The Varsitarian P.Y. 2018-2019 Issue 08

Volume XCI, No. 8 • March 30, 2019 THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSIT Y OF SANTO TOMAS Manila, Philippines

Silencing the shepherds In predominantly Catholic Philippines, those who dared to speak out against Duterte’s brutal war on drugs are under threat

2 News

Assistant News Editor: Kevin A. Alabaso

MARCH 30, 2019

Freshmen tuition up by 5% FIRST-YEAR students will shoulder a five-percent tuition increase next academic year.

Under the final schedule of fees released by the Office of the Vice Rector for Finance, the tuition for freshmen will be up five percent, or P81 per lecture unit, and P162 per laboratory unit.

From last year’s P1,611 per lecture unit and P3,222 per laboratory unit, the tuition of freshmen will go up to P 1,692 and P3,384, respectively.

Civil Law tuition for freshmen will increase by P135 per unit.

Grade 11 students’ tuition will increase by P1,696 while miscellaneous fees will increase by 2.16 percent, or an additional P83.

Incoming UST Junior High School freshmen will have an increase of P3,775 while their miscellaneous fees will go up by 1.44 percent or P77.

Tuition of Grade 7 students of the Education High School will increase

by P887 while miscellaneous fees will increase by 1.43 per cent or P56.

Student Accounts Supervisor Agripina Corpuz said 70 percent of the increase would be allocated to the salaries of faculty members while 30 percent would be utilized for the improvement of the University’s facilities.

“We want to have quality education.

We also need to augment the salaries of faculty [members],” Corpuz told the Varsitarian in an interview.

The basis of the allocation of tuition increases is Republic Act 6728 or the Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teacher in Private Education Act. Corpuz said inflation was also a basis for the tuition hike. Inflation, or the increase in the prices of goods and services, hit 5.2 percent in 2018, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Memorandum Order 19 of the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) allows the University, as an autonomous higher education institution, to increase tuition even without the Commission’s permission, provided that the University informs the CHEd Central Office of the increase before the start of the academic year.

Francis Gabriel Santos, outgoing president of the UST Central Student Council, said the council plans to have a meeting with UST Rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. to discuss the tuition hike as soon as he returns from an overseas trip.

The University hiked its tuition by 6 percent or by P1,611 for first-year students this academic year. M. A. D. J. and N. J. N. S

New doctorate programs to be offered next year NEW DOCTORATE programs in health research and music will be offered by the UST Graduate School beginning next academic year.

Graduate School Dean Marilu Madrunio said the doctorate degree in health research was aimed at developing “highly advanced systematic knowledge and skills in research.”

The doctorate degree for health research is a transnational education (TNE) program, which will offered in collaboration with the International Centre for Allied Health Evidence of the University of South Australia.

Madrunio said the program would utilize “blended learning,” a mixture of online and face-to-face classes.

Applicants should have completed Level 7 of the Asean Qualifications Reference Framework and Philippine Qualifications Framework through a post-baccalaureate master’s degree program, to be admitted to the doctorate program.

The doctorate program in Music is anchored on the master’s program in Music and will concentrate on performance.

Graduate School PAGE 7

Fewer bets run in 2019 student council polls

CSC Secretary Robert Gonzales files his Certificate of Candidacy for president.

ENRICO MIGUEL S. SILVERIO

FEWER bets filed their candidacies for the central and local student council executive board elections this year.

Only eight candidates will run for five positions in the Central Student Council (CSC) Executive Board.

CSC Secretary Robert Gonzales is the sole presidential bet in the April student polls after the UST Central Commission on Elections (Comelec) disqualified Worship Acosta, standard-bearer of Lakas Tomasino Coalition (LTC), for his failure to submit an undisclosed requirement.

There are no candidates for vice president in the CSC this elections.

Three candidates will be contend the post of secretary. Legal management freshman Krizia Milleny Bricio (independent) will face advertising arts senior Nicholas Sia (LTC) and the sole Lakas ng Diwang Tomasino (Lakasdiwa) bet, chemistry freshman Karch Andrei Rafael.

LTC bets Rafael Lipat, a political science junior, and Patricia Claire Cruz, an accountancy freshman, will run unopposed

for the positions of treasurer and auditor, respectively.

Physical therapy sophomore Ian Jericho Sun (LTC), is the sole candidate for the position of public relations officer.

The filing of candidacies for the CSC elections concluded last March 27 at the lobby of the Tan Yan Kee Student Center building.

Dearth of bets In the local student council polls, several colleges will welcome the next academic year with an incomplete set of student leaders.

The Institute of Information and Computing Sciences, for instance, only has two candidates running for its student council, particularly for the positions of auditor and public relations officer.

In the Faculty of Civil Law Student Council, there are only three candidates for the positions of president, internal vice president and secretary.

The student polls in the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (IPEA) will have the same number of candidates for the same Polls PAGE 5

Impeachment UST humanities chief Arriola bags national researcher award filed vs Artlets promoting Philippine literary education, indigenous culture and Filipino discourse.”

“To be an awardee this year is an honor and privilege [as] I represent the ‘human’ side of new knowledge,” Arriola told the Varsitarian in an online interview.

“The NRCP Achievement Award… is a testament that the world of the academe and of civil society continues to listen to diverse voices and perspectives,” she added.

The award was given during the 86th general assembly and annual scientific conference of the council.

Arriola has been a member Prof. Joyce Arriola receives the National Researcher award on March of the Executive Council of the 11. (Photo courtesy of Raffy Polinar) National Committee for Literary Arts of the National Commission UST RESEARCH Center for humanities at the Philippine for Culture and the Arts since Culture, Arts and Humanities International Convention January 2018.

Director Joyce Arriola received Center on March 11.

She became a member of the 2018 National Research She was given the the Commission on Higher Council of the Philippines recognition for being “an (NRCP) achievement award in esteemed academic leader in Humanities PAGE 3

president

BECAUSE of the lackluster celebration of AB Week, the president of the Arts and Letters Student Council (ABSC) is facing calls for impeachment.

In a letter dated March 21, a group of Artlets students said ABSC President Rafael Arellano, a legal management senior, violated the ABSC constitution “for his incompetence as a council president which most Artlets deem as palpable.”

“The current council perpetuates the culture of inefficiency in addressing the issues of the studentry,” said the letter, addressed to the Artlets Board of Majors (BOM) composed of society presidents.

The group of Artlets aired their disappointment over the council’s handling of the college week celebration in February, which they said was “disorganized and painfully unbearable.”

They also cried foul over the Artlets PAGE 10

Usapang Uste

Paninindigan at pakikilahok sa halalan MAGING kritikal at masusing kumilates ng mga kandito para sa Central Student Council Executive Board.

Iyan ang nakasaad sa pangulongtudling ng Varsitarian noong ika-23 ng Setyembre, 1968, na nagsisilbi pa ring mahalagang paalala sa halalan sa Unibersidad ngayon.

Sinasabi sa editoryal na higit pa sa matalinong pagboto ang tungkulin ng isang mag-aaral sa halalan. Higit dito, hinihingi ng responsabildad ang maging aktibo at magtaglay ng kahusayan sa pangangatuwiran. Kailangan ding maging agresibo sa pangingilates nang hindi nagiging marahas.

Binigyang-diin dito ang pagkakaroon ng kakayahan ng mga magaaral na hamunin ang Central Board of Students (CBS) upang mas mapalawak ang perspektibo ng mga pinuno.

Nabuksan ang isyung ito matapos mapag-usapan ang kawalan ng koneksiyon ng CBS at ng mga mag-aaral dahil umano sa politika, pagliliban sa mga pulong, hindi maayos na distribusyon ng pondo, at kawalangpakialam ng mga mag-aaral.

Nilinaw rin na dapat maging matatag ang paninindigan ng mga pinunong naluklok, at kailangang mayroong

dedikasyon sa pagsasakatuparan ng mga layunin at plataporma sa konseho.

Iginiit din dito na hindi kasalanan ng mga naluklok sa puwesto kung hindi nila naaabot ang kalipikasyon ng isang mahusay na pinuno, bagkus bunga ito ng hindi pakikisangkot ng mga mag-aaral.

Tomasino Siya Isang Tomasino ang kinikilala sa larangan ng ekolohiya sa bansa dahil sa kaniyang saliksik tungkol sa bioremediation o paggamit ng “useful microorganism” bilang pantabla sa epidemya dulot ng baha na pinangalanang “eM23.”

Nagtapos si Edgar Maranan ng kursong Bachelor of Science General sa Unibersidad taong 1971.

Dahil sa angking kahusayan, tumanggap siya ng samo’t saring parangal, katulad ng Outstanding Manilans in the field of Science noong 2015, at Scientific Creative Research Award-Philippine Inventor’s Commission at ng Presidential Award for Science and Technology noong 1982 at 1983.

Ginawaran si Maranan ng The Outstanding Thomasian Alumni Award Usapang Uste PAGE 3

MARCH 30, 2019

News 3

Lent: Prelate calls for ‘self-denial’

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo leads the Ash Wednesday Mass at the Plaza Mayor on March 6.

MARY JAZMIN D. TABUENA

MANILA Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo called on Thomasians to practice self-denial to serve others this Lenten season.

With the start of the season of Lent, we enter into the season of grace brought about by conversion,” Pabillo said during the Ash Wednesday Mass at the Plaza Mayor on March 6. “The Lord warns us that we do these righteous acts but not to be seen by others. Let God reward us, and not be concerned whether we are noticed by others or not.”

Stressing that “pride is a sin that militates against the plan of God,” Pabillo urged the faithful to perform spiritual and corporal works of mercy as ways to say yes to God and others.

“Hopefully it’s not just to receive the ashes, but it’s more to enter into this spirit of penance. Jesus continues to suffer in the social issues that we engage with, and that is a good way of praying, connecting Jesus to our present day-to-day life,” he said.

“We say no to ourselves so we can say yes to the others. [W]e deny sinful actions, sinful habits, sinful thoughts, sinful words… [M] aybe, wag na tayong magmura, wag na tayong magalit; ikontrol ang ating sarili,” he said.

The offerings collected during the Mass were donated to the Caritas feeding program of the Santisimo Rosario Parish as a gesture of solidarity with the poor.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten season, which commemorates Jesus’s struggle for 40 days and nights in the desert. EUGENE DOMINIC V. ABOY, O.P.

pro-Duterte Medicine scores 100, alum tops 2019 board exams Counter social media ‘trolls,’ 40 Thomasian examinees.

The Far Eastern University – Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation was named this year’s top-performing school, after posting a 97.96-percent passing rate, or 144 out of 147 examinees.

