The Varsitarian P.Y. 2019 - 2020 Issue 05

VOLUME XCI / NO. 5 · JUNE 14, 2020 · THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS · Manila, Philippines ON SOCIAL MEDIA

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UST EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR SHUTTERED ABS-CBN THE UNIVERSITY joined the wave of public support for beleaguered broadcaster ABS-CBN, issuing a statement on May 6 lamenting the Duterte government’s order to shut down the country’s biggest media network.

“It is a clear disservice to the Filipino people in this time of the pandemic, when information, delivered fast and wide, is key to saving lives,” UST said in the statement posted on the University’s social media accounts.

UST expresses... PAGE 2

AN ABS-CBN worker holds his candle signifying support to the continuation of the television franchise, February 14. The network is threatened to discontinue its franchise due to allegations.

(PHOTO BY JAZMIN D. TABUENA/THE VARSITARIAN)

USAPANG USTE p.3

La Naval: Makasaysayang paglilipat sa Santo Domingo noong Marian Year 1954

OPINION p.5

Special Reports p.6-7

Covid 19 — wages of Duterte’s treasonous pro-China policy

A place that was once Santo Tomas Internment Camp

ACCORDING to Saint Paul the Apostle, the wages of sin is death. And the wages of Rodrigo Duterte’s treasonous pro-China policy is the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic stalking the Philippines.

THE UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas (UST) was not always a sanctuary of higher education. It was, for three years, witness to the grim history of World War 2 as the Santo Tomas Internment Camp (STIC).

‘Excellence with a heart’ UST faculty, officials hail Dagohoy’s eight-year legacy

BY CHARM RYANNE C. MAGPALI ON JAN. 15, Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. marked the end of his eight-year stint as UST’s 96th Rector, but his legacy has been cemented in University history, according to faculty members and administrators who worked under him.

Prof. Clarita Carillo, assistant to the rector for planning and quality management, said Dagohoy left a “tinge of sadness,” but his rectorship must be celebrated.

“His eight-year stint has been marked by many achievements and milestones; thus, it is something he can be truly proud of. In that sense, we are happy for him,” Carillo, who was Dagohoy’s vice rector for academic affairs, told the Varsitarian.

During Dagohoy’s rectorship, UST was declared a center of excellence (COE) or center of development (COD) by the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) in 26 programs, making UST the private university with the most number of COEs and CODs in the country.

UST renewed its autonomous status and obtained institutional accreditation from the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (Pacucoa)

and the Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines.

UST now has the highest number of academic programs accredited at Level 4, the highest recognition granted by local accreditors.

Dagohoy worked for the acceptance of the University as an associate member of the Asean University Network-Quality Assessment Group (AUN-QA) and pushed for the program assessment of 12 programs and the training of academic officials as AUN-QA assessors.

The University also obtained the AUN-QA network certification following the institutional assessment of the University in October 2019, which Carillo said would not have been possible without Dagohoy’s “trust and confidence.” UST is only the second Philippine university to obtain the coveted certification, after De La Salle University.

Carillo said Dagohoy was clear about his directions and priorities but remained down to earth. “He is [also] empowering…

He exercises just the right supervision, and you should know when and what to update him about…He also expects you to decide on matters that should be resolved at your level, in a way teaching you both prudence and the balance between authority and accountability,” she said. “[H]e is progressive-thinking and pragmatic, and he ensures that the University maintains its quality standards and Excellence with a heart PAGE 10

Former UST Rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. delivers the homily during last year’s Baccalaureate Mass. (PHOTO BY DEEJAE S. DUMLAO/THE VARSITARIAN)

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NEWS

The Varsitarian JUNE 14, 2020

COORDINATOR: AHMED KHAN H. CAYONGCAT

UST expresses... FROM PAGE 1 “ABS-CBN has significantly contributed to the improvement of the lives of many Filipinos. We pray that ABS-CBN will be able to resume its broadcast operations very soon to continue its invaluable service to the Filipino people and the nation,” the statement read.

UST journalism faculty members released a statement right after the broadcast network signed off on May 5.

“Now that ABS-CBN is out of the airwaves, and for the second time since Martial Law, there is no more denying that the Duterte regime will stop at nothing — even amid a national emergency and a crippling lockdown — to crush dissent and stifle a free and independent media. Shutting down media is the work of dictators,” the journalism faculty said.

“We stand with ABS-CBN and urge it to exert all legal remedies to overturn the NTC’s cease-and-desist order, and call on lawmakers, particularly members of the House of Representatives, to stop foot-dragging and approve a new franchise for ABS-CBN,” it added.

The statement called on the “freedom-loving public to speak out and resist all attacks on the media and media workers, and hold the malevolent forces behind this treachery to account.”

UST communication faculty members also expressed support for the media giant.

“We urge the Supreme Court and Congress to reverse this vindictive act and for lawmakers to grant the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise,” they said in a separate statement.

“We also offer a warm, reassuring embrace to our competent, compassionate, and committed alumni and colleagues in ABS-CBN, and our hearts stand with 11,000 employees who have lost their means of living in the midst of this pandemic,” they said.

On May 5, The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) ordered ABS-CBN to stop operations after the expiry of its legislative franchise. Bills seeking a new franchise for the network languished in Congress for years.

The NTC departed from the previous practice of granting temporary licenses to broadcast entities whose applications for franchise renewal remained pending in Congress.

It promised lawmakers to do so during a public hearing on March 10, but made an about-face after Solicitor General Jose Calida threatened to file graft charges.

ABS-CBN signed off at 7:52 p.m. on May 5. The last time the network went off air was when the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos placed the country under Martial Law. “In the absence of a congressional franchise, the NTC was correct in issuing a cease and desist order and recall order against ABS-CBN,” Calida said in a statement.

BY LAURD MENHARD B. SALEN, NEIL JOSHUA N. SERVALLOS

‘V’ bags 3 awards in 2020 Campus Press Awards THE VARSITARIAN, the 92-year-old official student publication of the University of Santo Tomas, won three major journalism awards in the 3rd The Manila Times Campus Press Awards last Feb. 18.

Former Varsitarian reporter Job Manahan won the award for Best News Story, “Rector: Children belong in schools, not jails.”

The story, published on Jan. 28, 2019, tackled the lowering of the age of criminal liability from 15 years old to 12.

The Varsitarian Sports Team bagged the Best Sports Story award for the article “Tigers to keep Abando as coach growls at recruiters,” which went viral on social media.

The V’s website, which relaunched in 2016 with a new layout and video library, claimed the award for Best News Website anew.

The Aquinian, the official student publication of the UST Junior High School, bagged Best Editorial, Best Editorial Cartoon and Best News Story in the High School English category, and was named Best Campus Paper in the high school level.

Former Manila Times executive director Arnold Belleza urged young journalists to not only be aware of issues but also take a stand.

“Let your minds be open. The lessons of fairness, objectivity and ethics are learned over time, and facts are learned by actual experience,” Belleza said in his speech.

The Manila Times Campus Press Awards is a nationwide competition organized by The Manila Times, the oldest existing English-language newspaper in the Philippines.

The awarding ceremony was held at Savoy Hotel Manila in Pasay. BY CHARM RYANNE C. MAGPALI AND CAMILLE ABIEL H. TORRES

STUDENTS AND STAFF entering buildings are scanned by security personnel using infrared thermometers, as part of the University’s precautionary measures against the novel corona virus. (PHOTO BY MARVIN JOHN F. UY/THE VARSITARIAN)

US envoy leads rites marking 75th anniversary of liberation of UST internment camp at the end of World War 2 UNITED States Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim on Feb. 3 led rites marking the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Manila and the liberation of the Santo Tomas Internment Camp at the end of World War 2.

“The people interned here were in unbelievable hardship and yet in the midst of all those despair and tragedy, emerged stories of hope, compassion, courage and friendship,” he added. “Today we remember and pay tribute to the people who bonded together and fought side by side right here 75 years ago becoming allies for freedom.”

“The best way for us to honor them is by taking our relationship forward, by seizing opportunities to strengthen our partnership and taking on future challenges together as friends, partners and allies,” he added.

UST is an important World War 2 historical site, as it became an internment camp for some 3,700 foreigners, mostly Americans and British, who were trapped in Manila at the outbreak of the Pacific war. The internees suffered from hunger and malnutrition. The death toll reached 465.

The US envoy cited the longstanding relationship between the US and Philippines, stressing its importance in keeping peace in the Pacific region.

“The alliance remains as important today as it was 75 years ago as we work together to respond to humanitarian disasters, counterterrorism and keep the Pacific region free and open for all nations,” Kim said.

The commemoration of the liberation of the Santo Tomas Internment Camp kicked off with a military silent drill performed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines Drill Exhibition Team.

Undersecretary for Defense Policy Ricardo David Jr and Brigadier General Restituto Aguilar attended the UST rites.

Former internee Leslie Ann Murray of the Filipino-American Memorial Endowment Inc. and Francisco Colayco shared stories of the internment camp.

Colayco is the son of guerrilla fighter Manuel Colayco, who was killed at the gate of UST as he guided the American forces sent to liberate the campus from Japanese control. BY LAURD MENHARD B. SALEN, REPORTS FROM CAMILLE H. TORRES

(PHOTO BY NADINE ANNE M. DEANG/THE VARSITARIAN)

“The people interned here were in unbelievable hardship and yet in the midst of all those despair and tragedy, emerged stories of hope, compassion, courage and friendship,” —SUNG KIM UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO THE PHILIPPINES

READ

A place that was once Santo Tomas Internment Camp Special Reports PAGES 6-7

WITNESS

The Varsitarian JUNE 14, 2020

EDITOR: JOSELLE CZARINA S. DELA CRUZ

Catholic schools serve as temporary shelters for homeless, frontliners Fr. Gerard Francisco P. Timoner III, O.P., Master of the Order

LETTER FROM THE MASTER OF THE ORDER

‘Pause and ponder the nearness of God to us’ Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Dominican Family, AS YOU KNOW, after China, Italy is suffering gravely due to covid-19. Some members of the Dominican family in the north of the country have contracted the virus. Let us continue to pray for all the sick, those who care for them, those who are trying their best to find ways in overcoming the pandemic and its adverse effects.

Together with the brothers and sisters here at Santa Sabina, I wish to offer words of solidarity as a gesture of our nearness to one another at this time when common good requires “social distancing”. Our mission is to build communion and yet in this time of crisis, we seem to surrender ourselves to isolation. Paradoxical as it may seem, keeping distance from one another means we truly care for each other, because we want to stop the transmission of the novel corona virus that has claimed the lives of many and has imperiled the lives and livelihood of countless people all over the world. We keep our distance not because we see our brother or sister as a potential virus-carrier, or we are afraid of getting sick; but because we want to help break the chain of viral transmission.

When the healthcare system becomes overloaded, as it happened in the north of Italy, our health care providers will be forced to make difficult ethical decisions — would a patient who is younger and therefore with longer life-expectancy be prioritized over one who is elderly? We hope and pray that we would prevent that from happening anywhere by doing whatever we can to prevent further toxic transmission. Here in Italy, as in other Letter... PAGE 9

Archdiocese of Manila houses medical frontliners PARISHES in the Archdiocese of Manila opened theirs doors to provide shelter to medical frontliners amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

According to guidelines released by Chancellor Fr. Reginald Malicdem, hospital chiefs need to coordinate with the diocese and give a list of personnel who will stay in the shelters.

