THE VARSITARIAN P.Y. 2023-2024 ISSUE 11

HOUSE PROBE INTO STUDENTS’ RIGHTS IN UST SOUGHT

LAWMAKERS from the Makabayan bloc have filed a resolution asking the House of Representatives to probe the censorship of UST online media organization TomasinoWeb and “other violations of students’ rights” in the University.

Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raoul Manuel on March 11 filed House Resolution 1633, which seeks to investigate the “repressive actions” by the UST Office for Student Affairs (OSA) and “hold accountable” its Director Maria Cecilia Tio Cuison and Assistant Director Maria Regina Arriero.

The resolution was co-authored by Gabriela Women’s Partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas and ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro.

“The reported media censorship and violations of democratic rights of student councils, organizations and individuals inside the University of Santo Tomas demands urgent investigation and action as it compromises the life and security of students,” the resolution read.

Apart from the OSA’s censorship of TomasinoWeb, the resolution noted several instances where the Student Welfare and Development Committee (SWDC) issued show-cause notices to students for involvement in organizations unrecognized by the University.

The UST Senior High School (SHS) SWDC summoned Grade 12 student Allen Ballesteros in September 2023 for supposedly joining an organization not recognized by UST and using the Uni-

versity seal in unauthorized activities.

Ballesteros was chairperson of the progressive group Anakbayan UST.

Coinciding with the TomasinoWeb censorship controversy, the OSA in February issued a show-cause notice to Panday Sining UST chairperson Raven Racelis, who was a philosophy student at UST, for violating the same provisions of the UST Student Handbook.

“The UST administration has also weaponized the issuance of show

cause orders to students in progressive organizations,” the resolution read.

“It also appears that the rights to autonomy, the right to organize, and the right to press freedom are placed in jeopardy,” it continued.

Makabayan bloc lawmakers also underscored the “intimidation” and “gagging” of student leaders belonging to the UST Central Student Council and UST Artlets Student Council in House Resolution 1633.

UST still 5th among PH universities in Webometrics rankings

In an interview with the Varsitarian, Manuel said consultations were made with Thomasians who experienced repression from OSA and before filing the resolution.

“We saw through our consultations not just with UST students but also with other stakeholders in other universities that this kind of thing is happening in our educational

Sipalay, O.P. officially takes over as

UST student affairs head goes on medical leave

Comelec seeks UST’s help for info campaign ahead of 2025 polls

Tiger Media Network wins 5 awards in US campus media conference

By Mabel Anne B. Cardinez

THE Tiger Media Network (TMN), the University’s official broadcasting arm, reaped five awards at the 84th Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) College Media Conference on Saturday, March 2, in New York City.

Tiger Radio, one of the two divisions of TMN, was the Best Streaming/Online Only Radio Station.

It went against various university-based stations in the United States, including those of Chapman

University, Simmons University, Rider University, and Landmark College.

Reaping individual awards were communication seniors Paolo Alejandrino and Angela Lamsen, who won the Best Promotions Director and Best Social Media Director awards, respectively.

Marketing senior Cherie Mendoza was named Best Business Director for Television in the 84th IBS. The network’s social media

By Ernest Martin G. Tuazon

THE UNIVERSITY kept its spot as the fifth highest-ranking higher education institution (HEI) in the country based on the January 2024 edition of the Webometrics Ranking of World Universities.

While maintaining its rank, UST dropped to the 2,620th spot among 11,989 institutions globally from the 2,523rd spot it held in July 2023.

It ranked highest in the openness indicator after claiming the 2,284th spot globally, while placing 3,214th in the excellence criterion and 3,859th in the impact indicator.

The University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman was still the top Philippine university despite slipping seven spots to No. 856. Rounding off the top five HEIs in the Philippines were De La Salle University Manila (1,657th), UP

System (1,914th), and Ateneo de Manila University (2,177th).

Harvard University, Stanford University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology retained their spots as the top three universities in the world.

The Webometrics ranking methodology is based on three indicators: visibility (web content impact), transparency (top-cited researchers), and excellence (top-cited papers).

SANTO TOMAS · Manila, Philippines

Napoleon

Alaminos bishop

► UST students join Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raoul Manuel (second from left) in filing House Resolution 1633, which seeks an investigation into the alleged ‘violations of students’ rights’ in UST, at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on Monday, March 11.—PHOTO BY HANNAH JOYCE V. ANDAYA

UST LENTEN RECOLLECTION

Soc Villegas to Thomasians:

‘Don’t gatekeep God’

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop

Socrates Villegas advised Thomasians not to gatekeep God, despite studying at UST, the Catholic University of the Philippines, on Day 3 of the University-wide Lenten recollection on Thursday, March 7, at the Quadricentennial Pavilion.

In his message, Villegas highlighted the dangers of limiting God to a specific location, drawing parallels to the Jews' beliefs during the Second Temple era. He referenced Jesus overturning the tables of the money changers and the benches of those defiling the temple courts, as recorded in the New Testament.

“The temple is the house of God as the whole cosmos is the house of God,” Villegas said. “In other words, what angered the Lord was for us to restrict him to the walls and to the roof of the temple.”

“We cannot make our faith, we cannot make our Lord an exclusive property of UST. Because God is also by the sidewalk of España. God is also in Ateneo and La Salle. God is in the entire cosmos.”

Villegas cautioned Thomasians about the behaviors that resulted in the cleansing of the Temple.

“The first one is exclusivity, to re-

‘Preferred

pronouns a new form of oppression’

THE USE of preferred pronouns distorts logical thinking and may be considered a new form of oppression brought about by ascendant ideologies, Malolos Bishop Dennis Villarojo told Thomasians on Day 2 of the University-wide Lenten recollection on Wednesday, March 6 at the Quadricentennial Pavilion.

In his homily, which contrasted the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love against critical theory, Villarojo described preferred pronouns as a new “form of entitlement.”

“Take, for instance, the demand to be addressed according to one’s preferred pronouns, regardless of one’s gender,” Villarojo said. “It is a form of oppression that does not only take away your freedom of expression but also your ability to think rightly.”

“How can you think rightly when somebody who looks totally like a man demands to be called ma’am or madame? It twists our logical thinking.”

strict his love, to limit his love. The second one is ego, to believe that you are entitled, to believe that you need reward. And the third one is vanity, to believe that everything is forever,” he said.

Villegas emphasized that Thom-

asians should avoid becoming exclusive and entitled about their blessings, warning against a mindset similar to that of the Israelites which ultimately led to the destruction of

ALBUM

Amid new ideologies and prevailing belief systems, it is only through the acquisition of the virtues of faith, hope and love, collectively known as “Tria Haec,” that humans can attain peace and adhere to God’s will, Villarojo said.

Tria Haec, which means “these three” in Latin, is portrayed by three statues on top of the Main Building. The statues were crafted by Italian

expatriate sculptor Francesco Monti and installed in the early 1950s.

“Faith, hope and love are called theological virtues because they come from God and they direct us to God. God is their source and object,” the bishop said in his homily. “In the theological virtues, we find the antithesis to the world’s angst.”

The Malolos prelate contrasted

St. Thomas Aquinas Double Jubilee Retreat

UST holds the three-day St. Thomas Aquinas Double Jubilee Retreat at the Quadricentennial Pavilion from March 5 to 7.

► Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas speaks during Day 3 of the University-wide Lenten recollection on Thursday, March 7, at the Quadricentennial Pavilion. PHOTO BY RAINIEL ANGELYN B. FIGUEROA/ THE VARSITARIAN

PHOTOS BY VALERE JANE R. CALLORENA AND RAINIEL ANGELYN B. FIGUEROA

► Malolos Bishop Dennis Villarojo delivers the homily during Mass on Day 2 of the University-wide Lenten recollection on Wednesday, March 6 at the Quadricentennial Pavilion. PHOTO BY RAINIEL ANGELYN B. FIGUEROA/ THE VARSITARIAN

UST LENTEN RECOLLECTION

Thomasians warned vs instant gratification

By Justin Benedict T. Lim

FORMER UST Rector Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, O.P. cautioned Thomasians against prioritizing instant gratification over long-term goals during Day 2 of the University-wide Lenten recollection on March 6 at the Quadricentennial Pavilion.

De La Rosa, in his talk, emphasized the importance of maintaining purpose and enthusiasm in achieving goals.

“Ang mga kabataan ngayon, they live in a world of instant gratification—fast food, livestreaming movies and videos, social networking platforms, high-speed internet—dito na lang sila nag-focus,” he said.

“And because the instant gratification, the instant pleasure that they get, these are very easy to achieve. So. nakakalimutan na nila ‘yong greater good that they wanted from the very beginning.”

De la Rosa warned against settling for mediocrity, which he said diminishes the “infectiousness” of enthusiasm necessary for achieving greater things.

“An enthusiastic person inspires others to be like him. And the reverse is also true. When you have lost your enthusiasm, you breathe in others' laziness, indifference and passivity,” he said.

“‘Yan ang nangyayari. Nakalulung-

kot, ‘no? What you were hoping for before, since you saw that ang hirap, you settle for the second or the last best.”

He identified two obstacles to hope: the arrogance of self-sufficiency and the desire for instant gratification, which alienate God from one's life.

“And when this happens, as I've said, you start to resort to the easy good, the comfortable good, not the good that challenges you and which makes you hope, but rather a good that is there that [satisfies] you for a while, but leaves you empty as before,” he added.

“We don't need speed so much.

We need depth in our life. And prayer brings depth to our lives because we realize that we need someone to be really happy.”