The national passing rate rose to 76.71 percent, or 1,209 out of 1,579 examinees from last year’s 66.65 percent, or 1,067 out of 1,601 examinees

Jan Bendric Borbe

THE FACULTY of Medicine and Surgery recorded a perfect passing rate in the March 2019 licensure exam for physicians, with all 31 Thomasians making the cut.

Thomasian Jan Bendric Borbe led the country’s newest batch of physicians with a score of 89.83 percent, sharing the spot with Clinton Rabadon of West Visayas State University in La Paz, Iloilo City.

Last year, the University posted a 90-percent passing rate, or 36 out of

Humanities FROM PAGE 2

Education’s Technical Committee for Literature in 2011.

Arriola won the National Book Award for Film/Film Criticism in 2007 for her work titled “Postmodern Filming of Literature: Sources, Contexts and Adaptations.”

She earned her masters and doctorate degrees in literature in the University in 1995 and 2003, respectively. Arriola was a recipient of the Outstanding Alumni Award in 2014.

ANGELIKA V. ORTEGA

Usapang Uste FROM PAGE 2

(Total) sa kategoryang Ecological and Environmental Conservation noong 2011. VIVIENNE AUDREY P. ANGELES AT CHRIS V. GAMOSO Tomasalitaan laóng (png.) sirang-puri Hal. Dumagundong ang mga laóng nang umalis ang kandidatong nangunguna sa karera ng halalan.

Mga Sanggunian The Varsitarian, Tomo 40 Blg. 9, 23 Setyembre 1968 TOTAL Awards 2011 Diksyunaryo-Tesauro PilipinoIngles Jose Villa Panganiban

Pharmacy, med tech improve in board exams The pharmacy and medical technology programs of the University also recorded improvements in the March 2019 licensure exams.

Pharmacy posted a 72.41-percent passing rate with 42 out of 58 Thomasians passing the test.

This was higher than last year’s 61.54 percent, or 16 out of 26 examinees.

Alexandra Kay Co led the latest batch of Thomasian pharmacists, placing 8th in the list of topnotchers with a score of 91.2 percent.

Julia Nicole dela Cruz of the University of the Philippines in Manila topped this year’s licensure exam for pharmacists, with

a score of 92.7 percent.

UP Manila was named top-performing school, with all 53 of its examinees passing the test.

The national passing rate rose to 64.94 percent or 2,100 out of 3,234 examinees, compared with last year’s 55.77 percent, or 1,695 out of 3,039 examinees.

UST’s med tech program, on the other hand, was named the fifth top-performing school in the licensure exams for medical technologists.

UST’s passing rate rose to 92.98 percent, or 53 out of 57 examinees, from last year’s 82.61 percent, or 19 out of 23 examinees.

Aaron Terrence Ibe led the newest batch of Thomasian medical technologists with a score of 90.10 percent, securing the sixth spot in the top 10.

Thomasian David Jameson Cañeso notched the eighth spot with a score of 89.20 percent.

Cagayan State University (CSU)Andrews Campus and the Adventist University of the Philippines were named the top-performing schools, both registering perfect passing rates.

John Steward Alberto of CSU and

Thomasian PAGE 7

young writers urged

FILIPINO critics called for an end to the “culture of silence” among writers on killings and violence under President Duterte. “[P]arati tayong nagsusulat na under siege. [P] alaging may propensity na ito-troll ka kapag ‘yong mga sinulat mo ay anti-DDS or anti-Duterte. [S]a panahon ng panunupil, kailangan talagang bastusin ito,” said Rolando Tolentino during a seminar last March 6 at the Central Laboratory Auditorium.

Tolentino, director of the University of the Philippines (UP) Institute of Creative Writing, said writers should be affected by these social issues to “internalize [their] weight.”

Tolentino also said aspiring writers should be vocal on their opinions on social media.

Sandra Nicole Roldan, who teaches creative writing and literature in UP Diliman, emphasized that writers are responsible for keeping themselves socially aware.

“If we keep writing then we keep feeling that outrage, that sense of urgency. [T]he killing isn’t stopping so we have to create that counterpart, if they are creating that reality, let us create our own reality which is our art,” Roldan said.

Continuing the practice of writing is a way of fighting Filipinos’ “desensitization” or the decrease of emotional responsiveness to killings and violence, she added.

The event, titled “Praxis,” was organized by the UST Literary Society. J.C.S. DE LA CRUZ

SC justice: ‘Be guided by truth amid broken justice system’

By ANGELIKA V. ORTEGA

SUPREME Court Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando called on Thomasian to be guided by truth and justice amid the country’s “broken” justice system, in this year’s St. Thomas Moore lecture.

Hernando, a literature alumnus, said anyone in government is “prone to imperfections” and injustices.

“Truth transcends everything. You cannot possibly imagine a world without truth because that world does not exist,” he said during the lecture’s 51st installment on March 29.

Hernando stressed the importance of justice and truth coexisting, as one leads to another.

“Without truth, justice is a perversion of what [it] should [have been]. Truth is an instrument of change. [Its] role should be central to our lives,” he added.

Hernando also said practicing justice should not only be the job of a judge, but also of ordinary people.

He echoed the opening remarks of Artlets Dean Michael Anthony Vasco that a “society that does not practice justice is not a society at all.”

The UST alumnus was appointed magistrate of the Supreme Court last year.

Prior to that, he was named associate justice at the Court of Appeals in 2010.

Justice PAGE 7

Supreme Court Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando delivers the 51st St. Thomas More lecture at the Grand Ballroom of the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building on March 29.

DEEJAE S. DUMLAO

4 Opinion

MARCH 30, 2019

Editorial

Clergy crucified by Duterte and the Catholics they serve IT CAME as no surprise for Filipino Church leaders and clergymen to receive death threats under the regime of a madman living along the banks of Pasig River with its industrial effluents and septic waste, objective correlatives to the foul speech and gutterminded resident of Malacañang.

Even when he was yet to be inaugurated president in 2016, Rodrigo Duterte had the totally bad form of inveighing against the clergy such as his cursing of Pope Francis whose visit of Manila in 2015 allegedly stalled him in traffic.

His envoy, Jesus Dureza, later apologized to the Pope, but that set the pattern that was to emerge now—of the President making foul remarks against the Church for real or imagined wrongs, then apologizing for them but later repeating the same offensive remarks, to confuse the public and for him to get away with murder.

Presidential behavior has so deteriorated that lately he has called for the killing of the bishops.

His spokesman may try to appease the clergy and the public and explain that the President’s remarks have been misinterpreted, but it is only wise for ecclesiastics and religious to view them as setting the stage for the random ambush and assassination by by Duterte followers usually suffering from sublevel IQ and cretinism to take the President’s word for truth and start shooting down men and women of the cloth.

Those who refuse to accept this, that the words of leaders have a trickle-down murderous effect, are surely those who blindly support the President and find his antics “cute.” Perhaps they are not aware that St. Thomas Becket was killed by Henry II’s supporters when the monarch uttered the infamous line: “Who will rid me of this meddlesome priest?”

In the present political atmosphere in the country, we find the same scenario with a demagogue of a president and a clergy speaking out against his inhumane policies and his outright policy of summarily executing drug addicts, mostly from the poor sectors of society.

The common denominator among clergy such as Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David and religious such as deported Australian Sister Patricia Fox: outspokenness against the human rights violations under the present administration. All of these are on top of the three priests that have been killed last year within the span of six months that have yet to be solved.

But this culture of threatening and discrediting Church leaders is expected to continue as clergymen protest against against presidential impunity, especially since the Filipino people, majority of whom are Catholics, stand with their bishops and priests.

It is a shame that this leader continues to be idolized despite his government’s failure to solve Editorial PAGE 5

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

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

Don’t shoot the messengers, doc

WE HAVE always observed and maintained protocols in reporting stories at the Varsitarian. If we had not, we would not have lasted that long for almost a century.

As UST’s official student paper, it reports on all things UST–from decisions made by the administration to the undertakings of student life in the campus including the sentiments of students–as it is no less than a paper by and for the Thomasians.

The ‘V’ is an editorially and fiscally independent student newspaper. Its stories are not screened by UST officials before they are published and they are not censored too.

Thus it comes as a surprise for the medical director of the UST Hospital, Dr. Marcellus Ramirez, to “remind” us to be “more prudent and responsible” in what he alleged as one-sided stories when the ‘V’ reported of a notice of strike filed by the employees’ union of the USTH, and of the sentiments of employees in the hospital.

Perhaps Ramirez is ignorant of the fact that we have sought for an interview with him regarding the issue. This can be attested by the receiving copies of our letters seeking his comment on the matter. That, or he has intentionally evaded

For Ramirez to blame it on the campus press is to do harm. Sadly, I thought those in his profession are not supposed to do so. addressing the issue, believing that by not giving oxygen to the problem, it will come to see a quiet death eventually– as is the case, it seems, with other University offices when they are put in a bad light.

His ignoring the request for an interview is therefore not a reason for us to withhold the publication of our reports. Further, it is always in shrugging it off that fuels speculations and comments than setting things straight for the record.

“In the past few weeks, the USTH has been severely and unjustly maligned, defamed and criticized in several news articles and social media, including a press conference, over the alleged unfair labor practices committed against its employees, more specifically,

the nurses,” Ramirez stated in his letter last March 20.

Certainly, the medical director could have spared himself and the institution he is leading a great deal of criticism if only he had responded to request for interviews or even issued a statement earlier. But instead, such had to be made only after they have been put in the spotlight.

In adherence to the principle of fairness, the ‘V’ has always indicated in the stories we ran on the labor dispute in the hospital that USTH administrators have not commented on the issue despite its attempts to do so.

This is to state that we have tried getting their side of the story.

It is unbelievable that

this has to be explained, as though getting all sides of the story is not something that should already be expected.

Is the ‘V’ free from error?

It is not. But as a matter of fact, the ‘V’ has reported on labor disputes at the UST Faculty Union over the years, and we have always sought the side of the administration. Even when at times we never got the answers to our questions, we have always made sure that they were reached, and that we tell our readers that we did so, all in the spirit of transparency.

To add to that, on the story titled “OVERWORKED, UNDERPAID: Nurses hit UST Hospital’s ‘unjust’ labor practices” which ran on the Varsitarian’s website on Feb. 20, the sources who agreed to speak to us on the condition of anonymity are people credible enough to speak on the matter because they are representatives of hospital nurses and not just those who were randomly selected or asked to be interviewed.

How would Ramirez then, downplay the 399 members of the USTH employees’ union who voted “Yes” to a strike, compared to only seven who voted against it?

It makes one think of where Rock solid PAGE 10

Discontinue bad Holy Week practices HOLY WEEK is perhaps the most important religious observance in the Catholic Church yet Roman Catholics fail to fully grasp its meaning.

