The Varsitarian P.Y. 2017 to 2018 Issue 07

Volume XC, No. 7 • February 28, 2018 THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSIT Y OF SANTO TOMAS Manila, Philippines

LENTEN SEASON. UST Rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. leads the celebration of the Ash Wednesday Mass on Feb. 14 at the Plaza Mayor.

8 law students expelled over Castillo hazing

THE MOTHER of slain UST law freshman Horacio “Atio” Castillo III is urging the University to release the names of the eight Civil Law students expelled for their involvement in the hazing death.

In a text message to the Varsitarian, Carmina Castillo said the UST administration should release the report of the investigating committee formed by University Rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. “We would like their investigative panel to release publicly the committee report and the list containing the students involved in the hazing of our son Atio,” she said. “We have the right to know and this is important to me as the mother.”

Carmina said it was unreasonable for the University to announce the expulsion of the law students without naming them.

“We want to see their full investigation and report to remove all doubts or biases. We don’t know the reason for publicly announcing

that they expelled eight students but [without] reveal their names. Why announce in the first place when obviously the public would ask for the names?” she said.

Carmina lauded UST’s decision to expel eight law students involved in her son’s death but said Civil Law faculty members linked to Aegis Juris, the law fraternity implicated in Atio’s death, should also be held accountable.

“We thank UST for their actions but they still need to answer a lot of questions, like how about the faculty members? [T]hey are as much involved since they knew about Atio’s death Sunday morning or noon and they did not even call the police to report or at least surrender to the police the fraternity members,” Carmina said.

“UST should investigate further that Aegis Juris practices hazing…UST should have acted on this beforehand. Well, better late than never,” she added.

Carmina said the family would push

M.A. M. REYES

Divina on disbarment call: ‘I was not part of any cover-up’

through with the complaint against UST before the Vatican.

University officials said releasing the names of the expelled students would violate the Data Privacy Act. In a statement last Feb. 18, UST said it kicked out the eight law students after the committee found them guilty of violating the University’s Code of Conduct and Discipline, meriting the “supreme penalty of expulsion.”

The panel, composed of six UST administrators and a representative from the Central Student Council, said it would continue its probe “to “ferret out the truth, determine liability, and impose the appropriate sanctions.”

“The University reiterates its commitment to ferret out the truth, determine liability, and impose the appropriate sanctions. In the Eucharistic celebrations held at the UST Faculty of Civil Law, at the Santuario de San Antonio during the

CIVIL Law Dean Nilo Divina has denied allegations that he was negligent or part of a cover-up in the fraternity hazing death of law freshman Horacio “Atio” Castillo III, citing his efforts to help in the criminal investigation.

“I was not part of any cover up. I was not even mentioned in the group chat. I even assisted in the surrender of [John Paul] Solano which made the investigation move forward because without Solano, they could not have moved forward,” Divina told the Varsitarian in an interview.

A Senate committee report released on Jan. 25 found that Aegis Juris Fraternity alumni attempted to cover up Castillo’s death and even coordinated through an online messaging application.

Divina said it was “unfair” for him to be included in disbarment proceedings together with 20 other lawyers as recommended by the Senate committee, given his efforts to assist in the probe.

Main suspect Solano, a medical technology alumnus, tagged six other Aegis Juris members involved in Atio’s death. But

Expelled PAGE 5

Divina PAGE 3

Jollibee founder feted with honorary doctorate Fr. Ojoy to ‘V’: ‘Uphold hope, justice THE UNIVERSITY conferred on Feb. 15 an honorary doctorate in business administration, honoris causa, on Jollibee Foods Corp. founder Tony Tan Caktiong for his outstanding contribution to the economy and business.

Tan Caktiong, 65, graduated from the University in 1975 with a degree in chemical engineering.

In an interview with the Varsitarian, Tan Caktiong credited his Thomasian education for his success in the food industry.

“I took up engineering [in UST], so there was a lot of analytical activities — how to analyze a problem, a program, Tony Tan Caktiong, founder of Jollibee Foods so I think it helped in terms of Corp.

Photo by NONA MARYSE L. TADEO

the business,” he said.

UST Rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. said Tan Caktiong made a mark through his leadership and social responsibility. “[W]e are conferring the honorary degree on Mr. Tony Tan Caktiong not just because of his achievements with the Jollibee corporation but also for keeping a premium on education and for his invaluable contribution to nationbuilding,” Dagohoy said in his introductory speech.

In 1978, Tan Caktiong established an ice cream parlor that became Jollibee, Founder PAGE 14

amid threats to seal our lips’ FORMER UST vice rector Fr. Virgilio Ojoy, O.P. called on Varsitarian staffers past and present to regain child-like innocence to fight society’s ills and government attacks on the press, in his homily during the Mass for the University paper’s 90th anniversary.

Leading the Mass for the Feast of the Santo Niño, Ojoy said the innocence and curiosity of a child were qualities that journalists need in the process of

truth-telling.

“A child asks many questions. This is an indication of a child’s innocence that longs to be nourished with truth and goodness. Unfortunately, we fill them sometimes with malice and Ojoy PAGE 10 Fr. Virgilio Ojoy, O.P.

2 News

Editor: Maria Crisanta M. Paloma

FEBRUARY 28, 2018

Be ‘new heroes’ through daily acts of kindness - VP THERE’S no need for a revolution for heroism to emerge.

Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo on Feb. 17 urged Thomasians to be heroes by being “servant-leaders” in daily life.

“We no longer need a hero or a one-time revolution. What we need are our collective daily acts of kindness, respect for people’s rights and servant-leadership. We do not need new saviors; our new heroes should be you,” Robredo said in her keynote speech during the Blessed Pier Gregorio Frassat lecture organized by the Senior High School students at the Buenaventura Paredes, O.P. building.

Robredo also urged Thomasians to never forget the atrocities of the Martial Law regime, ahead of the 32nd anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution.

She said people power, which toppled the 21-year dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos, was a “beautiful time to be a Filipino.”

“Our teachers knew that we were facing life-changing lessons that cannot be learned inside our classrooms… We were encouraged to join rallies in EDSA and were assured that our grades will not suffer because of it,” she said.

The 1986 peaceful revolt showed the “best of Filipinos” by fighting for freedom that the present generation enjoys, Robredo added.

“We fought firepower with flowers and our prayers. We’re able to oust a dictator with nothing but our indomitable spirits… EDSA was where we felt home again, ” she said.

“Like many of us years ago, your generation must choose where to stand to make sure we do not fail,” she said. CHRIS V. GAMOSO

‘Transnational’ master’s degree in public health to be offered THE UNIVERSITY is set to offer another “transnational” post-graduate program–a master’s degree in public health–in collaboration with the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom.

The first term of the master’s degree program will be conducted at the University of Leeds’ Nuffield Center for International Health and Development, while the remaining three terms will be taken at the University’s Faculty of Medicine and Surgery.

Ditas Decena, a Medicine and Surgery faculty member, said the program would provide professionals a better understanding of the state of public health in the country. “[The degree] gives you a broader aspects of medicine by not only dealing with treatment of diseases but also prevention strategies. Therefore, its impact is more in terms of public health, and we are also trying to transcend a global perspective for our University,” Decena told the Varsitarian in an interview.

The program will help improve professionals in addressing common diseases, creating health policies and handling disasters with moral Transnational PAGE 3

UST expands research in the humanities THE DIRECTOR of the UST Research Center for Culture, Arts and Humanities (RCCAH) has bared plans to further expand the scope of the center’s research in the humanities.

RCCAH head Prof. Joyce Arriola said new areas such as museum studies could help educate Filipinos on heritage and the symbols of culture.

“We’re also aiming to expand the coverage of the research center to accommodate other specializations, for example museum studies, because that is part of heritage. Humanities is focused on the education of the citizens, the art forms, the values and all the symbols of culture,” Arriola said in the annual Research Fortnight held at the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building on Feb. 22.

A total of 45 research papers were presented this year compared with last year’s 30, which, Arriola said, was an indication that UST’s research on the humanities has become bigger and more comprehensive.

“There is more awareness on the part of the faculty that culture, arts and humanities are being re-oriented or re-valued in this age,” she said.

Humanities PAGE 14

NEW HEROES. Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo delivers her speech before UST Senior High School students during a lecture at the Buenaventura Paredes, O.P. building last Feb. 17.

MARIA CHARISSE ANN G. REFUERZO

Senior high students hold ‘silent protest’ vs K to 12 A GROUP of UST Senior High School (SHS) students were apprehended on Feb. 20 by faculty members for staging a “silent protest” on campus over the implementation of the K to 12 program.

The silent protest, which started from the 11th floor of the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building, was blocked upon approaching the sixth floor of the building.

The students were brought to the principal’s office and their IDs and mobile phones were confiscated.

Blaise Bellosillo, SHS student and AnakbayanUST member, claimed the K-12 program was being commercialized by the administration.

“Commercialized [ang K Senior High to 12] kasi ginagawa kaming huthutan ng pera. ‘Yang voucher system na ‘yan palaging pinapangako na isusubsidize raw ‘yung tuition namin pero hanggang ngayon, wala pa rin kaming napapala roon,” Bellosillo told the Varsitarian in an interview.

The voucher program covers

School students stage ‘silent protest’

Photo courtesy of ANAKBAYAN-UST Facebook page

students who have finished Grade 10 and who wish to pursue senior high in private schools. Under the program, students are able to claim a “discount” from their tuition and other fees.

Bellosillo claimed there was no transparent breakdown of fees when it

came to the “other fees” paid by the students.

Members of the League of Filipino Students-UST and Anakbayan-UST later held a protest outside P. Noval gate. KEVIN A. ALABASO and MA. ANGELICA D. GARCIA

6 schools launch community journalism network in UST JOURNALISM professors and students from six journalism schools launched on Feb. 21 a network for civic and community journalism aimed at highlighting local stories and voices often ignored by the mainstream media.

The network will have an online platform to disseminate stories and videos on a weekly, if not daily basis, and will adhere to journalistic standards, said Felipe Salvosa II, UST journalism coordinator.

The Commission on Higher Education’s recognition of UST as a Center of Development in journalism gave the University’s journalism program the opportunity to reach out to other journalism schools, he said.

“We are not going to compete with the mainstream. We are not going to be a campus paper. And we are not going to do public relations for local governments or for our schools. We need to do honest-to-goodness journalism, observe ethical standards if we want to be taken seriously,” he said during the network’s launch last Feb. 22.

The inaugural members of the network are the University of the East Journalism Society, Polytechnic University of the Philippines,

Bulacan State University and its student publication Pacesetter, Lyceum of the Philippines University, and the Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Manila.

The six schools signed a “Manifesto of Commitment” to civic and community journalism and agreed to meet annually to sustain the project.

It was the first time journalism societies from various universities met under one roof for a collaborative effort, Salvosa noted.

The launching featured a series of lectures, with Crispin Maslog, founding director of the Silliman University journalism and communication school and chairman of the Asian Media Information and Communication Center, delivering the keynote address.

Other speakers were former Batangas Press Club president Joenald Rayos and Alwyn Alburo, executive producer at GMA News.

The network’s guidelines were drafted

by Leo Laparan II, journalism instructor in UST and Letran.

Heads of journalism societies said it was

timely to launch a community news website as it would help improve journalism education in the country.

“The new website is a great opportunity [to learn] about community journalism and online writing,” Francis Felix Falgui, president of Lyceum’s Journalism Society, said.

“As [journalism students], we are dealing with real issues and not theoretical examples anymore. [It] could be a training ground for us,” said Carlo Ventura, president of Bulacan State University’s journalism society.

Franchesca Viernes, student co-project head, said the UST Journalism Society wanted to link with other journalism societies.

“It is a new take on the usual news reportage of students because with this, they will be able to develop a nose for news and they will be able to be the voice for the voiceless,” Viernes told the Varsitarian in an interview.

Giselle Ombay, student project head, said the network would reach out to more journalism schools this year. JULIA CLAIRE L. MEDINA

Assistant Editor: Hannah Rhocellhynnia H. Cruz

FEBRUARY 28, 2018

News 3

Simbahayan welcomes more partner communities

THE UST Simbahayan Community Development Office welcomed more partner communities in the annual Pistang Tomasino trade fair from Feb. 12 to 15 at the Quadricentennial Square.

Simbahayan Director Mark Anthony Abenir said this year’s Pistang Tomas was an improvement compared with the previous ones as more partner communities and nongovernment organizations participated in the event.

“Nagkaroon tayo ng mga bagong [nongovernment organizations] na partners tulad ng Caritas [na] galing sa Archdiocese of Manila [at] ‘yung She Works, Inc. for women na victims of human trafficking,” Abenir told the Varsitarian in an interview.

Vanessa Vicente, head of the community development office of the UST-Alfredo M. Velayo (AMV) College of Accountancy, said Pistang Tomas was important avenue for Thomasians to appreciate the cultures of the University’s partner communities. “[It’s] for Thomasians to get to know that these people really exist and […] hindi lang sila magaling mag-ani ng gulay, magalaga ng crops, but they also have talents in weaving and in business and it’s something

that Thomasians should really appreciate,” Vicente told the Varsitarian.

This year’s Pistang Tomas featured indigenous clothing and accessories from partner communities in Rizal and South Cotabato. Other products such as root crops and food items came from Bataan, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija.

Partners from the Diocese of Caloocan, Diocese of Malolos and Parañaque City Jail showcased handcrafted products in the fair.

UST Simbahayan hosted the “Pre-Pistang Tomas” livelihood training last January when members of partner communities were trained with different marketing strategies.

The event was led by UST Simbahayan, in partnership with the College of Commerce and Business Administration, College of Tourism and Hospitality Management, College of Fine Arts and Design, College of Architecture, Institute of Physical Education and Athletics, Conservatory of Music and Accountancy.

Pistang Tomas celebrated its 16th year with the theme “Kultura’t Kabuhayan ng Pamayanan, Pagyamanin at Pangalagaan.”

Formed in 2012, the Simbahayan office now has 40 partner-communities and more than 30 partner-institutions. JACOB MARVIN D. URMENITA, JULIA CLAIRE L. MEDINA

SOLIDARITY. Students together with the UST Simbahayan Community Development Office staff celebrate the annual Pistang Tomas with partner communities of the University at the UST Quadricentennial Park last Feb. 12.

DEEJAE S. DUML AO

Filipinos suffering from ‘Martial Law amnesia’ — journalism scholar

UST teams up with Japanese universities for technological and academic expansion THE UNIVERSITY has partnered with universities in Japan to establish a technology transfer office, which will introduce Thomasian research and innovations to the market.

Rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. said an “exploratory study” as made in Osaka University last January to look for effective technology transfer models to be adapted by the University. “[W]e are looking into the [technology] transfer of Osaka University. We have our own [technology] transfer office but we would like to find good models for the University,” Dagohoy said in a chance interview last Feb. 14.

Michael Jorge Peralta, Innovation and Technology Support Office (ITSO) manager, said the technology transfer office would be able to accommodate the transfer of the University’s research and patents to the market.

“The existing services of ITSO, specifically on intellectual property registration and patent search, will help in this,” Peralta said.

The University has also collaborated with the Okinawa

Divina

FROM PAGE 1

it was Mark Anthony Ventura who agreed to cooperate fully in the investigation, and applied to join the government’s Witness Protection Program.

‘Dignified silence’ Divina maintained the University was not negligent because hazing is prohibited by UST “in all forms.”

In February 2017, the Civil Law Student Welfare Development Board released a memo ordering all fraternities and sororities in the Faculty not to recruit freshmen, and to “strictly follow the Anti-Hazing Law.” Violators are subject to disciplinary action and sanctions based on the UST Student Handbook.

Divina said the University’s silence was “dignified” and did not mean that it was indifferent.

An independent committee was

Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) to improve the planned curriculum and research models for the future UST campus in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

Dagohoy said administrators were interested to learn the “modern” academic Official seals of Osaka University set-up of OIST as it had and Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology produced many patents despite the absence of colleges and departments.

Dagohoy and Peralta were “Sabi namin, paano accompanied by Vice Rector pinapatakbo `yung academics for Finance Fr. Rolando Castro, nang walang faculties, walang O.P., Vice Rector for Academic colleges, walang institute so Affairs Cheryl Peralta, Vice Rector it’s very collaborative kasi open for Research and Innovation lahat ng laboratories. So very Maribel Nonato and Facilities modern ‘yung approach doon, Management Office Director Fr. experimental. We are very Dexter A. Austria. JOB ANTHONY interested to learn that for Santa R. MANAHAN and KEVIN A. Rosa,” Dagohoy said.

ALABASO also formed to investigate the hazing death, he noted.

“I just want to call it dignified silence. But that doesn’t mean UST is lacking anything. UST is not indifferent, not apathetic.

UST cares and UST is doing [something] about it, in the usual, dignified way,” Divina said.

In a statement released last Feb. 18, the University administration said a committee investigating the hazing death found eight law students “guilty of violating the Code of Conduct and Discipline,” meriting the “supreme penalty of expulsion.”

The committee, formed

by UST Rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. last Sept. 19, said it observed due process and conducted hearings in the presence of representatives of the Legal Education Board.

‘I spoke with one of the parents’ Divina said he reached out to the parents of Atio.

“Despite the charges filed against me, I went to them and I assured them that I will assist

them in bringing about justice for Atio. I don’t think it’s true that I was not expressing my condolences,” he said.

“Even in the hearing it was very clear [that I reached out to them]. Probably, they must have forgotten that I spoke with one of the parents the [day after Atio’s death], Monday,” Divina added.

Divina said he offered financial assistance to the family of Atio but the parents declined.

“I went to the wake on Wednesday… I offered to shoulder the [expenses]. I initially offered P300,00 [and] it was readily given through my former student Claire Castillo, their niece, but it was not accepted,” he said.

Carmina, Atio’s mother, claimed in a Senate probe last October that she “never spoke” with Divina.

No complaints Divina said he accepted the difficulties as “heaven-sent opportunities” for “reparation and sanctification.”

JOURNALISM and communications scholar Crispin Maslog decried the prevailing “Martial Law amnesia,” saying the older generation had failed to educate the young on the lessons of the Marcos dictatorship and the “People Power” uprising that overthrew it. “[T]here should be textbooks, there should be [topics about Martial Law] both printed and audiovisuals.

There is martial law amnesia and everybody is at fault,” said Crispin Maslog, founder of the Silliman University journalism school and a former journalist with Agence France-Presse, in a forum at the Albertus Magnus auditorium last Feb. 21. “[T]he older generation Communications scholar Crispin Maslog were so excited about People the issue alive is already something,” Power and we thought [Martial Maslog said in an interview with the Law] would just be remembered Varsitarian. and handed down from generation People should not let the attacks on to generation. But we were wrong,” the press “go quietly,” adding campus Maslog said. journalists should report it first because “We should have organized they are the “first line of defense.” and taught [about] this in a proper “You speak up on press freedom. manner,” he added.

You should always fight for it. Because He said news about the EDSA if you don’t fight for it, you will lose 1 anniversary could be used as a without knowing about it,” he said. starting point to keep the discourse The forum, titled, “Talamitam: on Martial Law alive.

Community Empowerment through “There’s a historical event that Journalism Education,” coincided you can use as the starting point [of] with the launching of a community your discussion. We should not forget journalism network composed of that, we should always [talk about] journalism schools in Luzon. JOB it. [P]people will have the tendency ANTHONY R. MANAHAN and JULIA to forget kapag di pinag-uusapan e.

CLAIRE L. MEDINA Just being conscious and keeping

“I have never been absent in my lectures, in my classes.

My students see me, cheerful and serene [because I am] a Thomasian… [If I were not] a Thomasian, I don’t think I would have survived [and] accepted the difficulties,” he said.

Divina also said he would not step down from his post as there was no basis for him to end his third and last term as law dean abruptly.

“As you know, no one among my students asked me for my resignation because I would like to believe that they know that I am committed to promote their welfare. I am here for them.

It is a matter between me and the stakeholders of UST,” he said.

JOB ANTHONY R. MANAHAN and JULIA CLAIRE L. MEDINA

Transnational FROM PAGE 2

discernment, she added.

UST Graduate School Dean Marilou Madrunio told the Varsitarian in August 2017 that the University will be offering the country’s first transnational doctorate degree in architecture in collaboration with the University of Reading also in the United Kingdom.

The Commission on Higher Education and the British Council have collaborated to introduce “international higher education and niche programs” between universities in the United Kingdom and higher education institutions (HEIs) in the country.

Aside from UST, other HEIs with United Kingdom linkages are the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman, UP Los Baños, University of San Carlos, De La Salle University, Miriam College, Siliman University, Ateneo de Manila University, Central Luzon State University, Bicol University and Saint Louis University.

The First UK-Philippines Transnational Education Conference and Education Fair was held last Feb. 16 to Feb. 17 at the Makati Shangri-la Hotel. MA. CONSUELO D.P. MARQUEZ

4 Opinion

FEBRUARY 28, 2018

Editorial

China’s invasion, Duterte’s treason RODRIGO Duterte has achieved for China the most peaceful invasion of another country in recorded history. Without firing a single shot, Communist China has successfully occupied several reefs on the West Philippine Sea and the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and in record time, built a military facility that connects all reefs while destroying them and inflicting heavy ecological damage all around. The facility is capable not only of curtailing free passage of ships along international sea lanes, but also of blowing to pieces the Philippines. The facility is nearly finished according to aerial photos released by the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Feb. 5, its swift construction abetted by Duterte’s treasonous accommodationist policy toward totalitarian bully Beijing. Duterte had promised during the 2016 election campaign to ride a jet ski on the disputed territories and challenge Beijing’s illegal construction. But he has sung a different tune since being elected. In fact in contrast to the vicious bluster and macho braggadocio of his usual public speeches, in which he curses the Church and his political enemies and cry for blood against drug pushers and addicts, his voice changes whenever the subject turns to China. His voice becomes highpitched like the falsetto of a choir boy. It’s the voice of a sissy, a castrato. Someone with no balls.

Duterte even had the temerity to crack a joke in front of Chinese-Filipino businessmen, suggesting that they make the Philippines a part of Chinese territories instead. “Province of Philippines, Republic of China,” he said in jest. Of course, the ChineseFilipino businessmen laughed approvingly at the ingenious joke of their satrap and court jester. As for the country with a joke of a president, the joke is on the Philippines.

China has the gall to claim the reefs as part of its territory even if Panganiban Reef (internationally known as Mischief) is located 150 miles west of Palawan and 620 miles of Southeast China, proving that the reef lies within the Philippines’ EEZ. China says its claim on the territories is historic but this has been dismissed by the international tribunal on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).

In its ruling in 2016, the tribunal said the ninedash line being claimed by China as basis of its historic claim had no validity and in any case had been superseded by Unclos. The tribunal declared that the reefs are within the Philippines’ EEZ and form part of its continental shelf.

Unclos states that territorial sea stretches out to 370 kilometers from state’s coast. Unclos also makes Editorial PAGE 5

FOUNDED JAN. 16, 1928 AMIERIELLE ANNE A. BULAN Editor in Chief BERNADETTE A. PAMINTUAN Managing Editor ALHEX ADREA M. PERALTA Associate Editor MARIA CRISANTA M. PALOMA News Editor HANNAH RHOCELLHYNNIA H. CRUZ Assistant News Editor RANDELL ANGELO B. RITUMALTA Sports Editor NEIL JAYSON N. SERVALLOS Special Reports Editor CHELSEY MEI NADINE B. BRAZAL Features Editor NIKKO MIGUEL M. GARCIA Literary Editor JOLAU V. OCAMPO Patnugot ng Filipino LEA MAT P. VICENCIO Witness Editor EDRIS DOMINIC C. PUA Science and Technology Editor AUDRIE JULIENNE D. BERNAS Circle Editor CHRISTIAN DE LANO M. DEIPARINE, THEODORE JASON PATRICK K. ORTIZ Online Editors SHAINA MAE L. SANTANDER Art Director DEEJAE S. DUMLAO Acting Chief Photographer News Kevin A. Alabaso, Samantha-Wee Lipana, Job Anthony R. Manahan, Julia Claire L. Medina, Jacob Marvin D. Urmenita, Pauline Faye V. Tria Sports Jan Carlo Anolin, Mia Arra C. Camacho, Ma. Angela Christa Coloma, Ma. Angelica D. Garcia, Ivan Ruiz L. Suing, Justin Robert Valencia Special Reports Ma. Consuelo D.P. Marquez, Louise Cleindale L. Penera, Arianne Aine D. Suarez Features Louise Claire H. Cruz, Daphne Yann P. Galvez, Julia Camille B. Ocaya Literary Karl Ben L. Arlegui, Elmer B. Coldora Filipino Erma R. Edera, Chris V. Gamoso, Winona S. Sadia Witness Marem A. De Jemel, Lady Cherbette N. Agot, Lexanne O. Garcia, Pearl Anne M. Gumapos Science and Technology Alyssa Carmina A. Gonzales, Miguel Alejandro IV A. Herrera, Beatriz Avegayle S. Timbang Circle Klimier Nicole B. Adriano, Kathleen Therese A. Palapar, Lyon Ricardo III M. Lopez Art Mariyella Alyssa A. Abulad, Blessie Angelie B. Andres, Rocher Faye R. Dulatre, Joelle Alison Mae P. Eusebio, Mari Kloie D. Ledesma, Nathanael Jonas S.J. Rodrigo Photography Miah Terrenz Provido, Maria Charisse Ann G. Refuerzo, Vladlynn Nona Maryse L. Tadeo, Pauline Faye V. Tria FELIPE F. SALVOSA II Assistant Publications Adviser JOSELITO B. ZULUETA Publications Adviser

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

Dictatorship—Duterte’s ‘wish ko lang’

IT IS truly ironic that the Philippines is celebrating the 32nd anniversary of the People Power Revolution in which Filipinos toppled the corrupt and repressive rule of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, but at the same time, facing threats of another dictatorship in President Duterte.

Recently, during a gathering with over 200 former communist rebels in Malacañang, Duterte shamelessly said that he must become a dictator to effect change and progress in the country.

“Muingon mo’g diktador, diktador gyud ko. Kay og di ko mag-diktador, putang ina, walang mangyayari sa bayan na ‘to (You say I’m a dictator, I really am. Because if I will not be a dictator, son of a b*tch, nothing will happen to this country),” he said.

It seems that Duterte has forgotten the lessons of history.

History has always shown that a dictatorship would get a country nowhere and is only self-serving to those thirsty for power.

After Marcos declared Martial Law in 1972, conditions only worsened in the Philippines. The Marcos dictatorship imprisoned thousands of Filipinos; its rule

History has always shown that a dictatorship would get a country nowhere and is only self-serving to those thirsty for power. resulted in widespread killings and violation of human rights, and until today, its sins and scars are neither forgotten nor forgiven.

In past speeches however, Duterte said he would not become a dictator as it would dishonor his mother, who was ironically a prominent activist against the Marcos regime. During an army base visit in January, he even instructed the army and the police to shoot him if he would become a dictator and stay beyond his six-year term. In spite of that, can anyone still trust the President’s pronouncements given that he keeps on contradicting himself?

Duterte also said that it is the army’s “solemn duty” to protect the Constitution. But there is really no clear and present

danger to the Constitution except for Duterte and his lapdogs in Congress!

This is no time to remain apathetic and nonchalant.

Duterte apologists and lapdogs are moving heaven and earth to implement the despot’s bid to revise the 1987 Constitution, changing the country’s form of government from unitary type to a federal structure, which may be a mask for dictatorship.

With the 1987 Constitution, which was crafted to prevent another tyrannical rule, Duterte would have a difficult time declaring and keeping martial law. Under the constitution, the declaration of martial law and suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus is allowed

provided that an “invasion or rebellion shall persist and public safety requires it.” A report must be submitted to Congress for voting and the legislative body may revoke its proclamation by a joint vote or at least a majority of all its members in a regular or a special session. The declaration can last only 60 days unless Congress votes to extend it. The Supreme Court may also review the declaration.

Because of the Marawi siege which was Duterte’s own undoing, martial rule had been declared in Mindanao. Upon his request, Congress has extended military rule until the end of 2018.

Duterte has appointed alleged experts of his consultative committee that will propose changes to the 1987 charter.

According to Executive Order 10, the committee will “study, conduct consultations, and review the provisions of the 1987 Constitution including but not limited to the provisions on the structure and powers of the government, local governance, and economic policies.” The Lionheart PAGE 5

Versus the Church, it’s Duterte that’s ‘full of sh*t’ DIG AND dig for dirt as he may, President Duterte can never force the Catholic Church down to her knees.

The anti-cleric Duterte launched new tirades against Church leaders during a meeting last month with the families of the Special Action Force (SAF) troopers who perished during the 2015 Mamasapano massacre.

He challenged Catholic bishops, whom he accused of sexual indiscretions, to resign with him--calling the Church “full of sh*t.”

Duterte accounts these instances of clerical misdemeanors by skimming through the tell-all book of late investigative journalist Aries Rufo, “The Altar of Secrets.”