De la Rosa highlighted the Church's critical role in shielding youth from rampant consumerism and providing a sense of belonging to reaffirm their identity.

“[M]any young people join social media platforms not because of their need to socialize, but because of their need to their desire to validate their identity [...] and they change their identity depending on the number of likes or [dislikes] that they get,” he said.

► Former UST

Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, O.P. speaks during Day 2 of the University-wide Lenten recollection on March 6 at the Quadricentennial Pavilion.

Villegas

FROM PAGE 2 ►

Solomon’s Temple. He also said not everything is forever.

“Totoo ba ang forever? Totoo. Pero sorry, hindi lahat forever,” Villegas said. “We need to accept everything that our eyes can see, our hands can touch, our noses can smell, our ears can hear—all of these are temporary.”

“There is forever, yes. But what is forever is what comes from God and God alone.”

UST organized a three-day University-wide retreat from March 5 to 7 to mark the double jubilee of the birth and canonization of St. Thomas Aquinas, its patron saint. A.B. MAESTRADO

He suggested that instead of emulating social media influencers, the youth should look up to Blessed Carlo Acutis, who demonstrated how the Catholic faith could be amplified through technology, fostering a “healthy sense of wellbeing.”

“We are not just brains, blood, [and] body. We are body and soul, and if we neglect the care of our soul, it will have effects, not only on our body, on our brain, but also on our behavior, our perspectives in life. So spirit, we are spiritual beings. Lagi natin ‘yang alalahanin,” de la Rosa said. WITH REPORTS FROM SHEILA MAY S. BALAGAN

‘Like the bishop in Les Misérables’: Nuncio highlights importance of forgiveness in UST retreat

CHRISTIANS have various literary and historical figures to look up to as examples of forgiveness, such as a character from Les Miserablés and a former president, the apostolic nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Charles Brown, said on Day 1 of the University-wide Lenten recollection on Tuesday, March 5, at the Quadricentennial Pavilion.

In his homily focusing on forgiveness, Brown said the act is not about seeking revenge, but showing love to and choosing not to retaliate against those who have caused harm.

A notable character embodying such forgiveness, Brown said, is the bishop from Victor Hugo’s novel “Les Misérables,” Monseigneur Myriel, whose compassionate act deeply affected the main character, Jean Valjean, leading to his transformation for

the better.

In the novel, Valjean steals silverware from the bishop who had sheltered him. When the protagonist is apprehended by the police, the bishop claims he had given the silverware to Valjean and even gave him more.

“The bishop hiding the sin of Jean Valjean, how beautiful that is!” Brown said. “That’s what Christian forgiveness is all about.”

Brown also recounted the story of former president Elpidio Quirino, who, despite losing his wife and three of their five children to Japanese troops during the Battle of Manila, chose to grant clemency and amnesty to Japanese war criminals serving time or facing execution in the Philippines.

Pronouns

FROM PAGE 2 ►

critical theory’s divisive nature with the virtue of faith, which he said encourages trust to break free from corrupt ideologies like anger, adultery, and fraud.

“Faith…unites us to the spirit of trust, opening our minds to the truth that sets us free. Critical theory offers a utopia that falls, that eventually falls apart, leading us all into despair,” he said.

Villarojo also juxtaposed critical theory’s promotion of self-love and self-indulgence against the virtue of hope, which he said “offers the real possibility of God’s kingdom on earth, a just society based on the rule and cooperation of virtuous men and women.”

The virtue of love, meanwhile, unites humans with God and with one another.

“Tria Haec, these three, perfect the law and make its perfect fulfillment possible. Through them, the lawgiver and law follower become united as one,” he said.

“He forgave them. He granted them executive clemency,” Brown said. “[H]e didn’t want his children to grow up with hatred in their hearts for what had happened between Japan and the Philippines in the Second World War, and he said he wanted to do this…because the Philippines is a Christian nation.”

production for the 2023 Thomasian Kickoff Party, “Grand Yellow Day: Wear Your Best Yellow Campaign,” bagged the Best Social Media Campaign Award.

TMN adviser Asst. Prof. Faye Abugan told the Varsitarian that the awards showed the caliber of training and mentorship that volunteers went through in the network.

“We put a premium on our people. We put a premium on training our people so that they can serve not just TMN but the entire Thomasian community,” Abugan said.

“Hopefully, they (winners) can strive to maintain this level of excellence that we are trying to inculcate with our volunteers,” she added.

The TMN also fielded nominees in other categories: Best Online Only Radio Station

Brown said forgiveness is ingrained in the DNA of Catholics.

– UST Tiger Radio; Best College/University Television Station – UST Tiger TV; Best On-Air Personality – Louise Elaine Legaspi, UST Tiger Radio; Best Use of Graphics – Tiger Score of One Air Productions; Best Student Station Manager – Gabriel Alvarez, UST Tiger TV; Best Sports Director – Kim Adrienne Salenga; Best Creative Services Director – Andrea Nicole Garcia; Best Business Director, Radio – Sophia Ann Lacson. Last year, TMN bagged six awards in the IBS. The IBS Media Awards is part of the annual multimedia conference organized by IBS, the oldest collegiate broadcasting association in the US.

The conference was held in person from March 1 to 2 at the Sheraton New York Times Square.

“It’s part of what it means to be a Christian, and it’s really the litmus test of our Christianity if we’re able to forgive.”

UST organized a three-day University-wide retreat from March 5 to 7 to mark the double jubilee of the birth and canonization of St. Thomas Aquinas, its patron saint. A.B. MAESTRADO

institutions, and it’s becoming a great concern among Filipino students and youth,” he said.

Manuel added that the resolution was also aimed at influencing change in the policies of the University.

“Hindi puwedeng sabihin na lang na ‘Bahala na ‘yung school dyan,’ ‘Sa isang school lang ‘yan problema,’ kasi nga we see a pattern across universities,” he said.

Earlier, Manuel delivered a privilege speech at the House of Representatives on March 6, deploring the threat made to TomasinoWeb that it could cease to exist if it did not comply with the OSA takedown order.

“Wala na tayo sa dark ages, wala na tayo sa era ng mga prayle noong Spanish colonization. Ang nangyayari ay paglabag sa batayang karapatan sa pamamahayag at pati na rin sa kalayaang pang-akademiko,” he said.

“When will this madness stop? Sa halip na show-cause order ang ipataw sa mga estudyante, what if ang mga repressive officials nila ipatawag natin sa kamara?” he added.

Manuel was joined by Thomasian activists and a representative of TomasinoWeb during the filing at Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.

After filing, the next step

Villarojo added that God’s laws and commandments should not be understood superficially. Drawing from the Gospel of Matthew, he pointed out that the accusations of blasphemy against Jesus illustrated the difference between a good person and a person who merely follows the law.

“The fulfillment of the law does not merely rely on following the rules. It requires formation of the heart,” he said.

SHEILA MAY S. BALAGAN

for the resolution is to pass first reading before it can be forwarded to the appropriate committee for hearing.

Manuel earlier said that Tio Cuison and Arriero could be summoned to appear before the House probe as resource persons.

“We should impress the appropriate committees the urgency to discuss this matter. Kaya hindi nagtatapos sa pag-file ng resolution ang ating efforts, dapat patuloy tayo nangangalampag para umaksyon ang mga kinauukulan.” HANNAH

rector

PHOTO BY RAINIEL ANGELYN B. FIGUEROA/ THE VARSITARIAN

► Archbishop Charles Brown, the apostolic nuncio to the Philippines, speaks during Day 1 of the University-wide Lenten recollection on Tuesday, March 5, at the Quadricentennial Pavilion. PHOTO BY JOSH NIKKOLAI S. BRAVO/ THE VARSITARIAN

EDITORIAL

Library should stay open during unexpected class suspensions

ACADEMIC YEAR 2023-2024 saw nearly a month’s worth of class interruptions at UST due to various circumstances outside the usual pre-determined holidays. While the familiar suspensions due to heavy rains persisted, new challenges emerged, such as extreme heat, poor air quality, and several transport strikes. These disruptions led to the suspension of classes on 28 school days in total.

Even as UST prioritizes the safety of its students, teachers, and workers during these suspensions, it must ensure that essential student services remain accessible. A critical part of this is keeping the Miguel de Benavides Library open to students.

UST’s choice to suspend classes for the safety of its community is praiseworthy, though it should ensure that essential services continue when the campus is still accessible.

The first semester alone saw seven days of onsite class suspensions due to transport strikes, necessitating a switch to the Enriched Virtual Mode (EVM), UST’s trademark scheme for virtual classes. The second semester, which marks the thesis season for most

seniors, mirrored this trend, with five days shifted to online learning due to transport strikes and extreme heat.

Each suspension also included an announcement to transition to remote work, effectively closing all student services on

comfort of the on-campus library, which provides not only a conducive environment for study but also essential academic materials that are often unavailable elsewhere.

On extremely hot days, the library’s air conditioning offers a comfortable refuge for

By keeping the library and other essential facilities open, UST can better support its students, ensuring their education remains uninterrupted and that they have a safe place to study and access resources.

campus. While this move is necessary for logistical reasons, it deprives students of access to essential resources that support their education and well-being, including the Miguel de Benavides Library.

Although there are several study hubs around UST, none can rival the quiet and

students who want to study without incurring extra costs.

The energy and library fees, which amount to about P5,000 per student each semester, justify maintaining

such learning spaces. Additionally, UST’s Veritas Wi-Fi network provides access to educational resources, which is vital to students living in dormitories with unreliable internet.