Does Holy Week always have to be “bloody” and take the form of self-flagellation and crucifixion for the devotee’s sins to be forgiven?

While these practices depict the passion of Christ, these should be put into moderation. Some penitents make extreme measures for the atonement of their sins. They should remember that there is a Sacrament of Reconciliation for them to ask for forgiveness. They don’t have to take drastic measures for them to feel forgiven.

The Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has urged the devotees to refrain from Holy Week traditions and practices that inflict pain on themselves “because God already did that for us.”

Maybe we have forgotten the “holy” in the Holy Week.

Being holy is living our lives in the image and likeness of God. The emphasis of this religious observance is being holy and not about extreme sacrifices such as flagellation and crucifixion.

Punishment of oneself

The emphasis of this religious observance is being holy and not about extreme sacrifices such as flagellation and crucifixion.

is not a sure guarantee of reconciliation. If one thinks the more severe his punishment for himself, the more certain he is reconciled, then he is only feeding his superego.

Instead of performing severe practices, Filipinos should focus on continuing the good practices such as the cenaculo (passion play), pabasa (common reading of the Passion story), Visita Iglesia (pilgrimage of churches), Via Crucis (Way of the Cross). Cenaculo and pabasa have more and more disappeared as Holy Week practices and they need to be revived.

These traditions exhibits the passion and death of Christ, an unconditional sacrifice that we should

remember especially in Holy Week.

Sadly, some of us observe Holy Week as a habit and as a show for them to be considered as “good” Christians.

They avoid red meat during Fridays and refrain rom sins and yet they curse and speak ill of their neighbors. Being holy should not only reflect in our actions but should also reflect in how we think and how we talk.

The Bible says that God is our standard of holiness and we should live like Him. If we continue to treat Holy Week as a chance for us to display our hypocrisy and arrogance, then we can be likened to the self- righteous Pharisee, who prayed out loud and displayed public

religiosity but sneered at the people beneath him, in the Parable of Pharisee and the Tax Collector.

A fitting example for this is the reliance of Filipino on Holy Week as a “cleansing” period. Some people pile up their sins, thinking that if they become “holy” in the Holy Week, they will be “cleansed.”

This belief strips off the sincerity of asking for pardon.

This Holy Week let us all be like the humble tax collector who asked God for forgiveness wholeheartedly and admitted his shortcomings. No amount of prayers will be heard if it is from the haughty spirit.

There are also other ways to observe Holy Week.

According toLingayenDagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, instead of walking barefoot for one to atone his sins, “why don’t we give slippers to the children who go to school with their torn slippers?

We should not forget that Holy Week is not about us being “holy” but it is a time to recall God’s mercy and sacrifice to save humanity.

Holy Week is not for feeding our ego. It is a sacred event to remember God’s enduring love for us that can only save us and wash away our sins

Opinion 5

MARCH 30, 2019

UST Hospital director breaks silence on labor dispute with union LETTER TO THE EDITOR: This letter by Dr. Marcellus Ramirez, acting director of the UST Hospital, was sent to the Varsitarian on March 20, 2019.

In the past few weeks, the University of Santo Hospital (USTH) has been severely and unjustly maligned, defamed and criticized in several news articles and social media, including a press conference, over the alleged unfair labor practices committed against its employees, more specifically, the nurses.

Numerous statements have been said to appear that union members’ collective action was premised on the supposed unjust working conditions of the nurses.

To rectify the misleading information, the USTH Management has decided to, once and for all, speak on the matter.

To begin with, the labor dispute which is now pending before the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (OSEC DOLE) was primarily based on bargaining deadlock and the alleged Unfair Labor Practices, i.e. violation of duty to bargain collectively and the interference to union activity.

The present issue primarily hinges on the union’s demand for a higher benefit, that is

more than what the present Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) provides.

On the other hand, the issue on the alleged poor working conditions of the nurses” is not part of the discussion in the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) of the DOLE, as the said issue was clearly excluded and/or dropped by the union as one of the issues since the same is already subject of a pending case with the DOLE NCR which is a different and separate forum.

As of the present, this is now pending resolution before the DOLE NCR after the hospital has filed its position paper while the Ugnayang Nagkakaisang ManggagawaUniversity of Santo Tomas Hospital (UNM-USTH), the employees’ union, opted not to file any.

Nonetheless, the hospital knew of the various allegations hurled against the institution. One allegation is that the hospital has an inadequate staffing in various wards or units of the institution and that the nurses are overworked.

To recall, based on the Department of Health (DOH) regulations, the required ratio for nurses and patients in a hospital is 1:12. Such ratio is adequately complied with by the hospital as USTH maintains a nurse to patient ratio of 1:7-8. For Intensive

Care Unit (ICU) cases, USTH implements a nurse to patient ratio of 1:2 or 3 which is likewise allowable under DOH Regulations.

It was also alleged that the hospital imposes training fees against nurse trainees.

This pertained to the fees collected by the hospital from the nurse trainees whereby they were required to pay P5,500.00 training fee for their 3-month Clinical Exposure and Didactics. The said amount covers the honorarium for speakers and snacks for the 5-days Didactics. The cost of the training fee is intended for the acquisition of Specialized Nursing Skills chosen by the nurse trainee herself (e.g. Medical-Surgical Program, Maternal Neo-natal Enhancement Program, Perioperative Program) Certificates of Completion are given out to the nurse trainees after completion of the training program.

But the alleged imposition of training fee is already a thing of the past. As of 01 November 2017, USTH already stopped conducting the said 3-month training program. Currently, what is now being conducted is a 3-week Clinical Exposure Program where no training fees are collected. This 3-week period is counted as part of their 6-month probationary employment period.

Another allegation is that the hospital is forcing its

employees or particularly its nurses to render overtime work against their will.

Under the Labor Code, the law expressly allows forced or mandatory overtime work in situations when it is necessary under certain circumstances or when certain exigencies exist. Logically, this is indispensable and necessarily justified in a hospital setting where patients’ lives are at stake.

What is rather illegal or prohibited is the non-payment of overtime pay for the extra work rendered. There is no instance where the nurse who rendered an overtime work was not paid as long as the proper forms were complied with.

To clarify, even if our nurses render an overtime work, he/she gets paid with an overtime pay which is higher than what the Labor Code provides.

As to the issue of contractualization, the previous policy of the hospital is to give the newly hired nurse a 5-month fixed term and a one-year employment contract. This set up is allowed under the Labor Code and even categorically recognized by the Supreme Court in its various cases.

As of March 2018 however, the said policy was revised. Starting thereon, an incoming nurse would only

Filipinas fight for their rights not to get even with an unjust society, but to ensure their safety and security — a fundamental human right.

in this country — a country that arguably has a largely maternal society where women even of precolonial past naturally already held crucial and respectable functions in communities and households.

It is even evident in faith. Filipino Catholics, for instance, venerate Mary, the Madonna or Mother of God. In a 2018 report by the World Economic Forum, the Philippines ranked eighth in the Global Gender Gap, holding a spot as one of the most gender equal countries in Asia (the report was based on statistics of women’s health, educational attainment, work force and political empowerment).

Clearly, the statistics prove that the problem of women in our country is not so much in the access to rights but in the defense of their rights against those who, by force or power, seek to subvert them.

This issue is celebrated and flaunted all over mainstream media and social media, not only by politically motivated groups, but also by commerce and the market.

In this country, feminism seems to take on issues of violation more prominently than deprivation of rights – not surprising when the Duterte government, known for bossism and misogyny, puts women on public trial such as in the ousting of chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and the

Bard PAGE 10

Parangal PAGE 10

FROM PAGE 4

approval of Duterte has remained high. This is a manifestation of the splitlevel Christianity of most Filipinos: they’re only Sunday Christians (and only for an hour when they attend Mass) and for the rest of the week, quite their average selves as heathens and savages like Duterte.

Three-time UST rector Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, O.P. was correct to lament the lack of public outcry over clergy killings and attacks.

“What is more shocking than the killing of priests is the absence of a massive public indignation regarding this considering that there are approximately 80 million Catholics,” De la Rosa said. “There was a time when active support for the Church and respect for priests were hallmarks of Catholic

identity.”

The clergy and religious console the bereaved of those killed in the anti-drug wars; they risk life and limb every time they speak for human rights.

The Church, fully aware of her mission, will not be silenced, and the threats on her people will only strengthen her resolve. But it will take more than just thoughts and prayers for presidential attacks— whether rhetorical or real—to stop, so the faithful must come to the defense of the clergy and religious.

But sadly, it is the clergy and religious that are crucified by the same people they serve.

In 2015, millions of Filipinos went out to the streets to catch a glimpse of Pope Francis in his visit to the Philippines. But in those millions were also those who would eventually elect Rodrigo

***

detention of Sen. Leila de Lima on trumped-up drug charges.

Misogyny, whether as reality or as propaganda, is being spread by the current administration and harassment of women is much too much an everyday reality.

Women’s public safety has become such an issue in our country that a bill penalizing catcalling and other forms of non-physical sexual harassment was passed last October.

Sexual harassment cases come more common than a cold, and rape cases are alarmingly high, according to a report from the Philippine National Police that said there were almost 3,000 cases of rape in a span of five months, between January to May last year.

Women have learned to take extra caution when wandering at night, and who can blame them? Isn’t it natural to feel a little uneasy when the police put up a poster that says attractiveness or wearing clothes that are too revealing

Letter to Editor PAGE 10

Editorial: Clergy crucified by Duterte and the Catholics they serve the numerous problems that continue to plague the nation and his ignominious achievement of runaway inflation and worsening poverty because of his move to increase taxes and pay for his self-serving decision to double the salaries of the police thugs and summary executioners who implement his genocidal anti-drug policy, and of the military who, despite having millions in intelligence budget and the warning from the United States, failed to stop the radical Islamic State and Maute rebels from laying siege on Marawi.

But Duterte has been able to hold on to power because of the support of Filipinos who are Catholics in name but not in reality. For a country that has taken pride from being a Catholic nation, it is shocking that public satisfaction and

Editor’s Note: The following is the acceptance speech by UST alumnus Fr. Albert Alejo, S.J. upon receiving the Parangal Hagbong at the 34th Gawad Ustetika on March 30.

MARAMING salamat po sa pag-alala, pagkilala at pagpapahalaga sa anak ng Dominiko na naligaw at naging Heswita.

Alam ninyo, madaling maging makata sa pagkabata, pero mahirap patuloy na tumula hanggang sa pagtanda.