Parishes and religious institutions that house medical frontliners were urged to inform their barangays if they needed to be exempted from curfew hours.

President Rodrigo Duterte implemented a Luzon-wide “enhanced community quarantine” last March 16, which halted the operation of public transportation and ordered road checkpoints.

Frontliners were advised to follow sanitation standard protocols and observe social distancing.

Alcohol will be provided in the premises. No visitors will be allowed.

A total of 21 parishes and religious institutions have opened their doors to medical frontliners as of March 29. BY MARIEL CELINE L. SERQUIÑA

SCHOOLS in the Archdiosese of Manila were converted into shelters for the homeless and healthcare frontliners amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Among the schools that opened their doors were Malate Catholic School, Espiritu Santo Parochial School, Holy Trinity Academy and Paco Catholic School.

De La Salle University also let homeless people stay inside its gymnasium.

“We laud this gesture of our school directors to provide quarters to the homeless and street dwellers, and health workers where they can be safe and secure,” Manila apostolic administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo said.

CBCP President Archbishop Romulo Valles in a letter encouraged bishops and diocesan administrators to open their doors as temporary shelters for medical frontliners.

“As dioceses and parishes, can we start assisting them by providing facilities for them to go home to, some place for rest and sleep, and perhaps some meals – a second home for our dedicated medical frontliners – like some available buildings and rooms in our dioceses and parishes, for example, formation centers, retreat

houses, and pastoral centers?” the letter read.

Archdiocese Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David announced that churches in the Archdiocese will open its doors as temporary shelters for medical frontliners.

The former Manila archbishop, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, called for a “great renewal” of spirituality and mission during the “Healing Rosary for the World” at the Pontificio Collegio Filippino in Rome last March 25.

“In these trying times, let us not forget, in the worst of times, there is great renewal. We hope that at the end of this Covid-19 pandemic, there will be a rebirth and resurgence of spirituality and mission,” said Tagle, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in Vatican.

The “Healing Rosary for the World” was part of the Church’s effort “for healing and protection for the world” amid the pandemic.

On the same day, Pope Francis led the praying of the Lord’s Prayer at St. Peter’s Basilica.

Pope Francis started the worldwide praying of the Holy Rosary for healing and protection last March 19.

As of March 27, the Philippines has recorded 803 Covid-19 cases while the death toll has reached 54.

The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases around the world has surpassed 500,000 as of this writing. BY MA. ALENA O. CASTILLO

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HOLY WEEK ON LOCKDOWN:

‘Find time for reflection and contrition at home’

BY JOENNER PAULO L. ENRIQUEZ O.P. AND MARIEL CELINE L. SERQUIÑA MANILA APOSTOLIC Administrator Broderick Pabillo on Palm Sunday said the cancellation of public Holy Week activities should not blur the essence of the celebration. “[A]ng blessing hindi lamang binibigay ng tubig, binibigay yan ng panalangin at ng salita ng Diyos,” Pabillo said in his homily during Mass for Palm Sunday at the Manila Cathedral.

(Blessings do not only come from the water but from the prayers and the words of God.) Bishop Pabillo also reminded the faithful to be one with the suffering of others, citing Christ’s suffering on the cross that brought salvation.

“Ang krus na kahoy lang ay kahirapan ngunit kapag nandiyan si Hesus ‘yan po ay kaligtasan.

[W]hat gives meaning to His sufferings is not really the pains that He endured but the great love that He had that enabled Him to bear such pain,” Pabillo said.

(The wooden cross symbolizes suffering, but if Jesus is there, it becomes salvation. [W]hat gives meaning to His sufferings is not really the pains that He endured but the great love that He had that enabled Him to bear such pain.)

UST Parish Priest Fr. Paul Reagan Talavera, O.P. urged Catholics to find time for reflection and contrition at home in this time of pandemic.

“This Holy Week is a time of reflection, renewal, and contrition… lalo na ngayon na marami tayong oras sa bahay. [I]sipin natin ang ating mga pagkakasala, humingi ng tawad sa Panginoon, at samahan natin ang Panginoon in his journey of passion, death, and resurrection,” Talavera said in his homily during Mass at Santisimo Rosario Parish.

Find time... PAGE 8

DE LA SALLE University provides shelter for the homeless following the enhanced community quarantine implemented on March 16. (PHOTO GRABBED FROM DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY’S OFFICIAL TWITTER ACCOUNT)

UsapangUste

BY JOENNER PAULO L. ENRIQUEZ O.P.

La Naval: Makasaysayang paglilipat sa Santo Domingo noong Marian Year 1954 ALAM BA ninyo ang pinag-ugatan ng libo-libong mga deboto na dumarayo sa Simbahan ng Santo Domingo tuwing buwan ng Oktubre para sa kapistahan at prusisyon ng Birhen ng La Naval de Manila?

Sa isyu ng Varsitarian noong 1954, inilathala rito ang makasaysayang paglilipat ng imahen mula sa Unibersidad patungo sa bago nitong tahanan.

Dagsa-dagsang mga deboto ang nakiisa sa pagdiriwang na ito dahil opisyal itong nakilala bilang bahagi ng Marian Year noong taong iyon.

Kaugnay ito sa idineklara ni Pope Pius XII kung saan iba’t ibang pagdiriwang sa b a n s a a n g

Dominican parishes assist poor families amid Covid-19 lockdown

isinagawa para sa Mahal na Birhen.

Pinamunuan ng dating rector ng Unibersidad na si P. Silvestre Sancho, O.P. ang kauna-unahang Misa sa tinatawag na ngayong “National Shrine of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary.”

Kasama sa mga nanguna sa pagbabasbas ang Dating Bise Presidente Carlos Garcia, at ang mga Tomasinong miyembro ng Gabinete na sina Gregorio Hernandez Jr., Paulino Garcia at Pacita Madrigal-Warns.

Nagkakahalaga ng tatlong milyong piso ang bagong tahanan ng imahen na dinisenyo ni arkitekto na si Jose Ma. Zaragoza at naipatayo sa tulong ng inhinyerong si Alberto Guevarra.

Puno ng mga pinta at eskultura ang simbahan na gawa nina Antonio Garcia Llamas, Carlos Francsico, at ni Francesco Riccardo Monti na isang propesor ng Unibersidad.

Inilathala rin sa artikulo ang mga Tsino na kinomisyon ng dating Spanish Governor-General na si Luis Perez Dasmariñas noong 1593.

Ang imahen ang itinuturing na pinakamatandang ivory carving sa buong Filipinas.

Usapang Uste PAHINA 10

ART BY RAE TYAPON

THE UST Santisimo Rosario Parish and Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City offered assistance to poor families within their communities amid the lockdown caused by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

UST Parish Priest Fr. Paul Talavera, O.P. told the Varsitarian the parish helped 600 families, or 2,590 people, as of March 29.

The families were given gift certificates that could be used to buy food and supplies during the lockdown.

The project was in cooperation with the Archdiocese of Manila and Caritas Manila.

“This time of the pandemic has taught us a lot of things, to take things slow, to enjoy everything we have at the present moment and be thankful for all the blessings God has given us, which we rarely acknowledge when we are in normal busy routine,” Talavera said.

Santo Domingo Church, which houses the miraculous image of Our Lady of La Naval, coordinated with the local government to distribute goods to residents, Parish Priest Fr. Mandy Malijan, O.P. said.

Malijan urged the faithful to make space for the Lord in their hearts, at a time when social distancing is required to prevent transmission of the virus.

“Faith is tested during this time. We are holding on to what might happen or the worst may come, but we need to strengthen our faith…

[M]ake a space for the Lord in our hearts,” said Malijan.

Santo Domingo Church suspended the celebration of public masses but the side altar where the image of La Naval is enshrined was made accessible to the faithful.

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OPINION The Varsitarian JUNE 14, 2020

Fourth Wall

Panopticon MARY JAZMIN D. TABUENA

JISELLE ANNE C. CASUCIAN

Off Air ONE of the biggest broadcast companies in the Philippines has been ordered to shut down by the promptings of Solicitor General Jose Calida.

While the fate of the franchise hangs by a thread and much has been viewed and commented on in a political narrative, another perspective has been tackled rarely with regard to this case.

As Filipinos are avid consumers of media, the loss of the ABS-CBN franchise will take a massive toll on the Philippine Culture.

During the Senate hearing last Feb. 24, The Philippine Competition Commission reports that the ABS-CBN franchise holds around 31 - 44% of the Philippine TV audience.

Indeed, ABS-CBN programs and content are actively followed by audiences all over the country since its foundation in 1946.

One of the prime examples of this would be the release of its 2009 Christmas Station ID “Star ng Pasko,” which has become a staple Filipino Christmas song played all around the country since then.

To shut down this constant presence is to kill off a part of our culture.

To silence our culture is to stomp on our identity as Filipinos.

ABS-CBN programs like “Pangako Sa’Yo” and “Lobo” became worldwide sensations, earning nominations and wins from prestigious award organizations like the Emmys and the Banff World Television festival in Canada.

The media company also gave birth to famous reality and game shows like “Pinoy Big Brother” and “Showtime,” both of which are consistently tuned into by the Philippine audience.

Most Filipinos are bound to recognize majority of the names signed under ABS-CBN like Vice Ganda, Kathryn Bernardo, Daniel Padilla, Piolo Pascual, Sarah Geronimo and many more.

Recent television programs by ABSCBN like “Kadenang Ginto” and “Probinsyano” rarely leave the internet’s trending lists, with scenes and audience reactions regularly going viral every few days and references to it thrown left and right becoming common occurrences.

Themes and slogans of the network, a recent example being “Family is Forever” of the 2019 Christmas station ID and the term “Kapamilya” which they use to refer to their audiences, is a common sight and a common utterance heard all around the country.

Throughout these years, the ABSCBN franchise has been a constant in the Philippine culture through its presence in the media. ABS-CBN is, indeed, a big part of our culture that we can easily look back to.

Fouth Wall PAGE 5

Are media practitioners safe from hazards?

EDITORIAL

Why ABS-CBN should hire Calida as ‘telenovela’ writer JOSE CALIDA’S quo warranto petition against ABS-CBN is not only a travesty of Philippine democracy; it is also a pitiful fabrication so fanciful and twisted that the solicitor general should be hired by the broadcast network as its chief “telenovela” writer.

The petition claims that ABS-CBN unlawfully exercised its franchise by offering paid broadcast without government authorization and allowing foreign ownership of its corporation. The allegation is a clear attempt to bully ABS-CBN and hasten the termination of its franchise.

It is clear that Calida’s stunt is nothing but a desperate scheme by the administration of Rodrigo Duterte to silence and intimidate ABS-CBN and press critics. Any right-minded citizen would agree that shutting down the network would pose several problems other than just having one less TV channel in the country.