It is essential for UST to maintain at least the minimum campus operations during class suspensions. This includes keeping the library open, even with a reduced staff if necessary, to support students’ academic needs. Additionally, essential services like the UST Health Service should remain available to address the health and safety needs of the student body.

The hybrid learning model adopted by UST during the Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of educational resilience and flexibility. Although the pandemic has subsided, the frequent disruptions of the past academic year underscore the continued need for such adaptability.

By keeping the library and other essential facilities open, UST can better support its students, ensuring their education remains uninterrupted and that they have a safe place to study and access resources. UST’s compassion and commitment to safety should not come at the expense of learning.

PATNUGOT: MATTHEW G. GABRIEL

Kolektibong kilos ng kababaihan, pang-tapat sa opresyon – Leila de Lima

PARA kay dating senador Leila de Lima, hindi sapat ang kaniyang makulay na karera para iligtas siya sa bingit ng pagkakakulong.

“Akala ko noon, sapat na iyong kinalakihan kong tapang, ‘yong aking pagiging abogada [at] pagiging senador upang harapin ang lahat ng pang-aabuso,” wika niya sa taunang Adrian E. Cristobal Lecture Series na ginanap sa Gimenez Gallery ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Diliman noong ika-20 ng Pebrero.

Tatlong kasong may kinalaman sa bentahan ng droga sa loob ng New Bilibid Prison ang naging dahilan para manatili ang dating kalihim ng Department of Justice sa bilangguan ng halos pitong taon.

Tingin ng oposisyon, ganti ito ni dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte dahil marubdob na inimbestigahan ni De Lima sa Senado ang kaniyang madugong giyera kontra droga na nagresulta sa pagkamatay ng mahigit 6,000 tao mula 2016 hanggang 2022, ayon sa datos ng Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Absuwelto na sa dalawang kaso ang

kasalukuyang tagapagsalita ng Partido Liberal. Sa ikatlong kaso, na inaasahang madedesisyunan ngayong taon, pinayagan ng isang hukom sa Parañaque na makapagpiyansa siya.

Pero hindi nagtapos sa droga ang mga akusasyon. Bilang babae, giit ni De Lima, kinailangan niyang tiisin ang isang mundong may ekspektasyon na para sa kanila.

“When we step into the arena of political dissent, we become targets, not just for our ideas, but for who we are –as a woman,” wika niya sa kaniyang talumpati na pinamagatang “Gender and Political Oppression (Kasarian at Opresyong Politikal).”

(Kapag tumapak na tayo sa arena ng politikal na dissent, tinatarget na hindi lamang ang ating mga ideya kung hindi pati sa kung sino tayo – bilang mga babae.)

Naging tampulan ng tukso ang pagamin noong 2016 ng dating guwardya ni De Lima na si Joenel Sanchez sa harap ng mga kongresista na nagkaroon sila ng relasyon sa isa’t isa. Itinanggi ng dating senador ang mga akusasyon at naghimutok kung bakit siya pinalalabas na imoral.

► Iginawad ng dating senador

Ang mga ganitong karanasan ang kabayaran umano ng mga kababaihan na nagtatanggol sa karapatan ng iba, ani De Lima.

“This issue of gender and political oppression has taught me one of the greatest lessons I have learned in my almost seven years of unjust detention: that we are all bound together in

a shared struggle against systemic injustices that continue to persist,” wika niya.

Dagdag ni De Lima, hindi raw maaaring sabihin na pantay ang pagdurusang politikal ng mga lalaki at babae, lalo pa’t patuloy ang paglaganap ng misonhiya.

“When the character assassina-

(Tinuro ng isyu ng kasarian at opresyong politikal ang isa sa pinakamahalagang natutunan ko sa halos pitong taong walang katarungang pagkakakulong: na nakagapos kami sa iisang pakikibaka laban sa sistematikong inhustisya na nagpapatuloy hanggang ngayon.)

Ilokanong tradisyon para sa yumao, tampok sa indak ng Salinggawi

By Diana May B. Cabalo

SUMENTRO sa ritwal ng mga Ilokano para sa mga patay ang pagtatanghal ng UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe sa “Sayaw Pinoy: Konsyerto ng mga Kampeon,” ang pagwawakas ng mga aktibidad para sa Pambansang Buwan ng Sining na idinaos sa Metropolitan Theater nitong Martes, Marso 5.

Tampok sa kontemporaryong sayaw ng Salinggawi ang “atang,” kung saan nag-aalay ng pagkain ang mga Ilokano sa mga yumao nitong mahal sa buhay para iwaksi ang mga masasamang espiritu. Katumbas nito ang “alay” ng mga Tagalog at “halad” ng mga Cebuano.

Kuwento sa Varsitarian ng pangulo ng Salinggawi na si Germaine Geneta, nakahanay ang konsepto sa mga koreograpiyang neo-ethnic, kung saan pinaghahalo ang mga hakbang ng ballet at mga galaw na pang-tribo.

“Kapag Sayaw Pinoy, talagang more on neo-ethnic ‘yong pinagkuku hanan. So, ‘yong batok [in 2019] is

based sa […] Kalinga tribes na nagbabatok, nambabatok – so, nagta-tattoo. Ito naman, Ilokano,” wika niya. Pinakita ng pagtatanghal ang iba’t ibang aspeto ng “atang,” na, ayon sa

namayapa.

“‘Yong women, they wash their hair sa river to wash away the negative energy kapag may namatay, and then, in the end, we celebrated the life nung namatay,”

Leila de Lima ang Adrian E. Cristobal Lecture Series na idinaos sa Gimenez Gallery ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Diliman noong ika-20 ng Pebrero. PHOTO BY PATRICE JERICA A. BELTRAN/ THE VARSITARIAN

From UST seminary to diocese: Sipalay officially takes over as Alaminos bishop

By Eduelle Jan T. Macababbad

ALAMINOS, Pangasinan – Holding to his crozier and determined to overcome personal doubts to lead a new ministry, Bishop Napoleon Sipalay Jr., O.P. officially took over the helm of the Diocese of Alaminos on Tuesday, March 19.

His installation at the St. Joseph the Patriarch Cathedral ended the Diocese of Alaminos’s four-year sede vacante status, or a diocese without a bishop, since the Vatican named its former prelate, Ricardo Baccay, to lead the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao in January 2020.

Pope Francis’s appointment of Sipalay, previously the UST Central Seminary vice rector, made history as he is the first Filipino Dominican chosen to lead a diocese in nearly three decades. He is the fourth Filipino Dominican overall to be named a prelate.

Admitting to being a “kindergarten bishop,” Sipalay vowed to brush off his personal anxieties to lead his new flock.

“The person before you is also beset with so many doubts, but let us now turn it aside,” he said in his homily. “The Lord […] doesn’t look at what we are now; he looks at what we can become.”

“Let us walk together; let us journey together for the common good of this diocese. Let us build this Church together, not going ahead, not going backward, but together, side by side, we walk to build a Diocese of Alaminos,” the newly minted bishop added.

Sipalay will have jurisdiction over 600,000 Catholics living in 13 municipalities and the City of Alaminos that make up western Pangasinan.

Sipalay is the fourth prelate to head the diocese since its establishment in 1985. Alaminos is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan.

The former Central Seminary vice rector has come a long way since entering the priesthood in 1997. For a decade, he conducted missionary work in conflict areas in Sri Lanka before the Dominican Province of the Philippines tapped him to be its prior provincial in 2016.

Sipalay sat as vice chancellor

of UST by virtue of his position and served as chairman of the board of trustees.

The decision to accept the episcopacy has been difficult because he has become accustomed to the Dominican

way of life, he said.

“Even this office that has been given to me, I said yes without actually understanding the consequences,”

Sipalay said. “I woke up the day after that, and I realized that I wouldn’t be

in my Dominican community. I would be with a different community.”

“I realize those who could not live the Dominican community life […] could not live community life in the diocese,” he stressed.

A new shepherd Auxiliary Bishop Fidelis Bautista Layog, the apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Alaminos, called on the faithful of western Pangasinan to lend their support to their new bishop in the spirit of synodality.

“May this day remind us of God’s love and grace for all of us as we continue to live as a synodal community, formed and shaped by the spirit of stewardship, renewal and unity, as we join Bishop Jun in his shepherding journey with us,” Layog said in his remarks. “Let us celebrate our gift of faith as we commit our support and prayers for him together.”

Alaminos Chancellor Fr. Melchor Joseph Braga read the English translation of the apostolic letter from the Holy See appointing Sipalay as prelate on Jan. 28, the feast day of St. Thomas Aquinas.

“Francis, bishop, servant of the servants of God. To our beloved son, Napoleon Sipalay Jr., member of the Order of the Preachers, currently vice rector of the University of Santo Tomas Central Seminary in the Archdiocese of Manila,

For new Alaminos bishop, priesthood is all about service

By Faith Nicole S. Gelacio

A YOUNG Napoleon Sipalay Jr., enrolled in the medical technology program at UST, came across an article in a student journal asking a simple question, “What will you do after college?” For six minutes, he contemplated his future, which had become too clear by then.

In high school, Sipalay joked at an impromptu speech contest that he would become a priest because it is “a life of service.”

“Though it started [as] a joke, it dawned on me later that all of the things I attended in high school and college [were] all service-oriented: Boy Scouts, student government, school paper, the military training, and class officer,” he told the Varsitarian in an interview. “It seemed that everything for me was for service.”

But Sipalay wanted to help his family make ends meet. Besides, his mother wanted him to live in the outside world first.

