The Varsitarian P.Y. 2018-2019 Issue 09

Volume XCI, No. 9 • May 5, 2019 THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSIT Y OF SANTO TOMAS Manila, Philippines

‘Vote with conscience’

By EUGENE DOMINIC V. ABOY, O.P. and MARIEL CELINE L. SERQUIÑA

SERVICE. Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle kisses the foot of a representative from the youth sector during the washing of the feet on Maundy Thursday last April 18 at the Manila Cathedral.

DEEJAE S. DUMLAO

Civil Law posts 71% passing rate in Bar 2018 THE UNIVERSITY posted a 71.43-percent passing rate for first-time takers in the November 2018 Bar examinations, with 90 out of 126 first-time Thomasian takers making the cut.

This was lower than last year’s, 89.89-percent passing rate for first-time takers, or 89 out of 99 Thomasian examinees.

The official overall passing rate and total number of Thomasian examinees has yet to be released as of writing. “[The passing rate] is still something to be thankful for.

We may not have landed in the

WHAT'S INSIDE UNIVERSITY

This year’s UST student council elections made history with the lack of candidates and the lowest voter turnout in a decade.

PAGE 2

EDITORIAL

The Filipino electorate would do well to think and discern their vote, for the result will be a referendum on Duterte and his government’s policies.

PAGE 4

ELECTIONS IN THE CAPITAL The Varsitarian took a closer look at what Manila has become under Estrada’s two terms as mayor of Manila.

PAGE 11 OVERALL CHAMPS

UST is set to claim its 43rd overall championship in this year’s UAAP Season 81.

PAGE 18

top 10 this year but I commend our barristers for their valiant efforts and accomplishment,” Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina told the Varsitarian.

Divina said that the faculty would do a post-bar evaluation after receiving the exam results per subject and strive to achieve better results in the examinations next year.

Sean James Borja of Ateneo de Manila University topped this year’s bar exams, with an 89.30-percent score.

The national passing rate slid to 22.07 percent or 1,800 out of

8,155 examinees, from last year’s 25.55 percent or 1,724 out of 6,750 examinees.

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

Thomasians Klinton Torralba and Emma Ruby Aguilar also clinched the ninth and 10th spots in the list of topnothcers, after recording 88.65-percent and 88.40-percent marks, respectively.

UST was named the third topperforming school in the 2017 Bar examinations.

There were 8,701 examinees in

this year’s bar exams who flocked to the University as it hosted the Bar examinations for the eighth straight year.

Held on all four Sundays of November 2018, the exams covered civil law, political law, labor law, taxation, criminal law, remedial law, legal and judicial ethics.

According to Bar exam rules, an examinee is deemed to have passed if he or she obtained a general average of 75 percent.

The chairman of this year’s Bar exams was Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo. ANGELIKA V. ORTEGA and NEIL JOSHUA N. SERVALLOS

Antonio Molina’s library turned over to UST THE UST Miguel de Benavides Library received the collection of works and library of the former UST professor Antonio M. Molina, in commemoration of his 100th birth anniversary last May 2 at the Miguel de Benavides Library Conference Hall.

Molina, who served as acting secretary general of UST from 1968 to 1969, produced countless books and translations of Philippine history and law.

Over 1,000 of his books, which came from Molina family’s collection both in their households in Madrid and in the country, were turned over to the UST Library.

“Something my father would have wanted was to share whatever he read and learned with oth-ers,” Molina’s son Chaco said. “It’s like sharing it with the institution we love, and sharing it with the public. It becomes more meaningful.” “[W]hat is important is that he wrote what he felt. The sincerity that is in his writing is [...] unparal-leled. He wrote for posterity,” he added.

Molina’s “The Philippines Through the Centuries vol. 1, “Rizal: Man and Hero” and “Yo,

The works of former UST professor Antonio Molina are displayed at the Miguel de Benavides Library in commemoration of his birth centennary this year.

DEEJAE S. DUMLAO

Jose Ri-zal” were put on display at the library.

Along with these books were countless other original works like “Dusk and Dawn in the Philip-pines” and “Historia de Filipina,” yearbooks, floor plans, articles and a bookshelf

full of his per-sonal primary references.

The exhibit also put on display Molina’s awards, such as the Presidential Award of Merit from President Corazon Aquino in 1992, the Knight Commander Medal and the Premio Zobel, Molina PAGE 5

CHURCH officials and laymen have urged Filipinos to be critical and follow their conscience in choosing candidates for public office with the 2019 midterm elections slated on May 13, Monday.

Archbishop Socrates Villegas of the Lingayen-Dagupan archdiocese, in a pastoral message, said the leaders people elect in office is a reflection of the electorate.

“The kind of leaders we elect reveals the kind of people we are. The winners in elections are mirrors of the values and aspirations, dreams and hopes of the people who voted for them. It can show our backward moving society,” the former president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said.

“We have the duty to assess [the candidates] diligently and, freed from pressure, check if they meet our standards.

We decide; not the candidates. Be critical voters. Be Godly voters. Bring your faith as you choose,” he said.

He added that it was the task of the Church to be ‘involved’ in political issues to uphold the values of society and the freedom of its citizens.

“When we demand that religion be purely a private matter that it should not touch political choices, society suffers. Democracy is hurt. And if we continue to keep ethics out of public service, democracy will be killed quietly unnoticed,” Villegas said.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that “the choice of the political regime and the appointment of rulers are left to the free decision of the citizens.”

It adds that the faithful are encouraged to participate in the pursuit of the common good which is needed in order to promote human dignity.

Fr. Ranhilio Aquino, a UST alumnus and dean of the San Beda University Graduate School of Law, said the doctrine of the separation of Church and State is “not self-executory” and does not prohibit religious groups to engage in political issues.

“The separation of Church... are principally prohibitions on state interference with religion. They do not allow the state to restrain the practice of Vote PAGE 13

CBCP chief: We will not ‘evade’ problem of sexual abuse DAVAO Archbishop Romulo Valles, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, assured the Filipino youth of the Church’s proactive response to cases of abuse of minors by clergy during the grand festival night of the National Youth Day in Cebu.

“I am sure the clergy [is] one with the Holy Father in asking for forgiveness. [T] he Church is very much ready to admit the situation. [W]e will not evade but we will understand the problem,” he said in the “Dialogue with Bishops” at the Cebu City Sports Complex on Saturday.

“Do not be afraid to go to your bishops, priests and unburden with your hurting,” he said.

“We will continue to say sorry and beg to the Lord and those who are hurt by the wrongdoing that has been done. Be assured that the Church is going to accompany those who have been hurt. Let us know, and realize that we are committed to [do] all we can to stop this,” he said.

CBCP PAGE 16

E 18

2 News

Assistant News Editor: Kevin A. Alabaso

MAY 5, 2019

Journalism prof in ‘matrix’ row hailed VETERAN journalists expressed their support for UST journalism head Felipe Salvosa II, following his resignation as managing editor of The Manila Times over the publication of a highly contested “investigative” report linking some of the country’s most respected journalists to an alleged plot to oust President Duterte.

Salvosa quit on April 24, two days after the paper came out with a front-page exclusive written by the news company’s owner, Dante Ang, who is also Duterte’s special envoy for international public relations.

“By openly protesting Manila Times owner Dante Ang’s insistence on publishing that malicious fiction about journalists and lawyers supposedly plotting to oust President Rodrigo Duterte, [M]r. Salvosa has affirmed that journalism, is indeed, the profession of truth,” the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said in a statement.

Vera Files President Ellen Tordesillas, whose name was dragged into the ouster plot, denounced the Times’ “matrix report,” saying it was “a classic example of

Salvosa

fake news.”

“Salvosa provided a much-needed silver lining last week at the time when dark clouds of lies threatened to overwhelm the public pre-occupied with the business of surviving,” Tordesilla wrote in her blog.

Joel Pablo Salud, editor of the Philippines Graphic and a former writer for the Times, said Salvosa’s resignation was “the bravest display of journalistic independence.”

“Salvosa took his job seriously enough that he willfully placed it in harm’s way for the sake of the truth,” he said in a Facebook post. “It was exceptionally brave of [him] to do this knowing that his career will soon be hanging by the skin of its teeth.”

Explaining his move, Salvosa, who began teaching journalism in 2005, said: “In UST journalism, we

always tell students that our number one obligation is to the truth. I felt sincerely that I needed to uphold that principle now more than ever.”

The Times’ report was based on a “matrix” alleging that journalists from Vera Files, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), and Rappler were conniving with the National Union of People’s Lawyers to spread stories critical of the Duterte administration.

Malacañan Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo “confirmed” the matrix but could not explain how it had been put together. He told reporters it was considered validated because it came from the president himself.

PCIJ reporter Karol Ilagan, who also teaches journalism in UST, was among those mentioned in Ang’s article, which was roundly condemned Journalism PAGE 16

UST buildings safe after 6.1 Luzon earthquake

Student council election turnout drops

UST ENGINEERS said they found no major damage on buildings in the campus following the magnitude 6.1 earthquake which hit Luzon on April 23.

Civil Engineering department head Rodelio Tiburcio said they found cracks in the Beato Angelico Building but said these were not “structural defects.”

The building, inaugurated in 1993, houses the College of Fine Arts and Design, College of Architecture and the UST Publishing House “Lahat ng buildings dito sa UST walang structural defect, naikot namin and puwede na [silang] ma-occupy immediately,” Tiburcio told the Varsitarian.

The Facilities Management Office together with the Security Office and other UST engineers, led the inspection early this morning.

The earthquake, which struck parts of Luzon including Metro Manila on Monday, has left 16 people dead and 112 injured in the provinces of Pampanga and Zambales, the epicenter of the quake.

At UST Legazpi in Bicol, no damage was reported. Intensity 3 was felt in Legazpi City in Albay following a magnitude 6.5 earthquake in Eastern Samar.

“I called up my [Dominican] brothers there and apparently no damage in the university and in the city occurred during the earthquake,” said Rector Fr. Ernesto Arceo, O.P., who was in Manila. AHMED KHAN H. CAYONGCAT, ANGELIKA V. ORTEGA with reports from KEVIN A. ALABASO AND JOSELLE CZARINA S. DE LA CRUZ

THIS YEAR’S campus elections was one for the books, following a record 13-point de-cline in voter turnout, data from the Central Commission on Elections (Comelec) showed.

Only 55.54 percent, or 21,122 students out of a population of 38,032, were able to vote in the 2019 Central Student Council (CSC) polls, significantly lower than last year’s 68.72 percent or 26,148 students out of 38,045.

This was the lowest voter turnout since 2009, when turnout hit 54.71 percent.

The election period only ran for three days, after the University suspended classes and office work on April 23 because of the magnitude 6.1 earthquake that struck parts of Luzon.

Comelec chief Moriah Mendiola said next year’s Comelec should prepare for unforeseen events.

“Siguro dahil kaunti ‘yong time [for the election] pero kasi nag provide naman kami ng schedules,” Mendiola told the Varsitarian. “I can’t speak for the other colleges kasi iba ‘yong environment nila, [baka] may mga projects silang pinapasa that time kaya hindi sila nakaboto.”

She added that this year’s low voter turnout was good for a threeday election, com-pared with last year wherein voting for the campus polls ran for five days.

“Nahirapan kaming pagkasiyahin ‘yong three days and a half [na voting period]. Buti na lang mayroong voting precinct kaya medyo na-manage ng ibang college NEW LEADERSHIP. Central Student Council officers-elect Robert Dominic Gonzales and Krizzia na makahabol sa turnout,” Mendiola Milleny Bricio, together with Faculty of Arts and Letters Student Council President-elect Lady Freyja said.

Gascon, march to Mendiola during the Labor Day protest.

MARK DARIUS M. SULIT The College of Architecture, College of Commerce and Business Administration, Col-lege of Fine Arts and Design (CFAD) and Faculty of Engineering posted low voter turnouts in their local student council polls, which resulted to a failure of elections.

The University Student Elections Code states that failure of elections Sulo ng laya at langit could only be de-clared if candidates Panatilihing liliyab – liyab failed to secure the votes of at least Puso’y taimtim akay ng Maykapal.

25 percent of the total popula-tion of the electorate.

(Koro) CFAD recorded the lowest voter turnout at 13.29 percent.

Diyos ng Bansa Anna Luisa Faronilo, CFAD Maawaing Diyos, ng aming katauhan Comelec chairwoman, said there Lantay ng ginyong Lirio would be another eelec-tion for the Ang batis na dalisay local council.

“Nagkaroon lang kasi kami ng Bakas ng layag ng galeon, one-day election, in-extend ko lang Lubhang lampas sa paningin. this week kasi mayroon kaming thesis week so walang estudyanteng Ang iyong maawaing liwanag papasok,” she told the Varsitarian.

Lagim ng kadiliman Faronilo said students’ apathy Sa kagandahan, katotohana’t kabaitan, toward politics on campus could also be a reason for the failure of Ang iyong mga kawal elections.

Biyaya’y walang hanggan.

“Siguro bigyan natin sila ng awareness, ipaalam natin sa lahat Tomasino Siya ng students [ang importance] ng Kinilala si Victor Ordoñez bilang katangimga student councils kasi sila ‘yong tanging Tomasino matapos niyang ipamalas ang tutulong sa atin para ma-raise ‘yong kaniyang husay sa larangan ng edukasyon sa loob at mga concerns [natin],” she said. labas ng bansa.

The Education High School Binuo ni Ordoñez ang konsepto ng professional recorded the highest voter turnout, at educational planning at financial enrolment systems 98.28 percent.

Usapang Uste

At 55%, turnout is lowest in 10 years

UST Hymn sa wikang Filipino

ISANG salin ng UST Hymn ang inilathala ng Varsitarian noong ika-25 ng Nobyembre 1975, sa panulat ni Conrado Reyes, isang dalubguro sa Departamento ng Filipino ng Unibersidad.

Inawit din sa publiko ang bersiyong Tagalog noong Disyembre ng parehong taon sa isang patimpalak sa Wikang Pilipino.

Ayon kay Reyes, ginawa niya ang salin bilang pagtugon sa kahilingan ng UST Knights of Columbus Council na gawing mas makabuluhan ang pag-awit ng mga Tomasino sa kanilang himno.

Narito ang kumpletong teksto: HIMNO NG PAMANTASAN NG SANTO TOMAS ‘Puan ni Aquino tiising matayog Sigwa ng mga panahon Altar ng ating ninuno Sa pulo’y nililok.

Ito’y palalong kastilyo Tahanan ng mga paham Pinupuri ng krus ng anghel Handog ng Inang España Lalim ng kaniyang bulwagan ‘poy walang hanggang pita ma’ mong anino’y takwil.

Hadlangan, itong lupang mahal

sa mga unibersidad sa Filipinas, South Korea, at Hong Usapang Uste PAGE 13

Election results

Turnout PAGE 5

MAY 5, 2019

Sci-Tech 3

NEARING CENTENNARY. The UST Main Building, inaugurated in 1927 and designed by Fr. Roque Ruaño, O.P., a civil engineer, is the country’s first earthquake-resistant bulding.

FILE PHOTO

Can UST withstand the Big One? IF THE “Big One,” a 7.2-magnitude earthquake, occurs, can UST withstand it?

Civil Engineering department head Rodelio Tiburcio said all buildings inside the campus would be able to withstand a major temblor.

The Big One is categorized by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) as “very destructive.”

It will hit Metro Manila and other parts of the country if the West Valley Fault in Luzon moved.