These ill-educated rants show that Duterte’s adversarial demeanor toward the Church– which has rendered him illdisposed toward legitimate criticism. It was Rufo himself who said that his book did not seek to destroy the Church, but rather to help rebuild it by checking the shortcomings of some priests and bishops.

For one, these cases have been dealt with exhaustively by the Holy See and the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines. Pending cases

If the Church is able to cultivate this trust among Filipinos, it may again return to the times of Cardinal Sin, when the Church had strong moral and political influence, when the Church’s opinion was widely heeded. And when presidents feared and respected its authority. are closely monitored by the National Tribunal of Appeal set up nine years ago by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines under canon law expert and Thomasian Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz. The tribunal handles cases of errant priests.

The Church reserves its right to criticize state affairs and check government excesses, especially with a president that has no regard for human rights and has no moral ascendancy.

Duterte, who has confessed that he had killed four men mano a mano, has allowed thousands of killings (and counting) to take place under his watch so far; he has supported a rubberstamp Congress that allows him anything-goes policy-making; and he has outspokenly declared that he is a dictator. He has in

fact created a government that has drifted farther and farther away from the constitutional ideal of a vibrant and inclusive democracy.

If the Church, which in retrospect played the pivotal role in deposing the Marcos dictatorship, does nothing amid the sorry state of affairs happening under Duterte’s watch, then the freedoms won by the Filipino people in 1986 will be compromised.

The separation of Church and state, in contrast to the jerrybuilt definitions of today’s statesmen and lawmakers, does not imply that the Church is not allowed intrusion into political affairs and on the flipside, no one is stopping the government in meddling in Church affairs.

The principle simply means that the country shall

have no state religion.

The Palace and Filipino prelates have had their fair share of quarrels. It can be recalled that during Emilio Aguinaldo’s time, his revolutionary government fought for a Philippine Church independent of the Holy See, which was contained by the Church by opening seminaries for native Filipinos and the appointment of the first Filipino bishop, Jorge Barlin of Bicol.

The Church was instrumental in the ousting of dictator Ferdinand Marcos and former president Joseph Estrada.

And during Fidel Ramos’ time, late Jaime Cardinal Sin led the opposition to the former’s last-minute plans to amend the Constitution, which then led critics to urge Sin to settle the Monte de Piedad fiasco first.

But during the communistridden presidencies of Manuel Roxas, Elpidio Quirino and Ramon Magsaysay, the Church became a key participant in thwarting attempts of insurrection by communists through campaigns it launched for the faithful, according to UST History chairman Augusto de Viana.

At the helm PAGE 10

Opinion 5

FEBRUARY 28, 2018

Did UST Comelec botch again CSC polls?

THE CENTRAL Student Council (CSC) election saga has finally ended, but the student government remains in limbo.

With only a few months left in the academic year, the council still finds itself incomplete, with only Therese Gorospe and Francis Santos being able to serve as secretary and public relations officer, respectively.

Positions of the president, vice president, treasurer and auditor have been left as blank slates again.

It cannot be disregarded, however, that while Gorospe and Santos together with the entire council staff, have performed well, the council was and will remain incomplete with UST Commission on Elections (Comelec) declaring a failure of elections in the special polls last Feb. 3 to fill vacant posts in the executive board.

The supposed special balloting by members of the Central Board (CB), composed of local student council presidents, failed to push through after a quorum of 12 was not met as only five presidents attended.

Asked by the Varsitarian why most of the CSC’s legislative body failed to show up, Reymark Simbulan, president of the Faculty of Arts and Letters (Artlets) Student Council, said Comelec might have failed to consider the schedules of the members of the CB. For one, conducting special polls with almost three months remaining before the general

Editorial FROM PAGE 4

it clear that only the coastal state has jurisdiction to build artificial islands, installations and structures on the area.

Other states are prohibited from interfering with, much less establishing military bases, on islands far from their territorial sea!

This was actually not the first time China ignored the Philippines’ sovereign rights on Panganiban Reef. In 1995, China had illegally occupied the reef by building structures without seeking permission from the coastal state. Then Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Chen Jian said those structures were built to “ensure the safety and lives as well as the production operations of the fishermen.”

Fast-forward to 2018: Photographs reveal air and

But no statements were issued, a failure of elections was declared, and things went on as if nothing happened, making it seem as if the special elections stood only for the sake of formality. elections was hardly feasible anymore. Not only was it a waste of time and effort, but with a short span of time, those who would be elected would be able to accomplish only a little, not to mention that they would be uprooted from their respective local student councils.

Comelec could have pushed through with the special elections last November but after series of class suspensions and election postponements, the plan failed to materialize.

However, they could have scheduled the elections earlier than November, when resignations were tendered by Steven Grecia and the rest of the candidates with the second highest of votes next to the abstentions.

Surely, an earlier date would have enabled the poll body to administer the election, which only required members of the CB, thus preventing the deadlock in which

only two officers were able to serve in the council.

The local unit of Comelec in Artlets was able to conduct two special elections manually. Last semester, it sought to complete members of its council for the positions of the vice-president internal and auditor, which was declared vacant twice after the candidate running for the position lost to “void” votes.

Members of the CB, too, should have been made to explain their absence on the day of the special polls, which had been announced just a week before it was scheduled. But no statements were issued, a failure of elections was declared, and things went on as if nothing happened, making it seem as if the special elections stood only for the sake of formality. What a waste of time and money!

But to give credit to where it is due, Thomasians found a more

naval bases including runways, helipads, lighthouses, radomes, communication facilities, wind turbines and cargo vessels have been established on the artificial islands in the Spratly archipelago.

So are those military structures on Panganiban Reef and the rest still meant to take care of Chinese fishermen? And where are the fishermen?

China’s greedy totalitarian leaders still purposely crossed the line and paid no heed to the law. They deliberately snubbed the claims of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) on the West Philippine Sea, even after agreeing with them not to transform any features of the sea in a 2002 code of conduct signed between China and Asean.

Not only has Duterte allowed China to take over the reefs; he has not taken China to task for unauthorized “research” mission in the Benham Rise off Aurora. At first Malacanang said the area, which the United

Nations has declared is part of the Philippines’ continental shelf, was not disputed territory so China was not barred from surveying it. So there was no need for a permit. Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano later said China had obtained permission from Manila to conduct the marine research mission, but, as another proof how the country’s foreign policy is not so much “independent” as Duterte puts it but really a shambles, he and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon later admitted China had had a record of unauthorized surveys of the Philippine Rise.

In any case, to give China a permit would be tantamount to treason. It clearly would be against the interest of the Philippines and a compromise of Philippine sovereignty. Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said that if indeed there was a permit, it should not have been given because China was banned from Benham Rise

Expelled

resolution,” Varsitarian.

FROM PAGE 1

Palace hails expulsion of law students UST’s decision to expel its eight law students tagged in the hazing death of Atio was also hailed

by Malacañang.

In a press briefing, presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said the University’s decision sent a message that violence is not tolerated in campuses. “[W]e think it’s the right step forward. Expelling them sends the message that [we] will not tolerate violence in our campuses,” Roque said.

Roque said the move was “only the beginning” as all those who violated the Anti-Hazing Law should be held accountable.

“There will have to be criminal prosecution for violating the AntiHazing Law,” he said.

wake and at the UST Chapel during the day of mourning for the death of Horacio, UST has always been one with the Castillo family in the steadfast call for everyone to pray and work together to achieve justice for Horacio and for truth to prevail,” the statement read.

Formed by Dagohoy on Sept.

19, two days after Atio died, the committee said it observed due process and conducted hearings in the presence of representatives of the Legal Education Board.

The 22-year-old Atio died in September of last year after undergoing hazing in the initiation rites of Aegis Juris, a law-school based fraternity that counts Dean Nilo Divina as part of its alumni.

Gerardo Castillo, Atio’s uncle, told the Varsitarian he was “delighted” that UST “finally initiated what is due for Atio.”

Divina said he would implement the investigating committee’s resolution.

“The committee has exercised the authority and carried out the mandate that the University has given. The Faculty of Civil Law will implement the committee’s

Divina

told

the

‘Atio Castillo Law’ The Senate approved a ban on all forms of hazing last Feb. 14, naming the bill after the slain law freshman.

Nineteen senators voted in favor of the bill, which amends Republic Act 8049 or the AntiHazing Law of 1995 and imposes harsher penalties..

socially responsive executive board this school year. Despite severely undermanned, the student government was able to rally Thomasian participation in rallies and movements to oppose the return of the death penalty, to support the victims of the Marawi siege, to appeal for justice for hazing victim Horacio Castillo III, and denounce the UST award given to Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson by the UST general alumni association.

It should, however, be noted that the executive board is composed of six people, not only two. They have different roles and functions, and while one may argue that yes, two people were able to stand on its feet as a council, it is unfair to have only them performing the job of six. In a sense, the failure to complete the CSC’s executive board is a disservice to the Thomasian electorate which deserves a complete council.

While we respect that majority of Thomasians opted to “Abstain,” it simply cannot end there, for the council’s charter enshrines that positions have to be filled when they become vacant.

The unexpected turn of events in this election scenario, where one could have hoped for a better result, certainly brings a lot of lessons to those who hold power and responsibilities: that is, if we would want to allow this to happen again.

since it refused to abide by the arbitration decision of the Unclos tribunal on the Spratlys dispute.

What has been unmasked here is Duterte’s treasonous accommodation again of the totalitarian, atheistic and repressive Communist Middle Kingdom. Duterte is nothing but Peking’s duck.

But Beijing is arrogant, and arrogance is a typical trait of imperialist pretenders whose appetite for power and territory and resources is simply insatiable. In another high-handed move, China has reportedly given Chinese names to undersea features of Bentham, in effect claiming them, just as what it has done with Bajo de Masinloc and the Kalayaaan Islands. Perhaps China has named one of the undersea features on Bentham after its favorite circus seal in the Philippines—Rodrigo Duterte.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson said the bill sought to prohibit hazing in initiation rites entirely, contrary to the existing anti-hazing law that permitted hazing provided that the fraternity, sorority or organization submitted a written notice to the school seven days before the initiation.

The bill seeks lifetime imprisonment and a fine of P3 million on those who participated in hazing rites that lead to death, rape, sodomy or mutilation.

Hazing was redefined in the bill as “any physical or psychological suffering, harm or injury inflicted on a recruit, member, neophyte or applicant as a form of initiation rite or practice made as a prerequisite for admission or a requirement for continuing membership in a fraternity, sorority or organization.”

“Paddling, whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the weather, forced consumption of any food, liquor, beverage, drug… [and] any other brutal treatment or forced physical activity” which would affect the physical and psychological health of the neophyte are acts of hazing.

Lawyer Lorna Kapunan, legal counsel of the Castillo family, had proposed amendments to the AntiHazing Law. Among the amendments are

AMRSP: ‘No to tyranny, no to Cha-cha; yes to peaceful revolution’ ON THE 32nd anniversary of People Power 1, the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP) rekindle the fire of hope in a miracle that a peaceful revolution is indeed possible.

To dream the impossible dream – At EDSA we fulfilled a seemingly impossible dream. A united people toppled a dictatorship after 14 long years of tyranny and darkness. At EDSA, we shouted NEVER AGAIN! The aftermath of EDSA 1 saw in the Filipino nation a genuine sense of hope. Our bishops saw the events of February 1986 as having renewed the Filipinos’ faith in each other, the faith in their nation, and deeper still, our faith in God who writes our history.

To fight the unbeatable foe – Fourteen long years of struggle and resistance paid for by blood, sweat and tears of our martyrs and heroes paved the way for the EDSA uprising. The unsung, faceless and nameless heroes and martyrs of the resistance paid with their lives so that we may taste freedom and democracy. We showed the world that dictatorship can be toppled. Tyranny can collapse in the face of a united and determined people rising up to change their lot.

To bear with unbearable sorrow – More than 100,000 victims of human rights violations and their descendants still bear the sorrow of a disappeared kin, a salvaged son or daughter, a tortured freedom fighter and the years of separation because of imprisonment.

To run where the brave dare not go. – AMRSP cast its lot with the poor, deprived, oppressed but struggling sectors of our society. True to its prophetic tradition, its members immersed themselves in factories, slums, haciendas, in the lupang ninuno of the indigenous people and lumad, in the mountains even. And these they all did, our forebears, to “right the unrightable wrong,” “to love pure and chaste” not from afar but totally immersed in the daily life-struggles of the workers, peasants, indigenous peoples, urban poor, women and youth. At EDSA we reached that unreachable star!

This year, the Philippine Church celebrates the Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons. These same people stood side by side with other Filipinos and faced the danger of being killed; men and women armed with rosaries, flowers and prayers. The legacy of EDSA 1 and the lessons that we learn from it bid us to assert and fight for the following ideals: Never Again to tyranny and dictatorship! Yes to rule of law and justice! Yes to an equitable distribution of our wealth and resources! No to political dynasties! Yes to people empowerment and a government for, of and by the people!

Today we say NO to a charter change that will further entrench political dynasties, extend terms of office and surrender our sovereignty! Today we march for our rights, our freedoms and our dreams for a better life for our people! Today we light a candle for peace and justice, for all of Creation.

Today we light a candle in hope that we may be led to the path of righteousness and a land flowing with milk and honey.

(Sgd) Fr. Cielito Almazan, OFM Sister Regina Kuizon, RGS AMRSP co-chairpersons (Sgd) 13 other AMRSP board directors

requiring fraternities, sororities and similar organizations to submit the name of a faculty adviser who should have knowledge of, and consent to, the activities of these organizations.

At least two school officials are required to oversee initiation rites and submit a report of everything that transpired during the initiation to the school administration.

Participating officers and members of the fraternity, sorority or organization will be fined P1 million and sent to 12 to 17 years in prison if proven to have committed violations.

If hazing occurred and the school failed to assign a representative to the initiation rite, a fine of P1 million will be imposed on the school.

A fine of P1 million and imprisonment of 12 to 14 years will also be imposed on alumni and nonresident members of a fraternity or sorority who obstruct justice.

The bill was authored by senators Gregorio Honasan, Sherwin Gatchalian, Loren Legarda, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Paulo Benigno Aquino IV and Lacson. CHRISTIAN DE LANO M. DEIPARINE, JOB ANTHONY R. MANAHAN and PAULINE FAYE V. TRIA

Lionheart FROM PAGE 4

committee is expected to complete its work in six months and should submit its reports, recommendations and proposals to Duterte.

The parallelism is uncanny. Marcos used the same strategy, constitutional reform, to dodge term limits. And this led to more than a decade and a half of oppression and rape and plunder of the Philippines.