“My mother was kind of not merely protective, but he wanted me to have an experience of the world before committing to a life of priesthood,” he said. Sipalay eventually exchanged his books in chemistry and botany for the Bible, the latter he was fond of reading anyway,

despite the fear that gripped him for entering a life “I’m not even aware of.”

“[God] did not force [me]; he gave me choices,” he said.

The introvert Sipalay would soon discover that he needed to go out and talk to people constantly in a world that has never been a home of angels.

“You enter a place of human beings with our weaknesses, and some of us may trample our dreams,” he said. “I realized [that] the experience I had with God outside [and] the experience I had with my family helped me persevere even with the objections of the others who are doubting my vocation, and even being almost sent out because of my mistakes.”

Sipalay’s name now has a place in history after Pope Fran-

cis appointed him bishop of the Diocese of Alaminos – covering parishes in the City of Alaminos and western Pangasinan, including the municipalities of Bugallon and Mangatarem, among others. He became the first Filipino Dominican to take the helm of a diocese since the late Jose Paala Salazar served the Territorial Prelature of Batanes from 1996 to 2002.

Only two other Dominicans had been named prelates: the late former UST rector Fr. Leonardo Legaspi, O.P., archbishop of the Diocese of Caceres in Camarines Sur from 1984 to 2012, and Msgr. Mario Baltazar, O.P., who oversaw the territories of Batanes and the Babuyan Islands from 1966 until his resignation in 1995.

PRIESTHOOD PAGE

► Bishop Napoleon Sipalay Jr., O.P. officially takes the helm of the Diocese of Alaminos as its fourth bishop, following his formal installation at the St. Joseph Cathedral in Pangasinan on Tuesday, March 19. PHOTOS BY JOSH NIKKOLAI S. BRAVO/ THE VARSITARIAN

► Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas (second from right) administers the rites of canonical possession, with Sipalay (center) sitting at the cathedra to signify his seat of leadership and holding to the crozier to symbolize possession of an ecclesiastical office. Alaminos Chancellor Fr. Melchor Joseph Braga holds the framed apostolic letter from the Holy See appointing Sipalay as prelate. PHOTOS BY JOSH NIKKOLAI S. BRAVO/ THE VARSITARIAN

► Bishop Sipalay Jr.

PHOTO BY JANA FRANCESCA D. YAO/ THE VARSITARIAN

COORDINATOR: ANGELI RUTH R. ACOSTA

appointed bishop of Alaminos. Greetings and blessings,” the letter stated.

“We consider you, beloved son, as one who is greatly devoted to missionary and pastoral activity, as you have shown numerous human and Christian gifts; thus, we see you as suitable for the proper exercise of this office,” it added.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas administered the rites of canonical possession.

Sipalay sat at the cathedra, or a raised bishop’s throne, signifying his seat of leadership before Villegas handed him over the crozier, or a long staff with a crooked top, symbolizing possession of an ecclesiastical office.

Local politicians attended the installation, including Alaminos Mayor Arth Bryan Celeste and Vice Mayor Jan Marionne Fontelera, and Pangasinan Rep. Arthur Celeste. Fontelera gave Sipalay a copy of the city council’s resolution congratulating the latter on his appointment.

“It is with profound joy and reverence that we welcome Bishop Sipalay as the shepherd of our diocese as he embarks on this sacred journey of pastoral service,” the vice mayor said in his remarks before the Mass. “May the Holy Spirit guide his steps, light his path, and empower him to lead with wisdom and love.”

Before the installation, Sipalay was consecrated bishop on Monday, March 18, at the Minor Basilica of the Our Lady of Manaoag, with leading Church figures in attendance, including Archbishop Charles John Brown, the apostolic nuncio to the Philippines; Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula; and Villegas.

In his first remarks after his installation, the 53-year-old prelate hoped that the two-day ceremony would spur “happy memories” within the diocese.

“The experience with a father is the first experience with God,” he said. “Starting our presence here together is a memory. I pray and hope we can build happy memories together, so when we grow old, you remember this.”

On Monday, March 18, Sipalay, 53, will be consecrated bishop at the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag, a prominent pilgrim site in the north administered by the Dominicans. Among Church figures leading the consecration are Archbishop Charles John Brown, apostolic nuncio to the Philippines; Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula; and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas.

On Tuesday, March 19, the Central Seminary vice rector will officially be installed bishop at the Alaminos Cathedral, a nearly 250-year-old Baroque parish founded by the Augustinians.

It would take time for Sipalay to be acquainted with the job.

“I have to understand all these dynamics, and I hope we can journey together to make it happen, whatever vision they have started to build, and continue to flourish following the Spirit, who is really calling us to build

UST Singers share stage with other ‘Big 4’ ensembles in chorale festival

By Karis M. Tsang

THE UST Singers performed their classic repertoire at a chorale festival that gathered ensembles from top Philippine universities at the Teresa Yuchengco Auditorium of De La Salle University (DLSU) in Manila on March 16.

Joining the UST Singers at the “Saliw Lasalyano” concert were the University of the Philippines (UP) Singing Ambassadors, DLSU Chorale, and Ateneo College Glee Club.

They each performed compositions that ranged from classic Original Pilipino Music to Gospel songs.

UST Singers president Maria Manalili said the event was an avenue for the collegiate ensembles to showcase their talents and learn from one another.

“It was rare for the DLSU Chorale, Ateneo College Glee Club, UP Singing Ambassadors, and UST Singers to perform on a single stage, and I believe we were able to give the audience a good show,” Manalili told the Varsitarian

“We also learned a lot from each other, from the way the festival was handled to the way each song was

‘The

interpreted,” she added. “The festival was not only a feast for the senses but it was also a learning experience for everyone.”

The UST Singers opened their set with a rendition of “Surge Illuminare,” a piece by Indian composer Budi Su-

Rainmakers’

By Jan Alyanna G. Tamaray

“The Rainmakers” returned to the University stage on March 2 to mount a benefit concert marking its 50th year as a band.

Three members from the quintet, Joel Macanaya, Jojo Grospe, and Ramon Villanueva took center stage at the “Golden Harmony: The Rainmakers’ 50th” concert. Proceeds of the performance went to the UST High School Batch 1970 Medical and Dental Mission Society Inc.

In an interview with the Varsitarian, Grospe said the secret to the band’s longevity is love for music.

“It’s a lot of love for music,” he said. “We’re just happy to celebrate our 50th [year]…we’re just happy that we reached this milestone.”

The Rainmakers performed a total of 18 songs, including original compo-

as one Church,” he said.

A mission in South Asia

Sipalay has already navigated through unfamiliar territory before. In 2006, nine years into his priesthood, he flew to conflict areas in Sri Lanka to do missionary work – teaching theology for three years at the National Seminary of Our Lady of Sri Lanka in the city of Kandy.

It was a perilous time in the South Asian country, with the rebels Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam battling out with the Sinhalese, the largest ethnic group there.

“You have to work with other religious congregations, not only for Catholics, but we worked with other religious leaders,” he stressed, adding, “Because people there did not anymore find solutions to their political leaders, they look for solutions through the religious leaders.”

Sipalay and his fellow missionar-

mark 50th

santo whose text was adopted from a the Biblical book of Isaiah.

This was followed by performances of “Agnus Dei” by Cuban composer and conductor Ernesto Herrera, and the African-American spiritual song, “Way Over in Beulah Lan’” by Stacey Gibbs.

The ensemble also treated the crowd with their signature chorale adaptation of “Plink, Plank, Plunk” by Leroy Anderson, which was arranged for choir by Asst. Prof. Fidel Calalang

year with benefit concert in UST

sitions and renditions from the band’s early musical influences.

It was the 1970s era, during which the band began recording its maiden songs, that inspired the curation of the setlist for the concert, according to Grospe.

The pieces included “Binibini,” “I Won’t Last A Day,” and “Okay Sa Akin.”

They also performed renditions of “More Today Than Yesterday” by The Spiral Staircase, “Can’t Take My Eyes of You” by The Lettermen, and “MacArthur Park” by Donna Summer.

Political and show business couple Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla and Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. served as guest performers.

The Rainmakers was formed in 1968 to represent UST High School at a Student Catholic Action vocal group

ies aided victims of the civil war, regardless of whether they were part of the Tamil or Sinhalese: “We realized no one won the war.”

The 25-year civil war eventually came to an end in 2009, with the Sri Lankan Army breaking the defense lines of the Tamil in the north. It was a personal and savoring victory for its president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, though the United Nations issued a grim assessment: more than 250,000 ethnic Tamils lived in overcrowded camps, and tens of thousands were used as civilian shields during the guerilla fight.

Only faith, Sipalay said, was the source of hope and strength for many: “Everyone lost a loved one, everyone suffered, and we realized that the only solution we have is to sit down and be in touch with the sacred.”

“When you see wells – mga balon – ‘di ba akala mo hiwa-hiwalay mga balon? But these wells, if you go underneath, is one river that is flowing.

It was their experience with the sacred – the Muslims, the Buddhists, the Hindus, the Christians – they’re connected to one another. So I realized, yeah, those elements were very important as a journey in the mission.”

After the war, Sipalay was assigned secretary to the Committee for Religious Formation of the Conference of Major Religious Superiors of Sri Lanka. Coming home

Sipalay returned to his home country in 2016 after being named the 12th prior provincial of the Dominican Province of the Philippines and, by virtue, vice chancellor of UST.

Two weeks later, he was elected chairman of the University’s board of trustees – one of four governing bodies of the institution.

