THE VARSITARIAN P.Y. 2023-2024 ISSUE 16

NAVIGATING UST CAMPUS A CHALLENGE FOR PWDs

By John Ezekiel J. Hirro

IT’S OFFICIAL: Fr. Richard Ang, O.P., who served as the University’s 97th Rector Magnificus from 2020 to 2024, has been elected to a second term. Ang’s reappointment papers, dated July 22 and signed by Fr. Gerard Francisco Timoner III, O.P., the Master of the Order and UST chancellor, were made public by UST on Monday evening.

José Tolentino Cardinal Calaça de Mendonça, the prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, issued the “nihil obstat” declaration, meaning “nothing obstructs,” after reviewing Timoner’s recommendation. This recommendation was based on a document ratified by the Board of Trustees, which includes University vice rectors, the secretary general, and other Dominican friars.

ADAM BOLANTE, a communication student paralyzed from neck to foot, longs for the day when security guards at the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. (BGPOP) Building will no longer need to unlock the main door each time he arrives for class.

Bolante has been using a wheelchair since 2016 after being diagnosed with transverse myelitis, a rare neurological condition that inflames the spinal cord and may lead to partial to complete paralysis, according to the USbased Cleveland Clinic.

The main door of the BGPOP Building, which faces the UST Open Field, is usually unlocked for events at the ground-floor lobby, second-floor ballroom, or fourth-floor function rooms. Meanwhile, the side entrance near the P. Noval Court serves as the main entry point for students and staff.

The only ramp accessible to wheelchair users is located near the oft-locked main entrance, which forces students like Bolante to wait for assistance before being able to enter the building.

“[A] guard or a person still has to go to the doors para lang mabuksan, so naghihintay ako doon,” the Artlets student told the Varsitarian

“I understand kung ba’t naka-lock ‘yon, pero gusto ko sana makapunta in and out na medyo mabilis.”

Wheelchair users like Bolante must be lifted due to a tall gutter at the side door entrance and a staircase that separates the lounge area from the lobby. At the lounge, students tap their IDs for verification, sit on benches to wait for friends, eat lunch, or hang out.

“Napaka-restrictive niya,” Carmen Zubiaga, a person with disability (PWD) advocate who ran for the Senate in 2022, told the Varsitarian when she looked at the photos of BGPOP’s entry points. “Hindi siya conducive para sa mga naka-manual na wheelchair kasi masyadong matarik ‘yong entrance.”

Zubiaga, a former executive director of the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), said UST, like other establishments, has decent facilities for PWDs that can be improved over time.

“Before, nakapunta na ako sa UST; medyo hindi pa siya gano’n ka-accessible like I have seen now,” she said. “So far, maganda na siya ngayon and I can say na students with disabilities can survive.”

Freshmen tuition up 4%

THE UNIVERSITY will charge a four-percent tuition increase on college freshmen for Academic Year (AY) 2024 to 2025.

The tuition per unit for first-year students was hiked to P1,959 from P1,884 in the previous academic year, based on the Varsitarian’s comparison of the current and previous tables of fees.

The hike was in step with the 3.9 percent consumer inflation recorded by the Philippine Statistics Authority in 2023.

In the Faculty of Engineering, which had the highest enrollment turnout last year, the full-load freshmen tuition was increased to P43,098 from P41,448, excluding miscellaneous and other fees.

In the Faculty of Arts and Letters, which had the highest number of first-year enrollees last year, the full-load tuition for freshmen now ranges from P29,385, P35,262, to P41,139. Last year, freshmen paid P28,260, P33,912, or P39,564, depending on their program.

While schools are generally required to conduct consultations with the student government, faculty, alumni, and non-teaching staff before implementing

EDITOR: NYAH GENELLE C. DE LEON

Labor unions seek Rector’s intervention against Manila’s health permit mandate

By Mabel Anne B. Cardinez

EMPLOYEE unions have urged UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. to back their efforts in challenging Manila’s health permit ordinance, arguing that its implementation is “discriminatory” and threatens to disrupt the smooth operation of UST.

In a letter addressed to the UST community on July 31, the deadline set for securing health permits, labor unions under the Organisasyon ng Nagkakaisang Empleyado ng UST (ONE-UST), namely the UST Faculty Union (USTFU), Samahang Manggagawa ng UST (SM-UST), and Ugnayan ng Nagkakaisang Manggagawa ng UST Hospital (UNM-UST), reiterated their call for a meeting with the UST administration.

ONE-UST has been seeking a meeting with the UST administration since June.

“We call on the good Father Rector or his representative to schedule a meeting with us as soon as possible for clearly, this is a labor-management concern,” the statement read.

“We also urge the Father Rector to join us, along with labor unions in private educational institutions, organized workers, and student organizations, in calling for a review of City

We call on the good Father Rector or his representative to schedule a meeting with us as soon as possible for clearly, this is a labor-management concern.

Organisasyon ng Nagkakaisang Empleyado ng UST IN A LETTER ADDRESSED TO THE UST COMMUNITY ON JULY 31

of Manila Ordinance 8793 and how it is being implemented in educational institutions,” it continued.

“The current implementation of the ordinance not only poses challenges for our workers but also threatens to disrupt the smooth functioning of our University.”

Manila Ordinance 8793, or the Sanitation and Disinfection Code of the City of Manila, was enacted on Dec. 2, 2021 to consolidate public health and sanitation laws covering establishments in Manila.

ONE-UST criticized the “discriminatory nature” of the ordinance’s implementation, claiming it was applied unfairly both within and outside the University.

The group pointed out that professionals who have obtained the annual professional tax receipt, including lawyers, doctors, and licensed teachers, are exempted from the requirement, which ONE-UST said “defeats the purpose of securing a health permit.”

“We are also aware that other educational institutions in Manila conduct annual medical examinations without requiring an additional health permit from the City Government,” it said.

The labor coalition also condemned the mandate for allegedly conflicting with the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and Department of Labor and Employment Order 53-03 from 2003, both of which require only random drug testing.

The Manila Health Department mandates that a drug test, urinalysis, and stool exam be performed at the frequently crowded and substandard

New inclement weather protocols: JHS, SHS classes at UST suspended during Signal No. 1

ONLINE and onsite classes up to the senior high school level at UST will be suspended when Signal No. 1 is raised over Manila, according to the updated class suspension guidelines released by the Office of the Secretary General (OSG) on Thursday.

Previously, under Signal No. 1, classes at all levels proceeded as scheduled. Online assessments and examinations also proceeded as scheduled.

In a memorandum dated July 18, UST Secretary General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P. made public the updated guidelines, which were crafted in consultation with the Office of the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs.

Under Signal No. 2, onsite classes at the tertiary level may be suspended at UST’s discretion. Undergraduate and graduate students may still attend their online classes asynchronously.

If face-to-face classes are suspended after they have commenced, Thomasians will be permitted to stay on campus for up to three hours in consideration of heavy vehicular and foot traffic.

All classes will be suspended under Signal No. 3.

Classes will continue as scheduled when no typhoon signal is raised, even during strong rains or in the aftermath of a typhoon. In the absence of any class suspension, the OSG said classes will proceed as scheduled, “guided by the principles of dialogue, flexibility, and accessibility.”

The OSG reiterated that decisions on class suspensions will be based on the weather situation in Manila. For students or academic staff located in other areas during inclement weather, the OSG emphasized the necessity of evaluating indi-

vidual contexts.

Academic officials will assess requests from students and academic staff to determine valid reasons that may warrant consideration and flexibility, taking into account individual contexts and concerns.

When feasible, the enriched virtual mode (EVM) of instruction, online synchronous sessions, and hy-flex sessions will be recorded and uploaded to the UST Cloud Campus to provide students access to these recordings as supplemental study material.

The updated guidelines did not include the online setup for assessments and examinations, which was included in the previous class suspension guidelines released in August 2022.

Suspension of in-person work will be announced by the OSG in coordination with the Office of the Vice Rector and the Human Resource Department.

Earlier, an OSG official told the Varsitarian that the factors for announcing class suspensions include the following: the daily weather bulletin, the academic calendar, the right balance between in-person and virtual classes, and the work arrangements of University staff and officials.

“We also closely assess the current conditions within our campus and in its immediate vicinity to ensure the safety and well-being of our University community while minimizing disruptions to learning,” Emmanuel Batulan, the executive assistant to the secretary general, told the Varsitarian in October 2023.

If there is no announcement from authorities, the University has the option of shifting to online classes using the EVM, Batulan said. C.J.H. RUGA

public health laboratory on Alvarez Street, which was previously the location of the Sta. Cruz Public Library.

ONE-UST also requested the suspension of UST’s policy that blocks faculty without health permits from accessing their MyUSTe portal accounts until a dialogue can be arranged, stating that the policy has been “causing undue stress and anxiety.”

“While we appreciate the University’s effort to clarify the issues, the memorandum has unfortunately generated more concerns, fear, anger, and confusion among our ranks,” it said.

“We believe that workers are essential partners of the University, and it is incumbent on the institution to consult and dialogue with worker representatives on issues that affect them before issuing related memoranda.”

The letter was signed by the presidents of the USTFU, SM-UST, and UNM-UST, the three labor unions that make up ONE-UST.

fee increases, this requirement is waived when the hike applies only to freshmen tuition and other fees.

Because of the so-called “sliding effect,” there will be no increase in tuition and most fees for students in higher year levels when compared with the rates they were charged last year.

The Varsitarian has learned that local student councils had begun constituency checks to discuss the new table of fees.

Outgoing Central Student Council officers were reportedly told by administrators that there would be no tuition increase this year.

UST had proposed a 7-percent increase for AY 2023 to 2024 but reduced it to six percent after facing opposition from student leaders who criticized the “rushed” consultation process.

Infra dev’t, guidance fees

Apart from tuition, a few miscellaneous and other fees will also increase in AY 2024 to 2025.

The physical infrastructure development fee saw a significant 70-percent increase, rising to P1,700 from P1,000 last year.

The guidance and counseling fee also went up to P800 from P600.

According to Assoc. Prof. Rene Tadle, president of the Arts and Letters Faculty Association, ONE-UST has requested a deadline extension to Aug. 31 from Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna but has yet to receive a response.

WITH REPORTS FROM HANNAH JOYCE V. ANDAYA

Students at UST Manila were advised to settle their fees until Aug. 7. Classes will begin on Aug. 9. E.M.A. SISON AND M.L.D. BEECH

NEW GUIDELINES ON THE SUSPENSION OF CLASSES DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER

How much will it cost to enroll at UST GenSan?

UST GENERAL Santos (GenSan) has released the table of fees for its five inaugural programs, as it expects to welcome more than 400 students when its first academic year commences on Aug. 9.

The list of fees is for the BS Accounting Information System, BS Entrepreneurship, BS Industrial Engineering, BS Medical Technology, and BS Pharmacy programs, which are existing programs in the Manila campus.

The cost of education at the Mindanao campus is lower because of lower tuition per unit and fewer miscellaneous items.

“As the newest HEI (higher education institution) in the city, UST (GenSan) offers an affordable and competitive tuition fee that guarantees high-quality standards in its program offerings,” UST GenSan said in a Facebook post.

Freshmen in UST GenSan’s entrepreneurship program must pay a total of P34,200 when paying in full. This covers 15 lecture units and costs for physical education (PE) classes and the National Service Training Program (NSTP) or Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).

UST RCSSED heads win research prizes

By Fernando Pierre Marcel B. de la Cruz

THE HEADS of the UST Research Center for Social Sciences and Education (RCSSED) have received awards for their Ph.D. research.

Assoc. Prof. Jeremaiah Opiniano, director of the RCSSED, won the 2024 Dissertation Award from the Mixed Methods International Research Association (MMIRA), which recognizes a “beginning scholar” with an “outstanding contribution” to mixed-methods research.

Opiniano received the award for his doctoral project, “Overseas Remittances and Rural Hometown Investing: Towards an Understanding of the Migrationand-Local Development Nexus.”

The same dissertation won him the John Lewis Medal of Excellence for Outstanding Doctoral Research in Geography from the Royal Geographical Society of South Australia in 2021.

A former Varsitarian sports editor, Opiniano completed his postgraduate studies in human geography at the University of Adelaide in Australia in 2021.

He teaches thesis courses and migration reporting in the journalism program of the Faculty of Arts and Letters (Artlets) and at the UST Graduate School.

Opiniano also runs the non-profit think thank Institute for Migration and Development Issues, a group focused on the phenomenon of international migration.

Meanwhile, RCSSED Asst. Director Pia Tenedero bagged the Virginia A. Miralao Excellence in Research Award (VAMERA)

Accounting information systems students at the Mindanao campus must pay P37,980 for 18 units, nearly half of the P70,299 for 24 units to be paid by freshmen at the UST-Alfredo M. Velayo College of Accountancy.

Tuition is set at P50,060 for med-

Tuition for the same program at UST Manila is more expensive, amounting to P56,894 for 18 lecture units and PE and NSTP or ROTC classes.

ical technology freshmen in GenSan. This covers 18 lecture units and four laboratory units, as well as miscellaneous costs like laboratory fees.

With three more lecture units, the same program at UST Manila costs P84,723.

Arturo Luz among 2024 Outstanding UST Atelier Alumni awardees

By Diana May B. Cabalo

SIXTEEN Thomasian artists, including the late National Artist Arturo Luz, were honored in the Outstanding UST Atelier Alumni Honors 2024, which recognized exemplary graduates of the defunct UST School of Fine Arts and its successor colleges.

The UST Atelier Alumni Association Inc. (USTAAAI) feted five artists with the posthumous Edades Award, named after the late UST Fine Arts School founder, National Artist Victorio Edades, while 11 others received the Atelier Alumni Honors during the awards ceremony on July 2 at Art Lounge Manila in Alabang.

Headlining the roster of Edades Award recipients this year was Luz, a National Artist for Visual Arts, who was a graduate of the old UST College of Architecture and Fine Arts and became a trailblazer in Philippine abstract expressionism.

Luz was named into the Order of National Artists in 1997 and died in 2021 aged 94. Joining him as an Edades awardee were conceptual and contemporary art pioneer Roberto Chabet, veteran filmmaker and produc-

tion designer Cesar Hernando, and renowned Angono-based painters Angelito Balagtas and Salvador Juban.

USTAAAI President Marissa PeYang said the awards align with the alumni association’s motto, which is “Aspire to Inspire.”

“It is my fervent hope that this honor and medal ceremony will serve as an inspiration to our awardees to always strive for artistic excellence and inspire our future Thomasian art practitioners to pursue their dreams,” she said.

The Outstanding UST Atelier honorees include furniture designer Milo Naval, composer Herbert Hernandez, and visual artists Jeffrey Almario, Threeszend Castillo-Almario, Benjamin Cabrera, Marcelino Rodriguez, Roger Santos, Sonny Palles, and Nestor Ong.

