customers to have an idea on what kind of concept might sell.

“Gusto namin na ‘yung servings niya, hindi nakakabitin,” she said. “Before, we went to several own-concept places, and we found out na parang nakakabitin.”

Snacketeers added more rice meals fitting the middle mark of the price range.

Products included bestsellers pasta and pancakes, chicken meals, and desserts.

Although fairly new in their chosen field, the three restaurants, may be just dots in the cluster of successful businesses created by intuitive Thomasian minds, show that the secret in success in not trying to find what the customers want, but in finding the sweet spot through finding what they want to share with their target market.

Rule

FROM PAGE 16 have difficulties in finding key members as head coach and national team coach Dindo Simpao scouts possible talents from the national pool to play for UST. Notable Tiger Cubs standout who chose to stay—Golden Tigresses Alyssa Teope and EJ Laure, Philippine National Games gold medallist Tiger Fencer Ashley Espiritu, and King Tiger Kevin Ferrer—also proved that the university takes care of its budding talents up until they reach their peak.

Sports 15

SEPTEMBER 26, 2015

Tigresses miss V-League finals again UST GOLDEN Tigresses’ hopes of ending a threeyear finals dry spell vanished after a straight-set loss to UAAP defending champions Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles, 18-25, 18-25, 19-25, in a do-or-die Game 3 of the 12th Shakey’s V-League Collegiate Conference semifinals at the San Juan Arena last. Sept. 16.

The Lady Eagles dominated with 32 attack points, nine block points and seven aces.

UST only had 27 attack points, three block points and four service aces while committing a 27 errors.

Ateneo was leading 24-14 in the last frame before UST racked up five straight points. A service error from Tigress EJ Laure secured the Lady Eagles a finals berth.

Alyssa Valdez powered the Lady Eagles with 19 points while Bea de Leon and Amy Ahomiro added nine apiece.

Laure had nine markers for UST. Game 2 was a different story for UST as the Lady Eagles’ saw their 10-game winning streak come to a halt with the Tigresses pulling an 18-25, 25-16, 25-23, 25-22 upset last Sept 12.

UST banked on its balanced attacking as four Tigresses scored in double digits. Laure powered the Tigresses with 17 points while Carmela Tunay, who

was scoreless in Game 1, finished with 15 markers.

Marivic Meneses and Pam Lastimosa added 12 and 10 points, respectively.

“Nagko-commit kami ng [mga] error pero ang importante ‘yung mga gusto naming mangyari, nangyari,” UST Golden Tigresses head coach Emilio Reyes said.

UST lost Game 1 of the battle-for-third match against Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, 1725, 17-25, 25-10, 20-25, last Sept. 19.

The Lady Tamaraws dominated with 50 attack points while UST only had 36.

The Tigresses kept it close in the fourth set, 20-22, but FEU unleashed three consecutive points capped by Toni Rose Basas’ crosscourt kill to clinch the win.

“Noong pumasok kami ng Final Four, it doesn't mean okay na. I hope maayos namin [ang mga mali naming] before mag-UAAP. [Sana] mag-end naman kami ng pangatlo,” Reyes said.

Laure, Golden Tigresses’ leading scorer, was awarded second best spiker of the conference.

The Golden Tigresses have lost four of their last five games and will try to bounce back in Game two of their battle-for-bronze clash against FEU again on Sept. 26, 12:45 p.m. at the San Juan Arena. C.A. CASINGCASING and RA.B. RITUMALTA

Lady Eagles end the Golden Tigresses’ title hopes with a straight-set loss in the Game 3 of Shakey's V-League last Sept. 16 at the San Juan Arena.

G.L. CADUNGOG

7 rookies add new energy to Tigers lineup

By PHILIP MARTIN L. MATEL SEVEN rookies will try to provide fresh legs and instant energy for the Growling Tigers off the bench as part of coach Bong dela Cruz’ run-andgun style of play.

Name: Marvin Lee Age: 18 Height: 5’8” High School: Far Eastern University Diliman Position: Guard His small stature may deceive opposing players, but Lee can play with the big guys inside the paint. His playmaking and scoring off the bench will be his biggest assets as a spark plug for the Tigers.

