The Varsitarian P.Y. 2018-2019 Issue 04

Volume XC, No. 4 • November 28, 2018 THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSIT Y OF SANTO TOMAS Manila, Philippines

After SC ruling, profs urge UST officials

Address K-12 transition woes

By JOB ANTHONY R. MANAHAN and K.O. ORBIEN

UST FACULTY members have called on the University administration to address transition problems in the implementation of the K to 12 basic education reform after the Supreme Court (SC) affirmed its constitutionality.

The SC upheld the legality of the K to 12 in a ruling last Oct. 9, denying the consolidated petitions of teachers, schools and students that questioned its constitutionality.

Anne Mallari, a faculty member at the UST Senior High School, said the new educational system should be clarified as some courses in senior high school and in the tertiary level have overlapped. “[K to 12] is necessary, but [everything] should be improved. Now that they have made it constitutional, I hope they polish the [curriculum and facilities] and give opportunities to teachers who lost their jobs, especially from other schools,” she told the Varsitarian in an online interview.

The education scheme, which expanded the 10-year cycle in the Philippines by adding two extra years in high school, seeks to prepare high school graduates for college or work after completing basic education.

Philosophy professor Jove Jim Aguas said there are still “roadblocks” that have hindered the proper implementation of the educational scheme.

In some provinces, he said, school facilities and teachers were insufficient to accommodate the demands of K to 12.

“Kung ano mang layunin ng K to 12... dahil masyadong minadali [at] hindi masyado na-dissipate kung ano `yong mga problema, after two years... hindi niya na-meet iyong mismong objective,” he said in an interview.

K-12 PAGE 8

SOUL OF THE NATION. A woman joins a protest last Nov. 26 against the removal of Filipino and Panitikan subjects in college.

JOSE MIGUEL S. SUNGLAO

Pagtanggal sa Filipino, Panitikan sa kolehiyo, mariing tinutulan IGINIIT ng mga tagapagtaguyod ng wika na hindi na lamang laban ng mga nasa akademikong institusyon ang pagkontra sa pagtanggal ng wikang Filipino at Panitikan sa kolehiyo kundi ng buong Filipinas dahil nakasalalay rito ang kinabukasan ng identidad ng bawat Filipino.

Binigyang-diin ni Roberto Ampil, dating tagapangulo ng Departamento ng Filipino sa Unibersidad, na hindi maisasakatuparan ng mga mambabatas na ilatag sa kurikulum ng edukasiyon ang mga kursong makatutulong sa pagbuo ng identidad ng isang mag-aaral kung wala ang Filipino at Panitikan.

“Paano mo maipapakita ang identidad kung pinapatay mo ang o tinatanggal mo ang wika at panitikan? Paano mapapahalagahan ng mga bata kung ang mismong mga nakaupo sa gobyerno ang siyang nagtatanggal nito at nagbabalewala?” wika ni Ampil sa isang panayam sa Varsitarian.

Dagdag niya, sa kolehiyo tunay na napagaaralan ang katuturan ng wikang Filipino at Panitikan sa lipunan.

“Sa kolehiyo, ang pinag-uusapan natin ay pagdidiskurso at pagbubuo ng isang teorya.

Inilalatag natin at tinuturuan natin ang bata kung ano ang kamalayan na maibabahagi niya sa lipunan,” ani Ampil.

Binigyang-diin naman ni Virgilio Almario, Pambansang Alagad ng Sining sa Panitikan, na wala nang pag-asa ang susunod na henerasyon kung patuloy na ipagsasawalang-bahala ang wikang Filipino at Panitikan sa kolehiyo.

“Kailangan ding makita nila na hindi tayo sumusuko at lalo tayong nagagalit at tumatapang habang nasusugatan. Masyado nilang ginawang napaka-legalistic ang pagtanaw sa question ng paggamit sa Filipino bilang language of instructions,” dagdag pa ni Almario.

Ayon naman kay Alvin Ringgo Reyes, tagapangulo ng Departamento ng Filipino sa Unibersidad, maaapektuhan rin ng pagkawala ng Filipino at Panitikan ang iba pang sangay ng instruksyon.

“Mababansot ang pag-unlad ng Filipino sa iba’t ibang disiplina. Nasa kolehiyo ang tamang pagtalakay ng Filipino na nakatali sa antas teknikal. Kung magpapatuloy ito, magbubunga tayo ng henerasiyon ng mga Filipinong hindi kayang iangkop ang propesyon nila sa kontekstong Filipino,” wika ni Reyes.

Pinuna naman ni Rommel Rodriguez, Filipino PAGE 3

Bersamin, former UST law prof, is 25th Chief Justice Engineering senior

Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin receives the Gusi Peace Prize on Nov. 28 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay.

MARY JAZMIN D. TABUENA

NEWLY appointed Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin received the 2018 “Gusi Peace Prize” last Nov. 28 for his exemplary career in law.

Bersamin, a former professor at the Faculty of Civil Law, received the award for peace and justice at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay.

“This [award] validates my service in the judiciary for 32 years.

In that span of time I came to believe that a judge, after all, can be a factor of peace,” said Bersamin in his acceptance speech.

Bersamin was awarded the Gusi Peace Prize on the same day he was appointed as chief justice of the Philippines.

He has served for 32 years in the judiciary, the longest among the sitting justices.

UST Faculty of Civil Law

WHAT’S INSIDE UNIVERSITY

Facilities Management Office bares a plan for a drainage system construction to mitigate flooding in the campus.

Thomasians wear yellow shirts to support the Salinggawi Dance Troupe for the UAAP cheerdance competition.

DEEJAE S. DUMLAO

PAGE 2

MANILA TRAFFIC

Rise in sales of the car industry and poor traffic laws enforcement cited as factors worsening the traffic situation in Manila.

PAGE 8

Dean Nilo Divina commended the appointment of Bersamin as the 25th chief justice.

He said Bersamin’s appointment was “well-deserved” since Bersamin carried all the qualifications of a chief justice.

“He [makes] excellent decisions, even though he is not a graduate of UST, he is an embodiment of a Thomasian lawyer,” Divina told the Varsitarian in an interview.

Divina said he was confident Bersamin would be able to implement reforms, even if he has only a year to serve in the post.

Bersamin replaced Teresita de Castro, who served for less than two months, the shortest stint of a chief justice.

Bersamin bested four other

SYNOD ON YOUTH

Bishops define the important role of Catholic educational institutions in evangelizing the youth.

PAGE 7

Chief Justice PAGE 2

TIGERS

The Growling Tigers under Coach Aldin Ayo bow out of Final Four contention of the UAAP with an improved record compared with last year.

PAGE 12

in car mishap dead

ENGINEERING senior Marko de Guzman passed away a month after a vehicular accident involving a car from the Grab ridehailing application.

Marko died on Nov. 27, after the Grab car he was riding hit a scaffolding on Taft Avenue last Oct. 26. He was immediately brought to the intensive care unit of the Manila Doctors Hospital following the accident.

The driver, who had no major injuries, is facing charges of reckless imprudence resulting in physical injuries.

De Guzman’s mother, Luz, blamed the driver of her son’s Grab car for the accident, which punctured the brain and fractured the skull of the UST student.

“We need justice here… I’ve been receiving messages from strangers saying they lost their child sa Grab accidents pero wala raw [tulong] na binigay kahit financial help,” Luz told the Varsitarian.

Calls on social media circulated calling for donations to help pay the expenses of de Guzman’s hospital bills before the 20-yearold died.

In a statement last Nov. 23, Grab Public Affairs Head Leo Gonzales said the company has been in constant communication with Marko’s family since the accident.

“While the family has not accepted any of our offers, we are continuously reaching out to extend adequate support that would cover Marko’s [expenses,]” said Gonzales.

Luz, however, clarified that Grab did reach out to them but only offered to pay a small amount of Marko’s total hospital bill.

Luz expressed her gratitude to the Thomasian community for helping out with donations and support for the family. A.V. ORTEGA

2 News

Editor: Julia Claire L. Medina

NOVEMBER 28, 2018

UST flood drainage construction to begin

THE UST Facilities Management Office (FMO) has unveiled the design for a new drainage system inside the campus to mitigate flooding.

FMO Director Fr. Dexter Austria, O.P. said work on the flood control project would begin this November, and would be completed in 450 days or a year and a half.

The new drainage system will not guarantee a flood-free UST, but will lessen the chances of flooding inside the campus, he said. “[This project] would take some of the volume of the internal flood water [that we experience] kasi medyo maliit ang drainage ng campus… [Other companies] are constructing several buildings [outside the campus] already and the drainage capacity cannot accommodate every building, “ Austria told the Varsitarian in an interview.

The drainage system to be installed in front of the Roque Ruaño building will act as a water tank during rainy days to temporarily store rainwater, which will then be released to the main sewer of España Boulevard.

Builders resume construction work on the new UST building along Espana Boulevard at the break of dawn.

Construction zones The campus will be divided into seven construction zones.

The project’s construction areas will be Roque Ruaño and Araullo drive or Zone A. Tamayo and Arellano drives will be part of Zone B. Osmeña and Quezon drives

Bar examinees highest in recent years —SC THE UNIVERSITY welcomed 8,701 bar examinees from all over the country as it hosted the Bar Examinations for the eighth straight year.

In a statement, the Supreme Court said this was the highest number of Bar candidates in recent years. There were 7,290 examinees last year and 6,831 in 2016.

The UST Faculty of Civil Law sent 136 Bar candidates, 124 of which are first-time takers, Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina told the Varsitarian.

Personnel from the UST Security Office, Manila Police District (MPD), Philippine Coast Guard, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, National Bureau of Investigation, Metro Manila Development Authority and Supreme Court security were deployed to implement strict security measures within and outside the campus.

Captain Philipp Ines, public information chief of MPD Station 4, said some 400 policemen were deployed to the University to The oldest Bar taker, Ibarra Mariano, 87, is welcomed by the crowd during the annual Salubong.

MARY JAZMIN D. TABUENA

Thomasian alumni association honors ‘distinguished alumni’ THE UST Alumni Association, Inc. (USTAAI) gathered over 150 Thomasian alumni in a bid to sustain relations between them and the University last Nov. 16 at the Buenaventura G. Paredes, O.P. Building.

Tokens modelled after the University’s Arch of the Centuries were given to 63 alumni to honor them as “distinguished Thomasian alumni.”

The tokens, however, had a grammatically incorrect inscription, which read: “A Distinguished Thomasian Alumni,” instead of “Alumnus” or “Alumna.”

“That was an imperfection. We can always correct it. The motive for it is really coming from our heart, iyong pagbibigay noon… to recognize or to be joyful about the excellence of Thomasians [from] different walks of life,” USTAAI President Evelyn Songco told the Varsitarian.

Songco said she was open to replacing the tokens, which were handed out by Rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P., should the recipients call for it.

Awards of Excellence In a separate event, Thomasian alumni in business were recognized during the 2018 Thomasian Global Trade Expo (TGTE) held from Nov. 14-16 at the alumni center building.

TGTE, a joint project by the USTAAI, Thomasian Alumni Leaders Association (TALA) and the Office of Student Affairs (OSA), was an exhibit that featured business enterprises Alumni PAGE 5

Drainage PAGE 5

HAZEL GRACE S. POSADAS

Grade 11, IICS to move to new UST bldg next school year GRADE 11 of the UST Senior High School and the Institute of Information and Computing Sciences will move to a new building being constructed on España Boulevard next academic year.

Fr. Dexter Austria, O.P., director of the UST Facilities Management Office (FMO), said the building would house an estimated 7,000 Grade 11 students in 2019.

Only the ground floor, second floor and four to five classroom floors will be available by July of next year as the building’s completion is not expected until December of 2019 or early 2020, FMO Assistant Director Albert Surla said.