He said there were no fragile buildings on campus as the buildings were carefully planned and constructed.

“Lahat ng structures sa UST, I can say wala akong nakikitang problema sa the Big One,” Tiburcio said.

Tiburcio, along with University engineers

and the staff of the Facilities Management Office (FMO), inspected the structural integrity of all buildings inside the campus last April 23, a day after a 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit Metro Manila and some parts of Luzon.

No major damage was found in the buildings after the earthquake.

In an earlier report by the Varsitarian, Tiburcio said some surface cracks were found in the Beato Angelico Building during the inspection, but these were not “structural defects.”

Of all the buildings in the campus, the Main Building, which was inaugurated in 1927, has a “special feature” – it is composed of 40 separate and smaller structures, making it more resilient to earthquakes, he said.

“Kaya ng Main Building na mag-

survive. I’m sure of that…[K]apag lumindol, ‘yong building na ‘yon (Main Building), it will act as individual units, which makes the response to earthquake somewhat calibrated to the load that it is carrying, as a smaller unit,” he said.

He explained that a building with a big mass could be affected by large tremors, thus the Main Building could be affected only by small forces because of its “unique” structure.

The Main Building, including its walls, was constructed using reinforced concrete, a composite material embedded with steel and has a high compressive strength, he added.

The newest building in the campus is the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building, which has a capacity to hold 10,000 poundforce per square inch or PSI. The Main

Expert warns vs ‘irreversible impact’ of dam construction THE P18.7-BILLION Kaliwa Dam project in Quezon province will have an “irreversible impact” on the environment, an expert warned.

The project will include a Kaliwa Low Dam in Tanay, Rizal with a 600 million-liters-a-day (MLD) capacity and a water supply tunnel with 2,400-MLD capacity.

Converting rivers into dams will have “permanent detrimental effects to the entire stretch of the river network,” said freshwater biologist Rey Donne Papa, chairperson of UST’s Biological Sciences department.

“The area where they plan to put up the new dam is one of the few remaining expanses of good forest cover near Metro Manila,” he told the Varsitarian.

The creation of the dam would “block the movement” and “break the life cycle” of migratory fish species such as mullets or banak and eels or palos that could result in their gradual extinction in the upper Kaliwa-Kanan River Systems, according to an Environmental impact assessment of the project.

John Leo Algo, program manager of Climate Action for Sustainability Initiative, said the public should worry about the project because it would be “another example of short-sighted, dubious action by the government” that would disregard the long-term consequences for the environment and the people.

Algo said the project would destroy more than 12,000 hectares of the biodiverse Sierra Madre, the country’s largest remaining rainforest.

“Many endangered species including the iconic Philippine eagle will be in further danger, losing their home that is supposed to be legally protected as a sanctuary,” Algo told the Varsitarian.

Environmental group Haribon Foundation reportedly warned in November last year that the project, which site is part of the protected Kaliwa Watershed Forest Reserve that has its portion declared as a National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, would threaten the endangered north Philippine hawk-eagle, Philippine hornbill, Philippine warty pig and Philippine brown deer.

The foundation also said the project

would affect 126 recorded plant species living in the Sierra Madre.

Assoc. Prof. Moses Norman Garcia, chairman of the Natural Sciences Unit in the University, said the “ecological balance” should be maintained in the Sierra Madre, which he considered the “last frontier” of wildlife existence in such part of Luzon.

“With ecological balance comes a high level of biodiversity which we heavily depend for our existence as humans.

Thus, it is clear that the disadvantages of constructing the Kaliwa Dam outweigh the advantages,” Garcia told the Varsitarian.

The project’s site would include the ancestral domain of the indigenous Dumagat-Remontado tribe that inhabited Sierra Madre and did not consent for the project, Algo noted.

The project would flood the lands of the tribe and houses in Tanay, Rizal and Pagsangahan in Quezon, environmental groups such as Philippine Movement for Climate Justice and Green Thumb Coalition among many others.

The project, which bilateral loan agreement was signed by President Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping in November last year, would Dam PAGE 17

Building has 3,000-PSI capacity, Tiburcio said.

PSI is a measurement of pressure or force exerted on a surface per unit area. It also indicates the concrete strength of a building.

Although the concrete used in some old buildings on campus like the Main Building has less strength than those in the new structures, it would not be an “issue” so long as all buildings were designed to be earthquake-resistant.

Tiburcio assured the Thomasians that the engineers and the FMO were taking precautionary measures before a possible earthquake, such as maintaining the buildings’ structures to prevent deterioration.

BEATRIZ AVEGAYLE S. TIMBANG and MIGUEL ALEJANDRO IV A. HERRERA

4th Industrial Revolution for learning, not for ‘image-building’ STUDENTS must take advantage new technologies and seek the important skill of “learning how to learn,” a researcher from a Philippine government think tank said.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution, an extension of Third Industrial Revolution’s computerization and automation, refers to the expanding changes on people’s way of living due to the use of fused technologies such as robots and artificial intelligence.

It is an era which many countries—including the Philippines—now face.

Jose Ramon Albert, senior research fellow of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, highlighted the educational benefits students may get from the technologies in this industrial revolution.

“You (students) must use technology as leverage to improve productivity, eventually when you get jobs, and develop skills,” he said during the Thomasian scholars’ forum on Fourth Industrial Revolution at the UST Central Laboratory last April 28.

Using social media as an example, Albert pointed out that youth nowadays use technologies for “image-building.”

“Among the youth is just using the technology […] to show that ‘Ah, I’m in.’ It seems that it’s just [for] image,” he said.

“As students, you also have to realize that you cannot learn everything inside the classroom. Don’t always expect that your teachers will teach you everything.”

Albert cited enrolling to massive open online courses (MOOCs), web-based distance learning programs available for anyone, as an example of a technological approach to learn certain skills.

Introduced in 2006, MOOCs feature readings, filmed lectures, problem sets, quizzes, assignments and interactive subjects that allow its students and teachers to interact with each other.

Among the areas of study offered by MOOCS are programming, business, management, communication, life sciences and engineering.

Asst. Prof. April Joy Gascon, an e-learning specialist in the University, agreed with Albert in stressing on how technologies in the Fourth Industrial Revolution empower students’ learning.

Gascon, the team leader of e-learning management of UST Educational Technology Center (Edtech), noted that students in the Fourth Industrial Revolution are now able to study anytime.

In the previous industrial era, where there were no smartphones and laptops yet, students had limited time and place for studying, she explained.

“Study time, for you, is all the time,” she said.

Industrialization PAGE 16

4 Opinion

MAY 5, 2019

Editorial

Conscience vote needed this May 13 TODAY’S election surveys are a foretaste of the possible turnout of the 2019 midterm elections: the halls of the upper chamber of Congress is once again set to house more of the same—the crooked, the corrupt, the turncoat, and the cutthroat.

Filipinos brag about their high literacy, but that characteristic does not translate to voting intelligence. More and more, Filipinos vote according to base passion and prurient self-interest; they vote according to their primitive appetites and to what would appeal to their narcissistic drives. They have a sadomasochistic streak that’s why they elected Ferdinand Marcos, who had murdered Nalundasan, and endured him for two decades despite killing more political opponents, raping Philippine democracy, and bankrupting the economy. They want fantasy and show biz, and that’s why they voted an actor, philanderer, and a convicted plunderer in 1998, They asked for more of the same in 2016 when they voted a douche from Davao, a people’s murderer, and satrap of totalitarian China. Filipinos have high literacy but subterranean democratic quotient. Their political and moral intelligence is as abysmal, as Marcos’s.

Estrada’s, and Duterte’s.

The Filipino electorate has shown that it can easily be swayed by charms and familiarity of names.

But they are not to be solely blamed; the biggest blame should be pointed to government leaders and politicians who use the poor for their political gain. Those in power love the poor not because they genuinely do so but because they need their votes come election day.

In the final campaign stretch for the midterm polls, people have witnessed how far petty politicians’ ambition can get them for those who have the means.

Take, for example, Christopher “Bong” Go, Duterte’s lapdog who has disguised himself under the title of “special assistant to the President.”

The man has refused to join any election forums or debates and has focused only on campaigning where his wits, if any, cannot be put to the test and where the sub-intelligent masses would take all of whatever comes out of his mouth, hook, line and sinker. He has clearly denied himself to be subjected to scrutiny of the people and solely relies on those who blindly follow the President to elect him.

Declaring his availabity for people’s service and allegiance to democracy. he has not subjected himself to any democratic forum, thus showing himself to be the enemy of the democracy he forswears to serve.

When it comes to democratic debates, this Bong is no Go. But it is not only Go but the whole Senate slate of the administration that is questionable. They are above all, anti-life and anti-poor, for they agree with the policy of Duterte to summarily execute people suffering from addiction, and subject the people to higher taxes through the Train Law. In the senatorial debate held in UST last April Editorial PAGE 5

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

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

Delayed budget an impasse to progress THE FOUR-month delay in the passing the 2019 budget has had detrimental effects on our slowly-progressing economy, but what’s worse is that the deadlock could have been averted if the policymaking process was not clouded with partisan politics.

President Duterte signing the national budget only this April has forced government to operate under a reenacted budget from last year’s.

As a result of the delay, fewer projects have been implemented, resulting in fewer employment opportunities, less consumer spending, and a higher incidence of poverty leading to lowered national income.

The delay has also hampered the salary increases of government employees and implementation of projects, such as the priority government infrastructure program, “Build Build Build.”

Infrastructure projects, for instance, should have been underway during the summer season which is the best time for construction projects.

Government agencies have only less than eight

The vicious cycle of proposing a policy, getting ad hominem attacks instead of objective criticisms, entering deadlock and vanishing into oblivion. months to spend the appropriations, a timeframe cut further due to the election ban on the release of public funds until June 12.

Experts warned that the limited time to spend would most likely repeat the underspending nightmare during the previous administration, and nobody would like to experience that again.

So how quickly can the government spend the money to materialize their projects within 2019? If not, the budget would just be given back to the government, unable to aid in developing our economy.

It has been eight years

since the Philippines used a reenacted budget but the political standoffs and squabbles in the legislature, unfortunately, made this possible.

More than its irreversible negative implications to our economy, the budget delay showed one weakness of the principle of checks and balances – deadlock.

Since 2018, Congress has been haggling over porkbarrel insertions, wrestling over where to allocate taxpayers’ money, acting as if, not most of it, would land in their own pockets.

They bickered on the allegations of insertion of “misplaced allocation to

favored contractors” and porkbarrel-like funds in the 2019 budget.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson called out the funds inserted in districts of congressmen who are allegedly allied with House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Arroyo fought back, accusing Lacson of holding the budget for “personal vendetta.”

Regardless if the allegations are true or not, it is appalling how partisan politics unreasonably impeded crafting the national budget.

It is also an unfortunate reality that the whole population does not really have a say on how the national budget would be used.

Because of the process, the budget is most likely crafted for their own partisan agenda.

Thus, although Congress has the power of the purse, the constitutional process for budget approval, with its loopholes and all, is not effective in realizing the aspirations of the State.

Inherent in presidential Gird your loins PAGE 13

What ails student politics in UST? STUDENT politics in the University has been on a decline perhaps irreversibly as the recently concluded student polls recorded the lowest number of bets and the lowest voter turnout in the new century for UST. It seems like Thomasians are really apathetic when it comes to student politics. But what causes this apathy?

It may be because students do not really see and feel the relevance of student councils. It could be observed in the past year that most of these councils did not really serve their purpose of representing and of being the voice of the student body.

What is appalling is that these councils were only perceived as mere event organizers of Paskuhan or college weeks.

Another reason why most students opted not to vote is because of the lack of choices in the ballot. In the Central Student Council (CSC), all the candidates ran unopposed except for the secretary, and in the case of the local student councils, half of the 24 college-based councils in the University had only one candidate for presidency.

The lack of expertise and initiative to update the USEC calls for a more determined Comelec leadership that would engage more Thomasians and make them participate in student polls.

With only a 25-percent minimum vote requirement, as stated in the University Student Election Code (USEC) of 2011, candidates who are running unopposed could easily get the seat.

Although one can leave his or her ballot unanswered, there is still no choice for students to vote for “abstain,” as stated by the USEC. The schedule of election season as stated in the USEC has also posed a problem since the University has changed its academic calendar four years ago. Most of the students are having their final examinations during the election week, giving them little to no time to go to their

designated precincts to vote.

The outdated provisions of the elections code seems the main culprit as to why electoral participation in the University is on a decline.

It is high time for the UST Central Commission on Election (Comelec) to expedite the updates on the nine-year-old election code for a smooth and more effective student polls.

But it could also be observed that talks on the reassessment of USEC seem to only surface during election season.

From the time of Alyssa Arreola as Comelec chair in to the two-year term of Arvin Bersonda in the commission,

up to the current helm of Moriah Mendiola to regulate this year’s polls, Comelec heads have all promised to update the elections code.

Their interviews with the Varsitarian reveal that every time there is a change in administration, they will always disregard the work done by the previous Comelec and draft new revisions—so that revisions and updates made by the previous administration are junked and the new Comelec will have to start againfrom square one, ad infinitum.

In effect, UST’s Comelec reflects the bane of Philippine politicians and governments: once they come into power they will disregard the initiatives of the former administrations, initiatives that were funded by taxpayer’s money, so that they could do their “own thing,” of course using taxpayer’s money again.

The lack of expertise and initiative to update the USEC calls for a more competent and more determined Comelec leadership that would engage more Thomasians and make them participate in student polls.

MAY 5, 2019

Tigresses deserve Final 4 spot AFTER A year of absence from the UAAP Final Four, the UST Golden Tigresses have re-established the volleyball program they are known for back in 2010.

The Golden Tigresses sealed their tenth win of the season last April 24 which they last experienced back in Season 73.

The Golden Tigresses had been using their white jersey as their light uniform and their yellow jersey as their dark uniform at the beginning of the first round of the tournament.

But come second round, UST decided to pay tribute to their injured teammate Milena Alessandrini and wore a different jersey for the first and only time as their dark uniform on their matchup against La Salle last March 31 even if it was not their schedule to wear the dark uniform.

The officials allowed the Golden Tigresses to play following the rules on the wearing of jerseys, saying “the uniform should conform to the standard specifications of the International Volleyball

It is appalling that the Lady Maroons could not accept the fact that the Golden Tigresses earned the spot in the semifinals fair and square.

Federation (FIVB).”

But the University of the Philippines (UP) Lady Maroons last April 14 invoked the UAAP rule, which states that “a player wearing a wrong uniform shall result in forfeiture of the game for the team, provided that, if the rule on the violation of wearing a wrong uniform is not invoked at the earliest opportunity and the match is concluded, the sanction of forfeiture shall not apply.”

It is appalling that the Lady Maroons could not accept the fact that the Golden Tigresses earned the spot in the semifinals fair

and square. They fought their way to be in that position and raising a uniform issue could not take it away from them.

It was evident that UP filed the complaint after bowing out of the Final Four following their loss against the National University on the same day.

The Lady Maroons’ loss automatically propelled UST and the Far Eastern University to the semifinals together with tournament leaders Ateneo de Manila University and La Salle.

No doubt that the Golden Tigresses showed their wares this season despite the loss of sophomore Alessandrini

due to a left anterior cruciate ligament injury.

After their disappointing 4-10 campaign in Season 80, the Golden Tigresses picked themselves up and showed everybody what they are really capable of.

