THE VARSITARIAN P.Y. 2022-2023 ISSUE 01

‘THE PANDEMIC BROUGHT OUT THE BEST IN UST’

THE COVID-19 pandemic has brought out the best in the University and the Thomasian community, UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. said in his first Rector’s Report on Sept. 8.

In his report covering the period of January 2020 to July 2021, Ang said the pandemic became a defining moment for the Thomasian community in help ing each other.

“The pandemic taught us the value of what it means to be a Thomasian community. We are a community that looks out for the welfare of each other during a time of great uncertainty,” Ang said.

“More than the time of hopeless ness, the pandemic is a defining mo ment that brought out the best in us. It is a time that brought Thomasians closer to one another and closest to God,” the Rector added.

Ang said the pandemic also al lowed the University to exercise the Thomasian core value of compassion.

“No employee was laid off for rea

Unvaxxed students allowed to join F2F classes

STUDENTS and teaching and non-teaching staff who have yet to be vacci nated against Covid-19 are now allowed to participate in limited face-to-face (F2F) classes in UST, the Office of the Secretary General has announced.

The University made the move days before Prospero de Vera III, chairman of the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), said it was scrapping its vac cination requirement for participants in F2F classes.

In a memorandum containing the University’s new health and safety pro tocols, UST Secretary General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P. said Thomasians were still

son of the pandemic. Instead, the Uni versity gave pandemic assistance to employees, even janitors,” he said.

“We accompanied our students in their struggles both in their academ ic and personal lives, and as we brave each passing day, we learned the value of meaningful connections with fellow members of the Thomasian communi ty,” he added.

Ang said how UST continued to op erate amid the pandemic was a mani festation of its will to survive.

made to experience this once-in-a-gen eration global health crisis for a rea son: we were meant to survive, we were meant, to quote the Varsitarian, to rise above the rut of this pandemic.”

In his report, Ang presented nine “strategic directional areas” his ad ministration prioritized: leadership and governance; Thomasian identity; teaching and learning; research and innovation; resource management; public presence; community develop ment and advocacy; student welfare and support; and internationalization.

As he ended his report, Ang became emotional in recalling how the pan demic adversely affected Thomasians.

“For the past two years, we lost more than 50 of our faculty and staff and how we miss them because they contributed so much to the life of this University,” Ang tearfully said.

But the University was able to move forward, thanks to “love’s labor,” Ang said.

facebook/varsitarian

twitter@varsitarianust youtube/TheVarsitarianUST instagram varsitarian.ust

No online synch classes in UST under Signal No. 2

THERE will be no online synchronous classes in UST when Metro Manila is under Signal No. 2, according to newly released guidelines for the suspension of classes during inclement weather.

The guidelines, released by the Office of the Secretary General (OSG) on Aug. 31, said the University would follow the announcements of the national or local officials regarding class suspensions.

Under Signal No. 1, classes at all levels will proceed as scheduled. On line assessments and examinations will also proceed as scheduled.

Face-to-face (F2F) basic edu cation classes are automatically suspended when Signal No. 2 is de clared over Metro Manila. For F2F classes at the tertiary level, the OSG

said “suspension is discretionary on the part of the University.”

Online synchronous classes at the tertiary level will shift to asyn chronous mode under Signal No. 2 and all asynchronous sessions will proceed as scheduled.

Only online assessments and ex aminations will be suspended at the tertiary level under Signal No. 2.

Under Signal No. 3, all synchro nous, asynchronous, and F2F classes, as well as online assessments and examinations, will be suspended at all levels.

In the absence of any announce ment on class suspension, UST Sec retary General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P. said classes would proceed as sched uled, “guided by the principles of di alogue, flexibility and accessibility.”

The guidelines defined the three

principles as follows:

- Dialogue: Students and aca demic staff are expected to commu nicate with their academic officials if they are placed in extraordinary situations that prevent them from participating in classes whether on line or F2F.

- Flexibility: Academic officials shall evaluate the requests of stu dents and academic staff to deter mine valid reasons that may be granted consideration and flexibility given individual contexts and con cerns.

- Accessibility: Online synchro nous sessions and hy-flex sessions shall be recorded and uploaded to the UST Cloud Campus; thus, pro viding the students access to the recordings as supplemental material for study. JACQUELINE

B. MARTINEZ

Thomasians urged to get booster shots

UST RECTOR Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. on Sept. 22 urged Thoma sians to get their Covid-19 vaccine booster shots to help the country return to its pre-pandemic ways.

Ang said that by receiving booster shots, Thomasians could ensure their loved ones would remain healthy and protect ed against Covid-19, which has killed 62,657 Filipinos nation wide as of Sept. 21.

“Kung may booster tayo, makakasiguro tayong tayo ay handa, ligtas at magiging malu sog. Mapoprotektahan natin hin di lamang ang ating sarili, ngunit pati ang ating mga mahal sa bu hay,” Ang said during the opening of UST’s one-day booster vaccina tion site at the Practice Gym.

“Kailangan nating palakasin ang ating bansa—ang bawat Pil ipino—dahil ang kinabukasan natin, ang ekonomiya natin, nakasalalay sa kamay ng bawat

mamamayan,” Ang added.

The University launched the booster-shot vaccination site in coordination with the Depart ment of Health, the Manila City Health Department and the

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines to participate in the national government’s “Pi nasLakas” campaign.

A total of 1,676 students, staff and staff dependents were inoc

ulated during the one-day event that ended at 5 p.m.

According to Dr. Aleli Su diacal, a director of the Metro Manila Center for Health Devel opment, the University received the most single-day registrations for the “PinasLakas” campaign to date.

UST is the first Philippine higher education institution to participate in the “PinasLakas” campaign, a nationwide vaccina tion campaign aimed at increas ing the Philippines’ Covid-19 booster shot throughput to help maintain the country’s wall of immunity against the virus.

Earlier, the University re moved the requirement for stu dents participating in limited face-to-face classes to get vacci nated against Covid-19. NILLI

CENT B. BAUTISTA, ALEXANDRA L. MANGASAR WITH REPORTS FROM LOGAN KAL-EL M. ZAPANTA

Court of Appeals voids Artlets professor’s 1-year suspension

THE COURT of Appeals (CA) has nullified the one-year suspension imposed by the University against a professor from the UST Faculty of Arts and Letters (AB) in 2017 for serious misconduct.

In a 21-page ruling dated July 14 and released on the CA website, CA First Division As sociate Justice Bonifacio Pas cua reversed the 2018 order of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) that affirmed the suspension of Asst. Prof. Danielito Jimenez, president of the UST Arts and Letters Faculty Association (ALFA).

Jimenez was suspended after the March 29, 2017 publi cation of “The Voice of the AB Faculty: Satisfaction, Dissat isfaction and Recovery 20162017” (VOF), a survey that

supposedly portrayed former Artlets dean Michael Anthony Vasco negatively. Vasco is now dean of the Graduate School.

The CA said the NLRC, an agency formed in 1974 to resolve labor disputes, committed grave abuse of dis cretion in affirming Jimenez’s suspension as the publication of the survey with negative re sults could not be considered serious misconduct.

“[T]hese remarks, albeit contained criticisms, were not merely unilaterally made but in fact solicited pursuant to the research methodology employed in the UST-ap proved VOF survey with a provision for comments,” the court decision read.