The Grade 12 students will be housed at the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building instead of holding their classes in the different college buildings.

UST Rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. said in an interview with the Varsitarian in 2017 that the building, which would cost Grade 11 PAGE 10

Bar Exams PAGE 10

Artlets prof Elena Medicine, eng’g, psych students dominate November licensure exams Roco dead at 91 SEVERAL Thomasians landed in the top 10 of the 2018 November licensure exams for physicians, engineering, pshycologist and psychometricians.

The University ranked second among the top-performing schools in the September 2018 licensure examinations for physicians, with three Thomasians landing in the top 10.

Ernest Matthew Paggabao led the newest batch of Thomasian physicians, grabbing the third spot with a score of 90.58 percent.

UST graduate Luisa Encarnacion secured the fifth spot with a score of 90.08 percent.

Thomasian Tristan Paolo Madrigal placed

seventh after scoring 89.92 percent.

The University’s passing rate rose to 98.71 percent, or 459 out of 465 examinees, from last year’s 97.10 percent or 468 out of 482 examinees.

The Cebu Institute of Medicine was the top-performing school anew after registering a 99.3-percent passing rate, or 149 out of 150 examinees.

The national passing rate stood at 81.84 percent, or 3,717 out of 4,542 examinees, down from last year’s 82.19 percent or 3,340 out of 4,064 examinees.

Thomasians PAGE 5

Usapang Uste

ELENA Roco, a former mathematics professor at the Faculty of Arts and Letters, died on Nov. 22 at the UST Hospital. She was 91.

Roco graduated from the University with a bachelor’s degree in science, major in mathematics and physics, on Nov. 15, 1966.

Roco taught in Artlets from July 1967 to March 1996.

“She was one of the pillars that built the Faculty of Arts and Letters. She was a person with a jovial personality, you could say she was the life of the party,” Artlets Asst. Dean Narcisa Tabirara told the Varsitarian.

Tabirara, who was a student of Roco, Artlets PAGE 10

Tungo sa Filipinisasiyon ng Unibersidad PROTESTA mula sa mga estudyante at mga propesor ang sumalubong sa dating administrasyon upang isakatuparan ang Filipinisasiyon ng Unibersidad.

Ang Filipinisasiyon ay paglilipat ng administrasyon ng mga institusiyon sa pamamahala ng mga Filipino.

Sa isyu ng Varsitarian noong 1970, binigyang-diin na marapat lamang na mga Filipinong Dominiko at dekano, hindi Espanyol, ang namumuno sa Unibersidad, lalo na sa Academic Senate. Ito ay upang lalong maintindihan matugunan ang pangangailangan ng mga mag-aaral.

Mungkahi ni Rodelo Ilagan sa kaniyang kolum, ang Filipinisayon ay pagpapamalas ng nasyonalismo. Dapat Filipino ang magtuturo at huhubog sa mga susunod na henerasyon. Dagdag pa ni Ilagan, ang mga mag-aaral na Filipino o Tomasino ang may tunay na kakayahang tumugon at umunawa sa problemang panlipunan gaya ng kahirapan at kawalan ng katarungan sa Filipinas.

Ayon naman sa mga grupong Kilusang Rebolusyonario ng Kabataang Pilipino at UST Nationalist Commission, nakasentro dapat sa pagiging Filipino ang dapat itinuturo sa Unibersidad.

Tomasino Siya Usapang Uste PAGE 5

Elena Roco

NOVEMBER 28, 2018

Filipino 3

Aguindalo at Bonifacio:

Nakabubulag na katotohanan KALIWA’T kanan ang mga pelikula na tumatalakay sa hidwaan ng mga bayaning Filipino na sina Andres Bonifacio at Emilio Aguinaldo, kaya giit ng mga historyador na kailangan ng matinding pananaliksik para sa pagsasadula ng katotohanan ng ating kasaysayan.

Noong 2012 at 2014, ipinalabas ang pelikulang “Supremo” at “Andres Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo.” Liban dito, marami pang bersiyon ang lumabas na nagpapakita ng iba’t ibang naratibo sa hidwaan sa pagitan nila.

Ayon sa tala ng kasaysayan, nagsimula ang away sa pagitan ng dalawa sa hindi pagkakaisang desisyon sa pamumuno ng rebolusyon at Katipunan. Bilang solusiyon, nagkaroon ng botohan noong ika-22 ng Marso taong 1897 na ngayo’y kilala bilang Tejeros Convention.

Nanaig si Bonifacio dahil sa iba’t ibang giyerang naipanalo nito kumpara kay Aguinaldo. Pero dahil sa Cavitismo, o matinding pagkiling sa probinsyang pinanggalingan, at di umano ay dayaan sa boto, si Aguinaldo ang umupo bilang pangulo ng Katipunan at naging kaunaunahang pangulo ng Filipinas.

Giit ng Tomasinong historyador na si Jose Victor Torres, mainam gamitin ang pelikula upang maintindihan ng kabataan ang kasaysayan ng bansa.

Filipino FROM PAGE 1

direktor ng Sentro ng Wikang Filipino sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Diliman, ang argumento ng Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) tungkol sa pag-uulit ng Filipino at Panitikan sa kolehiyo.

“Ni hindi niyo nga yata nakita ‘yong syllabus namin, kung anong kaibahan nito sa elementarya, hayskul at kolehiyo. Bigla na lang silang nagdecide na nauulit lang ‘yan na hindi totoo. Makipagdiyalogo kayo sa amin para makita niyo ang epekto ng ginagawa niyong mga polisiya mismo sa grassroots level,” wika ni Rodriguez sa isang panayam.

Ayon naman kay Joselito de los Reyes, tagapangulo ng Departamento ng Literatura sa Unibersidad: May mga karunungang tanging sa pagsusuri ng teksto sa larang ng panitikan at pagunawa sa komplikasyon ng wikang dulot ng pag-aaral ng wikang Filipino lamang makukuha.

“Hindi lamang sinusuri nito ang mga dakilang akda, tinutugis din nito ang dahilan ng kadakilaang iyon,” wika ni de los Reyes sa isang panayam.

Noong ika-9 ng Nobyembre tinanggal ng Korte Suprema ang temporary restraining order sa CHEd Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 20 Series of 2013 na nag-aalis ng 15 yunit ng kursong Filipino at 6 yunit ng kursong Panitikan sa core subjects sa kolehiyo.

Iba’t ibang organisasyon ang bumatikos sa pagtatanggal ng mga kurso tulad ng Departamento ng Literatura at Filipino ng Unibersidad.

Naghain naman ng motion for reconsideration ang Tanggol Wika, samahan ng mga guro, manunulat, magaaral, at mga tagapagtaguyod ng wika at kultura ng bansa, para sa CMO No. 20 noong ika-26 ng Nobyembre, kasabay ng protesta sa Plaza Salamanca.

Ayon kay Prop. Cheryl Peralta, vice rector for academic affairs, nagkaroon na ng konsultasyon sa mga dekano at kasalukuyan nang gumagawa ng academic policy na ihahain sa Academic Senate ng Unibersidad.

JOSELLE CZARINA S. DE LA CRUZ na may mga ulat mula kay FRANCIS AGAPITUS E. BRAGANZA, KARL BEN L. ARLEGUI AT GENIELYN ROSARIO M. SORIANO

“Dahil sa henerasyon natin ngayon na nagbibigay-halaga sa larawan at hindi masyado sa teksto, ang paggamit ng mga video o pelikula ay isang bagay na makapagbibigay o makapagpaparating ng mensahe na gustong ibigay ng mga guro ng kasaysayan,” sabi ni Torres.

Binalaan naman ng mga historyador ang mga manonood na maging mapanuri sa pelikula dahil sa “artistic license”—ang kalayaan ng mga direktor at manunulat na gawin ang kanilang ninanais sa isang obra.

Ayon sa tagapangulo ng Departamento ng Kasaysayan na si Agusto de Viana, bagaman nagpapaunlad ng kasaysayan ang pagpapakita ng iba’t ibang anggulo, hindi dapat ito tanggapin agad bilang katotohanan.

“Marami silang sinasabi na maraming historya pero marami ring historyador. Minsan ang hindi totoo ay bumabalot sa ‘ting mga historical themes. Dapat na hindi lang rin umasa sa sine ang mga manonood. Kung hindi sila nagbabasa, mas lalo yung mga historic documents,” diin ni de Viana sa panayam sa Varsitarian.

Dagdag ni Torres, dapat maging mapanuri ang mga manonood upang malaman kung ano ang totoo sa kasaysayan at hindi. Kung isa lamang itong obra ng fiction, mas mainam na intindihin na lamang ang mensahe

nito.

“Kailangan intindihin ng manononood o ng estudyante na ang pelikula na kanilang pinapanood ay isang fiction lamang na ang pinagbasehan ay ang kuwento ng buhay ng isang bayani. Hindi ito accurate or di kaya’y may artistic license ang director at scriptwriter sa paggawa ng kuwento,” sabi niya.

Noong ika-tatlo ng Marso, nagkaroon ng auction sa Leon

Gallery sa lungsod Makati, para sa mga sulat ni Bonifacio para kay Emilio Jacinto. Nilalaman ng mga sulat ang naganap sa Tejeros Convention, na, ayon kay Lisa Guerrero Nakpil, tagapangasiwa ng subasta, huling sulat bago mamatay si Bonifacio.

Kasamang inilabas ang orihinal na bandila ng Katipunan ni Bonifacio at mga sulat ng pambansang bayani na si Jose Rizal.

Thomasian authors honored in 37th National Book Awards

Thomasian writers Cristina Pantoja Hidalgoa and Chuckberry Pascual receive their trophies during the 37th National Book Awards on Nov. 24.

HAZEL GRACE S. POSADAS THOMASIAN authors Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo and Chuckberry Pascual were recognized in the awarding ceremony of the 37th National Book Awards last Nov. 24 at the National Museum of Fine Arts.

Hidalgo, director of the UST Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies, won Best Book of Essays in English for “The Thing With Feathers: My Book of Memories,” published by the UST Publishing House in 2017.

“I’m a professional writer so I’m always writing. [This award is] always deeply appreciated. I haven’t

won this National Book Award for many years now,” she told the Varsitarian, where she once served as editor in chief.

Pascual, coordinator of UST’s creative writing program, bagged the Best Book in Short Fiction in Filipino for his work “Ang Nawawala,” published by Visprint, Inc. in 2017. “[I]f you win an award for your work, that award is a by-product.

What’s important is to write, have it published, and share your work to as many people as possible,” Pascual said.

“I dedicate my work to all, but

since the protagonist of my story is of a gay detective, I would also dedicate it to the LGBT community,” he added.

Fictionist Sarge Lacuesta, an author from the UST Publishing House, also received the Best Book in Short Fiction in English for his book “Coral Cove and Other Stories,” published in 2017.

The National Book Awards, organized by the National Book Development Board and the Manila Critics Circle, recognizes books by outstanding writers and publishers in the Philippines every year. J. J. B.

Hamon ng mga historyador, makatutulong ang mga bagong diskubre na dokumento upang maging mas makatotohanan ang pagsasaliksik at pagsasapelikula sa kasaysayan ng hidwaan nina Bonifacio at Aguinaldo. V.A.P. ANGELES, M. U. COTONGAN, at FRANCIS AGAPITUS E. BRAGANZA na may ulat mula kay CHRIS V. GAMOSO

Chief Justice FROM PAGE 1

candidates including Civil Law alumnus and Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta.

Appointed to the court in 2009 by former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Bersamin voted in favor of the burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani and the extension of martial law in Mindanao.

He also voted to grant the quo warranto petition that ousted chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

The 69-year-old earned his political science degree from the University of the PhilippinesDiliman in 1968 and his law degree from the University of the East.