The Golden Tigresses made Thomasians believe that minor setbacks do lead to major comebacks. They gave the UST community a reason to be proud of wearing the colors black, gold and white.

The Golden Tigresses have reunited the Thomasian community and revived the Thomasian spirit.

To be fair with UP, the UAAP rules on uniforms is conflicting since it does not have a rule of its own but follows the FIVB instead.

As the country’s premier collegiate tournament, the UAAP should have an established rules regarding issues concerning the wellbeing of its student athletes.

But this issue shows that despite more than eight decades of existence, the UAAP still lacks clear protocols regarding the sports they handle.

Apathy plagues our cultural heritage THE RECENT fire that engulfed the Notre Dame DE Paris has generated reactions urging the cathedral’s rehabilitation, which should reaffirm that historical edifices are a cultural patrimony.

But sadly enough, many Filipinos who are wellacquainted about the damage to cultural heritage brought about by the Paris fire are oblivious if not apathetic to the continued loss of tangible and intangible heritage of their own country.

The irony is that while we’re celebrating National Heritage Month this May, there are a few to no sustained and concrete efforts to save our cultural heritage.

While Filipinos grieve over Notre Dame, they seem unaware that their own churches are in danger.

San Sebastian Minor Basilica in Manila, the only steel gothic church in Asia, is suffering from rust and heavy corrosion. A residential high-rise could jeopardize its nomination as a Unesco (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)

The irony is that while we are celebrating National Heritage Month, there are a few to no sustained efforts to save our cultural sites.

World Heritage Site.

Unlike the Notre Dame, there were little to no assistance and funds to help the basilica. We have big, sympathizing hearts for the Catholic cathedral across the world but we could not show even the slightest empathy for our own churches and heritage sites.

The Philippines is home to various architectural and engineering marvels but the lack of concern among Filipinos has allowed these structures and landscapes to become irrelevant and mere reminders of the past, if not to be demolished and wiped away.

In a newspaper opinion

piece, architect Felino Palafox Jr. wrote that heritage takes a backseat to development in the Philippines, very different to the practice of European countries where “heritage [is allowed] to blend well with modernism.”

He said various historical and monumental structures in the country became the victims of government, businessmen and those at the forefront of industrialization.

Palafox said private development and government laxity might have resulted in key buildings and other forms of tangible heritage “stripped of any cultural identity for commercial purpose.” He

At 55%, turnout is lowest in 10 years FROM PAGE 2

Robert Dominic Gonzales, a medicine sophomore who had served as CSC secretary, was elected president with 17,175 votes.

A total of 3,947 Thomasians opted to leave their ballots unanswered. “[Thomasians ang] reason kung bakit ako nandito, kung bakit ako nakatayo ngayon dito. Sila rin ‘yong reason kung bakit ako mag-stay [sa CSC] at ipaglalaban ko ‘yon,” he told the Varsitarian in an interview.

Legal management freshman Krizia Milleny Bricio was proclaimed secretary, garnering 7,449 votes. She beat sole Lakas ng Diwang Tomasino candidate Karch Andrei Rafael and Lakas Tomasino Coalition (LTC) bet Nicholas Sia who garnered 4,804 votes and 3,875 votes, respectively. A total of 4,994 ballots were left unanswered.

LTC bet and political

science junior Jan Rafael Lipat won as CSC treasurer with 12,093 votes, while a total of 9,029 ballots were left unanswered.

Sole candidate for auditor Patricia Claire Cruz, an accountancy freshman, was pro-claimed auditor with 11,933 votes. A total of 9,189 ballots were left unanswered.

Physical therapy sophomore Ian Jericho Sun was proclaimed public relations officer with 10,591 votes. A total of 10,531 ballots were left unanswered.

The next CSC Central Board of Students, the legislative arm of the council, will be composed of newly elected student council presidents of the different faculties and colleges.

They are Sean Matthew Sison (Accountancy), Lady Freja Gascon (Arts and Letters), Lyodychie Camarao (Civil Law),

Hector Armando Sarion (Education), Jillian Joenn En-riquez (Education High School), Charlize Noelle Dimaunahan (Junior High School), Dale Ignatius Marollano (Senior High School), John Knight Gulla (Medicine and Surgery), Lorenzo Gabriel Banayo (Pharmacy), Marieliz Quianzon (Physical Education and Athletics), John Michael Cruz (Philosophy), Rigel Kent Almonte (Rehabilitation Sciences), Bro. Siddharta Chiong, O.P. (Sacred Theology) Cameron Jilliane de Leon (Science) and Stephen Bataclan (Tourism and Hospitality Management).

There were no candidates for president in the College of Nursing and Institute of In-formation and Computing Science student councils. AHMED KHAN H. CAYONGCAT and NEIL JOSHUA N. SERVALLOS

cited the demolitions of the Jai Alai Building on Taft Avenue, the Crystal Arcade and Philippine National Bank in Escolta, the old Meralco head office on San Marcelino Street. “[These buildings are] reflections of the lifestyle, history, culture and values of the time then,” the architect wrote. “It is the blending of heritage and modernism which breathes life to identity, economy of tourism and patronage, and sense of patriotism and nation.”

Corollarily, Filipinos are apathetic about their own languages, multicultural traditions, and indigenous cultural communities.

We have allowed silent ethnic and linguistic cleansing to plague our heritage, diminishing the historical and cultural significance of various cultural groups and their respective vernaculars.

Filipinos pride themselves for their alleged cultural diversity, but they seem unaware that whole languages are being lost because of educational and Dear Theodosia PAGE 17

Seek the common good Editor’s Note: The following is the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’s pastoral letter for the May 13 elections published on Jan. 28, 2019.

THE YEAR 2019 is not just an ordinary election year.

The midterm election on May 13 is in itself already crucial. In our country today the checks and balances in the government are being undermined.

So far the Senate is the institution in the government that is holding out as our country is inching towards total control. It is very crucial therefore that we elect public officials who are principled, courageous and who have the common good as their main concern and not their own political interests.

We encourage voters to be very discerning in their votes. Let the lay groups engage in discernment circles to help one another know the candidates well and choose the candidates with the common good of the whole country in mind and not according to what the candidates promise, much less according to what voters have received from these candidates.

Participation in politics for Christian lay people is not just to be limited to non-partisan involvement.

Christians are also encouraged to engage in principled partisan politics. This means that they can campaign for good candidates as an exercise of their Christian faith.

However, more than the elections, another serious, and perhaps more insidious, matter that we should pay attention to is the threat the version of constitutional change and federalism approved by the Lower House and now being dangled to the senators.

It takes away the term limits of most of the elected officials and allows political dynasties to continue. It opens the national resources to foreign ownership and eventual control. Its version of federalism is vague and it will do away with the 2019 elections.

We denounce any attempt to avoid the 2019 elections. This right of the people to vote should not be shelved. We reiterate what we have taught before: “If the Constitution is to be revised at all, the process should lead to a greater defense and promotion of the moral values of human dignity and human rights, integrity and truth, participation and solidarity, and the common good.”

(CBCP PASTORAL GUIDELINES FOR DISCERNING THE MORAL DIMENSION OF THE PRESENT-DAY MOVES FOR CHARTER CHANGE issued on January 29, 2018).

We do not see the proposed revised constitution approved by the Lower House as an improvement of the 1987 constitution but is a self-serving attempt of present politicians to remain in power.

We stand by what we have stated in the aforementioned letter: “As servant leaders, we have listened to many others who believe that the solution to our problems is not a revision of the Constitution, but a full implementation of the 1987 Constitution (e.g., on political dynasties & on freedom of information), and a revision of the Local Government Code, originally designed to devolve power from central authority.”

Our dear People of God, we are in a crucial moment of our history. In our hands is the direction of our country.

Let us be vigilant in what is happening. Let us not just be on-lookers but let us be involved. Pope Benedict said: “A big part of the vocation of Christian lay people is their participation in politics in order to bring justice, honesty and defense of true and authentic values, and to contribute to the real human and spiritual good of society.

The role of the laity in the temporal order, and especially in politics, is key for the evangelization of society.” (Pope Benedict XVI on receiving the Bishops of Paraguay in September 2008) Pope Francis taught: “‘A good Catholic doesn’t meddle in politics.’ That’s not true. That is not a good path. A good Catholic meddles in politics, offering the best of himself, so that those who govern can govern…. None of us can say, ‘I have nothing to do with this, how they govern.’ … No, no, I am responsible for their governance, and I have to do the best so that they govern well, and I have to do my best by participating in politics according to my ability.” (Pope Francis September 16, 2013) Furthermore, we heed the appeal of Pope Francis in his message on the World Day of Prayer for Peace of this year that good politics is at the service of peace.

No one can say in this age of the social media that Seek PAGE 16

Molina

Editorial

a liter-ary award honoring works in Spanish.

Molina, a diplomat, lawyer, educator and historian, earned his law degree at the University in 1940. He obtained his doctorate in law in Spain.

Molina taught Philippine history, civil law, ethics, philosophy and Rizal studies in the University in 1946 before being named dean of Faculty of Civil Law in 1960.

Molina was also Varsitarian’s publications adviser in 1961.

He became the director of the defunct Institute of History in 1967 before becoming acting secre-tary general of UST He became the vice rector for external affairs in 1968 before migrating to Madrid in 1970. JISELLE ANNE C. CASUCIAN, NOLENE BEATRICE H. CRUCILLO, KATRINA ISABEL C. GONZALES

27, JV Ejercito claimed that the Senate is the “last bastion of democracy.” But the chamber’s decisions will show that the people could and should not put their faith in them anymore.

At a crucial time where Beijing is violating Manila’s territorial waters, what the country needs are lawmakers who will stand up and assert our rights to our own territory, not to kowtow to Duterte’s cowardly, treasonous accommodation of every aggressive move by Communist China in the West Philippine Sea. Moreover as extra-judicial killings continue to increase and amid Duterte’s shameless self-serving decision to take the Philippines out of the International Criminal Court, the country is in need of lawmakers both in the House of Representatives and the Senate who will value life and who will fight for it

FROM PAGE 1

Opinion 5

FROM PAGE 4

courageously and intelligently.

Don’t leave God out’ Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas has reminded the Catholic faithful not to “leave God when you vote” in the May 13 polls.

“The winners in elections are mirrors of the values and aspirations, dreams, and hopes of the people who voted for them. It can also show our backward moving society,” he said.

These midterm polls, the Filipino electorate would do well to think and discern their vote well, for the result will be a referendum on Duterte and his government’s policies. To ignore the morally appropriate choice is to allow the culture of impunity and death to prevail in the country. It is to sell the country to totalitarian godless China. The Filipino’s vote this 2019 is indeed a matter of life and death.

6 Circle

Editor: Lyon Ricardo III M. Lopez

MAY 5, 2019

Election mural tackles social issues

Election murals show issues on poverty, education among concerns UST painting students think the country’s next leaders should address.

COLLEGE of Fine Arts and Design students tackled pressing social issues in “#Halalan2019,” a wall-painting event at the Bagumbayan North, Navotas basketball court last March 7.

Organized by ABS-CBN in line with the May 13 elections, the event gathered eight UST Painting majors in an interactive painting session so they could depict what they thought would be primary social concerns that should be discussed in the midterm election campaign.

Issues that were depicted in the mural included poverty, heavy urban traffic, and agricultural reforms.

Under the supervision of Asst. Prof. Felix Garcia II, Painting majors, mostly freshmen, participated. They were Katrina Milanco, Jerome Macanaya, Jayvee Francisco, Dwight Quevedo, Raphael Cortez, Joseph Gool, Nathaniel Patron and Jayvien B. Sollestre.

“The mural is a visual interpretation (of) the upcoming elections; through this painting they could better voice out their concerns and raise social awareness,” Garcia told the Varsitarian.

Painting senior Sollestre said he tried to depict problems hounding farmers, such as the low prices for their produce, In his part of the mural, the fine arts student made the inscription, “Bagsak presyo ng gulay, pambawi lang ng puhunan.” (“Low prices for vegetable are barely emable farmers to break even.”)

Election mural PAGE 16

DEEJAE S. DUMLAO

Also contributing to the mural are established street artists Venazir Martinez, Bryan Gonzales, Taipan Lucero, Bing Famoso, Genesis Aala, and Ross del Rosario.

DEEJAE S. DUMLAO

Remy Boquiren’s romantic portraits of women: ‘I’m good at anatomy’ DEEJAE DUMLAO

VETERAN painter Remedios “Remy” Boquiren is acclaimed by art critics and sought out by collectors for her romantic depictions of women dressed in Filipiniana and situated in pastoral settings.

Her iconography may not dovetail with today’s noisy feminist spirit that demands women be depicted as equal to if not greater than males, rendering them mannish rather than feminine or “womanish,” but in the group exhibit, “Floral Splendour,” mounted in the National Commission for Culture

and the Arts Gallery in Intramuros in connection with National Women’s Month last March, Boquiren’s portraits proved once more that the artist’s representations of women remained relevant and timeless.

Boquiren, an advertising arts graduate from the old UST College of Architecture and Fine Arts, displayed pieces inspired by the classic “The Three Graces” sculpture of Italian neoclassical artist Antonio Canova.

She depicted demure and winsome figures

of three “Filipinas” as her subjects. “[My] usual subjects [are] women ...

I portray Filipino women in Filipiniana,” said Boquiren, who was also an art editor of the Varsitarian during her UST days.

The portraits forming the triptych were titled “Heart Abloom Triptych,” “Luz” and “Kalinga.”

Boquiren chose to incorporate women in her works since she enjoyed “making art [out] of human anatomy.”

She admitted she was a “romanticist” and she would not apologize for that. “I chose women because I’m good at it. And I am good at human anatomy. It is difficult but I enjoy doing it,” she added.

Other works featured were by artists Tet Aligaen, Naomi Banal, Flor Baradi, Chie Cruz, Addie Cukingnan, Inka Madera, Sheila Tiangco, Lydia Velasco, and Melissa Villasenor.

VIVIENNE AUDREY P. ANGELES

Former Varsitarian art editor Remy Boquiren’s works are featured in the exhibit “Floral Splendour” at the National Commission for Culture and the Arts Gallery in Intramuros.

DEEJAE S. DUMLAO

Circle 7

MAY 5, 2019

Conservatory of Music professor Jeffrey Solares leads the Manila Symphony Orchestra in a classical-rock mashup concert last April 26 at the Ayala Museum.

Mashup of classic & rock in ‘Bohemian Rhapsody in Blue’ VETERAN conductor Jeffrey Solares led the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO) in a classical-rock mashup concert, “Bohemian Rhapsody in Blue,” last April 26 at the Ayala Museum.

Solares, a violin professor at the Conservatory Music, said that the concert was part of MSO’s “Rush Hour” concert series which aims to build an audience for classical music by combining classical and popular music repertoire.

“We don’t like to play purely popular music because the mission of Manila Symphony is to promote classical music,” Solares explained. “I find a way to tie up both these [kinds of] program… it’s

usually [a] 50-50.”

Under the helm of Solares, the concert opened with French composer George Bizet’s “Danse Boheme,” a classical piece from Hector Berlioz’s opera “Carmen.”

It was followed by another opera piece, “Musetta’s Aria” from “La Boheme,” by Italian opera composer Gioacomo Puccini.

The MSO used Solares’s original arrangements for rock band Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Love of My Life,” “Another One Bites the Dust” and “Under Pressure.”

The highlight of the night was the performance of Conservatory

alumnus Glenn Aquinas’s arrangement of “Bohemian Rhapsody in Blue,” a compelling mash-up of Queen’s hit song “Bohemian Rhapsody” and George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.”