Jimenez will be reinstated to his position “without loss of seniority rights” and will

be paid backwages, includ ing allowances and benefits, that “may have accrued but otherwise forfeited due to the illegal suspension imposed upon him,” the court stated.

But the Artlets professor will not be awarded moral and exemplary damages be cause the earlier decision in Jimenez’s case was not done in bad faith, and he was not deprived of due process, the CA said.

Vasco on May 25, 2017 filed a complaint for serious misconduct against Jimenez who commissioned the survey and was the survey publication’s assistant editor.

The dean claimed that it was defamatory as it con tained “repulsive remarks” against him and was made in “bad faith” since Jimenez

had allegedly exhibited a disrespectful attitude in a series of incidents before the publication of the research. Jimenez denied that he was disrespectful.

The Faculty Tribunal dis missed Vasco’s complaint on July 25, 2017 for lack of merit and claimed that “the VOF is part of academic freedom, and therefore, protected speech.”

The AB Faculty Council appealed the decision to the Office of the Rector, and in a Dec. 15, 2017 decision, UST Rector Fr. Herminio Dago hoy reversed the tribunal’s ruling, after finding Jimenez “guilty of grave misconduct.” Jimenez was given a one-year suspension.

Jimenez teaches in the le gal management program. EDUELLE JAN T. MACABABBAD

Obituary

PR icon Carlos Agatep writes 30

By John Ezekiel J. Hirro

Public relations pioneer Carlos “Charlie” Agatep, a UST and Varsitarian alumnus, passed away on Monday, Sept. 12. He was 91.

Agatep’s death was announced by his son, Nor man, in a Facebook post.

“A father figure and mentor to many, Dad filled everyone around him with so much love and light. He shall be painfully missed,” Norman wrote.

Agatep, considered by many as the godfather of the PR industry in the Philippines, founded Agatep Associates, Inc. (AAI) in 1988, which later became Grupo Agatep, a creative advertising, PR, and media agency rolled into one.

He took up journalism at the defunct Faculty of Philosophy and Letters. He finished it in 1953 and graduated cum laude.

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

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

In 2017, he received the Gawad Panday, the highest distinction in the Philippine PR industry.

Agatep became the first Filipino to be named “Communicator of the Year” in the executive leader category of the International Association of Busi ness Communicators Asia Pacific Communicator of the Year Awards in May 2022.

During the 37th Gawad Ustetika in June 2022, the Varsitarian conferred the Parangal Hagbong, the publication’s lifetime achievement award, on Agatep for his mark on the PR industry.

Norman said the Agatep family would soon announce the details of memorial services for his father.

“In the meantime, join us in prayer and in celebrating Dad’s richly blessed and inspired life,” he said.

► UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. speaks during the program for the University’s one-day Covid-19 vaccine booster inocu lation program on Sept. 22 at the UST Practice Gym. PHOTO BY

ANGELA ANTONETTE B. BAUTISTA/ THE VARSITARIAN

ART BY JAN KRISTOPHER ESGUERRA

Face masks no longer required in UST’s open areas

By Joanne Christine P. Ramos

WEARING face masks in outdoor areas of the University is now optional, the Office of the Secre tary General announced following the national government’s new outdoor mask-wearing policy.

The University made the move a day after President Ferdinand “Bong

bong” Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order No. 3 on Sept. 12, which made voluntary the wearing of face masks in open spaces, outdoor areas, and crowded spaces with good ventila tion.

In a memorandum, UST Secretary General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P. said the voluntary wearing of face mask policy applies only in non-crowded outdoor venues on campus where

there is good ventilation and physical distancing.

Thomasians and other campus visitors are still required to wear face masks indoors.

Unvaccinated individuals and those with co-morbidities are “strong ly advised” to continue wearing their masks at all times on campus.

“Each of us has a shared respon sibility to keep ourselves and others

safe from infection. We strongly en courage the Thomasian community to constantly evaluate the health risks in every action and exercise judgment on the most appropriate mitigating measures to take,” Coronel said.

Earlier, the University removed the requirement for students partic ipating in face-to-face classes to get vaccinated against Covid-19 and se cure medical insurance.

UST to launch science teaching certificate program for Pasig teachers

THE UNIVERSITY, in partnership with the city government of Pasig, will launch a 10-month science teaching certificate program for Pa sig teachers on Oct. 17.

The 27-unit program will train 163 junior and senior high school science teachers from Pasig who are scholars of the city government to earn a certificate in science teaching.

The schedule for the program will be divided into three eight-week learning cycles. Classes will be deliv ered in a hybrid format.

There will be five sections for the selected teacher-scholars, four for junior high school teachers, and one for senior high school teachers. Each section will consist of around 30 teachers.

Experts from the College of Edu cation and the College of Science will mentor the teachers.

Louie Dasas, the project’s lead and the UST Education High School’s science supervising teacher, told the Varsitarian that the teachers would attend some face-to-face (F2F) class es at the Albertus Magnus Building for their laboratory skills develop ment courses. UST faculty members will also conduct some of the classes in Pasig.

“I am very happy that UST is con

tinuing its mission to not just con tribute to the formation of the pro fessionals, but also contribute to the formation of already professionals.

And I think that is part of the Uni versity’s mission to form competent, compassionate and committed indi viduals,” Dasas said.

UST journalism seniors back on campus

JOURNALISM seniors became the first batch of students from the Faculty of Arts and Letters to return to campus since the onset of the Covid-19 pan demic as they started limited face-toface (LF2F) classes on Sept. 22.

The three sections of fourth-year journalism students were each divided into two cohorts that consist of about 20 students per cohort.

Classes are divided into simulta neous synchronous and asynchronous sessions to ensure distancing is main tained.

The senior journalism students will attend LF2F classes this semes ter for their broadcast journalism and thesis colloquium courses at the Bue naventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. (BG POP) Building.

Formerly housed at the St. Ray mund Peñafort Building, the journal ism program will occupy the 11th floor

of the BGPOP building, along with the communication program.

UST journalism program head Fe lipe Salvosa II earlier said LF2F classes would be expanded to include thirdyear students’ photojournalism course and fourth-year students’ thesis de fense course next semester.

The Faculty of Arts and Letters’ behavioral science, communication, creative writing, economics, English language studies, history, literature and sociology programs are also set to begin their LF2F classes this semester after securing approval from the Uni versity Crisis Management Committee.

Health protocols

Students had to secure parental consent before joining the F2F classes.

Following the University’s updat ed health guidelines for limited F2F classes, the students were no longer re

quired to be fully vaccinated nor avail themselves of medical insurance.

However, they were still required to present copies of their daily health declaration checklist from the Thoma sian Online Medical Services and Sup port (ThOMedSS) website.

Students can only enter the BGPOP Building during their scheduled LF2F classes. Only four students are allowed inside the elevators simultaneously, and all of them must face the walls.

Students are encouraged to bring packed food but will still be allowed to enter and exit the building to eat and buy food.

Other University health protocols must also be observed, such as the wearing of well-fitted masks, frequent handwashing and sanitizing, and so cial distancing.

UST ROTC alumni association hosts loyalty parade for 86th anniversary

THE UST Golden Cross and Saber, the alumni association of the UST Re serve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), held a loyalty parade on University grounds on Sept. 28 to celebrate the ROTC unit’s 86th founding anniver sary.

The parade started with the arriv al honors for Defense Undersecretary Franco Gacal, who represented De fense Secretary Jose Faustino Jr., at the Plaza Mayor.