He placed ninth in the 1973 Bar examinations.

Bersamin taught at the Faculty of Civil Law from 2000 to 2009 and became a member of the pre-bar review faculty.

He served as a Quezon City Regional Trial Court judge from 1986 to 2003 and was promoted to the Court of Appeals.

Bersamin will retire on Oct. 19, 2019, when he will reach the mandatory retirement age of 70.

Among the other awardees of the Gusi Peace Prize was UST alumnus Gen. Antonio Tamayo who received the award for his advocacy in education.

Tamayo, in his acceptance speech, said the country should prioritize character-building as it would “provide [the young] with a better tomorrow.”

He graduated from the College of Commerce and Business Administration in 1968.

Other laureates of this year’s Gusi Peace Prize were from Argentina, Costa Rica, Australia, Ethiopia, Germany, India, the United States, Portugal, Pakistan, Turkey, South Africa and Poland.

The annual Gusi Peace Prize International Awards recognizes the efforts of individuals in promoting peace and respect for human life in the practice of their professions. A.K.V. ORTEGA, J.P.V. SAGUYOD with reports from J.C.W. UY

4 Opinion

OCTOBER 30, 2018

Editorial

Murder of Philippine languages, identity UST professors have recently called on administrators to retain Filipino and Panitikan subjects in the UST curriculum in college.

This comes after the Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) to make the subjects offered optionally in the tertiary level.

It is a shame that the very institutions that should be leading the cause for the improvement of education in this country have commodified it, thanks to the faulty implementation of the K-12 and of the outcomes-based curriculum.

This decision will surely and effectively kill the soul of this nation–our own language and literature, as well as our Constitution which have been made optional too in college.

No less than CHEd will have blood on its hands for raising students who are only trained in the technical courses but not in their own own culture and language. It should not cost us the further weakening of the appreciation and understanding of our own language and literature for the sake of producing globally competitive--that is, capitalist-driven-graduates.

It comes as no surprise, therefore, how generations of Filipinos are forgetful and even ignorant of their own history because it is the very people in power that allow the rotten system to prevail.

Neighboring countries in the Asian region have always put their own culture, history and language as priorities, as these make students understand their identity. It is no wonder how Filipinos allow themselves to submit to powerful countries such as Beijing and Washington–it is because they have no sense of being what it is to become a Filipino.

Further, this decision will put to danger the employment of thousands of Filipino and Panitikan professors, as if they have not been affected enough by the onset of the K-12.

UST’s professors from the Filipino and Literature departments have been quick to denounce this decision, and they were right in doing so.

The preservation of our language and literature, after all, falls not only on the shoulders of the University but of its academe and students as well. Both should see to it that the objectives of these classes are realized, that the Filipino language and Panitikan are indeed enriched, and not only taught or understood for the sake of compliance.

Editorial PAGE 5

FOUNDED JANUARY 16, 1928 CHRISTIAN DE LANO M. DEIPARINE Editor in Chief KLIMIER NICOLE B. ADRIANO Managing Editor LEXANNE O. GARCIA Associate Editor JULIA CLAIRE L. MEDINA News Editor MA. ANGELICA D. GARCIA Sports Editor ARIANNE AINE D. SUAREZ Special Reports LOUISE CLAIRE H. CRUZ Features Editor ELMER B. COLDORA Literary Editor LYON RICARDO III M. LOPEZ Circle Editor MICHAEL ANGELO M. REYES Chief Photographer News Kevin A. Alabaso, Sherwin Dane Zauro C. Haro, Marem A. de Jemel Sports Ivan Ruiz L. Suing, Theresa Clare K. Tañas, Justin Robert Valencia Special Reports Lady Cherbette Agot, Job Anthony R. Manahan Literary Karl Ben L. Arlegui, Hailord N. Lavarias Filipino Francis Agapitus E. Braganza, Joselle Czarina S. de la Cruz, Chris V. Gamoso Witness Eugene Dominic V. Aboy, O.P., Pearl Anne M. Gumapos Science and Technology Miguel Alejandro IV A. Herrera, Beatriz Avegayle S. Timbang Circle Katrina Isabel C. Gonzales Art Nikko A. Arbilo, Marie Kloi D. Ledesma, Nathanael Jonas S.J. Rodrigo, Jury P. Salaya, Rica Mae V. Soriente Photography Deejae S. Dumlao, Hazel Grace S. Posadas, Enrico Miguel S. Silverio, Jose Miguel J. Sunglao, Mark Darius M. Sulit, Genielyn Rosario M. Soriano, Mary Jazmin D. Tabuena Editorial Assistant Jose Miguel S. del Rosario FELIPE F. SALVOSA II Assistant Publications Adviser JOSELITO B. ZULUETA Publications Adviser

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

UST’s watchdogs in a muzzle

THE CAMPUS press in the University seemed to have been on the decline with only a few college papers staying true to their mandate of being the watchdog of their respective institutions.

Most would opt to release their issues with stories limited to those that can be likened to press releases, or running stories on accreditations, licensure exam results, seminars or literary pieces. Cringe-worthy as it is, some would even confuse college papers as media arm of student councils.

But where is reporting on critical issues hounding their colleges?

Our failures to ask the tough questions and give a voice to the voiceless is a clear disservice to the Thomasian readers. It is shameful to even use the title “student publication” when papers are clearly not doing their duties.

College editors must learn to stand up to their right to publish, and to do so independently. School administrators have to realize as well that student papers are not under their authority when

The campus press should take a look if it is doing its job of raising the discourse among its readers and enabling them to think critically through the stories it produces. it comes to publishing stories.

The Campus Journalism Act of 1991 guarantees them of this right, that the State shall “uphold and protect the freedom of the press even at the campus level.”

Through this law, the campus press bears the mandate of “strengthening ethical values, encouraging critical and creative thinking and developing moral character and personal discipline of the Filipino youth.”

Running stories on all things praises including pageants while keeping mum on the true pressing matters

of their college certainly do not foster critical thinking, nor does it develop moral character. Worse, it enables the ills of their respective institutions to prevail.

It is a humiliating blow to the noble cause of journalism–to serve the truth, whose first loyalty is where it lies, which may sometimes be a bitter pill to swallow.

Thomas Aquinas would be ashamed to find out that an institution named after him does not live up to what he once said: that “It is better to illuminate than merely to shine, to deliver to others contemplated truths than

merely to contemplate.”

This problem can be observed as well in student papers outside UST. Only a few would dare speak truth to their administrations and they understand journalism as mere covering of events.

Perhaps media organizations would do better than not only to push for the advancement of the rights of the campus press and tackle societal and national issues. It would be good for them as well to usher in the improvement of the quality of their members’ outputs and to see if they are indeed serving the impartial and balanced truth to their readers.

In the previous years, we have always decried the seeming apathy and lack of participation among Thomasians on issues at hand. We have either denied or blamed it to many factors. But perhaps the campus press in this institution should take a look if it is doing its job of raising the discourse among its readers and enabling them to think critically through the stories it produces.

Or alas, should the watchdogs remain in muzzle?

Waving the red flag on the third telco

ONLINE freedom along with Internet access was declared by the United Nations as a right that must be upheld and protected.

The international body explained that Internet access is an extension of the right to freedom of expression, as it has become a medium of communication today.

But it’s a long way to go for the Philippines in its fight for a decent Internet connection that comes with a reasonable price. Counted among countries in the Asia Pacific with the slowest Internet connection, it has undeniably become a major frustration for Filipinos who use the Internet for personal, academic and business matters.

Recently, the bid for a third telecommunications provider was won by Mislatel, a consortium owned by Davao business tycoon and supporter of President Duterte, Dennis Uy. The entry of the third Chinese-related telco was perceived to break the “duopoly” of PLDT-Smart and Globe Telecom, that would force them to lower costs as well as improve the quality of connection for faster Internet. But having China and Internet in one

The state should be reminded of its duty in delivering and protecting this, not in conniving with China for cyber-surveillance activities. sentence is quite unsettling.

China Telecom partnered with Mislatel Corporation to get around the constitutional provision that 60 percent of local firms should be owned

by Filipinos to do business in the country. The telcom is owned and controlled by the Chinese government.

Beijing, to whom Duterte has shown great favor, is known to have the most advanced cyber-surveillance practices such as contentfiltering which prohibits access to Google, Facebook and other foreign sites. Using the internet provided by a telco company closely linked to the world’s most advanced surveillance state is clearly a red flag.

Amid the issues on how Mislatel won the bidding while the two others were disqualified, critics posited

that it seemed like a road was paved for China to enter the Philippine cyberspace. We cannot discredit the fact that China is outright claiming our territories in the West Philippine Sea. So, will having a Chinese-related telco really not impinge on national security?

The 2017 Freedom on the Net report showed that only Philippines is “mostly free” among Southeast Asian countries due to limited censorship.

However, the report also noted that Philippines had high proliferation of “opinion shapers” of the government.

Although Philippine media is mostly free compared with its Southeast Asian counterparts, it has yet to combat the threats of fake news and internet trolls. How can it now do this when it

allowed a Chinese-dominated telco provide its internet?

Internet service providers, such as Globe Telecom and PLDT-Smart, blame the lack of information communications technology (ICT) infrastructure, which hinder them from improving the speed and quality of their internet connection.

The importance of quality Internet connection not only vital as one’s right but also to the Philippine economy.

For instance, poor connection affects the business process outsourcing industry that is heavily reliant on the internet to perform transactions.

However, this is hampered by the lack of ICT infrastructure, Chinese threat on national security and proliferation of “opinionshapers” of the government.

Undoubtedly, it is an unfair game that both telcos and consumers play for Internet access in this country. Quality Internet access and connection is a right.

The state should be reminded of its duty in delivering and protecting this, not in conniving with China for cyber-surveillance activities.

But alas, as many of our rights often disregarded in this administration, do we expect this government to deliver?

OCTOBER 30, 2018

Wishy-washy CSC to doom Students’ Code?

AFTER 19 long years of lobbying for the Students’ Code, student leaders finally showed progress last October amid what seemed like a neverending process.

Apparently, the code would be presented to the Council of Regents in midNovember. But until now, a meeting has yet to transpire.

Disappointing as it might seem, there was nothing new about this instance. It was among the long line of broken promises about the long-delayed code which would emphasize the rights and responsibilities of every Thomasian.

Many aspiring student leaders have used the same advocacy every election season—the Students’ Code would be passed during their term. Different strategies have also been presented. Some said they would railroad the code in the Congress or talk to the Rector themselves.

Ideas have been pitched, but the same problems continue to impede the code’s passage. It is baffling how after

Drainage FROM PAGE 2

will form Zones C and D, respectively. Half of the Leon Ma. Guerrero drive and a portion of Ceferino Gonzales drive will form Zone E. The rest of Gonzales drive and the Plaza Intramuros drive will form Zone F, while the other half of the Leon Ma. Guerrero drive will be Zone G. Zone A will be the first to

Alumni FROM PAGE 2

led by successful Thomasians.

Awards of Excellence in Corporate Leadership were presented to Thomasians Alice Lumanog, vice president of Mercury Drug, Inc., Chito Maniago, director for corporate commerce of Cemex Holdings Philippines, Inc., Michael Angelo Malicsi, chief human resource officer of Chef Tony’s Snack Foods Philippines, Inc. and Lito Villanueva, managing director of Fintqnologies Corp.

Among the Thomasians who received Awards of Excellence in Entrepreneurship were Bien Enrico Ah, director of Liberty Foodmart, Jerenato

Usapang Uste FROM PAGE 2

Sa loob ng higit 10 na taon, nagbigay ng trauma intervention si Padre Edgardo de Jesus sa mga Pilipinong biktima ng trahedya sa Maguindanao, North Cotabato at Kidapawan.