UST Industrial Design Chair Romano Macaisa and longtime

Ex-UST archivist is new chair of nat’l historical commission

By Janica Kate J. Buan

THE UST archivist behind the digitalization of the UST Archives has been appointed as chair of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).

Prof. Regalado Jose Jr., who was UST’s chief archivist from 2011 to 2021, took his oath as chair of the NHCP on July 12. He replaced Lisa Guerrero-Nakpil, who was appointed in March.

“Professor Jose is renowned for his expertise in the cultural heritage of Philippine churches,” the NHCP said in a Facebook post welcoming its new chair.

“He is also a leading researcher, scholar, and educator, playing a pivotal role in modernizing the (UST) Archives.

Jose was earlier appointed as a regular board member of the NHCP. He was named to the

board in May alongside Assoc. Prof. Eloisa de Castro of the UST Department of History. Jose was commissioner of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts from 2011 to 2013, during which he led its monuments and sites and archives committees.

An expert on sacred art, architecture, and history, Jose helped establish the UST Graduate School Center for Conservation of Cultural Property and Environment in the Tropics in 2003. He teaches cultural heritage studies at the UST Graduate School.

During his tenure as chief archivist, Jose led the modernization of the UST Archives by

ing for the

push-

digitization of rare documents through the Miguel de Benavides Digital Library.

► The UST General Santos Main Building will house students from the school’s five pioneer programs: BS Accounting Information System, BS Entrepreneurship, BS Industrial Engineering, BS Medical Technology, and BS Pharmacy. FILE PHOTO

► RCSSED Director Jeremaiah Opiniano (above) and Asst. Director Pia Tenedero (below)

► Former UST archivist Prof. Regalado Jose Jr. (left) takes his oath as the new chair of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines on July 12. NHCP PHOTO

EDITORIAL

Surviving without Sara, the ‘designated survivor’

AS SUPER typhoon “Carina” ravaged the Philippines, Vice President Sara Duterte was nowhere to be found. She was half a world away in Germany on a “personal” trip. The timing was not only “unfortunate,” as her office described it, but deeply ironic.

In July, Duterte boycotted President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) and branded herself the “designated survivor,” a reference to the US tradition where a cabinet member skips a presidential address to ensure continuity of government in case of a catastrophic event.

While Duterte later clarified that her remark was neither a joke nor a threat, the damage had already been done.

Lawmakers were quick to pounce on the vice president for the subliminal threat to Marcos Jr., with whom her alliance — the “UniTeam” tandem — has deteriorated. Many pointed out that the designated survivor role was irrelevant

to the Philippine political system. Days later, the Philippine National Police withdrew all 75 security personnel assigned to the vice president.

Duterte’s contumelious remark, aggravated by her absence during “Carina,” further eroded her already tainted public image. Her SONA boycott exposed the petty politics and

were affected by the typhoon exposed how detached she has become from the public. It’s a disqualifying act for someone who aspires for the highest office.

Her self-proclaimed “designated survivor” label now seems more fitting for her position within the crumbling Duterte dynasty. With the 2028 elections looming, Duterte

Sara Duterte is indeed a ‘designated survivor,’ but one in desperate need of rescue from self-inflicted damage.

irreconcilable differences that now define her feud with Marcos Jr. Her decision to fly overseas while nearly 50 Filipinos died and six million others

remains her family’s last hope of preserving its dwindling political clout.

In this sense, Duterte is indeed a “designated survivor,” but one in desperate need of rescue from self-inflicted damage. From budget hearing outbursts to questionable fund allocations, it is clear that her brand

of backwater and dynastic leadership is incapable of withstanding the disasters she had alluded to.

Adding to her troubles is the spectacular collapse of her coalition with Marcos Jr. Once touted as a partnership of unity, their tandem now lies in ruins, exposing their campaign promise as hollow. Just halfway into their terms, their falling-out has turned a political triumph into an irreparable rift.

While Duterte’s SONA snub may be dismissed as a symptom of her rift with Marcos Jr., her decision to leave the country during Carina is indefensible. As ordinary Filipinos braved floods, rescued neighbors, and started the long process of rebuilding, the vice president — expected to be a figure of resilience — chose to gallivant in Europe.

Duterte in fact kept herself safe and distant from the disaster, choosing to stay abroad while the country grappled with a strong typhoon.

For too long, citizens have been lauded for their resilience while the government’s failures go unchallenged. It is especially insensitive for a high government official to abandon the country amid a calamity. It’s time Filipinos held leaders accountable for disappearing in moments of crisis.

Bookends

JOHN EZEKIEL J. HIRRO

ENDINGS often cause contradictory feelings of anxiety and rage, and closures beget some stubborn sense of expectation.

The Biblical compilation begins and unfolds with the creation story that culminates into a bifold of a terrible death upon a cross and the silent, triumphant witness of an empty tomb. For his Apocalyptic bookend part, St. John — amid the widespread apathy and persecution of his day and despite a literary imagery that rings strange in our AI-generated age — writes a coded message of hope, encouragement, and anticipation to those who choose to persist in the truth and concludingly pleads, “Come, Lord Jesus.” The story always is bigger than the pages that end it.

As I conclude my tenure as editor in chief of The Varsitarian (“V”), there is something stubbornly, quietly, and persistently present in these final moments, albeit of a much lesser consequence than the beloved Revelator’s. No matter how much I try to close the book on my time here, it can’t really be over — even as the paper’s mission to document, reflect, challenge, and inform will keep moving forward, with or without me. Endings are much like the beginnings they arise from.

I have written over a million words for dear Varsi but never a love letter to her. So, here.

Time it was, and what a time it was!

Inside the 21.5-hectare expanse of the University of Santo Tomas, nothing has ever felt more like

Thank you, Varsi!

After six years at college, I’m fortunate enough to have the chance to write about how I’m wrapping up my time with UST — and with ‘V’ — in this final issue, where I get to grace its pages one last time.

home to me than Rm. 105 at the Tan Yan Kee Student Center. The Varsi office has been a workshop for growth, learning, and discovered purposes.

Since joining it in 2018, the “V” became more than just a student publication to me. It was a shaping force in my life. Here, I learned how to see the world more clearly and how to understand myself better. I was fortunate enough to cross paths with literary giants, meet sports legends, converse with religious leaders, connect with journalists from across the globe, and establish lifelong friendships. Writing, they say, allows you to capture a dream world. But with the “V,” it became a reality. Every page I wrote was a new layer added to the dream — one where I could create, challenge, and reflect the world I was living in.

I began my journey at the “V” as a sportswriter. At the time, I was a freshman in Information Technology. My first coverage feels like it was a lifetime ago, when Imee Hernandez (now a volleyball pro) and Detdet Pepito (now a multi-time UAAP Best Libero at the college level) were still in high school. I was lucky enough to witness the Tigers’ last trip to the UAAP men’s basketball finals in 2019, watching a team of underdogs surprise the league every game, despite falling short in the end.

In my second year, I was tasked with editing the News section and overseeing the publication’s online presence. While I loved the work, the series of changes in my life led me to pause my studies.

After a semester of introspection, I made the decision to pursue AB Journalism. And during my first year in the program, I was appointed editor in chief of the “V.”

One of the defining moments of my tenure was launching our inaugural Paskuhan issue. At the “V,” we take great pride in our Christmas editions, even though they often end up being used as makeshift seat covers during Paskuhan festivities (seriously, please read our issues instead of treating them as seating arrangements, and for the love of all things sacred, don’t leave them on the field!). My first issue as editor in chief was exclusively digital and published on Issuu. My team and I sacrificed precious noche buena preparation hours to uphold the tradition of creating special Paskuhan editions. Featuring beautiful artwork inspired by Pope Francis’ message that “No pandemic can turn off the light of Christmas,” the cover art depicting Jesus in the manger became one of my favorites.

The pandemic lingered until the next Paskuhan, during which our second issue focused on the Pope Francis’s Christmas 2021 message about being “evangelized by the humility of Christmas.”

By 2022, the world began to return to some semblance of normalcy. UST celebrated significant back-to-back Baccalaureate Masses honoring those from pandemic-affected batches, along with the first

Best job in the world

View from the Edge

EDUELLE JAN

T. MACABABBAD

THE WORD “inevitability” hides behind the painful lyrics of Kamikazee’s “Huling Sayaw” (Last Dance), as the song declares, “May dulo pala ang langit” (Heaven has an end). The inevitable arrives with the speed of lightning, leaving little time for reflection.

It feels like only yesterday that I appeared before the Selection Committee via Zoom to apply as a Special Reports (SR) writer for the Varsitarian (“V”). Nestor Cuartero, a former Circle editor who made his name chronicling entertainment and celebrity stories, left me with cold, sweaty hands after an intense, hour-long grilling on campus and sociopolitical issues. Days earlier, I had read an SR piece lamenting the sorry state of campus politics at UST; that preparation saved me.

For the next three years, my “V” journey was a whirlwind of daily convulsions and over-the-top jokes. The balancing act of scaling mountains of work while wading through waves of laughter made time slip by unnoticed. In what felt like a blink, one publication year transitioned into the next.

No one cared much about the calendar until

The English translation of Timoner’s announcement reads:

“In accordance with the statutes of the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas in Manila (art. X), received with the approval and confirmation of the Holy See, by the tenor of those present and by the authority of our office, name and install Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. as the Rector Magnificus of the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas in Manila to four years.” Ang’s installation rites will take place on Sept. 9 at the UST Santisimo Rosario Parish Church.

Ang was the top candidate for rector after the Academic Senate evaluated and ranked the terna, which included himself and two former UST rectors.

Research heads FROM PAGE 3 ►

given by the Philippine Social Science Council for her book, “Communication that Counts: Language Practice and Ideology in Globalized Accounting.”

Published after she obtained her doctorate in linguistics from Macquarie University in Australia in 2021, the project looks into dominant views about communication, especially in the field of accounting.

The VAMERA award is given to authors of a published journal article, book chapter, or book to encourage young scholars below 45 years old to “pursue original and meaningful research,” the RCSSED said.

Tenedero is a faculty member of the Department of English in Artlets who had served as the RCSSED lead person for language studies. She is also an honorary research fellow at the Macquarie University’s linguistics department.

The RCSSED is the social science research arm of UST, named an outstanding research institution in the country by the National Research Council of the Philippines in February.

My ‘V’ journey was a whirlwind of daily convulsions and over-the-top jokes. The balancing act of scaling mountains of work while wading through waves of laughter made time slip by unnoticed. In what felt like a blink, one publication year transitioned into the next.

the day of the Baccalaureate Mass arrived, bringing our daily routines to a screeching halt. With only two months left to recruit new staff and orient the team, I realized that everything was about to end.

The real deal

Automobile tycoon Henry Ford once said, “One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his great surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn’t do.”

Fear struck me on my first assignment when a marine biology professor didn’t reply to my messages. I needed his quotes because he’d recently been elected vice president of a maritime sciences federation. Out of desperation, I messaged his colleagues on Facebook. The next day, someone must have tipped him off about the persistent campus journalist, because he responded with his answers while on a flight, just in time to meet my deadline.

That experience was a glimpse of how the “V” pushed me to achieve more than I thought possible. The unwavering trust of my editors and advisers taught me how journalism operates in the social

Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. (rector from 2012-2016 and 2016-2020) and Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, O.P. (1990-1994, 1994-1998, and 2008-2012) ranked second and third, respectively.

UST rectors, who serve four-year terms, are often re-elected to second terms, as seen with Dagohoy, De la Rosa, Fr. Norberto Castillo, O.P. (19821986 and 1986-1990), and Fr. Tamerlane Lana, O.P. (1998-2002 and 2002-2006).

Fr. Isaias Tiongco, O.P. served as acting rector while the University awaited the Vatican’s decision.

A UST alumnus, Ang graduated with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the Faculty of Arts and Letters in 1990 and a bachelor’s degree in sacred

media age, amid political upheavals, and in the face of irate deans and administrators.

In 2022, the “V” sprang its biggest surprise on me: an editorial board position. Despite having sworn off leadership roles after four years as president of my high school’s Central Student Council, I found myself accepting the role of acting managing editor—a job I hadn’t sought. Before accepting, I gave myself a 10-minute pep talk in front of the bathroom mirror.

This surprise led me into the heart of UST’s bureaucracy. Submitting documents to various offices across our 21-hectare campus was a mind-boggling ordeal. Thanks to the help of our diligent editorial assistant, Alexander Cardenas, we navigated this intricate network of accommodating, professional, and sometimes frustrating support staff.

Guardians

My journey at the “V” was rewarding thanks to the dedication of my advisers and colleagues, who poured their energy and sacrificed time to produce

theology from the Ecclesiastical Faculties in 1997.

He earned a licentiate in sacred theology and a master’s degree in religious studies from the Ecclesiastical Faculties and the Graduate School in 1999, followed by a doctorate in philosophy from the Ecclesiastical Faculties in 2010. He consistently received Latin honors throughout his academic career at UST.

The major achievements of Ang’s first term included the opening of new UST campuses: the research-focused UST Santa Rosa and the UST General Santos campus in Mindanao.

During his tenure, the University enhanced its information technolo-

gy infrastructure and introduced the “enriched virtual mode” for online synchronous and asynchronous classes, which was crucial to the continuity of UST’s operations during the Covid-19 pandemic.

He also led the return to in-person classes and switched the University’s learning management system to Canvas from Blackboard.

Under his leadership, UST inaugurated the College of Information and Computing Sciences.

Ang also prioritized improving research quality. In May, UST made its debut in the Times Higher Education Asian Rankings, largely due to its strong research performance.

FROM PAGE 3 ►

College of Fine Arts and Design educator Manuel Dacanay Jr. also received the award.

“When I was thinking of the project, first and foremost, I really wanted to honor the professors and educators,” Pe-Yang told the Varsitarian in Filipino. “I thought that all their lives, they were there teaching, and yet they barely received recognition.”

Edades awardees were given the “Awakened Inspiration” medallion, while Outstanding UST Atelier honorees received the “Brainstorm Amidst Creation” medallion, both designed by UST advertising arts graduate Janos Delacruz.

Internationally acclaimed Thomasian artists Edgar Doctor, Nemi Miranda, Ramon Orlina, Fil Delacruz, and Raul Isidro sat on the screening committee of the 2024 Outstanding UST Atelier Alumni Honors. The awards ceremony was followed by the launch of the all-Thomasian fundraising exhibit “Vision Paradigm,” organized by the USTAAAI in partnership with the UST Office of Alumni Relations.

An expert in Eastern Philosophy, Ang served as vice rector under Dagohoy and is also a former dean of the Faculty of Philosophy and secretary of the Ecclesiastical Faculties. Candidates for rector must be Filipino members of the Dominican Order with civil or ecclesiastical doctorates. According to the University’s general statutes, the Rector, as the chief executive officer of the University, is responsible for the promulgation of laws and rules in the University, the appointment of officials, the annual budget of the University, and the approval of programs and semester schedules for all faculties, colleges, and schools.