The cadets then marched to the UST Grandstand and Open Field for the parade proper, during which ca dets did the traditional attention call, entry of troops, presentation of command and honors, trooping the line, honors to the nation, and “passin-review.”

After the program, the UST Gold en Cross and Saber held a gala night at the Dr. Robert C. Sy Grand Ballroom in the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building.

The UST ROTC unit was estab lished on Sept. 3, 1936, following the passage of the National Defense Act in December 1935, which mandated military service for all Filipinos.

ROTC however became optional for Filipino students under the Na tional Service Training Program Act of 2001 following the murder of a ca det, Mark Welson Chua.

Under the law, students may choose from ROTC, Literacy Training Service, and Civic Welfare Training Service to complete their national service training.

According to the UST ROTC alum ni association website, the Golden Cross and Saber Alumni is an “active participant in the movement to revive the mandatory ROTC program for the purposes of educating, training and instilling service and nationalism to the youth.”

MIKHAIL OROZCO

Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Cheryl Peralta represented UST in the signing of a memorandum of agreement with Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto and Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division of Pasig Superintendent Ma. Evalou Agustin on Sept. 20.

Dasas, College of Education Dean Assoc. Prof. Pilar Romero, Col lege of Science Dean Prof. Rey Papa, Department of Secondary Education Chair John Valeroso and other Pasig and DepEd officials also attended the signing event. LOGAN KAL-EL ZAPANTA

► Officials from UST, the Department of Education and the city government of Pasig attend the signing of the memorandum of agreement for the 10-month science teaching certificate program the University will launch for Pasig teachers. PHOTO FROM THE UST WEBSITE

► Journalism seniors become the first batch of students from the Faculty of Arts and Letters to return to the campus for face-to-face classes since the Covid-19 pandemic on Thursday, Sept. 22.

PHOTO BY MATTHEW VINCENT

During the first day of the “Dalaw Patrona” last Sept. 19, Manila Archbish op Jose Cardinal Advincula reminded the faithful to be like Mary and Eliza beth who acknowledged the personal value of others with “sincerity and char ity.”

“Let us also visit and take care of another. Let us look after those who are alienated and marginalized. Those who are left behind in this fast-paced and frenetic world. Those who are in dire need of the mercy of God,” he said in his homily at the Manila Cathedral.

“Minsan may mga taong nag-iisa, nalulumbay, at nangangamba. Ang taimtim na pagbati natin ang makaka ligtas sa kanila mula sa dilim ng lung kot at takot. A simple greeting could offer hope to the depressed, assurance to the anxious, peace to the hostile, and encouragement to the lost,” he added.

In his message, UST Vice Rector for Religious Affairs Fr. Pablo Tiong, O.P. said the 80th canonical anniversary of the UST parish was a day “filled with blessings and hope.”

“[I]f history is a record of our earthly

exile, [then] definitely human history is also a record of God’s grace. For this rea son, we are standing on sacred ground,” he said.

UST, which was first called Colegio de Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Ro sario, was established by then Manila Archbishop Miguel de Benavides, O.P. in 1611 in Intramuros.

UST Parish Priest Fr. Paul Talavera, O.P. also expressed his gratitude to Mar ian devotees for their kindness, gener osity and love for the Blessed Mother.

During the Mass, the original image was enthroned in the sanctuary where Catholics offered pink roses to the im age of the Blessed Mother.

According to Dominican tradition, roses symbolize the rosary and its mys teries.

The Mass was preceded by a con

cierto by the UST Symphony Orchestra and wreath laying ceremony outside the Manila Cathedral.

Manila Mayor Maria Sheilah “Hon ey” Honrado Lacuna-Pangan, clergy men from the UST Priory of St. Thomas Aquinas, the Archdiocese of Manila and Priory of St. John Lateran in Colegio de San Juan de Letrán, students from the University and various church organi zations were also present.

From Sept. 20 to 21, the image visit ed the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Chinese Parish and Minor Basilica and National Shrine of San Lorenzo Ruiz in Binondo before returning to the Santi simo Rosario Parish for its enthrone ment rites last Sept. 22.

This year’s parish fiesta was themed “Mahal na Birhen ng Santisimo Rosario, Saksi at Kalakbay ng Pamayanang Kris

tiyano.”

Pilgrims who will visit the Santisi mo Rosario Parish this year until March 21, 2023 will gain plenary indulgence following the approval of the Holy See, according to the parish’s Facebook page.

The Santisimo Rosario Church was declared a parish church by then Ma nila archbishop Michael O’Doherty on March 21, 1942.

On the same year on Sept. 28, the image of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario was enshrined in its present home in UST.

UST was formerly known as Colegio de Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosa rio before it was changed to Colegio de Santo Tomas in honor of St. Thomas Aquinas, the University’s patron saint.

WITH REPORTS FROM AMMIEL B. MAE STRADO

‘Never forget lessons of Martial Law,’

Advincula tells Filipinos

MANILA Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula on Sept. 21 urged Filipi nos to never forget the lessons they learned from the dark days of Martial Law, as the country marks the 50th year since the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. issued Proclamation 1081.

In a statement posted on the Manila Cathedral Facebook page, Advincula said the days of Martial Law were a “stormy” phase for the country.

“Hindi maitatanggi na naging hudyat ito ng maunos na yugto sa ating kasaysayan bilang isang bayan,” Advincula said. “Sa gitna ng dilim, may liwanag tayong natanaw. Sa harap ng mga hindi magagan dang nangyari, may mga aral tayong natutunan.”

The Manila archbishop said Filipinos were able to learn about the value of life, dignity, and human rights after braving through the abuses of Martial Law.

“Natutunan natin ang halaga ng

‘‘

demokrasya at ang kapangyarihan ng taumbayan. Natutunan nating manampalataya at manalig sa Diyos na nagliligtas at nagpapalaya sa mga sinisiil,” he added.

Advincula warned that these lessons could be forgotten by deliber ately denying the past.

“[A]ng mga mahahalagang aral na ito ay hindi natin matututunan kung pilit nating itatanggi o kakali mutan ang dilim ng kasasayan,” he said.

“Huwag nawa nating kalimutan ang mga aral mula sa panahon ng Martial Law,” he added.

More than 3,200 Filipinos were killed during the 14-year span of the draconian measure, while at least 34,000 were tortured, according to international human rights watch dog Amnesty International.

The Marcos dictatorship was overthrown by the EDSA Revolution in February 1986. AMMIEL B. MAE STRADO

Tiong: Preserve sanctity of life vs. 2 ‘evil destroyers’

UST Vice Rector for Religious Af fairs Fr. Pablo Tiong, O.P. urged the faithful to call for Mary’s interces sion against the two “evil destroy ers” of birthdays, contraception and abortion, during the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Mother on Sept. 8 at the Santisimo Rosario Parish Church.

In his homily, Tiong lamented how most of the world had turned away from the “culture of life” and hoped the country would not fol low suit.

“On the birthday of the Blessed Mother, ipagdasal natin na hin di mangyayari sa ating bansa ito [s]apagkat hindi kultura ng buhay ang umiiral sa ating mundo,” Tiong said.

“Ngayon, dahil sa anti-life, culture of death, anti-birth, [at] anti-birthday [notions], ang Kato likong mag-asawa, kung gustong [umiwas] sa contraception at abor tion, kailangan magpaka-martyr,” he added.

Tiong also urged those who had committed heavy transgres sions to seek spiritual rebirth by way of conversion.