Sa ganitong paraan niya ginamit ang tinapos niyang doktorado sa guidance and counseling sa UST Graduate School noong 2008.

Nagkamit din siya ng diploma sa eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy sa American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress noong 2014.

Mula 2008, naging miyembro siya ng Philippine Guidance Counselors Association, American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress at nagsilbi bilang kasangguni ng UST Psychotrauma Clinic.

Pinangunahan rin si de

While this shows that the appointed student leaders have not entirely forgotten about the code, it has also turned into a futile routine.

14 years, still no set of officers could find a solution to the same problems.

Turning over the unfinished revisions to the next set of leaders has become a cause of delay in the previous Central Student Council (CSC) administrations. The lack of paper trail, according to past leaders, was the reason the code became stagnant. But after holding up the process for years, problems like this should no longer be present today.

One setback they have encountered, according to former Central Board speaker Jonathan Santos, was the difficulty in finding time to

meet amid their busy schedules.

They were still students with academic requirements after all, he told the Varsitarian. But this only sounded like a lazy excuse.

Gunning for a position in the student council meant knowing the responsibilities it would entail, including putting the student body’s needs above anything else.

Now, it seems as if all the political will be displayed at the beginning has been reduced into a petty excuse, and the Students’ Code into a political tool to be discarded as soon as these socalled leaders attained their coveted seats.

Four months in the academic year and the CSC

be affected by construction activities, lasting 120 days.

Zones B, C and D will each be placed under construction for 120 days.

Construction at Zone E will take 90 days to finish and Zone F and G will each need 75 days.

The time frame of construction in the zones will overlap with each other.

safety measures would be in place during the duration of the construction.

Austria said eight-foot boards would be installed around the trenches. Blinkers will also be placed to prevent cars from crashing into the trenches. There will be security personnel to manage traffic in affected areas.

“The original time of construction would be during Safety measures 9 p.m. until 6 a.m. and Austria assured minor works will be done in University officials in a the morning [during class meeting last Nov. 14 that hours]. This is to prevent Alfante, president and CEO of Macrowiring Technologies, Clarence Aytona, chairman of Skynet Travel Corp., John Paul Pe, president of Archipelago Builders, Maureen Pickering, owner of Pickering Marine Group and Rommel Sytin, president of Foton Philippines. “[These] alumni leaders, they’re a very good inspiration for the students and to other alumni as well, especially if they’re already very successful in the projects and work they’ve been doing,” TALA chairwoman and TGTE founder Angie Tuazon told the Varsitarian.

Proceeds of TGTE will benefit the Order of Preachers and the Autism Society of the Philippines. SHERWIN DANE ZAURO C. HARO Jesus ang pagtatayo ng St. Bernadette Parochial Mission School noong 2008 at Escuela de Santo Padre Pio noong 2012, sa lungsod Bulacan.

Ginawaran siya ng The Thomasian Outstanding Alumni Awards ngayong taon sa kategorya na Community Service. FRANCIS AGAPITUS E. BRAGANZA Tomasalitaan Balátbat (png) – malapit nang matapos Hal.: Ilang buwan na lamang at balátbat na ng semestre; nawa’y makamit ng mga esudyante ang kanilang mithiin upang maging maligaya ang kanilang pasko!

Mga Sanggunian: A History of the University of Santo Tomas Vol. II The Outstanding Thomasian Alumni Awards 2018 UP Diksiyonaryong Filipino

Thomasians FROM PAGE 2

Eng’g board exams Two Thomasians landed on the ninth spot in the November 2018 licensure examinations for civil engineers.

Jinno Edison Enriquez and Wilson Kristoffer Ricarte led the fresh batch of Thomasian civil engineers, after both recorded identical scores of 94.30 percent.

Enriquez and Ricarte shared the ninth spot with Ma. Patricia Leriezz Corpuz of the University of the PhilippinesDiliman and John Ivan Gapud of the University of San Carlos.

The University was hailed as the sixth top-performing school with an 81.04-percent passing rate, or 171 out of 211 examinees. This year’s passing rate was lower than last year’s 86.88 percent or 192 out of 221 examinees.

Jaydee Lucero of the University of the PhilippinesDiliman led the newest batch of civil engineers, posting a score of 97.20 percent.

The University of the Philippines-Los Baños was named the top-performing school after registering a 98.63-percent passing rate, with only one out of 73 examinees failing to make the cut.

The national passing rate declined to 45.09 percent, or 6,262 out of 13,887 examinees, from last year’s 48.81 percent, or 6,075 out of 12,447 examinees.

Psychometrician The University was named the second top-performing school anew in the October 2018 licensure exams for psychometricians, while 11 Thomasians landed in the top 10.

Lenard Alain Espiritu led the new batch of Thomasian psychometricians, notching the fifth spot with a score of 81.40

finally released a resolution saying the code would go through another review and this time, local student council presidents would reassess each section of the code.

The resolution also reiterates the formation of a Students’ Rights and Welfare (Straw) Coalition which would advocate the rights and welfare of the student body, specifically during a week-long effort to present the code to the students. This has happened almost every year since the inception of the STRAW week.

While this shows that the appointed student leaders have not entirely forgotten about the code, it has also turned into a futile routine.

At this point, CSC officers should have already detected a pattern to the revisions needed in the charter they are pushing for. Maybe the problems that should be addressed lie in its content.

Fourteen years of revisions have been dragging enough to raise the question: Is the passage of Students’ Code hopeless? the disruption of classes and reduce the chances of accidents,” Austria added.

In an earlier interview, UST Rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. said the planned drainage system went through a lot of research.

“It has been a long, long, long delayed project of the University. We have been discussing that for the past two years but there were several modifications… not only in terms of cost but also in terms of workability,” Dagohoy said.

KEVIN A. ALABASO percent.

Thomasians Angelica Mula Adia and Samantha Camille Saguin were tied in the seventh spot with a score of 81 percent, while Justine Danielle Reyes and Cirila Lecar Sahagun took the eighth spot with an 80.80-percent score.

Renz Gabriel Evangelista and Jon Darrell Nogot secured the ninth place, with a score of 80.60 percent.

Arielle Nicole Agustin, Louise Isabelle Dumaguing, Rolinda Josine Mercado and Cyrene Pangilinan clinched the 10th spot, after scoring 80.40 percent.

The University’s passing rate slipped to 88.02 percent, or 169 out of 192 examinees, from last year’s 96.53 percent, or 139 out of 144 examinees.

Ateneo de Manila University was this year’s topperforming school, posting a passing rate of 91.38 percent, or 53 out of 58 examinees.

The national passing rate was 47.73 percent, or 4,035 out of 8,453 examinees, down from last year’s 56.97 percent, or 4,957 out of 8,701 examinees.

Psychology Thomasian Angelie Charmaine notched the top spot in the October 2018 psychologist licensure exams, with a score of 86.85 percent.

Floyd Batongbakal grabbed the fifth spot, after posting an 84.75-percent score.

Ateneo de Manila University was named the sole top-performing school in this year’s board exams for psychologists after registering a 95.45-percent passing rate.

The national passing rate for psychologists rose to 67.02 percent, or 127 out of 189 examinees, from last year’s 64.86 percent, or 96 passers out of 146 examinees. KEVIN ALABASO AND SHERWIN DANE ZAURO C. HARO

Opinion 5

Abusive cops, embarrassment to PNP

IN A SINGLE week erring officers of the Philippine National Police, who bear the motto “To serve and protect,” hogged the headlines as cases of sexual harassments committed by them were reported.

Disturbingly, a Sampaloc Police Officer (PO) 1 Eduardo Valencia allegedly raped a 15-year-old girl in exchange for the freedom of her parents facing drug charges. What was more disturbing about this was when the rogue cop validated his wrongdoing when publicly confronted by Director Guillermo Eleazar of National Capital Region Police Office.

Valencia, who is now facing criminal and administrative charges, explained that “palit-puri” (sex for freedom) scheme, or the dropping of charges in exchange of sexual favors from the suspect or a relative, was a “kalakaran” or standard practice

The need to improve the quality of education, training, discipline and leadership in PNP is a way of closely monitoring any tendencies toward these abusive conducts. among policemen.

Valencia’s video being berated by Eleazar showed his distorted thinking of what his duties are. “I’m a kind police officer. I’m an operative [who] has apprehended many drug pushers.” Did he think that his “good records” would be an excuse to absolve him of rape-extortion? How would a police officer of good records attain to rape a minor who was just desperate to free her parents from prison?

This nightmarish crime by Valencia was followed by another case of two policemen from Quezon City Police District. PO1 Severiano Montalban III asked a 22-yearold woman, who was charged for illegal gambling, to have sex with him in exchange of her freedom. The woman was then allegedly passed on to another police officer, PO1 Jayson Portuguez, who forced her to do sexual acts inside a police patrol vehicle. Montalban III and Portuguez now face complaints for violating Republic Act 8353 or the Anti Rape Law of 1997.

These abuse reports are just recent cases to the continuous perturbing incidents that involved policemen who are blatantly disregarding the due process of law and the human rights, particularly of women and children.

PNP’s housecleaning must be sustained by weeding rogue cops out in their ranks and concluding these wrongdoings with punishments based on the gravity of their offenses. The need to improve the quality of education, training, discipline and leadership in PNP is a way of closely monitoring any tendencies toward these abusive conducts. Keeping the public safe should be instilled in the mind of every law enforcer.

High-ranking PNP officers’ resorting to public humiliation by rebuking the rogue cops on national television, like what Eleazar did to Valencia, somehow served a warning to other police officers.

On the bright side, these disgusting wrongdoings by police officers were immediately apprehended by PNP officials. No time is lost in prosecuting them. Without the need of waiting for the determination of guilt, responsible police officers acted on making sure that these immoral cops faced the consequences they deserve.

These sordid cases of sexual abuses from those who are supposedly acting as law enforcers should be given more attention by the government. Police officers must always be reminded that they are part of the institution that sworn to serve and protect the Filipinos—and not be the violators of the law.

Patuloy na itanghal at ipagdiwang ang panitikang Tomasino!

Ang ika-34 Gawad Ustetika ay tumatanggap na ng mga lahok na akda mula sa kategoryang: Tula, Poetry, Katha, Fiction, Sanaysay, Essay, at Dulang May Isang Yugto/OneAct Play.

Bukas ang timpalak sa lahat ng mag-aaral ng kolehiyo sa Unibersidad ng Santo Tomas sa akademikong taong 2018-2019.

Ilakip sa isang brown envelope ang mga sumusunod: apat na kopya ng akda at isang orihinal na kopya (Time New Roman, size 12, double-spaced), kopya ng akdang nakalagay sa isang CD (MS Word at PDF format), natapos na application form, kopya ng registration form ng kalahok at certification of originality na nilagdaan ng dalawang propesor sa Ingles o Filipino.

Tatanggap ang Varsitarian ng mga lahok na akda mula Ika-5 ng Nobyembre, Lunes hanggang Ika-26 ng Enero, 2019, Sabado.

Para sa mga katanungan at iba pang detalye, tawagan sina Alyssa Gonzales (0949 670 7485) at Francis Braganza (0939 193 0391), o ang tanggapan ng Varsitarian sa 4061611 loc. 8235.

6 Features

Editor: Louise Claire H. Cruz

NOVEMBER 28, 2018

Zero-waste lifestyle through metal straws

BY LOUISE CLAIRE H. CRUZ

EXCESS Christmas presents for family and friends have inspired Fides Gimenez to advocate a zero-waste lifestyle.

Last Christmas, she decided to sell the surplus of metal straws she had and saw the demand for the product.