Decades after horror, justice still elusive for PH’s comfort women

By Chalssea Kate C. Echegoyen and Ralent M. Penilla

EVER SINCE Rosa Henson unveiled, in 1992, her harrowing experience at the hands of Japanese forces during World War II, justice for thousands of sex slaves in the Philippines euphemistically called “comfort women” has never been fully realized.

Japan formally apologized in 1991 to comfort women, who “lived in misery at comfort stations under a coercive atmosphere.” In 2019, they said 211 women in the Philippines received atonement money and medical support amounting to ¥3.2 million (roughly P1.2 million).

And yet, surviving comfort women and their representatives feel that the Philippine government has completely sidelined and forgotten them.

“Unfortunately, what we are seeing is that it feels as though the Philippine government is just waiting for the last lola to die,” a volunteer lawyer for the Malaya Lolas (Free Grandmothers), a Pampanga-based group of surviving World War II comfort women, told the Varsitarian. “[T]hey might not have to wait that long because a lot of the lolas are sick now.” (The lawyer requested anonymity to avoid compromising her trip to Japan.)

The Philippines was called out last year by the Commission on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), an international treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1979 protecting women’s rights, for its failure to provide “full reparation, including recognition, redress and an official apology for material and moral damages” against comfort women.

The CEDAW decision laid bare the stark differences between the country’s treatment of war veterans and comfort women as the former, who are predominantly male, receive healthcare benefits, pension and burial assistance, while the latter has no corresponding benefits to enjoy.

“[T]he comfort women – they are entitled to equal protection [but] were not given any,” public interest lawyer Romel Bagares, executive director of the Center for International Law, told the Varsitarian. “In fact, the rights were denied, and the government, therefore, was discriminatory.”

Imperial Japan subjected women to forced prostitution between 1932 and 1945. Impoverished Korean women aged between 16 and 21 years old were coaxed and intimated to work in comfort stations. In 1937, the Japanese military raped up to 80,000 Chinese women as they massacred citizens of the city of Nanking for six weeks.

When the Japanese took control of the Philippines in 1941, a number of women were forced to provide sexual services to the colonizers’ army, with family members killed in front of the victims.

Henson, who died in 1997 at age 69, recounted her horrific tale for the first time in the book “Comfort Woman: Slave of Destiny,” which took about a year to write. She was abandoned by her husband upon divulging the painful revelations.

Destiny proved cruel to whom they called Lola Rosa: She was the product of a rape incident that her mother suffered at the hands of a wealthy businessman. During the war, Japanese soldiers took turns in raping her every day for nine months until Hukbahalap guerillas from Pampanga rescued her.

In 1997, Isabelita Vinuya – a comfort woman who survived torture and rape inside a residence in San Ildefonso, Bulacan, called Bahay na Pula (The Red House) – established the Malaya Lolas, demanding an apology and reparations from Japan. Vinuya died in 2021, one day preceding the death of a comfort woman from China named Yu Aizhen.

Hazel Faco, a volunteer lawyer for Malaya Lolas, said the group is fighting for the government to acknowledge its decades-long failure to address the plight of comfort women.

“Hindi kasi charity ‘yong pinaglalaban namin dito eh,” she told the Varsitarian. “It’s actually a formal acknowledgement of what happened to them, na ‘yong nangyari sa kanila, totoo. And it’s an act of injustice and that, we are sorry na hindi namin kayo pinaglaban for the past few decades. ‘Yon ‘yong hinihingi namin sa Philippine government.”

Friendship

For Charisse Castaño, public relations officer at Gabriela Women’s Party, the country’s lack of support for comfort women stems from the fact that it wants to keep its relationship

with Japan intact.

“Ito ‘yong treatment [ng government] sa comfort women: Just to keep quiet. Do the bare minimum,” Castaño told the Varsitarian. “[B]igyan sila ng charity para tumahimik and then kapag nawala na ‘yong pinakahuling lola, mawawala na rin ‘yong problema natin. They don’t want to compromise on the relationship with Japan.”

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan touted that his country’s ties with the Philippines had reached a “golden age.” Addressing a joint session of Congress on Nov. 4, 2023, he declared: “We cannot forget the endeavor of our predecessors based on the spirit of tolerance, including the pardon of Japanese war criminals by President (Elpidio) Quirino in 1953, which paved the way for our two countries to overcome difficult times and build the friendly relationship we enjoy today.”

Japan began rehabilitating its image on the international stage in 1951 with the passage of the San Francisco Treaty, with the Philippines being one of the signatories. Japan paid its former colony $550 million in war reparations as a result.

Most recently, the two countries entered into negotiations to forge a defense pact called the Reciprocal Access Agreement that would provide access to Philippine bases and facilitate joint exercises.

Castaño criticized President Fer-

dinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for his close ties with Japan without demanding reparations to compensate comfort women.

“Seemingly ay binabago ‘yong ating kasaysayan at mistulang parang walang dumanak na dugo at walang naabusong kababaihan dito sa Filipinas dahil sa ngayon ay todong pagpapasok ng mga dayuhang militar ang ginagawa ng gobyerno,” she said.

“So far, wala tayong nakikitang measures kasi kahit si President Marcos, kahit noong bumisita dito ‘yong top government officials galing Japan, ay wala rin naman siyang sinabi tungkol sa pagsusulong ng karapatan ng mga comfort women.”

In 2010, the Supreme Court denied Malaya Lolas’s petition to compel the Philippine government to demand Japan for an official apology and reparations before the International Court of Justice.

“[W]e greatly sympathize with the cause of petitioners, and we cannot begin to comprehend the unimaginable horror they underwent at the hands of the Japanese soldiers,” Associate Justice Mariano Del Castillo wrote in Vinuya v. Romulo. “Needless to say, our government should take the lead in protecting its citizens against violation of their fundamental human rights. Regrettably, it is not within our power to order the Executive Department to take up the petitioners’ cause.”

Discrimination

In the CEDAW decision, the 20-person committee highlighted the “indirect discrimination” that comfort women were suffering, as evidenced by the establishment of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, which handles veterans’ pensions and other benefits. “The Committee takes note of the assertion that it is discriminatory that no corresponding dignified treatment, recognition, benefits or services or any form of support are provided for the Malaya Lolas,” the 19-page decision read.

Lawyers believe that the prevalence of patriarchy in Philippine society has warped the government’s treatment of comfort women.

“Ang sad reality kasi dito sa ating lipunan, tinitignan iyong kababaihan bilang mahihina, pang-kama lang, [at] dapat nasa bahay lang,” Castaño lamented.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, the Senate deputy minority leader, filed Senate Bill 539, urging the Philippine government to fulfill the recommendations of CEDAW, including the establishment of a nationwide reparation scheme, removal of discriminatory policies involving policies to aid civilian victims of war, create a memorial to preserve Bahay na Pula and include the plight of victims in high school and college curriculum. The bill still sits on the committee level.

The opposition Makabayan Bloc, for its part, has filed House Bill 8859 that will declare August 14 as “National Memorial Day for Comfort Women.” The bill remains pending before the Committee on Women and Gender Equality since it was filed on Aug. 15, 2023.

With fewer than 20 Filipino comfort women still alive – most are already frail that advocate groups and family members refused to make them available for an interview – lawyers plead with a nation known for its short-term memory to pass the harrowing tales of comfort women toward the next generation.

“[I]f you do not understand what happened to you in the past, there’s a very big possibility that you will not be able to chart your future well,” the volunteer lawyer from Malaya Lolas stressed. “And then there’s a big possibility that you will not be aware of the many dangers that the people are facing in terms of possibilities of wars of occupation happening again.”

► An old photo of the members of Malaya Lolas (Free Grandmothers), a Pampanga-based group of surviving World War II comfort women. PHOTO GRABBED FROM MALAYA LOLAS’S FACEBOOK PAGE

► Justice for the thousands of sex slaves in the Philippines, euphemistically referred to as ‘comfort women,’ has never been fully achieved, according to a lawyer representing World War II comfort women from Pampanga. ART BY JINMARSON CHESTER V. PUA

Cha-cha in ‘backburner’ benefits Marcos – analysts

PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s silence on the issue of charter change (cha-cha) during his third State of the Nation Address (Sona) reflected the fragility of his political coalition and the urgency to resolve more pressing problems plaguing the country.

This year’s Sona centered on the announcement to ban Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos), the reassertion of the country’s defense of its rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and the resurging economy based on improvements in agriculture, infrastructure and trade.

Absent from the 82-minute speech was any mention of cha-cha, which the President’s cousin, Speaker Martin Romualdez, had vigorously advocated but had received lackluster support in the Senate.

Prof. Amr Solon Sison, a former political science professor at UST who now works at Bicol University, said it was “prudent enough” for Marcos to keep his mouth zipped on cha-cha.

“It boils down to the political climate as of the moment,” he told the Varsitarian. “The regime is trying to stabilize its hold on power. That is the political narrative that exists in the country as of the moment.”

Sison said cha-cha’s divisive nature has prompted the President to channel his energies on more unifying subjects, such as banning Pogos and taking a bolder stance on the WPS dispute.

Ever since cha-cha dominated the news cycle in December 2023, the political landscape has changed dramatically. The Uniteam coalition of Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio collapsed. Members of the House and Senate squabbled over how and when cha-cha should be handled.

Duterte-Carpio is opposed to any

► President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. enters the House chamber during his third State of the Nation Address on July 22. According to analysts, his silence on the issue of charter change reflected the fragility of his political coalition and the urgency to resolve more pressing problems plaguing the country. PHOTO GRABBED FROM PCO

amendment, telling supporters in January to “safeguard” the Constitution from any veiled political interests. Her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, has been more outspoken, warning Marcos that he will be deposed by the people like his father in 1986 if he revises any political provisions of the charter.

Priorities

A measly eight percent of Filipinos are open to amending the Constitution at this time, as per a Pulse Asia poll published on March 27. Respondents thumbed down the proposal to lift foreign ownership limits on educational institutions, public utilities and advertising firms by a huge margin.

Nearly three-fourths oppose political amendments, including term extensions for elective officials, a shift from bicameral to unicameral

legislature and a change to a parliamentary system, among others.

The Senate is not in a hurry to accommodate any cha-cha proposal.

“[P]ending bills on charter change will be placed on the backburner and will follow the ordinary and regular process of legislation, if at all,” Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said on Monday at the opening of the third regular session of the 19th Congress. “In its stead, bills which can effect the same result – but without the needless political noise and bickering – will be prioritized. This will allow us to focus our energy on measures, which the people truly need.”

Senators have historically quashed hopes for any cha-cha attempt to succeed, especially if they sense they are outnumbered when voting begins.

Marcos takes stand vs China’s bullying

SINCE the Philippines earned a hardfought victory at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 that legitimized the Philippines’ territorial claims at the West Philippine Sea, China has dominated conversations among policymakers and opinionmakers about foreign policy and national security.

That domination was profoundly evident when President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. delivered his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22. Two years into the Marcos presidency, Beijing has been a constant source of headache as tensions at the contested waters erupt and revelations about the dark secrets of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) emerge.

The conflict at the West Philippine Sea has been characterized by much-publicized episodes of boat ramming, water cannoning and, in one instance, accidental finger cutting.

China has relied on bullying tactics as the Philippines doubles down on its sovereignty at the islands, which Marcos reiterated during his SONA: “Ang West Philippine Sea ay hindi isang kathang-isip natin lamang. Ito ay atin. At ito ay mananatiling atin hangga’t nag-aalab ang diwa ng ating mahal na bansang Filipinas.”

Minimizing trouble in the West Philippine Sea is a thorny endeavor for the Marcos administration.

“It is caught between the United States (US), which, of course, is trying to maintain a balance of power here in the region and, of course, China, [which] is bent on pushing the United States out of the region [because it’s] affecting Chinese hegemony,” Prof. Renato de Castro, an international studies professor at the De La Salle University, told the Varsitarian In December, Jonathan Malaya, the assistant director general of the National Security Council, told the Varsitarian in an interview that the President was avoiding the mistakes of his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte,

Ang West Philippine Sea ay hindi isang kathang-isip natin lamang. Ito ay atin. At ito ay mananatiling atin hangga’t nag-aalab ang diwa ng ating mahal na bansang Filipinas.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. IN HIS STATE OF THE NATION

ON JULY 22, 2024

who cozied up with China by dismissing the arbitral victory as a mere “piece of paper.”

“Having learned from that experience, President Marcos said, ‘You know, we will continue talking.’ We will not be bullied,” Malaya said.

On July 1, the President’s own sister, Sen. Imee Marcos, warned that 25 areas in the country could be possible targets by China because of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement sites.

Malaya rejected the warning. “The Philippines and China maintain cordial relations and are committed to managing whatever differences there may be,” he said in a statement two days later.

Political analyst Ronald Llamas told the Varsitarian that China would avoid any action that might ignite war for fear of losing its standing on the international stage.

“If the world gets angry at China

Various progressive groups attend the “People’s SONA 2024” along Commonwealth Avenue on Monday, July 22, coinciding with President Bongbong Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address.

PHOTOS BY JEREMY R. EDERA, JAN KRISTOPHER T. ESGUERRA, AND J.P.T. GONZALES

SPECIAL REPORTS

Building age confronts UST efforts to make campus PWD-friendly

Improving facilities for persons with disability (PWDs) falls on the question of feasibility, as some of the buildings in UST were constructed way before the passage of the PWD law.

RETROFITTING buildings in UST to be more accommodating for persons with disability (PWDs) primarily hinges on their age.

Nine of the 21 edifices at the Sampaloc campus were constructed before Batas Pambansa 344 was enacted in 1983. This law, known as “An Act to Enhance the Mobility of Disabled Persons by Requiring Certain Buildings, Institutions, Establishments and Public Utilities to Install Facilities and Other Devices,” imposes specific measurements and materials required for PWD facilities, including ramps, tactile pavings, and staircases.

Fr. Dexter Austria, O.P., director of the Facilities Management Office (FMO), said some older buildings are too old to be retrofitted with new PWD facilities.

Restrooms, for instance, demand numerous considerations, Austria said. Based on regulations, the number of cubicles must be proportionate to the number of students occupying the building. Faculty members may also request a dedicated restroom.

Besides the PWD law, architects take into account compliance with the National Building Code and the Fire Code of the Philippines.

“’Di naman lumalaki ‘yong space natin dito sa UST,” Austria said. “Saan ko ilalagay ‘yon? We want to handle all the restrooms kaya pag nag-budget hearing sa Economic Council, we will be proposing to renovate a

certain number.”