After one term, he moved to the UST Central Seminary to serve as vice rector, in which he was tasked to be its official bursar or financial administrator and

the immediate formator of philosophy students.

“Dominican life is not a monastic life only,” Sipalay said. “It has the monastic structures, but it has a very strong apostolic mission. It’s primarily apostolic in the sense that you’re meant to share with others the fruit of contemplation.”

Thirty-six years into the Dominican life – he entered the Order of Preachers in 1988 and was ordained priest in 1997 – Sipalay ventures into a new mission at a place he is clueless about.

“To live in a diocese, for me, is very new,” he said. “I will be the one to adjust, for one. And I will respect the way of doing things [and] the Church that they have.”

“I know there are things that are reserved for the bishop to decide, but for the bishop to decide, he has to understand the flock. I would like to journey with them.” WITH

FROM RALENT M. PENILLA

► The UST Singers, De La Salle University (DLSU) Chorale, Ateneo College Glee Club, and the University of the Philippines Singing Ambassadors come together at the ‘Saliw Lasalyano’ choral festival on Saturday, March 16, at the Teresa Yuchengco Auditorium of DLSU Manila. PHOTO BY JANA FRANCESCA D. YAO/ THE VARSITARIAN

► The Rainmakers, a band composed of UST alumni, celebrates its 50th anniversary with the 'Golden Harmony: The Rainmakers' 50th' concert at the lobby of the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building on Saturday, March 2. PHOTO BY RAINIEL ANGELYN B. FIGUEROA/ THE VARSITARIAN

UST student affairs head goes on medical leave

By Mabel Anne B. Cardinez

EMBATTLED UST Office for Student Affairs (OSA) Director

Maria Cecilia Tio Cuison has gone on medical leave, the University said in its first statement addressing the controversies surrounding the office over the past month.

In a statement posted on Facebook, UST said it had accepted Tio Cuison’s leave request and designated Asst. Prof. Jaezamie Ong, the assistant principal for student formation at UST Senior High School and a faculty member at the Department of Literature, as OSA officer in charge.

Ong will lead a technical working group tasked with holding dialogues with representatives of “recognized” student organizations and assess student-related policies and guidelines, including those specified in the Campus Journalism Act, the University said.

“[UST] assures all student leaders that the University listens to its stakeholders,” the school’s statement posted on Thursday evening read.

“The University shall continue to uphold the rights of students balanced by a strong commitment to foster an environment conducive to learning and responsible develop-

ment,” it continued.

Tio Cuison’s leave of absence came almost a month since the OSA came under public scrutiny after ordering TomasinoWeb to delete a photo of College of Information and Computing Sciences (CICS) students in their “Type B” uniforms and entering a 7-Eleven store inside the campus.

Aside from instructing the student media organization to take the photo down on Feb. 16, the OSA also directed its officers to issue a public apology.

At the height of the OSATomasinoWeb censorship controversy, Tio Cuison underwent a medical

procedure.

Several journalists, student leaders and UST alumni had condemned OSA’s handling of the situation and called for the termination of both Tio Cuison and OSA Asst. Director Maria Regina Arriero.

The censorship issue has reached Congress, with Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raoul Manuel filing a resolution to investigate the censorship issue and “other student rights violations” in UST.

Manuel on March 11 filed House Resolution 1633, which seeks to investigate the “repressive actions” by the OSA and hold accountable Tio Cuison and Arriero.

“The reported media censorship and violations of democratic rights of student councils, organizations and individuals inside the University of Santo Tomas demands urgent investigation and action as it compromises the life and security of students,” the resolution read.

House Resolution 1633 was referred to the House Committee on Rules on March 13, but a hearing has yet to be scheduled.

TomasinoWeb resumed operations on March 8 and broke its weekslong absence from social media, following the appointment of journalism faculty member Nathaniel Melican as interim adviser.

SOCC eyes changes to student org accreditation system after TomasinoWeb issue

By Hannah Joyce V. Andaya

THE STUDENT Organizations Coordinating Council (SOCC) is seeking revisions to the accreditation process of student organizations in the University, following the recent censorship dispute between the Office of the Student Affairs (OSA) and online media organization TomasinoWeb.

SOCC President Raphael Gabuat said the accreditation system should be revamped by implementing changes to the Student Organizations Recognition and Requirements (SORR), starting with the section concerning social media guidelines.

The SORR, a thick set of documents, is submitted by student organizations annually to renew their accreditation and be recognized by OSA. Failure to meet these requirements could lead to a downgrade in accreditation status or even non-recognition, significantly limiting the number of activities the organization can mount.

“It (SORR) is what’s holding student organizations back [from fulfilling] their organization’s image and objectives,” Gabuat told the Varsitarian “Ngayon namin nakita ‘yung perfect timing na somewhat maging negotiating chip namin with the administration, na ito talaga ‘yung nakikita ng student organizations na kailangan baguhin,” he added.

Gabuat said the SOCC’s fo-

cus is on revising Annex I of the SORR, which contains guidelines for responsible social media use.

The proposed revision involves granting advisers the authority and responsibility to oversee and approve organizations’ online content.

Under the existing SORR, advisers are authorized to remove a social media post “if something is found to be erroneous or irregular.” However, in cases where there is a disagreement between the organization’s officers and the adviser, the final decision is to be made by the Student Welfare and Development Committee or the OSA.

“We want to specify and make this document a legal and binding contract between the administration, the organization and its adviser” Gabuat said. “This document will specify and emphasize that the organization adviser will have credibility and liability for posting and taking down any publication materials, articles, or pictures that the organizations will publish.”

The TomasinoWeb controversy stemmed from a situation where the adviser’s decision not to remove a photo posted on social

media was overridden by an order from the OSA, ultimately resulting in the adviser’s resignation.

Gabuat said that while the SOCC wants to “maintain the bridge between the organization and the administration,” revising the accreditation system would “release the control of the administration that is grasping the organizations.”

“We see that organizations are struggling or being oppressed because of this system,” he said. “Even in the past years, nakikita namin na malaking issue itong system na ito kasi maraming mga hindi nare-recognize agad, maraming mababa ang recognition status.”

Only 14 out of 150 student organizations received full accreditation status for Academic Year 2023 to 2024, a steep drop from 137 fully accredited organizations last year.

Gabuat said the suggested amendments to the SORR were still being drafted. Once finalized, these will be forwarded to the Board of Directors for review.

Finance office, Artlets profs reach deal on payroll error

By Fernando Pierre Marcel B. de la Cruz

THE Office of the Vice Rector for Finance (OVRF) and professors from the Faculty of Arts and Letters (Artlets) have agreed on the return of excess thesis honoraria paid last year due to computation errors.

After discussions with affected faculty members on Feb. 1, the OVRF agreed to 24-month and 36-month repayments for those whose excess pay amounted to five digits.

This will be longer than the original reimbursement methods, which allowed only staggered payments over three months, six months, or a year.

Excess pay may also be deducted from the faculty member’s 13thmonth pay, Christmas bonus, cash conversion of sick leave, or from their honorarium during the next colloquium or defense period, instead of the originally proposed deduction from retirement pay.

Some 120 Artlets faculty members were affected by the error in payroll computation.

Assoc. Prof. Rene Tadle, president of the Arts and Letters Faculty Union (ALFA), said the dialogue also provided a venue for a conversation on other issues faced by the faculty members.

“As agreed in our dialogue with the UST officials, the good news is that more repayment alternatives were provided as compared to the previous options, making it more convenient and economically less burdensome for faculty members to pay back the overpayment,” Tadle told the Varsitarian. “Faculty mem-

bers will hopefully appreciate the resolution of the issue.”

During the dialogue, faculty members raised an “equally important issue” with the OVRF — automatic salary deductions due to miscalculations without prior notification to the faculty, Tadle said. By law, only taxes and contributions, such as those to the Pag-IBIG Fund, PhilHealth, and the Social Security System, can be automatically deducted from a worker’s wages.

In December 2023, the OVRF informed the affected Artlets faculty members about the wrong computation of their thesis honoraria for the first term of Academic Year 2022-2023.

Thesis supervisors were incorrectly given P1,400 per student, double the correct amount of P700, while colloquium panelists received an overpayment of P1,750 per student instead of the correct P1,050.

Deductions were scheduled to commence on Jan. 15 but were postponed following ALFA’s request for a dialogue.

To prevent computation errors, the OVRF agreed to changes to the calculation process for thesis honoraria, Tadle said.

“A procedural change will occur to prevent such incidents’ recurrence: The Office of the Dean (Artlets) will now determine and prepare the request for payment for those eligible to receive the amount. This process will undergo further checks and validation by the accounting office,” he said.

The OVRF plans to start deductions under the new repayment methods by April 15.

Newly renovated NSTP office opens

By Mabel Anne B. Cardinez

UNIVERSITY officials inaugurated the newly renovated office of the National Service Training Program (NSTP) at the Tan Yan Kee Student Center on March 13.

Vice Rector for Religious Affairs Fr. Pablo Tiong O.P. blessed the new office, which will house 26 NSTP facilitators, on the second floor of the building.

The renovation cost about P1 million and was completed over six months, according to the NSTP moderator, Assoc. Prof. Jose Ricarte Origenes.

“Since 2018, there were already plans to renovate the office…And then the pandemic came, so all the more, we saw the need to renovate it because we thought of how to better serve our students,” he told

the Varsitarian The office renovation began in October 2023 and was completed in the second week of February.