This led Gimenez, an applied mathematics graduate, to establish Go Zero, an online business which sells metal straws as a way to spread awareness on one of the most pressing environmental issues like plastic pollution.

“Adopting a zero-waste lifestyle takes a lot of work and perseverance and our products serve as tools in helping zero-wasters work towards this goal,” she told the Varsitarian.

Before establishing her business in 2017, Gimenez taught mathematics and basic accounting in a private high school.

She decided to quit her day job to invest on Go Zero’s potential.

“I just wanted to sell the remaining straws that I had left from Christmas, [but later I] decided to quit my job and handle Go Zero full time since I felt that I was missing out on opportunities for the company,” she said.

Go Zero started with selling metal straws – bent, straight and milk tea straws – which are sourced from China.

Every purchase comes with a Tikog pouch, an eco-friendly sack made from Tikog grass harvested by Leyte farmers and handmade by local weavers.

Fides Jimenez

Gimenez said they did not target a specific market and fairly priced their products to reach people from all ages and backgrounds.

She added that the millennials are the most responsive and supportive of their advocacy of promoting a zero-waste lifestyle.

Travelling to different places led Gimenez to start a zero-waste advocacy.

She realized that the initiative should start from her before she could influence other people to do the same.

“Seeing beautiful places [get] ruined by pollution made me feel disappointed and I [felt the need] to do something about it,” she said.

Gimenez admitted that establishing Go Zero was difficult since she had to consider whether it was worth it to give up a day job and whether it was sustainable for the company to have such a low-product margin for the products. But she affirmed that the risk she took for the company made a difference.

“If you find that it’s difficult, then good. It should be difficult and the hard work that will lead you to success is what will set you apart from others,” she said.

Gimenez later wants to launch more environment-friendly products in Go Zero and inspire people to be more mindful of their consumer choices.

UST aids foreign students in their second home LANGUAGE and culture are the main identities that set a country unique but these also pose as problems to foreigners in a new environment.

Foreign students enrolled in UST are no exception.

Ronghua Cao, a Chinese journalism sophomore who has stayed in the Philippines for over a year, admitted he is having a hard time communicating with his classmates because he learned the English language at a later age.

“I cannot use the Filipino language to talk with them and try to understand what they are saying and my English isn’t that good as well,” Cao told the Varsitarian.

To aid its foreign students, UST’s Department of Filipino offers a special Filipino curriculum aimed at addressing issues concerning language barriers and learning the Filipino language easier and faster.

Alvin Reyes, chairman of the UST Department of Filipino, said this program which started in the early 2000s, is designed to help foreign students understand the language easily by giving them a curriculum that is different from a regular Filipino class.

“[The curriculum serves as an] effective scaffold in communicating [using] the national language [through the] rich practical activities and cultural immersion,” he said.

The special course is headed

by Assoc. Prof. Arthur Casanova, who has taught foreign students l from Brent School of Manila and has been a visiting professor at the University of WisconsinMadison.

The course is optional for foreign students and the Office of the Registrar assists them in dropping their regular Filipino classes and enrolling in the alternative course that the school offers. Currently, there are 39 students enrolled in the special Filipino class.

“We study very simple sentences and do activities like role playing and practic[ing] our vocabulary. I want to learn English and Filipino so I think this class makes us familiar with the language,” Cao said.

Ronto Katsura, a Japanese commerce senior who is also enrolled in the special class, said the course helped him understand lessons in other subjects.

“Since it’s easier than the regular class, we could learn without the stress,” he said.

Thomasian education and culture The history, culture and traditions that UST has are also some of the factors that brought in foreign students like education senior Kim Dong Min. “Unlike Korean universities, UST celebrates Christmas on a large scale and [that] impressed me a lot,” he said.

Korean communication arts senior Park Joo Yeon added that being the Catholic university of the Philippines, UST has impressive traditions and celebrations which are also his reasons to enroll in the University.

“I am actually proud of UST [because] it is the most traditional school in Asia, [and since] it is a Catholic school, all of our lessons and seminars are related to religious morals and I learn a lot from it,” she said.

Thomasian athlete and Cameroonian Steve Akomo, in contrast to other foreign students, was recruited by a University representative he met in Cebu

who gave him an opportunity to experience the best of both worlds of acquiring quality education in UST at the same time doing what he loves which is basketball. “[I] got a chance to be able to study in one of the oldest universities in Asia [and] this is a big opportunity for me because I have the chance to [acquire] high education from skilled professors,” he said.

Second home UST International Students Association (ISA), a sociocultural organization that promotes amity and unity of diverse culture within UST, offers activities that will help all students to further understand the Philippine culture.

“I spoke to a member of mine, he said that it is difficult because they need to understand and learn what they’re going through and that’s where [we] come into play, to help them adjust gradually and have someone they can relate to,” ISA President Stewen Jain said.

Jain said that the programs and activities offered by the University like the International Food Fair, Cultural Night and

Ask Me About my Country, to all the international students through the ISA made them feel like they are in a faraway home where they can still practice their cultural traditions.

“Our activities are centered on [familiarizing] the Philippines but at the same time, we have an activity where we are able to [share] a piece of our culture to [other] Thomasians,” he said.

In the University, Park has experienced celebrating both the Korean and the Philippine culture as she became vice president of a university-wide Korean organization in her sophomore year.

The Office of the Registrar recorded a total of 371 foreign students enrolled this academic year, majority of which are from Asian countries.

The Graduate School houses the majority of foreign students, accommodating a total of 57, followed by the Faculty of Sacred Theology and College of Commerce and Business Administration with 50 and 42 foreign students. A.C.A. GONZALES AND KATRINA ISABEL C. GONZALES

The Coconut Palace (left) and the San Miguel Building (right). GRABBED FROM MANOSA.COM Ronghua Cao

Ronto Katsura

Steve Akomo

Stewen Jain

Editor: Michael Angelo M. Reyes

NOVEMBER 28, 2018

Lenspeak 7

8 Special Reports

Address K-12 transition woes, UST urged

NOVEMBER 28, 2018

Manila traffic 3rd worst in Southeast Asia—survey

FROM PAGE 1

The Department of Political Science’s Ronald Castillo, however, said the new curriculum would help the University achieve “internationalization,” which would benefit Thomasians who are hoping to work or study abroad. “[Subjects] have been more streamlined to become more competitive. Part of the goal of university life is internationalization, here [in UST] we have exchange programs… what if the things being taught here are not internationally creditable?” he said.

SC’s ruling also lifted the temporary restraining order on the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) memorandum order that removed 15 units of Filipino and Literature subjects from the core subjects of the tertiary level.

Castillo warned that the removal of Filipino and the Philippine Governance and Constitution as subjects in the tertiary level might result in the loss of education’s nationalistic aspect.

The CHEd memorandum should have been consulted with various stakeholders in the education sector, said SHS faculty member Zen Taguibao.

She added that the educational agenda has been tainted with politics, which “depress initiatives for the common good.”

Displacement of teachers anew Lawyer Danielito Jimenez, president of the Faculty of Arts and Letters’ faculty association, said he fears that the exclusion of some subjects in college could lead to more displacement of teachers.

Rene Luis Tadle of the Council of Teachers and Staff of Colleges and Universities of the Philippines (Cotescup) echoed Jimenez’s sentiments, saying the decision to exclude some subjects was alarming.

“It may result in displacement of college teachers teaching these courses,” Tadle, a former vice president of the UST Faculty Union, told the Varsitarian.

In a budget hearing in 2016, CHEd revealed that 3,229 faculty members in college were displaced during the first year of the program’s implementation.

However, the high court reasoned that the teachers’ right to security of tenure is already “set in stone” in the labor and civil laws.

‘Still not ready for K to 12’ Jimenez said SC’s decision was more of a political than a legal choice since the SHS component of the program already commenced in

“After four years of implementation, we now know that all our warnings came true.

Lack of facilities, textbooks, teacher’s training and dire effects on students’ learning haunt K to 12 implementation up to now.”

-Rene Tadle Lead convenor, Cotescup

2016.

In its decision, the SC said it was only concerned with the legalities of K to 12 and it could not question its “desirability, wisdom or utility,” as this should be left to the Congress.

Jimenez added that the question that should be addressed instead was whether the program was ready to be ushered in the country or not.

“It seems there is a common concern that not all institutions are ready. In any event, this may be expected since the program is on its infancy stage,” he said.

Tadle maintained that the country is not yet ready for K to 12. Cotescup, where he is the lead convener, was among the first groups that questioned the constitutionality of K to 12 before the SC. “After four years of implementation, we now know that all our warnings came true. Lack of facilities, textbooks, teacher’s training and dire effects on students’ learning haunt K to 12 implementation up to now,” he said in an online interview.

Lawyer Joseph Noel Estrada, legal counsel of the Catholic Education Association of the Philippines, lauded the SC decision. He said 1.2 million student beneficiaries would be assisted by the government through the Senior High School Voucher Program.

“This landmark decision of the high court provides a wealth of discussions particularly on academic freedom, reasonable regulation and substantive and procedural due process,” he said.

In a statement, the Department of Education said the SC ruling would help the country attain its basic education objectives and social development goals.

“Even more important, our educational system must continuously respond to the increasing development requirements of our country,” the statement read.

A 2017 survey found traffic in the Metro Manila as the 3rd worst among Southeast Asian countries.

MICHAEL ANGELO M. REYES TRAFFIC jams continue to hound Metro Manila despite strict policies in place due to the booming automotive industry in the Philippines and poor enforcement of traffic laws.

Global firm Boston Consulting Group found in a 2017 survey that Metro Manila has the third worst traffic situation in Southeast Asia.

Aside from spending 66 minutes on the road due to traffic jams, drivers also consume an average of 24 minutes daily to search for a parking space. The results also revealed that 84 percent of Metro Manila residents plan to purchase a car in the next five years.

Automotive sales contributed to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth rates that reached 6.8 percent in 2012 and 7.2 percent in 2013, the highest GDP growth rates in Asia. In 2014, the Philippines’s GDP growth rate reached 6.1 percent.

Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau chief Benjamin Feliciano said improving the situation requires disciplined enforcers as he admitted that the enforcement of traffic laws in Manila has not been effective.

He added that Manila City Mayor Joseph Estrada’s order was to remove vendors occupying the roads. Despite this, vendors and cars remain on the sidewalks, as is the case near the Quiapo Church.

“Syempre kung may illegal vendors diyan, `yung tao doon sa kalsada dadaan.

Lahat `yan [ay] obstruction. Kasi kung walang obstruction, walang traffic. Illegal parking, lahat `yan obstruction sa kalsada,” Feliciano told the Varsitarian in an interview.

He added that unregulated car ownership causes heavy traffic in the city as the narrow roads cannot accommodate the overwhelming number of cars.

“Ilang libong sasakyan `yung binibili ng tao… Hindi naman puwedeng pigilan ng gobyerno iyan, economical e. Ibig sabihin lumalaki na ang ating economy, `yung traffic hindi na natin natutuunan ng pansin,” he said.

Ruth Equipaje, chairwoman of nongovernment organization International Network for Traditional Building Architecture and Urbanism, said the volume of cars in Manila alone could be caused by several car owners in a single family. The Manila streets, she added, were historically not made for many vehicles.

“If you backtrack… During that time of smaller cars, we had the kalesa, ‘di ba? And so we have not preempted this, I can say that our streets were not planned to be holding this magnitude of vehicles and people,” she said.

Outdated urban plan Equipaje said the “outdated” urban plan

of Manila should be updated as it contributes to the city’s traffic woes.

“It lacks updating, if I’m not mistaken it was in the 1980s, 1990s pa talaga. And the new plans, we do not really have a comprehensive approach of plans,” she said.

Because Manila is a complex city, officials from neighboring cities should meet to be able to update the city’s urban plan.