Engineer Albert Surla, assistant director of the FMO, acknowledged the need to conduct an audit of all UST buildings to ensure compliance with the PWD law.

“From an engineering point of view, we have to revisit the code and revisit kung ano ang existing condition ng mga building,” he told the Varsitarian in an interview.

“Kailangan kong i-analyze in detail [...] for example, sa ramps, binabaan natin ‘yong slope, e dati pala, acceptable ‘yong slope na ‘yon pero later on, na-realize ng mga architect na masyado palang mataas ‘yong slope [kaya] nahihirapan [mga PWD].”

Accessibility for PWDs is also a problem in other higher educational institutions.

A committee handling PWD affairs at the University of the Philippines (UP) University Student Council lamented in August that the campus remains “not PWD-friendly or not PWD-compliant,” according to a report by the Philippine Collegian, UP’s official student publication.

A 2015 undergraduate thesis written by Jhesset Thrina Enano, which won the Chit Estella Journalism Research Awards for Investigative Journalism at the Philippine Journalism Research Conference in March of that year, found that 20 buildings inside the UP Diliman campus failed to comply with the PWD law – lacking ramps, signages, restrooms,

and parking spots.

UST edifices built before passage of PWD law

Main Building – 1927

Central Seminary – 1932

UST Hospital – 1945 (UST Hospital

Clinical Division opened in 1965)

UST Health Service – 1946

Fr. Roque Ruaño Building – 1950

St. Martin de Porres Building – 1952

St. Raymund de Peñafort Building – 1955

Albertus Magnus Building – 1978

Benavides Building – 1978

Zubiaga stressed that PWD-friendly facilities foster inclusivity.

“Accessibility to the physical environment is the gatekeeper for independence and mobility for PWDs,” she said. “For those who are using wheelchairs and other assistive devices, it makes them feel more independent and provides a feeling of belongingness and importance, having their needs addressed.”

Public facilities in the Philippines must be compliant with Batas Pambansa Blg. 344, or “An Act to Enhance the Mobility of Disabled Persons by Requiring Certain Buildings, Institutions, Establishments and Other Public Utilities and Other Devices,” signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in February 1983.

On July 8, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of Transportation, and the NCDA approved revisions to the 41-year-old law’s implementing rules and regulations, imposing standard measurements for ramps, flooring, signage, and stairs.

Based on the tracker on the NCDA website, a total of 1,790,820 Filipinos were registered as PWDs as of September. UST has no formal record of the number of PWDs enrolled in its programs.

To understand how UST can make

its facilities more PWD-friendly, the Varsitarian conducted an informal accessibility audit at eight edifices where foot traffic is high, enlisting the help of select architects and engineers teaching at the University. UST was not informed of the walkthroughs in advance.

UST’s challenges In an interview with the Varsitarian, Facilities Management Office (FMO) Director Fr. Dexter Austria, O.P. said newer buildings in UST’s Sampaloc and General Santos campuses are PWD-friendly. However, retrofitting older structures poses challenges due to some constraints, such as space.

“Wala naman tayong nagiging problem sa budget with regard to that,” he said. “Ang mas challenging kung magiging feasible siya, especially sa mga restroom natin, kasi once i-move mo ‘yong isa, iiksi nang iiksi ‘yong iba. ‘Di naman lumalaki ‘yong space natin dito sa UST.”

The Main Building opened its doors to the public in July 1927, five decades before Batas Pambansa 344 was enacted.

College of Architecture faculty member Kristoffer Aquino noted that historical structures are understandably non-compliant with PWD laws.

“This is an old institution, an old structure. It’s expected that it won’t be

able to meet all the minimum requirements for PWDs,” Aquino, an architect who owns the freelance studio KDA Design + Architecture, told the Varsitarian. “But of course, at least there’s an attempt, like having the elevator lifts in place, but it’s still limited. Not all can access the rooms or spaces.”

The Main Building is one of nine edifices inside UST built before the passage of the PWD law. The others are: Central Seminary (1932); UST Hospital (1945; UST Hospital Clinical Division opened in 1965); UST Health Service (1946); Fr. Roque Ruaño Building (1950); St. Martin de Porres Building (1952); St. Raymund de Peñafort Building (1955); Albertus Magnus Building (1969); and Benavides Building (1978).

Like the Main Building, the St. Raymund de Peñafort Building and the Central Seminary Building offer “bare minimum” facilities for PWDs, such as ramps, due to their age.

“Definitely, there is still room for improvement,” he said. “I still think it’s best we go beyond what is prescribed by the law if you know well our stakeholders [and] all their needs.”

Signages

Wayfinding in the Main Building, which the National Museum declared a “National Cultural Treasure” in January 2010, presents a challenge for Thoma-

Nine years later, UP’s Office of the Campus Architect lamented that a meager budget is the main hindrance to implementing PWD-related projects, according to the Collegian. For its 2025 proposed budget, UP only allocated P178 million, or 1.66 percent, to infrastructure.

Building age is also a problem at De La Salle University, according to a 2023 report by The LaSallian, its official English-language student publication. Some of its well-known and high-traffic edifices opened their doors well before the PWD law’s enactment: St. La Salle Hall (1924), St. Joseph Hall (1956), and St. Miguel Hall (1969).

The Office of the Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities Management told the LaSallian that renovations to accommodate the needs of PWDs were already in the pipeline.

In 2019, the United States (US) State De-

sians with visual disabilities, the architect said.

“It would be better if there were Braille signs,” Aquino said. “The keyword here is wayfinding to guide [the blind] out. [There should be] different tactile pavings, so if I’m a blind person, it’s easy for me to navigate even in this big space.”

The law requires tactile paving to be available in stairways, elevators, ramps, open spaces, and toilets, among others.

Developed by the Japanese in 1965, tactile paving consists of surface indicators built on floorings using truncated domes arranged in a grid pattern.

It is categorized into warning blocks (for hazards), positional blocks (for direction changes), and directional blocks (for safe paths).

Buildings must also be equipped with audio and visual signages in line with the International Symbol of Access. These signages, along with facilities like information counters and security screening equipment, should have Braille inscriptions.

When Oscar Conrad De Jesus, an engineer at the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, reviewed the master design of the BGPOP building as a civil engineering student, he wondered how PWD facilities would fit in.

“Noong nakita namin ‘yong plans,

partment called for its ineffective promoting PWD rights.

“The great buildings remained persons with physical it said in a report, Reports on Human for 2018.”

“Many schools al barriers that made difficult for persons ities. Government prove access to transportation persons with disabilities ited.”

Audit

Austria asserted edifices are already

“We can accommodate with regard to the Henry Sy,” the FMO na ‘yon sa [mga] dapat friendly restrooms. (GenSan), sa Main friendly na siya.” The FMO is preparing audit as the initial

you would actually think in what way nga ba papasok ‘yong mga PWDs?” he told the Varsitarian. “Halimbawa, mayroon tayong ramp for those who are physically impaired. But what about those who are visually impaired? Mga deaf or mute?”

Completed in 2014, the 12-story BGPOP houses administrative offices and academic units such as the Office for Alumni Relations, the College of Tourism and Hospitality Management, and the Departments of Journalism and Communication.

Experts noted that while its wide hallways are helpful for PWDs, the absence of tactile pavings and handrails, particularly on the first-floor lobby, prevents visually impaired students from easily navigating the facilities.

“Sa lobby, sobrang vast ng area to the point na kung visually impaired ka, mawawala ka diyan agad,” De Jesus, an instructor at the Faculty of Engineering, said.

Moreover, none of the five elevator buttons have Braille signs, leaving PWDs unsure of which floor they are on.

Ramps The ramp located in front of the student-athlete entrance at the Carpark is so “steep” that it puts PWDs at risk of losing their balance, according to De Jesus.

► The lobby and staircase of the UST Main Building. According engineer Oscar De wayfinding is a challenge in navigating the because of the lack pavings and signages Braille letters. RAINIEL B. FIGUEROA

STORY BY BJORN DEL B. DEADE, CHALSSEA KATE C. ECHEGOYEN, RALENT M. PENILLA AND ALLAN CHRISTOPHER M. SAYAT

out the Philippines enforcement of laws rights.

majority of public remained inaccessible to physical disabilities,” report, titled “Country Human Rights Practices

schools had architecturmade attendance persons with disabilGovernment efforts to imtransportation for disabilities were lim-

asserted that newly built already PWD-friendly. accommodate ang PWDs new buildings – Frassati, FMO director said. “Kasama dapat mayroon tayong PWDrestrooms. Kahit sa General Santos

Main Building natin doon, PWDpreparing to conduct an accessibility initial phase to enhance campus

“Masyado siyang steep, tapos hindi ka makakakapit,” he said, adding that the ramp seems like it was forced into the design.

The unreliability of the ramp poses a danger to Thomasians with mobility restrictions.

“Puwedeng ma-out of balance ka, mahilo ka, at matumba. Hindi siya conducive for wheelchair use,” Carl Remington Ty, the principal architect of RMTY Designs and a faculty member at the College of Architecture, told the Varsitarian

Ramps, according to Batas Pambansa 344, must have a minimum width of 1,200 mm. with a gradient not steeper than 1:20 (the most ideal, according to Zubiaga, is between 1:12 and 1:15). Handrails should be installed on both sides of the ramp but “shall not be installed beyond the width of any crossing so as not to obstruct pedestrian traffic.”

Another problematic ramp is at the Miguel de Benavides Library, where, according to Aquino, wheelchair users would struggle.

“The end of this ramp is a bit loose

because it's protruding too much,” the architect said. “This has anti-slip, but still, this is too steep. Those of us without disability can feel the steepness compared with the other PWD ramps.”

Restrooms

Another issue problem by experts is the inaccessibility of some comfort rooms. During the walkthrough, certain restrooms designated for PWDs were open, while others were closed. Without any support staff nearby, these closed restrooms could be rendered useless.

Batas Pambansa 344 requires toilets to “permit effortless and obstruction-free movement for a wheelchair, enabling the occupant to enter a toilet cubicle or stand-alone toilet, close the door, and transfer to the water closet from either a frontal or lateral transfer.”

The law also requires a PWD restroom to have a minimum area of 1,800 mm by 1,800 mm. Faucets, bidets, shower valves, diverters, and flush valves must be accessible to the user while seated. Additionally, toilet seats, bidets, and shower or bathtub seats should match the height of a wheelchair seat, as outlined in a design manual by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia.

At the Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

Building, home to the College of Information and Computing Sciences and the Senior High School, some PWD restrooms lack signages.

“Minimalist designs are not, at all times, applicable,” De Jesus said. “Not unless I have a cognitive ability to determine that, ‘Oh, this is a CR for male or for female.’ But what if you have a mental disability like Down syndrome or cerebral palsy? Those with delayed thinking processes cannot definitely say that it’s a CR.”

PWDs in the St. Raymund de Peñafort Building, which houses the Faculty of Arts and Letters and the College of Commerce and Business Administration, also face difficulties using the comfort rooms due to their narrow spaces.

Other issues

Upon entering the lobby of the Frassati Building, Ty was unsettled by the flickering lights that greeted him.

“Masakit ito; nakakahilo ‘yan,” the architect observed, pointing to the blades of a giant ceiling fan interacting with the lights.

De Jesus warned that these flickering lights distress PWDs with neurological disorders.

“It will cause seizures for those who have epilepsy,” he said. “Those who are mentally impaired, if they have trauma with falling objects, it doesn’t lessen the

anxiety that it will go down anytime.”

The PWD law only stipulates that lighting should be equal to “avoid extreme differences in bright levels,” adding that sufficient brightness is necessary to avoid creating shadows and glares.

According to BrainFacts.org, those with photosensitive epilepsy are triggered by irregular brightness patterns, leading to hyper-synchronous discharges in the brain.

The Department of Health classifies epilepsy as a psychosocial disability, alongside bipolar disorder, depression, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Schizophrenia is also categorized as a mental disability.

Other neurological conditions are also recognized in the Philippines as learning disabilities, including dysgraphia (difficulty in translating thoughts into written form), dyslexia (difficulty in reading), and developmental dysphasia (unexplained speech impediment).

De Jesus pointed out that Batas Pambansa 344 doesn't adequately safeguard individuals with mental illnesses.

“Constrained siya sa physical impairment or disability,” he said. “Hindi niya naco-cover ‘yong essence ng disability in an internal perspective. What was missing is ‘yong lack of awareness sa mental disability.”

► Constructed in 1955, nearly 30 years before the PWD law was enacted, the St. Raymund de Peñafort Building still falls short in providing ample facilities accessible to PWDs. PHOTO BY JEREMY R. EDERA

According to De Jesus, challenge edifice lack of tactile signages with RAINIEL ANGELYN

COORDINATOR:

CBCP says it can ‘only propose, never impose,’ on civil divorce

CATHOLIC bishops on Thursday said they could “only propose but never impose” on the issue of civil divorce, warning the faithful of the evils of dissolving the marital bond and citing statistics on the high failure rate of remarriages in the West.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), in a pastoral statement issued at the end of a plenary assembly, said it was in no position to make rules for civil marriages.

“As spiritual and moral leaders of the Church, we can only propose but never impose. We can only motivate our faithful to actively participate in reasoned public discourse as citizens,” the pastoral statement, signed by Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, on

behalf of the bishops’ conference, said.

The CBCP however urged Filipinos to thoroughly discern on the basis of statistics amid efforts in Congress to pass an absolute divorce bill.

“Statistics tell us that in countries where civil divorce is legal, ‘failure rate for first marriage is roughly 48%, 60% for second and 70% for third marriages,’” the CBCP said. “Are we sure we want our families to become part of this grim statistics?”

It pointed out that there is a reason the Philippines is the only country in the world apart from the Vatican where divorce is not allowed, citing the pro-family provisions of the 1987 Constitution where “The State recognizes the Filipino family as the foun-

dation of the nation” (Art XV, Section 1) and that “marriage, as an inviolable social institution, is the foundation of the family and shall be protected by the State” (Art. XV, Section 2).

“The Church is in no position to dictate on the state what is best for Filipino families. We know that our stubborn assertion that a genuine marriage cannot be dissolved, is not necessarily shared by all religions; and we respect that,” the CBCP said.

“But before we join the bandwagon, shouldn’t we ask ourselves on the basis of research and statistics, if the legalization of divorce all over the world has indeed helped in protecting the common good and the welfare of the family?”

Filipinos remain divided over legalization of divorce

FILIPINOS continue to be divided over proposals to legalize divorce, but support for the measure is strongest in cases where violence is involved, survey data shows.

When Social Weather Stations first asked respondents in May 2005 whether “married couples who have already separated and cannot reconcile anymore should be allowed to divorce so they can get legally married again,” 45 percent disagreed and 43 percent agreed.

In March 2024, public opinion shifted as 50 percent agreed with the measure while 32 percent disagreed. Support for the measure was lower than in March 2023, when a record 65 percent of Filipinos backed the legalization of absolute divorce.