UST NSTP has approximately 8,000 students this academic year. According to Origenes, about 80 percent of the students were enrolled in the Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS), while the others were in the Literacy Training Service (LTS).

UST freshmen are required to take any of the three National Service Training Program components: CWTS, LTS and the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.

UST NSTP was established under Republic Act 9163 or the NSTP Act of 2001, which seeks to promote civic consciousness, defense preparedness, and patriotism among the youth.

► Cuison

Comelec seeks UST’s help for info campaign ahead of 2025 polls

THE COMMISSION on Elections

(Comelec) has requested UST’s assistance in joining its information campaign ahead of the two elections set for 2025.

Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said in a press conference on March 14 that the commission would need help in disseminating information for the two elections in 2025, during which new voting systems and equipment would be used.

“[Ang] hihingin po natin sa UST community talaga, lalo na sa pamunuan, baka puwedeng matulungan po kami sa information campaign natin,” Garcia said. “Kapag bagong makina, kinakailangan maipaliwanag natin nang lubos sa ating mga kababayan, lalo na po sa ating mga mag-aaral.”

Comelec is eyeing to replace over 97,000 vote-counting machines, which have been in use since 2016, with automated counting machines (ACMs) next year. This new equipment will have the capability to display a person’s vote in real-time and transmit results to multiple servers simultaneously.

“Alam natin na napakaraming mag-aaral ng UST na makikinabang ng kaalaman kung paano gagamitin ang mga makina,” Garcia added.

UST Secretary General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P. said the University was open to working with the Comelec in disseminating information ahead of the elections.

“The University is very much open to any collaborative efforts. And at our level, we will be convening ‘yung aming academic officials in order to help Comelec disseminate ‘yung voter’s information and especially ‘yung mga innovations,” Coronel said.

Valid Identification documents according to Comelec:

1. Employee’s ID with employer’s signature

2. Postal ID 3. PWD ID 4. Student’s ID or a library card, signed by the school authority

5. Senior citizen’s ID 6. Driver’s license 7. NBI clearance 8. Passport 9. SSS or GSIS ID 10. Integrated Bar of the Philippines ID 11. License issued by the Professional Regulation Commission

12. Certificate of confirmation from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (for IPs)

natin magagamit ang UST ngayon kasi… tulad ng binabanggit ko kanina, ang PPCRV, (Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas), minority party, at majority party ay makakatanggap na ng results.

Wala na po tayong transparency server so wala na pong ibabahay na transparency server sa UST,” Garcia said.

‘Register Anywhere Program’

The Comelec rolled out various services at the P. Noval Court as it brought its “Register Anywhere Program” (RAP) to UST on March 14.

Thomasians availed themselves of first-time voter registration, transfer of registration, overseas to local transfer, correction of entries, change of status, and reactivation services.

► Comelec Chairman George Garcia and UST Secretary General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P. speak during the rollout of the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) Register Anywhere Program (RAP) at the P. Noval Court on Thursday, March 14.

register for the upcoming midterm polls and barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE).

“‘Yung kabataan kahit paulit-ulit na sinasabing nasa kamay nila ang ating kinabukasan, dapat nating ma-realize na ang demokrasya natin sa kanila po nakasalalay,” he said.

“Kaya po kabataan ang ineengganyo natin; idealism leads with the youth, it should never die with the youth,” he added.

Approximately 1.3 million Filipinos have registered for the RAP as of March 14, or two months since it was launched on Feb. 12. This was almost half of Comelec’s target of 3 million newly registered voters by 2025.

Obituary

Al

Perez, master painter and sculptor of heritage churches, dies at 76

By Angeli Ruth R. Acosta

ALFREDO “Al” Santos Perez, a Thomasian visual artist who made a mark through his paintings and sculptures of Philippine heritage churches, died on Feb. 28 following cardiac arrest. He was 76.

His death was confirmed to the Varsitarian by his daughter Christina.

“It truly amazes me how he worked hard to be there to support everyone and was able to support me and my mom financially, and even his siblings, with his amazing talent,” Christina said.

“He left a good legacy with his Philippine churches, mostly done in watercolor medium, that mirrored the spiritual and

Education prof dies in house fire

Garcia said that instead of relying on a single transparency server next year, results would be transmitted to multiple servers simultaneously.

“Sa ating palagay, baka hindi

UST housed the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) transparency server in the 2022 elections. The commission however intends to cease operations of the transparency server in next year’s polls.

UST was one of the RAP sites nationwide, which include university campuses, government offices, and some 170 malls.

The onsite registration was open to the University’s administrative and academic officials, academic and support staff, students, UST Hospital employees, parishioners of the Santísimo Rosario Parish, and their relatives.

Garcia urged Thomasians to

Thomasians who wish to register as voters must submit a completed application form, which can be accessed through the Comelec website, and bring a valid identification document.

Registrants may apply at RAP sites until Aug. 31. Voter registration for the 2025 polls will be open until Sept. 30.

Two elections are slated for 2025: the midterm elections on May 12 and the BSKE in December. MABEL ANNE B. CARDINEZ

By Hannah Joyce V. Andaya

MICHELLE Angela

Isip, a UST College of Education faculty member, died on Feb. 29 in a Las Piñas fire that razed her house. She was 46. The college announced her death in a Facebook post.

A fire broke out on Thursday at 2:38 a.m. at Michelle’s house in Talon Dos, Las Piñas. The fire reached the first alarm and was declared out at 4:36 a.m.

competition, winning for two consecutive years.

Grospe said the band’s name was conceived from the prevailing weather at the time of the group’s formation, and was inspired by the Filipino jest that rain would fall when someone sang badly.

“Some people like to joke that ‘Hey, don’t sing or else it would rain!’…We negated that, and every time we sing, it really rains! So it’s a positive thing for us,” he said.

After the original Rainmakers graduated from the University, the quintet went through several changes, settling for Grospe, Macanaya, Luke Gaston, Ed de Guzman, and Tom Callueng.

The group went on to perform on television shows and concerts in the country and abroad, and win various accolades like the Aliw Award for Best Group Performer. The Rainmakers FROM PAGE

tions against me started, ang komento ng mga tao, ‘Masyado kasing matapang, kalabanin ba naman si Duterte na isang brusko,’ and I received more than 2,000 hate messages on my cellphone during that time,” kuwento ng dating senador.

(Nang nagsimula ang mga atake sa aking karakter, ang komento ng mga tao, ‘Masyado kasing matapang, kalabanin ba naman si Duterte na isang brusko,’ at nakatanggap ako ng mahigit 2,000 masasakit na mensahe sa aking cellphone noong panahong iyon.)

Base sa datos ng grupong Tanggol Bayi noong 2023, mahigit 160 kababaihan mula sa kabuuang 819 ang maituturing na bilanggong politikal sa bansa. Inabot na ng isang dekada ang ilang mga presong dinampot sa mga kasong gawa-gawa lamang, ayon sa grupo, kabilang na si Grace Verzosa, na inaresto noong 2013 dahil umano sa pagnanakaw, pagpatay at pagdala ng mga pampasabog.

Inimungkahi ni De Lima na magsama-sama ang mga kababaihang biktima ng inhusti-

syang politikal para epektibong malabanan ang opresyon.

“We challenge misconceptions and deeply ingrained biases through powerful narratives,” wika niya. “By sharing our stories, individuals and communities can counter negative narratives often perpetuated by those in power. This helps expose the true nature of injustice and paves the way for more informed and compassionate responses.”

(Hinahamon natin ang mga maling akala at malalalim na pagkiling gamit ang mga makapangyarihang naratibo. Sa paglahad ng ating mga kuwento, tinutulungan natin ang mga indibidwal at komunidad na kontrahin ang mga negatibong storya na pinakakalat ng mga nasa kapangyarihan. Binubulgar ng mga ito ang tunay na mukha ng inhustisya at nagbibigay-daan para sa mas maalam at mahabaging tugon.)

“Hearing other stories can validate one’s own experiences and inspire individuals to connect, support each other, and collectively advocate for change. Our stories also serve as vital his-

torical records documenting the struggles and trials of those who fought for justice,” dagdag niya. (Pinatitibay ng mga ganitong kuwento ang ating sariling karanasan at nagbibigay-inspirasyon sa mga indibidwal na kumonekta, suportahan ang isa’t isa, at kolektibong manawagan ng pagbabago. Nagsisilbing mahalagang tala din ang mga storyang ito sa mga nagdodokumento ng paghihirap at pagsubok ng mga tagapagtanggol ng hustisya.)

Si De Lima ang ika-14 na manananayam sa taunang lektyur na nagsimula noong 2011 bilang pagpupugay sa yumaong manunulat at intelektwal na si Adrian Cristobal, na siyang nagtatag ng Unyon ng mga Manunulat ng Pilipinas. Ilan sa mga naimbitahan nang magsalita sa lektyur ay sina Pambansang Alagad ng Sining sa Panitikan Virgilio Almario noong 2012 at Resil Mojares noong 2013. Nagbigay-talumpati din noong 2017 si Prop. Cristina Pantoja-Hidalgo, kasalukuyang direktor ng UST Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies. DIANA MAY B. CABALO

Four members of the Isip family died, including Michelle, while two others were injured, according to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Las Piñas.

BFP authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.

Michelle entered UST as an instructor at the Department of Secondary Education in Term 2 of the current academic year.

Before her stint at the University, she served as principal at Santa Isabel College of Manila and a faculty member at San Beda Alabang College and De La Salle University.

One of Michelle’s students at UST, David Bobier, said the late instructor was “welcoming” and “humble” despite her extensive teaching experience.