The government should also address the problem of sidewalk selling, illegal parking and undisciplined drivers.

“The change is not just adopting a plan but changing how we want to address this traffic situation. We’re not taking it seriously, `yun `yung problem,” she said.

She added that the lack of “walkable” paths in Manila compels people to use private vehicles instead of walking, which further clogs the city’s already congested roads.

Feliciano said there should be “disciplined” traffic enforcers who would implement the laws consistently.

“Kailangan meron kang disiplinadong [empleyado] kasi ang sitwasiyon nagbabago, `di ba? Kaya [nagiging] situational din ang traffic,” Feliciano said.

Traffic officials, for instance, should always be rotated to prevent corruption.

Traffic PAGE 10

NOVEMBER 28, 2018

Witness 9

Synod defines evangelizing role of Catholic schools THE SYNOD Fathers of the recently concluded Synod on Youth stressed the irreplaceable role of Catholic academic institutions in evangelizing the youth.

For Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian, one of the Philippines’s delegates to the synod, Catholic schools should guide them in discerning their vocation through “speaking the language of the youth.”.

“We should not water down the doctrines [but] the Church should speak in the language that the youth will understand. [This is] more on the presentation, how do we present them, package them, in a way that they will really enjoy,” he said.

Jaucian, who is also the chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY), said Catholic institutions should not just provide information

but use education to promote respect for human life.

“It should be an education of love for life, not for profit or to form

Oldest boys’choir in PH hones members in spirituality, study TIPLES de Santo Domingo, the oldest boys’ choir in the Philippines, does not just serenade devotees during La Naval festivities but also hones its members in spirituality and study.

Bro. Glen Mar Gamboa, O.P. said the formation of Tiples members include Christian formation, recollection and weekly catechism sessions.

“Kailangan mong kilalanin sila, yung background, ‘yung pinagdadaanan ng bata at ‘yung family niya. ‘Yung sense of belongingess nandun.

Nakakikita sila dito ng sense of commitment and sacrifice [a]t yun din nagbibigay sa kanila ng direksyon,” Gamboa said.

Irineo Hernandez III, who joined Tiples in 1993 and is currently the choir’s organist, said joining the Tiples helped him develop his ability to work and serve others.

“Your service is still there. To the boys at present, I am able to share to them that the practices are important, their studies are important, but especially their service to people,” he said.

Dr. Eugene de Los Santos, the Tiples choirmaster, said joining the boys’ choir gave him an edge in pursuing his career as a professional musician.

“Getting into music as a career was easy for me kasi the

students just to earn profit, but a real formation of the whole person, integral formation of the whole person according to the will of God,” he told the Varsitarian.

Recalling his synod experience, Jaucian said he encountered youth who have stood by their faith amid persecutions and violence such as bomb attacks.

“They hold on to their faith. What they need are not mere teachers but witnesses. Life witnessing is powerful than just mere telling them about teachings and doctrine,” he said.

Echoing Jaucian, UST Secretary General Fr. Jesus Miranda Jr., O.P. said the best way of teaching is through living as an example to the youth.

“No amount of instruction, no amount of orientation [will surpass being an example]. That’s why when you want [to attract] people, there’s no amount of teaching that can really convert people. It’s how you live your life that should be seen,” he said.

Miranda said the University strives to evangelize the Thomasian community through education.

“You are being evangelized in the context of your fields like sciences and [others] where you see your calling. You should always be imbued with these evangelizing values,” he said in an interview.

For instance, he cited the University’s recent move to revise the curriculum of the Institute of Religion to embed Thomistic philosophy and theology in its courses.

Starting this academic year, the Institute moved two subjects, with three units each, to the UST Senior High School and added a new threeunit course to the college curriculum.

Allan Basas, a professor from the Institute of Religion, said the new curriculum integrated faith and context in the light of the Gospel.

The new theology courses also included community development activities in partnership with the Center for Campus Ministry and USTSimbahayan, during recollections in the first and second years.

Youth channels mission of the Church Fr. Jeffrey Aytona, O.P., national adviser of the Dominican Network (Domnet) Youth Group, said the Church must be in dialogue with young people to know their personal needs and concerns.

“Dialogue happens when youth ministers journey with the young.

Of course, we recognize the help that modern communication and technology can do, but nothing can replace a personalized interaction with them,” he said.

Youth groups “channel the energy of the youth for life and mission of the Church,” Aytona added.

Religious youth organizations in the University echoed this, stressing that doctrines should be taught in an interesting manner like through music, youth camps, conferences and outreach programs.

For Xavier Macader, UST Youth For Christ president, personalized interaction is an effective strategy for the Church to listen to the youth’s concerns and experiences.

“We are living in a generation where everything is available and accessible, which is why we are prone to distractions and temptations. They should be one with the youth. Hear their concerns, their pains, their struggles,” he said.

Clarisse Enriquez of UST Campus Feast emphasized that the Church should use faith to guide the youth in discovering and understanding themselves.

The Synod, with the theme “Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment,” was held Synod PAGE 10

‘Christianophobia’ in PH condemned Thomasians urged to defend Catholic faith

Manila Auxillary Bishop Broderick Pabillo leads the Communion during a Mass for persecuted Christians at the Santisimo Rosario Parish.

HAZEL GRACE S. POSADAS

The Tiples Santo Domingo choir rehearse for their concert on Dec. 7.

MARK DARIUS M. SULIT

foundation was laid already. We were taught to read notes and may alam na kami sa theories of music,” he said.

Fr. Roland Mactal, O.P., former prior of the Santo Domingo Convent, stressed that deepening spirituality and intensified training would help Tiples de Santo Domingo make its own name.

“Ang vision ko sa kanila is [for them] to deepen their spirituality.

Once ma-prioritize ang kanilang singing, spirituality and studies, that’s the time we can bring back the ‘glory that was,’” he said.

Recalling their rigorous training in the 1970s, Mactal said Tiples allowed him to imbibe a discipline and independence in his current work as a friar.

“Nakatulong yung training, kasi independent kami from

the family. May regularity of schedule, daily practice and study period,” he said.

At present, Tiples de Santo Domingo conducts training and serves in masses thrice a week.

Tiples members who study at UST Angelicum receive scholarships.

Mactal said the priority is given to boys from financially challenged families in the surrounding communities of the Santo Domingo Convent.

The oldest boys’ choir in the country will have a concert titled “Papuri: The Tiples de Santo Domingo Christmas Concert” on Dec. 7 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay. Proceeds of the concert will go to the Tiples’ educational assistance and projects of the foundation. EUGENE DOMINIC V. ABOY, O.P.

THE THOMASIAN community was urged to defend the Catholic faith amid persecutions in the country, as the University participated in the “Red Wednesday” campaign to honor persecuted Christians worldwide.

Manila Auxillary Bishop Broderick Pabillo called on the faithful to preach against the violence sometimes caused by the government.

“It’s a risk to be a Christian. [O]

ne way of bearing witness now is to defend the faith dito sa Pilipinas.

[H]abang may nagsasabi na hindi mahalaga ang santo, bakit hindi tayo mag-defend,” he said during the Red Wednesday Mass at the Santisimo Rosario Parish Church.

Filipinos should draw inspiration from persecuted Christians who practice their faith despite risks in their lives, the bishop said.

“To go to church is to risk one’s life and yet, nagsisimba pa rin sila.

Kaya let us value our faith. As long as we can observe our own faith, let us do so kasi others are risking their lives,” he said.

Marawi siege survivor Fr. Teresito “Chito” Suganob reminded Thomasians to empathize with those deprived of religious freedom.

“Magbigay-tanaw sa mga persecuted Christians. At sa mga hindi persecuted tulad ninyo, tulad natin, ano ang maitutulong Christianophobia PAGE 10

Tagle’s message on World Day of the Poor: Listening needed to foster common humanity MANILA Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle stressed that listening is key to seeing humanity among men in the Mass for the World Day of the Poor at the Santisimo Parish Church last Nov. 17.

Tagle said listening to the poor’s stories would make one understand that men’s struggles are the same.

“Isang kinakatakot natin ay pag nakinig tayo sa iba, matutuklasan natin ang ating sarili. Ang mga

bagay na itinatanggi natin sa sarili natin, kapag nakinig ka, babagsak ‘yan. Natatakot tayong makinig dahil baka bumulaga sa atin ang tunay nating pagkatao,” he said in his homily.

Helping the poor begins with respecting their dignity, Tagle said.

“Kapag ipinagdiriwang ang World Day of the Poor [sana ay may] pagbabalik-loob, pagbabagong-isip at matanggal ang yabang na nagpapanggap na

kami’y mas mataas at nasa amin ang solusyon para sa buhay ng mga dukha,” he said.

A program, organized by the Archdiocese of Manila, was held at the UST Seminary Gym. Fr. Luke Moortgat tackled the economy and poverty reduction.

His talk was followed by a theatrical presentation titled, “Panaghoy ng Dukha” by Tanghalang Balic Balic. P.A.M. GUMAPOS

10 Limelight

NOVEMBER 28, 2018

BUHAY BILLY YATO BY MARI KLOIE D. LEDESMA

ADVENTURES WITH TIMMY B BY RICA MAE V. SORIENTE

CACA BY JURY P. SALAYA

Christianophobia FROM PAGE 7

natin,” Suganob said during the Red Wednesday forum at the Benavides Auditorium.

Following his near-death experience, Suganob said his 23 years of working on interreligious dialogue taught him how to forgive.

“We pray the Our Father. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sinned against us. Kaya as a Christian, [you] have to do the way of Jesus. Kaya kahit masakit...I have to transcend even if the wound is still there,” he said.

An exhibit titled “Where God Weeps” was mounted at the lobby of the Main Building. It featured artifacts from Iraq, Marawi, and Syria damaged by the Islamic State.

Fr. Pablo Tiong O.P., vice rector for religious affairs, said the celebration of Red Wednesday was a concrete symbol of the University’s support for persecuted Christians.

“Red Wednesday for UST is a very concrete way of being able to join our persecuted Christians in prayer. It’s a means for us to gather together and celebrate the liturgy in order to pray for our brothers and sisters,” Tiong said.

The Main Building, the Santisimo Rosario Parish and the Arch of the Centuries were lit in red while Thomasians were encouraged to wear red in support of the campaign.

Red Wednesday is a prayer campaign of Aid to the Church in Need, a pontifical foundation providing support and raising awareness for persecuted Christians around the world. PEARL ANNE M. GUMAPOS and J.C. UY

Tigresses FROM PAGE 12

for UST next season,” Ong told.

As their season drew to a close, the tactician said the Tigresses will continue training to keep their bodies in tiptop shape.

She added that spitfire guards Steph Villapando, Eka Soriano and Hazel Panti are expected to suit up for UST next year to stabilize the team’s offense and backcourt rotation.

The Tigresses will see action again in the La Liga Filipina tournament in January next year. THERESA CLARE K. TAÑAS and JUSTIN ROBERT VALENCIA

Artlets

Editorial

Synod

FROM PAGE 7

FROM PAGE 2

UST’s academic affairs chief Cheryl Peralta said UST was in consultation with deans on the matter.

The UST administration should remember that the conservation of Philippine languages was a legacy of its alumni, notably Manuel Quezon and Norberto Romualdez Sr. It is home to many National Artists for Literature, and was even chosen as the home of the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino’s Sentro ng Salin.

It would spell out a total disgrace and ignominy should this institution drop Philippine language subjects in the UST curriculum.

As the country’s oldest university, UST has always been witness to history.

UST has seen the decay in cultural and historical institutions and it has always been at the front line of advocating for their preservation. Therefore, UST should uphold Philippine languages because it is in speech that culture and civilization is reflected and embodied.

last Oct. 3 to 28 at the Vatican to aid the Church in accompanying young people to discover their vocation.