Since its revival after Edsa in 1986, ABS-CBN has contributed to the thriving democratic space restored by the people power revolution. Its news and public affairs programs may sometimes meld with its entertainment programming, resulting in “infotainment” and less than ideal journalism. But warts and all, ABS-CBN through its news and

public affairs programs have kept the people informed of vital information and issues affecting the society and contributed to the formation of healthy public opinion.

Calida and Duterte’s noisy partisans should put politics aside and let ABS-CBN continue to perform the public service that forms part and parcel of its franchise while letting Congress review and process the network’s application for franchise renewal.

Calida and Duterte’s partisans should be reminded that media agencies such as ABSCBN perform the vital task of making available key information that may affect the citizenry. The right to information is a citizen’s right and the the state has no power to take that away.

Terminating the franchise while Congress is reviewing the network’s application for its renewal would bring the nation back to the dark days of martial law. Calida and Duterte’s cohorts who look with nostalgia at Ferdinand Marcos’ despotic and repressive martial law may be acting true to form. The citizenry must be reminded that immediately after the declaration of martial law in 1972, press agencies were shut down.

It is clear that Calida’s stunt is nothing but a desperate scheme by the administration of Rodrigo Duterte to silence and intimidate ABS-CBN and press critics.

Telenovela... PAGE 5

FOUNDED JANUARY 16, 1928

EUGENE DOMINIC V. ABOY, O.P.

KATRINA ISABEL C. GONZALES

Editor in Chief Associate Editor

NEIL JOSHUA N. SERVALLOS Online Coordinator AHMED KHAN H. CAYONGCAT News Coordinator KLYRA V. ORBIEN Acting Special Reports Editor FAITH YUEN WEI N. RAGASA Sports Editor JISELLE ANNE C. CASUCIAN Features and Circle Editor JOSELLE CZARINA S. DE LA CRUZ Filipino and Witness Editor MARY JAZMIN D. TABUENA Chief Photographer JURY P. SALAYA Art Director

FELIPE F. SALVOSA II Assistant Publications Adviser

JOSELITO B. ZULUETA Publications Adviser

NEWS Charm Ryanne C. Magpali, Laurd Menhard B. Salen, Camille Abiel H. Torres SPORTS Malic U. Cotongan, Rommel Bong R. Fuertes Jr., Jasmin Roselle M. Monton SPECIAL REPORTS Joenner Paulo L. Enriquez, O.P., Camille M. Marcelo, Nuel Angelo D. Sabate FEATURES Ma. Jasmine Trisha L. Nepomuceno LITERARY Leigh Anne E. Dispo, Sofia Bernice F. Navarro FILIPINO Caitlin Dayne A. Contreras, Bea Angeline P. Domingo WITNESS Ma. Alena O. Castillo, Joenner Paulo L. Enriquez, O.P., Mariel Celine L. Serquiña SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Miguel Louis M. Galang, Jade Veronique V. Yap CIRCLE Nolene Beatrice H. Crucillo, Neil Paolo S. Gonzales ART Karl Joshua L. Aron, Mariane Jane A. Cadiz, Alisa Joy T. del Mundo, Jan Kristopher T. Esguerra, Gwyneth Fiona N. Luga, Catherine Paulene A. Umali, Rae Isobel N. Tyapon, Sophia R. Lozada PHOTOGRAPHY Nadine Anne M. Deang, Jean Gilbert T. Go, Renzelle Shayne V. Picar, Bianca Jolene S. Redondo, Camille Abiel H. Torres, Marvin John F. Uy, Arianne Maye D.G. Viri EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Jessica C. Asprer

DISASTROUS COVERAGES are not new for media practitioners, making the journalism field as one of the most dangerous professions in the world.

With the Philippines being declared by various media outlets as one of the “Most Dangerous Countries for Journalists,” Filipino media men and women are exposed to a dangerous environment, risking their lives to deliver quality and truthful news to fight for democracy. According to a private source from a media outfit, regular employees are entitled with hazard pay while contractual employees are not. How come this is possible when lives are at risk? How can we expect our media practitioners to be at their best and work double the effort all the time when a simple consideration like this is not properly compensated? Whether he or she is under a contract, permanent, freelance, or

Journalism is a profession for the brave, yet journalism remains a job for the privileged, due to different factors such as health, wealth, and family backgrounds that may cease careers due to monetary reasons. agency-hired, media outfits must be generous and practically human enough to their employees to provide one, especially in extraordinary or deadly measures.

With the ongoing pandemic and the recent verdict on Maria Ressa’s Cyber Libel case, we now know that media practitioners are frontliners too and can be victimized by by politicians who weaponize the law to attack press freedom. This is why journalists need more protection not only from the natural hazards of their work but also from authorities who seek to oppress them through intimidation and brute force.

In the pending Senate Bill 1860 or the Journalists’ Protection Act of 2018, it is stated that “Another problem faced by journalists is that, due to the inadequate compensation with no available benefits, they often do double jobs and work double time for their media company. They either become journalists who are also account Panopticon PAGE 5

OPINION

The Varsitarian JUNE 14, 2020

FROM PAGE 4

A culture on-air, live in broadcast and in plain sight for everyone to take.

At this point, it is not enough to just idly sit and watch as our culture slowly fades away.

As avid consumers of the media, it is not our job to be silent and lenient.

We must stand and we must speak.

We have to call as one to save our pride, our stories, this part of us.

To shut down this constant presence is to kill off a part of our culture. To silence our culture is to stomp on our identity as Filipinos.

As Filipinos, it is up to us to defend our culture—this part of our identity that is being cut off because too.

Panopticon

Covid-19 — wages of Duterte’s treasonous pro-China policy

FROM PAGE 4

and sales personnel, journalists who are newspaper circulators, or journalists who are also news anchors…”, However, there are journalists that stick to their craft, thinking that the duty a journalist in this time and age is to be one of the frontrunners on fighting fascism and dictatorship. “These poses harm to their physical well-being…

This measure, therefore, seeks to defend and uphold press freedom by promoting the safety and well-being of journalists, employees of media entities on field assignments and freelance journalists, employees of media entities on field assignments, and freelance journalists, in the form of disability, health, and hospitalization benefits.” She also suggested to the Social Security System (SSS) to have a special insurance program for freelance journalists, stating that 25% of their basic pay must be added in the duration of their deployment.

It is deeply discouraging for [them] to be expected of fair reportage yet receive unfair and unsecured labor treatments.

In the recent Taal eruption, media practitioners flocked in the area, many of [them] were freelancers and did not receive hazard pay despite the number of days spent in the area, exposed to natural elements that are harmful to their health; as well as the night shift for the war on drugs coverages. Coverages like these can cause trauma and indeed put their lives at risk due to political agenda and unjustified killings.

Lucky are [those] who have the means to travel from one place to another for different coverages, spend for stories straight from their pockets, and have access to better healthcare in extraordinary times like these. However, not all is as privileged which is why the hazard pay must be pushed through to protect their physical and mental welfare.

Journalism is a profession for the brave, yet journalism remains a job for the privileged, due to different factors such as health, wealth, and family backgrounds that may cease careers due to monetary reasons. What more if they are not paid well and not receive hazard pay, the least?

Does it always have to be like this?

Telenovela... FROM PAGE 4 What may be happening is a scenario straight out of totalitarian megalomania. By shutting down the critical news media, the state and its abuse-prone instrumentalities deprive the citizenry of correct information and objective public discourse. Kept in ignorance and suppressed in their right to criticize or dissent from anti-people state policies and programs, Filipinos would become Pavlovian dogs conditioned to obey and kowtow to a despot’s every whim. It is a scenario outside of the pale of ABS-CBN’s crass entertainment programming, but very much real in the imaginative wiles and fancy subterfuges of Calida and his capricious ilk.

ART BY JURY SALAYA

Fourth Wall

5

According to Saint Paul the Apostle, the wages of sin is death. And the wages of Rodrigo Duterte’s treasonous pro-China policy is the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic stalking the Philippines.

Last April 18, the Philippines has confirmed 5,878 Covid-19 cases which made it the worst hit country in Southeast Asia, together with Indonesia, which has 5,923 cases but out of a population more than double the Philippines’. Moreover the Philippines’ death toll stood at 397 while Indonesia’s 520, and experts believed the total number of local cases would exceed 6,000 by the time ink dries up on this editorial, and it has.

Could the Philippines have stemmed the Covid-19 incidence and mortality rate had the Duterte government acted early on the emergency? Yes. Could the Philippines have been shielded from the outbreak had Duterte not kowtowed to China, the source of the virus and whose Communist bosses he seems to have recognized as his sponsors and anointers in 2016 and not the Philippine electorate? Yes. But alas, the Duterte government shilly-shallied and didn’t act firmly and decisively on the emergency.

Its initial attitude was much like Red China’s: dismiss the threat and arrest those raising the red flag (pun intended) for rumor-mongering; this was in fact the fate of Dr. Li Wenliang, who was accused of “spreading rumors” after he posted an alert about the new virus in late December in Wuhan in Hubei province, where the virus originated. Doctor Li himself contracted the virus and died in February, so that about that time, the entire world had been fully alerted about the medical threat.

The Philippines in contrast had had a head-start since much earlier on Jan. 30, the first Covid-19 case was recorded in the country. But Duterte dismissed the threat throughout February. A month later, he was still poking fun at the threat: “Saan ba nakatira ‘yan?” (Where does that virus reside?). Even as late as March 11, he was dismissive of the emergency. He said in a televised address from Malacañang, “You folks are too scared of this coronavirus epidemic … Naniwala pala kayo. ‘Sus! … Fools, don’t believe it.” Now Duterte must have numbered himself among the “fools” because on April 17, he was giving “shoot them dead” orders against violators of the nearly countrywide quarantine he had imposed quite late in the day.

Why did it take some dangerous time before Duterte acted? One word: China. It is notable the government was slow to impose travel restrictions on China despite the contagion spreading across the world via Chinese travellers because Duterte feared alienating Beijing.

When public opinion and even his own allied lawmakers were urging him to impose a travel ban, he refused: “Everything is well and Filipinos should stop fostering any Sinophobia or anti-Chinese sentiments.” Perhaps betraying China’s vindictiveness, Duterte warned that many Filipinos were working in China and Beijing might kick them out. He added that China had been

“kind” to the Philippines even if it had practically invaded the country and set up military facilities on our territorial waters under his watch: “Firstly, many Filipinos are working and even residing in China and secondly, even if there is no Filipino there, we are a community of nations. We cooperate. China has been kind to us. We can only also show the same favor to them.”

The first Covid-19 death outside of China was reported in the Philippines. The decision of the government to allow direct flights from China despite the lockdown in Hubei province, the epicenter of the epidemic, drew intense criticism from the public. Duterte’s intransigence against imposing a travel ban on China and his

If the Philippines has become a sitting duck and a very clear target by the worsening global pandemic, it is simply because the foremost resident of Malacañang by the dirty waters of the Pasig is Peking’s Duck. generally blase attitude toward the emergency were perceived as a mishandling of the outbreak. A jittery public erupted in anger after it was revealed that a 44-year old Wuhan resident, who later died, and a female companion, visited three cities in the country before they were both tested positive in a hospital in Manila.