“She never raised a brow on us, [never] showed everybody what she had accomplished. But she showed her competence by doing her job as a professor excellently,” Bobier said.

“She didn’t need to be a flashy person to please everyone, but she captured everyone’s hearts with her expressive personality,” he added.

Michelle’s wake was held at Camella Homes 1 and 2 Sto. Nino Chapel in Talon Dos, Las Piñas from March 1 to 3.

Her remains will be inurned on March 5.

► Al Perez

► Michelle Isip

PHOTO BY RAINIEL ANGELYN B. FIGUEROA/ THE VARSITARIAN

MULA PAHINA 4 ►

COMICS

wika ni Geneta.

Kasama ang Salinggawi sa sampung pangkat na nagtanghal sa konsyerto – ang pagsasama-sama ng ilan sa mga nanalo sa “Sayaw Pinoy” na inilunsad ng Pambansang Komisyon para sa Kultura at mga Sining noong 2006.

Taong 2015 nang unang sumali ang Salinggawi sa kompetisyon sa pangunguna ng noo’y direktor ng sining na si Robert Stephen Biadoma.

Noong 2019, bago pumutok ang pandemya, naiuwi ng grupo ang ikalawang gantimpala sa mga kategoryang kontemporaryo, para sa eksibisyon nito ng pangbabatok, at sayawing bayan, para sa pagtatanghal ng tinikling.

Wika ni Geneta, pagkakataon ang mga ganitong patimpalak para maipamalas ng grupo ang kanilang husay sa labas ng UAAP.

“Bukod sa pagpapalaganap ng mga sinaunang tradisyon, gusto rin namin mapakita ang talentong Tomasino sa buong Filipinas dahil ang ‘Sayaw Pinoy’ ay isang pambansang kompetisyon ng pananayaw,” giit niya sa wikang Ingles.

Dagdag ni Riecel Jollie Forcadela, pangalawang pangulo para sa sayaw ng Salinggawi, sa entablado sila mas epektibo maging tagapagkuwento.

“Dance is ‘yong way ng pagco-communicate sa audience,” wika niya sa Varsitarian. Through dance, through our emotions, through our skills, doon namin pinapakita ‘yong story ng piyesa.”

Umindayog din sa konsyerto ang mga grupong Batang Mama at JCrisis ng Maynila at Next to Innocence ng Bulakan para sa kategoryang hip-hop; BulSU Lahing Kayumanggi Dance Troupe ng Pamantasang Pampamahalaan ng Bulakan, PHSA Sanghiyas Pangkat Mananayaw ng Mataas na Paaralang Pansining ng Pilipinas sa Laguna, at PNU-Visayas Makawiwili Dance Troupe ng Pamantasang Normal ng Pilipinas sa Negros Occidental para sa sayawing bayan; at Ligliwa Dance Troupe ng Pangasinan, SUNN (dating NONESCOST) Integrated Performing Arts ng Negros Occidental, at Tanghalang Bagong Sibol Theater and Dance Company ng Malabon para sa kontemporaryo.

Perez FROM PAGE 9 ► cultural heritage of the Filipino people,” she added.

Perez graduated from the defunct College of Architecture and Fine Arts (CAFA) in 1968 with a degree in advertising arts.

After honing his skills in the University, Perez mastered painting important places of worship in the Philippines, like the Barasoain Church in Bulacan, Quiapo Church in Manila, and Miag-ao Church in Iloilo, among many others, using watercolor.

Eleazar Abraham “Abe” Orobia, public relations officer of the UST Atelier Alumni Association, Inc., said Perez helped raise awareness of and conserve many heritage places of worship through his art.

“He contributed to the better appreciation of historical sites and houses of worship. More importantly, his genre works documented old and original features of the structures that are already lost or will be lost in the near future,” Orobia said.

Asst. Prof. Mary Ann Bulanadi, a College of Fine Arts and Design faculty member and a distant relative of Perez, remembered the late artist as a supportive figure in the art community.

“He was very supportive of all projects and exhibits we did… He was active in the national and Bulacan art scene,” Bulanadi said.

Perez was born on March 30, 1947 in Hagonoy, Bulacan.

His fervor for heritage churches can be traced to when he fell ill at a young age. His mother, wanting his son to be cured of fever, pledged the young Al to the icon of Santa Monica in the visita or chapel of Santo Cristo in Hagonoy, in exchange for his recovery.

During his stay at UST, Perez was under the tutelage of the late Professor Emeritus Cenon Rivera, whose stained glass work is installed in various churches.

He pursued further studies in New York at the Arts Students League in 1984 and at the School of

Visual Arts in 1996.

Because of his virtuosity in making religious artwork, Perez was commissioned to paint gifts for pontiffs twice: in 1981, when he painted the Agoo, La Union Church for Pope John Paul II, and in 2015 when he did a portrait of Pope Francis.

Perez had also participated in international competitions, including the Havana Biennale in 1986 and the 17th Singapore International Arts Festival in 1998, and group shows at the Vatican in 2000 and the Macau Museum of Art in 2002.

His paintings of heritage churches and other religious figures have been reproduced in Philippine postage stamps.

In 1989, Perez was feted by the City of Maynila with the Araw ng Maynila Award.

Perez’s wake will be held at Loyola Memorial Chapels in Marikina until March 5. Interment will be on March 6.

Jr., conductor and founder of the UST Singers.

Capping the set was the group’s rendition of “Wheels of a Dream” from the award-winning musical “Ragtime.”

DLSU Chorale member Dana Guillarte, one of the organizers of “Saliw Lasalyano,” said the event aimed to “foster camaraderie” among the ensembles and feature the artistry of chorale performances.

“The inspiration behind bringing together renowned chorale groups from the ‘Big 4’ universi-

ties stemmed from a desire to celebrate the rich chorale tradition and talent present in these esteemed institutions,” she told the Varsitarian

“By uniting these distinguished groups, we aimed to elevate the choral landscape, promote collaboration, and inspire excellence within the collegiate choral community,” she added.

“Saliw Lasalyano” was the second chorale festival organized by the DLSU Chorale that gathered ensembles from universities across the Philippines.

Following the board’s input, the proposed changes will be submitted to the OSA for approval.

Gabuat also apologized for the SOCC’s “silence” amid the TomasinoWeb issue, saying the council “[did] not want to act hastily without a proper plan of action.”

“We want to say sorry for letting our constituents in the organization left in the dark this past week kasi we wanted to release a statement that is concise and concrete enough,” he said.

“Starting right now, we, the SOCC, would help our constituents–the student organizations–to voice out [their sentiments] and let the administrators hear their cries.”

ART EDITOR: ALLAN CHRISTOPHER M. SAYAT

GOUSTE ZYMON M. GAILO

BARLENE LOUELLE MARIE P. BUMALAY

Salinggawi

MULA PAHINA 5 ►

EDITOR: JOHN PETER L. CAJAYON

Altea headlines HS volleyball studs joining seniors team

By Ernest Martin G. Tuazon

FIVE PROSPECTS from UST’s girls’ volleyball program have opted to remain at the University and join the Golden Tigresses for UAAP Season 87.

Among them is six-foot middle blocker Margaret Altea, the Junior Golden Tigresses team captain who steered UST to a bronze-medal finish in Season 86.

A one-time second-best mid-

dle blocker in the juniors division of the UAAP, Altea will provide a much-needed boost to the Tigresses’ frontline.

Outside hitter Bien Arasan was the first Junior Golden Tigress to commit to UST’s women’s volleyball program.

Ysa Chua, an opposite hitter originally from Bacolod City who transferred to UST for senior high school, has also chosen to continue playing for UST.

Alongside Arasan and Chua, Abi

Sinson, who can play both the opposite hitter and outside hitter positions, will complement the Tigresses’ deep roster of talented spikers from Season 87 onwards.

The team’s libero pool will also be bolstered by Sandrine Escober, completing the group of five Junior Golden Tigresses who have decided to continue their volleyball careers at UST.

The Tigresses have also secured the commitment of middle blocker Francine Osis, who formerly played for the NU Lady Bulldogs.

Spotlight on junior high in new UAAP basketball tournament

By Ernest Martin G. Tuazon

UST WILL host the first game of the inaugural UAAP junior high school (JHS) basketball tournament, with the opening game scheduled for Sunday, March 10, at the Quadricentennial Pavilion.

Distinct from the boys’ division of UAAP basketball, the JHS basketball tournament will be a demonstration event showcasing players under the age of 16.

The inaugural tournament will feature seven out of the eight member schools, with only the University of the Philippines Integrated School opting not to compete.

The JHS basketball tournament will provide players with an opportunity to develop and prepare for higher-level competitions, said Tiger Cubs head coach Manu Inigo.

“We got excited for the kids because they will have a chance to experience UAAP basketball as early as now,” he told the Varsitarian. “It will be a big help for their development and it would help us prepare them more before they play for the main team.”

Inigo is confident that UST is well-prepared for the tournament, citing the Tiger Cubs’ participation in several pre-season competitions such as the United Basketball League (UBL), the U-17 Sulit Breakdown Basketball Invitational (BBI) and the Pinoy Super League.

But he said other teams would be ready as well, given the established grassroots programs of the other six schools, namely the Adamson Baby

Falcons, Ateneo Blue Eagles, De La Salle Zobel Junior Archers, FEU-Diliman Baby Tamaraws, NU Nazareth School Bullpups, and the UE Junior Red Warriors.