Proposed changes to the constitution cited in the House of Representatives hearings are appalling. Lawmakers have proposed the limited protection for the freedom of speech, possible abolition of the Judicial and Bar Council, Office of the Vice President, and Office of the Ombudsman.

All of these proposals are self-serving to the interests of Duterte and the rapacious cretins of the House and Senate.

Duterte, who has admitted his admiration for Marcos, seems replicating what the late strongman did. This is the time to become more vigilant. We should protect the freedoms the Filipino people fought for and won 32 years ago. Celebrating the anniversary of the People Power Revolution is not only to remind us of those who risked and sacrificed their lives in order to overthrow a tyrant, but also to remind us of the present threats to our democracy, and how we must fight together as a nation to safeguard it.

6 Special Reports

Editor: Neil Jayson N. Servallos

FEBRUARY 28, 2018

UST eyes regular employment of non-teaching staff – Rector

By MA. CONSUELO D.P. MARQUEZ

RECTOR Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P said the University plans to regularize workers hired on a contractual basis through manpower agencies, to comply with the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) order restricting contractual employment schemes.

“We are in the process of transitioning, meaning we are regularizing [members of the nonteaching staff] who have been under fixed-term employment,” Dagohoy told the Varsitarian.

“We are being checked by DOLE so if we are not compliant, we would know,” he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte approved in March Department Order (DO) 174 or the DOLE’s new regulation on contractualization, which bans “endo” or end-of-contract and other “labor-only” contracting practices.

Contractualization is a hiring practice covering a short period of employment, usually less than six months.

This practice allows employers to skirt labor laws that require regularization, which involves benefits like paid leaves, healthcare and pensions, at the company’s expense.

Section 5 of DO 174 prohibits laboronly contracting, where the contractor

Rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P.

or subcontractor has no substantial capital, investment and control over the performance of workers.

Overtime pay Dagohoy said plans to regularize maintenance staff began even before the DOLE order.

“There will be strict compliance and conditions and there are existing validations which would not renew the workers’ contracts with their agency,” he said.

Edwin Buhay, a housekeeping supervisor under City Service Corp., said he and his co-workers do not have overtime pay because they are not regular employees of UST. “Mas malaki `yung benefits na makukuha namin kung magiging regular [kami]. Mas babasehan na rin nila `yung bayad sa off-service,” Buhay told the Varsitarian.

Buhay said City Service provides benefits such as Social Security System and Pag-IBIG contributions.

But they all get equal pay from the agency, even if some have worked for a longer time in the University.

Nagkaisa Coalition spokesman Rene Magtubo said members of the non-teaching staff deserve better work arrangements for hard work in maintaining facilities that directly affect

De Lima: ‘As long as the President is in Malacañang... I think I will remain in jail’

By ARIANNE AINE D. SUAREZ and LOUISE CLEINDALE L. PENERA

Sen. Leila de Lima

AFTER a year in detention, Sen. Leila de Lima has grown certain that she would not be released anytime soon, as long as President Rodrigo Duterte is in power.

“One thing’s for sure—as long as the President is in Malacañang, as long as [he] stays the President, as long as he’s alive, I think I will remain in jail. He will make sure of that. It will be a huge slap in his face if I’m released,” she told the Varsitarian.

De Lima was arrested on Feb. 24 last year for her alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison during her time as justice secretary in the Aquino administration.

De Lima said she had learned to settle with living a life of solitude. “I’m all alone from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. but naka-adjust na ako...

I’ve learned to live with the isolation and sense of solitude,” she said.

But the senator noted that detention did not stop her from drafting laws. She was able to file 40 bills and 58 resolutions while in detention at the Custodial Center of the Philippine National Police in Camp Crame.

De Lima refuses to be silenced by the administration that “locked” her up. “I feel bad about it because I was voted by more than 14 million people,” she said.

When she was head of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human rights in 2016, de Lima led the investigation into extrajudicial killings involving the “Davao Death Squad,” a group of alleged hitmen in

Photo from Sen. de Lima’s Media and Communications Office

Davao City.

She first investigated the case in 2009 as Commission on Human Rights chief. At the Senate, de Lima presented self-confessed death squad member Edgar Matobato, who called the President a “murderer.”

Fr. Albert Alejo, S.J., who has led the Eucharistic celebrations at de Lima’s detention quarters for the past 12 months, said the senator never showed regret for exposing Duterte’s activities as Davao City mayor.

“After vetting this self-confessed member of the Davao Death Squad, Sen. Leila placed her destiny on this struggle to quell the killings by the force of truth of conversion [and] she has no regrets,” he said.

‘False charges’ The senator lashed out at the Department of Justice for changing the complaint filed against her, saying it was a testament to the falsity of the charges.

De Lima was originally charged with drug trading, but over the past months, the charges were changed to conspiracy to commit drug trading, she said.

“That proves the falsity of charges— pabago-bago,” de Lima said. “They don’t have physical evidence. Nahirapan silang i-prove ‘yun kaya they changed it.”

Looming dictatorship?

De Lima warned against the looming

threat to the country’s democracy amid the shakedown of opposition forces, the human rights commission and the press.

In a speech last Feb. 7, Duterte threatened to take up a dictatorial style of leadership to attain change in the country, on top of his plan to shift to a federal system of government though constitutional changes.

De Lima denounced Duterte’s plan to “tinker” with the Constitution, saying the change would only benefit abusive leaders with “no vision.”

“What we have are sycophants, abusive leaders [who are] abusive in language and behavior. The push for federalism empowers political dynasties. They push for federalism to perpetuate themselves,” she said.

While the press still enjoys its freedom, media critical of Duterte’s administration should watch out. “What they did to Rappler has a chilling effect,” she said.

Last Jan. 15, the Securities and Exchange Commission scrapped Rappler’s corporate papers for violating foreign ownership restrictions.

Rappler reporter Pia Ranada was barred from entering the Malacañang Complex on Feb. 21, two days after Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go appeared before the Senate to answer questions related to a Rappler report that claimed he intervened in the selection process for the combat management system of Philippine Navy frigates.

the quality of education.

“A janitor’s work may not be related to the principal business of [UST] but before you provide education, you have facilities to maintain. When a job is usually necessary or directly related to the business, it should not be contracted out,” Magtubo said.

But for UST Security Chief Joseph Badinas, agency hiring helps in ensuring continuity of service, especially when some guards go on sick leave.

Carlos Manapat, economics professor at the Faculty of Arts and Letters, said the University, like business entities, had opted to outsource non-teaching staff to minimize costs.

“UST practices agency hiring to do away with benefits and lessen the costs because janitorial services are not frontliners and are not directly related [to the business of the school],” Manapat said in an interview.

The University takes in workers from SCI Security & Investigation Inc. (SCI) for security services, City Service Corp. for janitorial services and Serman Workforce Service for housekeeping.

There are 130 security guards from SCI and 153 workers from City Service.

The Philippine Statistics Authority

Employment PAGE 14

Former solicitor general warns vs dangers of charter change A FORMER solicitor general urged Filipinos to be wary of “selfish” political schemes of the Duterte administration before agreeing to amend the 1987 Constitution.

Former solicitor general Florin Hilbay, a UST economics alumnus, said it was important to check President Rodrigo Duterte’s “dictatorial tendencies” and assess the suspicious activities and motives of the administration. “[W]ell, the President himself says he is a dictator.

What is the nature of a dictator? A dictator is someone who doesn’t respect the Constitution. So tapos na `yung argumento,” he said in a charter change forum in UP Diliman.

Duterte announced in a recent Palace meeting with former communist rebels that nothing would happen in the country if he would not become a dictator.

His statement came days before the country was set to commemorate the 32nd Edsa People Power Revolution that ousted the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Hilbay cited the administration’s shakedown of the press, the Commission on Human Rights and opposition lawmakers as some of the “suggestive” reasons that the administration was prone to “rig” the constitution to its own interests.

“So we need to assess our decision on whether or not we want to support charter change based on the credibility of the administration,” he said.

Maria Fe Mendoza, professor at UP Diliman, also said Filipinos should be aware of the “self-serving” motives of politicians.

“We should be wary of political motives because like in the past, self-serving amendments ang pino-propose nila.

So `yon dapat ang bantayan natin,” she said.

Last Jan. 25, the President named 19 members to a 25-man charter change panel tasked to study and review the provisions of the 1987 Constitution. The committee is headed by former chief justice Reynato Puno.

Included in the charter change plan is a shift to a federal system of government from a unitary system, a campaign promise of President Duterte.

Under a federal system, the powers of the central government will be distributed to local government units or regions.

The Federalism Institute of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) submitted a draft of a federal constitution in September 2017.

The draft proposed a semi-presidential system wherein the elected president will be the head of state, while the prime minister nominated from the roster of Federal Assembly members will head the government.

Solicitor general PAGE 14

FEBRUARY 28, 2018

Amihan 7

National Artists, VIP alumni toast Varsitarian’s 90th year “WE GRADUATED bachelor of arts or science, but we majored in Varsitarian.” This was the running joke of the national artists, journalists, writers, media professionals, scholars, industry leaders, and other stellar alumni of the Varsitarian during the 90th anniversary celebration of the country’s most influential campus newspaper last Jan. 20.

More than 300 “V” alumni gathered for a night of reminiscences and warm fellowship at the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Alumni Center Building to celebrate “Valik Varsi,” the grand alumni homecoming of the Varsitarian.

National Artists for Literature F. Sionil José and Bienvenido Lumbera were among the many literature titans who graced the event. José is the Varsitarian’s 23rd editor in chief, serving from 1948 to 1949. Lumbera, who became literary editor in the 1950’s, led the cakecutting ceremony. Other National Artists alumni of the ‘V’ are Cirilo Bautista (literary editor) and the late J. Elizalde Navarro (art director).

“The Varsitarian has contributed a great deal in the development of student journalism,” Lumbera told Varsitarian staffers during the reunion.

Other well-known alumni in the literary field present were UST Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies director Cristina Pantoja-Hidalgo, Philippine High School for the Arts director Vim Nadera, and Filipinas Institute of Translation president Michael Coroza.

Alumni journalists who attended included former New York Times correspondent Alice Colet-Villadolid, Manila Times columnist and former senator Francisco Tatad, communications scholar Crispin Maslog, Manila Bulletin-Tempo entertainment editor Nestor Cuartero, Inquirer columnists Rina Jimenez-David and Rafael Castillo, BizNewsAsia founder and president Antonio “Tony” Lopez, former CBCP Monitor editor in chief Jesselynn Garcia De La Cruz, poetess and former broadcast journalist Rita Gaddi, ANC host Christian Esguerra and broadcast personality Lourd de Veyra.

Villadolid, former news writer of the ‘V’, praised the publication for upholding “good student press freedom.”

“The Varsitarian editors and advisers have fought for good student press freedom [even] though there are certain restrictions in a Catholic university,” she said.

“In the midst of challenges, the ‘V’ has performed its work as chronicler and opinion-maker and creative fermenter so much so that it’s considered as the foremost campus paper in the country,” said ABS-CBN corporate communications head Kane Errol Choa.

Choa along with his mentor and predecessor at ABS-CBN, veteran media practitioner Ramon “Bong” Osorio, hosted the event. Choa was a features writer of the Varsitarian in 1994 while Osorio was assistant Filipino editor in 1974.

Radyo Veritas anchor Fr. Nicanor “Nick” Lalog, and former UST vice rector Fr. Virgilio Ojoy, O.P. concelebrated the Thanksgiving Mass. Lalog served as sports writer in 1986 while Ojoy was associate editor in 1979.

Former ‘V’ adviser Sister Regina Kuizon, the Philippine provincial of the Good Shepherd Sisters and the chair of the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines, led the invocation, which featured a video requiem for ‘V’ alumni who had passed away.

The UST Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Conservatory of Music professor Herminigildo Ranera, led the countdown to the ‘V’ centennial in 2028 with

Former presidential adviser Ronald Llamas

a rendition of “Ode to Joy” from Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. The UST Singers also treated the alumni to such classics as “Hallelujah” from Handel’s “Messiah.”

Reminiscences Although the ‘V’ alumni have gone to different paths after their stints in the publication, the memories they made are still alive in their hearts until today.

“My Varsitarian stint was one of the most fulfilling moments of my student life,” said foremost business journalist and publisher Antonio Lopez, a former ‘V’ managing editor. “It prepared me for life after college, for serious work of journalism both in the Philippines and abroad.”

“The training in ‘V’ is probably the best in the Philippines,” De National Artists for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera and F. Sionil Jose Veyra said.

Maslog, who was news editor in 1961, called his Varsitarian experience “fun despite the challenges.”

“Fun to be with friends of alike interests; fun to be with them and joke around while you’re doing the newspaper,” Maslog explained.

“Aside from being fun, it was a learning experience. I learned a lot working with the staff and at the same time, it was ego-boosting. It made you important,” the veteran media scholar said.

Cuartero, who lectures in the Faculty of Arts and Letters and is a fellow at the CCWLS, visited the old location of the Varsitarian office at the UST Main Building in a video presentation. Cuartero was “V” managing editor in 1974.

“I am happy that the Varsitarian spirit has lived and even improved and became stronger through the years,” Cuartero said. “[The] friendship, camaraderie and a sense of family has strengthened through the years.”

Devrite, Inc. vice president Andy Saracho recalled how proud he was for being part of the Varsitarian at the time ABS-CBN vice president for Corporate Communications Ramon “Bong” when the Marcos regime was nearing its end.

Osorio and Corporate Communications head Kane Errol Choa “[The Varsitarian] was very active then in coverage of what’s going on in the Philippine society. [There was] civilian unrest, rallies, demonstrations, street activities,” he said.

The video also featured memoirs from Woman Today editor in chief Rosalinda de Leon, award-winning film director Alberto Monteras II, Eggshell Worldwide Com Inc. president Mark Pahate and managing and PR director Charmaine Pidal-Pahate. Ojoy and Nadera also spoke on the video.