“The music of Queen is special…

‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ has a very special form, it’s not an ordinary pop song. It has quite a depth to it, musically speaking,” said Solares.

With a guitar accompaniment by Noli Aurillo, the concert was capped with a rendition of Queen’s “We are the Champions.”

“When you make art, humor is part of that, and that’s what draws people’s

attention initially; thus, our gimmick with the far-fetched medley,” said Solares.

Solares, the executive director and conductor of MSO, was also the former assistant conductor of the UST Symphony Orchestra.

During his time in MSO, he has led the organization to multiple wins in National and International competitions such as the Summa Cum Laude International Music Festival 2018.

Founded in 1926, MSO, one of the first orchestras in Asia, is composed of 60 musicians under the musical direction of Prof. Arturo Molina. JISELLE ANNE C. CASUCIAN

Musical tackles homOsexual discrimination

Mediartrix stages “Bb. Bahaghari” to cap off its 22nd season at the Albertus Magnus auditorium.

MARK DARIUS M. SULIT

CAPPING off their 22nd season, Medriatrix commemorated the first homosexual “Pride March” in the country in its musical production, “Bb. Bahaghari,” which ran April 29 to May 4 at the Albertus Magnus auditorium.

Written by architecture student Emilio de Leon, the musical was inspired by the 1994 parade of the Progressive Organization of Gays in the Philippines. It sought to replicate the first gay pride parade in New York in 1970, which in turn capped the Stonewall riots by homosexuals protesting discrimination in 1969.

Set in the 1990s, the musical revolves around Red, a closeted gay who finds comfort in writing and publishing homo-erotic poems under his pen name, “Bb. Bahaghari.” The poems infuriate conservative readers, making Red a prey to violent retaliation.

De Leon said he wrote the play to help in the LGBT (lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender) advocacy. “[I] wanted to show how Red, despite all his limitations [in information dissemination to spread his advocacy] and insecurities, decided to act for the LGBT [community] through his poems,” said De Leon.

“Kung may opportunity ka o kakayahan upang magsimula ng pagbabago, gamitin mo,” he added.

The drama is notable for combining spokenword poetry, musical accompaniment, and outright original songs, composed by JC Torio and Archie Pangilinan of the Musikang Sikat ng mga Tomasino (Musikat).

“Ako Ang Simula,” composed by Torio, was a song of rebellion and protest, best reflecting Red’s stand.

“I wrote that song to encourage the youth to try and make an impact in our society, ” Torio said.

Mediatrix is a university-wide performing arts organization that stages musical productions.

NOLENE BEATRICE H. CRUICILLO

8 Literary

Editor: Elmer B. Coldora

MAY 5, 2019

Ramon Muzones: First regional writer to become National Artist

By JOB ANTHONY R. MANAHAN

WHEN HILIGAYNON novelist Ramon Muzones was named posthumously last October as National Artist for Literature, many expressed ignorance about his works despite his legendary prolific writing career.

According to UST English literature alumna and Hiligaynon literature scholar Ma. Cecilia Locsin-Nava, Muzones wrote more than 60 novels, most of them serialized in Hiligaynon magazine and other regional publications where they were avidly read by thousands.

Locsin-Nava, who received recently the 2019 Parangal Hagbong for lifetime achievement in Thomasian letters from the Varsitarian largely on the strength of her scholarly writings that catapulted Muzones’s regional writing to national regard, has herself translated some of the Panay writer’s work.

A recent forum at the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) focused on Muzones’ “Margosatubig,” whose translation in English by Locsin-Nava has been published by the ADMU Press. Noted for its “aggregative” storytelling style and rich historical narratives that remain relevant up to this day, Locsin-Nava said Margosatubig may be a good introduction to the Ramon Muzones ouevre.

“Margosatubig” remains Muzones’ most important work because “it is necessary fiction,” Nava said during the book discussion last April 11 at the Leong Hall Auditorium of ADMU. “Margosatubig,” published in 1946, shows a mythopoeic imagining of the Philippine nation and its struggle for independence by telling the story of fictional territory Margosatubig, a Muslim sultanate kingdom of Maguindanao and Sulu whose leadership is highly contested, and its savior and rightful heir named Salagunting.

“It’s a paradigm for historic imagining -- the ideal nation. Muzones has always that reformist bend of mind, an idealist, who would sought in terms of what would constitute a good society, what would constitute a good leader,” Nava later told the Varsitarian.

Locsin-Nava said that Muzones is the first regional writer recognized as National Artist for Literature, given that his fiction and historical research were focused on the regions—Panay and Negros—and written in regional language.

“[Muzones] ushered the radical shift in the development of Hiligaynon literature from the expository or storytelling technique associated to the Spanish tradition and the writers of the old school to the dramatic showing narrative technique… thus ushering modernism,” she said.

The novel employed an “aggregative” narrative structure that emphasized the quality of the country’s dialects and its ethnic structure that could enrich future Filipino novels, said Alvin Yapan, a writer and filmmaker.

“More than the allusions, it’s the structure of the novel. I’m referring to the quality of Muzones’s narrative in his novels that utilize aggregative [dialogues] and layering which also reflects the quality of the country’s language,” Yapan said.

The narrative style was complemented by the “efflorescence” method or a literary technique where a story branches or blooms from an original story.

“The plot and scenes [in the novel] are not linear. In this type of narrative, what is realistic is not the basis of its [quality] or beauty, it is the narrative’s capacity to create several events from an original source,” he said.

Parallels in today’s society Genevieve Asenjo, chairman of De La Salle University’s literature department, praised the novel for its relevance in contemporary society.

“How do we read Muzones nowadays?

Not from the past, or in the context of his era, but in the present, in the context of our modern-day readers. [Muzones] may be one of the foreshadowed, foretold, prefigured in the events of the past,” Asenjo said.

She also praised the novel for its rich discussion on the relationship between Christians and Muslims. “[W]riting historical literature and narrating it from today’s lens while anticipating the future makes the reading of Muzones’s [works] relevant – an eye for an eye [and lessons] for what should no longer be practiced in today’s society,” she said.

Yapan echoed Asenjo, as the novel shows a parallelism with societal problems and issues that the country still faces today.

“Muzones’s novel can be read as a comparison for order or balance. We can also read the novel as a projection of

societal problems,” Yapan said. “The power of the story as an aesthetic category in trying to resolve what seemed to be unending conflicts, which sprung from the characters’ refusal to follow the law, is manifested.”

Luna Sicat-Cleto, creative writing professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman, described the novel as an “outsider’s rendition” of Muslims.

“No matter what we say about Muzones’s brilliant imagination, the Moro’s problem as an ostracized part of our society still exists,” Sicat-Cleto said.

Regional literature ‘important’ Locsin-Nava urged literary scholars to research and translate regional writers.

“I hope more regional writers will win. How can you win if nobody is going to write about you? What do you do if your subject does not want to be written about?” she said.

Muzones should also be read by young Filipinos to have “multiplicity of models.”

“When we talk of Philippine literature, [it] is usually Tagalog and National Capital Region but 70 percent of us live in the provinces. [There are other writers] outside the NCR to talk about and are worth reading,” she said.

“We should not only know the literature of the private region but also the literature of those people in the provinces,” she added.

The event, titled “Manila Reads Muzones: Pambansang Alagad ng Sining para sa Panitikan,” was organized by the National Commission on the Culture and the Arts, Komisyon s a Wikang Filipino, National Book Development Board, Ateneo Institute of Literary Arts and Practices and the Unyon ng mga Manunulat s a Pilipinas.

PHOTO OF MUZONES COURTESY OF SUNSTAR CEBU

Use literary journalism for compelling stories, not fake news

From lett to right: Philippines Graphic editor in chief Joel Salud and GMA News broadcast journalist Howie Severino speak in a forum on April 30. PHOTO COURTESY OF PAUL CASTILLO OF UST CCWLS

VETERAN journalists stressed that literary journalism is not a form of “sensationalism” or inciting public interest at the expense of truth. “[Literary journalism] digs even deeper by exposing the reality of the moment using context and picturesque. [It just brings] its readers to where and how it all happened,” Joel Salud said during a roundtable discussion at the Benavides Auditorium on April 30.

Salud, editor in chief of Philippines Graphic, explained that using literary or creative writing techniques makes journalistic articles compelling to readers.

“Journalists are guardians of national memory. [I]n the time of tyranny, in the age of fake news, it’s not enough for journalists to inform their reader. The mere mention of facts does not change the situation,” he said.

Howie Severino, vice president for professional development of GMA Network, highlighted the importance of using creative writing styles “to entice

readers and viewers.” “[Reports] have to be interesting… [b]ecause there are so many options now. There are many entertaining shows, distractions, things to do with your time aside from watching documentaries. The big challenge is to make people want to watch, something that they really need to watch,” he said.

Severino pointed out that literary reportage also makes readers “reflect and ask themselves” on the situation of the country.

Varsitarian publications adviser Joselito Zuleta served as the moderator during the roundtable discussion.

The forum, titled “News Mio!: Literary journalism in the age of fake news,” was organized by the UST Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies in cooperation with the UST Department of Literature and Literary Society. ELMER B. COLDORA

Editor: Arianne Aine D. Suarez

MAY 5, 2019

Special Reports 9

Poor waste management plagues Capital

FILE PHOTO

THE COUNTRY’s poor waste management continues to worsen Manila’s garbage problem, causing more harmful effects to the environment.

Arlen Ancheta, who teaches at the UST Graduate School, said Manila’s garbage problem continues to exist because of the non-compliance of the citizens and the local government to the present laws.

“There s a law, RA 9003, it caters to waste segregation, segregated collection, material recovery facility, she said in an interview. “But these are not followed by the households, by the local government, they just pay for the contractors to collect garbage, but segregated collection is not strictly followed.”

RA 9003 or “Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000” was signed into law in 2001.

A report by the Manila Bulletin in 2018 said the city’s Public Services department collects 2,000 tons of garbage bags in 500 trucks on a daily basis.

Manila’s first and third district were reported to have the biggest amount of garbage collected every day, especially in populous places such as Divisoria, Quiapo and Binondo to name a few.

Rodne Galicia, lead convenor of environmental movement Living Laudato Si, said lawmakers should not stop on the implementation of the laws but should work on penalizing those who violate it.

“Kung nagkasala ang isang barangay

at hindi nakolekta ang basura mo, at pag nagkasala ang isang tao at nakita na hindi siya nag-segregate, bakit hindi pinaparusahan? I think that’s one of the biggest hypocrisy ng ating mga law enforcers,” Galicia said.

“We may have the best laws in the world but we actually lack the enforcement of our laws,” Galicia added.

Manila Bay reclamation Thomasian environmentalists are urging the local government of Manila to reconsider its decision to allow reclamation projects in the Manila Bay, citing the harmful impacts it may cause to the city.

Galicia said the reclamation projects would pollute the Manila Bay waters and affect its existing ecosystems.

“Double triple wammy ‘yan kasi maaapektuhan ‘yong mga natural resources na pagkukuhanan mo ng panambak o baka naman basura itatambak mo diyan o baka mga sinira mo na buildings kaya meron kang mga semento,” Galicia told the Varsitarian. “[H]indi lamang ‘yan para sa tao, para rin ‘yan sa may buhay na nandiyan sa Manila Bay,” he added.

Galicia, an alumnus of the University, stressed that the Manila Bay reclamation is not only an environmental issue but a “Pandora’s Box” that will open up other existing issues. “[M]araming problema ang makikita

natin... ‘yong mga weaknesses and jams ng ating mga policies na dapat i-reform o kaya dapat palitan o kaya dapat i-enforce,” he said. “[T]he problem is we always see Metro Manila as the Imperial Manila na kung saan lahat ng development ay diyan mapupunta.”

Ancheta doubted that the reclamation projects would help the livelihood of Filipinos.

“Are we really catering reclamation areas for the Filipinos? Atin ba talaga ‘yon?

Para ba talaga sa atin ‘yon? E mga casino ‘to,” said Ancheta in an interview.

She added that these will destroy the natural barriers in the Manila Bay which are the “first line of defense” against natural disasters.

But for Dennis Lacuna, planning and development officer in Manila, it is important to study the reclamation projects and to consider the economic aspect of it.

“One thing that you should not rush is reclamation. [I]t will take expertise that is larger than what the local government can offer now. So, it should be studied judiciously, ‘wag kaagad naman nating sabihin na ‘wag. It might be a need,” Lacuna said.

He said if other countries have successfully done reclamations without destroying the environment, then Manila should be open to considering them.

Reclamation is the process of cultivating submerged land or waste land,

making the area suitable for building infrastructures or for other purposes.

Executive Order 74 was approved last Feb. 1, which transferred the power of approving reclamation projects from the National Economic and Development Authority to the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA), which is under the Office of the President.

PRA Assistant General Manager Joselito Gonzales said at least 22 proposed reclamation projects in Manila Bay covering 20,000 hectares have yet to be approved.

DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said the reclamation projects need to be evaluated first for it will affect the rehabilitation of the Manila Bay waters that started last January.

‘Lack of green spaces deplorable’ Lacuna stressed that the lack of green spaces in Manila is “deplorable,” saying building parks and green areas could be a solution to the problem. However, it “might not be to the best interest” of the city, he said. “[W]e have a very limited amount of green spaces as of now, as a matter of fact, one of the green spaces that we have na medyo malaki ay near the Pandacan area, the Plaza Asul, na inappropriate ngayon ng national government, gagamitin nila na part ng NLEX-SLEX connector,” he said.

Waste PAGE 16

James Jimenez: From UST to Comelec

YEARS after leading the UST Central Commission on Elections (Comelec), a UST law alumnus finds himself as spokesman of the country’s poll body.

James Jimenez, who obtained his law degree in 2000, has been serving the national Comelec for 17 years. He said the biggest challenge of working for the commission was to stand between different sides of the political fence.

“They tend to present narratives that suit them. And while those narratives are per force based on factual assertions, actual facts, they are not faithful to the actual facts,” he told the Varsitarian.

“They take whatever facts they want, they cherry-pick, and then they interpret it within the inch of its life so that it suits their narrative. That is the source of the challenge for me.”

Jimenez pointed out that having integrity as a Thomasian helped him in his responsibilities.

“You have to illuminate, meaning you have to direct that light outwards in an active way. And ‘yon ang pinaka-vision ko for this work, that’s why when I came to this job I started pushing it in social media, I started our visibility on TV,” he said.

To illuminate, he said, means to communicate and educate people. Social media, he said, should be used as a platform for voter education.

“You should have a deeper understanding and appreciation on social media to understand that, yes, it can be used for wrong purposes, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be used for good,” he said.

Back in college, he was the chairman of the Central Comelec for one year before run-ning for office as president of the Faculty of Civil of Law Student Council in 1998. He was also the editor in chief of the UST Law Review.

Comelec PAGE 16

SPOKESMAN. UST alumnus James Jimenez finds himself serving as the national Commission on Elections’ spokesman, some years after he led the student poll body of the University.

DEEJAE S. DUMLAO

2019 MIDTERM

10

Senate bets face off in UST debate

Senate candudate Rafael Alunan (center) intervenes after a heated discussion between bets Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno and former PNP chief Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa over policies of the Duterte administration.

DEEJAE S. DUMLAO

ELEVEN Senate aspirants sparred over basic government services, diplomatic ties with China and the administration’s war on drugs in a forum hosted by CNN Philippines at the Quadricentennial Pavilion on April 27.

Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano blasted the administration’s “secretive” agreements with China, adding that the government’s loans from Beijing were “unnecessary.”

“Dapat transparent ang mga dealings sa China, hindi ‘yung hindi natin alam… bakit nagtatago ang gobyerno kung ang interest ng bansa ang kailangan?” he said.

The government should consider “neutral” countries, or those not involved in the West Philippine Sea conflict, in taking out lowinterest deals, Alejano said.

Former Interior secretary Rafael Alunan said the government should focus on fiscal responsibility and good management regardless of the countries involved. The country’s deals with China did not lead to debt traps, he claimed.

“Many of the [contracts] that we are talking about are still speculative in nature. We have not yet signed up to the kinds of loans that can lead us to a debt trap… to say that we are going to fall to a debt trap is premature,” Alunan said.

Data from the National Economic and Development Authority showed that 56 out of 74 infrastructure projects worth P2.1 trillion were funded by foreign loans.

Projects funded by loans from China include the P4-billion Chico River Pump

Irrigation project in Kalinga and Cagayan provinces and the Centennial Water SourceKaliwa Dam proposal in Quezon Province costing P18 billion.

Only 11 out of the 64 candidates for senator were present in the debate, including Otso Diretso bets Alejano, Jose Manuel Diokno, Samira Gutoc, Erin Tañada, Romulo Macalintal and Florin Hilbay.

Also present were Alunan, human rights lawyer Neri Colmenares, former Philippine National Police chief and Hugpong ng Pagbabago bet Ronald de la Rosa, former Biliran representative Glenn Chong and Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito, who is seeking a second term.

West PH Sea control Colmenares said the Philippines should establish an independent foreign policy asserting the country’s rights over the West Philippine Sea, as the entire area is not under the government’s control.

The country, while waiting for another peaceful resolution, should gather the support of the international community, he added.

“Ang problema natin, lumuluhod tayo sa Tsina. Ang Vietnam, ang Taiwan, kayang lusubin ng Tsina. Anytime, matatalo iyon.

They are not a military match. Hindi sila nanalo sa tribunal pero matapang nilang tinitindigan ang kanilang territorial integrity sa South China Sea,” he said.

Candidates wait for their turn to speak on issues involving the West Philippine Sea, Duterte’s war against drugs and the country’s energy and water crises.

DEEJAE S. DUMLAO

He was referring to the Philippines’s legal victory over China in an international arbitration tribunal in July 2016.

Ejercito said the country was “no match” against China in terms of military might, so the country must exhaust all efforts to assert territorial rights through diplomatic means.

Hilbay said that the West Philippine Sea issue should be internationalized, based on the 2016 legal victory against China at the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

Energy, water crises Diokno said the country should start using renewable energy sources instead of relying on coal plants that harm the environment.

“It’s about time we stop coal plants that are so damaging to the environment.

I understand the need [for] these coal plants… [but] we will be locked in for the youth… unless we move to a renewable [energy source],” Diokno said.

Gutoc echoed Diokno, saying the country should shift to an “ecosystemfriendly” means of getting energy such as hydroelectric plants.

Tañada suggested a thorough review of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira) to lower the cost of electricity, allow businesses to flourish and open more job opportunities.

Ejercito agreed with Tañada, saying that while the law allowed for the privatization of power plants, the cost of electricity did not decrease. He said the country should consider nuclear energy as an alternative energy source.

“The whole world is going nuclear… magandang [pagsamahin] na may nuclear at mayroong renewable [energy source].

Kailangan natin [ng] base load energy at renewable energy,” he said.

Human rights lawyer Neri Colmenares said the Epira should be junked. The law, he said, was problematic as it permitted private companies to prioritize profits over the welfare of consumers.

Congress’ oversight power should be used to revisit tax provisions under the Epira, said Macalintal.

“Yan ang dapat pag-aralang mabuti, at hindi ‘yung para bang ang Senado at Kongreso ay parang kumakampi pa sa mga taong nagpapatakbo ng kumpanya.

Dapat ang Kongreso kumakampi sa tao,” Macalintal said.

Republic Act 9136 or Epira, which was passed in 2001, mandates the Energy Regulatory Commission to level the competition in retail power markets, to prevent monopoly power following the

privatization of National Power Corp. assets.

To solve the country’s water crisis, de la Rosa proposed the establishment of a department that would oversee the sourcing, pricing, distribution and regulation of water in the country. If other plans fail, de la Rosa said, the country should desalinate sea water.

For Macalintal, the government should establish a rain-harvesting system that would provide a steady source of water during the dry season, he said.

Ejercito said the government should invest in new dams to solve the water crisis.

However, Diokno said new water infrastructure would not solve the problem.

The proposed Kaliwa dam, he said, would lead to environmental destruction.

“The proposal is to put it near fault lines and it’s going to result in the inundation of our katutubo’s barangays... Ang solusiyon ay isang comprehensive na polisiya ng pamahalaan,” Diokno said.

War on drugs assessed De la Rosa admitted that the country was “still far” from being drug-free but claimed a “huge” improvement compared with past administrations.

“Sa panahon ni President Duterte mayroon pa ring droga, pero ang droga ay imported galing sa China,” de la Rosa said.

“Noong panahon ng ibang presidente…. Ang droga hindi ini-import, ginagawa dito sa [atin]. ‘Yung malalaking drug laboratories marami, ‘yan ang malaking diperensya,” he added.

The death penalty should also be reinstated for drug traffickers, he said.

Diokno said that to end the drug trade, everyone involved should be punished, not just the small-time and poor drug pushers.

“Drugs cannot operate in this country unless it is organized. Alam natin na nakapasok dito ang mga kartel… nasaan ang mga ahensya ng ating pamahalaan, bakit hindi nila binubuksan ang mga account ng mga drug lord na iyan?” he said.

Killing drug users preceded prevention as there were not enough funds allocated for rehabilitation programs, Gutoc said.

Diokno said the country’s justice system should be fixed to solve the lingering drug problem.

Data from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency showed that 5,050 people were killed in the administration’s drug war from July 2016 to November 2018.

Human rights groups claim there were more than 20,000 deaths, most of which were extrajudicial killing. JOB ANTHONY R. MANAHAN

M ELECTIONS

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MAY 5, 2019

BATTLE FOR THE CAPITAL. Will the country’s capital be under a new leadership or will its people put their trust once again in Joseph Estrada?

DEEJAE S. DUMLAO

The woes that hound Manila

EXPERTS weighed in on Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada’s performance in his second term, as he eyes the mayoral post anew in the upcoming elections.

Estrada, a former president and a convicted plunderer, was first elected Manila mayor in 2013, three years after he placed second in the 2010 presidential election.

Estrada acted on a 10-point agenda upon his re-election in 2016. His plan strived to focus on peace and order, health, housing, transportation and traffic, cleanliness, education, sports, governance, transparency and people’s participation.

With the 2019 elections for local and national positions less than a week from now, the Varsitarian took a closer look at what Manila has become under Estrada’s second term as mayor of Manila.

Peace and order Dennis Coronacion, UST Political Science department chairman, said Estrada’s preventive measures to support peace and order did not have a concrete and clear goal.

“What’s lacking is a clear program that... the police could identify themselves, halimbawa ‘pag sinabi mong [operation] police visibility,” Coronacion said in an interview. “You would see to it na during their duty, lalabas sila ng mga opisina at magpapatrol, wala siyang ganon e.”

He added that Estrada only took small steps like focusing on the welfare of the police force and giving them their long-delayed allowances to motivate them to perform their jobs.

In 2018, Estrada returned P136 million worth of allowances that were not given to Manila Police District (MPD) members prior to his administration. He also procured 41 new mobile patrol cars and 110 electric personal transporters for patrol.

“Perhaps the premise of his action was to increase the salary [and] allowances, and to give out the long-delayed allowances of the police force,” he said.

“Those were his small steps but as to whether it has resulted in the decrease of [crime] or not, it seems like it is not conclusive.”

A report by the National Capital Region Police Office last year showed that index crimes in Manila dropped from 3,786 in 2017 to 2,682. Index crimes are committed against a person such as murder, homicide, physical injury and rape. It also covers crimes against property such as robbery and theft.

“There will be more pollution, as waters from inland flows more slowly to Manila Bay, aside from huge amounts of pollution by enterprises in the reclaimed areas,” he said in an interview.

Casiple added that reclamation could cause more flooding in Manila due to rising seawater with the subsidence of land in Tondo and Binondo. He also raised the possibility of water shortages due to the tapping of water supply for the reclaimed areas.

Froilan Calilung, who also teaches at the Faculty of Arts and Letters, cited the risks posed by reclamation on the bay’s biodiversity.

“There are mangrove areas that will be affected, not to mention the possibility of flooding, sedimentation, garbage and wastes, which are serious issues related to reclamation,” he said.

Data from the Philippine Reclamation Authority showed that as of 2019, there are 22 reclamation projects in the Manila Bay, three of which are still waiting for the local government’s go signal.

Casiple also said the reclamation projects could be a source of corruption. “It would also violate the constitutional Members of the Manila Police District are stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Manila during the Bonifacio Day last year.

HAZEL GRACE S. POSADAS provision on reclaimed areas as exclusive property of the government and for the use of the public, not private interests,” he Coronacion said there was no MANILA LOCAL ELECTIONS, IN NUMBERS: said. correlation between the crime drop UST Simbahayan Director and Estrada’s actions.

Mark Anthony Abenir said Edwin Martin, a political science livelihood for the people who professor in the UST Faculty of Arts reside along Manila Bay would and Letters, said Estrada did not city population in 2015 census be a problem because they would have tangible projects or campaigns have to be relocated. for peace and order, as he merely As a result of the reclamation implemented national policies. efforts, at least 40,000 families “Kung gusto niyang ma-implement around Manila Bay will have to ang peace and order sa Manila, voters in 2016 polls be ejected. maglagay rin siya ng enforcers na gaya Martin said Estrada, together ng [Makati Public Safety Department]. with the Department of the These are the front liners na under ng Interior and Local Government, jurisdiction ng local government,” he should be consistent in imposing said. city council candidates sanctions on villages that allow “If there is a decline in crime rate in informal settlements.

2018, perhaps it is not because of the “Siguro mas magiging city of Manila or it is not the mayor but effective siya kapag ginagawa the national policies regarding that, mo siya… hindi seasonal lang sumunod lang sila,” he added. district representative candidates kung dadating ‘yong Pope, ‘pag dadating ‘yong prime minister Reclamations or president ng anong bansa… it Estrada approved four multi-billionhas to be something regular,” he peso reclamation projects in Manila said.

Bay in his second term. The manIn 2018, Estrada implemented made islands are touted to generate mayoral candidates the “Land for Landless Program,” jobs, revenue and businesses for the where the city government city’s residents. purchased lands where urban Political analyst Ramon Casiple poor families settled to avoid however warned of the environmental implications of carrying out these vice mayoral candidates Woes PAGE 13 ambitious projects.

1.78 million 975,000 118 15 8 7

12

2019 MIDTERM

M ELECTIONS

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MAY 5, 2019

Among those running for the mayorship of Manila are former vice mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and former mayor Alfredo Lim.

HAZEL GRACE S. POSADAS

The woes that hound Manila ‘Vote with FROM PAGE 11

relocating them to the provinces.

Traffic, transportation Among Estrada’s goals in the city were to develop the Pasig River as an additional means of transportation in the capital, to regulate areas where street vendors could do their business and to impose a “No Parking Policy” on the streets of Manila.

In 2016, Estrada implemented a “Zero Vending Policy,” which prohibited vendors on major roads of Manila.

Martin noted that these programs were short-lived. He said Estrada and the villages should be serious in clearing the sidewalks of vendors to ease traffic flow.

“They should be really strict about it, not only sidewalk vendors, pati rin ‘yong mga bahay na nakaprotrude na ‘yung garahe nila sa kalsada,” he said.

Estrada has claimed that traffic in Manila was reduced by 50 percent in 2017 because of his “Pook Kaayusan” or traffic discipline zones.

However, the Boston Consulting Group found in a 2017 survey that Metro Manila had the third worst traffic situation in

IN NUMBERS:

5.17%

Southeast Asia.

Coronacion said only the implementation of a truck ban, specifically on Roxas Boulevard, had a major impact.

“Ang na-experience ko na sa [Roxas], itong mga trucks na ‘to they’re allowed to use single lane, so far ‘yon ‘yong visible pero as for the others, nothing has changed,” he said.

In 2014, Estrada implemented a truck ban ordinance in Manila to prohibit trucks from travelling from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Monday to Saturday. However, the ban was lifted later that year.

Two years later, Estrada sought to revive the truck ban to ease traffic not only in the city but also in Metro Manila.

For Martin, Estrada’s 10-point agenda left many things unanswered. He described Estrada’s term as “mediocre,” offering nothing new nor innovative in Manila.

“If it’s the same platform of government now that he’s running for re-election, talo siya dun, kung naiintidihan ng tao ‘yon,” he said.

Manila’s political arena

Gird your loins FROM PAGE 4

systems, these gridlocks are not only limited to the budgeting scene but more evidently in lawmaking.

We have seen how politicians made their way towards deadlock situations to stall and prevent a bill or policy from being Index crimes in 2018 from 3,786 in 2017 legislated or enacted. *4th highest in the National Capital But the vicious cycle of proposing a Region policy, getting ad hominem attacks instead of objective criticisms, entering deadlock and vanishing to oblivion.

Instead of focusing on their mandated Most populous city in the National Capital Region duties to the people, government processes have become entertainment shows.

0.78% growth rate from 2010-2015 This is why reforms on these vital political processes are needed to ensure that delaying tactics and the vicious practice of congressional insertions would not hamper Income gap in 2015 statistics from 16.2% in 2012 quality public service in the government.

At the end of the day, are all these delays still worth it if the Filipinos bear and suffer the cost of stalled government processes which are supposed to “promote Number of families or the population whose the common good, conserve and develop annual per capita income falls below the poverty our patrimony, and secure to ourselves and threshold our posterity, the blessings of independence Source: Philippine Statistics Authority (2018). and democracy,” as our preamble would put Philippine Statistical Yearbook, Philippine National Police it?

Poverty incidence rate among families in 2017 *Highest in the National Capital Region

2,682

2nd

20.2%

82,007

In the mayoral race alone, there are eight candidates vying for the position, including Estrada. The 82-year old is running against former leaders of the capital: Alfredo Lim, who had served two terms as mayor and Isko Moreno, who had served as vice mayor for two terms as well.

Other candidates for the mayoral race are Francis Villegas of Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan, and independent bets Onofre Abad, Francisco Pizzara, Benjamin Rivera and Cecilia Salvador.

Nine bets are running for vice mayor, including the incumbent Ma. Sheilah “Honey” Lacuna-Pangan and former Manila congressman Amado Bagatsing. Fifteen candidates are vying for to represent the capital city in Congress as representatives of Manila’s six districts.

In the city council, most of the candidates vying for positions come from Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, Moreno’s Asenso Manileño and Lim’s PDP-Laban.

In 2016, the capital’s total voting population was estimated at 975,000, more than half of its 1.78-million population in the same year. LADY CHERBETTE N. AGOT and KLYRA V. ORBIEN

Usapang Uste FROM PAGE 2

Kong.

Ilan sa kaniyang mga programa at batas ang matagumpay na naipatupad sa Kongreso, tulad ng Republic Act 6728 na nagbigay ng tulong para sa mga estudyante at guro ng mga pribadong paaralan.