In the March 2024 survey, net agreement among Catholics, other Christians, and Muslims was “moderately positive.” The only religious group that objected to the measure was the Iglesia ni Cristo.

Another poll, conducted in June by the nascent Oculum Research and Analytics, suggested that 49 percent of Filipinos were “very unsupportive or unsupportive” of divorce, compared with 30 percent who expressed support.

The Oculum survey found that 51 percent of 1,200 respondents backed the measure in cases of abuse.

Comeback

The House of Representatives on May 22 narrowly approved on third and final reading House Bill 9349 or the Absolute Divorce Act, providing a pathway for spouses to be liberated from “toxic, abusive and long-dead marriages,” said Rep. Edcel Lagman of Albay, the lead proponent of the measure.

A comeback for absolute divorce – outlawed in 1950 with the passage of the Civil Code except for Moro populations – will offer a faster and cheaper method to sever marital ties, according to lawyers interviewed by the Varsitarian

“Absolute divorce will make family law more accessible to common Filipinos and more responsive to the challenges Filipino marriages face,” Renson Alvior of the Respicio and Co. law firm, said.

The Family Code of the Philippines, enacted in 1987, offers four remedies: declaration of nullity, which renders the marriage void from the beginning due to reasons like bigamy and incest; annulment, which acknowledges the existence of the marriage but declares it null and void; legal separation, an option in which the par-

The CBCP also called on the government to “maximize remedies” before considering the reinstatement of divorce.

“The absence of a legal civil divorce remedy should in fact be an additional reason for couples to think twice or thrice before entering into a civilly-binding marital commitment, precisely because of the value we put on the family as the foundation of society,” it said.

The bishops encouraged Catholics to reflect on Pope Francis’s thoughts in his pastoral exhortation, “Amoris Laetitia,” where the Pontiff wrote:

“Divorce is an evil and the CBCP PAGE 15 ►

‘‘

The Church is in no position to dictate on the state what is best for Filipino families. We know that our stubborn assertion that a genuine marriage cannot be dissolved, is not necessarily shared by all religions; and we respect that.

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines IN A PASTORAL STATEMENT

Graduate school regent named head of Dominicans in UST priory anew

By Ammiel B. Maestrado

UST GRADUATE School Regent Fr. Rodel Aligan, O.P. has been reelected for the fifth time as prior of the Priory of St. Thomas Aquinas.

He succeeded Fr. Jesus Jay Miranda Jr., O.P., who held the post after ending his term as UST secretary general in 2021.

Aligan first became convent prior of the Priory of St. Thomas Aquinas in 2001. He has been reelected to the post five times since then.

In 2018, he held the post until he was replaced by Miranda.

Aligan was reelected on June 12 and officially installed to lead Dominicans in UST once again on July 6 during the Priory’s evening prayer.

Priors are elected every three years.

Aligan is a former dean of the Faculty of Sacred Theology, a position he held from 2008 to 2014 and 2016 to 2023.

Before he was reelected to lead the Priory in 2008, Aligan also sat as vice rector for religious affairs until 2011.

He served as the University’s secretary general from 1995 to 2001, prefect of theologians at the UST Central Seminary from 1981 to 2001, and regent of the Faculty of Arts and Letters from 1991 to 1995 and from 2015 to 2021.

He was a member of the Provincial Council of the Dominican Province of the Philippines and consultant for religious education of the Commission on Higher Education.

ties cannot remarry; and foreign divorce, wherein the court recognizes a divorce between a Filipino citizen and a foreigner obtained abroad.

Annulment is the most common route to terminate a marriage, but it drags on for years and comes with an expensive price tag.

Acclaimed actress Jodi Sta. Maria, for instance, waited 13 years before the Supreme Court (SC) dissolved her marriage with Pampi Lacson, the son of former senator Panfilo Lacson. “It was indeed a test of faith and trust,” she said in an Instagram post in June.

Claudine Barretto, also an actress, said in August 2023 that her annulment petition against her estranged husband, actor Raymart Santiago, was still “going on for years and years and years,” a de

cade after they separated in rowdy fashion. Barretto said the process was beset by “pain and betrayal.”

Respicio and Co. estimated that the annulment process can cost anywhere between P150,000 and P500,000, depending on the stature of the lawyer, the length of the trial and the involvement of other professionals, such as a psychologist.

Emmanuel Mari Uy, an associate at the law firm, believes

According to the constitution of the Dominican friars, convent priors are democratically elected by solemnly professed friars with an “active voice” in the community, a model that predates modern democratic political systems.

Aligan obtained his bachelor, licentiate, and doctorate degrees in Sacred Theology at the UST Ecclesiastical Faculties. He was ordained into the priesthood in 1981.

Pharmacy tuition is P45,780 at the Mindanao campus, significantly less than the P78,846 tuition at UST Manila, where students have two more lecture and laboratory units than those in GenSan.

Systems engineering students at the UST campus in the south must pay P43,700 for 15 lecture units and three laboratory units, while industrial engineering freshmen in Manila pay P68,089 for 16 lecture units and the same number of laboratory units.

Apart from lower rates for units, UST GenSan also has fewer miscellaneous fees.

Students at the branch campus are not yet required to pay alumni, athletic, and Varsitarian fees, nor fees for the central and local student councils, college journal, Commission on Elections, and learning materials.

UST GenSan will open its inaugural academic year on Aug. 9. Students have been advised to settle their fees by Aug. 8.

Campus hit by worst flooding in 15 years

HEAVY flooding hit UST and surrounding streets on Wednesday, July 24, as monsoon rains, intensified by super typhoon “Carina,” caused waist-deep waters, reminiscent of the flooding from typhoon “Ondoy” 15 years ago.

Waist-deep floods were seen at Plaza Mayor, where the UST block letters had tumbled down before they were removed, and at the UST Open Field.

Restaurants and cafes in the UST Carpark shut down due to ankle-deep floodwater inside.

According to Assoc. Prof. Juliano Parena Jr., director of the UST Campus Safety and Security Office, flooding at the San Martin de Porres Building, which houses the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, College of Nursing, and College of Rehabilitation Sciences, reached 18 inches.

St. Raymund de Peñafort Building, whose ground floor is occupied by the Faculty of Arts and Letters, had waist-deep flooding, he said.

The Main Building, whose ground floor is home to administrative offices and the Faculty of Civil Law, and the Fr. Roque Ruaño, O.P. Building, where the Faculty of Engineering is located, saw eight inches of floodwater.

FMO Director Fr. Dexter Austria, O.P. told the Varsitarian that several buildings at UST experienced ceiling leaks aside from floodwater intrusion on the ground floors and elevators.

“Ceiling leaks were mainly observed, and flood waters reached the building’s ground floor,” he told the Varsitarian. “[There is] no major damage in terms of physical infrastructure.”

Building age FROM PAGE 8 ►

accessibility to PWDs. The office did not provide a specific timeline for this initiative.

“The first phase will be to study everything that we have here, in all the facilities that we have here in the campus – if our facilities can accommodate PWDs,” Austria said. “Let’s see. Is it feasible to accommodate PWDs? If not, what can we do about it? What alternatives can we provide?”

The Varsitarian conducted informal walkthroughs of eight structures with high foot traffic, for which the FMO was not informed in advance. Experts said buildings constructed before 1983 provided “bare minimum” facilities for PWDs, including the Main Building and St. Raymund de Peñafort Building.

For now, FMO has installed QR codes in public areas, including hallways and restrooms, to gather feedback from students and faculty members regarding the state of facilities inside UST.

“I want the students to be proactive in reporting,” Austria said. “Mabaho man ‘yan, madilim, o nadulas ka, hindi nag-flush ‘yong toilet [o] walang tubig – I want to hear all of these, so that we could assess and then, kung kaya, mabigyan namin ng solusyon.”

Wellness committee

The last executive board of the Central Student Council (CSC) held discussions with various administrative offices to explore ways to empower PWDs on campus. These dialogues led to the establishment of

Among the structures affected was the San Martin de Porres Building, specifically its third floor where the College of Nursing is located, according to Austria.

The 12th floor of the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building, housing the radio and television studios of the Communications Bureau, also experienced rainwater leaks.

The FMO director said some rooms of the College of Information and Computing Sciences at the Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, O.P. Building were also affected.

Metro Manila had been placed under a state of calamity due to the downpours and flooding caused by the southwest monsoon intensified

by “Carina.”

Carina brought 376 millimeters of rain from July 23 to 24, based on data collected by the state weather bureau at its science garden in Quezon City. This was still significantly less than the 455 millimeters of rain that typhoon “Ondoy” brought in 2009, which caused severe flooding and left 3,000 people stranded at the Sampaloc campus.

UST has since installed a new stormwater drainage system capable of holding about 2.5 million liters of water. However, the floodwaters appeared to have surpassed this capacity.

In a memorandum, UST urged

Thomasians to take caution against leptospirosis, which can be transmitted through floodwaters contaminated with bodily fluids of infected animals, such as rats.

Students were advised to book an online medical consultation through the Thomasian Online Medical Services and Support (ThoMedSS) for leptospirosis prophylaxis, 24 to 72 hours after exposure to floodwaters.

“Measures are being undertaken to ensure that our stakeholders are able to attend to their personal concerns at this time,” the University said through the Office of the Secretary General. FERNANDO PIERRE

MARCEL B. DE LA CRUZ

the Thomasian Wellness Aid System, a University-wide initiative designed to address students’ seven-dimensional needs: physical, emotional, and spiritual, among others.

The CSC Office of the Secretary also called for opportunities for missed assessments, a mental health aid system, and a PWD-friendly campus.

“The end goal of the Thomasian Wellness Aid System is policy recommendation,” Ierathel Tabuno, the former CSC president, told the Varsitarian. “The secretary’s work is research-based. The central issue that they tried to solve was the lack of a central mechanism for wellness aid.”

Austria vowed to engage with the CSC regarding PWD inclusivity and other pressing issues.

“The office is always open for discussion,” he said.

Neglect?

One aspect that the PWD law overlooked, experts said, is the provision of facilities for individuals with mental disabilities.

“Our laws deal with physical impairment or disability,” Oscar Conrad de Jesus, an engineer at the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, told the Varsitarian

Carl Remington Ty, the principal architect of RMTY Designs and a faculty member at the College of Architecture, said interior designs must undergo careful evaluation to avoid compromising the needs of PWDs with mental or psychosocial conditions.

Individuals with mental disabilities, according to the Magna Carta of Disabled Persons (Republic Act 7277), are those suffering from “organic brain syndromes” such as “mental retardation, acquired lesions of the central nervous system and dementia.”

Under the Mental Health Care Act of 2017, educational institutions are tasked with:

• Raising awareness on mental health issues;

• Providing support and services for individuals at risk; and

• Establishing referral mechanisms for those with mental health conditions for treatment and psychosocial support.

What’s next?

Experts expressed concern that PWDs are often excluded from discussions regarding building construction, as they represent a minority.

“In terms of inviting PWDs in the Philippine setting, we are constrained to the fact that we are only doing it for research purposes,” De Jesus said. “You’re not calling stakeholders anymore. We’re not required to call people before we implement.”

“But in terms of, for example, formulating a comprehensive land use plan or a comprehensive development plan for a territory, provincial, city or municipal governments, you call on your stakeholders, but not all voices are heard because it is purely political. It all boils down to what your local executive will say,” he added.

China bullying FROM PAGE 7 ►

because of its aggression and illegally occupying our territory, then eventually, the economy of China will be affected,” he said in an interview.

‘Trojan horse’ Online scams. Human trafficking. Torture.

When Duterte signed Republic Act 11590 in 2021 taxing POGOs, the strongman vouched for the industry as a “clean” moneymaker.

“I will assure you under my oath of office as president of this republic, as elected by you, POGOs are clean. It’s a game for the other side. It gives us P2 billion a month. I need lots of money,” he said on March 10, 2020.

Four years later, legislators link their operations to various criminal activities. A little-known mayor from a small-town municipality in Tarlac named Alice Guo catapulted to fame for allegedly facilitating nefarious operations inside POGO compounds.

The National Intelligence Coordinating Agency in June alleged that POGOs are China’s “trojan horse” after its team found communication equipment at a raided POGO hub in Pasay containing foreign characters that experts said may have been used to contact Chinese personalities.

The controversies hounding POGO operations in the Philippines prompted Marcos to declare his most applauded one-liner during the SONA: “Effective today, all POGOs are banned.”

“BBM! BBM! BBM!” Congressional allies chanted in exaltation.

The ban elicited rare praise from China, even indicating its full cooperation in shutting down operations and repatriating thousands of Chinese individuals involved. “The Chinese government strictly cracks down on Chinese citizens engaging in gambling business abroad, including POGO,” the Chinese Embassy said in a statement. “Ample evidence shows that POGO breeds serious crimes such as kidnapping for ransom, human trafficking and murder.”

Ty echoed this sentiment, noting that political considerations dominate the construction industry, resulting in the sidelining of PWD issues.

“Their political agenda, that’s what’s being pushed more,” he argued. “In terms of the totality of the urban plan and the design of the urban city itself, people with disabilities are often neglected.”

On July 23, Sen. Bong Revilla filed Senate Resolution 1077, which calls for a review of Batas Pambansa 344. The bill’s filing coincided with the birthday of Apolinario Mabini, the “brains of the revolution” who had polio.

“We need to look into it and study it again so that we can see if it is still suitable to respond to the special needs of PWDs,” the senator said in a statement.

“We want an audit of the facilities to see if they are compliant with this law. Remember, this is a law. It is required for them to provide facilities that are accessible for the use of PWDs,” he added.

Carmen Zubiaga, a former executive director at the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), encouraged educational institutions like UST to implement various initiatives to ensure inclusivity for all PWDs.

“Dapat magkaroon talaga ng onsite accessibility audit [para sa] lahat ng types of persons with disabilities,” she told the Varsitarian. “Kailangan ma-feel talaga ng mga learner with special needs that they are included by making all facilities and learning materials accessible to them.”

Will the pledge of cooperation pave the way for improved relations with Beijing?

“[China] doesn’t want us to continue, but, at the same time, China is using POGOs to infiltrate the Philippines,” Llamas stressed, adding, “So, the reaction of China is mixed.”

As with the West Philippine Sea, Marcos demonstrates that his approach to POGO is strikingly divergent from Duterte’s, De Castro observed.

“The midpoint of his term is, basically, saying, ‘Expect my term to be different and I’m unraveling what has been established by [my] predecessor, the Duterte administration,’” De Castro said.

All 43 licensed POGOs are expected to pack up by December 31, with more than 40,000 workers affected. The Department of Finance disclosed in a cost-benefit analysis that the industry led to a net cost of P99.5 billion annually. F.N.A. DIAZ

NCHP chair

FROM PAGE 3 ►

Jose holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and a master’s degree in Philippine studies, both of which he earned at the University of the Philippines Diliman.