Some prominent V alumni include Inquirer founder Eugenia Duran Apostol; Chief Justice Andres Narvasa; Manila Mayor Arsenio Lacson; Vice President Emmanuel Pelaez; Sorsogon Gov. Juan Frivaldo; former UST rectors Fr. Rolando V. de la Rosa, O.P. and Fr. Norberto Castillo, O.P.; visual artists Danny Dalena and Remy Boquiren; PLDT senior VP and treasurer Jun Florencio; former presidential adviser Ronald Llamas; former Manila Arzobispado media head Corazon Yamsuan; Archbishop Artemio Casas; former Mindanao State University VP for research Sister Delia Inquirer columnist Rina Jimenez-David and former CBCP Monitor editor in Coronel, ICM; Philippine Medical Association president chief Jesselynn Garcia De La Cruz Vicente Rosales Sr.; press freedom icon Jose Burgos Jr; Paz Latorena; Celso Carunungan; Felix Bautista; Gloria Garchitorena-Goloy; Leticia Buhay; Rogelio Sicat; and Ophelia Dimalanta. J. C. B. OCAYA

Sr. Regina Kuizon, RGS, chair of the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines

Former senator Francisco “Kit” Tatad

Radyo Veritas anchor Fr. Nick Lalog

8

Acting Editor: Deejae S. Dumlao

LENSP

PEAK

FEBRUARY 28, 2018

9

10 Features

Editor: Chelsey Mei Nadine B. Brazal

FEBRUARY 28, 2018

Disability not a hindrance to aspiring teacher

By DAPHNE YANN P. GALVEZ CEREBRAL palsy didn’t keep Jennica Garcia from fulfilling her dream of becoming a teacher.

The 24-year-old Garcia finished her Teacher Certificate Program from the College of Education in 2017 despite having athetoid cerebral palsy with spasticity, a movement disorder characterized by stiff muscles and abnormal, involuntary movements.

Her condition, however, did not limit her from passing the Licensure Examinations for Teachers last November.

“Gusto ko patunayan na we are not just persons with disabilities, we are persons with different abilities,” Garcia told the Varsitarian.

Garcia initially doubted her capability of being a teacher, so she took up Financial Accounting instead for her bachelor’s degree at Universidad de Manila.

After graduating in 2016, Garcia was granted a scholarship from the Philippine Business for Education, a non-profit organization, to take up the Teacher Certificate Program in UST. The program was intended for non-education graduates who wishes to pursue a teaching career.

Garcia worked as an administrative staff at the Philippine Center for Cerebral Palsy, Inc. (PCPI) where she also had physical, occupation and speech therapy and treatment while attending her classes on Saturdays.

She is now qualified to teach Social Sciences to high school students and plans on being a Special Education teacher soon to encourage children with disabilities to keep learning.

“Para makita rin nila na kahit ganito ako, na-fulfill ko ‘yung dreams ko. Gusto ko sila i-encourage na ‘wag silang susuko na maabot ‘yung mga pangarap nila kahit na may disability sila,” she said.

Garcia is yet to apply for a teaching position since she is still an employee at the PCPI. Miss Possibilities Garcia bested 11 young women with disabilities in the 2017 Miss Possibilities pageant at the Ateneo de Manila University last Dec 2.

Candidates of the pageant are women with special needs.

The pageant included talent and question-and-answer portions.

Garcia admitted that aside from the difficulty in movement and speech, she also had to face bullying during her childhood.

She was not able to play sports and always received sideway glances everywhere she went. Companies were also hesitant in hiring persons with disability; she had to apply to more than 40 companies before being hired at the PCPI. Garcia PAGE 11

Couple creates art for a cause THEIR love for children and the arts brought this Thomasian couple to hold fundraising art exhibits for underprivileged youth.

Lawrence and Milch Aliwalas, who both took up advertising arts in UST, displayed their art pieces in an exhibit titled “Talento” at Gateway Gallery in Quezon City to generate funds for QC Performing Arts Scholars.

Using fiberglass and resin, the couple molded sculptures that depict different symbols for performing arts, such as ballerina shoes and guitars.

“We chose to help these children because, just like us, they are artists in their own way [and] we admire their discipline and dedication to make themselves better by doing what they love,” the couple said in an online interview with the Varsitarian.

T h i s is not the c o u p l e ’s first exhibit for a cause.

I n

Jennica Garcia

Ojoy

FROM PAGE 1 lies,” he said during the Eucharistic celebration last Jan. 20 at the Grand Ballroom of the Buenaventura G. Paredes O.P. Alumni Center Building.

“Because we have lost our innocence,” Ojoy said, “many of us have become scheming, blatantly corrupt and we can probably see this in our politicians. If we want to belong to God’s kingdom, we have to recover that hope and start again as a family, as a country, as a Church to bring peace and progress.”

As future journalists, the Varsitarian staff play a huge role to

At the helm FROM PAGE 4

Milch and Lawrence Aliwalas

January 2017, the couple debuted their first show “Total Meltdown” which featured sculptures tackling effects of global warming.

Their interest to help in advocacies for children began when they became members of the 501st Legion of Philippine Garrison, an all-volunteer international organization that builds and wears Star Wars costumes and volunteers for charity.

They started making sculptures of comic book characters and participated in toy conventions. Soon they got involved into collaborating with different artists for advocacies.

“Art is such a powerful form of media and we think it is our responsibility to create artworks that contain substance, [so] the idea of doing exhibits [for] a cause has always been important to us,” they said in a joint response via email.

The couple also does request appearances in hospitals with the help of Make a Wish Foundation PH. “When we go to hospitals, we visit sick kids while in costume and we try to cheer them up so they can forget their sickness even just for a while,” Lawrence said.

Their pieces were featured in different group exhibits like “You are Here” at Vinyl on Vinyl Gallery in 2015 and “Metamorphosis” at Metro Gallery in 2017.

“We always try to come up with projects that could merge both our craft and our charity work [and we hope to have] more collaborations with artists and continue to have shows for a noble cause,” they said.

Aside from organizing fundraising exhibits and collaborative shows, the couple also manages Imagine Nation Design Studios, a group composed of different professional artists who creates sculptures and 3D art.

LOUISE CLAIRE H. CRUZ

The Church also became entangled during the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo presidency.

Benigno Aquino III’s term was also a rough time for the Church as the Reproductive Health Law, which the Church leaders had opposed, was passed by both houses of Congress.

Today, Church leaders who have spoken out against the sorry state that Duterte has put the country in have reportedly been largely ignored, in what some scholars and critics say as “a loss of vaunted influence” over Filipinos.

Some even say that critical thinking or the “age of political correctness” has shaken Catholic influence, to which I say there can never be enough force in the world to challenge the political and moral clout of the Church.

The President cannot discard the Filipino people’s centuries-old, yet not antiquated, abidance with the Catholic faith, its magisterium and moral teachings.

The Church has looked after the poor and the marginalized and even led grass-roots collectives into liberation from social injustices in rural parts of the country. It

“recover that hope and drive even if there are threats to seal our lips,” said Ojoy, a former ‘V’ associate editor, said.

“We can do this not only by pointing to the evil, to the lies and malice in the language, in the deeds of a person whose words and works matter, but more so by creating a vision fermenting hope and triggering the drive to realize that we all have to bring back the innocence and beauty--and only then can we transform this nation into a kingdom of God,” he said.

Malolos diocesan priest Fr. Nicanor Lalog, also a ‘V’ alumnus and a former reporter for GMA News, concelebrated the Mass. has fostered compassion toward drug abusers by rehabilitation and pastoral assistance, taking in hundreds into the care of dioceses and convent homes.

And the President has done nothing so far but steer the country into the sad, chaotic, and bloody state it is immersed in now.

As the Catholic Church has declared 2018 the Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons, Filipino Catholics should support Church leaders in disproving Duterte’s bluster that the Church has no more relevance wrong.

Based on a 2015 nationwide survey by consultancy firm EON, the Church remains the most trusted institution in the country.

The survey shows 73 percent of Filipinos trust the Catholic Church more than the academe (51 percent), media (32 percent), and government (12 percent).

If the Church is able to cultivate this trust among Filipinos, it may again return to the times of Cardinal Sin, when the Church had strong moral and political influence, when the Church’s opinion was widely heeded. And when presidents feared and respected its authority.

Editor: Lea Mat P. Vicencio

Witness 11

FEBRUARY 28, 2018

UST faculty urged to align with Church teaching WHAT is a saint?

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas reminded faculty and support staff of what it takes to be a saint during Ambag 2021, the University-wide retreat at the Quadricentennial Pavilion, in February.

To be a saint is to be a “normal Christian,” said Villegas, the former president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), as he decried the “normalization” of lying, cursing, extramarital affairs and other sins in society.

“A saint is a normal Christian. The problem with us is that we have become too abnormal.

We have made sin normal. We have made lying normal. We have made extramarital affairs normal. We have made cursing normal. We have made cheating normal,” Villegas said on Day 2 of the retreat last Feb. 8.

Titled “Ambag 2021: The Waze of Faith,” the event was in preparation for the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines in 2021 Villegas, who wore the Dominican habit as a member of the priestly fraternity of the Order of Preachers, called on UST faculty members and staff to always preach the Christ’s saving act on the cross.

Saying the University has no room for “cowards,” Villegas urged them to be like Christian martyrs who courageously stood for the Lord and were eventually rewarded with eternal joy.

“Sa UST, bawal ang duwag. Hindi tayo basagulero pero bawal ang duwag. Bawal ang duwag sa krus kasi kung duwag tayo sa krus, wala tayong karapatang tawaging Kristiyano,” he said.

“They can kill my body but they cannot kill my faith, my soul. Where is your joy? Your joy cannot be in your fat salary envelope. Your joy cannot be in the popularity that people give you because all of that is temporary. What makes you happy? The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Fr. Napoleon Sipalay Jr. O.P., prior provincial of the Dominican Province of the Philippines, said the retreat was as an opportunity for the participants to allow God in their lives in the University.

“If we are going to weave everything together, maybe we’ll produce what is very close to our hearts, and to us Dominicans… to contemplate. Or to put it in another way, long, loving peace, long, loving gaze of our experience here in UST,” Sipalay said in his homily during the Eucharistic celebration on Feb. 8.

Sipalay reminded attendees of the importance of contemplation not just in their University experience but also in their lives.

“Retreat [is] to find God in this experience.

Where was God in all these years I am here in UST? What is contemplation for us? We allow things to unfold before us and we have to see where is God in that experience,” Sipalay said.

He also called on University faculty and staff to emulate the Blessed Mother’s contemplative attitude as she kept her faith in

her son Jesus despite the challenges she had experienced.

Salvation is the goal In his homily during the opening Eucharistic celebration last Feb. 7, UST Rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. said everyone’s goal should be salvation, despite the many distractions in society.

“Maraming detours. You can never have a straight way. At sana sa huli, sa dami ng ating dinadanas at pinagdaraanan, magtatagpotagpo rin tayo sa iisang landas, ang landas ni Jesus, ang landas ng buhay,” he said.

Dagohoy urged University employees and faculty to pray for courage and trust in the Lord’s will.

“Bakit ang pag-ibig ng Diyos ang kailangan nating baunin sa ating paglalakbay?

Kailangan siguro nating lahat, sa pagsisimula ng ating retreat ngayon, is to pray for courage and belief that God has no exit. That we only need to jump and with God,” he added.

Fr. Enrico Gonzales, O.P., former dean of the UST Faculty of Philosophy, cited the annual Traslacion procession of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo as an example of people’s journey in reflecting on their struggles and reorienting their lives toward God. “Ang dahilan ng Traslacion, ibabalik sa kaniyang tahanan ang Nazareno. We are fixated with our problems. Nakalimutan na ibalik ang Nazareno sa bahay niya kaya `di makausad-usad, pero natututo rin tayo, `yan ang struggle natin,” he said in the retreat’s opening session last Feb. 7.

Gonzales warned of too much preoccupation with life’s daily problems, which might ignore the “ultimate concern” in life — salvation.

“Daily concerns don’t mean [these are] not important, however it is just a part of our life, because once people are fixated with survival then the law will only be that of the jungle…only the strongest will reign,” he said.

He called greediness an abnormality and challenged Thomasians to journey and empathize with others.

“Mga Tomasino, are you moving or are you fixated? Nagpru-prusisyon ba kayo? O nakatayo lang kayo binabantayan, fixated on your material possessions? You’re not growing normal, you’re growing abnormally.

Because greed is an abnormality,” he said.

Marawi prelate turns emotional Marawi Bishop Edwin de la Peña turned emotional as he recalled the siege of Marawi on the last day of the University-wide faculty and staff retreat last Feb 9.

De la Peña, a target for kidnapping of Islamic State-inspired terrorists, teared up when he spoke of the hundreds of lives lost to the siege, as well as some 250 hostage victims.

“I cannot imagine myself being [a] hostage. I cannot also imagine them staying there for four to five months in the Maute lair and enduring that daily aerial bombardment

Marawi Bishop Edwin dela Peña and Vice Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas with the Rector

because they were embedded right there […] and so that was part of my own struggle,” he said in his homily during retreat’s closing Eucharistic celebration.

With both Muslims and Christians suffering in Marawi, de la Peña called for interreligious dialogue.

“Christians and Muslims realized how much they share in common, not only the experience of suffering but also the experience of finding in one another the brother and sister that we can love and care for,” he added.

De la Peña also emphasized the need for God’s healing through human interaction. “[In] sharing that suffering, we also discovered something beautiful about each other. We began to realize that we are not really enemies but we are friends; we are brothers and sisters. The Lord taught us to walk in his ways and discover our common humanity,” he said.

The University presented to the Marawi prelate its donation to “Duyog Marawi,” a project launched by the CBCP National Secretariat for Social Action to help rebuild Marawi City and the prelature. LEXANNE O. GARCIA, PEARL ANNE M. GUMAPOS and LADY CHERBETTE N. AGOT with reports from MAREM A. DE JEMEL

Replicas of images of the Black Nazarene (above) and the Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Manaoag (below) at the Quadricentennial Pavilion.

Garcia

FROM PAGE 10

Photos by A. J. GOROSPE

Thousands march in Luneta to promote dignity of life FILIPINOS marched to Quirino Grandstand at Rizal Park on Feb. 24 to promote the dignity of all forms of life amid “crooked and bloody roads.”

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle urged the faithful to walk as a family for the protection of life threatened by increasing violence, during the annual “Walk for Life.”

“Marami pa pong ibang lugar na naglalakad para sa buhay pero ang kanilang tinatapakan ay nabahiran na ng dugo. [Ang] pinaglalakbayan [nila] ay punung-puno ng mga bakas ng karahasan at pagbaliwala sa buhay. Hindi kayo nag-iisang naglalakad.

Tayo’y isang pamilya na sama-samang naglalakad kahit na baku-bako ang mga landas,” Tagle said in his homily during the Eucharistic celebration.

Tagle particularly lamented the lack of respect for the lives of one’s enemies. “’Pag [ang] usapin ay buhay, huwag mong titingnan [kung] kaaway o kaibigan ba ‘yan.

Kaya ang walk for life ‘di lang walk [para sa] ilang buhay. Ang test ng commitment [ay] pati ba ang buhay ng hindi ko kasundo ay aking igagalang?” Tagle said.