Nagsilbi si Ordoñez bilang Undersecretary sa Kagawaran ng Edukasyon at tagapangulo ng Presidential Commission for Education Reform noong 1998.

Ipinamalas din niya ang kaniyang husay sa pagtututo noong siya ay naging propesor sa University of California at University of Hawaii. Naging direktor siya ng basic education sa UNESCO Headquarters at UNESCO AsiaPacific office sa Bangkok, Thailand.

Taong 2009 naman nang bigyang parangal si Ordoñez bilang The Outstanding Thomasian Alumni Awardee sa kategoryang Edukasyon.

Tomasalitaan: Himbuyog (png) - Pagsisikap na pantayin ang mga bagay Matapos ang lahat ng himbuyog sa pagaaral, naniniwala akong makapagtatapos din ako ng kolehiyo.

Sanggunian: • TOTAL Awards 2009

conscience’ FROM PAGE 1

religion… [b]ut there’s nothing there that prohibits the Church from commenting on political matters,” he told the Varsitarian.

Aquino pointed out that the Church could get involved in politics by focusing on the education of voters and encouraging more qualified Catholics to run for public office instead of assuming the government’s role.

“The Church has recognized its limits. It cannot run for government.

The Church must recognize its limit of competence. If the Church recognized its limits, probably it would safeguard its credibility more,” he added.

Former senator Rene Saguisag said the Church has a role in forming the right conscience of the citizens and promote responsible voting during elections.

“What CBCP does is walang ineendorse na specific candidate but [they] just let the people know kung ano `yung criteria ng isang kandidato na maayos,” Saguisag said in an interview.

In 1991, then Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin initiated the establishment of the Parish Pastoral Council on Responsible Voting (PPCRV), a non-partisan organization that serves as a watchdog in ensuring a fair and fraud free elections.

PPCRV also advocates for electoral reforms and conducts voters’ education seminars around the country.

Asst. Prof. Allan Basas, faculty secretary of the UST Institute of Religion, said the Church avoids any form of block voting out of respect for the freedom of the people to choose their own candidates.

“Kaya dapat talaga masusi talaga yung ginagawa ng Simbahan in terms of letting the people know responsible voting. Even the sanctity of the ballot itself is taught by the Church,” he said.

Echoing Villegas, Basas stressed that participating in national elections is a Christian duty encouraged by the Church to contribute to the social transformation in the country.

“So yung boto mo should be made to realized na it will have an impact of the present, future of the Philippines society,” he said in an interview with the Varsitarian.

14 Witness

MAY 5, 2019

An estimated 12,000 Filipino youth flocked to Cebu to join this year’s National Youth Day, which involved immersions and outreach programs.

GENIELYN ROSARIO M. SORIANO

Face life’s troubles with Christ, youth told CEBU CITY — Archbishop Jose Palma called on 12,000 youth pilgrims to journey with Christ and find strength to face life’s troubles in the Holy Eucharist.

“Sometimes we’re weighed down, crushed, hopes dashed, dreams unrealized.

Know that Jesus journeys with us. All we need is to listen to the kerygma and also to go back to the strength that comes from the Eucharist,” he said during the opening Mass of the National Youth Day at the Santo Niño Basilica in Cebu on April 23.

Palma said the “kerygma” was Jesus’s way of love through suffering to save

mankind.

“There is a longing in our heart to know more the story of salvation. There’s the longing in our human heart for things beyond what the world can give. The one who could satiate our longings and hunger – only Jesus, only God,” he said.

The Cebu prelate urged the youth to reconnect with Jesus and the Blessed Mother.

“When we go back, we know we are blessed by the Lord. We know we would have him by the spirit of Mary, the thought that we are indeed loved, blessed and empowered so that we can reach out, to the fellow young

people like you,” he added.

A solemn procession from the Cebu City Sports Complex to the basilica was held before the Mass.

Put down phones, enjoy silence In his homily, Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Gabiele Caccia called on the youth delegates to value silence and real communication.

“We need silence in life to realize who we are, to be conscious that we are a living person. Free yourself of mobile addiction.

Life is not a contact, it gives you real

communication,” he said during the closing Mass on April 28.

Caccia said the fruit of silence is prayer, which leads to a life of love and peace.

“The fruit if prayer is faith. The fruit of faith is love. The fruit of love is service. The fruit of service is peace,” he said.

Activities during the six-day national event included living with foster families, parish nights and a pilgrim walk.

The Archdiocese of Caceres in Naga is the next host for National Youth Day. MARIEL CELINE L. SERQUINA with reports from MALIC U. COTONGAN

national coordinator of Dominican Network Youth Group, said young people are driven away from the Scriptures because of the influence of social media.

“Some young people have started to seek validation neither from themselves nor from moral principles written in the scriptures, but from the number of reactions to their posts and the affirmation they receive from publicity,” Agustin said.

According to the papal document, there are two major concerns of young people today – forming a new family and work.

Young people should not be afraid of responding to the vocation of married life for it is a calling of God to preserve life, Sawit explained.

“Family life is a lifetime commitment which should not be a cause for fear.

‘Christus Vivit’: Guiding the young toward God YOUNG people are living in a “world of crisis, violence, addiction and abuse.”

Pope Francis’s post-synodal apostolic exhortation “Christus Vivit” offers them ways to preserve their faith and take part in the ministry of the Church.

Christus Vivit, or “Christ is alive,” is the Pontiff’s response to the Synod on Youth held from Oct. 3 to 28 in 2018.

Chito Sawit, professor of theology in UST, said the Filipino youth also encounter the crisis addressed by the Pope. “[They] are not indifferent to what is happening in the society. The Filipino youth also live a life filled with crisis.

[J]ust like the youth described by Pope Francis, they live in a world affected by globalization, mediatization, migration, poverty, exploitation, affected by war and conflict – in Southern Mindanao – to name a few,” Sawit told the Varsitarian.

Sawit stressed that the youth are “full of hope, enthusiasm, and filled with great potential for growth and development.”

For Leo-Martin Ocampo, who also teaches theology in the University, young people should not be regarded as a mere demographic group. “[T]he real challenge for us is not only to analyze demographical trends but to establish personal contact with young people, each of them with a unique face and a unique story,” Ocampo said.

Faith, vocation in the digital spaces Pope Francis also warned against “digital spaces” that hinder young people from seeing the vulnerability of others and prevent them from doing self-reflection.

Warren Maneja, theology professor in UST, said the youth have become more dependent on social media, which makes it difficult for them to disconnect online and reconnect to reality.

“Technology, with its promise of connecting people, is seen by the youth as a means to fill this void in their life.

It becomes their new refuge and to some, their escape from the realities of life…the likes that they receive are their new means of self-approval and self-worth,” Maneja said in an interview.

Technology ushered a throwaway culture, where things have become obsolete and commitments and relationships are easily disregarded, Maneja added, quoting Pope Francis.

Elijor Rodil, coordinator of the International Dominican Youth Movement, said social media affects the faith of young people positively and negatively.

“Social media breed anxiety and instant gratification that dishearten the young whenever things do not go their way, when, in fact, they can reach to Christ in times of distress. [I]t weakens the Christian faith of the Filipino youth as it opens them to false realities and

misinformation,” Rodil said.

But social media have also been a way for young to express their faith and enrich their spiritual formation, Rodil added.

Nathan Agustin,

“The Lord is calling us to enkindle stars in the night of other young people. He asks you to look to the true stars, all those varied signs he gives us to guide our way, and to imitate the farmer who watches the stars before going out to plough his field.”

—Pope Francis

Christus Vivit PAGE 17

MAY 5, 2019

Witness 15

The why’s and wherefore’s of ‘Flores de Mayo’ FILIPINOS have long dedicated the month of May for festivities honoring the Blessed Mother.

“Flores de Mayol or “Flowers of May” is the tradition of offering f lowers to the Virgin Mary. This religious practice is one of the legacies of Spaniards to Filipino culture.

“When they came here, they tried to inculcate to the children the devotion to the Blessed Mother,” Fr. Roland Mactal, O.P., a Marian expert, explained.

The annual festivity involves children and young women dressed in white, walking along the aisle of the church leading to an image of Blessed Mother, to which they offer f lowers.

“It is a kind of reminder for all the lay faithful that our devotion to the Blessed Mother should start at a very young age so that they will be properly catechized on our faith. [It helps the new generation to appreciate all these pious exercises and devotion,” he said.

Mactal said Flores de Mayo encourages children to go to church and pray to the Blessed Mother, through the Holy Rosary. “[T]hey have forgotten these basic traditions of our faith and it is a good thing that you start with the small children so that when they grow up, they will continue the faith that has been handed down to us by our forefathers,” he said.

Flores de Mayo has a spiritual symbolism in the Catholic faith, as it is celebrated during the time when f lowers

are in full bloom.

“The month of May is still the month of Easter time [a]nd we must consider our devotion to the Blessed Mother within the context of the Paschal Mystery which is our Lord Jesus Christ. [T]he center of all our devotion to the Blessed Mother should end to Jesus,” Mactal said.

Another tradition is the Santacruzan, a procession depicting Constantine and St. Helena’s pursuit to find the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified.

However, Mactal lamented how commercialism and politics have invaded the annual tradition. “That [s]hould be corrected,” he said.

The first Flores de Mayo celebration was held at Bulakan, Bulacan in 1865 when Fr. Mariano Sevilla wrote the “Dalit kay Maria.”

The month-long activity became more popular with the release of his book, “Mariquit na Bulaclac na sa Pagninilay sa Buong Buan nang Mayo ay Inihahandog nang Manga Devoto cay Maria Santisima.” MALIC U COTONGAN

Dominicans warn Pinoys: ‘Beware of politicians making false promises’

Parishioners at the Santisimo Rosario Church in UST venerate the image of the crucified Christ on Good Friday.

-

ENRICO MIGUEL S. SILVERIO

MEMBERS of the Order of Preachers urged Filipino Catholics to vote for politicians who keep their promises, as they reflected on the “Seven Last Words” on Good Friday at Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City.

Fr. Eugene Cabillon, O.P. warned the faithful against deceitful people, stressing that Filipinos should vote for those who fulfill promises, like Jesus Christ.

“Mas madali ang maging taksil, tuso at tuta, magkakapera ka pa. [W]hen you are faithful to what you promise, you become what you promise. Jesus promised to save us and He fulfilled it. That’s why He is our savior,” he said.

Being faithful to one’s promise is the highest form of freedom, Cabillon said.

“Ito ang pinakamataas na uri ng kalayaan, iyong isuko ang kalayaan mo na iwasan ang mga bagay na salungat sa iyong pangako. Sa darating na eleksiyon, may kalayaan tayong pumili ng ating iboboto. Gamitin mo ang kalayaan na iyan para piliin kung sino ang nararapat, iyong tapat sa pangako,” he added.

Fr. Romulo Rodriguez, O.P., provincial secretary of the Dominican Province in the Philippines, said greed for power breeds unfaithfulness.

“Sometimes we are tempted… we hold on [and] cling to power.

May paalala ang Diyos. Hindi lahat ibibigay sa atin so that we

will learn how to bend our knees,” he said, reflecting on the fifth of Jesus Christ’s Seven Last Words.

Fr. Enrico Gonzales, O.P., reminded Filipinos that true power lies in God who is omnipotent.

“Saan ninyo ihahabilin ang bayan? Sa mga poon ninyong politiko? Lahat nangako na pagagandahin ang buhay.

Humusga kayo, gumanda ba ang buhay? [A]ng ayoko lang mangyari ay susunod kayo sa isang pinuno na hindi niyo malalaman kung masasagip kayo sa kamatayan,” he said.

Alluding to President Duterte’s statement that “God is stupid,” Fr. Clarence Marquez, O.P., rector of Colegio de San Juan de Letran, said the Church will remain faithful to her teachings whatever critics say, “’Ama, patawarin mo sila,’ sapagkat ‘yan ang sinasabi ng Diyos, kahit binabatikos, binabastos, binababoy, nilalapastangan, hindi pinapaniwalaan,” he said reflecting on the first word.

The Seven Last Words or “Siete Palabras” has been organized by the Dominican Province in the Philippines and the Santo Domingo Convent for the past 26 years. It was aired nationwide by GMA Network and Radyo Veritas.

Avoid selfishness, forgive Fr. Rodel Aligan, O.P., prior of the Priory of St. Thomas Aquinas in UST, called on the faithful to Dominicans PAGE 16

16 Limelight

Art Director: Nathanael Jonas S.J. Rodrigo

MAY 5, 2019

TOMAS U SANTOS BY MARIANE JAYNE A, CADIZ

BUHAY BILLY YATO BY MARI KLOIE D. LEDESMA

CACA BY JURY P. SALAYA

Rookie

FROM PAGE 19 pang players doon at masyado pa akong bata kaya mag- focus na lang muna ako sa studies,” she said.

Sales’ path to UST was not easy as she was not recruited by any schools.

She became part of the Softbelles after trying out for a spot in the roster.

She started softball her career in fifth grade when she was discovered by Josefino Viray her coach at Nemesio I. Yabut Elementary School in Makati.

Sales has already copped several awards including the MVP and Best Pitcher award in the 2016 National Capital Region (NCR) meet. She also bagged the Most Stolen Bases award in the 2017 NCR meet and the Most Home Runs in the 2015 National InterSecondary Girls Softball tournament.

Aside from third base, the versatile slugger also plays second baseman and pitcher.

Waste

FROM PAGE 9

Lacuna pointed out that the Manila Parks and Recreations Development Office is now focusing on the rehabilitation of some of the city’s parks.

“We are not a rich country, so we do not have the luxury of creating new spaces. [I]t’s hard to create something new in an old city, but you can renew old things, rehabilitate old things,” said Lacuna.

The Arroceros Forest Park, dubbed as the “last lung of Manila,” was reportedly under threat due to the lapse of memorandum of agreement between the government of Manila and the environmental group Winner Foundation.

Although the proposed project of building a school gymnasium in the park was postponed by incumbent Manila City Mayor Joseph Estrada in 2017, there are no written agreement or policy that will secure the forest park.

Ancheta said if the project pushes through, it will affect the “urban biodiversity” inside the forest park and the microclimate of the area.

“The total economic value of Arroceros Forest Park is more than the value of this generation.

So, magkakaroon siya ng affect sa microclimate kasi roon sa Arroceros Forest Park, nare-regulate niya ‘yong pollution in the area,” she said. JOSELLE CZARINA S. DE LA CRUZ

Journalism FROM PAGE 2

as “rubbish.”

Salvosa earlier tweeted: “A diagram is by no means an evidence of ‘destabilization’ or an ‘ouster plot.’ It is a very huge stretch for anyone to accuse PCIJ, Vera Files and Rappler of actively plotting to unseat the President. I know people there and they are not coup plotters.”

Ang later asked him to resign following the Twitter post, but Salvosa told the Times’ owner that he was about to leave anyway.

In a statement released by the Times on Thursday afternoon, the paper said Salvosa did not resign but was instead asked to do so.

Salvosa told the Varsitarian, however, that he was about to leave the paper even before being asked to step down.

“He behaved unethically when he posted a statement in social media without first notifying or clarifying with our chairman emeritus, Dr. Dante Ang, the issues he had with the story,” the statement read.

The statement added that Salvosa did not object to the publication of the “matrix” story nor did he suggest ways of rewriting or handling the piece.

Sought for comment, Salvosa said: “The statement stands for itself, let the readers judge it.”