The other Filipino delegates were Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon, Legazpi Bishop Joel Baylon, Fr. Renato de Guzman of the Don Bosco Educational Center, Fr. Emmanuel Enrico Ayo of the Diocese of Parañaque, Solomon Islands Bishop Pedro Baquero and youth representative Nicole Anne Perez from the Archdiocese of Manila.

The Catholic Church in the Philippines has declared 2019 as the Year of the Youth, as part of the nine-year preparation for the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the country in 2021. LEXANNE O. GARCIA, EUGENE DOMINIC V. ABOY, O.P. AND PEARL ANNE GUMAPOS

said the professor was loved by her students despite mathematics being the “waterloo of Artlets,” because she knew the balance of being “terror” and a “prankster.”

Asst. Prof. Josephine Placido, chairwoman of the Department of Sociology, remembered Roco as a “very strict” professor when she was still her student, and a motherly colleague when they were both members of the faculty.

“With my highest regard to Ma’am Elena Roco, I would say that it was a job well-done, because she was able to pass on the legacy of interest in math, making the social sciences students like Math,” Placido told the Varsitarian. J.P.V. SAGUYOD and N.J.N. SERVALLOS.

Traffic

Bar Exams

Salinggawi

FROM PAGE 4

FROM PAGE 7

‘Ineffective’ mass transport systems Engineer Albert Surla, assistant director at the UST Facilities and Management Office, said the government should exert more effort in improving the country’s mass transport system to solve the traffic congestion in Manila. “[Some] countries have an effective public transportation. Well… [madi-discourage] ka dito, if you take the public transport, ang worry mo ay safety mo,” he said.

Equipaje said if the public would have a pleasant commuting experience, decongestion of the roads would follow suit.

“It’s the role of the government to provide other options of commuting that are comfortable,” she said.

The government is also opening its doors to installing cable cars in the metropolis as the Department of Transportation launched a P27 million-study last Nov. 14 on the feasibility of cable cars in Metro Manila.

Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade said there was no single answer to the heavy Metro Manila traffic, but installing cable cars could be among the “basket of solutions.”

“Admittedly, not one system can solve the situation of transportation and traffic in the Philippines. Not a cable system alone can solve the problems; it has got to be a basket of solutions, procedures and systems. And one of those baskets is certainly cable,” he said. LADY CHERBETTE N.

AGOT and JOB ANTHONY R. MANAHAN

FROM PAGE 2

FROM PAGE 12

ensure peace and order during the examinations.

UST Security Chief Joseph Badinas said several security measures were implemented to prevent any disruption of the examinations.

A liquor ban was observed around the campus and a ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages was enforced between 4 a.m. and 8 p.m. during the four Sundays of November.

Deputy Clerk of Court and Bar Confidant Ma. Cristina Layusa and the office of Associate Justice Marvic Leonen were in charge of the Bar exams.

The examinations, all essay questions, covered political law, labor law, civil law, taxation, mercantile law, criminal law, remedial law and legal and judicial ethics.

Last year, UST was named the third top-performing school in the 2017 Bar examinations, with three Thomasians landing in the top 10.

Former Varsitarian editor in chief Lorenzo Luigi Gayya, placed sixth with a score of 89.10 percent.

The University’s passing rate for first-time takers was 89.89 percent, or 89 out of 99 first-time examinees.

UST’s overall passing rate last year was 81.36 percent, or 96 out of 118 examinees.

The national passing rate in 2017 was 25.55 percent or 1,724 out of 6,750 takers. KEVIN A. ALABASO

Salinggawi registered 346 in dance, 78.5 in tumbling, 73 in stunts, 59 in tosses and 72 in the pyramids while Adamson had a spread of 334, 73.5, 86, 69 and 78, respectively.

But UST accumulated a 10-point deduction in which could have been a 648 total points for third place.

Adamson, meanwhile, only had a twopoint deduction.

“Nasayangan lang talaga ako kasi the difference was so little and (the deduction) was because of very avoidable errors naman,” he said.

While he was disappointed with the squad’s gymnastics routine which cost them six points, Chaiwalla commended the team’s improvement in the pyramid category after placing fourth with no deductions. “(They) touched the floor kasi and that is not allowed so deduction ‘yon sa part namin pero our pyramids were solid,” he said.

But despite falling short, the second-year tactician lauded his wards.

“I’m still really happy with their performance, they still did well and what happened served as a reminder for us that we really still have a lot to improve on,” he said.

He added that Salinggawi’s podium absence this season just fuelled its hunger to bounce back next year.

Salinggawi is the winningest team in UAAP cheerdance history with eight titles alongside UP. IVAN RUIZ L. SUING

Grade 11 FROM PAGE 2

an estimated P2 billion, would be built in preparation for the normalization of college freshmen enrollment by 2021. “[W]e are planning that by 2019, Grades 11 and 12 should transfer to that building because we are going back to [the normal] number of enrollees by 2021. They (SHS students) won’t have space here inside the University,” he said.

UST’s plan to construct a private footbridge to connect the new building to the Quadricentennial Pavilion however, was stopped by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). “[It] was the requirement of the DPWH kasi dadaan [‘yong overpass] sa public road. So [kailangan] may stairs siya pababa ng España [that is accessible to the public,” Surla said.

The second floor of the new building will temporarily be a multi-purpose floor until the security measures for both sides of the footbridge are finalized.

The design for the footbridge will still undergo a few revisions and a contractor has yet to be assigned to the project, Austria said.

The building will also host 150 “smart” classrooms for the Senior High School students.

“Smart classrooms ang tawag kasi ‘yung tables nila, they can place them together. [Students] can talk or collaborate as a group but they can also be individualized,” he said.

Architectural design The 23-storey building will have 10 classroom floors with 15 classrooms each, administration office floors, two parking levels, two library floors, one floor dedicated for both computer and science laboratories, and one whole floor for a cafeteria.

Half of the building’s two topmost floors will be a two-level gymnasium and the other half will be a two-level auditorium.

Upon completion, UST’s new building will surpass De La Salle University’s Brother Andrew Gonzalez Hall as the tallest educational building in the country.

The former will have 23 floors while the latter stands at 21 floors.

The University acquired the lot, where the Isabel Building once stood, from Time Realty in 2015.

KEVIN A. ALABASO

Editor: Ma. Angelica D. Garcia

Sports 11

NOVEMBER 28, 2018

Junior Tiger Jins reign anew THE UST Junior Tiger Jins swept the UAAP Season 81 taekwondo tournament en route to their second-straight championship at the Blue Eagle Gym last Nov. 6.

The Junior Tiger Jins finished the tournament with a 5-0 win-loss record.

The University of the East and the Nazareth School of National University placed second and third, respectively.

“Well-rounded ang players namin and they can fight a long game, they can fight an inside game, mayroon pang punching game,” UST head coach Gershon Bautista told the Varsitarian.

UST’s Dominic Maquiling (finweight) and Marco Rubio (flyweight) bagged gold, with the former also winning the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.

Junior Tiger Jins Ethan Galvez (lightweight), Angelo David (heavyweight) and Israel Cantos (heavyweight) copped silver while Dave Labaton (featherweight) and Chiecko Cajulis (flyweight) struck bronze.

Their male and female senior counterparts, however, finished second, both losing to the National University (NU).

The Tiger Jins finished the tournament atop the standings alongside NU with a 5-1 slate but settled for silver due to the winner-over-theother rule.

NU’s Joseph Chua pummeled UST’s Arjay Zapanta in the fourth match, 30-10, to take home their second men’s championship.

In women’s play, the Lady Jins lost to the Lady Bulldogs in their virtual championship match, 2-5, to bag their third consecutive title.

With UST leading the Lady Bulldogs, 2-1, NU won the next four games to seal the victory.

“We were ahead after the third match against NU pero ‘yong players nila after the

third match, puro veterans at national team players na so that was a factor,” Lady Jins head coach Jasmin Simpao said.

Despite the silver finish, the tactician said both teams overachieved this season.

Last year, the Tiger Jins clinched bronze while the Lady Jins placed fourth.

“We fell short but this is a good stepping stone for us kasi unti-unti na kaming nakabalik sa podium but we’ll definitely work harder to get the championship next season,” she added.

In the individual category, Jamaica de Guzman (finweight), Zay Cajes (bantamweight) and Reign Charm Ragutana (welterweight) notched silver while Colleen Heria (flyweight), Laila Delo (middleweight), Gabrielle Limjoco (featherweight) and Allysa Asegurado (lightweight) notched bronze medals for the Lady Jins.

Juan Miguel Ramos (lightweight) captured gold while Salvador Marcos (finweight), Isaiah Lorbes (welterweight) and Aries Capispisan (middleweight) pocketed bronze for the Tiger Jins.

UST will miss the services of Tiger Jins Lorbes, Ramos, Capispisan and Joshua Ramirez with Lady Jins de Guzman, Ragutana, Cajes and Heria, who all exhausted their playing years.

For their Season 82 campaign, the Tiger Jins will get reinforcements from the juniors’ team as Season 80 boys’ taekwondo finals MVP Cantos is expected to move up the seniors’ team with silver medalists Galvez and David.

The Lady Jins will also get recruits from the 2019 Palarong Pambansa in Davao to bolster UST’s roster next season.

The Tiger and Lady Jins remained the winningest team in UAAP with 14 and 10 titles, respectively.

Lady Fencers secure podium finish in UAAP THE UST Lady Fencers landed at second place while the Male Fencers slipped to fifth in the UAAP Season 81 fencing tournament at the Victoria Sports Complex in Quezon City last Nov. 22 to 25.

The Lady Fencers bagged silver with a 2-1-2 goldsilver-bronze medal haul while the Male Fencers went home empty-handed for fifth place in the standings, a far cry from their silver-finish last year.

Ateneo de Manila University ended the University of the East’s 11-year dynasty in the women’s division after harvesting three gold and three bronze medals. UE placed third behind a 1-3-3 haul.

The UST women’s epee team of Andrea Bernal, Pauline Bernate, Mira Dorimon and Marielle Peralta snatched gold after beating UE’s Mickyle Bustos, Janica Escalambre, Rizelle Gonzales and Liezel Lopez in the finals, 45-40.

Lady Fencer Dorimon sealed the win after her counter attack resulted in a double touché on Bustos’ chess with 45 ticks left.

The foil team of Jezelle Camahalan, Cherie Mañago, Fhaym Sarrondo and team captain Precious Sampungan absorbed a 31-45 beating from UE’s Carla Arreza, Nicole Cortey, Elvielyn Javinar and Mary Lonzaga in the finals for silver.

“Sinabihan ko na sila na ‘wag mawalan ng pag-asa.

Kumapit lang sila at maglaro nang maayos pero kinapos lang talaga,” UST epee coach Arman Bernal told the Varsitarian.

In men’s play, Male Fencers Fritz Azarcon, Mark Echavez, Dennis Gascon and Elijah Rebusquillo failed to reach the semifinals of the foil category after losing to De La Salle University’s Nathan Co, Darylle Lumahan, Keith Medina and Jose Mercado, 31-45.

“We have no one against the other teams’ national players, wala kaming panlaban doon kaya somehow expected na namin ‘tong scenario na ‘to,” Bernal said.

UE extended its reign to seven-straight years in the men’s division with a 5-3-0 medal tally while La Salle settled for silver behind a 1-1-3 haul. Ateneo snagged bronze with one silver and five bronze medals.

In the juniors’ action, UST’s junior fencing teams landed second place overall next to UE. UST will miss the services of Gascon, Bernal and Mañago after exhausting their respective playing years.

IVAN RUIZ L. SUING

The Lady Fencers collect five gold medals in the UAAP last Nov. 22 to 25.