When he finally imposed a travel ban on China, Duterte betrayed his vassalage to Beijing by including Taiwan, which Beijing considers a renegade province but is de facto a separate state. His spokesman and court jester Salvador Panelo added insult to injury by defend-

ing the ban and saying that the World Health Organization (WHO) usually clubbed Covid-19 cases of Taiwan with China’s, even if Taiwan had dealt with the outbreak early on and even without a lockdown had achieved the best results on battling Covid-19 in the world on record.

(WHO has come under fire for not holding up Taiwan as a model in how to stem the epidemic and for singing high praises of China despite strong indications Beijing had silenced Doctor Li and others who raised the red alert and refused to share China’s research on novel corona viruses with affected countries trying to develop antibodies for and treatment of Covid-19.) In banning Taiwan, Duterte seemd to have missed out on the fact that tens of thousands of Filipinos were working in Taiwan; obviously he didn’t give a hoot for them or for the thousands more working in China as long as he was pleasing Beijing. When Taiwan politely protested, Malacanang beat a hastry retreat and lifted the ban.

Peking’s Duck If the Philippines has become a sitting duck and a very clear target by the worsening global pandemic, it is simply because the foremost resident of Malacañang by the dirty waters of the Pasig is Peking’s Duck.

Duterte’s slavish attitude toward China has been evident since Day One of his Malacanang residency. He has not pursued the Hague court’s 2016 decision favoring the Philippines in the South China Sea Arbitration case. When Manila hosted the Asean summit in 2017, Duterte in his summit chair statement didn’t mention the Hague ruling and even Asean members’ concerns over China’s bullying in the South China Sea, instead choosing language that was conciliatory and even favorable to China. When true to bully form, a Chinese vessel rammed last year a Philippine fishing boat on Reed Bank, which is part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone according to the Hague ruling, he implied the fishermen were at fault while his chief diplomat outrightly and quite undiplomatically blamed the fishermen. Under pressure from public opinion, Duterte later relented to a “joint” investigation with China, which made matters worse since it basically recognized China’s right to the same waters. Often guilty of chauvinism and even hate speech against Vice President Leni Robredo and his critics, Duterte turns sycophant and sissy when the subject is China. Evincing Beijing’s subtle or not so subtle bullying, he said he raised the country’s territorial dispute with Chinese President Xi Jinping, but that he was told pressing the issue would “mean trouble.” The wimp concluded, “What can I do?”

Indeed what could a coward do but turn to treason and betray the national interest by looking the other way around as the Chinese consolidate their military buildup on Philippine territory and install in them guided missiles and guess where they’re pointed at?

Covid-19 PAGE 8

ACTING EDITOR: KLYRA V. ORBIEN

6-7 6-7

SPE

The Varsita

A place that was once Santo T Internment Camp THE UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas (UST) was not always a sanctuary of higher education.

It was, for three years, witness to the grim history of World War 2 as the Santo Tomas Internment Camp (STIC).

On Jan. 4, 1942, what was supposed to be the UST extension campus in Sampaloc was converted into an internment camp for non-combatant foreigners brought in by Japanese troops.

Japanese authorities chose the name “Manila Internment Camp,” but since the place was always linked to Santo Tomas, the internees called it the Santo Tomas Internment Camp.

Augusto de Viana, professor at UST’s department of history, said the España campus was the best spot for an internment camp.

“The area was surveyed before the war by the American Red Cross. UST was chosen as the most ideal site, because of its wide grounds… only UST had the space to accommodate thousands of internees,” de Viana said in an interview with the Varsitarian.

After the Dominican fathers witnessed the bombs destroy the original gothic Santo Domingo Church on Dec. 27, 1941, they knew that the Japanese forces’ invasion was imminent, and made plans to ensure the survival of the campus from annihilation.

In the following days, more civilians were brought to STIC. The number of internees rose to over 3,700, mostly Europeans and Americans. Other nationalities were Mexican, Nicaraguan, Slovakian and Eygptian.

Camp community The STIC, according to de Viana, was a different internment camp as the Japanese soldiers were not as brutal as in the other camps.

“Compared to other internment camps during World War 2, the internees here were better treated, because for example in Singapore or in Thailand there were common incidences like abuses of the internees, beatings... The Japanese even allowed the internees to govern themselves. In fact, there were even committees held by the internees themselves. They would manage that in the name of the commandant,” he said.

The internees, through the help of the Japanese commandant, on Jan. 26, 1942 developed an Executive Committee, a nine-person committee that supervised 16 departments and acted as the decision-making body.

The departments that implemented the plans and decisions of the Executive Committee were Medicine Service, Sanitation and Health, Work Assignment, Education, Recreation, Building and Construction, Release, Discipline, Religious Service, Library, Fire Prevention, Vegetable Garden, Census, Lost and Found, Suggestion and Complaint, Public Relations and Information, and Front Desk.

There were floor and room monitors to implement discipline inside the buildings.

The Japanese allowed the internees to construct makeshift shanties and develop minicommunities across the campus.

The communities were nicknamed Glamourville, Jungletown, Froggy Bottom, etc. and the pathways going to those communities as Fifth Avenue, Hollywood Boulevard and MacArthur Drive, among others.

Mayors were elected from the mini-communities, who served like the room and floor monitors. Taxes were collected for the welfare of each community.

The construction of shanties and makeshift habitations greatly decongested the population in the buildings. The shanties became a status symbol for the wealthy, as these meant a more comfortable way of living.

Sick internees were brought just across UST to Santa Catalina Convent, which was converted as the internment camp hospital. The hospital had an operating room, minor surgery room, dental clinic, outpatient department, physio-therapy ward and dressing stations.

If the disease or illness could not be treated within the hospital, the Japanese allowed the patients to be brought to major hospitals in Manila.

POETICS OF INCARCERATION

Boredom: The enemy De Viana said the main problem of the internees during the three-year ordeal inside UST was boredom. Two internees even committed suicide.

“All the diversion was done here to stave off boredom, because if you don’t do anything like that, you’d probably go mad. In the first two days of the internment camp, there was one and then followed up by another, who jumped on the top of the Main Building,” he said.

In the second six months of the internment, business activities took place. The corridors of the Main Building accommodated booths with miscellaneous items; restaurants, cake and coffee kitchens, and a bakery were put up; the building of shacks was overseen by a contractor, accompanied by a permitted internee who sold lumber, construction materials and hardware.

Considered the most lucrative business enterprise in the camp, however, were the community projects financed by camp funds: the camp canteen, where a variety of merchandise

The pent-up hopes and disillusions of the routine-shack-led internees found an outlet in the boundless dimensions of poetry.

As the poets of the camp poured out their emotions through an aesthetic and literary form of expression, one would have a picture of the most collective sentiments of the internment years.

The following are examples of the works of poets at the Santo Tomas Internment Camp. * * * SUNSET IN SANTO TOMAS At evening God stays the whirling earth And spanning with his arms it’s puny girth He torites the sudden sunset on the sky And signs it Majesty, and holds it high But then, inclining closer, on his knees, He anoints with golden fingertips the trees.

—Mrs. Marie Wagner Janda

(e.g. matches, soap, sugar) was available; and the Personal Service Store that took orders, charging a commission for sending out buyers to purchase the needed goods.

Men were required to work for three hours a day, and women for two hours.

They had a farm for over 30 acres with yams, tomatoes and pechay beans among others; they made soap from chemicals in the UST laboratories and oil from coconut milk.

At night, there was storytelling and sometimes an internee would teach dances to children.

The recreation committee would at times organize basketball, volleyball, softball and baseball matches, even recreating American teams like the Yankees and the Red Sox. Christmas pageants and vaudeville shows were produced from time to time. In one Christmas, internees constructed a stage in front of the Main Building, which they named, “The Little Theatre Under The Stars.”

There was even a camp-wide newspaper publication called the STIC Gazette, which published twice a week. The slogan was “Independent, Curt, Concise.”

Some internees who were school teachers by profession and other adults did not want children to waste their days inside the camp, decided to hold classes from kindergarten through college. Inside the Main Building, two large laboratories were converted into 15 classrooms and 23 internees volunteered as teachers.

Horrors in the camp No matter how unconventional the STIC was compared with other camps held by the Japanese, the internees were still not exempted from the Japanese cruelty and conflicts inside the camp.

Escape was never an option. It was something that all internees had engraved in their minds since three internees were executed for trying to escape. They were recaptured and tortured violently before making them dig their own graves and shooting them dead in blindfolds.

Wealth and racial disparity were some of the main issues that internees faced. White Americans and Europeans discriminated against the darker-skinned nationalities.

Rich internees had the upper hand as they hired other internees to serve them and were able to buy food from outside.

The “package line,” as they called it, were vendors and merchants lined up at the gates of UST selling goods to internees who had money.

In the first two years of the STIC, the Japanese soldiers were very lenient and the commandants were supportive of the internees.

But on Jan. 6, 1944, the STIC was placed under the Prisoners of War Division, which no longer treated internees as non-combatant civilians.

De Viana said this was because the Japanese discovered that the internees had a secret radio, which they used for listening to the news.

“They suspected that the internees were receiving information about the Americans which is true, because the internees had a hidden radio through which they listened to the broadcast

DIRGE ON THE SCARCITY OF EGGS I think that I shall never peg A poem lovely as an egg An egg whose whipped up, frothy white Makes shanty work almost delight, Holds vitamins a thousand-fold An egg ‘wo weeks ago fresh laid For which you’ve twice its value paid; An egg to put into a pie, To scramble, poach, or merely fry, Po-m-es are made by any egg But only hens can lay an egg!

(With no apologies to Joyce Kilmer) —Mrs. Marie Wagner Janda A PLAINTIVE PLEA Dear God, it it’s all the same to you I’ll take a little star but in my wings.

I have always loved the beauty

Of the dewdrop on the rose And reveled in the rainbow after rain, But the dewdrop and the rainbow They quickly pass away, I can never hold their beauty Long enough to satisfy my soul So, dear God, It it’s all the same to you I’d take a little star dust on my wings.

—Elizabeth J. Marshall FINALE Someday this great war will be over, Once more we shall all live in clover; Saint Thomas will seem Just a bad, bad dream, As we sail past the white cliff of Dover.

—Guy Walford, 1942

coming from San Francisco and Australia, Since then, the Japanese authorities b more frequent and intense, and the packa “Also, the camp commander became v he was very cavalier, compared with other the camp on their own,” de Viana added.

Internees were ordered to build bomb as tools, and while rain poured into their d

The beginning of an end In the latter days of the camp, interne On Feb. 3, 1945 American tanks becam University. The entry of the American tank “We’re free!” after more than three years of However, the war was far from over. W the campus, the remaining Japanese soldi Martin wing of UST Hospital), while some Gen. Douglas MacArthur received new inside the Education Building and as a res Division of the 44th Tank Battalion to run After two days, on Feb. 5, Japanese tro evening, five tanks from the American troo opened fire, hitting the first casualty of the Filipino guide of guerilla intelligence.

The Japanese finally surrendered to th following the entire liberation of UST, the attacks.