Salamat po at noong musmos pa ako sa panitikan, pinagtiyagaan ako ng UST at ng Varsitarian. Isang taon lang ako sa Varsi, pero masaya ang tropa kasama ang mga batikang gabay na si Mr. at Mrs. Bautista. Nakilala ko sina Fr. Sonny Ramirez, O.P. at Fr. Roland de la Rosa, O.P. Nang malipat ako sa Katipunan, panahon pa rin ng Martial Law, sinimulan namin ang Matanglawin, pahayagang Filipino sa Ateneo.

Malaking tulong ang karanasan ko sa Varsitarian, pati sa basic layout, editing at publication. Nagamit ko rin ito sa aking misyon sa Mindanao.

Nagbunga ito ng ilang aklat na sinulat ng mga Lumad at napadpad ako sa National Commmittee on Literary Arts.

Kamakailan, inilathala naman ng UST Press ang Nabighani– Ika-2 kong aklat sa tula, kasunod ng Sanayan lang ang Pagpatay. llalathala naman ng Ateneo de Naga ang Isang Kahig, Isang Tula.

May mga tula rin akong naging awit, paki-check na lang po sa YouTube.

Lahat ng ito ay nagsimula, sa totoo lang, sa Varsitarian!

Gusto ko pong samantalahin itong pagkakataon upang pasalamatan ang lahat ng mga institusiyon na sa gitna ng ganitong marahas at mabangis na panahon Ay patuloy na nagbibigay-halaga, hindi lang sa TULA, kung hindi (na rin) sa SALITA. Laganap ngayon ang pagsalaula at pag-aalipusta sa salita.

Uso ngayon ang pagmumura, ang pambabastos, ang pangungutya.

Pinapalakpakan ang pagbibiro nang malaswa.

Sinasaluduhan ang pinuno na puno ng salitang masagwa.

Pinalalampas ang pag-aalimura sa Simbahan at maging sa Maylikha. lpinapakalat ang kasinungalingan at baluktot na pagbabalita Binabasbasan ang sumusunod sa utos ng pagpuksa lalo na ng dukha.

Tinatakpan ng karatola ang bangkay upang hindi maging kapwa.

Pinatatahimik ang mga nagsusuri at ang nag-iisip nang malaya. lbinabasura ang batas, nagpapauto sa dikta ng ibang bansa.

Iniiwasan ang talakayang malalim, at iniiba lagi ang paksa.

Ginagawang palusot ang paggamit ng kunwari’y talinghaga.

Ang salita, ang salitang nakakabit sa totoo, ay sinasalaula.

Kalimutan na po ninyo ako, huwag lang ang aking babala: Ang lipunang walang paggalang sa tamang salita Malamang ay wala ring katapatan sa panunumpa.

Ang bayang walang pitagan sa timbang ng panunumpa, Paanong maaasahan na gagalang sa sariling lagda?

Ang kultura ng pagtakwil sa sariling pangako at lagda, Hindi mo matitiyak kung kayang magbilang nang tama.

(Paano natin masasabing nakikinig tayo sa Salita ng Diyos Kung ni hindi nga natin napahahalagahan ang salita ng tao?)

Ubod na tayo nang layo sa panahon na kita’y dakila: Sa Artikulo 6, ng Kartilya ng Katipunan, pakinggan ang panata: “Sa taong may hiya, ang salita’y panunumpa.”

Kaya’t kung tunay tayong nagpupugay at dumarakila Sa natitirang tagapagtanggol at tagapagtanghal ng

Duterte — Women’s Month spoiler

WOMEN’s Month was particularly memorable this year. Last March 8, International Women’s Day, feminist organizations converged at La Madre Filipina statue of the Mother and Child at Rizal Park to rally for women’s rights and speak against the misogyny flaunted by President Duterte and his administration.

Feminism, undoubtedly a foreign concept, has gained ground in the Philippines through the years. But its roots go deeper.

In its truest sense, the movement is for equal rights and privileges between the two sexes, and it may date back to the turn of the 20th century in the West as a movement for women’s right to education, suffrage, and personal property.

Since then, the philosophy at the core of feminism has come to be understood in various ways.

Some might even say it has become so strong a sentiment of the masses that at times feminist campaigns become vicious and rabid.

But feminism seems to take on a different character

Pasasalamat sa Parangal Hagbong ng Gawad Ustetika

Duterte a few months later, despite his admission of summarily executing people he personally judged to be criminals when he was mayor of Davao City, known then as now for its death squads.

These people who welcomed both the Pope and the head of Davao Murder Inc. would be like the Jews who welcomed Christ to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, but would turn against him later and call for his death.

Today, the people who justify the anti-drug summary executions and killings and support Duterte’s ridiculing of the Church and her leaders, clergy, and religious and even calling for their killing are no different from those who urged Pontius Pilate 2,000 years ago— “Crucify him!”

Student council FROM PAGE 2

positions.

The College of Nursing only has three positions with candidates. No student filed for candidacy for the positions of president, vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer and auditor.

The Faculty of Engineering Student Council polls also lack candidates for external vice president and treasurer, while the College of Rehabilitation Sciences has no candidates running for internal vice president and treasurer.

The College of Science has no candidates for treasurer and assistant treasurer while in the College of Fine Arts and Design, no student ran for treasurer and auditor.

‘Same rules apply’ Comelec chief Moriah Mendiola said the electronic voting system would be retained for this year’s election, as the system was deemed “successful” last year.

There will still be no option to “Abstain,” in compliance with the order of the Central Judiciary Board in 2017.

The campaign period, which began on March 30, will run until April 21.

The proclamation of the new CSC and local student councils’ executive board officers will be on April 27.

KEVIN A. ALABASO with reports from AHMED KHAN H. CAYONGCAT, NEIL JOSHUA N. SERVALLOS and ANGELIKA V. ORTEGA

6 Features

Editor: Louise Claire H. Cruz

MARCH 30, 2019

DEEJAE S. DUMLAO

Silencing the shepherds They came for Fathers Marcelito Paez and Richmond Nilo. And today, more clergymen in the country have bared that they might face the same fate as those of the slain priests.

FR. ALBERT Alejo, S.J. came out last month, with fellow priests Flaviano Villanueva and Robert Reyes, to reveal threats they had been receiving since criticizing the drug war, which has killed more than 5,000 people based on the government’s own estimate.

“After three years, silence now is collaboration to the extent that we are not critical enough,” Alejo told The Varsitarian.

“We are collaborative with the crimes and therefore, there’s also blood in our hands.”

Catholics, he said, should not turn a blind eye on the killings “when our Lord is a victim of extrajudicial killing” as well.

“It is very hypocritical of us that the

crucified Christ is always in our altars, but we fail to see the connection when it comes to other people,” he said.

“Are we so blind not to see that?”

Widespread killings in connection with the Duterte campaign against illegal drugs have prompted preliminary examinations of the International Criminal Court (ICC) A defiant Duterte earlier withdrew the Philippines from the Hague-based ICC, claiming its prosecutor had prejudged him.

The cases — called information at this stage in the examination — covered incidents when the Philippines was still part of the international body.

Sacred mandate

Villanueva, a Society of Divine Word priest, said Catholics’ continued support for the president’s bloody drug war “gives us a very sad image of how ignorant Catholics are with regard to the Gospel.”

“The best arena for Catholics to live their sacred mandate of following Christ,” he said, “is in a political arena where we are called to speak the truth and condemn the lies, where we are called to provide ways that are moral and just and continue to enhance and promote the sanctity of life to the fullest.”

Aside of the three priests, Bishop Pablo David of Caloocan had also been receiving death threats since he condemned widespread killings under

Duterte’s drug war.

David’s diocese has seen many of these killings of drug suspects who allegedly fought back (“nanlaban”) during police operations.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas was threatened as well.

In February, the former president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, got a text message, warning: “Ihanda niyo na ang lugar ng pagbu-burulan niyo…dahil ang sunod na Misa ay Misa para sa kapayapaan ng kaluluwa niyo.”

Just last year, Australian missionary Sr. Patricia Fox was deported after Duterte ordered an investigation on claims she was participating in political movements in the country.

Duterte threats Alejo said killing clergymen would only produce more criminals in society.

“Pag pinatay nila ako, ibig sabihin may tao na ang naging papel niya ay ang pagpatay sa akin,” he said.

“Ayaw ko ng may pumapatay dahil sa pag dami ng pinapatay, dumadami rin ang pumapatay. Ayaw ko dumami ang mga krimen kaya ayoko maging martyr dahil ang katumbas niyan [ay] meron din naging criminal.”

Critics have blamed the death threats on Duterte’s constant attacks on Catholic priests in his speeches.

“Papatayin ko talaga kayo. Bishop ka [tapos] magpabili ka ng droga diyan?

[Kung] hindi kita pinutulan ng ulo,” he once said.

Duterte also threatened to “kill bishops” because all they supposedly did was to criticize.

Nueva Ecija Bishop Roberto Mallari said Church leaders were apparently offending certain people for speak out against the killings.

“The reality of drugs, when we talk about that, we [may] offend people,” said Mallari, who heads the CBCP’s commission on catechesis and Catholic education.

“The government may be offended because of the way they do things and we in the Church do not agree with the killings happening.” EUGENE DOMINIC

TENDING TO THE FLOCK. Fr. Flavie Reyes, one of the priests who has received threats to his life, talks to a benefactor of their mission charity in Tayuman, Manila.

DEEJAE S. DUMLAO

V. ABOY, O.P., KLYRA V. ORBIEN, NEIL JOSHUA N. SERVALLOS and MARIEL CELINE N. SERQUIÑA

Witness 7

MARCH 30, 2019

‘Hitler’s Pope’ a slander on Pius XII SCHOLARS believe Pope Pius XII’s letters will confirm his innocence during World War 2, with the documents set to be released by the Vatican Secret Archives in 2020 upon the order of Pope Francis.

Stressing that “the Church is not afraid of history,” Pope Francis said the papal documents would balance historical judgment over Pius XII’s pontificate over 60 years ago.

Pius XII has been the subject of criticism by historians for his alleged silence during the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime of Adolf Hitler during World War 2.

The Holocaust systematically killed six million Jews, aside from the Nazi persecution that claimed the lives of millions more Soviet, Polish and Yugoslav civilians; persons with disabilities; and homosexuals.

Church historian Fr. Emil Quilatan said Pius XII, born Eugenio Pacelli, was brave and prophetic in diplomatic negotiations to save the Jews during the Nazi persecution. “[Pius XII] did at his very best to save humanity that was threatened by persecution and extinction. It was passive because he did so much more than what would others do,” he said.

Quilatan said Pius XII, remained silent to avoid retaliation from the Nazi forces.