UST’s 16-man roster will be led by team captain and standout from Davao, Lorenz Cinco, and co-captain Basty Castro, who transferred from San Beda University – Taytay. Other notable players in the lineup include Nickson Cabañero, the younger brother of Growling Tigers co-captain Nic Cabañero, and Nyjah Escobido, a relative of Soysoy Escobido.

As a demonstration sport, the JHS basketball tournament will not contribute to the UAAP’s general championship tally.

Depending on the success of the demonstration tournament, the UAAP will consider implementing new rules regarding residency and eligibility for players transferring between member schools in the JHS basketball tournament and the boys’ basketball competition.

Athletes who participated in the recently concluded UAAP boys’ basketball tournament may join the inaugural JHS tournament as long as they meet the U-16 age requirement. The tournament will feature a single round-robin format, with the top four teams advancing to the knockout semi-finals, leading to a winner-takeall championship game.

The Tiger Cubs will kick off the JHS basketball tournament against the FEU-Diliman Baby Tamaraws on March 10, Sunday, at 9 a.m. at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

Rayne Maravilla earned a silver medal after falling short in the finals match against UE’s Brynt Gale, James Lim, Frances Obzunar and Louis Shoemaker, 45-18.

UST sabre coach Donnie Navarro lauded the Junior Tiger Fencers’ improvement after finishing third last season.

This year’s Rector’s Cup, which drew 280 players, nearly doubled the P1.7 million raised in last year’s tournament.

According to the Rector’s Cup committee, more than P18 million has been donated to UST student-athletes since the tournament’s inception in 2016.

Junior Lady Fencers Maria Gillana, Bailey Olayres, Kathleen Tuy and Krystal Tuy clinched gold on the last day of the tournament, pulling off a 45-35 rout of UE’s Nicole Canlas, Kirsten Catantan, Sophia Catantan and Adrienne Lising.

“Malaking achievement talaga ito lalo na sa boys’ fencing team namin” UST sabre coach Donnie Navarro told the Varsitarian. “Gagawin namin ‘tong motivation at reminder sa amin na may ibubuga talaga kami. Hindi kami hanggang dito lang.”

Almonte gave Adamson a onepoint lead in the extended fourth set, 26-25, super rookie Angeline Poyos scored the last three points for the Tigresses to secure the win and complete UST’s sweep of the first round, winning the set, 28-26.

Poyos led UST with a triple-double, scoring 18 points and contributing 10 excellent receptions and 10 excellent digs. Jonna Perdido and Regina Jurado chipped in 16 and 12 points, respectively.

UST setter Cassie Carballo tallied 22 excellent sets to go along with five points.

Coach anticipates tougher Round 2

The UST Golden Tigresses’ unblemished Round 1 record in

The tournament was established by former UST rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. and conceptualized by alumnus Robert Sy. Its proceeds aim to raise funds to support student-athletes in the UAAP.

The UE Red Warriors bagged their ninth quadruple crown and ruled all divisions for the third season in a row. nation that we will be giving to our student-athletes,” she told the Varsitarian after the turnover ceremony at the Chairman George S.K. Ty Hall of the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building on March 18.

During enrollment, UST students are required to pay a P2,000 athletic fee and a P150 sports fee per semester to support student-athletes and sustain the sports facilities of the University.

Season 86 represents not only one of their strongest starts in history but also their best start under the leadership of head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes. Reyes had never achieved a firstround sweep since taking over from Shaq de los Santos in 2015 until this season. The last time the Tigresses achieved a first-round sweep was under former head coach August Sta. Maria in Season 69, which was one of their championship seasons.

However, despite achieving his best start with the team, Reyes is focused on the upcoming games rather than dwelling on the present.

“Mahaba pa rin ang liga, pero luckily na-‘Lucky 7’ namin ‘yong record namin ngayong first round,” Reyes said. “Mas malaking challenge

‘yong papasok na second round.”

The start was surprising even for the Tigresses, who had entered the season without expectations, as they were expected to undergo a rebuild following the departure of Eya Laure.

“Super grateful ako na umabot kami sa 7-0, although wala talaga kaming expectations ngayong season, tine-take lang talaga namin one game at a time and gusto lang talaga naming umuwi nang walang regrets,” sophomore setter Cassie Carballo said.

The Tigresses’ dominant first round was no fluke. Rookie Angeline Poyos has emerged as one of the league’s most dominant attackers, Carballo has remained a force in the setting department,

The Lady Fencers and Juniors Lady Fencers settled for bronze medals in the team epee category in their respective divisions after faltering against their De La Salle University foes.

and team captain Bernadett Pepito has been spearheading the team’s defense as libero.

They showcased their strength by dominating the NU Lady Bulldogs, outlasting the DLSU Lady Spikers, and defeating the FEU Lady Tamaraws via reverse sweep in key character-building games this season.

Despite their strong start, the Tigresses are now focused on maintaining their momentum as they head into the second round.

“Sinabi namin last time na sinimulan namin ng maganda yung first round, and grateful na natapos namin siya ng maganda with a win,” said the rookie stud Poyos. “I know na marami pa ring [kailangan] trabahuhin and marami

Junior Tiger Fencer Rayne Maravilla bagged the Rookie of the Year plum.

pang ia-adjust sa mga susunod pang games, at talagang bawal pa magrelax since may isa pang round.”

For Pepito, despite having no specific expectations, the Tigresses are determined to showcase their abilities and continue to surprise their opponents in the second round.

“Sabi nga nila na no expectations kami this season,” she said. “Ang importante for us is mapakita namin kung ano talaga ‘yong tinatraining namin.”

“Marami pang kulang. Marami pa kaming kailangan iimprove, and hindi kami pwede maging complacent lalo na sa standing namin ngayon kasi alam namin na mas maraming teams ‘yong mas gigil na makabawi sa amin.”

The Varsitarian MARCH 20, 2024

► UST team captain Detdet Pepito lets out a scream during the Golden Tigresses’ win against Adamson on March 16.

GOLDEN TIGRESSES SWEEP FIRST ROUND OF UAAP VOLLEYBALL

THE UST Golden Tigresses fended off the Adamson Lady Falcons in four sets, 25-18, 22-25, 25-15, 28-26, to complete a rare first-round sweep in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum on Saturday, March 16.

The last time UST achieved a first-round sweep in women’s volleyball was in UAAP Season 69, one of its championship seasons.

“Mahaba pa rin ang liga, pero still, luckily na ‘Lucky 7’ namin ‘yung record namin ngayong first round,” UST head coach Emilio ‘Kung-fu’ Reyes said postgame. “Mas malaking challenge ‘yung papasok na second round.

UST will enter the second round

as the hunted team as it sits atop the standings with a perfect 7–0 record.

After a nearly four-hour delay to the match which was supposed to start at 4 p.m., the Tigresses started strong with a 13-5 run to secure the opening set, winning 25-18.

The Lady Falcons tied the game at one set apiece after overcoming the Tigresses with a 25-22 second-set win.

In the third set, the Tigresses displayed an offensive masterclass, capitalizing on 15 attack points, which equaled Adamson’s total points for the set. This performance gave them a two-sets-to-one advantage, winning the set 25-15.

After a down-the-line hit by Lucille

4 UST teams finish strong in UAAP fencing

By Emmanuel John B. Abris

THE UST Tiger Fencers secured podium finishes in the four divisions of the UAAP Season 86 fencing tournament, which held its awarding at the Quadricentennial Pavilion on Sunday, March 17.

UST ended the season with a 2-03 gold-silver-bronze medal haul in the men’s division to finish with silver in the fencing tournament.

The Junior Tiger Fencers also scored

silver after finishing with a 1-2-4 tally in the boys’ division.

The UST Lady Fencers and their junior counterparts placed third overall.

They capped the season with 1-1-3 and 1-0-5 medal hauls in the women’s and girls’ divisions, respectively.

The Lady Fencers, who finished with silver last season, ended their Season 86 campaign on a high note as Lady Fencers Janna Catantan, Kim Tuy and Kristel Chacon secured their lone gold medal in the team sabre category after

escaping UE’s Queen Dalmacio, Andrea Matias and Shareen Beltran, 45-44. Tiger Fencers Marrke Abaygar, Raphael Lizares, Joseph Amores and Angelo Rambongga bagged a bronze medal on the last day of the tournament after faltering against DLSU Green Fencers Reindelle Lacerna, Jose Mercado and Marion Gamilla in men’s foil, 45-30. In boys’ foil, UST’s Ranzel Aberilla, Hanz Dela Peña, Lamar Fernandez and

UST’s Angge Poyos goes for a kill against two Adamson defenders.

► The UST Office of Alumni Relations turns over the proceeds from the 6th Rector’s Cup to Thomasian student-athletes in a ceremony on Monday, March 18, at the Chairman George S.K. Ty Hall of the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building. PHOTO BY JEREMY R. EDERA/

Rector’s Cup raises P3 million for UST student-athletes

By Hannah Joyce V. Andaya

The Office of Alumni Relations (OAR) raised P3 million for UST student-athletes during the sixth edition of the Rector’s Cup, a golf tournament for alumni.

The tournament took place on Feb. 12 at the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club in General Trias, Cavite. The funds raised from the event were handed over to the Institute of Physical Education and

Athletics during a ceremony on March 18.

OAR Director Joreen Ricamora said the 2022 Rector’s Cup saw the highest number of participants since its establishment in 2016. “We hope to increase the participation from our alumni through their engagement, increase sponsorship and honors, and ultimately increase the do-

►

PHOTO BY JEREMY R. EDERA/ THE VARSITARIAN