Salvosa joined the paper as managing editor in 2016.

He has been a journalist for nearly 20 years, starting his career with the BusinessWorld and later, the Financial Times.

He is also the assistant adviser of the Varsitarian, UST’s campus paper. JULIA CLAIRE L. MEDINA

Dominicans FROM PAGE 15

end the culture of pride and vanity pursue the path of forgiveness. “[Those] wounds have been hurt with countless sins that mankind [has] led to occur. Let us adore him and thank him for atoning for our sins of pride and vanity, and for using His name in vain for all our personal ambitions and gain,” he said in his homily during the commemoration of the Lord’s passion at the Santisimo Rosario Parish.

Good Friday is the second part of the Paschal Triduum, commemorating the passion and crucifixion of Jesus Christ to fulfill God’s promise of salvation.

EUGENE DOMINIC V. ABOY, O.P.

Seek the common good

FROM PAGE 5

she/he cannot participate in politics. Each of us can let our voice be heard and be a part of national conversation by posting our views in the social media, but with great respect for others and with the end of advancing the truth.

We especially encourage the youth whose future is very much at stake to participate in the electoral process especially by using their skills and knowledge of the social media to advance what is true, what is just, and what is for the common good.

Let the common good be the aim of our politicians and let the common good

FROM PAGE 1 be the basis of our choice for our next set of public officials, then truly, “love and truth will meet; justice and peace will kiss” (Ps 85:11) in our land.

For the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, + ROMULO G. VALLES, D.D. Archbishop of Davao President, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Jan. 28, 2019

Industrialization FROM PAGE 3

“When you wake up, […] the first thing that you do is to check the cellphone if may messages ba, notifications b[a]. [You] learn all the time.”

Gascon said this major change in students’ learning pose a challenge on teacher’s pedagogical approach, including the professors and instructors’ in UST. “What is important right now is deep learning, where students can create and use new knowledge in the new world.

The University has established [Edtech] so that we can enhance the technological knowledge of teachers,” Gascon said.

“We have to make the teachers experience how it is to learn in a digital world. They learn how to use augmented realities [and] how to do problem solving,” she added.

Boon and bane Albert and Gascon also clarified that technologies in the Fourth Industrial Revolution bring not only educational aids, but also threats.

“While Fourth Industrial Revolution

continues to bring a lot of good in the future, these technologies may also cause a lot of disruptions that carry some risks to our current ways of living,” Albert said.

“These [technologies] can bring a lot of uncertainties and risks in their use[s].

You can imagine that you can weaponize even technology. Even social media is being weaponized to spread false news,” he added.

Gascon explained that technologies nowadays also affect the attention span of the students, which is now comparable to goldfish that has nine-second attention span.

Albert urged students to be part of the nation’s discussion on industrial revolutions and its possible disruption in people’s way of living.

“We do not have a crystal ball that will definitely tell us how fast and to what extent robots and artificial intelligence might replace humans but we should have a call of nation’s understanding of what is to come, and action and agenda to prove our readiness for the future toda[y],” he said. ELMER B. COLDORA

Election mural

FROM PAGE 6

Predictably, the middle part of the wall painting focused on heavy traffic in the metropolis.

“Traffic (jams) weigh down our economy,” said Sollestre. “There are too many slow or unfinished industrial projects going on at once that the traffic congestion becomes unbearable.”

“We painted the cars using a onepoint perspective to give depth to the work,” explained Painting freshman Milanco. “The background shows a sunrise which is symbolism for a new beginning.”

There was no one author of each social issue tackled in the mural because of the interactive nature of the painting session.

CBCP

“We were actually doing different stuff every few minutes, all of us shifting [to] different positions, so it’s a little tricky to say who made what exactly,” said Quevedo.

Also contributing to the mural were established street artists Venazir Martinez, Bryan Gonzales, Taipan Lucero, Bing Famoso, Genesis Aala, and Ross del Rosario.

Quevedo said it was an honor for UST students to participate in the interactive mural painting session. “It is a venue for Thomasian artists to showcase their talent and perspectives,” he added. NOLENE BEATRICE H. CRUICILLO

Bangued Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian, chairman of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Youth, also encouraged pilgrims to share their stories to help others feel that they have not been abandoned.

“A lot of young people isolate themselves, feel depressed. In the National Youth Day, you met a lot of people who now become your brothers and sisters. May those who felt abandoned, feel loved through you, delegates. You become relevant and you became a friend to the lost, the last and the least,” Jaucian said. MARIEL CELINE L. SERQUIÑA

Comelec FROM PAGE 9

The UST alumnus also led the national Comelec’s education and information depart-ment, working to strengthen the commission’s presence on social media.

Aside from being UST Comelec chief, he was a debater who received several awards from the University such as the Benavides Outstanding Achievement, the Quezon Leadership and the Pope Leo XIII Communitarian awards.

Later on, he became executive assistant to the Supreme Court administrator in 1999. He then served under the solicitor general for four years.

Jimenez said the advantage of social media is its accessibility that cannot be found in other platforms.

“Voter vigilance” is one of the advocacies of his office, which he said was a bigger duty than just keeping an eye on the ballot.

“Good communication is your good foundation. And ‘yong voter education is the appli-cation of that principle,” Jimenez said.

“We’re expanding the meaning of voter education to include not just knowing how to vote but knowing how to decide who to vote for,” he added.

Jimenez first joined the Comelec as consultant. He resigned a year after, but came back as a director in 2004. He was appointed spokesman in 2006.

VIVIENNE AUDREY P. ANGELES and C.V. GAMOSO

MAY 5, 2019

Witness 17

Be a herald of truth amid persecution, lies, Radio Veritas urged POPE FRANCIS has bestowed his apostolic blessing to Radio Veritas, with a call to renew its commitment to spread the truth, during the radio station’s 50th anniversary at the UST Medicine auditorium last April 10.

In a letter read by Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the Pope called on the radio station to unite people in “bonds of evangelical love,” and promote a just soci-ety centered on the poor.

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said Radio Veritas must continue to be a key figure in the evangelization of Asia.

“The truth…must not be kept but shared so that the darkness of ignorance, what they call in the documents ‘illiteracy,’ may be wiped out, and that values coming from the word of God may be shared by Christians all over Asia,” Tagle said.

Tagle also warned against spreading lies for political motives, which impedes freedom.

“It is a truth that defines the whole of human existence, and what is the opposite of the truth, what is enslavement? It is not just ignorance.

For Jesus, it is sin… [T]he test of freedom in truth comes when you are persecuted,” he said.

Delegates of the Southeast Asian Bishops’ Conference established Radio Veritas Asia on April 11, 1969 “as an instrument of evangelization and information in Eastern Asia and Oceania.”

Radio Veritas 846 President Fr. Anton Pascual said the station still appeals to the youth through music and counseling.

UST Rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. and Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma unveil the marker for the 50th anniversary of Radio Veritas.

MARY JAZMIN D. TABUENA

Radio Veritas 846, which became a separate commercial radio station in 1991, is a “community-based radio station” that promotes pastoral programs to reach the marginal-ized and engage in political, economic, cultural and environmental discussions, he said.

“On board and ating mga bishops at [experts] in different fields upang lagumin ang mga social issues in the context of faith and morals. Doon talaga malakas ‘yung ating advocacies and radio veritas,” Pascual added.

Pascual also stressed the importance of partnerships

between Catholic schools and other organizations in promoting Catholic journalism for the communication of faith and morals.

Fr. Franz Josef Eilers of the UST Graduate School said the Philippines was a strategic location for the radio station, since it was then the only

Catholic nation in Asia.

The radio station’s office was first located on the fourth floor of the UST Main Building, while its transmitters were in Polo, Bulacan (now Valenzuela).

DZST was tagged as

drinking water. The [drought] happening now is barely starting and yet we have a full-blown water crisis,” he noted.

Promoting water conservation through education and communication should be strengthened, Algo said.

“More importantly, the water management system already in place (i.e. pipelines for distribution) needs to be improved and the private companies responsible need to be held accountable for their mistakes,” he added.

The water crisis reflected the congestion of the east zone of Metro Manila, with the “urban sprawl putting a significant

strain on natural resources in the region,” indicating an overpopulation in the area, Papa said.

Algo said decongesting Metro Manila to reduce water demand could be a viable option to solve water crisis.

Possible solutions to the water crisis without constructing a dam in protected areas would be purifying water through filtration and desalination of seawater like the practice in Singapore, but the use of such technology would be costly, Garcia said. BEATRIZ AVEGAYLE S. TIMBANG and MIGUEL ALEJANDRO IV. A HERRERA

Radio Veritas PAGE 18

The environmental costs of dam construction FROM PAGE 3

focus on the Kaliwa-Kanan-Agos River Basin as an alternative water source, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System stated on its website.

Papa and Garcia stressed that the government should focus on looking for other sources of water, such as improving the water quality of Laguna de Bay which could reduce the cost of water treatment prior to distribution and reviving the Wawa Dam in Rodriguez, Rizal rather than construct a new dam.

Algo noted that dam reservoirs could also be a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, especially methane.

“Considering the Philippines is one of the most vulnerable countries to the impacts of climate change, such a move

will only depict the country as unable to fully commit to a more sustainable future,” Algo said.

Algo also warned that the Kaliwa Low Dam would be within two active tectonic plates, which would make it earthquake-prone and endanger people of potential flash floods and landslides.

Constructing dams would be a last resort in other countries, and they ensure to safeguard biodiversity in case dams needed to be constructed, which was not a practice in the Philippines, Papa claimed.

A full-blown water crisis Papa stressed that although

there has been a decrease in water levels of La Mesa Dam, which along with the main source Angat Dam provides water in Metro Manila, the water crisis affecting an estimated 52, 000 households across Metro Manila last March was mainly due to the failure of Manila Water to have the needed “precautionary measures that might have averted the total disruption of its services.” “[O]ne of the most vital items in the Millennium Development Goals has been compromised with this crisis. It [shows] how little the Philippines has progressed in the past 30 years-in addressing access to safe

Christus Vivit

Dear Theodosia

FROM PAGE 14

Work, on the other hand, fulfills and gives meaning to one’s life. Work is important for self-preservation and in extending one’s help to others who are in need. Family life is sustained by work,” Sawit said.

Adults, guide for the young people Pope Francis highlighted the role of adults in the lives of young people. He emphasized that adults should address the changes brought by the young generation and not put barriers to their ideas.

Adults should approach young people with moral certitude and guide them whenever they are lost in their path of life, according to Rodil.

“It is the role of the older generations to be the strong roots that will hold and pull the young ones back to the ground whenever they’re lost at present and uncertain of future. And they should do this in a language and approach that is grounded with freedom, wisdom and enthusiasm, rather than being authoritative,” he said.

Sawit called on adults to “know how to enter the culture of young people” and to be their life witness, providing guidance and wisdom.

Ocampo said criticism of young

FROM PAGE 5

people is not a bad thing as it will give them room for improvement and growth.

Young people of the Church Pope Francis cited “three great truths” in the document: “God loves you,” “ Christ, out of love, sacrificed himself completely in order to save you,” and “Christ is alive!”

The Pope said young people are not just the future of the Church but are also present in the Church.

“Young people are no longer children. They are at a time of life when they begin to assume a number of responsibilities, sharing alongside adults in the growth of the family, society and the Church,” Pope Francis wrote.

In the Philippines, young people should preserve and nurture the Church, Sawit and Ocampo stressed. “[T]he hope of the Church is alive that the seeds of truth planted in the hearts of the Filipino Catholic students will live in their hearts and minds manifested in their actions,”

Sawit said.

Ocampo said: “Young people can sometimes present new problems and new challenges, yes, but they also bring new energy and vitality to the Church with their ideas and enthusiasm.”

The Social Weather Stations survey found a 24-point decline in church weekly attendance from 1991 to 2017. It added that among major religions in the country, the Catholic Church’s weekly attendance has been the lowest at 41 percent.

Agustin and Rodil said that through the youth ministry and active participation in the Church, the Filipino youth should be able to help spread the teachings of Christ.

“Through this active participation in praise and worship and dedication to service and missions, the young ones are brought back to the ideals and ways of Christ and in the long run, grounded back to the Church of Christ,” Rodil said. JOSELLE CZARINA S. DE LA CRUZ

cultural policies and programs that are anti-Filipino. They seem ignorant of the fact that their multiculturalism owes exactly to the diversity of Philippine languages.

The Department of Education has implemented the Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education program, in which schools were are mandated to teach the child’s first language first. But Philippine languages continue to decline because of Filipinos’ colonial mentality.

In Pampanga, for instance, majority of the people I know do not how to speak in Kapampangan.

They said their parents opted to talk to them either in English or Filipino, thus they never learned the language.

Denying the young of learning the native language and not passing in down to younger generations may result in the imminent death of the distinct linguistic –and cultural—identity of the region.

Meanwhile, indigenous groups such as the Lumads in Mindanao battle against big mining companies who that want

to take over their ancestral lands.

Alleged “paramilitary attacks” and human rights violations continue to displace them in Mindanao.

The preservation of culture is tantamount to the preservation of our identity as a nation. Thus, Filipinos should labor towards the preservation of our cultural heritage. We must learn how to preserve and embrace our own identity – history, culture, heritage and languages – not just for ourselves, but for the future generations.

We have been colonized for more than three centuries by different countries who have influenced our identity, but amid these years of influence, we have created our own identity and it is up to us to preserve that.

The historical and heritage sites, the variety of dialects and diversity of cultural groups and multicultural traditions in the country separated us from all the influences we have undergone as a nation. We must not let our cultural heritage to be taken away from us from our failure to save that which is our own.

18 Sports

Editor: Ma. Angelica D. Garcia

MAY 5, 2019

UST set to rack up 43rd ge UST IS poised to bag its 43rd general championship after the Golden Tigresses and the Lady Booters assured themselves of at least a top five finish in UAAP’s Season 81.

Tiger Spikers bow out of UAAP Final Four

A Red Warrior spikes the ball through Tiger Spikers Jayvee Sumagaysay and Manuel Medina.

ENRICO MIGUEL S. SILVERIO

THE UST Tiger Spikers finished a disappointing fifth place in the UAAP men’s volleyball tournament, in a season marred by injuries.

UST’s 25-19, 25-15, 19-25, 2523 win over the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors last April 27 wrapped up a lackluster campaign which saw the Tiger Spikers win five out of 14 matches.

Head coach Odjie Mamon said the loss of their key players due to injuries took a heavy toll on the team’s performance this year.

“This season is disappointing kasi mataas ang expectation namin for the team, but we were not able to recover from the losses dahil sa tagal na rin ng recovery ng mga players from their injuries,” he told the Varsitarian.

Veteran middle blocker Tyrone Carodan only played in the Tiger Spikers’ first elimination round match against the Adamson University Soaring Falcons last Feb. 17, before being ruled out of the season due to syncope.

Sophomore Joshua Umandal and rookie Jaron Requinton went down with a right knee injury and an extensor digitorum brevis muscle injury, respectively, midway through the season.

Umandal missed UST’s 2527, 26-24, 23-25, 25-18,15-17 loss against UE last March 17, while

Requinton only scored two markers.

“Hindi talaga ‘yong planned starting six namin ang naglaro, hindi ‘yong core ng team namin. The tested chemistry of the team was affected due to the concerned three vital players,” Mamon said.

He also said the team’s inability to close out sets in crucial games contributed to their lackluster campaign.