“We have to be careful in assessing the situation because the situation was a difficult one. He was silent but he was doing something underground in order to save as many lives as he could,” Quilatan said.

Criticisms on Pius XII’s supposed inaction during the Holocaust were made more popular by John Cornwell’s now-debunked book titled “Hitler’s Pope.”

In its 2008 edition, Cornwell revised his opinion stating that “in the light of new evidence… [t] he circumstances and conflicting pressures were sufficiently complex to allow Pacelli (Pius XII) a measure of benefit of the doubt.”

Echoing Quilatan, Augusto de Viana, chairman of the UST Department of History, said Pius XII was instrumental in saving around 850,000 Jews who were fleeing from the Nazi persecution, even to the point that “the Vatican’s resources were already strained.”

De Viana said diplomatic negotiations with the Nazis were a practical move to secretly provide a haven for the Jews.

“The Vatican was a neutral country. Even Hitler respected the neutrality [kaya] hindi sila pinasok… [P]ope Pius was playing on a tightrope, cooperating with the Nazis and at the same time having secret relations with the allies,” he explained.

Pius XII “remained silent” to prevent the Axis forces from invading the Vatican, de Viana said. “[Pius XII] was also careful not to piss off the Nazis or else they will violate the neutrality of the Vatican. He was not condoning but he was also concerned about maintaining the integrity of the Church,” he added.

Quilatan said researchers must exercise prudence and possess the right motives in examining Pius XII’s documents.

“The documents are already available. The problem is prejudice. Once prejudice is still maintained in these researchers, they will always make a wrong conclusion,” he said.

Pius XII served as pontiff from 1939 to 1958.

His image as a passive pope was first propagated by Rolf Hochhuth’s play “The Deputy” in 1963. It portrayed Pius XII as an indifferent and ruthless cynic who was only interested in protecting the Vatican’s interests.

Pope Benedict XVI opened Pius XIl’s cause for beatification in 2009.

The private letters of Pius XII will be open to researchers in the Vatican Secret Archives on March 2, 2020. EUGENE DOMINIC V. ABOY, O.P.

Nationwide research on state of catechesis in PH eyed

Dominican brothers perform during a concert for the youth of Dominican network schools.

MARK DARIUS M. SULIT

Dominicans aim to bolster religious vocations in UST

THOMASIANS who have the calling for religious life are welcome to join the Dominican Order even after college graduation.

Secretary General Fr. Jesus Miranda, Jr., O.P., promoter of vocations in UST, is leading the vocation campaign aiming to attract students considering entering the priesthood after graduation.

UST Vice Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. said college life in UST helps prepare candidates to be more mature and fit in taking up the ministry of priests and consecrated persons.

“The advantage of entering the order when you are already a college graduate is that you are more mature, so your decision may be more stable. You know the direction,” he told the Varsitarian in an interview.

Ang, who graduated with a philosophy degree from the Faculty of Arts and Letters in 1990, originally wanted to take up law before being recruited by his then regent, Fr. Efren Rivera, O.P. Working closely with Dominican friars during his college days greatly affected his Catholic formation and inspired him to enter the Order, he said.

“I did not have any formal Catholic training or catechism, but it was in the University where I got to know about the doctrines of the Church, the practices, the liturgy, the sacraments,” he said.

Bro. Melencio Garcia, O.P., promoter of vocations of the Dominicans in the Philippines, said the Order is also promoting vocations to the

cooperator brotherhood where candidates enter the religious life without seeking ordination to the priesthood.

“In promoting vocations, ipinapakita natin sa kanila not only our congregation but… especially the vocation to the religious life.

Kasi ang iba hindi pa nila alam [kung ano] ang cooperator brother,” he said.

Garcia, a cooperator brother himself, recognizes that the Order’s main source of vocation comes from its academic institutions.

There are 208 professed Dominicans in the Philippine province, which consists of 133 priests, seven cooperator brothers and 69 student-brothers.

At present, 21 Dominicans are alumni of UST, mostly having a Bachelor of Science degree.

Fr. Jeffrey Aytona, O.P., director of UST Communications Bureau, said serving as a volunteer in the University’s youth ministry and organizations acquainted him to the Dominican practices and spirituality.

“I was mesmerized by their sense of brotherhood which really created a positive impact on my vocation… [A]side from the fact that Dominicans exude great intellectual disposition, love of Mary and the rosary and are zealous in their chosen vocation,” he said.

Aytona, who graduated from the Faculty of Arts and Letters in 1997, stressed that Dominican PAGE 9

A NATIONWIDE research on the state of catechesis was launched by the UST Research Center for Social Sciences and Education and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission on Catechesis last March 18.

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

Representatives from dioceses and catechetical centers answered questions on their understanding of the situation of the catechetical ministry in the Philippines.

Sociology professor Clarence Batan said catechists are the key to

evangelization in the country.

“If you want to have a sample of those who are really serving the Church… [w]ho are getting out of their way to really proclaim the good news and engage in the new evangelization, it’s the catechists,” he told the Varsitarian in an interview.

Batan, the head of the research team, emphasized the reinvention of catechetical approaches to provide a standardized module that suits every diocese.

“The core issue here is education in the faith process…

[I]t seems that this is one of the inherent, fundamental ministries that we did not give attention to in the past many years,” he stressed.

E. D. V. ABOY, O.P

Thomasian

Justice

FROM PAGE 2

FROM PAGE 3

Zairah Monjardin of Far Eastern University – Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation led the country’s newest batch of medical technologists. Both scored 91.10 percent.

The national passing rate slipped to 68.45 percent, or 2,801 out of 4,092 examinees, compared with last year’s 72.67 percent, or 2,648 out of 3,644 examinees. NEIL JOSHUA N. SERVALLOS and AHMED KHAN H. CAYONGCAT

Hernando spent his freshman year at the UST Faculty of Civil Law but completed it in San Beda University’s College of Law. The St. Thomas More Lecture was held at the Grand Ballroom of the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building. It is an annual lecture-forum of the Faculty of Arts and Letters in memory of the English statesman and martyr, the faculty’s patron saint. With reports from FRANCIS AGAPITUS E. BRAGANZA

Graduate School FROM PAGE 2

“As for the program for Music, the University is recognized as a Center of Excellence in [that field] so it is logical that we offer a doctorate program in the field anchored on the master’s program of music. Without a doubt, the music program in the University is one of the best, if not the best, in the country,” Madrunio told the Varsitarian in an email.

The Graduate School added

two programs this academic year, namely: a master’s program in electronics engineering and a doctorate program in built environment or architecture.

It offers 63 academic degree programs this academic year.

Madrunio also said the Graduate School would open a doctorate program in communication by 2020.

M.A.DE JEMEL

8 Filipino

MARCH 30, 2019

21 Tomasinong manunulat, wagi sa ika-34 Gawad Ustetika

Isa si Nashrene Franczelle Gacutan mula sa UST Alfredo M. Velayo-College of Accountancy sa mga pinarangalan sa ika-34 taon ng Gawad Ustetika noong ika-30 ng Marso.

HAZEL GRACE S. POSADAS

KARAMIHAN ng mga akda ngayon ay bunsod ng dahas. Kung iyon ang danas, iyon din ang maisusulat.—Ito ang bungang-isip ni Padre Albert Alejo, S.J., isang tanyag na paring makata, sa isang panayam sa kanya noong Gabi ng Parangal para sa ika-34 na Gawad Ustetika na ginanap noong ika-30 ng Marso sa Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building.

Ginawaran ng Parangal Hagbong si Alejo kasama nina Bernardo Bernardo at Maria Cecil Nava, bilang pagkilala sa kanilang makabuluhang ambag sa larang ng sining at panitikan.

“Laganap ngayon ang pagsalaula at pang-aalipusta sa salita. Ang lipunang walang paggalang sa tamang salita, malamang ay wala ring karapatan sa panunumpa,” wika ni Alejo na dati ring manunulat ng Varsitarian Para naman kay Nava, manunulat at mananaliksik ng panitikang rehiyonal, napakahalagang salik sa pagsulat ang pag-unawa at kamalayan.

“I persevered in my advocacy because of a personal belief that when one is in a position to lose something to solve a problem, one should do it even despite the risk,” sabi ni Nava.

Katangi-tangi naman naging ambag ni Nava sa pananaliksik ng mga rehiyonal na literatura, lalo na sa kaniyang pag-aaral sa buhay at mga akda ng Pambansang Alagad ng Sining sa Panitikan na si Ramon Muzones.

Bukod sa pagiging batikang aktor at komedyante, kilala si Bernardo, dating punong patnugot ng Varsitarian, para sa kaniyang mga likhang-akda na tampok ang katatawanan.

Mga nagwagi Nakamit ni Benjamin Joshua Gutierrez mula sa Graduate School ang Rector’s Literary Award sa kaniyang akdang “Ang Tatlong Ulo ng Sitio Pag-asa” sa ilalim ng kategoryang Katha.

Nag-uwi naman si Joshua John de la Peña, mag-aaral mula Ika-34 Gawad Ustetika PAGE 9

Panitikan sa Internet, mababang uri ba?

ANO ANG ugnayan ng panitikan at social media?

Para kay Rolando Tolentino, direktor ng Institute of Creative Writing ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, ipinapakita ng panitikan sa social media—tulad ng nobelang serialized sa Wattpad, sanaysay at opinyon sa Facebook, at kulturang hugot sa Twitter, atbp.—ang liberalisasyon ng impormasyon sa pamamagitan ng paglalathala sa internet.

“May optimism sa internet. Kasi, may ordinary folks na walang access sa books o walang outlets sa kanilang lugar so na-liberalize ang access to information, access to literature,” saad ni Tolentino sa Varsitarian.

Ayon sa tala sa Filipinas noong 2018, mayroong humigit kumulang 44.6 milyong Facebook users, pitong milyon na Pilipino na gumagamit ng Wattpad, at 9.9 milyong Twitter users. Bukod pa rito, tinatayang 10 oras ang ginugugol ng bawat Pilipino sa internet kada araw.

Mula sa kaniyang akda na “#Pag-ibig: Mga Aporismo ng Pagnanasa’t Pagsinta” na nagsimula bilang mga tweets, ginamit ni Tolentino ang pagibig upang manghikayat ng mambabasa tungo sa mga usapin ng opresyon ng kasalukuyang administrasyon.

“Ang mga naka-online, dapat ay magpost ka ng maraming pag-ibig nang ma-hook up sila tapos eventually ma-feel nila na nagbubukas yung isip,

nila na pati iyong mga concerns of the nation ay natatanggap na rin nila,” ani Tolentino.

Aksesibilidad naman ang nakikitang pakinabang ni Joselito de los Reyes, tagapangulo ng Departamento ng Panitikan sa Unibersidad, sa pagpapalaganap ng panitikan sa social media.