“Kapag nagbabalik-loob tayo

sa Diyos, lalo na kung may matin di tayong pagkakasala, babalik din ang grasya ng Diyos. We become spiritually alive, muli tayong buhay sa pagmamahal ng Diyos,” he said.

Celebrated every Sept. 8, the birthday of the Blessed Mother is one of the three birthdays celebrat ed in the liturgical calendar. The other two are the birthdays of Jesus Christ and St. John the Baptist cel ebrated every Dec. 25 and June 24, respectively. M.C.L. SERQUIÑA

[A]ng mga mahahalagang aral na ito ay hindi natin matututunan kung pilit nating itatanggi o kakalimutan ang dilim ng kasasayan. Huwag nawa nating kalimutan ang mga aral mula sa panahon ng Martial Law.

Jose Cardinal Advincula ARCHBISHOP OF MANILA

► UST Vice Rector for Religious Affairs Fr. Pablo Tiong, O.P. delivers his homily during the Mass for the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Mother on Sept. 8 at the Santisimo Rosario Parish Church.

PHOTO FROM THE LIVESTREAM

► In line with the 80th anniversary of the Santisimo Rosario Parish, the original image of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de la Universidad de Santo Tomás returns to Intramuros, the original location of the UST campus, during the Dalaw Patrona on Sept. 19. PHOTO BY FRANCIA DENISE M. ARIZABAL/ THE VARSITARIAN

By Ma. Alena O. Castillo and Allyssa Mae C. Cruz

The original image of the Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de la Unibersidad de Santo Tomas returned to Intramuros as part of the celebrations for the 80th anniversary of the canonical establishment of the UST Parish.

Grupong Tomasino marks 40th anniversary

A GROUP of Thomasian artists celebrated their 40th founding anniversary through an openthemed exhibit held from Aug. 21 to Sept. 1 at the SM Megamall Art Center.

Grupong Tomasino, a group of fine arts alumni established in 1982, organized the “In the Fullness of Time” exhibit that showcased their paintings and the unique styles they developed in the past two years during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Among the featured artists were Grupong Tomasino’s founding members, Danilo Santiago and Gil Santos.

Santiago, an eclectic painter and former chair of the UST College of Fine Arts and Design (CFAD) painting program, displayed two of his 22 x 28 in. oil paintings titled “Hope and Resiliency” and “Sa mga Bisig ni Ina.”

“Hope and Resiliency” features agricultural elements found in Filipino culture and accentuates a woman, an image usually found in Santiago’s works, holding a banana leaf like a flag.

Meanwhile, “Sa mga Bisig ni Ina” depicts the comfort of a mother’s arms.

Santos, former head of the interior design department, exhibited two 36 x 36 in. oil paintings from his “TRUTH or LIES” series, namely: “TRIUM VIRATE” and “Reinkarnation

eines Fuhrers” (Reincarnation of Great Leaders).

“The linear elements in both paintings are incorporated to serve as leader lines and guides for the story flow and interpre tation,” Santos explained to the Varsitarian.

“TRIUMVIRATE” features Dante Alighieri, Charles Dar win, and Constantine the Great, whom Santos said were three outstanding historical person alities because their works still affect culture and beliefs today.

With “Reinkarnation eines Fuhrers,” Santos challenges his viewers to “re-think, study and analyze if the belief in reincar nation has a biblical founda tion.”

Asst. Prof. Mary Ann Ven turina-Bulanadi, the exhibit’s curatorial consultant and a CFAD professor, said she was happy to hold the exhibition again in person.

“Face-to-face truly is dif ferent. Iba yung makakausap, makakamusta mo mga tao, at makikita mo [ang] mga obra nila,” Venturina-Bulanadi told the Varsitarian.

The curation of the annual exhibit was headed by CFAD painting program chair Pedro Felix Garcia II. It was organized by the CFAD painting pro gram and the Atelier Alumni Association in cooperation with the Blue Matiz Art Gallery.

ALLYSSA MAE C. CRUZ

By Jacqueline B. Martinez

THE UNIVERSITY reintroduced the UST Sampaloc campus to students with an exhibit inspired by K-pop boy group BTS launched at the UST Museum.

The “UST Goes Namjooning” exhibit followed the concept of “Namjooning,” which was inspired by BTS leader Kim Nam-joon’s habit of spending time for oneself and reflecting by visiting muse ums, connecting with nature, reading, and others.

The exhibit featured a knowledge section showcasing UST landmarks and basic information about them through a series of photos taken around campus by Thomasians, similar to how the BTS leader would share his Namjooning by posting pictures on social media.

It also included a “rest, relaxation, and play area,” where visitors could play games played by BTS members in their variety show “Run BTS!”

Assoc. Prof. Anna Bautista, who led the exhibit curation, said the exhibit was meant to let Thomasian students rediscover the campus after not seeing it for the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Ang dami kasi nating treasures in the campus, landmarks, and we can use Namjooning as an entry point to reintroduce our campus, what we have, our treasures, to the students kasi ‘yung first, second, and third-year natin hindi nakapasok,” the interior design faculty member told the Varsitarian.

She added that BTS’s popularity

Quincentennial of first circumnavigation commemorated in UST

By Samantha Fatima C. Creencia

THE UNIVERSITY, in collaboration with the Embassy of Chile in Manila, launched an exhib it commemorating the quincentennial of the first circumnavigation of the globe led by Ferdi nand Magellan, on Aug. 23 at the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. (BGPOP) Building.

The collaborative exhibit titled “Encounters between Three Worlds: 500 Years after the First Circumnavigation of the Earth” featured stories and historical documents detailing Magellan’s journey and how it changed the world.

The exhibit also showcased various arti facts including tools used by seafarers who had crossed the Strait of Magellan.

UST Vice Rector Fr. Isaias Tiongco, O.P., said Magellan’s exploration paved the way for glo balization.

“[Magellan’s exploration] brought some thing…Circumnavigation is actually a forerun ner of the world’s globalization, which is today when we speak of progress and alliances, nan doon na. Actually, it is the seed of globalization,” Tiongco told the Varsitarian.

Chile’s ambassador Claudio Rojas Rachel said they partnered with UST as it was crucial to impart the significance of the first circum navigation to Thomasians.

“[W]e have a very sustained relationship through time with the University of Santo To mas…[we partnered with them] to bring about the cultural reality of Chile to the students of UST, for the young generations to foster our be loved relationship,” Rojas told the Varsitarian.

Rojas said the first circumnavigation re mained significant today given the importance of trade and development.

“[S]ea cargo is still a major factor in devel oping trade flows. Circumnavigation is still sig nificant. There is no other way around [it], and it is really [the seaports that are] the major hub nowadays,” she said.

“It is really important that we secure the free flows of trade and the freedom of interna tional navigation. Otherwise, you will have a situation [where] people and the society won’t be able to trade,” the ambassador added.

The exhibit will run from Aug. 24 to Sept. 1. WITH REPORTS FROM JUSTIN BENEDICT

among Thomasian students was one of the reasons the curators chose Nam jooning for the campus exhibit.

The exhibit ran from Sept. 13 to Oct. 21.

The following may visit the UST Mu seum for free:

- UST students, faculty members, support staff, and alumni with ID; senior citizens and persons with disabilities with valid IDs; - tour guides; - teachers with school tour groups; and -members of the International Council of Museums.