“What was horrifying was when the c landing inside the camp, and some intern Manila was fully liberated on March 3 SABATE, JOENNER PAULO ENRIQU V. PICAR

SOURCE Four Centuries of Higher Education

by Rev. Fr. Fidel Villaroel, O.P.; The V

(UNTITLED) Oh, little onions a row I wish to hell that you would grow, Sometimes I half believe that you Are waiting for MacArthur, too.

—Mrs. Marie Wagner Janda (A SONG) “It’s rumored – have you heard it?

It’s rumored – I’ve just learned it, A certain boy and girl are keeping company.

Could it be you – could it be me?

They’re saying – I’ve been listening, They’re saying – can’t help listening!

A certain pair of newlyweds are soon to be.

Could it be you – could it be?

I understand the rumors say In love and war it’s all okay; Do you believe it’s true?

ECIAL REPORTS

arian JUNE MARCH 14,(?), 2020 2020

Tomas

Life in suffering: Stories from Santo Tomas Internment Camp UST WENT through the most horrific period in its history when it became a Japanese internment camp during World War 2.

The high commissioner of the Commonwealth government negotiated with the Dominicans to make the University an internment camp with the promise that it would be spared from destruction.

On Jan. 4, 1942, the first truckload of internees arrived in what was then called the Manila Internment Camp in the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Sampaloc campus. Not for long, it was known as the Santo Tomas Internment Camp (STIC).

STIC did not follow the typical arrangement of a Japanese internment camp. It held non-combatant civilians, mostly Americans and Europeans, who were given the freedom to govern themselves.

The internees had an executive committee with over 16 departments for different activities inside the camp.

‘The greatest aberration of the Japanese high command’ Learning about STIC’s unconventional setting, Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita of the Japanese Imperial Army said it was the “greatest aberration of the Japanese high command.”

Florence Hackett, along with her Zamboangaborn American husband, was caught in the war while visiting her uncle and older brother.

In an interview with the Varsitarian in 1995, she recounted life in STIC as like “any other household” where people treated each other as family.

The routine was cook, eat, bathe, and sleep, as if it was just another day in a large household.

There were no luxuries. Internees had to be creative with scarce resources available and struggled to get goods from outside camp.

Every morning, Hackett had to figure out what to feed everyone for breakfast and remembered serving

them with “mash.”

To stave off hunger in the evening, Hackett would save a portion of the morning mash to be turned into tiny pancakes, enough to feed a number of internees in camp.

“Normalcy was a gift taken for granted in the past,” she said.

Hackett said she had to be resourceful to find food for her family, to the point that she had to cook banana stalk. She also rolled dried papaya leaves to substitute for cigarettes.

News was transmitted from outside the camp through cigarette and tobacco rolls.

“They [internees] would bring out one cigarette, cut it in half, take out the tobacco, then roll up the message or whatever the news was, stuff it [cigarette] back in and put it back,” Hackett recalled.

Life in Suffering PAGE 10

Classes proceed in UST despite Japanese occupation

a,” he said. became obsessed with respect. Search raids became age line was limited. very strict. In fact, he was the most hated, Lt. Abiko. So, r commanders who allowed the prisoners to manage

b-proof shelters with only grass sods and bamboo poles dug-outs.

ees became more agitated, but their hope did not waver. me the symbol of freedom for the internees inside the k in the University caused the 3,800 internees to chant f Japanese domination.

When the American forces already had the majority of diers retreated to the Education Building (now the San e of the internees were taken hostage. ws that the Japanese would kill all able-bodied men sponse, he sent the First Cavalry Division and the 37th n through Japanese lines. Internment oops also prepared for the invasion and at nine in the op were able to enter the premises. Japanese soldiers e liberation of Manila, Capt. Manuel Colayco, the

he American forces and freed the hostages, but campus experienced the full force of the Japanese

camp was liberated, because after that, shells started nees were killed,” De Viana shared.

3, 1945. LEIGH E. DISPO, NUEL ANGELO D. UEZ WITH REPORTS FROM RENZELLE SHAYNE

in the Philippines (1611-2011) Varsitarian Vol. LXVI No. 12

And there’s a rumor I could start, That reinforcements for my heart Will all depend on you.

—Jim Tulloch and Dave Harvey (UNTITLED) The Camp police turned white and pale Intoxication in the jail!

A very grave offense, we think, To have for that we’ll close the door And keep you locked up two weeks more!”

The prisoners showed sad surprise (To hide their joy from alien eyes!) – For just beyond the jail’s cold side The city street ran broad and wide, And there where one loose brick was damp, Sufficient rum supplied the Camp.

—Mrs. Marie Wagner Janda

The sisters eventually moved to another place, and internees stationed at the University gymnasium moved to the vacated premises.

The Dominicans and the seminarians were

isolated from the rest of the campus by a fence of wire and sawali (coarse twilled matting of flattened bamboo strips as partition) around the seminary building. Padre Noval served as the entrance and exit gate for the religious community.

The Japanese forbade communication among the internees and the Dominican professors and their seminarians, said history professor Augusto de Viana.

Classes resumed from Jan. 12, 1942 up to March 7 that same year, with the University managing to produce 24 graduates: five in theology, six in canon law, and 13 in philosophy.

In the first academic year during the Japanese occupation (1942-1943), only the ecclesiastical faculties operated, with 46 students enrolled.

Upon the request of the Dominicans, the Japanese regime allowed medicine and premedicine courses to resume on Sept. 12. 1942.

Statistics from the regent of medicine, Fr. Jose Cuesta, and the registrar, Norberto de Ramos,

showed that there were 61 students in the premedical course and 464 in the five-year program in medicine, or a total enrollment of 525 students.

Twenty-three students were enrolled when University authorities decided to close Academic Year 1944-1945 in January ahead of the battle for the liberation of Manila. Four students passed exams for the bachelor’s degree, and two for the licentiate degree.

In accepting students despite the Japanese occupation and the presence of hundreds of suffering internees, UST stayed true to its mission as a Catholic educational institution. BY LEIGH ANNE E. DISPO AND SOFIA BERNICE NAVARRO SOURCE: Four Centuries of Higher Education in the Philippines (1611-2011) by Rev. Fr. Fidel Villaroel, O.P.

UST rising from the ashes THE UNIVERSITY’S Sampaloc and Intramuros campuses are landmarks tied with historical catastrophes—from natural disasters to the devastation of the second world war.

In the wrath of war for the liberation of Manila on the night of Feb. 5, 1945, Americans burned down all the landmarks and establishments in Manila such as churches of Santa Cruz, Tondo and Quiapo, and the old campus of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Intramuros.

On Feb. 7 the Japanese came back and bombarded the buildings in the new Sampaloc campus for hours; cannon balls fell upon the seminary and education premises. The Main Building and the gymnasium were also hit, leaving many wounded and civilian internees slaughtered.

Mortar grenades were launched, hitting the Sampaloc campus and its buildings. Bombs fell on the seminary and the chapel, but did not explode; American warplanes targeted the interior garden of

WOMEN Women, who wake up bright and early, or women, who wake up late; We hear that same old bathroom story One they cannot escape.

Women, loaded with their junk, required to keep them clean, Each one with her soap and towel, to give herself a sheen.

Women taking showers, while screaming, “Shut the door!”

Women waiting in lines, water all over the floor.

Women spreading rumors, under showers – two’s and three’s

the Fathers’ Residence and the Education Building, but caused minimal damage Whatever remained of the UST Intramuros campus was set on fire by the Japanese on Feb. 8.

Only parts of the old university’s walls remained.

The American troops commanded by Lt. Robert E. Lee with Filipino guerillas led by Capt.

Manuel Colayco liberated the nearly 3,800 civilian internees detained in the Santo Tomas Internment Camp in Sampaloc.

In 1945, before the beginning of the academic year, a solemn Mass and Te Deum was offered by the Dominicans and the archbishop of Manila, Michael J. O’Doherty.

Following the end of the war, the University drew a greater number of enrollees compared with the pre-war years.

The increase in population was due to the request of Bishop Alfredo Verzosa of Lipa to accept sixteen major seminarians because his seminary

had been destroyed.

The population breakdown of the University after the end of the war was as follows: In the Ecclesiastical Faculties, 54 seminarianpriests enrolled in theology, three in Canon Law and 24 in philosophy, or a total of 81 enrollees.

In the civil faculties, College of Education, 307 enrollees; Civil Law, 138; Commerce, 120; and Liberal Arts, 418, or a total of 1,023 enrollees.

In total the University had 1,104 enrollees after the end of World War 2. LEIGH E. DISPO, JOENNER PAULO ENRIQUEZ, CAMILLE M. MARCELO SOURCE: A History of Santo Tomas: Four Centuries of Higher Education in the Philippines (1611– 2011) by Fr. Fidel Villaroel, O.P.

Soaping, swearing, buzzing Like a nest of bees.

ART BY CATHERINE UMALI

ART BY KARL ARON

DESPITE difficult circumstances as an internment camp during World War 2, educational activities continued in the University of Santo Tomas (UST).

A barrier was installed to separate the Dominican religious community and the internees, but the latter were allowed by Japanese authorities to enter the seminary area for religious services.

Problems arose, such as insufficient rice supply when other refugees from the destroyed Santo Domingo convent and Colegio de San Juan de Letran increased the number of people residing in the Sampaloc campus.

After the Beaterio de Santa Catalina convent’s destruction in Intramuros, the Dominican nuns also sought refuge in the 21-hectare campus, and stayed at the College of Education building.

Women who are modest, bathe in underwear, Funny how some women, can give other ones a scare.

Women who are cheeky, never seem to care, Bathing in the basin, or showering their hair.

Women in the morning Noon-time, night or day The bathroom is a mad-house Women make it that way.

—Margaret Hoffmann

SOURCE The Varsitarian Vol. LXVI No. 12

8

CIRCLE

The Varsitarian JUNE 14, 2020

EDITOR: JISELLE ANNE C. CASUCIAN

Fine arts students highlight peace in UST on-the-spot painting contest FINE ARTS students from various schools interpreted the theme “Message for Peace,” in this year’s annual interschool on-the-spot painting competition last Feb. 15 at the UST Benavides Garden.

“The message for this year, the message of peace, was very much in line with what is happening around the world,” John Carlo Sayco, assistant director of the UST Museum, told the Varsitarian.

Chester Sia of the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman won first prize with his 30.5 x 40 in. acrylic on canvas.

Sia’s piece, titled “Tawag ng Kapayapaan,” depicts a dove holding a brown string connected to two tin cans.

“The first thing that came to mind is a dove, which upholds the message of peace. The dove with olive leaves in its beak has always been a positive representation of hope and tranquility of a being,” Sia said in an interview with the Varsitarian.

Mark Barbecho of Bulacan State University (BulSU) bagged second prize with his piece titled “It All Begin with Us,” a 30 x 40 in. oil on canvas.

The artwork shows two parents arguing, with their son caught in the middle and wearing a shirt with the peace sign and flowers blooming around him.

The work of Reynaldo Barredo Jr. of Eulogio Amang Rodriguez Institute of Science (Earist), titled “Kailangan ng Daanan ang Digmaan Bago Magkaroon ng Kapayapaan,” bagged third place in the competition.