“What happened this season was mananalo kami ng two sets then matatalo sa next set then mananalo ulit. (Hindi namin magawang tapusin ng straight),” Mamon said.

UST’s offensive woes persisted throughout the season, as evidenced by them being sixth in setting, fifth in spiking and receiving and fourth in serving.

On the defensive end, the Tiger Spikers were third in the league in terms of digging and blocking.

Despite a disappointing finish, Mamon remained optimistic of his team’s chances next season.

UST will miss the services of Timothy Tajanlangit, Juren Buro, Jayvee Sumagaysay and Carodan after exhausting their playing years.

The Tiger Spikers will see action again in the Premier Volleyball League this summer. THERESA CLARE K. TAÑAS with reports from FAITH YUEN WEI N. RAGASA

Golden Booters miss Final Four Radio Veritas FROM PAGE 17

THE UST Golden Booters crashed out of Final Four contention for the first time in four years despite edging out the National University, 2-1, in the UAAP Season 81 men’s football tournament at t h e Far Eastern

University-Diliman pitch last May 2.

The Booters, who were runners-up last year, finished their campaign at fifth place with a 6-5-3 win-draw-loss Juan Villanueva

card for 23 points, just a point behind fourth seed FEU. NU finished their campaign at sixth place with 13 points behind a 3-47 card.

“We fell short, pero it’s good to end the season on a high note pa rin. We also saw good things from our rookies throughout the year,” UST head coach Marjo Allado said.

Conrado Dimacali III posted a brace after netting conversions in the 43rd and 55th minutes.

Lemark Unabia scored a tap in shot after a scramble in the UST goal to put NU on board in the 66th minute.

UST will miss the services of Dexter Benecio next season.

JOHN EZEKIEL J. HIRRO

“The Voice of the Catholic Philippines,” and was the first Catholic radio station in the country.

On Sept. 17, 1950, DZST was inaugurated by Rector Fr. Angel de Blas, O.P. It aimed to educate Thomasians on the message of Catholicism through radio.

Radio programs aired from 6 to 10 p.m. which included University on the Air, University Town Hall on the Air, Road to Damascus, Bridge to Dreamland and the Sacred Heart Program.

Its last broadcast as DZST was on Aug. 15, 1963. Its name was changed from DZST (Santo Tomas) to DZRV (Radio Veritas) in 1964.

In 1969, the Radio Veritas studio in Fairview, Quezon City was inaugurated by Arch-bishop Antonio Cardinal Samore and Manila Archbishop Rufino Cardinal Santos.

Pope Paul VI went to Radio Veritas and delivered a message broadcast to all of Asia during his visit to the Philippines in November 1970.

Radio Veritas also played a key role in toppling the Marcos dictatorship, as former Ma-nila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin used it to urge Filipinos to join the People Power Revolution in 1986. E.D. ABOY, O.P. and M. C. L. SERQUIÑA

MAY 5, 2019

eneral championship Even with the women’s volleyball and women’s football tournaments still ongoing, UST already hauled seven gold, five silver and three bronze medals to garner at least 278 points and extend its reign to a third-straight year.

De La Salle University will have 268 markers at most.

The University of the Philippines will finish third with at least 232 points but can also wind up with 254 points.

The Golden Tigresses are headed back into the

Final Four with a twice-tobeat incentive after crashing to seventh place last season.

The Lady Booters will need to win their final game of the elimination round on May 4, Saturday, 9 a.m. at the Circulo Verde football pitch for a chance to advance in the finals as they currently sit at third place.

Defending women’s football champion Lady Archers advanced to the finals for the fourth-straight year, while the Lady Spikers will face the Tigresses in the women’s volleyball semifinals on May 5, Sunday, 4 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“Basically, for every sport, aim namin na pinakamababa na ang fourth place and sa second semester, very satisfied kami kasi nasuportahan nila ang ginawa ng mga nasa first semester,” Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (IPEA)

athletics moderator Rodrigo Sambuang told the Varsitarian.

“Malaking bagay ang winning culture ng UST since it gives the players a trend to follow.”

UST still could not figure out how to defeat Adamson University as the Tiger Softbelles fell short of the crown anew.

Despite a strong start, the Golden Sox suffered a late meltdown and settled for fourth place again. La Salle bagged its second baseball championship in four seasons.

The Male Tennisters ended their campaign with an 8-5 winloss card to qualify for the event’s first ever Final Four. They finished third this season.

In women’s play, the Female Tennisters failed to defend their title as they settled for fifth place.

The Golden Booters, who were last season’s runners-up, finished their campaign at fifth place.

The Tiger Spikers failed to advance to the semifinals this year as they finished their campaign with a 5-9 record for fifth place.

The UAAP awards 15 points for gold, 12 for silver and 10 for bronze. JOHN EZEKIEL J. HIRRO

Sports 19

Rookie Softbelle nabs 2 awards

By JUSTIN ROBERT VALENCIA and IVAN RUIZ L. SUING THE UST Tiger Softbelles may have been defeated in the UAAP finals, but the future looks bright for the team with rookie Charlotte Sales at the helm.

Sales bagged the Rookie of the Year award and shared the Most Home Runs award with Season 81 Most Valuable Player (MVP) Arianne Vallestero of the Adamson University.

The 5’4” Sales managed to hit three home runs in the entire season, two of them coming from UST’s 7-0 shutout win against Ateneo de Manila University in the second round.

“Comparing Sales and Vallestero, napakalaki ng diperensya because Sales is a rookie, Arianne is a national team player. Even sa age gap malaki ang difference, good thing naka-homer ng tatlo. That speaks volumes about Sales,” UST coach Sandy Barredo told the Varsitarian.

Sales tallied an impressive 0.342 batting average (13-for-38) in her rookie season built in seven singles, one two-bagger and two triples, resulting in 10 runs-batted-in.

With the 19-year-old’s first season in the bag, she is now focused on leading the Softbelles next year with the team mainly composed of rookies and sophomores.

“Gagawin ko itong stepping stone for next season para mas maibigay ko pa ang best ko para makatulong sa team and makaabot ulit sa finals.

Handa na akong i-lead ang team next year and pagiigihan pa namin ang ensayo,” she said.

In her young UAAP career, Sales already caught the attention of the Philippine National Women’s Softball Team, headed by coach Randy Dizer.

Sales, however, passed on the chance to be a part of the Blu Girls after heeding the advice of Barredo.

“Gustong-gusto ko talaga mag-national team, kaya lang napaisip ako sa sabi ni coach na maraming Rookie PAGE 16

Charlotte Sales

UST tandem rules Rookie-laden Softbelles settle for silver beach volleyball tilt Softbelle Hannah de la Torre prepares to bat in their match against Adamson last March 29.

JOSE MIGUEL J. SUNGLAO

By JUSTIN ROBERT VALENCIA THE ADAMSON University Lady Falcons emerged as champions for the ninth-straight year after overpowering the rookie-ladden UST Tiger Softbelles, 11-2, in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 81 softball finals at the Rizal Memorial Stadium last April 2.

This is the fourth consecutive year the Softbelles lose to the Lady Falcons in the finals.

Head coach Sandy Barredo attributed the team’s failed bid for the title to the UST sluggers’ lack of maturity.

“The girls can play defense, they can play offense, pero iba pa rin ‘yong naglalaro ng may maturity. ‘Yon ‘yung kapag down the stretch, mag-de-deliver,” Barredo told the Varsitarian.

The Softbelles have 11 rookies from the 17-player roster, with only three seniors namely Hannah de la Torre, Tin Palma and Lealyn Guevarra as the only constant fixtures in the batting order.

In their finals series against defending champion Adamson, UST was limited to just four hits per game with 5.5 runners stranded on base.

Errors also doomed the Softbelles in the finals with 2.5 errors per game, resulting in five unearned runs for the Lady Falcons.

The all-rookie UST bullpen composed

of Celyn Ojare, Irene Lumanas and Henna Santiago allowed an average of 6.33 hits in the championship round.

“Kung may pitcher ako na beterano and na buo na ang loob like (Ann) Antolihao last year, kung naabutan niya ‘tong batch na ito na puro depensa, kaya namin talunin ang Adamson,” Barredo said.

Despite the bridesmaid finish anew, team captain Ojare said the Softbelles overachieved this season, considering the team is composed of mainly newcomers.

“I think we overachieved. Hindi namin hinayaan na mahuli kami kahit na karamihan sa mga naglaro ay rookies, pinakita namin na kahit mga baguhan pa lang kami ay maaasahan na kami ng seniors,” she said.

The Softbelles will miss the services of de la Torre, Palma, Guevarra, Bianca Hernandez, Lyra Gustilo and Tanya Belano next season after exhausting their playing years.

Barredo said she will reinforce the Softbelles next year with sluggers from Palarong Pambansa, Aurora, Bulacan and Pasig.

Uphill climb

After finishing the first round with a subpar 3-3 win-loss slate, the Softbelles hiked their performance in the second round on the two important aspects of softball: hitting and fielding.

UST averaged 8.66 hits per game in the second round resulting in 4.66 runs per outing, an improvement from their 5.4 output in the first round.

The Softbelles also lessened their errors to an average of 1.16, resulting in just 0.66 unearned runs, from two errors per game in the first round.

UST then ended the elimination round at third place with a 7-5 slate and faced the twice-to-beat De La Salle University Lady Batters in the semifinals.

With their season on the line, the Softbelles displayed their deadliest form, averaging season-highs in hits (10), runs (10.5) and runners left on base (5.5), which propelled them to overcome the daunting task of winning twice.

Third baseman Charlotte Sales bagged the Rookie of the Year award and tied oneand-done Lady Falcon Arianne Vallestero for the Most Home Runs with three apiece.

THE UST Lady Spikers reigned supreme in the Beach Volleyball Republic (BVR) On Tour in Dumaguete last April 27.

The UST tandem of Babylove Barbon and Genesa Eslapor toppled Perlas Spikers Bea Tan and Dij Rodriguez in the finals, 17-21, 21-14, 15-12.

“Malaki na ang pinagbago nila kasi ‘yong mga tumatalo sa amin dati ngayon tinalo na nila.

But still, marami pang dapat i-improve kasi ibang usapan naman pa dating sa UAAP,” UST head coach Paul Jan Doloiras told the Varsitarian in an online interview.

With UST at match point in the final frame, 149, Perlas tried to catch up after three consecutive errors from the Lady Spikers, before Barbon fired a down-the-line kill for the win.

Eslapor exploded with 25 points while Barbon had 17 markers for UST. Tan had 16 points for Perlas.

In men’s play, Tiger Spikers Rancel Varga and Efraem Dimaculangan snagged bronze after pulling off a 21-14, 19-21, 15-11 victory against University of St. La Salle’s Herold Parcia and Deanne de Pedro.

“Sa lalaki kasi, mas mahirap ang laruan dahil mas malalakas ang sumasali sa offseason tournaments namin kaya malaking bagay na ‘yan para sa amin. At least, nakapasok kami sa podium,” Doloiras said.

The tournament ran from April 26 to 27. IVAN RUIZ L. SUING

Sports

MAY 5, 2019

The Golden Tigresses sing the UST Hymn while in tears after dethroning three-time defending champion De La Salle University last May 5.

A heartbeat away

MARK DARIUS M. SULIT

Tigresses dethrone La Salle for UAAP finals berth

By JOHN EZEKIEL J. HIRRO

THE UST Golden Tigresses dethroned three-time defending champion De La Salle University Lady Spikers, booking a UAAP volleyball finals ticket for the first time in eight years.

The Golden Tigresses will face off with the Ateneo Lady Eagles, who conquered the FEU Lady Tamaraws.

UST overcame La Salle’s twice-tobeat edge, pounding the Lady Spikers, 25-19, 25-19, 20-25, 23-25, 15-10, in the deciding game at the Mall of Asia Arena last May 5.

Back-to-back kills from rookie sensation Eya Laure ended a late 4-0 run

Male Tennisters reap bronze in UAAP THE UST Male Tennisters crashed out of finals contention after surrendering to the Ateneo de Manila University, 2-3, while defending champion Female Tennisters dropped to fifth place as the UAAP Season 81 lawn tennis tournament came to a close last April 6.

The Male Tennisters ended their campaign at third place with an 8-5 win-loss record. They finished fourth last year.

The National University took home the championship this year, while Ateneo settled for silver.

With the game tied at two matches each, Male Tennister Jaffary Cariga succumbed to Blue Eagle Iyo Canlas, 1-6, 4-6, in the last match.

UST evened the game as the duo of Clarence Cabahug and Chrisitian Lopez scored a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win against Ateneo’s Bong Gonzales and Julian Dayrit.

“Kahit hindi namin nakuha (‘yong win), mas okay kami sa results kasi mas dikit (‘yong laban) and nag-improve kami sa rankings.

Hopefully, next year makabalik kami sa finals kasi ‘yon naman talaga ang goal namin,” Male Tennisters head coach Alexander Diego told the Varsitarian.

by UST that sealed victory in the fifth set, 15-10.

The Tigresses held a slight 21-19 edge in the second canto before igniting a fourpoint swing, topped by Laure’s crosscourt hit for a commanding 2-0 set lead.

Laure scored a game-high 25 points, while team captain Sisi Rondina added 17 markers for the Tigresses. KC Galdones and Caitlyn Viray had 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Jolina de la Cruz led La Salle with 12 points, while Aduke Ogunsanya and Desiree Cheng had 10 markers apiece.

“Nalagpasan na namin ‘yong gusto

naming maabot, pero hindi pa kami titigil dito,” said UST coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes Jr., whose team is riding on a sixgame winning streak heading into the finals.

Rondina, whose 18.5 points per game topped the league, said she would do “whatever it takes” in the finals.

“Nandito na sa amin ‘to, hindi na namin papabayaan,” said the four-time UAAP beach volleyball Most Valuable Player (MVP) said.

The Tigresses hold 16 UAAP championships, next only to FEU’s 29.

IN NUMBERS: 1st:

25-19 2nd:

25-19 3rd:

20-25

4th:

23-25 5th:

15-10

After back-to-back losses in the first two matches, Male Tennisters Francis Lanzado and Bernlou Bering kept UST at bay after nipping Blue Eagles Luke Flores and Erj Gatdula, 6-1, 6-4.

Dethroned In women’s play, Ateneo dumped defending champion Female Tennisters, 4-1, to settle for fifth place.

Female Tennisters Ingrid Gonzales and Shu Gitalan gave UST its lone win of the day after defeating Ateneo’s Camille So and Martina Bautista, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, before Lady Eagle Shaira Rivera mauled Immaville Gervacio, 6-2, 6-0.

The Ateneo tandem of Jana Hernandez and Janelle Llavore secured the win after outlasting UST’s Ivana Caballero and Meann San Jose, 6-1, 7-6.

The women’s team ended the season with a 2-6 win-loss record.

“Siguro naramdaman nila ‘yong pagkawala ng senior players. We were up 1-0 sa first round but after ng second game, which is a heartbreaking loss to Ateneo, from there, parang hindi na naka-recover.” Female Tennisters head coach Dennis Sta. Cruz said.

UST will miss the services of Bering, Lanzado, Warren Lagahit, Joel Librodo and Andre Santos in the men’s team and Gonzales, Gitalan, Caballero and Precian Rivera in the women’s team after exhausting their playing years. FAITH YUEN WEI N. Male Tennister Jaffary Cariga receives the ball during the game against Ateneo de Manila at Colegio San Agustin- RAGASA Bataan.

MARK DARIUS M. SULIT