BY MARVIN JOHN F. UY/ THE VARSITARIAN

► UST College of Fine Arts and Design (CFAD) officials and alumni pose for a photo during the opening of the Grupong Tomasino 2022 exhibit at the SM Megamall Art Center on Aug. 25. PHOTO FROM MR. PEDRO GARCIA II

► UST and the Chilean Embassy in Manila launch the “Encounters Between Three Worlds: 500 Years after the First Circumnavigation of the Earth” exhibit at the lobby of the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building on Tuesday, Aug. 23. PHOTO

► The UST Museum launches its interactive exhibit titled ‘UST Goes Namjooning: Capturing Moments on Campus’ at the Main Building on Tuesday, Sept. 13. PHOTOS BY FRANCIA DENISE M. ARIZABAL

MARTIAL LAW

UST mum on Martial Law’s 50th anniversary

THE UNIVERSITY was uncharacteristically silent and made no posts on its official channels about the 50th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law on Sept. 21, unlike in recent years.

The declaration of Martial Law in 1972 is known as the start of a dark period in Philippine history characterized by human rights abuses, tortures and killings.

In 2021, UST posted an image of a lit candle on social media with the words, “Our forgetfulness is their license. #NeverAgain” as early as the evening of Sept. 20.

In 2018, UST reposted a social media age representation of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s declaration of Martial Law with a #NeverAgain hashtag.

This year, UST did not release anything about the Mar tial Law anniversary.

Other Philippine universities, such as UST’s sister school Colegio de San Juan de Letran, have released state ments calling for justice for Martial Law victims and vowing to “never forget.”

“We must stand together as one faith, as one nation, and as one Letranite community, to actively remind ourselves and our brethren of our dark history, so that we may learn from our mistakes,” Letran said in a tweet.

De La Salle University-Manila’s facade displayed ban ners showing the Lasallian martyrs who fought against the dictatorship.

The University of the Philippines (UP) held its annual UP Day of Remembrance and conducted a “historian’s meet” streamed on Facebook via TVUP.

The Ateneo de Manila University posted a statement by the Society of Jesus Social Apostolate Philippine Prov ince and the Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan that called for “accountability and justice from the perpetrators of the atrocities of Martial Law.”

“Amidst calls to ‘move on,’ we insist on the necessity of memorializing and remembering so that the facts and truths concerning the dictatorship and Martial Law are not muddled by post-truth narratives that rob our people,” the statement read. “When we collectively forget and distort the truth of our history, we also begin to lose part of our identity as a people.”

The UST Central Student Council (CSC) has publicly denounced the “proliferation of fake news” aimed to deliber ately distort the country’s history.

“[The year] 2022 may be 50 years away from 1972, but the political climate remains. Corruption and bad governance still plague our lands, now coupled with the proliferation of fake news to distort past events,” the CSC said.

“Thomasians will remember. We will never forget. With history as our witness, we hold our fists high and say: NEV ER AGAIN,” the council added.

Some local student councils and organizations have changed their profile photos to black and white as a sign of solidarity with the victims of Martial Law.

Some Thomasian student activists also joined the Martial Law commemoration program at the UP Diliman campus.

The 50th anniversary of Martial Law was the first to be commemorated under the presidency of Ferdinand “Bong bong” Marcos Jr., the only son and namesake of the ousted dictator, whose current chief of staff and former executive secretary, Vic Rodriguez, is a Thomasian.

In June, Rodriguez returned to UST for a “closed-door” meeting with UST officials including UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P., Secretary General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P., Civil Law Regent Fr. Isidro Abaño, O.P. and Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina. Details of the meeting were undisclosed. JOANNE CHRIS

Protests mark 50th anniversary of Martial

TINE P. RAMOS

FROM OUR ARCHIVES:

UST during the dark days of dictatorship

Various progressive groups assemble at the UP Diliman campus to remember and denounce of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s Martial Law on its 50th anniversary on Wednesday,

PHOTOS BY: KOSELLE MARIE B. REYES AND MATTHEW VINCENT V. VITAL

50th Martial Law

EDITORIAL

Chief executive, chief profligate

government positions, suggest a scattered and bewildered administration that will potentially disappoint resoundingly if continues to act with less urgency and sensitivity.

Be patient with Bal David’s Tigers

Pump Fake

MANY METRICS prove the eye test: the UST Growling Tigers were the worst team in the UAAP men’s basketball during the first round.

The Tigers were the only team to shoot below 30 percent from the field this season, and they did so twice. They scored 60.86 points per game (ppg) in the first round, the lowest in the league, while allowing opponents to score 74.29 ppg. On the av erage, the Tigers got outscored by 13.43 points per game in the first round, where they only won one of seven games.

Many UST fans and alumni were frustrated, and rightfully so, as the Tigers fell short of the school’s golden standard. After all, the men’s bas ketball team hasn’t won a UAAP championship since 2008. De La Salle University and Ateneo de Manila University won between them 11 of the last 14 UAAP championships.

Some have directed their frustrations to wards rookie head coach Bal David, who was handed the keys to the team only in July.

Blaming David for UST’s disappointing sea son is a reach. It is not his fault he had been dealt a bad hand: he had to coach a combination of his own recruits and the remnants of the Aldin Ayo and Jinino Manansala eras. Additionally, he had to deal with the sudden departures of Sherwin Concepcion, Bryan Santos, Gani Stevens, Willie Wilson, and Kean Baclaan.

The P2-billion jet he and his family and friends used to watch the F1 race was a Gulfstream G280, bought in 2019 supposedly to serve as an “airborne command post” for senior leaders and commanders during emergencies. The racing spectacle was officially justified as private time for Mr. Marcos, who, in his inaugural address just a few months ago boasted of the “resounding” mandate from the electorate. But for sure it didn’t resonate well with the rest of us, especially as the country is still reeling and bleeding from the economic nosedive caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and is presently being wrecked by spiraling energy costs and inflation woes.

It is eerily unsurprising and foreboding at the same time. Imeldific is back.

Incredibly too, the escapade came on the heels of highly controversial organizational goofs and collisions that saw the departure of executive secretary and erstwhile Marcos spokesman Vic Rodriguez. Rodriguez, a Thomasian, has been replaced as executive secretary by former associate justice Lucas Bersamin, who voted in favor of the burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

All this, plus the recent resignations of press secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles and Commission on Audit chairman Jose Calida early on and the continued vacancies in

Marcos Jr.’s recent display of his Imeldific tastes is also as concerning given his government’s seemingly unending need for confidential funds. Albay Rep. Edsel Lagman, the newly elected Liberal Party president, recently said the confidential funds in the 2023 budget amounted to P9.29 billion. Marcos Jr.’s apparent partner in crime, Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, had P650 million in confidential and intelligence funds for her Office of the Vice President and Department of Education.

As Lagman said, “Since the utilization of confidential and intelligence funds are shrouded in mystery and the supposed audit by the Commission on Audit could not be disclosed to the Congress and the public, these funds breed corruption, and the more enormous the funds are, the greater the magnitude is for the possibility of graft.”

Instead of splurging on his expensive leisure activities and assigning himself every confidential funds, the President should instead listen to the people’s plight. Results of a Pulse Asia survey released in late October showed that inflation remained the top concern Filipinos want the Marcos Jr. government to address. The Philippine Statistics Authority reported an inflation rate of 7.6 percent for October 2022, the highest since December 2008, as the country continued to see numerous spikes in food and energy prices. Since

As UST IPEA Director Fr. Rodel Cansancio, OP, said in a statement to the Varsitarian, “Coach Bal and his coaching staff are doing their best to expedite the adaptation of his system to his cur rent players. It is really disappointing to lose, but the team is doing its best.”