Name: Zachary Huang Age: 18 Height: 6’3” High School: Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Position: Forward The Cebu Schools Athletic

Title

FROM PAGE 16 summer.

According to coach Que, Paul Que, Janssen Cruz and Justin Catalan are also expected to perform, noting that all of his players are “reliable.”

Tiger Cubs Last year: Sixth place This year: Fifth Place The Tiger Cubs are far from returning to championship contention in the junior’s basketball as they enter the season with 13 rookies spearheaded by returning veteran Marlon Navarro.

Despite this, there is a lot of optimism for the Cubs as they try to rebuild this year and bounce back from a disappointing sixth place finish in Season 77.

“We're trying to get to the Final Four first. Then from there, we'll see. Pero ang game plan namin is one game at a time,” Tiger Cubs head coach Allan Ascue said.

Poomsae Last year: Third place This year: Second place With the addition of Palarong Pambansa gold medalist Jerel Dalida and Angelica Peralta, the intact UST poomsae team will look to regain the championship they last won in 2013.

UST notched the inaugural title of the newly-

Foundation Mythical Five member hopes to improve his speed and ball handling and provide hustle and rebounding for the team.

Name: Mario Bonleon Age: 20 Height: 6’3 High School: La Salle Greenhills Position: Guard/Forward A former member of the Philippine Under-19 team, the La Salle Greenhills standout will offer efficient perimeter shooting and great man-to-man defense, backed up by his prior experience in leading a lowly team to the finals.

Name: Justin Araña Age: 16 Height: 6’5” High School: Baroda National HS, Daet, Camarines Norte Position: Forward/Center Araña showed he could dominate the paint during the 2015 Palarong Pambansa held in Davao. His defensive mindset and rebounding will be a big boost for the Tigers,

recognized UAAP sport but failed to repeat a year later.

The team settled for third behind University of the Philippines and De La Salle University.

“We will definitely do better than last year. The players have more experience now because they have been competing in different national competitions in preparation,” head coach Rani Ortega said.

Tigersharks Last year: Third place Prediction: Second place The Tigersharks are now ready to show more grit this Season 78 with a more cohesive and mature squad.

Head coach Cyrus Alcantara said effective communication between his players would be their biggest weapon to raise the intensity of their play. “‘Yung current disposition ng team is better than last year. Right now, mas positive sila, mas nagwo-work sila together, they are talking and they are thinking about sa kung ano ‘yung ikabubuti ng mga kasama nila,” Alcantara said.

The addition of UAAP juniors swimming standout Skyler Claveria is expected to bring new hopes for the squad while Jux Keaton Solita, Franz Marquez and Francis Alvin Marquez are looking to bag medals for points.

Female Tigersharks Last year: Fourth place Prediction: Third place

After a year-long absence, key returnees Thea Belen and Ryan Keith Regidor, alongside veteran Maegan Sanchez, are expected to show dominance and firepower this Season 78.

According to Alcantara, Angelic Saavedra and Samantha Cambronero could help the team’s campaign in earning quality points while Palarong Pambansa ace Katrina Aguelo is anticipated to excel in the individual medley and freestyle events.

“Ang edge [nila] ay parang sa men’s [team] lang din. They are just starting to mature,” Alcantara said.

UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe Last year: Third place Prediction: Third place With less than a month before the much awaited cheerdance battle, UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe team captain Gladys Eunice Cruz said the squad has improved on its stunts, its male lifters are now more capable.

“Syempre, iniisip namin mag-podium finish, na [makasamasa] top three this year, pero as of now, mas iniisip namin ma-hit lahat ng stunts namin eveytime na magra-run kami [ng] routine.

We are about 60 percent ready [by now],” Cruz told the Varsitarian.

National University and UP are still expected to battle it out for the crown, and the SDT might again settle for third.

as he has a huge chance of being a starter in his future years with his expected growth.

Name: Kyle Suarez Age: 21 Height: 6’2” High School: Ateneo de Manila Position: Guard/Forward Amid posting unimpressive numbers in his stint in UP in which he averaged 2.8 points and 1.3 rebounds in 11 minutes of playing time, this former national under-18 player can use his quickness to finish inside and score when his number gets called by dela Cruz.