The 40.5 x 30.5 in. oil on canvas illustrates a white dove on blue background, holding a rifle from which blood drips.

Jemson Conje, another student from Earist, received first honorable mention with “Look Around and You Will See,” an oil and acrylic on

(PHOTO BY CAMILLE ABIEL H. TORRES/THE VARSITARIAN)

canvas that depicts a figure of a man with various symbols imprinted on his body.

Jose Pamatian Jr. of UP Diliman bagged the second honorable mention with his piece titled “Universal Language,” which portrays a man playing his ukulele near a tree as birds fly around him.

Rhichelle Tabanera of Earist got third honorable mention with his abstract tactile design of doves and eyes with brown and gold touches, titled “Faith & Harmony.”

A special award from Metrobank was given to Ronneille Talavera of BulSU for his 30 x 40 in. acrylic on canvas “Untitled,” which shows a tearful eye reflecting the image of Jesus in Mount Calvary.

All winning artworks were put on display at the UST Main Building Lobby.

Founded by former UST rector Fr. Silvestre Sancho, O.P., the On-the-Spot painting competition marked its 79th installment since its first run in 1941. BY NEIL PAOLO S. GONZALES

Find time... FROM PAGE 3 (This Holy Week is a time of reflection, renewal, and contrition… especially now that we have a lot of free time at home. Let us think of our wrongdoings, ask God for forgiveness, and join Him in his journey of passion, death, and resurrection.)

Talavera said the palm branches are symbol of Christ’s triumph and manifests how Christ saved people from our sins.

In the Eucharistic celebration at the Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City, Fr. Marcelino Saria, O.P. told the faithful not to let the limitations of quarantine period stop them from seeing goodness and providing for other people.

“Nagbibigay buhay ang Diyos sa gitna ng kamatayan. Nagbibigay ng lunas sa sakit sa gitna ng pandemic. Nagbibigay ng pag-asa sa gitna ng kawalan ng pag-asa,” he said.

(God gives life amid death. He provides relief amid a pandemic. He gives hope in times of despair.)

Christ’s self-offering for the salvation of mankind is the beautiful message of Gospel amid its painful presentation, he added.

“Dahan-dahan makikita natin, kahit masakit, kahit mahirap ‘pag tiningnan natin ang mabuti dito sa Ebanghelyo. We see a glimpse of how God loves us to the point of being one of us and even offering his life so that we can be saved,” Saria said.

(Even when it is difficult to look back on the goodness in the Gospel, we see a glimpse of how God loves us to the point of being one of us and even offering his life so that we can be saved.)

Palm Sunday, also known as Passion Sunday, commemorates Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem and marks the beginning of Holy Week.

This year, drastic changes on the celebration of Holy Week were made following the directives of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Palm branches were blessed through online Masses. Some priests went around their communities and gave blessings without the use of Holy Water.

Covid-19 FROM PAGE 5

AB Chorale conductor among Ani ng Dangal awardees THOMASIAN conductor Mark Agpasa was among eight recipients of the Ani ng Dangal award from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) last Feb. 26 at the Malacañan Palace.

Agpasa received the award for his composition “Jubilate Deo,” an eight-voice piece for the mixed choir category, which bagged first place in the 2019 Busan International Composition and Festival Competition.

“The piece is inspired by a sacred text but put to music using rhythmic styles and apocalyptic feeling,” he said in an interview with the Varsitarian.

Agpasa graduated from the Conservatory of Music in 2018 with a degree in choral conducting.

He has been the assistant musical director for the UST Singers since 2014 and the conductor and musical director for the AB Chorale since 2015.

“Because of this recognition by our country, I am very happy and driven to create more pieces and share not just Filipino pride but also our Thomasian cultural heritage,” Agpasa said.

The Ani ng Dangal award is given to a Filipino artist or group that has reaped top honors in international events. BY NEIL PAOLO S. GONZALES

Agpasa (PHOTO FROM GENELAINE URBANO)

Thomasian dance team bags silver in annual competition A THOMASIAN intercollegiate dance team landed second place among 11 competitors in the annual dance competition “Body Wars,” held last March 8 at the Henry Lee Irwin Theater in Ateneo de Manila.

UST Ronins, a dance group formed in 2018, is composed of some alumni members of UST Galvanize, the official UST Senior High School dance troupe.

Their triumph served as a redemption of sorts from last year’s competition, where they landed fourth place.

UST Ronins used urban choreography, accompanied

by Korean girl group Twice’s hit song “Fancy.”

Their performance garnered an average score of 83.50.

The winning team, Company of Ateneo Dancers, scored 84.10.

A total of three Thomasian dance groups, including Juvenile dance crew and Royals, participated in the event.

“We dedicate our winning to our former teammates,” Akihiro Marutani, captain of the UST Ronins, said in an interview with the Varsitarian.

“We wanted to win the contest so that we can prove to ourselves that we deserve to be in the team.”

Body Wars is an annual dance competition hosted by the Bedan Dance Troupe. BY NOLENE BEATRICE H. CRUCILLO

SECOND PLACE. UST Ronins won second place against 11 teams in “Body Wars”, the annual dance competition held in Henry Lee Irwin Theater, Ateneo de Manila, March 8.

(PHOTO FROM UST RONINS FACEBOOK PAGE)

What else could a prissy do but to sleep with the enemy and accept the latter’s offer of financial assistance to the former’s ambitious “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program despite his own economic planning secretary lamenting as late as February 2020 that the promised assistance had not been exactly coming?

What else could a pushover do when confronted with a pandemic that originated from the bully territory except to hem and haw on imposing a travel ban on the mainland and even to accuse his own people of pressuring him to do so out of their racist Sinophobia? What else could a Beijing lackey do but to accept the resignation of his own economic planning secretary after the latter said publicly that because of the pandemic, China might temporarily set aside its promised financial assistance to the Philippines?

Meanwhile more and more evidence, direct or circumstantial, have come up tracing Covid-19 to a micro lab in Wuhan studying bats and novel coronaviruses. Chinese nationals themselves have criticized the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for hiding the outbreak and penalizing those who blew the whistle on it (a typical reflex of totalitarian regimes). The CCP has likewise refused to share Chinese research on viruses with other countries seeking to devise treatments agains the epidemic. Moreover the party now appears to be spinning a narrative absolving itself of any responsibility and waging a propaganda campaign to shift the blame to North America, Europe, or even Africa.

With the CCP’s reckless disregard of the safety of its own people and of the rest of the world, the wages of Duterte’s treasonous pro-Peking policy have become apparent.

The wages are nothing short of doom and death in all their dimensions—physical, moral, social, financial, and economic. And all because someone from Davao when confronted with the Beijing bully can’t keep his legs shut.

SCI-TECH

The Varsitarian JUNE 14, 2020

EDITOR: EUGENE DOMINIC V. ABOY, O.P.

9

Thomasian engineer designs ‘virus container’ for infectious diseases

BY MIGUEL LOUIS M. GALANG AND JADE VERONIQUE V. YAP A THOMASIAN engineer designed the “virus container” used in Singapore to isolate and study biologically hazardous substances and infectious diseases like the novel coronavirus (2019-nCov).

Joseph Torres, a mechanical engineering alumnus, said the Containment Barrier Isolator Class III (CBI-III) is an equipment intended to isolate a product or specimen such as virus samples. “[A containment barrier isolator] also provides a sterile or aseptic environment inside its chamber,” he said in an online interview with the Varsitarian.

Torres’ company, Singapore Corporate and global HQ has factories in 7 locations globally in which Torres is based in their Bintan, Indonesia factory. “[The process] involves rigorous hours of effort to make sure that the design succeeds,” he said.

The CBI-III is being used at the National Center for Infectious Diseases in Singapore.

He said he would be glad to introduce his designs to local health research centers given the opportunity.

JOSEPH TORRES, a mechanical engineering alumnus, examines the Containment Barrier Isolator Class III (CBI-III) or the "virus container" in Singapore. (PHOTO/ JOSEPH TORRES)

Robot to minimize contact between frontliners and patients healthcare staff and patients.

The robot is set on a mobile base controlled via remote, allowing it to move to different directions.

By minimizing physical contact, the robot may also help in conserving the use of protective personal equipment.

The Department of Science and Technology Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST – PCIEERD) has expressed interest in funding the project for 3 months, Bautista said.

The LISA robot is in the pilot testing stage, but Bautista hopes that with improvements and support from DOST PCIEERD, it will be ready for hospital use.

BY MIGUEL LOUIS M. GALANG

Letter...

SEVERAL Thomasian alumni donated Covid-19 test booths to local health departments and personal protective equipments (PPEs) to medical frontliners.

“Testing booths were chosen as these would allow local health teams to increase test rates in their respective localities, [and] at the same time ensuring that frontliners are protected,” Thomasian Alumni Association (TALA) founding president Angeli Sobremente Tuazon told the Varsitarian in an online interview.

The UST Chinese Catholic Alumni Association meanwhile headed a donation drive for surgical masks, N-95 masks and face shields donated to UST Hospital frontliners.

The Covid-19 testing booths

were donated to the Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas) through the recommendation of Philippine Nurses Association of Camanava.

The donation drive was inspired by previously launched projects on testing booths organized by key hospitals in Metro Manila including the Philippine General Hospital and Lung Center of the Philippines.

TALA also partnered with the Office of Vice President Leni Robredo to donate medical equipment in support of their Angat Buhay program.

More testing booths will be donated to other health institutions in the coming weeks, Tuazon added. MIGUEL LOUIS M. GALANG AND JADE VERONIQUE V. YAP

(PHOTOS GRABBED FROM UST OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE)

University alumni launch donation drive to aid frontliners

ART BY KARL ARON

TWO THOMASIANS designed the “logistic indoor service assistant” (LISA) robot to help minimize direct contact between frontliners and Covid-19 patients.

Engineering Asst. Prof. Anthony James Bautista and Thomasian cardiologist Rodrigo Santos spearheaded and conceptualized the project.

“The idea was to build a low-cost, and-easy-tobuild telepresence robot,” Bautista told the Varsitarian.

A telepresence robot allows frontliners to deliver medicine and communicate with patients from a remote place.

The equipment uses a tablet device with internet-based communication platforms such as Zoom, Viber, or FaceTime, to allow communication between

FROM PAGE 3

countries, it is painful for us not to publicly celebrate the Eucharist, the sacrament of communion, at a time when the people need it most because of isolation. And yet we have to endure this suffering in the spirit of human solidarity and communion, for “if one part of the body suffers, all the parts suffer with it” (I Cor. 12:26).

In this time of quarantena en quaresima, we are invited to pause and ponder the nearness of God to us. When public worship is suspended for the well-being of worshippers, we become keenly aware of the importance of spiritual communion. In these places, it is as though the people experience a prolonged “Holy Saturday” when the Church “abstains from the celebration of the Eucharist” meditating on the passion of the Lord and awaiting his resurrection (Paschale Solemnitatis, 73-75). In an experiential way, we are reminded of the hunger for the Eucharist of our brothers and sisters in remote areas who could participate in the Mass only once or twice a year. Now, more than ever, we need to find ways on how to break isolation, to preach the Gospel of love and communion, even in the “digital continent” (ACG Biên Hòa 2019, 135-138).