The cardinal called for a “reoriented mentality centered on the appreciation of life as God’s gift,” against a “functional, pragmatic and materialistic” world that treats people as a commodity. “[Ang regalo ay] bunga ng pagmamahal ng nagbigay, hindi inaalipusta. Hindi kami gamit, hindi kami bagay. Kami’y tao, may buhay at kahit warak, sugatan, marupok, regalo ng Diyos. At ang regalo, hindi sinasayang, hindi itinatapon,” Tagle said.

The “Walk for Life” was in response to the persecution of Christians, extrajudicial killings, abortion and the proposed revival of the death penalty. It was also a protest against the destruction of the environment, threats to the lives of indigenous peoples, human trafficking and the lack of decent housing for the urban poor.

Caloocan Bishop Pablo David and Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo concelebrated the Mass with Tagle.

The Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas, the umbrella organization of national Catholic lay organizations and archdiocesan and diocesan councils of the laity, spearheaded the event.

Simultaneous Walks for Life were also held in Tarlac, San Pablo, Cebu and Cagayan de Oro. LEXANNE O. GARCIA

Marife Garcia, Garcia’s mother, is a witness to her daughter’s plight with disability. “[Noong] bata pa siya, takot siya na mapag-isa kasi bakamabangga sya ng iba o baka saktan at asarin lang sya…

Madalas [rin siyang] ma-discriminate lalo na sa pag-aapply ng trabaho dahil sa kanyang kalagayan,” the older Garcia said.

“Hindi siya nahihiya sa kung anumang kapansanan niya. Kaya niyang makipagsabayan sa mga normal na tao,” the mother added.

Jam Anain, one of Garcia’s classmates in UST attested to Garcia’s dedication to studying.

“I find her so dedicated. She does her best in every school activity despite of her busy schedule since she’s working during weekdays,” Anain said.

“Being a differently-abled person, she manages not to ‘feel different. She talks as normal people does... She makes sure to get along with everybody.”

Garcia continues to push for her dreams, unencumbered by her disability, and serves as an inspiration not only to persons with disabilities but also to people who doubts their capabilities.

“Pahinga ka lang pero wag kang susuko. Kahit ilang beses ka pang madapa, ‘wag kang magsawang bumangon,” Garcia said.

12 Filipino

Patnugot: Jolau V. Ocampo

IKA-28 NG PEBRERO, 2018

‘Sa Mga Pansamantala’ ni Vijae Alquisola: Tula’t dalumat sa mga lumisan at nilisanan ISINATALUDTOD ni Vijae Alquisola sa kaniyang unang limbag na aklat na pinamagatang “Sa Mga Pansamantala: Mga Tula” (UST Publishing House, 2017) ang pagdanas sa mundo ng mga taong sinusubok ng pasakit ng pag-alis ng kanilang mga minamahal.

Sa koleksiyon ni Alquisola, namukod-tangi ang pagsasalaysay sa karanasan ng isang bata. Pinuri ito ni Allan Popa, dalubguro sa Ateneo de Manila, dahil sa “pambihirang kakayahan nitong iparanas ang karunungan ng isang bata sa kabila ng kasalatan ng kaalaman ng isang bata.”

Binubuo ito ng 49 na tulang hinati sa apat na malalaking bahagi.

Mapapansin din ang kakaibang estilo ng pagkakasulat ng mga tula upang magkaroon ng samo’t saring impresyon na papatok sa panlasa ng mambabasa. Ayon nga kay Genevieve Asenjo, makata mula sa Pamantasang De La Salle, isinakatawan ng koleksiyon “ang paghahanda’t paghahain ng pag-ibig… sa iba’t ibang anyo, iksi’t haba, lasa’t tunog ng wika.”

Nilalaman ng aklat ang ilan sa mga tula na kabilang sa kaniyang nagwaging koleksiyon sa Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards noong 2014, gayon din ang mga nailathala sa iba’t ibang antolohiya at pampanitikang dyornal katulad ng Tómas.

Ayon naman kay Luna Sicat-Cleto, isang kuwentista at makata sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, “umuuwi si Alquisola sa mga payak na karanasan, sa mga paghuhugis ng mga lugar at lunan, [at] sa pagbabalik ng lasa sa mga nakalimutan at kinalimutan.”

Pinatutunayan ang pag-uugnay na ito sa pamamagitan ng mga tulang tulad ng “Bahay-bahayan,” “Trip to Jerusalem,” at “Horror Train.”

“Sa ganito ko unang natitigan ang takot,

katabi ang ‘di kilalang bata at tatay niya.

…Hindi ako sumigaw o nagtakip ng mata

tulad ng mga batang niyakap ng katabi

na nagtaboy sa pag-amba ng mga pangil.”

– sipi mula sa Horror Train

Hayag din ang paglalaro ni Alquisola sa mga salita. Inisipan niya ng malikhaing ugnayan ang mga pangyayari mula sa kasalatan ng pamumuhay at ang mga bagay at hayop na nagkaroon ng mahahalagang bahagi sa pagkamusmos.

Pamilya at pangingibang-bansa naman ang nangibabaw sa ikalawang bahagi ng aklat. Naging katangi-tangi ang tulang “Pagsubok” sa pagpapakita nito ng kakaibang anyo sa panulaan ng pagkukulang.

Tinimpla at pinalasap ni Alquisola sa ikatlong bahagi ang pait na nararanasan ng mga “napagiwanan” sa paraan ng paggamit ng konsepto at kagamitan sa pagluluto.

Mapapansin din ang pagpapaloob ng katutubong kulay. Piniga ang lasa ng pinais, pinangat at tamalis sa tulang “Mga Binalot Mula sa Sampaloc, Quezon” upang ipatikim ang lasa ng pagnanais at paglisan.

Litaw ang konseptong ito sa mga taludtod na: “Paano maililigtas sa pagkapanis ang nais?

Paano naibabalot, sarap ng angat?

Kailan nagiging tama, asim ng alis?”

Bunga ng mahusay na pagtula, naipababatid ni Alquisola sa mambabasa ang pakiramdam ng mga taong sinusubok ng paglisan tulad na lamang sa kalagayan ng pamilya ng mga Overseas Filipino Workers o OFW. Sa tulang “Snapshots” mula sa ikaapat na bahagi ng koleksiyon, ang paglipas ng panahon ang nagiging punto de vista ng tula. Tinatalakay nito ang paglalakbay ng isang anak na nawalay sa magulang sa murang edad, iba ang kasama paglaki hanggang sa natutuhan kung paano tumayo sa sariling mga paa.

Naging hudyat man ng kalungkutan ang pamagat ng koleksiyon maging ang pabalat nitong nakatingala’t bukas-palad na tao, isang uri ng panghihimok ang aklat upang ipabatid sa mambabasa na laging may katapat na kalungkutan ang mga lumilisan. CHRIS V. GAMOSO

Salmo 46:1 Kumusta?

May panahong babalik ka muli sa inunang hilahil, sa karimlan ng kahapon, kung saan pilit mong limutin, magpigil ang mga alaalang minsan mong iningatan at nararamdamang hindi napanindigan Maaari kang manatili riyan sa iisang lugar sa kalawakan Na nakabisado na ng buwan kung saan Nagkukumpuni ka ng mga nasira mong bahagi.

Ngunit huwag mong hayaang kainin ka ng iyong anino, ang iyong haligi Isa lamang siyang ideya.

Wala siyang pangalan, o maski mukha, siya’y malaya Maaari siyang lumisan nang walang paalam Maaari rin siyang bumalik sa ibang katawan na kaniyang hiniram Hugutin ang sinulid sa pusong humahalinghing Ngunit baka matagalan pa itong gumaling.

Pabayaan mo itong mamukadkad na tila bulaklak sa sementong nabiyak na nakatambad Ngunit kung sakaling mayroong kumatok na simbilis ng iyong dating pagtibok, pagbubuksan mo ba ang isang nangungumusta?

ERMA R. EDERA

Usapang Uste

Banta ng militarisasiyon ayon kay Ninoy noong dekada ’70 Ni WINONA S. SADIA

ILANG buwan bago isailalim ni Ferdinand Marcos sa batas militar ang Filipinas, pinaguusapan na sa Unibersidad ang mga banta ng pang-aabuso sa karapatang pantao sa bansa.

Sa katunayan, sa isang pagtitipon noong ika-18 ng Pebrero 1972 sa Unibersidad, ibinahagi ng kritiko ni Marcos na si Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino ang kaniyang pangamba sa napipintong pamahalaang diktadura.

Ayon kay Aquino, dapat maiging suriin ang layunin ng Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas (AFP) na pagbuklurin ang Hukbong Katihan ng Pilipinas, Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas, Hukbong Pamayapa ng Pilipinas, at Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas, at kolektibong tawaging Unified Defense Command.

Bukod pa rito, pinuna rin ng dating senador ang “pakikipagkaibigan” ni Marcos sa mga komunistang bansa tulad ng Tsina at Russia habang agad na pinarurusahan ang mga estudyanteng nangangaral tungkol sa komunismo.

Iginiit ni Aquino na malinaw na hakbang para sa militarisasiyon ng bansa ang mga ito.

Hindi natapos ang taong 1972, pormal na nagdeklara ng batas militar si Marcos noong Setyembre 1972. Bunsod nito, libo-libong mga mag-aaral, aktibista, at iba pa ang pinaslang o naging kabilang sa mga desaparecidos.

Tomasino siya Sa loob ng ilang dekada sa hudikatura, napakarami nang naiambag ni Monina ArevaloZenarosa sa pagtatanggol at

pagpapatibay ng karapatan ng mga Filipino.

Tinanggap niya ang kaniyang law degree sa Unibersidad noong 1959. Sa parehong taon, naipasa niya ang bar examinations sa edad na 20.

Ilan sa mga naunang gampanin ni Zenarosa ang pagiging election registrar sa Mercedes sa Camarines Norte mula 1964 hanggang 1966 at projects officer naman sa ilalim ng legal affairs ng Task Force on Human Settlements noong 1974.

Bilang kawaning taga-usig ng Lungsod Quezon mula 1975 hanggang 1990, ilan sa mga hinawakan niyang posisyon ang pinuno ng prosecution division, pili at espesyal na abogado sa taga-usig panlahat, at pangulo ng Committee on Legal Affairs sa Quezon City Consultative Council.

Taong 1990 nang magsimula siyang manilbihan bilang tagahukom ng regional trial court (RTC) sa Lungsod Angeles. Itinalaga siya bilang acting presiding judge sa RTC Branch 80 sa Lungsod Quezon noong 1992.

Sa parehong taon, ganap na siyang naging tagahukom ng Branch 76 ng Quezon City RTC at nanilbihan dito hanggang 2004.

Matapos ito, itinalaga ng dating pangulong G l o r i a Macapagal Arroyo si Zenarosa bilang mahistrado ng Hukuman ng Apelasyon.

D a h i l sa kaniyang makabuluhang

ambag sa hudikatura, tumanggap na rin siya ng ilang mga parangal tulad ng Most Outstanding RTC Judge noong 2003 mula sa Citizens Anti-Crime Assistance Group at Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption.

Hinirang naman siya bilang Huwarang Ina para sa kategoryang batas at hudikatura noong 2009.

Ipinagkaloob ito ng National Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Council at Ideal Parents and Family Foundation.

Isa si Zenarosa sa mga ginawaran sa The Outstanding Thomasian Alumni Awards noong 2014.

Tomasalitaan lamyos (png) - lambing, suyo Hal: Hindi ako humihiling ng anumang higit sa iyong lamyos, Mahal, sapagkat sapat na ito upang patuloy akong maniwala sa iyo.

Mga sanggunian TOTAL Awards 2014 The Varsitarian Tomo XLIII Blg. 29, Pebrero 25, 1972; 19711975, p.126

Editor: Nikko Miguel M. Garcia

Literary 13

FEBRUARY 28, 2018

Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo’s ‘The Thing with Feathers’:

Hopeful memoirs of a writing life

IN HER latest nonfiction book, The Thing with Feathers: My Book of Memories (UST Publishing House, 2017), Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo tackles the writing life, that is, her life as a writer, its joys and struggles.

The title, according to Hidalgo, comes from Emily Dickinson’s poem, “’Hope’ is the Thing with Feathers.”

The veritable memoirs have had a curious beginning: they’re cobbled up from notes originally posted on Facebook. Therefore, they’re like journal notes that have become bases of a larger, lengthier personal narrative.

The book has three parts. The first covers her young life and her innate love for books; the second is about her travels and participation in international literary conferences; and the third consists of thoughts on writing as a career.

In the preface, Hidalgo describes the book as containing “the mementos of an ordinary life—tales of love and loss, reflections on coming of age and confronting the decline, joys hard won and deep abiding sorrows, fragments of dreams forgotten, forsaken, retrieved, honored.”

Hidalgo, director of the UST Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies, writes her memoirs in a way that draws the reader in so that whatever is remembered becomes not only the author’s but the reader’s as well.

In “Ghost of Christmas Past,” for instance, Hidalgo recalls Christmas on campus when she was a UST sophomore nursing a crush on a guy.

Some of the details are supplied ex post facto to make the reminiscences as vivid and realistic as possible.

In “Casa Blanca,” Hidalgo writes about her childhood spent at the Casa Blanca Hotel in Baguio City where her family hied off during summer. She makes the narrative richer by historical data provided by blogger Kathleen Burkhalter.

“The Casa Blanca, wrote Kathleen, ‘worked hard as a hotel in the ‘50’s’ (which was when our family used to stay in it). ‘Its inner architecture,’ she added, ‘made it able to morph from large home to hotel to summer rentals and back to house,” Hidalgo writes.

“She does know that during the Big Earthquake of 1990, the house ‘came down’ or ‘was terribly damaged,” Hidalgo continues about the blogger.

Photographs help the reader better visualize the memories.

They include photographs of herself, the places she visited, the things she treasures, and images of people she has spent her personal and professional life with.

Hidalgo’s book is surely a thing with feathers as it takes the reader to the horizon of memories—not only of the author, but also of the reader’s own. It is pure and simple, yet it gives the experience of a voyaging mind and a longing heart. It moves a person to feel the familiar wind once more after a long time.

Ultimately, it encourages one to go fly and remember the ordinary.

H.N. LAVARIAS

Dangwa frenzy on Valentine’s Day

By ELMER B. COLDORA

Agatep’s ‘Winning the Anvils’: Public Relations 101

By NIKKO MIGUEL M. GARCIA

PUBLIC relations (PR) is such a misunderstood, if not an underrated, field in communications. It is often wrongly referred to as putting a misleading spin for the benefit of high corporate and public figures; it is either mere window-dressing or blatant disinformation.