Name: Enrique Caunan Age: 17 Height: 6’5” High School: Colegio de San Juan de Letran Position: Forward His double-digit rebounding numbers as a Letran Squire may not translate yet to the college game but the slotman will provide great inside and perimeter defense for the Tigers. His ball handling skills are rare for a big man and could provide a mismatch among opposing players.

Name: Osama Said Abdurasad Age: 20 Height: 5’10” High School: Kaunlaran HS, Navotas Position: Guard This combo guard has decent perimeter defense and instant scoring off the bench.

Abdurasad has good potential, though he will need to take advantage of his limited playing time.

Softbelles lead Manila League in World Series

By RANDELL ANGELO B. RITUMALTA THREE Thomasian softbelles helped the Manila Little League to a third-place finish in the 2015 Little League World Series Big League Division last Aug. 2 to 9 in Lower Sussex County, Delaware.

Manila Little Leaguers improved on their fifth place finish last year after a narrow 3-2 victory against 2014 champions Millsboro Delaware for bronze.

The squad finished with a 4-1 win-loss record, winning its first three games against California District 51, Morganton Little League, and Indiana District 11 before losing to eventual champions Louisiana in the semifinals.

Little League veteran Anne Antolihao ended her stint with the team as the starting pitcher after replacing mainstays Veronica Belleza and Annalie Benjamin who played their last games the previous year.

“Ang World Series ay isang magandang experience para sa akin kasi makakalaban mo ‘yung [teams ng] iba’t ibang lugar sa mundo. Hindi ‘yung puro Pinoy lang nakakalaro mo,” Antolihao said.

Southeast Asian Games champion and sophomore Celestine Palma, who manned the catcher position, proved to be a force to reckon with after blasting three huge homeruns in the tournament.

Two-time national team member Cristy Roa also showcased impressive hits and solid defensive stops to secure wins for the Philippine team.

“Very overwhelmed at sobrang masaya.

Even though magkakaibang schools kami, we still managed to cooperate [with each other]. Malaking boost sa confidence kasi nga it’s international and nagawa naman namin ang dapat ipakita sa coaches namin,” Palma said.

The Manila Little League team is composed of softbelles from other UAAP schools such as Adamson University, Ateneo de Manila University, National University and University of the East.

UST duo bags 2nd Ibalong crown

By CARLO A. CASINGCASING UST’s beach volleybelles again ruled the sand court after notching another gold medal in the Ibalong Beach Volleyball Cup last Aug. 21 to 23 in Legazpi City, Albay.

UAAP Season 77 beach volleyball champions Cherry Anne Rondina and Rica Jane Rivera clinched their fourth-straight title as sand court partners for UST after demolishing FEU’s Bernadette Pons and Kyla Llana Atienza in the finals, 21-19, 21-14.

Despite sweeping the tournament with a 6-0 win-loss record, Rondina recognized FEU’s solid defense and admitted that grabbing the title was not a walk in the park.

“Magandang exposure kasi nakalaban namin ‘yung mga kasali sa UAAP (FEU and Adamson University).

Good thing [‘yun] pero nakita

na rin nila kami kung paano maglaro,” R o n d i n a told the Varsitarian.

UST has dominated the tournament in the last three years with two titles coming from the Rondina and Rivera duo.

For Rivera, the tourney also prepared the Lady Spikers for their quest to defend the UAAP crown they captured last year against volleyball powerhouse De La Salle University.

Prior to the Ibalong Cup, the UST tandem bagged their third championship for UST after dethroning DLSU’s Kim Fajardo and new partner Cyd Demecillo in the 18th Nestea Beach Intercollegiate Volleyball Competition last May 2.

But Rivera said they still need to work double time to

defend the UAAP crown and to continue their championship streak they started after winning the Ibalong title last year.

“Sana tuloy-tuloy lang ‘yung performance na binibigay namin. Sana ‘yung performance mas ma-improve pa namin, may mga skills din kami na kailangang mag-improve like

service a n d setting,” Rivera said.

Rivera

Sports

SEPTEMBER 26, 2015

Chasing the 41st title

BY THE SPORTS TEAM

THOMASIAN athletes are hungrier than ever to keep the overall crown in España. Here is the second part of The Varsitarian’s prediction of the University's performance for the first semester sports this UAAP Season 78.