“Mas malawak ang nararating. Mabilis ang proseso ng paglalathala … Mas may interaksyon, mas may elemento ng biswal na representasyon, gaya ng photo at video, meme at gif,” sabi ni de los Reyes.

Si De los Reyes ang manunulat ng “iStatus Nation,” na mula sa kaniyang mga pagninilaynilay na nailathala niya bilang Facebook posts.

Ito rin ang paniniwala ni Charmaine Lasar, manunulat ng “Toto O.” Giit niya, “madaling makakonekta sa mambabasa online. Madaling magbahagi ng akda, at madali ring makakuha ng opinyon at komento mula sa kanila.”

Nagsimula ang akdang “Toto O.” mula sa online writing community na Wattpad. Di kalaunan, nanalo ito sa Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards sa kategoryang nobela.

Bagaman hindi maikakaila ang malawak na kapasidad ng internet sa pagsusulat, mayroon pa ring sumasalungat dito at itinuturing na “mababang-uri” at “corny” ang mga inilalathala FILE PHOTO online.

Panitikan PAGE 9

Mga akdang tumalakay sa dahas, pinarangalan ng KWF

Tinanggap ng batikang mang-aawit na si Joey Ayala ang sertipiko mula sa Direktor Heneral ng KWF na si Katarina Rodriguez para sa kaniyang malayang talakayan ukol sa mga katutubong awitin.

GENIELYN ROSARIO M. SORIANO

NANAIG ang mga akdang tumatalakay sa iba’t ibang uri ng dahas sa taunang patimpalak ng Kagawaran ng Wikang Pambasa na Talaang Ginto. Idinaos ang Araw ng Parangal kasabay ng Pambansang Kampo Balagtas 2019 sa Mababang Paaralan ng Orion sa Bataan noong ika-3 ng Abril.

Nasungkit ni MJ Cagumbay Tumamac mula sa General Santos City ang titulong Makata ng Taon para sa kaniyang akdang “Mga Mungkahi ng Pagdanas ng Dahas mula sa Maitum.”

Ayon kay Tumamac, ipinakilala niya sa kaniyang akda ang mayamang wika at kultura ng kaniyang bayan sa Saranggani na nagngangalang Maitum.

“Sa koleksiyong ito, sana makaambag na ipamalay sa ibang tao na nag-eexist kami.

Nandirito kami at marami kaming manunulat.

Marami kaming wika. Nakapagbabasa kami ng mga nagsusulat sa Ilokano, Biyasa, Hiligaynon, T’boli at lalo na sa Tagalog,” wika ni Tumamac sa isang panayam sa Varsitarian.

Ginawaran naman ng ikalawang gantimpala si Fr. Arnel Samson Vitor mula sa Diyosesis ng Antipolo para sa “May Nakakatawa ba Sakaling may Mamatay at Iba pang Tula sa Panahong Eksayting ang Paghimlay,” habang nagwagi ng ikatlong gantimpala si Richard Regadillo Gappi, editor ng Angono Rizal News Online, para sa “Dulok: Gunita ng Tubig.”

Ginawaran din ng Dangal ni Balagtas 2019 si Reynaldo Valera Guardiano para sa musika at si Rodolfo Vera para sa Dula.

Binubuo ang lupon ng inampalan nina Michael Coroza, tagapangulo ng Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas, Ruth Elynia Mabanglo, professor emeritus sa Filipino at sa Layunin PAGE 10

Editor: Lyon Ricardo III M. Lopez

MARCH 30, 2019

Circle 9

Alumni artists link painting and sculpture in art exhibit NOTABLE Thomasian artists stepped out of their comfort zones to create artworks on irregularly shaped canvases and a variety of other surfaces in “Shaped II,” an exhibit held at Art Anton, Conrad Manila in Pasay.

Fil Delacruz, curator of the exhibit, encouraged the participating artists to challenge themselves by stepping out of the confines of the conventional rectangular canvas.

Delacruz, an award-winning printmaker and a UST advertising alumnus, mounted an oil-on-wood piece of a dancing woman clothed in wood patterns and flowers titled “Ritmo sa Hangin,” emphasizing on the color and shape of aged wood in the piece.

“An old wood has its own inherent shape … I put more work on the background to let the natural color of wood and the subject matter come out,” Delacruz told Varsitarian.

“Summer Breeze,” a piece by abstractionist Raul Isidro, depicts the warm winds of summer in shades of yellow, orange, red and blue on a circular canvas.

Several of Isidro’s works were done on round canvases on in round frames to symbolize the earth.

“Most of my influence is landscape in nature and the earth is round, so I did an expression of the movement of the earth,” said Isidro, another leading Thomasian artist and a former dean of fine arts of the Philippine Women’s University.

Interior Design graduate Anna de Leon used a question mark-shaped canvas for a mixed-media piece titled “How Do I Love Thee?” She said her work was based on the famous sonnet by Victorian poet Elizabeth Barret Browning.

Other Thomasian artists featured in the exhibit were Edgar Doctor, Salvador “Buddy” Ching, and Mario de Rivera.

Shaped II runs until April 4. KATRINA ISABEL C. GONZALES

Alumnus and abstractionist Raul Isidro mounts his work “Summer Breeze” in an exhibit by UST graduates in Pasay.

HAZEL GRACE S. POSADAS

On its 20th year, Dominican band holds thanksgiving concert

Members of the Dominican band Inggo 1587 perform during their concert for their 20th year at the UST Museum on March 15.

HAZEL GRACE S. POSADAS

Dominican vocation FROM PAGE 7

encounter with the youth is essential in promoting the vocation to religious life.

As part of the vocation drive posters featuring six Dominican alumni-priests, are displayed throughout the University.

The Order of Preachers was founded by St. Dominic de Guzman and inaugurated in 1216 by Pope Honorius III. The Dominican friars are known for their intellectual tradition that has produced scholars, theologians and doctors of the Church, including St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Albert the Great and St. Catherine of Siena.

The Dominican Province in the Philippines, established in 1978, oversees nine academic institutions including Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Intramuros and UST-Legazpi in Albay.

They serve mission areas in Camiguin and Calayan in the Babuyanes Islands, as well as in Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

They also manage two major Marian shrines: Our Lady of La Naval de Manila and the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Manaoag in Pangasinan. EUGENE DOMINIC V. ABOY, O.P.

ALL-DOMINICAN band Inggo 1587 held a thanksgiving concert titled “Kailan Lamang… Inggo 1587” in celebration of its 20th anniversary at the UST Museum on March 15.

The seven-member band is composed of flutist Fr. Didoy Abaño, O.P., keyboardist and vocalist Fr. Jepoy Arciwals, O.P., drummer Fr. Filemon de la Cruz, O.P., percussionist Fr. Nap Encarnacion, O.P., lead guitarist Fr. Auckhs Enjaynes, O.P., rhythm guitarist Fr. Joemar Sibug, O.P. and bassist Fr. Dennis Maquiraya, O.P. After kicking it off with a spirited classic titled “This is the Day,” they serenaded the audience with “Kailan Lamang,” “Nothing Can Separate Us” and “Sing Hallelujah”.

The band also performed “Lead Me On,” which was the title song of their album that won Best Inspirational Album Award in the 40th Catholic Mass Media Awards.

As part of their mission to “spread the Gospel through music”, band members performed their “theme song,” “I’ll Always Be There,” an original composition based on the Gospel of Matthew.

The concert was capped with another original composition, “Hanggang sa Dulo”.

Arciwals said they were glad to perform once more at the UST Museum, where the band first performed 20 years ago.

“Who would have thought that it’s already been 20 years? […] There is joy in seeing the group complete again. We had our ups and downs, but above all else we learned to love,” he said in Filipino.

Founded on 1998, the band was named after Santo Domingo, the founder of the Order of Preachers, and 1587, the year when the Dominican friars first arrived in the country. EUGENE DOMINIC V. ABOY, O.P.

Ika-34 Gawad Ustetika

Panitikan

FROM PAGE 8

FROM PAGE 8

sa AMV, ng apat na gantimpala.

Nagwagi si de la Peña sa apat na kategorya: unang karangalang banggit para sa “Pista sa Nayon” (Tula), ikalawang gantimpala para sa “Pista ng Obando” (Katha), “Ang Prosisyon ng mga Maton” (Sanaysay), at “Sa Hapag Nabubuo ang Pamilya” (Dulang may isang yugto).

“Itinuturing ko ang aking sarili bilang isa sa mga tagapagtaguyod ng pangangalaga sa cultural heritage.

Gusto ko ring maging instrumento upang mamulat ang mga tao sa katotohanan ng buhay,” wika ni de la Peña sa isang panayam sa Varsitarian.

Tumanggap ang mga nagwagi sa timpalak ng sertipiko, plaka, at cash prize na nagkakahalaga ng P10,000 para sa unang parangal, P7,000 sa ikawalang puwesto, P5,000 sa ikatlong parangal, at P3,000 sa mga

karangalang banggit.

Binuo ang lupon ng inampalan ngayong taon nina Ana Maria Katigbak-Lacuesta, Allan Pastrana, at Marne Kilates (Poetry); Eric Melendez, Sarge Lacuesta, at Augusto Antonio Aguila (Fiction); at Victor Emmanuel Nadera Jr., Michael Coroza, at Rebecca Añonuevo (Tula).

Kasama rin sina Nestor Cuartero, Jose Wendell Capili, at Shirley Lua (Essay); Chuckberry Pascual, Eros Atalia, at Joselito de los Reyes (Katha); Gary Devilles, Oscar Campomanes, at Beverly Siy (Sanaysay); at Jose Victor Torres, Jerry Gracio, and Ralph Galan (OneAct Play/Dulang Isang Yugto).

Taong 1984 nang unang sinimulan ang patimpalak na Gawad Ustetika upang kilalanin ang mga Tomasinong manunulat. MALIC U. COTONGAN

Ang sagot ni de los Reyes dito: nakakamit pa rin ang dahilan ng pagsusulat ng panitikan sa internet—ang dahilan, para kay de los Reyes, ay impluwensiya.

“Parehong kasanayan sa pagsusulat pa rin naman ang ginagamit ko sa pagsusulat ng status at pagsusulat ng maikling kuwento o naratibo ng pananaliksik. Parehong kasanayan, parehong estetika at teknik, parehong pagkonsidera sa mambabasa,” aniya.

Para din kay Tolentino, walang pagkakaiba ang pagsusulat online sa pagsulat ng tradisyonal na libro dahil nag-iba lang ang lunsaran.