The UST rebuild hasn’t even started yet. Can sancio even hinted that the Tigers would undergo a further revamp after the season, for David and his staff to get the players they think would fit their system.

It is also an overreaction to call for the total revamp of the management of UST’s basketball program, including the hiring of team managers that would practically keep school administra tors from handling the Tigers. Our dear alum ni must have forgotten that it was only in 2019 when the Tigers showed promise and reached the UAAP finals but lost to an invincible Ateneo team. It is unfortunate that this team has been torn down because of the Sorsogon issue, but its relative success over a short time is proof that the school has the ability to build a competitive bas ketball team.

UST fans must trust the process. They must realize that there are growing pains in every re building process.

They should also trust that the Dominicans and UST planners and administrators are not strangers to the management of UST’s athletics program. UST was just awarded the UAAP gener al championship for the fifth-straight time since 2016 in Season 84, which made the school a 45time general champion in the seniors’ division.

While the ever-passionate UST fans are not wrong for wanting the Tigers to achieve more, they must be rational. Rome wasn’t rebuilt in one day.

Art Athea Monique Z. Gala, Zymon M. Gailo, Alias Jireh C. Montenegro, Allan Christopher M. Sayat

Angela Antonette B. Bautista, Patrice Jerica A. Beltran, Josh Nikkolai S. Bravo, Valere Jane R. Callorena, Matthew Vincent V. Vital, Jana Francesca D. Yao Editorial Assistant Alexander B. Cardenas

FOUNDED JANUARY 16, 1928

Joselito B. Zulueta Publications Adviser

NICOLE ANNE D.G. BUGAUISAN

No matter how Malacañang downplayed or hardly even talked about it, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and his family’s extra-official F1 Grand Prix weekend frolic in Singapore in early October reeked of burnt asphalt, and that’s just figuratively. Not only was it bad optics and an even worse communications mishap, but it was also grossly insensitive and inappropriate considering how slowly the country is picking up from the ravages of the pandemic and how heinously expensive getting by has become these days.

The Marcos administration has promised several government reforms but it has yet to achieve anything significant. Now more than ever, with prices of almost all commodities skyrocketing, there is a need for good and honest governance and wise use of resources.

Country needs a health chief, quick

ADRIAN PARUNGAO

UNDENIABLY, each member of the Cabinet plays a valuable role in formulating policies and pro grams, assisting the Chief Executive, implement ing, and overseeing their respective departments. The wise men say natura abhorret vacuum, and it is glaring that the Department of Health (DOH) portfolio remains sede vacante.

The landmark 100 days of President Ferdi nand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. have come and gone. There were numerous resignations that showed THAT his “unity” is a farce, but still, he is not keen on appointing a secretary of the DOH, which has Dr. Maria Rosario Vergeire as officer in charge.

Marcos Junior has said he would only ap point a health chief once the country has hurdled the Covid-19 pandemic. Such reasoning reveals his substandard IQ. One would think since the pandemic has not yet ended the more he should have the sense of urgency to pick a health chief to hasten an end to the emergency. At the least, his pledge to get a health chief once the pandemic is over contradicts his oft-repeated resolve to nor malize things before the end of the year, which he

The next health secretary should not be just any expert—it must be one with integrity, a good track record, and competence. And by delaying his appointment of a health chief, Marcos Junior does the public a disservice as the country continues to grapple with the health crisis that has changed lives forever.

seems to have overlooked is just around the cor ner. Saying that the pandemic is not yet over flies in the face of his declaration that he will put an end to face masks and personal protective equip ment by the end of 2022.

Aside from putting the DOH and the state of the nation’s health in limbo, Marcos Junior has done likewise with the all-important agriculture sector. He has named himself temporary secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA), supposedly so he could fix the problems of the agriculture sec tor with the help of his presidential powers, but so far he has not made any difference and our agri culture remains in the doldrums. Even Sen. Imee Marcos, the President’s sister, has called on him to appoint a DA chief already so he could focus on other problems. But true to his loafer reputa tion, Marcos Junior has tarried, delayed, and idled around.

The Philippines’ vaccination numbers have been dwindling since the government started easing restrictions on masking and distancing— decisions it made without a health chief. Especial

ly with the World Health Organization asserting that Covid-19 remains a threat, the country needs an overseer in its vaccination strategies.

Aside from the dwindling Covid-19 pandem ic, there have been outbreaks of diseases such as measles and dengue. Recently, cholera, caused by unsanitary living conditions and improper food preparation, has been on the rise. Marcos Ju nior’s incompetence won’t help the country wade through concurrent health and food crises.

The country also needs a DOH chief to restore public trust in the department, whose reputation has been continually tarnished over the years. The DOH is rife with corruption scandals, including recent issues with PhilHealth and the infamous Pharmally.

The next health secretary should not be just any expert—it must be one with integrity, a good track record, and competence. And by delaying his appointment of a health chief, Marcos Junior does the public a disservice as the country continues to grapple with the health crisis that has changed lives forever.

Pandemic report

FROM PAGE 1 ►

“How did the University get through the crucial first 18 months of the pandemic? Responding to the challenges of the time required not only loads of brain work, but it is es sentially love’s labor,” he said.

“Never have I seen this University so strong and so united in the face of adversity, and may God be our beacon and strength in the coming days and in all the days of our lives,” he added.

Ang was named the 97th Rector of UST in May 2020, but due to the pandemic, his installation took place a year later on May 13, 2021.

FROM

Marcos Jr. assumed the presidency, the country’s inflation rate has not been under 6 percent.

encouraged to be vaccinated.

“The University reiterates its strong encouragement for students and staff to be fully vaccinated and avail booster shots against Covid-19,” Coronel said in the memo.

The “zoning policy” was also re moved by UST, allowing students and staff participating in the classes to enter the campus through different pedestrian gates.

Earlier, the University removed the requirement for students partici pating in F2F classes to secure medi

cal insurance.

“However, the University strong ly encourages students to continue availing [themselves] of insurance coverage for added financial sup port for medical needs, not only for Covid-19 but likewise for other ill nesses,” Coronel said.

Other University health protocols were maintained, such as accom plishing the daily health declaration form through the Thomasian On line Medical Support and Services (ThOMedSS) or StaySafe.PH app,

wearing a well-fitting mask, physical distancing, and frequent hand sani tizing.

Only students participating in scheduled F2F classes on a specific day will be allowed to enter a build ing.

They need to tap their ID cards upon entering. F2F participants may present their registration forms or ap pointment papers, vaccination cards, and accomplished ThOMedSS health declaration form instead of their ID.

To ensure better ventilation in

classrooms, doors and windows will remain open in facilities without ex haust systems or air filters and puri fiers.

The University also encouraged students to bring packed meals and reminded them to follow the health and safety protocols when dining in public places inside and outside the campus by strictly observing physical distancing, checking the ventilation of a facility, and removing masks only when eating. JOANNE CHRISTINE P.

RAMOS

Marcos Jr., son of Ferdinand Sr. and Her Imeldific, the conjugal kleptocracy that committed “The Greatest Robbery of A Government” according to the Guinness World Records, needs to calm down on his spending galore and be more sensitive to the needs of the people. Perhaps because his executive powers extend to the legislative thanks to his cousin Martin Romualdez being the House speaker, Marcos Jr. doesn’t have to worry about checks and balances.