Growling Tigers Last year: Sixth place Prediction: Finals With Ed Daquioag’s emergence as an MVP-caliber player, along with Kevin Ferrer's and Karim Abdul’s steady performance, the Tigers are primed to go to the last dance after stumbling to a 5-9 finish last season.

The Tigers’ bench, one of the deepest in the UAAP, will be spearheaded by sharpshooters Renzo Subido and Louie Vigil, along with rookie scorers Mario Bonleon, Enrique Caunan, Marvin Lee, and Zachary Huang.

“Gusto naming umabot sa finals, pero we will have to approach the season one game at a time,” coach Bong dela Cruz told the Varsitarian.

Growling Tigresses Last year: Fourth place

Prediction: Finals With veterans Mythical Five member Lore Rivera, Kristine Siapoc, and Kim Reyes exhausting their playing years, head coach Chris Cantonjos is hoping that the Tigresses will flourish under new team captain Maica Cortes.

The Tigresses will bank on the momentum of their championship in the Filipino-Chinese Basketball League and runner-up finish in the Fr. Martin Pre-season Cup. Returning Shanda Anies will bolster the run-and-gun offense with her outside shooting.

With Cortes and Filipino-Americans Candice Magdaluyo and Sofia Felisarta playing in their final year, Cantonjos is expecting that the team will exceed their disappointing finish last season.

“Sabi ko nga sa mga player, hindi tayo maglalaro para sa fourth place lang. So, aim din namin ang championship,” Cantonjos told the Varsitarian.

Male Judokas Last Year: Champion Prediction: Champion There is a long tradition of dominance by UST’s judo program and the UST Male Judokas are unfazed in defending their title this season.

Even after missing the Philippine National Games, the squad is in top form coming off successful pre-season stints in the General Trias Invitational, Hajime Judo Tournament and Diliman Slam.

The team’s lineup from last year’s championship run remains basically intact even with the departure of two Judokas.

Season 77 MVP Al Rolan Llamas seeks to lead the squad for a potential back-to-back championship.

Lady Judokas Last Year: Champion Prediction: Champion Even with the departure of Season 77 MVP Annie Ramirez and four other seniors, the UST Lady Judokas still is a force to be reckoned with this coming season.

Lady Judokas head coach Gerard Arce, who compared the team’s training to a soldier's, said their young athletes are well equipped before they “go to war.”

Team captain Sueko Kinjho will lead the charge while there is a big expectation in rookie Miam Salvador who bagged silver and gold medals in the last Philippine National Games.

Male Paddlers Last Year: Third Place Prediction: Finals After their semifinal meltdown against University of the Philippines last year, the UST Male Paddlers look to come out stronger and to never repeat the same mistake.

Head coach Jackson Que believes that the Paddlers are at their peak entering the season as they parade a veteran lineup with no rookies this year.

Team captain Adolfo Bazar will anchor the team together with Norielle Pantoja, Alberto Bazar, Christian Abendan and Gil Ablanque who trained with the Philippine Air Force last Title PAGE 15

Rizza Mae Darlucio

SpecialReport

New law scraps UAAP 2-year residency rule

By JOHN CHESTER P. FAJARDO THE VULNERABILITY of homegrown talents being lured by other universities has been intensified with the enactment of a new law that “protects and promotes the rights of studentathletes.”

Republic Act No. 10676 or the “StudentAthlete Protection Act” voids the UAAP's mandatory two-year residency, implemented in 2013, on high school student-athletes not released by their alma mater.

Section 4 of the law, enacted last Aug. 26, states that “residency shall not be imposed on a student-athlete who is a high school graduate enrolling in a college or university” while collegiate transfers would only be limited to a maximum of one-year residency.

The new law also defined the benefits a student-athlete should only receive, such as tuition, miscellaneous, lodging, learning materials, and athletic materials.

However, it left a blind spot and failed to mention a concrete limit to the benefits that a student can accept, which could be abused by competing universities.

This deepens the lingering issue of studentathlete “piracy” which points to the luxurious offers and bribery as reasons for athlete transferring to other institution.

UST’s athletic authorities declined to comment on the issue. But in a previous interview with the Varsitarian in July 2014, Fr. Emerito de Sagon O.P., director of the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics said the then proposed “Student-Athlete Protection Act” would not stop schools from providing excessive incentives to lure players.