We need to remind our people that Jesus remains near to us even as we hunger for the Bread of Life.

Let me recall what we know deep within

our hearts. If we want to spread the Gospel, we must be with the people, be near to them!

We must cross linguistic, cultural, even ideological boundaries to spread the Word of God. Conversely, if we want to arrest the spread of something bad like the corona virus, we must keep distance, we must refrain from personal encounter because any proximate encounter has the potential to spread the contagion.

The current pandemic clearly shows that for something to circulate, personal closeness and encounter is necessary. When this crisis is over, let us not forget the lesson: if we want the Gospel to circulate in our secularized world, the same personal closeness and encounter is necessary. I hope and pray that our centers of studies, parishes, and other apostolic centers would continue to become like an “airport”, i.e., a hub where people deepen their knowledge and faith so that they too may positively “infect” everyone with the contaminating joy of the Gospel.

We continue to pray for the sick and those who care for them. Even in our solitude, God is close to us, and we are never alone for we all belong to the Body of Christ.

Your brother, Fr. Gerard Francisco P. Timoner III, OP Master of the Order

10

COMICS The Varsitarian JUNE 14, 2020

ART DIRECTOR: JURY P. SALAYA

By: Alisa Joy T. del Mundo Mariane Jane A. Cadiz Sophia R. Lozada

Excellence with a heart FROM PAGE 1 competitiveness, [but] at the same time, he has a very big heart. There is always a compassionate side to even the most difficult or unpopular decisions and actions to be made,” she added.

In coordination with the UST Faculty Union (USTFU), the University reduced the maximum load of faculty members to 21 units from 24 units without reduction in pay.

All tenured faculty members earned master’s degrees, a strict requirement of CHEd. Faculty and support staff were able to complete collective bargaining agreement negotiations for terms and conditions of work in 2014 and 2019, respectively.

USTFU President Dr. George Lim described Dagohoy as a compassionate rector who has a “heart for the faculty members.” “[Whoever will succeed must] maintain a harmonious relationship with the faculty members

Life in suffering

and the faculty union,” he said.

Faculty members were able to transition to the K to 12 Basic Education Program without retrenchment, Lim noted.

Graduate School dean Prof. Michael Anthony Vasco said he felt a mix of happiness because of the legacy Dagohoy had left, and sadness because of the memories of challenging years for the University. “[A]s we used to say, even good things will come to an end, and we have to accept that,” the former dean of the Faculty of Arts and Letters told the Varsitarian.

Artlets achieved Level 3 accreditation from Pacucoa in Asian Studies, Behavioral Science, Communication, Journalism, Political Science and Sociology; and Level 4 re-accreditation in Philosophy, Literature, Legal Management and Economics, making them the first Level 4 programs to be re-accredited in the entire country

Outbound internationalization activities such as consortia, study programs, leadership camps, seminars, conferences, competitions, academic visits and paper presentations in various countries flourished during Dagohoy’s rectorship.

Research thrived in Artlets during Dagohoy’s rectorship as more than 30 percent of Artlets faculty members were given support to conduct research, making it one of the colleges in the University with the most number of faculty members doing research, Vasco said.

Artlets was also able to produce three academic journals, namely KRITIKE, an online journal of philosophy published by the Department of Philosophy, the Asian Journal of English Language Studies or AJELS published by the English department, and the revived UNITAS, the oldest existing academic research journal in Southeast Asia.

campus and cornered the Japanese.

The former Education building is now the San Martin wing of UST Hospital.

Caroline Bailey-Pratt was also one of the youth in STIC who enjoyed her childhood climbing trees and playing with other children in the camp, but remembered seeing people die of hunger.

In Virginia Willimont-Wolfer’s experience as a child, she saw firsthand a Japanese guard who threw a little boy into the air only to drop him on the edge of his bayonet, killing the baby instantly.

For Sascha Jean Jansen who had to take care of her siblings, food in the camp was scarce. In order to survive, they were given candies, which made their bellies larger despite malnourishment.

Jansen recalled the cruelty of Lt. Nanakazu Abiko, the Japanese commandant who took over STIC. He released a hand-grenade to the internees when the liberation forces were already at the gates of UST. In three years, 75 babies were born, even though the Japanese prohibited sexual activity inside the camp.

Infants and newborns were hidden from the authorities.

His last order to his comrades was to take over the press and publish the first news of liberation. But the press and all bridges connecting to other parts of the city were burned by the Japanese.

Colayco died on Feb. 10, 1945.

All of the nearly 3,800 internees were saved by the American Forces.

The 75th commemoration of the liberation of STIC held at the UST Plaza Mayor on Feb. 4 commenced with a military silent drill by the Armed Forces of the Philippines Drill Exhibition Team.

The rites were led by United States Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, with Undersecretary for Defense Policy Ricardo David Jr., Brig. Gen. Restituto Aguilar, Leslie Ann Murray of the Filipino-American Memorial Endowment Inc. and Francisco Colayco, son of Manuel Colayco, in attendance. CAMILE M. MARCELO, SOFIA BERNICE NAVARRO, NUEL ANGELO SABATE

FROM PAGE 7

Some internees squealed to the Japanese in hopes of receiving favors in return.

During Hackett’s first year in STIC, she was assigned to the third floor of the Main Building, where they were made to sleep on top of bare chemistry desks amid evening heat and swarming mosquitoes.

The Japanese, seeing the situation, allowed the internees to build nipa shacks inside the internment camp, using trees as well as chairs and tables from the classrooms.

“Everything that had to do with our living quarters were under control of the committees,” Hackett said.

Hackett was a member of the committee responsible for planting vegetables at the left side of the UST Main Building.

“That whole sweep was made into a garden of talinum and pechay,” she said.

The most popular form of entertainment in the camp was the stage play, which the committees organized.

There was a makeshift library from the books brought by the internees, and pipe music played every 5 p.m. outside the Main Building.

Holidays were celebrated in STIC with the same degree of resourcefulness of the internees.

Some women cooked and decorated. The committees put up a makeshift Christmas tree at the Main Building lobby.

The Japanese steered clear of the activities as long as these did not cause harm.

‘Children of STIC’ STIC also became home to hundreds of children.

Neville Stopford was only 12 years old inside the camp.

He remembered his experience eating meals in the lobby of the Main Building and was one of the internees who were hostaged by the Japanese soldiers at the Education building when the liberation forces entered the

‘Colayco’s heroism’ Manuel Colayco served as a guerilla intelligence officer of the Allied Intelligence Bureau (AIB) and bravely looked for an end to all the horrors brought by the Japanese during their occupation.

He became a reserve officer during the outbreak of the Pacific War in 1941, survived the tragedies of the Death March in 1942, commissioned as first lieutenant of infantry and awarded a bronze medal for his gallantry.

The American Liberation Forces on Feb. 3, 1945 grabbed control of the majority of the camp and fully liberated it after two days.

The Japanese soldiers retreated to the Education Building, hostaging some of the internees.

In the middle of the battle, Colayco was mortally wounded by a grenade hurled by a Japanese sniper.

SOURCE Four Centuries of Higher Education in the Philippines (1611-2011) by Rev. Fr. Fidel Villaroel, O.P. The Varsitarian Vol. LXVI No. 12 ART BY CATHERINE UMALI

Dagohoy, 55, is a certified public accountant by training. Before being installed as Rector of the University in 2012, he served as internal auditor and director of finance and administration of UST Hospital.

He was re-elected to a second term in 2016.

Dagohoy was appointed member of the Scientific Council of the French Biblical and Archaeological School of Jerusalem in 2014 and head of the Association of South East and East Asian Catholic Colleges and Universities, an association promoting Catholic higher education in the region, in 2016.

Usapang Uste

MULA PAHINA 3

Tomasino Siya Pinatunayan ni Antonio Austria ang galling ng Tomasino sa larang ng pagpipinta nang makilala siya hindi lamang sa bansa kung hindi pati na rin sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng mundo.

Nagtapos si Austria ng kursong Fine Arts major in Painting noong 1956 at nagturo rin ng mahigit sa dalawampung taon sa Unibersidad.

Matapos ang kaniyang pagtuturo, pinagpatuloy pa rin niya ang pagpipinta at pagdiskubre ng iba’t ibang pamamaraan sa larang.

Isa si Austria sa mga nakatanggap ng Thirteen Artists Award na iginawad ng Cultural Center of the Philippines noong 1970.

Hindi lamang sa ating bansa siya nakilala kung hindi pati na rin sa iba’t ibang lugar gaya ng Australia, New York, at Japan kung saan ipinamalas din niya ang kaniyang talento sa pagpipinta.

Ginawad din kay Austria ang Parangal Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan sa Larangan ng Pagpipinta noong taong 2002 ng lungsod ng Maynila.

Taong 2003, nakatanggap muli siya ng parangal mula sa Unibersidad, ang The Outstanding Thomasian Alumni para sa Visual Arts.

Sa kabila ng lahat ng parangal na kaniyang natamasa, nananatili pa rin na mapagkumbaba si Austria at patuloy na binibigyang-halaga ang kaniyang talento sa pagpipinta.

Tomasalitaan Pasintabi (n.) – begging leave, apology; hinging paumanhin Hal. Nagpasintabi siya nang mabunggo ang isang babae dahil sa kaniyang pagmamadali. *** Mga Sanggunian: Diksyunaryo-Tesauro Pilipino-Ingles ni Jose Villa Panganiban TOTAL Awards 2003 The Varsitarian, Tomo XXVI Blg. 11, Oktubre, 1954, 1953-1955

SPORTS

The Varsitarian JUNE 14, 2020

EDITOR: FAITH YUEN WEI N. RAGASA

UST Judokas...

UAAP postpones games, cites Covid 2019 outbreak

Extended Training Thomasian athletes strived to remain in good condition despite the delay of the tournaments after the announced postponement.

UST Softbelles head coach Sandy Barredo said that the postponement has neither advantage nor disadvantage for their team.

“Anything can happen. As long as ‘yong condition ng mga players are well prepared, walang problema,” Barredo told the Varsitarian in an interview.

Landing silver in season 81, the head coach keeps his expectations low for his veteran-less team but ensured the Softbelles’ readiness to fight for the championship.

Team captain and last season’s Rookie of the Year Charlotte Sales said that the delay interrupted their conditioning but gave the team more time to prepare for another podium finish.

“Kailangan gano’n 'pag player ka. Kahit na anong

mangyari, dapat handa ka pa rin sa laban,” Sales said in an online interview.

Similar to the Softbelles, UST Golden Judokas head coach Steven Esteban told the Varsitarian that his players were ready to compete and defend the crown but was forced to stretch their training sets to adapt to the abrupt extended preparation period.

"Nagbawas kami ng ilang araw para sa training schedule para makapag-rest muna at hindi mag-peak agad ['yong condition nila]," he explained.

The Judokas head coach admits that he is confident in entering the season with last year's gold medalists Diether Tablan, Ryan Benavidez, Russel Salcedo and Mitchell Salcedo together with Southeast Asian Games Sambo event champion Chino Sy in their roster.

Unlike the Judokas’ condition, the UST Golden Sox are already at the peak of their condition as their campaign was set to start on February 19.