Among the accolades he has earned are the 1999 Cultural Center of the Philippines Centennial Award for Arts and the 2011 Basic Research Achievement Award in Humanities from the National Research Council of the Philippines. Jose took his oath before National Museum of the Philippines Director Jeremy Barns.

► Waist-deep floods brought by super typhoon ‘Carina’ hit the campus on Wednesday, July 24, submerging the benches at the Benavides Garden. PHOTO BY JOHN EZEKIEL J. HIRRO

UST produces 36 new interior designers

THE UNIVERSITY emerged as the top producer of new interior designers in the July 2024 cycle of the licensure examinations, in which 36 Thomasians, including two topnotchers, passed.

Jemimah Aldecoa led the batch of new Thomasian interior designers after clinching the No. 9 spot nationwide with a score of 81.35 percent.

Joining her in the top 10 was Jon Cachola, who ranked 10th with an 81-percent score.

The number of passers from UST came from a pool of 118 examinees, good for a 30.51-percent passing rate.

Obituary

‘Til his dying

UST’s recent passing rate was a decrease from the 47.73-percent rating (63 passers out of 132 examinees) it recorded in July 2023.

There were no top-performing schools in this cycle.

Maria Añonuevo of the University of the Philippines Diliman topped the exams with a score of 85.80 percent.

The national passing rate dipped to 29.75 percent (119 passers out of 400 examinees) from 45.60 percent (202 passers out of 443 examinees) in July 2023.

The July 2024 licensure exams for interior designers were held from July 2 to 4. M.L.D.

day: Thomasian writers remember poet-translator Marne Kilates

“I WILL write poems until my dying day,” Marne Kilates was quoted as saying.

Kilates, a premier poet and translator, passed away on Saturday, July 20, at the age of 71.

“Maraming manunulat ngayon ang dumaan sa kaniyang ‘pagtuturo’ kung paano kumatha at paano maging mabuting manunulat at tao. Kung paano maging magaan at masaya pero mag-iiwan ng mabigat na kakintalan,” said Assoc. Prof. Joselito de los Reyes, head of UST’s creative writing program.

“[S]i Sir Marne, nasa kasaysayan, tahimik na lumilikha. Masayahin. Mapagkumbaba,” he said.

Kilates, who hailed from Daraga in Albay, became known for his prize-winning works and translations of poems by National Artists Virgilio Almario and Bienvenido Lumbera, among other leading Filipino poets.

De los Reyes said Kilates was also a top-notch poet, whose mas-

terful writing manifested even in his English translations.

“First-class poet. His words won’t intimidate you. His poems will always lead you to pondering,” he told the Varsitarian

“Naisasalin niya nang buo at malinaw hindi lang ang mga salita, hindi lang kasiningan—lalong-lalo ang damdamin,” he added. “It isn’t easy to translate poetry. Pero sa bihasang kamay ni Sir Marne, parang ang dali-dali lang ng lahat.”

Roy Cagalingan, a former Thomasian Writers Guild president, remembered Kilates as a writer who found and exemplified the beauty in fusing poetry and translation.

“Sabi nga nila, minsan mas gumaganda pa ang tula ng isang makata kapag isinasalin ni Sir Marne,” he told the Varsitarian. “Tumutula rin siya sa salin niya. Patunay na ang makata rin ang pinakamahusay na tagasalin ng tula.”

“Hindi naging hiwalay sa realidad ng Filipinas ang pagtula niya,” he added. “Sa pagsasalin, gumawa pa siya ng mga karagdagang tulay at posibilidad ng búhay sa ibang wika ng mga isinaling tula.”

Cagalingan, who had worked with the late writer at the Komisyon

sa Wikang Filipino, also described Kilates as a kind person who lived life to the fullest.

“Masaya siyang kasama. Napakabuti’t wala yatang kaaway. Ramdam mo ang paglubos niya sa búhay,” he said. “Lagi niya ring nililingon ang mahal niyang Bikol. Napakatindi rin ng pag-ibig niya para sa Filipinas.”

Cagalingan paid tribute to Kilates in a poem titled after the late writer’s remark: “I will write poems until my dying day.”

“Sa pagkakakilala ko sa kaniya, sinunod niya talaga ito,” he said, referring to the anecdote. “Para sa akin, pahayag rin ito ng pagpapakumbaba ng makata. Tahimik siyang magtatrabaho. Maglilingkod sa salita hanggang sa dulo.”

Kilates’s friends and colleagues in the literary scene gathered at his wake on July 22 to pay their final respects by reading poems and reminiscing about their interactions with him.

J.K.S. BALOD

Jenny Ortuoste, award-winning writer and UST prof, succumbs to cancer

By Hannah Joyce V. Andaya and Angeli Ruth R. Acosta

ASST. PROF. Jennifer “Jenny” Rebecca Ortuoste, an award-winning essayist and fictionist and horse racing enthusiast who taught literature and communication courses at UST, succumbed to pancreatic cancer on July 21. She was 56.

A cancer survivor twice over, Ortuoste was diagnosed with the disease in May 2024. She went through the knife on June 15 but doctors were unable to remove the tumor due to potential complications, according to a GoFundMe page set up for her.

Ortuoste had battled Stage 3 colon cancer and Stage 1 breast cancer.

Alex, Ortuoste’s daughter, confirmed her mother’s death to the Varsitarian

“She always had a positive, upbeat attitude,” Alex said. “Her writing was always witty yet precise, her creative nonfiction could pull one into its pages and feel as she felt.”

Ortuoste, fondly known as “Doc

Jen” to her students and colleagues, began teaching at UST in 2019. She obtained her undergraduate degree in communication, major in journalism in 1988 and doctorate in communication in 2016 at the University of the Philippines Diliman. She also earned a master’s degree in business management at Ateneo de Manila University in 2007.

Ortuoste handled creative writing, journalism, marketing com-

munication, and communication courses at the Graduate School, and general education, creative writing, and communication subjects at the Faculty of Arts and Letters.

Ortuoste was a resident fellow at the UST Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies and a researcher at the UST Research Center for Culture, Arts, and the Humanities.

Apart from her work in the academe, Ortuoste was an award-winning fictionist and essayist and a longtime opinion and literary columnist at the Manila Standard.

A horse racing aficionado and one-time officer of the Philippine Racing Commission, she won the 2011 Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature for her essay “The Turn for Home: Memories of Santa Ana Park,” about her recollections of the old Santa Ana racetrack in Makati.

Ortuoste also received a number of Nick Joaquin Literary Awards: “The Yule Tree” earned an honorable mention in 2019; “The High Priestess” won second place in 2018; “Mar-

ry Me” bagged third place in 2015; “Wolves I Have Known” won second place in 2014; and “How I Spent My US Vacation” bagged third place in 2013.

Her collection of stories was published by the UST Publishing House under the title “Fictionary: New and Award-Winning Stories” in 2016.

“[Al]though she won many awards and accolades throughout her life, I, as her daughter, believe that her most significant contribution was the wisdom, inspiration, and empathy she imparted to her students and everyone she crossed paths with,” Alex said.

Ortuoste had served as a board member of the Philippine Center of the International PEN (Playwrights, Essayists, Novelists) and a judge at the National Book Awards.

In May, she sat on the panel of judges for the fiction category of the 39th Gawad Ustetika, the Varsitarian’s annual literary derby.

Ortuoste’s wake will be held at her home in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

Cha-cha

FROM PAGE 7 ►

In a strongly worded manifesto on Jan. 23, all 24 senators rejected amending the Constitution via the people’s initiative, accusing Romualdez and his allies of bankrolling cha-cha “to open the floodgates to a wave of amendments and revisions that will erode the nation as we know it.”

For now, Romualdez has set aside any mention of cha-cha and advocated for granting leases to foreign investors on a long-term basis – a proposal spearheaded by Escudero.

“This is one step where we can hopefully attract foreign investors, where they no longer need to buy lands because we will be giving them a long-term lease contract on the lands they want to utilize,” he said in a media interview on July 3.

“So, we will not sell the lands to foreigners. The foreign investors can have the long-term lease contract that may take as long as 50 years, plus another 40 years, and which may reach 99 years.”

Placing cha-cha on the sidelines has put greater emphasis on other pressing issues that Filipinos endure. Only five percent of respondents approve of the government’s handling of inflation based on a June survey by Pulse Asia.

Majority of those surveyed wanted the President to tackle the rising prices of goods, a concern that didn’t go unnoticed.

“Puwersa ng merkado – sa ating bansa at maging sa buong daigdig – ang siyang nagdidikta ng presyo,” Marcos said in his address. “Bunsod ito, halimbawa, ng giyera, problema sa supply, at puwersa ng kalikasan tulad ng El Niño na nararanasan din sa ibang bansa. Subalit, hindi na ito mahalagang alalahanin ng ating mga kababayang nabibigatan sa presyo ng bigas.”

“Mahal kong mga kababayan, alam kong damang-dama ninyo ito. Hindi natin winawalang-bahala ang inyong mga dinaing at hirap na dinaranas.”

The silence has also quelled fears harbored by opposition figures.

“When the President is not talking about cha-cha, it eases the unease among the opposition [and] some of the segments of the Filipino population [about] fearing another presidential takeover that would lead to a dictatorial government,” Sison said.

The 1987 Constitution was enacted with a clear-cut goal of preventing another dictatorship that marred the Philippines for nearly two decades.

Any attempt to revise the charter needs to be taken off the hands of elected officials, Rey urged, even though they are intertwined with the process.

“It should be initiated by private individuals and the academe to remove doubts of political maneuvering,” he said. K.P.B. GABRIEL

► Jenny Ortuoste

► Marne Kilates

BEECH ► Jemimah Aldecoa and Jon Cachola

Long-time UST Medicine faculty member receives professorial chair in medical education

A LONGTIME Thomasian educator and physician was conferred the Doña Victoria Ty Tan Professorial Chair in Medical Education on July 19 at the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building.

Prof. Maria Minerva Calimag, who has been teaching at the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery for almost four decades, received the professorial chair endowed by Metrobank Foundation, Inc., and named after the mother of Metrobank founder Dr. George S.K. Ty.

In her lecture, Calimag underscored the importance of relentless learning and aiming beyond attaining professional titles.

“We sharpen the saw–study, study, study because that will be value-added. It is not just the letter after

our names; we take risks and tread new career paths,” she said in her lecture titled “Knowing Oneself Inside and Out: Success Formula for Teachers/Students in Caring Professions.”

Calimag also emphasized how sound socio-emotional skills could help the new generation of medical students thrive in their studies.

“Our next challenge in education is about teaching Gen Z medical students with the right attitudes and values,” Calimag said. “What skill should we develop among our students? We have socio-emotional skills and competencies.”

She also advised Thomasians to have role models to look up to, saying mentors could “help us see what we may not otherwise see in ourselves.”

“Mentors help you determine your strengths, and bring to light what sets

you apart from those around you,” she said. “Mentorship in medicine can occur at any stage of one’s career, but is particularly important as it pertains to medical students and trainees.”

Calimag was presented with the professorial chair recognition by Fr. Maximo Gatela, O.P., the director of the UST Office of Grants, Endowments, and Partnerships in Higher Education.

The Metrobank Foundation Inc. recognized Calimag as one of the Outstanding Filipino Teachers in Higher Education in 2021.

Calimag is a decorated doctor who has been awarded the Eric Nubla Award for Excellence by the Professional Regulation Commission and the “Most Outstanding Filipino Anesthesiologist” by the Philippine Society of Anesthesiologists, among many

other distinctions.

She earned her doctorate in medicine in 1981 and her doctorate in educational management in 2011, both at UST. In 2022, she was given The Outstanding Thomasian Alumni Award for Medicine.

Calimag has been an instructor at UST since 1986. She has eight children, all of whom went on to become Thomasian doctors.

She is an internationally published scholar at the UST Research Center for Health Sciences and the UST Research Center for Social Sciences and Education.

Established in 2019, the Doña Victoria Ty Tan Professorial Chair in Medical Education is given by the Metrobank Foundation, Inc. in partnership with the UST Research and Endowment Foundation, Inc. A.D.M. TESTON

Divorce FROM PAGE 11 ►

that the Absolute Divorce Act will “streamline the process” of dissolving marital ties.

“Procedurally, the House bill envisions an expeditious manner of resolving petitions for divorce without regard to the technical rules,” he said. If signed into law, the divorce process is expected to last more or less one year.

Changes

The Absolute Divorce Act potentially provides a cost-saving route for low-income couples because legal representation is optional.

The process becomes faster if the petition is filed jointly, Uy explained, because both parties can agree on the issues and facts, allowing the judge to focus on whether there is sufficient evidence to prove the grounds for divorce.

The grounds for declaration of nullity, legal separation, and annulment are all accepted as grounds for absolute divorce, the bill provides. These include domestic abuse, infidelity, homosexuality, drug addiction and psychological incapacity, among others.

Petitioners filing on the ground of psychological incapacity will further benefit from the SC’s unanimous decision in 2021 declaring it “not a medical, but a legal concept,” which means psychologists or mental health experts are no longer mandated to appear in court to prove its existence.

Before proceeding to a trial, which should take only one year, the court will set a 60-day mandatory cooling-off period for concerned spouses to reconcile, the bill stated (lawyers or outside parties may try to intervene). If both parties decide to mend relations, the divorce petition will be junked.

Uy expects that the judiciary will face an avalanche of petitions if the absolute divorce bill becomes law.

“The grant of divorce, if it becomes a law, will flood the courts most certainly as the first and only sign of how eager the country is for this long-awaited legal remedy,” the lawyer stressed. “There are indeed numerous opinions but I think it is high time that we adopt this age-old

concept because, as we develop, we have all been allowed to understand that there are marriages that are not as successful as others.”

‘Inviolable’

No one expects the passage of a bill allowing absolute divorce to be a walk in the park.

For starters, legal luminaries are at odds whether this remedy violates the Constitution or not. Former chief justice Hilario Davide Jr. stressed in a forum at the University of the Philippines on July 10 that absolute divorce “weakens, demeans, degrades, debases or even demonizes marriage as a sacred and inviolable social institution.”

Article XV, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution states, “Marriage, as an inviolable social institution, is the foundation of the family and shall be protected by the State.” Former Ombudsman chief Conchita Carpio-Morales rebutted that prohibiting divorce “defies the basic constitutional provision mandating […] the promotion of general welfare that all Filipinos must enjoy.”

Economist Bernardo Villegas, one of the framers of the 1987 Constitution, argued that recognizing marriage as an “inviolable institution” precludes any possibility of reviving absolute divorce.