Fortunately, there’s the much-needed book on public relations, Winning the Anvils: A Guide for Professionals in the Trade and Students Entering It, written

by PR pioneer and giant Carlos “Charlie” Agatep.

Published last year by Agatep’s marketing communications agency Grupo Agatep, Anvil is sui generis and “first of its kind;” it does not dwell on heavy textbook and armchair theories which do not have any praxis. Instead, it offers stories of public relations professionals in their attempts to properly “build, enhance, and protect” the reputation of their client companies and public figures.

Agatep, a Varsitarian alumnus, presents readers with 64 PR case studies complete with background or situation, objectives, target publics, methods and strategies, and results.

The case studies alert PR practitioners, teachers and students from subterfuges, the bane of much of PR writing, which Agatep considers as practically a purveyance of fake news.

The book is an authoritative guide in the big PR world, most especially Agatep boasts of an impressive profile.

Agatep took up journalism at the defunct Faculty of Philosophy and Letters.

He finished it in three years after 1950 and graduated cum laude.

Agatep was a former PR and advertising head of Esso Standard Fertilizer & Agricultural Chemicals and Mobile Oil Philippines. He taught public relations, mass communication, photojournalism, and advertising at UST, St. Paul University and Assumption College.

A Fulbright and Smith-Mundt fellow, Agatep took up his master’s degree in communication arts at Boston University. He received the 2017 Gawad Panday, the highest distinction in the Philippine PR industry. He once headed the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) and was director of the Philippine Association of National Advertisers.

Because it is explicitly titled as a “guide,” Agatep’s book serves as a “prescription” and “template” for aspiring PR practitioners, suggesting numerous ways of presenting campaigns and writing case studies.

Case studies found in the book include “Lumina Pandit: Home of Knowledge and Preservation,” a project launched during UST’s quadricentennial celebration, which involved the digitization of “some 30 000 rare books and documents” housed in the Miguel de Benavides Library and University Archives.

Another study, “Sabi ng Jollibee: Kaya Mo, Kid! Campaign,” promoted Filipino values among the youth.

Agatep’s case studies are all winners of the most sought-after Anvil, bestowed yearly

by PRSP. The Anvils is like the Academy Awards or “Oscars,” and the so-called Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards of the PR world.

Agatep’s firm has won 137 Anvils: nine golds, 71 silvers, three grand prizes, three platinums, and a special citation for excellence in brand-building and reputation management.

Yet, the book is neither mere hoisting of Agatep’s trophies nor flaunting of his achievements to stoke his ego as a PR pioneer and giant in the country. It’s just icing on the cake; its true goal is to inspire PR aspirants to hopefully win their own Anvils.

But perhaps Agatep’s book does not just encourage people to simply win the Anvils; it reminds practitioners, teachers and students with regards the true essence of public relations, and that is to establish rapport among the public and earn their trust for outstanding, bona fide services.

DESPITE a few jeepneys spewing exhaust fumes, the famed flower market along the intersection of Dos Castillas and Laong Laan streets maintains its redolence nonetheless.

The refreshing scent emanating from its merchandise, spread all over the concrete floor, breezes in, a counterbalance to the polluted air of Manila’s confounding chaos.

As the week of February 14 comes along, people flock to Dangwa flower market, briskly walking back and forth and canvassing prices for their orders which eventually become tokens of their romantic affections on Valentine’s Day. Even if most Filipinos nowadays may opt to send messages to their loved ones through smart phones and social media, there are still those who prefer the romantic gesture of flower-giving.

A 10-minute walk from the University, Dangwa lures buyers of flowers, including students of neighboring universities and schools. Its countless varieties of flowers and cheap prices offered by the vendors are among the reasons why some choose to buy in this flower market and not from other cities and commercial florists in malls.

The market is filled with artfully arranged bouquets, orchids of different colors, farm-fresh carnations, peonies, mums, stargazers, among others. These flowers are often sold by retail or bulk.

Julius Villavieja, a 3rd year Journalism student, is a frequent buyer at Dangwa.

He buys flowers whenever he visits his girlfriend.

“Filipinos nowadays could not express their emotions eloquently and romantically using words. We put our love in the objects that we buy and hope that the person we give it to understands,” Villavieja said.

Villavieja emphasized that it is not the flower that makes its receiver special “but the toil behind being able to afford it.”

“It’s about not following the regular allocated expenses for food, load, fare, and others, to be able to save enough for a bouquet or even just a stem,” he said.

Dangwa flower market is named after a transportation company (Tranco) owned

by Samuel Martin Dangwa, a former representative of Benguet. It was once an eight-vendor roadway in the 1980s which eventually transformed into hundreds of stalls.

Dangwa Tranco, which connects Manila to the Cordillera region, began as a company dedicated to the transportation of beans, strawberries, carrots and potatoes grown by the Benguet farmers to Manila everyday.

Now, Dangwa’s buses are transporting flowers from Baguio to Manila and the area around the terminal on J. Marzan Street.

As the flower market bloomed for years

with the increasing number of flower vendors, many sellers have subscribed to suppliers other than Baguio; they even import flowers from China, Holland and Korea.

Since then, the retail industry in Dangwa prospered steadily in becoming a destination in finding flowers as presents in special occasions including birthdays, weddings, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day and All Soul’s Day. In 2006, Manila mayor Lito Atienza declared Dos Castillas the “flower market of Manila.” He also made the place more consumer-friendly by setting up large tulipshaped lampposts in the middle of a brick-tiled road covering the two blocks of Dos Castillas, giving customers enough space to move between stalls without the need of crossing streets.

The peak seasons in Dangwa are February, May, and November. Prices are driven because of big demand.

Russ Terrence Dumo, a Nursing alumnus, said one should give flowers to one’s loved one before Valentine’s Day as prices usually spiked up on that day.

“Flower-giving is really important, especially on Valentine’s Day since it has also been practiced universally,” he said. “When you give flowers, it doesn’t matter where you buy them. Valentine’s Day is not only about giving things—it’s about love.”

A canvasser may buy pre-arranged bouquets ranging from P300 to P700 on normal days. The prices double up, sometimes triple, and even more during these annual occasions, making it more pragmatic for customers to order in advance, especially those buying in wholesale or in bulk. However, the prices also drop significantly when the peak days end.

Flowers, for most Filipinos, never fail to make the receiver of any age feel special.

Whatever message the giver wants to convey, flowers have become a desirable thing rendered with meanings to express passionate feelings.

The Dangwa flower market has played a significant role among Filipinos—a steady supplier of flowers, a staple go-to place especially during Valentine’s Day.

14 Limelight

Art Director: Shaina Mae L. Santander

FEBRUARY 28, 2018

TOMA N’ SHAN BY MARIYELLA ALYSA A. ABULAD

KWENTO NI MATO BY JOELLE ALISON MAE P. EUSEBIO

TOMAS U. SANTOS BY NATHANAEL JONAS S.J. RODRIGO

Employment FROM PAGE 6

FROM PAGE 6

FROM PAGE 1

Integrated Survey on Labor and Employment in 2014 recorded 1.336 million non-regular workers, of which 672,729 were contractual or project-based workers.

Alternatives to charter change Mendoza said empowering local governments did not require a charter change, as it could be done by amending the Local Government Code of 1991—a law that transferred several national government functions to local governments and established mechanisms of recall.

“The local government code is now more than 25 years old and they say that it’s a failed experiment, but there are many studies that will say that the local government code has achieved what it has intended to do,” she said. “If we want to improve decentralization, we should amend the local government code.”

Former Quezon representative Erin Tañada reiterated the need for amendments to the code, saying it must be reviewed every five years.

“Dapat, after every five years, kailangan pag-aralan ang kailangang baguhin sa ating local government code. Unang tanong, nagawa ba yan o hindi? Kung hindi nagawa `yan, bakit hindi nagawa,” he said.

Hilbay said that with the President’s strong political will, amending the code should not be a problem.

“Under a President that’s very confident about [his] political will, then I’m quite certain [that] they can pass a local government code that can respond to the problem of physical struggling of the unbelievable control of Manila over the finances and the economic direction of the provinces,” he said.

now the world’s fastest-growing Asian restaurant chain with almost 4,000 stores in 17 countries across the globe.

Jollibee is also the country’s largest fast food network and owns the brands Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal and the local Burger King franchise.

In 2004, Tan Caktiong was named “World Entrepreneur of the Year” by London-based professional services firm Ernst & Young.

Tan Caktiong was named eighth richest man in the Philippines by Forbes Magazine in 2017.

Throughout the University’s history, only 77 individuals have been given honorary doctorates, including the late Manila archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, former president Corazon Aquino, Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. founder George Ty, and Mercury Drug founder Mariano Que. PAULINE FAYE V. TRIA with reports from JACOB MARVIN D. URMENITA

‘Labor policies problematic’ Contractual employment, such as agency hiring, could limit the basic rights of workers, Magtubo said.

“The practice in agency hiring is that if their contract ends, the worker would be removed… which defeats the exercise of their basic rights,” Magtubo said.

DO 174 only regulated contractual employment, he said. Section 11 of DO 174 states the guidelines for contracts between employees and subcontractor or contractor and the service agreement between the contractor and principal employer.

Magtubo said House Bill 6908, “An Act Amending Presidential Decree 442 or the Labor Code of the Philippines,” should be signed to law.

The bill, filed in December 2017, seeks to require licenses for job contractors and benefits for employees. It proposes penalties for labor-only contracting such as a maximum fine of P5 million and nonrenewal of a contractors’ license.

The House of Representatives approved the bill on the third and final reading last Jan. 29.

The bill’s counterparts, Senate Bill (SB) 1116 or “End of Endo or Contractualization Act of 2016” and SB 1061 or “Eradicating Abusive Contractualization,” are still pending approval in the Senate.

Humanities

Golden Tigresses

FROM PAGE 2

FROM PAGE 15

“[P]riority would normally push students to move to the sciences because their research is more expensive, but now attention is being given to culture and the arts,” she added.

RCCAH has two research journals: Kritike of the Department of Philosophy and Unitas of the Department of Literature, covering the fields of philosophy, literary and cultural studies, communication and architectural studies.

Research Fortnight 2018 is an annual forum hosted by the RCCAH. The research center celebrated its 55th anniversary with the theme: “Pananaliksik, Paglilingkod sa Sambayanan.” J.M.D. URMENITA

and Tin Francisco altogether averaged 18.2 ppg after five games.

Meanwhile, setter-turned-backuplibero Cat Pollentes will fill in Rivera’s absence throughout the first round.

As the team continues to find footing, Reyes said the Tigresses need to brush off on their service, reception and consistency.

UST leads the league in service, second in spiking andfifth in digging and blocking. The Tigresses are also the second-worst team in the league in terms of reception and setting.

If the team managed to adjust to circumstances, Reyeshas no doubt the team could make it back to the Final Four.

“Kaya naman maka-Final Four.

Kung makaka-twice-to-beat advantage, mas maganda,” he said. JUSTIN ROBERT VALENCIA

Solicitor general Founder

‘Labor over capital’ Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo called for humane working conditions, as mentioned in Catholic social teachings.

“Laborers must have priority over capital. They should be compensated properly for their work. As much as possible they should have regular tenure in their work so that they can support their family,” Pabillo told the Varsitarian.

Modern Church teachings on labor began with the landmark encyclical of Pope Leo XIII, titled Rerum Novarum, which called for a minimum wage.

“Let the working man and the employer make free agreements, and in particular let them agree freely as to the wages; nevertheless, there underlies a dictate of natural justice more imperious and ancient than any bargain between man and man, namely, that wages ought not to be insufficient to support a frugal and well-behaved wage-earner,” it states.

‘Know your constitution’ Mendoza stressed the importance of knowing the Constitution to understand the consequences of a shift to a federal system.

“We have to be aware and we have to start reading our Constitution, so we will know what we will risk if there is an overhaul of the 1987 Constitution,” she said.

A 2016 Pulse Asia survey showed that 73 percent of the Filipinos “have little or no knowledge of the constitution” while 27 percent have “substantial knowledge of the constitution.”

ARIANNE AINE D. SUAREZ and LOUISE CLEINDALE L. PENERA

Cantonjos FROM PAGE 16 man. Siya ‘yun because he is a legend in UST and one of the big men that UST had,” Ayo told the Varsitarian in an interview.

Cantonjos earlier announced his resignation amid reports Ayo was planning to put someone else in charge of the Tiger Cubs.

“Sa akin, if we have offended him, hindi namin sinasadya na mangyari… Kung nakaramdam siya ng ganoon, with all sincerity, I would like to apologize to him,” Ayo said.

The 40-year-old tactician denied he was eyeing assistant coach Randy Alcantara to coach the Cubs.

The new assignment, Ayo said, would be difficult for Alcantara, who also coaches Mapua’s junior and senior teams in the NCAA, and Tanduay in the PBA Developmental League.

Ayo also sought to clarify his decision to speak with juniors’ MVP CJ Cansino to join the Tigers.

Cantonjos was reportedly not told the new Tigers coach was reaching out to his top ward.

UST athletics moderator Rodrigo Sambuang had given his go-signal for the discussion, Ayo said. IVAN RUIZ L. SUING

Editor: Randell Angelo B. Ritumalta

Sports 15

FEBRUARY 28, 2018

Golden Tigresses collapse vs NU

THE GRITTY UST Golden Tigresses failed to follow up on their second-set win and faltered against the undefeated National University Lady Bulldogs, 19-25, 25-14, 19-25, 26-28, in the UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball tournament last Feb. 25 at the Arena in San Juan.

With the set tied at 26-all in the hotly contested fourth set, UST’s Alyssa Teope committed a costly error before Risa Sato’s blockkill on Cherry Rondina sealed the win for NU. “Nag-collapse lang kami sa dulo.

Doon sa sobrang gigil, mayroon tayong mga chances na mag-overball pero outside,” UST head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes Jr. said.

The Bulldogs scored three of the final five points in the third set to zoom to a 2-1 set advantage, 25-19.

The Tigresses banked on a huge 15-5 blitz capped by an NU service error in the second set to equalize, 25-14.

A UST attack error topped a 5-1 mini run

by NU to take the first salvo, 25-19.

Jaja Santiago led NU with 19 points while Aiko Urdas added 10 markers.

Rondina led the way anew for UST and had 25 points.

The Tigresses slid to sixth place in the standings with a 2-3 win-loss slate.

‘More motivated’ Even with injuries hounding the team, the Tigresses are still motivated for another crack at the Final Four.