“E di sige, kahit hindi sila ordinarily makakabili ng P250, or even P500, na libro, may access sila ng ideas mo,” ani Tolentino.

Saad naman ni Lasar, hindi naman natatapos ang pagkatuto sa pagsusulat. Kung pangit man ito, puwede pang baguhin.

“Patuloy akong maniniwala sa potensiyal ng mga batang manunulat sa Wattpad. Naniniwala akong balang-araw, magkakaroon ng mas malaking ambag sa panitikan ang mga batang ito.

Kung mababaw, bakit hindi turuan upang lumalim ang kaalaman? Ang kailangan ng komunidad na ‘to ay tulong, hindi panlalait o panghuhusga.”

FRANCIS AGAPITUS E. BRAGANZA na may ulat mula kay ANGELIKA V. ORTEGA

10 Limelight

MARCH 30, 2019

Acting Editor: Nathanael Jonas S.J. Rodrigo

TOMAS U SANTOS BY MARIANE JANE A. CADIZ

BUHAY BILLY YATO BY MARI KLOIE D. LEDESMA

CACA BY JURY P. SALAYA

Letter to the Editor

Rock solid

Bard

FROM PAGE 5

FROM PAGE 4

FROM PAGE 5

Ramirez got his remarks that we are publishing one-sided stories. Even if he has stated in his letter that the issue is now being handled in the “proper legal forum,” it does not mean that we should cease reporting on the issue.

Further, while we recognize that the hospital is a health-care facility, it is appalling for the medical director to use the argument that patients will suffer should the impending strike push through, for that is something already given.

But surely, nurses had this in mind already–for they have spent years learning not only how to do their job but also its importance. For him to use the sake of patients as bait to discourage any efforts of a strike is to say that he thinks so ill of his nurses that they would go on strike and not think of the condition of their patients. One cannot discredit, however, that Filipino nurses are known as the most caring ones in the world. And for them to actually file a strike notice would, therefore, only mean to say that they have been filled to the brim and pushed to the wall.

“Thus in no way should the employees of the hospital compromise the health, safety, and the lives of the patients of the hospital in their quest for increase in salaries and more benefits. It must be remembered that “the loss of one life or even the compromise of care of any single patient can never be justified by any financial gain,” Ramirez added in his letter.

But what financial gain is he saying? His employees are not demanding luxury. They only demand that they are paid for the extra work that they do, and that the working conditions in the hospital be improved.

The Varsitarian, being a Catholic student paper, abides and espouses the social teachings of the Church. As it is written in the encyclical “Rerum Novarum” of Pope Leo XIII, the employer should “not look upon their work people as their bondsmen, but to respect in every man his dignity as a person ennobled by Christian character,” and “to misuse men as though they were things in the pursuit of gain, or to value them solely for their physical powers - that is truly shameful and inhuman.”

We are not lecturing Ramirez on how to save lives. We only tell what has to be told: that employees under him are relaying actual concerns in their working conditions. For him to shoot the messenger and blame it on the campus press is to do harm. Sadly, I thought those in his profession are not supposed to do so.

invites harassment and rape?

Hell, even the President himself throws lewd comments around like a ball.

Heinous crimes are committed under such an antiwoman climate, such as the case of Christine Silawan, a 16-yearold girl from Cebu who was raped and murdered, the flesh of her face mutilated making her almost unrecognizable. Her body was found naked on March 11 in a vacant lot in Lapu-Lapu City.

Crimes like what happened Silawan are crimes against humanity, not just women. Thus, the fight for women’s rights is a fight for human rights—and this is why feminism has become increasingly relevant not only for Filipino women but for Filipinos of all sexes or so called orientations.

Filipinas fight for their rights not to get even with an unjust society, but to ensure their safety and security—a fundamental human right. If we do not join the women in the crusade to uphold what is inherently theirs (and ours), then we are no better than the darkness that has barricaded itself in the white palace by the river, a shadow of murderous tyrants who claim to serve and respect the country when they can’t even serve and respect the people, especially women and children.

need to serve a shortened one-year term (removing the 5-month fixed term) prior to his/her regularization provided that he/she successfully proves to be qualified for the position.

Just recently, the hospital again simplified its process of hiring new nurses. Currently, the one-year fixed term was already abolished.

Starting 08 January 2019, newly hired nurses only need to complete the probationary contract for a period of 6 months. Thereafter, the said nurse will already attain regular status. This policy also benefits those nurses who had applied prior to the said date (08 January 2019) as the new policy applies retroactively.

That is, those nurses whose contracts were for a one-year fixed term shall be deemed and considered regular employees if his/her employment is already beyond six (6) months from the time he/she signed the one-year fixed term contract. The policy also applies to non-nursing professionals/ technical employees, i.e. radiologic technologists, medical technologists and the like.

In connection with nurse shaming allegation, the records are clean that the hospital has not received any formal complaint against an individual before the Human Resource Department.

In the same manner, there is no grievance filed with the Grievance Committee. Should there be an incident of actual nurse shaming, proper complaints must be filed and the proper forum must be utilized in order that the complaint may be properly acted upon by the USTH Management. The proper procedure must be observed.

Meanwhile, the transfer of employees is a valid exercise of USTH of its management prerogative which is duly recognized by the Labor Code. The transfer of personnel is applied necessarily to rotate and cross-train the employees, not primarily because the hospital would like to indirectly sanction erring employees. Sufficient time or advance notice is usually given in majority of cases of transfers except in few cases where the transfer is immediate because of certain exigencies. Our employees are not underpaid. On a yearly basis, USTH is spending around P708 million by way of salaries and benefits to its employees based on its existing CBA. On the average, the salaries and benefits paid (if quantified) by the hospital to its more than 1,000 employees amount to approximately P59,000 per month for every employee of the hospital. Currently, the minimum salary of an ordinary employee under the Minimum Wage

Law is around P12,000 per month.

Obviously, the salary and benefits which a regular employee receives in USTH is even above and beyond what the Minimum Wage Law provides.

By way of comparison, the existing CBA in USTH is one of the most generous CBA’s in so far as the hospital sector is concerned. To name a few, USTH provides free high school and college education to the children of the regular employees of the hospital for up to four (4) children each. The hospital also provides free hospitalization and laboratory examinations to all of its regular employees while their dependents are given 80% discount for the hospitalization expense. The discount in hospitalization even extends after the regular employees have already retired. Aside from these, the hospital also provides its employees with at least thirty (30) other benefits.

With these, it is clear that USTH’s regular employees are enjoying superior benefits compared to various other hospitals in the country. With these, how can it still be insisted that the wages and benefits are still inadequate?

To set the record straight, the hospital cannot simply agree to increase the employees’ salaries and benefits with an amount that it can no longer afford or whena the claim is clearly excessive. A demand for additional salaries and benefits amounting to P700 million (originally P1.1 billion) is too much to bear. What the hospital can only give or provide is an increase in salaries and benefits that is equitable, fair and reasonable.

Finally, the UST Hospital Management would like to remind all employees of the UST Hospital of their professional commitment to primarily serve the interests of their patients above their own personal interests. Thus in no way should the employees of the hospital compromise the health, safety, and the lives of the patients of the hospital in their quest for increase in salaries and more benefits. It must be remembered that “the loss of one life or even the compromise of care of any single patient can never be justified by any financial gain.

As an official publication of the university, the Varsitarian should be more prudent and responsible in posting such one-sided stories of an issue which is now being handled in the proper legal forum.

Thank you very much.

(Signed) Dr. Marcellus Francis L. Ramirez Acting Medical Director UST Hospital

Layunin FROM PAGE 6

University of Hawai’i at Moana, Honolulu, at Enrique Villasis, scriptwriter sa programang pantelebisyon ng ABS-CBN. Nakilahok sa Pambansang Kampo Balagtas ang Kagawaran ng Edukasyon, kinatawan ng mga ahensiyang pangkultura sa Filipinas, mga organisasayong pangwika at pangkultura, mga manunulat, mga delegadong guro at mga mag-aaral mula sa iba’t ibang rehiyon ng Filipinas.

Ipinagdiwang ang Pambansang Kampo Balagtas upang gunitain ang ika-231 kaarawan ng “Prinsipe ng mga Makatang Tagalog” na si Francisco Baltazar, at kilalanin ang mga huwarang manunulat para sa kanilang ambag sa sining ng Filipinas. FRANCIS AGAPITUS E. BRAGANZA

Parangal FROM PAGE 5 wika, Halinang sa salita, sa totoo at tamang salita, tayo po’y tumaya!

Bilang pangwakas, nais ko pong umusal ng isang maikling dasal alang sa bayan nating mahal: (Hango kay Rabindranath Tagore, na bahagi ng aklat kong Nabighani) Doon Nawa Doon sa walang takot ang diwa at taas-noo ang sambayanan; Doon sa ang karunungan ay malaya at hindi bayaran; Doon sa daigdig na hindi pa tadtad ng pantayo-tayong kakitiran; Doon sa ang salita’y umaahon mula sa pusod ng katotohanan; Doon sa ang pagbabanat ng buto’y may hatid na kaginhawahan; Doon sa ang malinaw na batis ng katwiran ay hindi pa naliligaw sa mapanglaw na buhangin ng ugaling walang kabuhay-buhay; Doon sa ang isip ay lyong inaakay sa papalawak na diwa at galaw– Doon, Amang mahal, doon sa kanlungan ng kalayaan, Doon Mo itulot na nawa’y mamulat ang aking Inang Bayan.

Artlets FROM PAGE 2 council’s failure to release official merchandise, saying some students did not receive the goods they had paid for.

Arellano has yet to respond to requests for comment on the impeachment complaint.

In a memorandum released on Saturday, the BOM clarified that the complaint is not yet an impeachment case. BOM members have yet to meet to “deliberate on the substance and gravity” of the claims, it said.

The BOM said it opted to withhold the identity of the complainants as it had yet to notify Arellano of the complaint.

The 2005 constitution of the ABSC states that a council officer may be impeached on grounds such as “willful or culpable violation of any provisions of the constitution,” “gross negligence of duties” and “abusive use of power,” to name a few.

The complaint was filed a week before the filing of candidacies for local student elections on March 27, according to the official calendar of activities by the Artlets Commission on Elections.

Arellano was elected speaker of the Central Board, the legislative body of the Central Student Council composed of local student council presidents, in August of last year.

Editor: Ma. Angelica D. Garcia

MARCH 30, 2019

Sports 11

Golden Tigresses ground Adamson

Golden Tigress Caitlyn Viray spikes the ball against two Adamson blockers in their game last March 27.

THE UST Golden Tigresses cruised past the Adamson University Lady Faclons, 25-15, 25-12, 25-16, in the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament at the Arena in San Juan last March 27.