“Those who believe in the socalled ‘originalist’ interpretation of a constitution can readily verify from the minutes of the meetings of the Committee on the Family that it was in the minds of the drafters that a legitimate marriage bond should be indissoluble,” he wrote in a column for the Manila Bulletin on June 10.

Alliance for the Family Foundation, a multisectoral group, said that by “harmonizing the Constitution, statutes enacted by Congress, pronouncements by the Supreme Court, it can be said that in the Philippines, the right to life, marriage, and the family are characterized as having sanctity, inviolability, permanence and stability.”

Permanence, it said in a February 2023 position paper, is “further reflected by the legislature in the Family Code of the Philippines which recognized marriage as a special contract of permanent union between a man and a woman entered

► In May 2005, more Filipinos disagreed with the prospects of reinstituting divorce, based on a poll conducted by

into in accordance with law for the establishment of conjugal and family life.”

Alvior believes that legislators should not be “hamstrung” by conflicting constitutional arguments because there will come a time when the SC will resolve the question.

“While the constitutionality and legality of a bill should be at the back of the minds of our legislators, I believe that to give that aspect much attention would result in our legislators being hamstrung in coming up with an effective piece of legislation,” the lawyer said.

“The legal and constitutional challenge of a law has a proper place and time before our courts. Let us deal with that once we get there. What is vital now is just to present to the public a piece of legislation that genuinely aims to resolve pressing societal issues.”

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said in May that seven senators would likely vote to legalize absolute divorce while four were expected to oppose it.

More than half of the chamber remain mum on the issue but, judging from their previous statements, seven more have no appetite to back the bill.

Church softens stance

Divorce supporters have one other institution to confront: the

Catholic Church. But while the influential Filipino bishops remain opposed to divorce, clerics are aware that they could not dictate the outcome of congressional deliberations.

In May, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said the “existence of a divorce law will not render divorce a moral option for Catholics for whom it will always remain contrary to the Gospel and to the constant teaching of the Church.”

“While we may not have the power to thwart the passage of a law that would legalize divorce by legislators minded to pass it, it nonetheless remains the duty of every Catholic to catechize and instruct fellow-Catholics and brothers and sisters in other faith-communities the reasons why we cannot support a bill that makes legal what to us is a transgression of Christ’s sovereign will,” he said in a pastoral letter.

The rejection of religious leaders to divorce parallels their ferocious opposition to the Reproductive Health (RH) bill, which former president Benigno Aquino III signed into law in 2012.

The RH bill, which aims to provide access to contraceptives to low-income individuals, languished in Congress for over a decade. Aquino certified the measure as urgent, expediting its passage in Congress.

The Church mobilized its fol-

lowers to reject the measure. The late CBCP president Bishop Nereo Odchimar raised the specter of excommunication if the president approved the bill.

The Diocese of Bacolod displayed giant “Team Buhay, Team Patay” banners at the façade of its parishes to inform the faithful how senatorial candidates at the time voted for the measure.

For prominent Jesuit theologian Fr. Eric Genilo, the Church’s RH bill opposition prompted some Filipinos to abandon their general deference toward religious leaders.

“The debate on the RH Bill provided an opportunity for Filipinos to disagree with and openly criticize the hierarchy not only about its position on the RH Bill but also on a variety of issues such as the Church’s treatment of women, the sex abuse scandal, and clergy involvement in partisan politics,” he wrote in a 2014 journal article titled “The Catholic Church and the Reproductive Health Bill Debate: The Philippine Experience.”

The experience of 2012 has likely influenced the Church hierarchy’s approach to dealing with absolute divorce. In a pastoral statement signed by CBCP President Pablo Virgilio David, the bishops’ conference said that while its opposition remains adamant, it cannot dictate policies to lawmakers.

“We know that our stubborn assertion that a genuine marriage cannot be dissolved is not necessarily shared by all religions, and we respect that,” the July 11 statement read.

“As spiritual and moral leaders of the Church, we can only propose but never impose.”

Villegas reminded Filipinos in May that marriage should be entered into with seriousness of purpose, and urged those preparing for the sacrament to seek advice from family and life apostolates in all dioceses all over the country.

“The Church urges that those intending to contract marriage discern with maturity their preparedness for the duties marriage imposes on them – and not treat it as some provisional arrangement that can be conveniently set aside when it so suits them,” he said.

Social Weather Stations. Nearly two decades later, the measure has achieved majority backing.

PHOTO GRABBED FROM SOCIAL WEATHER STATIONS

► Dr. Maria Minerva Calimag FILE PHOTO

Fine Arts and Design dean, Admissions director among 2024 faculty retirees

THE UNIVERSITY honored 32 retirees from the academic staff, including administrators and longtime faculty, in a ceremony on July 16 at the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building.

In his message during the event, Acting Rector Fr. Isaias Tiongco, O.P. thanked the faculty retirees for their contributions to UST, which he said “transcends the confines of the classroom.”

“Your heritage at (UST) is immeasurable,” he said. “You have been pillars of strength, wisdom, and resilience, guiding everyone through challenges and triumphs.”

“Your legacy will continue to inspire

Bookends

FROM PAGE 5 ►

in-person Paskuhan that year. That year, we released my favorite Paskuhan issue, titled “Welcome Back to Paskuhan,” marking the paper’s return to campus newsstands and Paskuhan concert venues. That issue won a Student Quill award.

A month later, “V” hosted the “Valik-Varsi” alumni homecoming in celebration of its 95th anniversary. For a relatively younger staff, this event served as a bridge connecting both old and new staffers to reignite their passion for the publication. As the “V” adjusted to the graduation of staff members who had last experienced full face-to-face operations, it was a crucial reminder of the significance of our responsibilities as student journalists.

In 2023, we published a special Paskuhan issue honoring 800 years of the Belen, blending its design with elements inspired by the campus celebration’s Super Mario theme. Throughout the years, I witnessed both endings and new beginnings. Activities that had been shifted online or entirely paused during the pandemic began to return to campus. One key lesson was witnessing how the publication adapted. Our annual flagship journalism fellowship, Inkblots, transitioned to a webinar format during the pandemic before successfully returning in January of this year, addressing essential discussions surrounding artificial intelligence. Gawad Ustetika, our publication’s literary derby, and the UST Campus Journalism Awards kept the spirit alive for writers even during the toughest times. Pautakan, the intellectual competition, evolved into an online format before returning to its in-person roots in May. Throughout it all, the dedication of “V” staffers ensured that our traditions persisted and that we honored those who paved the way for us.

long after the echoes of this celebration fade, for you have taught us not just to think critically but to dream. Not just to learn but to achieve.”

Leading the roster of faculty retirees this year is Assoc. Prof. Jocelyn Agcaoili, who served the University for 44.5 years.

Agcaoili is the director of the Center for Continuing Professional Education and Development (CCPED) of the UST Graduate School and a faculty member at the College of Rehabilitation Sciences.

Following her are Asst. Prof. Vivian Asuncion of the Faculty of Pharmacy and Asst. Prof. Nelson Pasamonte, formerly the assistant dean of the Faculty of Engineering, whose tenure both spanned 44 years. Pasamonte, in his speech on behalf

Although I am not Catholic — as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often referred to as “Mormon”) — my time with the publication allowed me to explore my faith more deeply. Covering Catholic Church events through the Witness section enriched my faith, and the inspiring words of Catholic saints and Dominican priests provided hope, especially during the pandemic.

The “V” more than just helped me discover my purpose. St. Francis de Sales, the patron saint of journalists, once said, “Do not wish to be anything but what you are, and try to be that perfectly.” Through “V”, I went from being a lost student, unsure of where I was headed, to someone who learned to embrace my true self.

But this journey wasn’t without its challenges. The same saint also said, “So many have come to me that I might serve them, leaving me no time to think of myself.” There were moments when it felt overwhelming, when the responsibilities and pressures weighed me down. Yet, as he continued, “However, I assure you that I do feel deep down within me, God be praised.” Even in the toughest moments, I found peace and fulfillment, knowing that what I was doing mattered and that I was growing through it all.

And so, I close with nothing but gratitude.

To the editors who have guided me throughout the years: Kuya Deips, Ate Ria, Ate Julia, and Bro. Aboy — thank you!

To the editorial board members I was lucky to work alongside and learn from: Ate Kat, Laurd, Miguel, Jacq, Edj, and Logan — thank you!

To those who became friends during my record-breaking six-year stay at the “V,” you are too many to count, but special mention to Faith, Med, Bea, Klyra, Enjo, Mariel, VA, Ma-

of the 32 retirees, congratulated his colleagues for marking a new chapter in their lives and leaving a legacy to the academic community.

“There were times when we did not feel like teaching. Nevertheless, we found ways of performing our solemn role and duty as mentors the best we could for the sake and love of our students,” he said.

“We are glad that we have been instrumental to their success in their respective professions,” he added.

The full list of faculty retirees for 2024

UST-Alfredo M. Velayo College of Accountancy

• Asst. Prof. Nestor Noble (27.5 years)

• Guillermo Sebastian (22 years)

College of Architecture

• Roberto Cabrera (5 years)

• Assoc. Prof. John-Joseph Fernandez (25 years)

Faculty of Arts and Letters

• Assoc. Prof. Milagros Arrevillaga (43 years)

• Asst. Prof. Emmanuel Domingo (23 years)

College of Education

• Assoc. Prof. Eleanor Sibug (34.5 years)

Faculty of Engineering

• Asst. Prof. Albert Acosta (42 years)

• Prof. Maria Natalia Dimaano (35.5 years)

• Asst. Prof. Nelson Pasamonte (44 years)

College of Fine Arts and Design

• Asst. Prof. Mary Christie Que (29 years)

Junior High School

• Master Teacher Eden Tolentino (39 years)

• Senior Teacher Evelyn Tiangsing (31 years)

College of Information and Computing Sciences

Faculty of Medicine and Surgery

• Prof. Marcelino Banzon (33 years)

• Prof. Alejandro Baroque II (35 years)

• Assoc. Prof. Jocelyn Nieva YatcoBautista (28 years)

• Assoc. Prof. Imelda Dakis (35 years)

• Asst. Prof. Nelson Maglinao (32 years)

• Prof. Arnelfa Paliza (32 years)

• Prof. Leah Socorro Rivera (29.5 years)

• Prof. Elizabeth Angelica Roasa (33 years)

• Asst. Prof. Roberto Uy (28 years)

• Asst. Prof. Ronald Yutangco (33 years)

College of Nursing

• Asst. Prof. Trinidad Ignacio (40 years)

Faculty of Pharmacy

• Asst. Prof. Vivian Asuncion (44 years) Assoc. Prof. Sandra Sy (42 years)

College of Rehabilitation Sciences

• Assoc. Prof. Jocelyn Agcaoili (44.5 years)

• Asst. Prof. Ma. Carmencita Gonzalez (25 years)

College of Science

• Asst. Prof. Michael Valdez (27 years)

Also among this year’s retirees are College of Fine Arts and Design Dean Mary Christie Que, Office for Admissions Director Imelda Dakis, and Department of Computer Science Chair Jose Seño.

A.L.A. RIVERA

lic, Terra, Jayce, Marvin, Jan, Karis, Jana, Chals, Peter, Josh, Chan, NA, Sam, Melo, and Bjorn — thank you!

To the countless friends I’ve made along the way, from my short-lived IICS years to my delightful AB days — thank you!

To Ma’am Padua, who helped redirect me from IICS to AB — thank you!

To Father Rector Ang, Father Chubi, Father Dex, Father Jay, and Father Rodel — thank you!

To my journalism professors from whom I have learned so much: Sir Ace, Sir Nate, Sir Pats, Sir Joma, Sir Jack, Sir Jere, Sir Leo, Sir Alwyn, Sir Alec, Ma’am Ash, Ma’am Jannis, Ma’am Cai, and Ma’am Karol — thank you!

And to the publications advisers of the “V” who have shaped me into the confident writer I’ve become: Sir Lito, Sir Ipe, and Sir Ian — thank you!

Students are often left to condense their entire college experience into social media posts, usually with their graduation photos. I wasn’t the type of student who’d give a graduation speech either. But after six years at college, I’m fortunate enough to have the chance to write about how I’m wrapping up my time with UST — and with “V” — in this final issue, where I get to grace its pages one last time.

As John proclaimed in his final words of Revelation, so do I offer this call: journalism may not reveal the fullness of truth, yet it grants us a glimpse thereof. For journalism is not wrought for mere speculation or for the exercise of thought alone; it is given that it might stir the hearts of many unto action. May we ever seek the truth earnestly, that it may transform us, renew our minds, and guide our steps.

Thank you, “V”! Time it was, and what a time it was. Like Christ on the Cross and the Thomasian national hero Jose Rizal, this is a Hirro saying goodbye: Consummatum Est!

• Asst. Prof. Jose Seño (15.5 years)

Miguel de Benavides Library

• Senior Librarian Nora Matawaran (37 years)

news reports and photo essays daily.

Mr. Lito Zulueta’s long comments, Mr. Felipe Salvosa’s abrupt calls, and Mr. Christian Esguerra’s incisive critiques taught me the nuts and bolts of journalism in ways that often surpassed classroom lessons (apologies to my professors).

My colleagues on the editorial board were steadfast sources of support, helping me become a better person (and a better joker). John Ezekiel Hirro, our editor in chief for the past four years, writes with unparalleled skill. Jacqueline Martinez, who served as associate editor during my first year as managing editor, combined intelligence and tenacity before bringing those qualities to law school. Her successor, Logan Zapanta, has shown remarkable diligence and initiative, marking him as Hirro’s natural heir.

Dozens of staff members have supported me with frank feedback, timely help, and genuine friendship. This column isn’t long enough to name them all, but their names are etched in my heart.

The “V” remains one of the most influential campus publications in the Philippines because of people like them. Being guided by such mentors and peers is a blessing.

Front-row seat

I joined the “V” during the Covid-19 pandemic, missing out on in-person mentorship, campus life, and the energy of extra-editorial activities. Still, being part of a campus publication meant having a front-row seat to history.

During the anxiety-ridden May 2022 elections, I covered the manual counting of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting inside the Quadricentennial Pavilion. With Witness editor Mariel Serquiña, I watched in horror as Ferdinand

• Assoc. Prof. Portia Lynn See (21 years).

Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte-Carpio swept the presidential and vicepresidential races.

A month later, I was tasked with covering the long-delayed Baccalaureate Mass for Batches 2020 and 2021. Although I was only an observer frustrated by patchy internet, it was magical to witness the festivities in person.

Chronicles of unfolding history are gifts few receive. The gratifying thrill of covering University and national events never faded. Whether live-tweeting a conference, recording a keynote speech, or photographing a sports tournament, campus journalists preserve UST’s story—not just for current students but for future Thomasians.