The Marcos administration has promised several government reforms but it has yet to achieve anything significant. Now more than ever, with prices of almost all commodities skyrocketing, there is a need for good and honest governance and wise use of resources. The chief executive should stop being chief profligate.

ART

septemBER ZYMON M. GAILO

DEFROSTING ATHEA MONIQUE Z. GALA

BUGSPLAT ALLAN CHRISTOPHER M. SAYAT

RND

Depleted Growling Tigresses raring for UAAP resumption

AFTER three years of their event being sidelined by the UAAP, the UST Growling Tigresses are ecstatic for the return of UAAP 5x5 women’s basketball, even though their squad has to get over some humps first.

UST head coach Haydee Ong said the team was excited when the league announced that it would implement a full calendar in Season 85.

“Of course, we’re very happy and ex cited, kasi last season we only had the 3x3, and ngayon may 5x5 na,” Ong told the Varsitarian.

But UST will be entering Season 85 with a depleted lineup due to injuries and eligibility concerns.

“Sa lineup, it’s unfortunate maram ing injured sa team,” she said.

Ong said the Tigresses struggled with the transition from online training sessions to face-to-face ones, causing injuries along the way.

Team veterans Tantoy Ferrer and Nicole Danganan suffered anterior cru ciate ligament (ACL) injuries and have yet to be cleared to play.

Additionally, some of the team’s new recruits have yet to serve their oneyear residency periods.

“Basically, undermanned ako. I have a 12-woman lineup,” Ong said.

Ong said the Tigresses would be more careful than usual in approaching the UAAP season as her players would also have to deal with the league’s strict health protocols.

“‘Yong mga health protocols natin, we have to maintain them. ‘Pag may roong positive, there's no cancellation of games, we have to play with whatev er numbers I have. So talagang medyo nagiingat talaga kami ngayon sa team,” she said.

“Hopefully, wala nang malagas sa lineup ko, and we will be healthy until the end of the season,” she added.

This preseason, the Tigresses had a finals appearance in the Sulit Break down Basketball Invitationals (BBI), where they finished as runners-up after

falling to the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the finals, 72-67.

The team also settled for silver in last season’s 3x3 women’s basketball after losing to the National University Bulldogs in the championship match.

Joylyn Pangilinan, who played 3x3 ball for the Tigresses in Season 84, said UST should not be underestimated de spite its depleted lineup.

“You guys will be shocked because we only have 12 [players] in our lineup for Season 85, but do not underestimate our small roster because we will defi nitely do some damage,” she told the Varsitarian.

Pangilinan said the Tigresses had been preparing for Season 85 since March 2022, and being the first team to undergo a “bubble” training would be beneficial for their success.

“We’re good as a team, although we are young, we have a lot of heart and potential for the next few seasons,” she said.

The UST Growling Tigresses open Season 85 with a game against the Ad amson Lady Falcons on Oct. 1, 8 a.m, at the Mall of Asia Arena. BJORN DEL B.

WITH REPORTS FROM NICOLE ANNE D.G BUGAUISAN

UAAP to enforce challenge system in Season 85

Application procedures and requirements may be viewed at ustet.ust.edu.ph.

There will be three USTET batches for college and senior high school (SHS) applicants, while two entrance examinations will be conducted for Learning-En hanced Accelerated Program for Medicine (LEAPMed) applicants.

The examination dates for the UST Manila testing center are as follows:

College: Oct. 23, 2022; Dec. 4, 2022; Jan. 22, 2023

LEAPMed: Oct. 23, 2022; Dec. 4, 2022

SHS: Oct. 23, 2022; Dec. 11, 2022; Jan. 22, 2023

Provincial testing centers will be announced soon, the UST Office for Admissions (OFAD) said.

UST will accept applications for college until Jan. 6, 2023, LEAPMed until Nov. 18, 2022, and SHS until Jan. 6, 2023.

The USTET results will be released in April 2023.

The final rating of the applicants will be based on their USTET score (80 percent) and their average grades (20 percent) in Math, English, and Science, as stated in their USTET application grades form.

The return of the USTET marks the end of the use of the University of Santo Tomas Admission Rating (US TAR), the score-based evaluation system that UST used to admit freshmen for the past two years.

USTET health protocols

The OFAD is “strongly encouraging” applicants to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, although vaccina tion is not required.

Applicants must be dropped off and fetched at the designated entrance and exit gates.

SHS and Junior High School applicants may bring one companion with them who must stay at assigned waiting areas on campus.

Applicants must go to their designated entrance gates one to two hours before their test schedule and present the following documents upon entry: Health declaration form accomplished on the day of exam ination from the Thomasian Online Medical Services (ThOMedSS) for Thomasian applicants or StaySafe.PH for non-Thomasian applicants; Test permit; School ID card; Proof of vaccination (if applicable).

After presenting the documents, applicants will be screened by a medical team at the entrance gates for their temperature and other health details.

Applicants must observe health protocols at all times while inside the campus, such as wearing well-fitted masks (except when eating), one-meter physical distancing, and hand sanitizing.

College and SHS applicants may bring only bitesized snacks and water inside the testing rooms, while LEAPMed examinees must bring packed lunches, which may only be eaten inside their testing rooms.

The UAAP will adopt the In ternational Basketball Federa tion’s (FIBA) challenge system in its basketball tournaments starting Season 85, allowing coaches to dispute calls.

Season 85 basketball commissioner Dickie Bach mann said the challenge sys tem would be added to the UAAP rulebook as the league follows FIBA rules. The new FIBA rules, which include new guidelines for the challenge system and last two minutes throw-in foul penalty, will take effect on Oct. 1.

UAAP coaches will be en titled to contest one call for the whole duration of a game, whether their challenge is suc cessful or not.

“Basically, it’s part of the new FIBA rules, and UAAP is 100 percent FIBA rules so we added the challenge,” Bach mann said at a league’s coach es meeting at Adamson Uni versity.

Growling Tigresses head coach Haydee Ong said the new rule would be a game-changer, especially for close games.

"Malaking advantage ito for us, especially in close games. Maganda na dinagdag 'yong coaches challenge," Ong said.

UAAP Season 85’s bas ketball tournaments will commence on Oct. 1 with the Growling Tigers and Tigresses facing host school Adamson.

BJORN DEL DEADE

CRS freshman is new UST correspondent

MARINA Avelino, a speech and language pathology freshman from the College of Rehabilitation Sciences, will be UST’s basketball cor respondent for Season 85.

Avelino was introduced during the Season 85 kick off press conference for the men’s basketball tourna ment on Sept. 28 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Avelino said she had been aspiring to become a UAAP courtside reporter even before entering col lege.

“This has been a cra zy ride for me. I have been dreaming of being a court side respondent since high school. I’m so glad that I am representing UST,” Avelino told the Varsitarian.

Like courtside reporters, correspondents are tasked with reporting on the side lines of sporting events for televised UAAP games.

“Of course, representing the boys is like being their voice. They do things inside the court that I want the audience to know about,” she said.

Avelino said she was ea ger to see the rebuilding Ti gers rise this season under new head coach Bal David.

Avelino will make her debut with the Growling Tigers against the Adam son University Soaring Fal cons on Oct. 1, 2 p.m., at the Mall of Asia Arena. WITH REPORTS FROM NICOLE ANNE D.G. BUGAUISAN

in-person classes’

Journalism senior Julianne Sarrosa said LF2F classes were necessary.