GENIELYN ROSARIO M. SORIANO

Dethroned The Tiger Jins surrendered their UAAP poomsae crown to rival De La Salle University last Nov. 6.

La Salle reclaimed the crown they lost last year after securing three gold medals and one silver while UST had one gold and three silver medals.

The University of the Philippines finished third with a 1-1-2 goldsilver-bronze medal tally.

“I was not expecting much from the team because wala na ‘yong mga veterans namin pero they all exceeded my expectations,” UST poomsae head coach Rani Ortega said.

The Tiger Jins lone gold medal came from the triumvirate of Adrian Meynard Ang, Jerel Anthony Dalida and Miguel Baladad in the team category of the men’s division after recording 8.26 points.

Ang then bagged silver in the individual male category with an 8.15-point performance but Jaeb Viterbo failed to reach the podium in the individual women’s division and slid to fifth.

The UST trio of Viterbo, Erin Salceda and Nasstassja Limos captured silver in the women’s team category with 8.13 points.

The tandem of Dalida and Cyrinne Abenir also salvaged second place in the mixed pair division behind 8.20 points.

UST remained the winningest team in the UAAP with five championships since the tournament began in 2011. JUSTIN ROBERT

Adrian Meynard Ang

VALENCIA

Junior Tigersharks settle for silver

The Junior Tigersharks settle for twin silvers in the UAAP Season 81 swimming tournament last Nov. 8 to 11.

MARY JAZMIN D. TABUENA

THE UST Junior Male Tigersharks lost their title while the Junior Female Tigersharks settled for second place anew in the UAAP Season 81 swimming tournament at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex last Nov. 8 to 11.

The boys’ squad garnered a total of 338 points with a 4-10-8 gold-silverbronze medal tally while girls’ team had a 9-4-3 medal haul for 319 points.

De La Salle University took the overall championship in the boys’ and girls’ divisions with 409.5 and 398 points, respectively.

UST’s Shiloh Bandeling, Orlando Reyes, Sam Braga and Angelo de la Cruz set a new UAAP record with a 8:24.86 output in the boys’ 800-meter freestyle relay to take the gold on the first day of competitions.

Season 81 girls’ Most Valuable Player Camille Buico topped her previous career-high after clocking 1:03.91 in the 100-meter butterfly for the UAAP record.

Junior Female Tigersharks Kyla Managuelod, Anna Articona, Jade Guevrra and Alexandra Bonite also beat UST’s previous record in the

400-meter freestyle relay after a 4:16.64 output on the first day.

Bonite, Articona, Sofia Canlas and Julianne Javier then broke the record in the 200-meter freestyle relay after recording 1:54.47.

In the seniors’ division, the Male Tigersharks capped the tournament at third place with one silver and three bronze medals, while their female counterparts settled for fourth with three bronze medals.

Christian Anor captured the Male Tigersharks’ lone silver medal in the 100-meter backstroke on the last day of the competition. He also grabbed bronze in the 200-meter freestyle event.

Male Tigersharks Kevin Datum, Jay Cabulit, Terence Buico and Renz Gawidan clocked 1:51.52 in the 200-meter medley relay to cop bronze on the first day.

Jux Keaton Solita, Remart Cuaton, Lyndon Herrera and Reynaldo Cullentas also finished third after clinching 8:17.75 in the 800-meter freestyle relay.

“The team fought hard and mas maganda ang performance nila ngayon

kumpara sa previous season kasi mas maraming nakapasok sa finals ngayon pero hindi dapat maging complacent sa ganoon lang, dapat next time, madala nila ‘yong momentum hanggang dulo,” UST head coach Cyrus Alcantara said.

In women’s play, Female Tigersharks Clinyl Chuateco, Christian Vallejos, Angelica Samelo and Isabelle Gubat nabbed bronze in the 800-meter freestyle relay after registering 9:58.27.

Mariel Sorolla notched the team’s second bronze after clocking 10:15.55 in the 800-meter freestyle event.

Chuateco, Vallejos, Samelo and Kathleen Parana grabbed another bronze in the 400-meter freestyle relay event on the second day of the competition.

Powerhouse Ateneo de Manila University reigned anew in both divisions with 530 and 475 points in the women’s and men’s divisions, respectively.

UST still has the most number of UAAP swimming championships with 32 and 30 titles in the women’s and men’s divisions, respectively.

THERESA CLARE K. TAÑAS

Sports Growling Tigresses settle for third place again THE UST Growling Tigresses failed to advance to the finals anew after surrendering to the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws, 6668, in the UAAP Season 81 women’s basketball tournament stepladder semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Nov. 28.

The Tigresses ended the tournament at third place for the second-straight year.

UST had a chance to force overtime but team captain Tin Capilit’s off-balanced shot fell short as FEU’s Clare Castro secured the rebound to seal the win.

“Despite the result, we overachieved this season because we are a rebuilding team and we still made it to third place,” Tigresses head coach Haydee Ong said.

Trailing 45-58 in the payoff period, UST detonated a 12-1 run, highlighted by Most Valuable Player (MVP) Grace Irebu’s triple, to cut the deficit to a point with 4:02 left.

Up by just a point, 31-30, the Lady Tamaraws used a 22-13 third quarter, with 18 points coming from Castro, to create separation heading into the final frame, 53-43.

FEU outrebounded UST, 54-37.

Castro led the Lady Tamaraws with 32 points, 15 rebounds and two blocks while Fatima Quiapo chalked up 12 markers.

Irebu had 28 points, 13 boards, four steals and three blocks for the Tigresses.

UST will miss the services of Capilit, Sai Larosa and Cla Aujero next season after exhausting their playing years.

Bright future While she was disappointed with the team’s early exit, Ong said rookie MVP Irebu made a big difference in the Tigresses’ Season 81 campaign.

“Grace brought us here in the podium, it is because of her kung bakit kami umabot sa Final Four. Hopefully, for the years to come, she would help us get to the finals kasi ‘yon naman ang target namin,” she said.

The 6’3” rookie tallied 18.5 points, 13.9 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game, enough for her to earn the UAAP top individual award.

Irebu primarily helped UST in anchoring the paint en route to a league-leading 57.7 rebounds per game, a big improvement from last season’s 45.1 boards for fourth place.

The Tigresses also placed second in paint p o i n t s , averaging 44.4 markers, compared to last year’s 32.4 points.

B u t aside from Irebu, UST forward T a n t o y Ferrer also had a stellar debut after averaging 7.2 points, 10 rebounds and two steals per game. She was hailed as this season’s Rookie of the Year.

“Next year, they (Grace and Tantoy) will not be rookies anymore kaya I expect more from them. This is a continuous rebuilding process, there is a brighter future Tigresses PAGE 10

NOVEMBER 28, 2018

AYO: WE HAD A GOOD SEASON

Tigers end season with an improved 5-9 win-loss record

Coach Aldin Ayo talks to his team during the Tigers’ game vs.the National University last Oct. 21.

THE UST Growling Tigers missed the UAAP Final Four for the third-straight year, finishing the tournament at sixth place with a 5-9 winloss record.

The new-look Tigers, under head coach Aldin Ayo, capped their UAAP Season 81 campaign in poor fashion after absorbing a 40-point beating from defending champion Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, 62102, at the Mall of Asia Arena last Nov. 14.

“We had a good season pa rin naman kasi dito nasubok ‘yong chemistry namin ng team and alam namin sa sarili naming nag-compete kami,” Tigers team captain Marvin Lee told the Varsitarian.

The Blue Eagles took control early with a 28-5 run.

William Navarro’s threepoint play midway through the third frame gave Ateneo its biggest lead at 44, 81-37.

The Eagles made 21 assists while the Tigers only had six.

Ateneo also took advantage of UST’s 25 turnovers, scoring 30 easy points.

Angelo Kouame chalked up 22 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks while Navarro chipped in 17 markers on a perfect 7-for-7 shooting clip for the Eagles.

Subido had 18 points for the Tigers while Tobi Agustin and Joshua Marcos added 15 and 13 markers, respectively.

Embons Bonleon went scoreless in his final game for UST. Four-game slide The Tigers were still in the running for a Final Four berth midway through the season with a 5-5 card, but a four-game skid late in the tournament proved pivotal in their campaign.

After the Ti mgers’ 79-68 win against the University of the East last Oct. 28, they have lost the next four against the De La Salle University, Adamson University, University of the Philippines (UP) and Ateneo, respectively.

The loss to Adamson reduced the Tigers’ chances to a playoff for the fourth spot at most.

One of the Tigers’ primary troubles this season was taking care of the basketball. They averaged a league-worst 17.1 turnovers per game.

UST also ranked dead last in assists and steals with just 12.9 and 3.4 per game, respectively.

The Tigers were also cellar dwellers in field goal percentage, hitting just 34.7 percent of their shot attempts.

The lack of big men took a heavy toll on the UST’s performance this year as it hit rock bottom in paint points, registering only 22.3 points per game (ppg).

MICHAEL ANGELO M. REYES

“Minsan ang big man na namin ay si Joshua Marcos, 5’11” lang ‘yon, although nagagawa pa rin naman niya ‘yong rules namin sa defense but kulang pa rin talaga,” Ayo said.

Cameroonian center Steve Akomo only played in the Tigers’ first four outings after suffering a head injury while rookie sensation CJ Cansino, who averaged 12.8 ppg and 10.3 rebounds per game, went down with an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his left knee during UST’s penultimate game of the season against UP last Nov. 10.

But despite the early exit, the multi-titled coach lauded his wards.

“It was a good season for the team in our first year. Madami kaming na-gain dito and good experience ito for the rookies,” Ayo said.

He added that the team will already begin preparations for Season 82 in December to furnish mishaps on the court. “’Yon kasi ang hindi namin nagawa nitong season, ang makapag-ensayo nang matagal at kumpleto kaya we’re going to start early ngayon,” he said.

The tactician also said former La Salle guard Brent Paraiso and former Mapua University forward Sherwin Conception are expected to suit up for the Tigers next year.

Tiger Cub Mark Nonoy is also expected to bolster UST’s roster next season. JUSTIN ROBERT VALENCIA

Sai Larosa

Half-point gap sends Salinggawi out of podium

Salinggawi’s Beyonce-inspired performance fails to secure the team a podium finish in this year’s UAAP cheerdance competition last Nov. 17.

MARY JAZMIN D. TABUENA

DESPITE what head coach Mark Chaiwalla described as a “close-toperfect run,” the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe settled for fourth place in this year’s UAAP cheerdance competition.

The Beyonce-inspired routine of Salinggawi, which bagged silver last season, scored 638 points, half a point shy of third-placer Adamson University Pep Squad, which tallied 638.5 markers for its Lion Kingthemed showcase at the Mall of Asia Arena last Nov. 17.

“Nanghinayang lang talaga ako sa score sheet kasi the difference

for the podium finish was just .5 and sayang kasi siguro without our errors, nag-podium pa sana kami,” Chaiwalla said.

The National University (NU) Pep Squad reclaimed the title they lost last year after scoring 711 points with its Mexican-themed performance while the Far Eastern University (FEU) Cheering Squad’s 70’s-inspired routine landed at second place with 655.5 points.

The University of the East Pep Squad dropped to fifth with 602.5 points while the University of the Philippines Pep Squad settled for

sixth place anew with 568.5 points.

The Ateneo de Manila University Blue Babble Battalion finished seventh with 558 points, followed by the De La Salle University Animo Squad, which registered 459.5 for eighth place.

NU, FEU and Adamson also dominated the group stunts category, finishing first, second and third, respectively.

Wasted chances Chaiwalla said the team could have placed higher if not for its “avoidable errors.”

Salinggawi PAGE 10