The place to be

For students seeking an organization to call home, campus journalism is an opportunity to find sharp, funny, and courageous colleagues, friends, and mentors. Whether it’s the Accountancy Journal (AMV), The Flame (Arts and Letters), Education Courier (Education), Thomasian Engineer (Engineering), Purple Gazette (Pharmacy), The Owl (Philosophy), Transcend Daily (Tourism), The Aquinian (Junior High School), or La Stampa (Senior High School), every publication offers a unique experience.

But, with bias admitted, there’s no place like the “V.” Though intimidating at first, once inside, all fear dissolves. Only a profound love remains—a love for journalism, photojournalism, and being in each other’s company.

As I face the inevitable end of this journey, I carry with me the lessons, challenges, and memories from my time at the “V.”

Thank you, “V,” for giving me the best job in the world.

► The 32 faculty retirees for this year pose for a photo with Dominican priests. PHOTO FROM UST WEBSITE

EDITOR: JOHN PETER L. CAJAYON

Jeralyn Rodriguez from Lydia Aguilar National High School to win the event with a time of 3:54.35.

Pangilinan narrowly defeated Caraga’s Jacinto Elpa in the 100-meter dash, clocking 12.72 seconds to take silver. Ordinario added another silver with a time of 58.17 seconds in the girls’ 400-meter run.

“I’m quite satisfied sa overall performance ng ating girls team since they were competing against the best in the national level,” Junior Female Tracksters head coach Manny Calipes told the Varsitarian

Calipes said this year’s Palarong Pambansa highlighted UST’s high school track and field program, though it had its challenges.

“Our athletic program is getting noticed by other regions but we are also facing the same recruitment problems just like in other sports,” he said. “Even our own athletes are getting offers and athletes we recruited and committed to UST have transferred allegiance to other schools.”

In the boys’ division, Junior Male Trackster Gabriel Cervantes broke the high school record in the 2000-meter walk, recording 8:53.89.

However, the record, set by Francis Gabriel from the Ilocos Region in 2018 (9:33.01), was invalidated because the Cebu City Sports Center’s track was 1.5 meters short of the mandatory 400-meter World Athletics standard.

Francis Sillar added to NCR’s medal count with a silver in the secondary boys’ pole vault, clearing 3.80 meters and

winning silver via countback.

UST head coach Emerson Obiena expressed satisfaction with the Junior Male Tracksters’ performance in the Palaro.

“Overall very good…two out of three ang medal output natin—one gold, one silver. Not bad,” Obiena told the Varsitarian

However, Obiena emphasized that UST’s high school athletics program needs more work, including increasing the coaching staff.

“There are 22 events in boys track and field and each athlete needs the attention of a coach. That’s the challenge we have to overcome,” he said. “An additional helping hand will be very beneficial.”

Junior Golden Spikers bag inaugural Fil-Nation boys volleyball crown

THE UST Junior Golden Spikers ruled the first-ever Fil-Nation Select International U19 Volleyball Tournament after sweeping the FEU-Diliman Baby Tamaraws in the finals, 25-19, 26-24, 25-22, at the Gameville Ballpark in Mandaluyong on Friday, July 19.

UST’s Paolo Medino clinched the Most Valuable Player and Best Opposite Hitter awards, while Gherick Luston and Sean Cruz were named Best Outside Spiker and Best Middle Blocker, respectively.

Kalel Legazpi, who played in the previous UAAP season as a setter, returned to his original position and won the Best Libero plum.

With UST only up by one in the first frame, 18-17, the Junior Golden Spikers pulled away with a 7-2 run capped by a Joncriz Ayco crosscourt kill to draw first blood.

In the second salvo, the Baby Tamaraws kept their bid alive after saving three set points to send the game to a 24all deadlock. However, Luston and Cruz unleashed consecutive kills that gave UST a 2-0 lead.

After an 8-4 UST start, the Junior Golden Spikers committed costly attack errors that allowed FEU to trail them by one and keep the game tight until the set reached 23-22.

A costly FEU attack error gave UST

the championship point before Jeff Abalos and Rain de la Paz denied Cedrick Calimlim to seal the deal.

Ayco the, reigning UAAP boys’ MVP, was named the player of the game.

UST ended the elimination round with a 2-1 win-loss record, just one game behind FEU which had a 3-0 tally. In the semifinals, the Junior Golden Spikers survived the VNS 19U squad in a five-set thriller to book a finals spot.

UST brought home P20,000 alongside the championship.

University of the Philippines and De La Salle University were also contenders.

“I was also trying to weigh my options between those three schools and to know what would be more beneficial sa akin,” Mabalay said.

“I ended up here in UST, which I think is the best for me.” The incoming nutrition and dietetics major said UST coaches have been training her since 2017 and that she had occasionally trained with the Tigersharks, even before this year’s Palarong Pambansa.

increasing number of divorces is very troubling. Hence, our most important pastoral task with regard to families is to strengthen their love, helping to heal wounds and working to prevent the spread of this drama of our times.”

A survey by Social Weather Stations in March showed that 50 percent of Filipino adults supported the legalization of divorce, while 31 percent opposed it. On May 22, the House of Representatives approved a bill to reinstate absolute divorce in the country.

Several Catholic groups

UST’s Sean Harry Narag, Mejen Sombongan, Harvey Villasan, and Rafael Ballelos will make their collegiate debut in Season 87, while incoming freshmen Rashied Burdeos, Francine Andrade, Aira Gacusan, and Lyka Miravales will join the Female Trackers.

BJORN DEL B. DEADE AND BRENN ALLEN L. FLORES

After an impressive high school career, Mabalay aims to continue breaking records and pushing boundaries as she enters collegiate competition, with her sights set on being the top rookie.

“Sa whole collegiate career ko, I really aim to break records ulit and to push more on my boundaries and to explore what I can do sa swims ko and not only focus sa three events na usually ginagawa ko,” Mabalay said. “I also aim to be the rookie of the year in the upcoming season.” BRENN ALLEN L. FLORES

and leaders have since opposed the measure including the global lay organization Couples for Christ, which said that God is using the Philippines, the only country where divorce is not allowed, as a beacon for the world to rediscover the importance of a solid marriage and family.

A divorce law was originally enacted in 1917 during the American colonial period but was repealed in 1943. In 1950, Republic Act No. 386, or the Civil Code, was introduced to allow legal separation instead of

vorce.

Eight teams participated in the inaugural tournament held from July 16 to 19. N.J.R. BINO

Golden Tigresses look to ‘raw’ talent for spark ahead of UAAP season

UST HEAD coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes said the Golden Tigresses’ participation in preseason tournaments is aimed at developing their “raw” talents and giving them exposure as they work to integrate these players into the team.

The Golden Tigresses will compete in two preseason leagues: the Shakey’s Super League and the V-League Collegiate Challenge.

“The team now is very raw. We’re here to gain exposure and experience,” Reyes told the Varsitarian in Filipino when discussing the team’s composition in the pre-season. “This is the learning process. It’s good because we have a lot of talent, so we’re observing how they react.”

Reyes noted that with several veterans available, he plans to provide rookies Margaret Altea, Francine Osis, Abigail Sinson, Kaizah Huyno, and Blessing Unekwe substantial playing time to help them adjust to the senior level.

“We gathered around the last week of June, so by the second week of July, we started competing. Their response to the system has been good, though there is still much to correct. But at least, we are here,” Reyes said.

Although the Tigresses exited

in the quarterfinals of the Shakey’s Super League, the rookies impressed, particularly opposite hitter Altea, who led the team with 54 points and contributed height alongside 6-foot-2 Nigerian recruit Unekwe. Altea, Unekwe, Osis, Huyno, Arlene Waje, and Ashlee Knop will continue their preseason activities alongside team captain Detdet Pepito. They will be joined by reigning UAAP Rookie of the Year Angge Poyos, reigning Best Setter Cassie Carballo, Regina Jurado, Joanna Perdido, Pia Abbu, and Margaret Banagua, among others. BRENN ALLEN L. FLORES AND R.A.L. DONGIAPON WITH REPORTS FROM ALBERT EARL A. GOMEZ

► The UST Junior Golden Spikers pose for a photo after defeating the FEU-Diliman Baby Tamaraws to reign supreme in the inaugural Fil-Nation Select International U19 Volleyball Tournament, held at the Gameville Ballpark in Mandaluyong on Friday, July 19. PHOTO BY JADE MOYA

► Lea Ordinario PHOTO FROM PALARONG PAMBANSA 2024 FACEBOOK

Sports

UST JUNIOR TIGERSHARKS, TRACKSTERS SHINE AT PALARONG PAMBANSA

THE UST Junior Tigersharks, representing the National Capital Region (NCR), won a total of 21 medals at the 2024 Palarong Pambansa, held at the Cebu City Sports Center from July 11 to 14.

Their haul included four gold, six silver and eleven bronze medals.

Junior Female Tigershark and UAAP Season 86 girls’ MVP Patricia Santor clocked 29.43 seconds to rule the girls’ secondary 50-meter butterfly stroke event.

Santor, Clara de los Santos and Ishaelle Villa, along with DLSU’s Ashley Wong, secured gold in the girls’ secondary 4×50-meter medley relay, while Ryian Belen earned silver in the boys’ category of the event.

Santor and Villa continued their success by winning gold in the girls’ secondary 4×100-meter medley relay event for NCR, with Santor also taking bronze in the 200-meter individual medley.

UAAP 200-meter relay record holders Belen and Jabriell Delizo dominated

Prized

UST setter transfers to La Salle

By Bjorn Del B. Deade

AFTER one year with UST, Junior Golden Tigresses setter Maile Salang, who was part of Alas Pilipinas Girls’ recent Princess Cup run, is transferring to De La Salle University, her father confirmed to the Varsitarian

► Maile Salang UAAP PHOTO

In UAAP Season 86, the 5-foot-7 setter helped UST win its first podium finish since 2019, earning Player of the Game honors twice.

Salang, an incoming Grade 12 student, is set to develop into a key addition to De La Salle University’s senior team known for its need for height.

Salang first caught the attention of UST’s coaching staff in 2022, prompting coaches Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes and Yani Fernandez, along with former Golden Tigresses Eya Laure and Imee Hernandez, to travel to Cebu to secure her commitment.

After facing tough competition from other UAAP schools eager to recruit Salang, she eventually committed to the Junior Golden Tigresses in January 2023 during the team’s training camp in Baguio.

During her Alas Pilipinas stint, she played alongside her fellow Junior Golden Tigresses Chasliey Pepito, Avril Bron, Kimberly Rubin, Jaila Adrao, Aneeza Santos and Lianne Penuliar.

Salang’s departure will open minutes for UST’s 6-foot setter Aneeza Santos, daughter of former UST Growling Tigers assistant coach Rodney Santos.

the boys’ secondary 4×50-meter freestyle relay, finishing with a gold time of 1:38.57.

Santor took home silver in the girls’ secondary 100-meter and 200-meter butterfly stroke events, while Hugh Parto claimed bronze in the boys’ division of the same event.

Parto also earned silver medals in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay and 50-meter butterfly stroke events.

UAAP 50-meter breaststroke record holder Clara de los Santos finished second in the Palarong Pambansa 50-meter breaststroke, having her record broken by UST commit Beatrize Mabalay, and also took bronze in the 100-meter breaststroke event.

Villa added to her medal tally with bronze finishes in the 50-meter and 100-meter backstroke events.

Delizo placed third in the 100-meter freestyle event, while Kaden Sy earned bronze in the 200-meter breaststroke event.

Aishel Evangelista collected four bronze medals in the 400-meter,

800-meter, and 1500-meter freestyle events, as well as in the 400-meter individual medley category.

Tracksters

THE UST Junior Tracksters bolstered NCR’s 17th consecutive Palarong Pambansa title win by securing four gold and three silver medals in the athletics tournament held at the Cebu City Sports Center from July 11 to 15.

Junior Female Tracksters Lea Ordinario, Iza Pangilinan, Ashley Tabad, and Jamaica Saligan secured the gold medal in the secondary girls’ 4×100-meter relay with a time of 48.82 seconds.

Ordinario also earned a gold medal by winning the 200-meter run, completing it in 26.28 seconds.

In the 4×400-meter relay, Ordinario, Pangilinan, and Saligan teamed up with PALARO

UST commit breaks swimming records in Palarong Pambansa

FUTURE UST Female Tigershark Beatrize Mabalay broke the Palarong Pambansa girls’ secondary 50-meter and 100-meter breaststroke records as she bagged two gold and one silver medals in the tournament held at the Cebu City Sports Center on July 12.

The 17-year-old from Sorsogon, representing the Bicol Region, clocked 34.35 seconds in the girls’ secondary 50-meter category, surpassing the previous record set by NCR representative and Junior Tigershark Clara de los Santos, who came in second with a time of 34.74 seconds. She then shattered Mimaropa’s Maria Manantan’s record of 1:16.56 minutes in the girls’ secondary 100-meter breaststroke category with a 1:15.95-minute performance to claim her second gold medal in the tournament.

Mabalay also secured a silver-medal finish in the girls’ secondary 200-meter breaststroke event after recording 2:44.51 minutes.

“My performance was really good, pero I also know that there are still a lot of areas that I can improve on and I’m going to really focus on those in the following months,” Mabalay told the Varsitarian

In 2019, she dominated the girls’ elementary 400-meter relay event. After the Palaro went on a four-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Mabalay won gold in the girls’ secondary 200-meter breaststroke and silver medals in the 100-meter and 50-meter events.

Mabalay will be eligible to compete in UAAP Season 87 in her collegiate debut.

Commitment to UST

The three-time Palarong Pambansa gold medalist began her career at nine years old,

training in substandard 25-meter pools due to the lack of competition-standard pools in her home province.

“It was really a struggle to find a place kung saan ako makaka-train nang maayos. Luckily, I have my parents who helped me go sa pools na malapit sa amin even if resorts lang iyon. Mainly ‘yong mga pools na ‘yon are 20 meters lang, which is really short compared to athletes who were able to train in Manila na nakakapag-train sa 50-meter or 25-meter pools,” Mabalay said.

In 2017, she moved to Manila

► UST Female Tigersharks-commit Beatrize Mabalay (center) captures two golds and one silver in Palarong Pambansa swimming. Mabalay is set

and began swimming with the Quezon City Waves Swim Club, where she caught the attention of UST head coach Caezar Alcantara and started her golden journey.

“Actually, noong Grade 7 pa, I was aiming to study at UST na rin, and I passed but I didn’t continue lang,” she said. “Last year, they recruited me for senior high school, but since we moved to Bicol, hindi natuloy.” However, UST was not the only school interested in her; the

► Junior Tigersharks Ryan Zach Belen, Clara Yzabela de los Santos, Kaden Gabriel Sy, and Hugh Antonio Parto (clockwise from top left) earn medals for Team NCR in the 2024 Palarong Pambansa. PHOTOS FROM THE UST TIGERSHARKS