“I don’t think this will solve problem because any school or university can deny the fact that they

are giving excess incentives to the athletes,” de Sagon had said.

The issue became a hot topic in 2010 when Mikee Bartolome, a decorated high school swimmer trained by UST, opted to play for UP despite failing to secure clearance from UST. A temporary restraining order allowed Bartolome to compete.

The UST Female Tigersharks went on to boycott the entire competition as a protest.

Not a cause of worry While UST has bitter memories of athlete “piracy” with Alyssa Valdez, Kim Fajardo, Dindin Santiago among others leaving the University for what could have been a dynastic Golden Tigresses, concrete evidence of such claims has yet to be recorded.

Then rookie sensation and Season 73 badminton MVP Peter Gabriel Magnaye left for NU. The Tiger Shuttlers struggled in the following years, finishing fifth last season.

Siblings Therese and Pauline Gaston also left the Tigresses in two consecutive seasons and joined the Ateneo Lady Eagles.

Therese said that it was education, not the incentives that convinced her to transfer to Ateneo but claimed that UST has “one of the finest [programs] in the country.”

“I wanted to pursue what was best for my career path which was to get my education from Ateneo. They (Ateneo) just offered me a slot in the team, monthly allowance, and full scholarship,” Gaston said in a text message to the Varsitarian.

Although a lot of these top-tier athletes left UST in the past, the Growling Tigers remains a top contending and recruiting team as athletes still see the University’s offer more beneficial, contrary to the belief that UST is just a “milking factory” of other universities.

UST has one of the best benefits when it comes to student-athlete accommodation— lodging, allowance, daily meals, advanced facilities, and an excellent medical assistance and hospital which other schools do not have.

These benefits and familiarity halted Tigershark rookie Skyler Claveria from accepting higher offers, which he decided not to disclose, from other institutions.

“Naglalaro pa ko ng third at fourth year [high school] nag-offer na ang La Salle at Ateneo pero ‘yung mindset ko mag-stay na noon,” Claveria said in an interview. “May parts na mas maganda ‘yung bigay nila pero sa UST kasi kumpleto at ‘yung nagpa-stay sa akin ay ‘yung family na nadevelop noong high school saka dahil na rin sa magandang education.”

Outside the limelight of mainstream sports, UST has nurtured a quality group of players from the province and turned them into stars.

Beach volleyball standouts Cherry Rondina and Rica Jane Rivera were both recruited from Cebu last year and won four beach volleyball titles as a duo since then. The Golden Sox, meanwhile, houses 20 players from different provinces.

Champion taekwondo team does not seem to Rule PAGE 14

Mariano to suit up for Ginebra Gin Kings in PBA

By JOHN CHESTER P. FAJARDO AFTER a disappointing final UAAP year, with the Growling Tigers missing the Final Four after back-to-back finals appearances, Aljon Mariano will start anew in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) with crowd favorite Barangay Ginebra.

The “Clutch Cat” slipped in the second round of the PBA Rookie Draft last Aug. 23, after getting picked 16th over all and will be playing his natural position as a shooting guard for Tim Cone, PBA’s winningest coach.

“Looking forward na maganda ang ilaro ko kasi mas natural na ang positionw college,” Mariano told the Varsitarian.

During his collegiate stint where he missed most of his first two years due to injuries, Mariano suited up as a small forward for the “small ball” style of play of the UST Growling Tigers which does not require a lot of height but leans on speed as the main point of attack.

The 6-foot-3 Mariano said that he can adjust well with Cone’s patented triangle offense citing that it was also used in former UST head coach Pido Jarencio’s system.

Mariano also said that he wants to prove that he "belongs in the league" and wishes for a "long and healthy career” while leaving the memory of the missed game-winning shot in game three of the UAAP Season 76 final behind which is “now a thing of the past.”

"Malaki ang natulong sa ‘kin ng UST, doon ko talaga na-develop ang character ko and how I matured as a player,"Mariano said.

In his last three years with the Growling Tigers, Mariano averaged 11.94 points on a 39.8 percent shooting, 6.76 rebounds and 1.96 assists.

Mariano