“I think it’s high time na magkaroon na ng in-person classes for broadcast journalism and thesis since these courses involve more than our research skills; may practical side rin,” she told the Varsitarian.

Sofia Valderama and and Angeline Tanqueco, two other journalism seniors, said they were excited about returning to the campus but were worried about crimes around the Uni versity belt and the increasing prices of goods.

“Returning to the ‘dorm life,’ mas mahirap and challenging na dahil sa taas ng bilihin and also, there will always be that worry sa mga usual crimes around the area,” Tanqueco said.

DEADE

► The UST Growling Tigresses will open their season on Oct. 1 PHOTO BY MATTHEW VINCENT V. VITAL

‘High time for

Malaking advantage ito for us, especially in close games. Maganda na dinagdag ‘yong coaches challenge,

Haydee

Ong GROWLING TIGRESSES HEAD COACH

UAAP to implement full calendar in Season 85

The UAAP is looking to implement a full calendar of sporting events in its 85th season, which is set to start on Oct. 1, the league presi dent said.

UAAP President Fr. Aldrin Suan, of host school Adamson University, said the league was eyeing 60 events across 21 sports in line with the country’s more lenient Covid-19 protocols.

“Nag-resume na ang face-to-face. We hope na ma-reinstate na lahat ng events. As far as the UAAP is concerned, we are bringing things to normal, there is no reason na hindi tayo mag-re sume sa lahat ng activities,” Suan said in a Philippine Sports Writers forum.

This season will see the return of badminton, table tennis, swimming, athletics, judo, taekwondo, football, volleyball, fencing, softball, baseball, football, tennis and street dance.

In Season 84, the league only staged seven sporting events: men’s basketball, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s 3x3 basket ball, men’s and women’s chess, Poomsae and beach volleyball.

The league will open with a traditional men’s basketball double-header featuring the UST Growling Tigers and Adamson on Oct. 1

UST to host 4 events

UST will be home to four sporting events in UAAP Season 85.

In a circular, UST Sec retary General Fr. Louie R. Coronel O.P., said the Quad ricentennial Pavilion (QPav) would be the venue for women’s basketball, fencing, street dance and ballroom formation dance.

There will be 12 games to be played in the QPav in the first round of the women’s basketball eliminations. These games will be held on Oct. 5, Oct. 12 and Oct. 19.

Coronel said UST would host the fencing, street dance and ballroom formation dance events in February 2023.

UST athletes had a UAAP kick-off party on Sept. 28. NICOLE ANNE D.G

Depleted Growling Tigresses raring for UAAP resumption

OBIENA EYES UST DIPLOMA

Thomasian pole vaulter EJ Obiena has single-handedly carried the Philippines on the world stage, but he still has his eyes set on completing his electronics engineering degree at UST.

During his homecoming at UST on Thursday, Sept. 29, Obiena notably didn’t pass through the historic Arch of the Centuries as he signed the Univer sity guest book in front of the edifice.

“I would hope to get my diploma here and cross that historical place that I didn’t cross today because I want to graduate,” he later said in a press conference at the Dr. Robert C. Sy Grand Ballroom of the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building.

Obiena wittingly referenced the University urban legend that claims

students, who exit the arch before their Baccalaureate Mass, will be debarred.

Obiena, holder of the Asian pole vault record of 5.94 meters and the first Filipino to secure a podium finish in the World Athletics Championships, is currently on leave from his studies at the Faculty of Engineering.

The Olympian returned to the Phil ippines and made a stop at UST after a fruitful outdoor season in Europe, during which he reaped six gold med als in eight events.

UST Vice Rector Fr. Isaias Tiongco, O.P. urged the young Olympian to pri oritize his physical and mental health as he prepares for future competitions.

“Do not put too much on yourself,” Tiongco told Obiena. “Your physical and psychological health and welfare are more important than all the possi

ble achievements you can harness.”

Tiongco also advised the Thoma sian athlete to “sustain [his] faith in God” as he handed him the Pope John Paull II Award for outstanding achieve ment in sports and arts.

In response, Obiena assured the Thomasian community that he would do his best to continue making UST and the country proud.

“I’ve always been part of the Uni versity even if I was away,” he said.

As a member of the UST tracksters, Obiena set the UAAP records in pole vault and 110-meter hurdles.

Obiena urged UST athletes to tight en their grip on the general champion ship title, which the school has held for five straight seasons.

“I hope that the crown is taken to España,” Obiena said. J.P.L. CAJAYON

Can the new-look Tigers play defense?

ESTABLISHING a "hard-nosed" de fense will be one of the objectives of the new UST coaching staff for UAAP Sea son 85, assistant coach Ronald Magtu lis said.

Magtulis and the rest of the coach ing staff, headed by new head coach Bal David, are tasked to lead the young Tigers at a crucial time when the team is still reeling from its mid-pandemic fallout that saw key players and old coaching staff members leaving the team.

"Unang una, ang system ni Coach Bal ang gusto nating masunod," Magtu lis told the Varsitarian. "Ang i-expect nila sa Tigers ay maging physical kami, hard-nosed ang defense. So sana, magbuy in 'yung mga bata.”

The Tigers were known for their dreadful defense in UAAP Season 84, where they set the record for the most lopsided loss after a 50-point defeat against the Ateneo Blue Eagles.

UST allowed the most points per game (ppg) in the past UAAP season, letting opposing teams score 84.86 points per game while scoring only

67.86 ppg. By average, UST's Season 84 team, which finished with a 3-11 winloss record, was outscored by their op ponents by 17 points per game.

The Tigers also allowed opponents to score at a 44.62-percent clip, the highest field-goal percentage allowed

by a team in Season 84.

This offseason, the team lost veter an presence following the ineligibility of key players Sherwin Concepcion and Bryan Santos for Season 85.

“Nakakalungkot na hindi na maka lalaro ‘yung dalawa. Mas magre-rely ta

laga [ngayon] sa mga bata,” he said.

Magtulis admitted the Tigers, who will have their third head coach in as many seasons, could have growing pains adjusting to the coaching staff’s new system.

“Actually, lahat nahirapan. Hindi masisi ‘yung mga bata dahil nahirapan din sila mag-adjust [sa] pabago-bagong coach at ‘yung sistema,” he said.

David, who helped the Tigers bag back-to-back championships in 1993 and 1994 under the coaching of late head coach Aric del Rosario, earlier told the Varsitarian he was excited to help the team return to its winning ways.

“Gaya ng sabi ni Coach Bal, kailan gang mag-step up,” Magtulis said. “Dag dagan, hindi baguhin. Hindi na kailan gan baguhin ang culture ng UST — ang culture talaga ng UST ay nananalo ‘yan.”

The rebuilding UST Growling Ti gers will face the Adamson Soaring Falcons in the Season 85 opener on Oct. 1 at the Mall of Asia Arena. J.P.L.

► New Growling Tiger Echo Laure blocks a shot during the game between the UST Growling Tigers and UST alumni at the Quadricentennial Pavillion on Sept. 28. PHOTO BY VALERE JANE S. CALLORENA/ THE VARSITARIAN

ART BY CHRISTINE ANGELIE P. ORINES

► World No. 3 pole vaulter Thomasian EJ Obiena attends his homecoming event at UST on Thursday, Sept. 29. PHOTO BY JANA FRANCESCA D. YAO/ THE VARSITARIAN