To begin with, UST lost spiker EJ Laure for the rest of Season 80 to a chronic shoulder injury. Fil-Italian rookie Milena Alessandrini

was then ruled out for two to three weeks due to an inflamed right shoulder while ace libero Rica Rivera was sidelined by a lateral meniscal tear in the right knee and is expected to return after a month.

But despite the early hurdles, the undermanned Tigresses only had their confidence boosted.

“Mas naging motivated kami at mas sumipag kasi kailangang mag-extra work ng lahat,” Reyes said.

The chief tactician also said the team made little adjustments after the loss of Alessandrini since the Tigresses started preparing early last year, months before the Fil-Italian came to UST’s camp in mid-December. Alessandrini is the second-leading scorer in the team, with a 14.3-point average in three outings.

The injuries also opened the door for other Tigresses to step up.

While Rondina has taken over most of the scoring load and averaged a league-leading 23.4 points per game (ppg), she found key players Dimdim Pacres, Carla Sandoval and Tin Francisco also contributing their part in the offense.

“Ang hinahanap ko kay Dimdim is ‘yung at least mag-double digits… ‘Yung Carla Sandoval, tumulong din kaya malaking bagay,” Reyes said in a previous post-game interview.

Pacres has been a steady contributor for UST after averaging eight points through five games while Sandoval got her first points of the season against the Lady Falcons.

The supporting trio of Pacres, Sandoval Golden Tigresses PAGE 14

Golden Tigress Cherry Rondina spikes the ball against two NU Lady Bulldog blockers in their game last Feb 25.

Photo by A.J. GOROSPE

Coaches eye reform of fencing program

By MA. ANGELA CHRISTA COLOMA

FOLLOWING a fifth-straight silver finish in the men’s division and a last-place finish in the women’s division this season, UST’s fencing coaches are rethinking the school’s fencing program in preparation for Season 81.

Women’s sabre coach Ricardo Fuenzalida said coaches would focus on physically conditioning their wards and joining more international competitions.

“Last year we did not do much weights, so we will focus on that to improve on our physical conditioning in preparation for Season 81. Other schools [like University of the East] are able to compete in multiple competitions abroad four to five times a year,” Fuenzalida said.

UST’s last international tourney was the Brunei Open Fencing Championship in January 2017, where former player Maylene Pailma bagged a gold medal.

Last Feb 11, the Male Fencers ended the Season 80 fencing tournament with a 2-3-2 goldsilver-bronze haul while the Female

Fencers sank to fifth place with four bronze medals – their worst showing since Season 73.

UE continued its reign in both divisions, winning its eighth and 11thstraight titles in the men’s and women’s tournament, respectively.

Tiger Fencers captain Noelito Jose ended his UAAP career with fourstraight gold medals in the individual epee category, beforeteaming up with Rodolfo and Michael Duterte and Dennis Gascon in a 45-38 win over UE in the team epee championship.

But Jose along with Rodolfo Duterte, Elijah Asinas and Gian Carlo Aribe were denied of another gold against UE in the team foil

championships and settled for silver.

The men’s sabre team of Matthew Domantay, Mark Joseph Echavez, John Pailma and Bonn Pascual took home another silver after losing to UE in the finals.

Aribe nosed out Jose in the individual foil semis before bowing out to Season 80 Most Valuable Player

(MVP) Samuel Tranquilan for another silver medal.

Jose’s loss to Aribe in the foil division gave UST a bronze medalwhile Rodolfo Duterte’s loss to Jose in the epee semifinals rendered another bronze.

“We did not change anything in the training program but we are satisfied with [the men’s team’s] performance.

Despite losing many of our veterans next year, we will have another set of strong players to fill in their shoes,” epee coach Arman Bernal said.

In women’s play, Sherlyn Jose notched the Lady Fencers’ lone bronze medal in the individual category following a 1315 loss to MVP Wilhelmina Lozada (UE) in the foil division semifinals. The

Lady Fencers’ foil, epee and sabre team players each nabbed bronze medals.

UST’s junior teams came in second behind UE, clinching two gold, six silver and four bronze medals in total.

While disappointed with his female wards’ performance this year, Bernal is positive of an improved showing come Season 81 when the senior high school players transition into the senior pool.

Only team captain Dizon will be leaving the team due to graduation.

“Our women’s team failed to close out games properly but I expect my players to improve come the end of the K to 12 transition,” Bernal said.

Preparations for Season 81 will commence late February but the Male Fencers will have to rebuild from the ground up following the departure of national player Jose, Aribe, Domantay, Pascua and Michael Duterte.

UST Teletigers bag first League of Legends championship A TEAM whose name was derived from the TV show “Teletubbies” dominated the first competitive League of Legends (LoL) collegiate event in the Philippines.

The UST Teletigers outlasted the Technological University of the Philippines (TUP) Monstrum Vel Prodigium, 3-2, in the best-offive finals of the Garena League of Legends Varsity League (LVL) 2017 at Glorietta 4 Cinema 6 in Makati on Feb. 25.

“We really made history kasi this is the first LVL championship and we got it for UST,” UST team captain and support player Theo Ignacio told the Varsitarian in an online interview.

The team consists of third-year Literature student Ignacio, fourthyear Information Technology student Brussel Isidro (top), third-year Toursim student Laurence Padilla (carry), Computer Science sophomore Isiah Loberiza (midlaner), and senior high school students Daeniel Fornea (jungle), Jan Edward Hortizuela (support) and Rallion Gatchalian (carry).

The Teletigers rolled to the top in

the elimination round with a 13-2 record, losing only to TUP and AMA UniversityQuezon City.

The team then defeated TUP in the tiebreaker for the first seed and an outright spot in the finals, taking home 30,000 pesos.

Garena League of Legends Varsity League 2017 is the first competitive League of Legends collegiate event in the country which started last September 2017.

Last year, UST’s Team Kangkong bagged the championship in the bestof-five finals series of Impetus 2017, the first intercollegiate Dota 2 tournament in the country last June 25.

A partnership with Lenovo and Intel paved the way for seven colleges and universities namely UST, TUP, AMA University-Quezon City, University of the Philippines-Diliman, Malayan Colleges Laguna, Far Eastern UniversityInstitute of Technology and iAcademy to participate in the tournament.

LoL is a fast-paced, competitive online game developed and published

by Riot Games. MA. ANGELICA D. GARCIA with reports from ARIANNE AINE D. SUAREZ

From L-R: Daeniel Fornea, Jan Hortizuela, Rallion Gatchalian, Isiah Loberiza, Theo Ignacio and Brussel Isidro.

DEEJAE S. DUMLAO

Sports

FEBRUARY 28, 2018

Female Tracksters extend UAAP athletics reign THE UST Female Tracksters successfully defended the crown anew and bagged their fourth-straight championship, while the awfully-undermanned Male Tracksters slipped to fifth place in the UAAP Season 80 athletics tournament at the Philsports Arena last Feb. 7 to 11.

UST became the second team to win at least fourconsecutive championships in the women’s division. The Far Eastern University (FEU) did it thrice in 1990, 1999 and 2014.

The Female Tracksters garnered a total of 434 points with a 15-6-6 gold-silver-bronze medal haul, leaving FEU (357 points) and University of the Philippines (170.5 points) at second and third place, respectively.

UST head coach Emmanuel Calipes lauded the squad’s dedication and impressive performance despite recruitment woes brought by the K-to-12 program.

The women’s squad competed with a core of 17 players, three less than the 20-woman pool usually paraded by the team.

“Swerte tayo dahil malaki ang puso nilang lahat. Itong seniors, nakita natin na desidido sila mula sa training until they volunteered to have additional events. They sacrificed, and we succeeded,” Calipes said in an interview with the Varsitarian.

The Female Tracksters ruled the 4x100-meter relay, 100and 200-meter dash, 5000-meter run, javelin throw, hammer throw, long jump, triple jump, pole vault and heptathlon events.

To add to the team’s historic feat, Louielyn Pamatian was named the Most Valuable Player for the second-straight year in the women’s division after collecting golds in 4x400meter relay, 400-meter sprint and 800 and 1500-meter run.

Unlike previous years, UST only set one record this year as Aira Teodosio notched 43.23 meters in the hammer throw event, eclipsing her last year’s record of 41.8 meters.

Cementing a dynasty Even with the departure of notable players from the current roster due to graduation, Calipes believes the

newcomers will play a big part in the quest for a fivepeat.

Iron woman Sarah Dequinan and veterans Eloiza Luzon, Glaiza Salcedo, Rizelle Dela Paz and CJ Ferrera all exhausted their playing years.

“We have promising names from high school coming in. They want to join because of the program we have and hopefully ‘yung iba pa na kinausap namin ay sasama to secure a good line up,” Calipes said.

After a two-week break, the team will resume training in March for the Philippine National Games and Ayala Philippine National Open Invitational Athletics Championship. The off-season events will also serve as preparation for the 2019 Manila Southeast Asian Games.

5th place The Male Tracksters slipped to fifth place this year after collecting two silver and two bronze medals for 188 points It was the first time since 2010 that the men’s team failed to secure the podium. The Male Tracksters were runners-up to FEU in six of the last eight years.

FEU led by a mile for its eighth-straight crown in the men’s division with 425 points. University of the East followed with 222 points and De La Salle University finished with 220 markers for third place.

Calipes said the Male Tracksters struggled and lacked manpower due to recruitment woes. The team was also deprived of at least one sure gold medal from pole vaulter EJ Obiena, who went down with an injury last August.

The short-handed Male Tracksters only had ten players at Calipes’ disposal.

“Umaasa rin tayo na makabawi ang men’s natin at makuha ang championship. Nagpapagaling lang si EJ pero tatayo ulit sila,” Calipes said. MIA ARRA C. CAMACHO Two-time athletics MVP Louielyn Pamatian celebrates after a win.

Ayo apologetic as Cantojos quits Cubs

Chris Cantojos with the Tiger Cubs

TIGER CUBS chief tactician Chris Cantonjos has called it quits vowing never to coach again for UST, citing the lack of support from school officials.

Cantonjos, a vital piece in the Growling Tigers’ legendary championship run in the 90s, announced his resignation after the Cubs lost to the National University in the stepladder semifinals last Feb 20.

“Final na. Kahit na i-reacquire ulit ako, hindi na (ulit).

Kumbaga, nawala ang puso ko pero hindi sa UST. Sabi ko nga, worth fighting for ang UST,” he said. “Heto na rin ‘yung last time na magko-coach ako sa UST.” Cantonjos’ departure came as UST hopes to revitalize its basketball program with the hiring of Aldin Ayo as the coach of the Growling Tigers.

Reports that one of Ayo’s deputies was set to take over the Cubs, Cantonjos admitted, affected the team’s performance in the second round where UST only won two out of seven games. “‘Yung support, hindi balanced… Kahit encouragement, walang nakuhang encouragement ang mga players,” said Cantonjos whose team tallied a 5-2 win-loss slate in the first round.

“Kailangan ko lang respect at ipaglalaban kita hanggang dulo… sana na-clarify nila na hindi totoo ‘yung [speculations].”

Still, Cantonjos thanked UST for the coaching experience.

“Ito ang pinakamagandang experience sa akin,” he said, noting the Cubs should “keep playing” and not prefer one coach over another.

Prior to his coaching stint with the Cubs, Cantonjos was the head coach of the Growling Tigresses that had two semifinals appearances from 2011 to 2016.

The name of Tigers assistant coach Randy Alcantara has been floated as his possible replacement.

Alcantara brought the Malayan-Mapua Red Robins to the NCAA finals three times and won the title in 2016.

Apologetic Ayo UST Growling Tigers coach Aldin Ayo said last Feb. 22 he was willing to apologize to resigned juniors’ mentor Chris Cantonjos, denying he was planning to replace him.

Ayo said he even planned to include Cantonjos, an amateur standout for UST in the 90s, in his seniors’ coaching staff.

“I look up to him. He had a great background and more than that, wala kaming coaching staff na kaya mag-handle sa mga big Cantojos PAGE 14

Softbelles ace pitcher eager for crown AFTER suffering a left-knee injury in last year’s UAAP finals, Tiger Softbelles ace pitcher Mary Ann Antolihao is back in the field with hopes of helping the team finally end Adamson University’s seven-year reign in the softball tournament.

The former Best Pitcher awardee hurt her knee in Game 1 last year and the short-handed Softbelles settled for another silver finish. “[A]lam kong kailangan nila ako.

Hangga’t kaya ko naman diyan [sa field], talagang ilalaban ko naman. Sana this year, wala nang mangyaring masama tsaka sana this year, makuha na namin [‘yung championship,]” Antolihao said in an interview.

Softbelles head coach Sandy Barredo will also need to bank on Antolihao’s services even more this year, since no seasoned pitchers could provide steady contributions for the team aside from her.

UST lost former captain and backup pitcher Mallows Garde to graduation last year.

“Wala na akong pitcher [kaya] susugal na ako hanggang sa matapos ang UAAP. Kung maganda ang ilalaro niya, mananalo tayo.

Kung hindi, sorry [na lang],” Barredo told the Varsitarian in an interview.

Antolihao took at least seven months off before returning to training. Her recovery required squats and lunges to vitalize her knees and thighs.

Despite nursing an injury, Antolihao managed to make the cut in the RP Blu Girls’ lineup which bagged a silver medal in the 11th Asian Women’s Softball Championship last December in Taichung, Taiwan.

The Taiwan stint added fuel to the desire of returning to the team, according to Antolihao.

“Kailangan hindi ko pansinin na injured ako kasi kailangan kong ilabas ‘yung best ko. Nilagay nila ako doon kasi alam nilang kaya ko,” the fifthyear Sports and Wellness Management student added.

During the early stages of recovery, Antolihao bared that she doubted her chances of a comeback

in time for the tournament.

“Nasa isip ko, ‘Babalik pa kaya ako?

Kakayanin ko pa kaya pumukol ulit?’ Minsan kasi natatalo ka ng isip mo kahit na alam mong kaya ng katawan mo,” she recalled.

Although still not satisfied with Antolihao’s current showing, Barredo is confident that his ace pitcher will find her groove as the season progresses.

“Siyempre may kaunting trauma pa ‘yan,” Barredo said. “[Pero] wala naming problema, hindi naman sumasakit ‘yung tuhod niya, so inaalalayan ko lang. Kailangan din maprotektahan nang mahusay ang braso niya.”

With one last chance to dethrone Adamson this year, Antolihao said she will go all out and treat every game as equally important.

During her first game back in the UAAP opener against theAteneo de Manila University, the 21-year-old pitcher did not disappoint as she tallied 11 strikeouts, anchoring UST’s defense en route to the 7-0 win. JAN CARLO ANOLIN

Ann Antolihao