The Tigresses improved to a 6-3 win-loss record for second place in the standings, while the Lady Falcons absorbed their eighth loss in nine games.

Prized rookie Eya Laure’s drop ball in the third canto gave UST the victory, 25-16.

“Mas composed and mas relaxed ang players kaya nakafocus kami sa game plan and nabigyan namin ng importance ‘yong moving without the ball,” Tigresses head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes Jr. said.

Dimdim Pacres’ off the block kill ended a 19-6 bomb by UST that broke a 6-all deadlock in the second set, 25-12.

Leading 15-11 in the opening salvo, the Tigresses ignited a 10-4 blitz, capped by Laure’s off-the-block hit to grab an early advantage, 25-15.

UST dominated the blocking department with seven points while Adamson only had one.

The Tigresses also pounded seven service aces while the Lady Falcons hit four.

Laure led all scorers with 17 points while Caitlyn Viray added 14 markers for UST. Joy Dacoron paced Adamson with eight points.

The Tigresses will next face three-time defending champion De La Salle University Lady Spikers on March 31, Sunday, 4 p.m., at the Mall of Asia Arena. FAITH YUEN MARK DARIUS M. SULIT WEI N. RAGASA

Rookie setter becomes key cog for Tigresses A THIRD star has emerged for the UST women’s volleyball team in rookie setter Mafe Galanza.

Head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes Jr. likes what he’s seeing in the 18-year-old standout, describing her as the team’s missing piece.

“Siya ‘yong matagal ng kailangan ng team. Nasa kaniya lahat ng criteria na hinahanap ko for a setter kasi kontrolado niya lahat ng atake, he told the Varsitarian. “Napapagalaw at nabibigay niya ‘yong highest percentage ng position for the spikers to kill the ball at may consistency sa bawat bato niya.”

While team captain Sisi Rondina and top rookie Eya Laure have been focused on scorint, Galanza has quietly become a key player in UST’s impressive campaign in the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament.

The Golden Tigresses relied on

Galanza’s setting, which propelled them to a 6-3 win-loss record in the tournament.

“Noong una, sobra akong conscious kung magiging pangit ba o hindi ‘yong laro ko pero ngayon wala na akong gustong gawin kung hindi manalo talaga,” the Laguna-native said in an interview.

Coming from a family of athletes, Galanza always seemed destined for sports.

She started playing in fourth grade under the tutelage of his father Jessie at the Pacita Elementary School in Laguna.

The Galanza name has been widely known in the UAAP since her older sister Jema made a mark as the former outside hitter of the Adamson University Lady Falcons.

Mafe said she initially aspired to be a Lady Falcon but decided to join the Golden Tigresses to step out of her

sister’s shadows.

She was discovered by Reyes in the Southern Tagalog Calabarzon Athletic Association tournament when she played for San Pedro Relocation Center National High School in 2017.

“Dati kasi naisip ko na sa Adamson na lang ako kasi doon galing si ate pero noong nag-senior high school na ako, naisip ko na gusto kong gumawa ng sarili kong pangalan,” the younger Galanza said.

Since starting her career in 2009, the 5’4” Sports and Wellness Management freshman has already copped several awards, including the Best Center Women’s Volleyball League Best Setter and Best Server awards in 2016 and 2017, respectively.

She was also a part of the Philippine Girls’ National Volleyball Team that won bronze in the 2017 Asean Schools Games in Singapore and the recently-announced Under-23

women’s national volleyball pool.

With UST’s stellar campaign this season, Mafe is confident that the Golden Tigresses can make it back to the Final Four.

“Ibibigay ko lang ang best ko every game kasi lahat naman kami sa team isa lang ‘yong goal, ‘yong mabalik ang korona sa España,” she said.

The Golden Tigresses will next face three-time defending champion De La Salle University Lady Spikers on March 31, Sunday, 4 p.m., at the Mall of Asia Arena. . FAITH YUEN WEI N. RAGASA and THERESA CLARE K. TAÑAS

Sports

MARCH 30, 2019

The Golden Sox settle for fourth place anew after succumbing to the Ateneo de Manila University last March 20.

DEEJAE S. DUMLAO

Golden Sox finish 4th anew in UAAP

By JUSTIN ROBERT VALENCIA

DESPITE a rousing start that brought them atop the standings, the UST Golden Sox suffered a late meltdown and settled for fourth place anew in the UAAP Season 81 baseball tournament.

After winning three of their first four games, the Golden Sox dropped five of their last six matches to finish with a 4-6 win-loss slate.

UST head coach Jeffrey Santiago attributed the collapse to the team’s lack of mental toughness, especially with 11 of the 20-man roster being rookies.

“Nawala ‘yong killer instinct (ng mga players). Nawala sa focus after our big 10-3 win over powerhouse La Salle sa first round, naging super relaxed ang mga bata,” the 56-year-old mentor told the Varsitarian.

In their last six matches, the Golden Sox registered just 7.83 hits per game and failed to capitalize on their base runners, leaving an

average of 7.33 sluggers on base.

Santiago cited the lack of training days due to consecutive events at the UST field as a factor of their hitting deterioration.

To address the situation, Santiago said he will ask the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics office to allow them to practice at the Rizal Memorial Stadium once a week.

“Mag-re-request ako na ganoon nga ang mangyari para ‘yong mga bata maging acquainted doon. Law of adaptability din kasi ang baseball. Kapag sa UST, magaling, kapag sa Rizal nawawala ang palo,” he said.

In the Golden Sox’s six losses, two of them came from the lowly University of the Philippines (UP), which loss all but two of its games.

Team captain Alwen Calbang said the two defeats against UP caused their midseason

meltdown.

“Doon kami sa dalawang talo sa UP nagmental breakdown. Lesson na lang ‘yon na i-aim na kahit anong team ang katapat, need talaga talunin para magtuluy-tuloy ang panalo hanggang sa finals,” the former best first baseman said.

Santiago added that if they had not lost to the Fighting Maroons twice, they would have been in the finals.

The Golden Sox will lose the services of Jamil Santiago, Ian Llave and Calbang after exhausting their playing years.

Bright future Despite a disappointing finish this season, Santiago is confident of UST’s chances next year as eight Junior Golden Sox are expected to move up the seniors’ team including two-time UAAP

juniors’ Best Pitcher Michael Cabang.

“Mataas ang expectation ko sa team next year kasi alam ko na ang mga galaw nila at kung saan sila palalakasin. Dati hindi ako nangako pero ngayon ipangangako ko na magfa-finals kami next season,” he said.

Aside from Cabang, Santiago said he will bank on Junior Golden Sox JM Barsales, Godie Apolinario, Mhigeil Cerda, Marvin Trillana, Christian Samson and Reden Tapia next season.

“Maganda talaga kapag galing sa high school ng UST ‘yong kinukuha kasi adjusted na sila sa plays namin. Makatutulong sa opensa namin at makakadagdag sa bullpen ‘yong mga bago,” the multi-titled coach said.

The Golden Sox will see action again in the Philippine Amateur Baseball Association League this April.

Female Tracksters UST squad bags second-straight UAAP juniors’ streetdance title seize bronze in national meet FIVE-TIME UAAP defending champion UST Female Tracksters bagged bronze in the 2019 Ayala Philippine Athletics Championships last March 11 at the Ilagan City Sports Complex in Isabela.

The Female Tracksters registered a 2-5-4 gold-silverbronze medal haul behind second-placer Philippine Army and champion City of Ilagan, who was composed of national team athletes.

“Kaya pa sana namin mag first runner-up kung nag full lineup at nag-enter sa maraming events but we did well naman especially against the other teams’ veterans, comparable naman ang time,” Tracksters head coach Manny Calipes told the Varsitarian in an online interview.

Three-time UAAP Most Valuable Player Louielyn Pamatian bagged gold after clocking 2:24.37 in the 800-meter dash, while Aira Teodosio reigned in the hammer throw event with a 43.05-meter output.

Pamatian then joined Karen Janario, Alyssa Andrade and Rosnani Pamaybay for silver in the 4×100-meter relay with a 48.51-second finish.

Pamatian, Pamaybay, Jie Anne Calis and Jessa Jarder added another silver after registering 4:01.83 in the 4×400-meter relay event.

Jarder and Calis notched silver in the 400-meter hurdles and 1500-meter run after a 63.25-second output and a 5:02.44 performance, respectively.

UST went 2-of-3 in the women’s long jump event with Pamaybay and Andrade notching silver and bronze, respectively.

Efrelyn Democer’s 42.59 meters in the javelin throw event landed her a bronze medal, while Luz Delfin bagged bronze in the shot put and hammer throw events after recording 10.83 and 38.81 meters, respectively.

In men’s play, the Male Tracksters’ lone hardware came in the pole vault event with Johnrey Magallanes finishing 4.0 meters for bronze.

In the juniors’ division, the Junior Male Tracksters had a 1-3-5 medal tally, while their female counterparts finished with a 1-4-2 haul. JUSTIN ROBERT VALENCIA

Galvanize celebrates their victory in the UAAP Season 81 streetdance competiton last March 23.

GALVANIZE, UST’s high school streetdance team, took home its second-straight championship in the UAAP Season 81 streetdance tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last March 23.

Galvanize’s UST cheers routine scored 80.10 points, besting the University of the East Street Varsity Team (74.50) and the Far Eastern University Baby Tamaraws Dance Company (74.45), who placed second and third, respectively.

“We just enjoyed the performance. Laging sinasabi ni coach na huwag isipin na dapat manalo, bonus na lang ‘yon,” UST Galvanize team captain Gabriel Joaquin Estrada told the

Varsitarian.

UST Prime’s High School Musicalinspired performance fell further from the podium this year and settled for fifth place after scoring 79 points. The team placed fourth last season.

De La Salle Dance Company-Street bagged its fourth championship in the seniors’ division, scoring 86.50 points with their Queen-inspired routine.

Defending champion FEU Dance Company Alliance’s military-themed showcase settled for second (85 points), while the National University Underdwags’s Bohemian Rhapsody-inspired routine was

ENRICO MIGUEL S. SILVERIO

good for third (83.25 points) “Super proud ako sa pinakitang performance ng team ngayon. Nakita ko kung paano nila pinaghirapan ang piece na ‘yon (and kahit na hindi nanalo), I really enjoyed watching them,” UST Prime team coach Meeko Evangelista said.

The University of the Philippines Streetdance Club placed fourth with 82 points, while the UE Street Warriors garnered 74.42 markers for sixth.

The Company of Ateneo Dancers placed seventh with 70.75 points, while Adamson CAST were dead last with 67.45 markers. THERESA CLARE K. TAÑAS