Head coach Jeffrey Santiago says that the extra time was used to improve the team’s strategies and proceeded to their tactical preparation stage.

The tactitian also emphasized that the teams’ confidence and enthusiasm is a need during the games.

"Kailangan ng mga manonood sa game para maboost ang morale ng mga bata," Santiago added.

The Golden Judokas will stand to defend their UAAP title on Feb. 29 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay while the Softball and Baseball matches will commence on the second week of March. MALIC U. COTONGAN WITH REPORTS FROM JASMIN ROSELLE M. MONTON (FILE PHOTOS)

UST places fourth...

FROM PAGE 12

Villanueva fell short of a podium finish against Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagle Daniel Martin Britanico, 10-15, in the men’s individual saber semis.

In women’s play, the UST Lady Fencers dropped to fourth place from their Season 81 silver-finish with a two-silver two-bronze medal haul.

UST's Marielle Peralta won the Lady Fencers' first silver in the women’s individual epee matches while Mira Dorimon bagged a bronze in the same division.

Lady Fencer Fhaym Sarrondo succumbed to

University of the East Lady Warrior Rookie of the Year-MVP Queendenise Dalmacio, 5-15, and settled for a bronze in the women’s individual saber semifinal match.

Lady Fencers Catherine Cui and Fatima Domantay both missed a podium finish in the women’s individual foil after succumbing to Lady Warrior Dalmacio and Lady Eagles Maxine Isabel Esteban, respectively.

In the saber team matches, UST's Andrea Lao, Evee Liao, Precious Sapungan and Sarrondo claimed silver in the finals.

Lady Fencers Pauline Bernate, Keziah Chua, Dorimon, and Peralta settled for a bronze in the women’s team epee In the women’s team foil, Lady Fencers Cui, Domantay, Henessy Odulio and Peralta fell short against Lady Maroons team of Angelika Barrera, Austine Cui, Careese Gepuela and Sofia Shane Riel, 43-45.

The UE Red Warriors extended their UAAP reign for eight-straight years in the men’s division and reclaimed its women’s division crown in season 82. JASMIN ROSELLE M. MONTON

Growling Tigers falter against Red Lions, crash out of PCCL THE UST Growling Tigers bowed out of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League tournament after succumbing to the San Beda Red Lions, 68-77 at the arena in San Juan on Feb. 15, Sunday.

The Tigers trimmed the deficit to nine, 72-63, before NCAA MVP Calvin Oftana sinked a layup to squander any chance of a UST comeback run in the payoff period.

The Red Lions dominated the Tigers throughout the game, leading 39-27, at the half.

Peter Alfaro fueled San Beda with 13 points and six rebounds while James Canlas followed with 14 and seven.

For the Tigers, CJ Cansino tallied a near double double with 21 markers and nine boards. Brent Paraiso followed with 12.

Against Champions The Tigers ended their campaign with a 1-2 record, gaining their only win against Letran.

This, however, was seen as a positive learning experiennce for the Tigers.

"We played well. For us, it is a learning experience again. Hopefully, matuto 'yong mga players. 'Yong mga rookies and newcomers naman, at least they experienced

how to play against champion teams," UST head coach Aldin Ayo said in an interview with the Varsitarian.

Team captain CJ Cansino’s way to find his rhythm as a leader was seen as a positive in UST's PCCL run.

The King Tiger led other scorers by averaging 14.3 points per game in the team’s three games.

Newcomer Paul Manalang took on the second point guard position, after Mark Nonoy, in the tourney.

Deo Cuajao and Dave Ando played more minutes compared to last UAAP season due to the Sorsogon-based tactician’s guard-centered style of play.

Limited minutes and various rotations showed a gray area with UAAP MVP Soulemane Chabi Yo. After tallying a double double of 12 markers 12 boards in their first game against the NCAA champions Letran Knights, the forward only scored five and six points in their last two games respectively. A far cry from his average of 16.93 ppg and 14.73 rpg. ROMMEL BONG R. FUERTES JR.

FROM PAGE 12

According to Esteban, the rescheduling of the game greatly affected their preparation and conditioning.

"Lahat ng teams affected. Nag-iba 'yong laro kasi 'yong iba nawalan ng endurance at bumaba 'yong level ng play," Esteban said.

Right after the UAAP board announcement, the tactitian admitted that the players who were already in condition to compete were forced to stretch their training sets to adapt to the abrupt extended preparation period.

"Nagbawas kami ng ilang araw para sa training schedule para makapag-rest muna at hindi mag-peak agad ['yong condition nila]," Esteban explained in a past interview.

The head coach admited that he was confident in entering the season with last year's gold medalists Tablan, Ryan Benavidez, Russel Salcedo, Mitchell Salcedo and Southeast Asian Games Sambo event champion Chino Sy in their roster.

THE UAAP Board has postponed all remaining Season 82 sports events from Feb.15, as a precautionary measure against the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak.

Events affected are the high school beach volleyball playoffs, high school basketball, football, judo, athletics, baseball, softball and the second semester centerpiece sport, volleyball.

“As much as we wanted to pursue the games of the league, [the postponement was] mandated following the order of DOH (Department of Health) and CHEd (Commission on Higher Education). We have to follow,” Gilda Ma. Paz Kamus, a member of the UAAP Board of Managing Directors, told the Varsitarian.

UST teams will have extended training periods and preparation time as a result of the postponement of the games.

“Ang phase ng teams ngayon ay tactical preparations.

Conditioned na ‘yong katawan ng athletes pero since postponed, magkakaroon ng additional adjustments sa physical conditioning,” UST Athletics Coordinator Rodrigo Sambuang told the Varsitarian.

11

Blue Eagle Ange Kouame blocks UAAP MVP Soulemane Chabi Yo in the UST-Ateneo PCCL match. (PHOTO BY MARVIN JOHN F. UY)

Successor Graduating multi-awarded MVP Tablan exhausted his UAAP playing years.

"The goal of the sport is to attain the perfection of throw which is called ippon, highest points. I'm very satisfied with my performance kasi nakadalawang ippon ako," he said.

After his UAAP career, Tablan told the that he will still continue to compete in the sport.

"I am planning to play for the national team for one year. I will be continuing to play judo. Titignan ko pa kung saan ako dadalhin ng judo," Tablan said.

The bemedaled Judoka also announnced his confidence in the remaining players to keep the throne in Espana.

"Gusto ko 'yong pumalit sa akin. 'Yong partener ko this season na si Tristan. We've trained for almost one year together and I taught him everything I know. It is up to him to uphold the legacy that we will leave.," he added.

In his collegiate competition debut, MVP Ligero already registered three ippon submissions.

Ligero said that they had to compose themselves despite the close fight against their rival University of the Philippines.

"Sinabi sa akin ni coach na gawin ko 'yong ginagawa namin sa training. Walang susuko. Mas nanggigil kami para manalo," Ligero told the Varsitarian.

Judokas who also have exhausted their playing years also include Khrizzie Pabulayan, Shergeon De Rosa, Randolph Dalupiri, Mitchel Salcedo, Kim, Bayas and Lorenzo. MALIC U. COTONGAN

INSIDE

Sports

UAAP postpones games, cites 2019 COVID outbreak PAGE 11 Growling Tigers bow to Red Lions, crash out of PCCL PAGE 11

The Varsitarian JUNE 14, 2020

FOR MORE SPORTS UPDATES, FOLLOW:

@VSportsUST

UST JUDOKAS SCORE RARE UAAP 4-PEAT REIGNING champions UST Golden Judokas nabbed their fourth straight UAAP championship title in the Season 82 judo tournaments at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay on March 1.

The men's team tallied 34 points with a 3-3-4 gold-silver-bronze finish, followed by the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons and Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, who scored 32 and 23 points, respectively.

Veteran Dither Tablan (+100kg), Russel Lorenzo (-60kg) and MVP Nick Gabriel Ligero (-55kg) bagged golds for UST. Judokas Tristan Jacob Reyes (+100kg), Daniel Amores (-81kg), and Ryan Benavidez (-66kg) claimed silvers.

Czar Augustus Bayas (-73kg), George Kim (-100kg), Mitchel Salcedo (-90kg) and rookie Chino Sy (-81kg) took home bronzes.

“Tiwala sa sarili at suporta ng mga players ko 'yong nagpanalo sa amin,” UST Judokas head coach Steve Esteban told the Varsitarian.

In juniors play, the boys' team reclaimed the championship while

the girls' team landed a silver.

Dethroned The Lady Judokas had their 5-year championship run snapped as they settled for a silver with 28 points behind University of the East Lady Warriors' 30 markers.

The women's team tallied a 1-2-5 goldsilver-bronze record.

Lady Judokas' Rookie of the Year Sydney Sy snagged the team's lone gold in the +78kg division.

UST's Risa Erica Dela Cruz (+78kg) and Christine Pagdanganan (-78kg) won silvers.

Ron Kyla Dalupiri (-70kg), Vlessie Hilusa (-44kg), and Kryzzia Gutang (-57kg), Russel Joyce Arconado (-63kg) and Jeanmae Lobo (-63kg) bagged bronzes.

Abrupt Adjustments Amidst the Covid 2019 outbreak, the UAAP board members decided to postpone sports events from Feb. 15 in accordance with the country's precautionary measures.

The judo tournaments were amonng the matches that were affected in this sudden postponement.

UST Judokas PAGE 11

GOLDEN JUDOKAS struggle against opponents to score a win for UST. (PHOTO BY MARVIN JOHN F. UY/THE VARSITARIAN)

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Lady Booters bag bronze in PFF THE UST Lady Booters settled for third place after bowing to reigning champions De La Salle University Lady Archers, 1-0, in the Philippine Football Federation Women’s Football Championship finals at Carmona National Football Center on Feb. 17.

UST capped their PFF season campaign

with 40 points behind second seed Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraw’s 41 points.

Lady Archer Reese Jumawan‘s corner goal in the first half was enough for La Salle to land their third consecutive PFF championship.

“The Physical and Technical aspect of

individual players still needs of improving.

Third place is not bad for us. We expect nothing but progress individually and as a team.” Lady Booters head coach Aging Rubio told the Varsitarian in an online interview.

UST’s Shelah Mae Cadag took home Best Midfielder honors. R. B. R. FUERTES JR.

UST places fourth in UAAP Fencing THE UST Golden Fencers slipped out of the podium and finished their UAAP season 82 campaign at fourth place with four bronzes on Feb. 14 at the Paco Arena.

Fencer Edcel Dizon bagged UST's first bronze in the first round of the season under the men's individual epee category.

Male Fencer Samuel Mangarin also claimed a bronze in the men’s individual foil matches.

In the men's team categories, the UST saber team of Cedric Pasan, Christofer Sayco, Pascey Valmonte, and Eunice Daniel Villanueva and Male Fencers epee team Godwin Bolanos, Dizon, Markus Franco, and Joseph Laurito notched bronzes in their respective matches.

UST foil team of Marrke Abaygar, Joseph Amores, Mangarin and Pasan took home a bronze.

UST places fourth PAGE 11

PHOTO GRABBED FROM PFF Facebook Page