VOLUME XCIII / NO. 6 · MARCH 31, 2022 · THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS · Manila, Philippines ON SOCIAL MEDIA
facebook/varsitarian
twitter@varsitarianust
youtube/TheVarsitarianUST
instagram varsitarian.ust
BREAKING NEWS & REAL-TIME UPDATES at www.varsitarian.net
► FILE—A maintenance worker arranges chairs to be used by graduates at the UST Open Field ahead of the Baccalaureate Mass in 2018.—PHOTO BY DEEJAE DUMLAO
‘GRAD-WAITING’
SPORTS ► PAGE 11
Obiena urges UST athletes to win another overall UAAP title
Separate graduation rites for batches 2020, 2021, and 2022 are being considered, says UST Secretary General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P. THE UNIVERSITY is considering conducting face-to-face (F2F) graduation ceremonies for the first time in two years at the end of Academic Year (AY) 2021-2022. According to UST Secretary General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P., there have been early discussions held regarding the guidelines on how to conduct in-person graduation ceremonies safely as Covid-19 continues to spread in the country. “We are exploring all possibilities sa graduation na ito,” he told the
Varsitarian. “I already convened the Central Graduation Committee, we already talked about [the possibility of F2F graduation ceremonies] and they are positive about it,” he added, noting that his office had also engaged in consultations with scientists, doctors and mathematicians aside from
700 profs back Leni for President IN A RARE move, more than 700 UST faculty members endorsed Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo for president, saying she was the leader who embodies UST’s “3Cs” (compassion, competence and commitment). The group “Thomasians for Leni” on March 1 released a statement of support for the vice president’s candidacy signed by 396 faculty members from at least 22 UST academic units. The number increased to 738 as of March 30. 600 PROFS PAGE 9
►
deans. According to the academic calendar, this year’s Baccalaureate Mass is scheduled for June 3, while solemn investitures are on June 8. Metro Manila is under Alert Level 1 until March 31. Coronel said the University was still “testing the waters” of Alert Level 1 and more serious discussions would be held once Metro Manila retains its low-risk classification and Covid-19 reproduction rate.
“We need also to determine what would happen in the coming days and coming months that would affect our decision […] but I can only speak for as of now,” he said. The secretary general said the University would also survey graduates of Batch 2020 and Batch 2021 if they would like to have catchup graduation ceremonies. GRAD CEREMONIES PAGE 9
►
Catholics elated with return of in-person Holy Week activities AFTER TWO years of the Covid-19 lockdowns forcing Holy Week activities to be observed unconventionally, devotees are excited to celebrate traditionally this year. Corazon Bayaton, a devout Catholic from UST Senior High School faculty, said she and her family were looking forward to celebrating this year’s Holy Week as they always had before Covid-19. “I feel happy and excited that this year, we will be able to commemorate the Holy Week because some restrictions were lifted and that we can again observe the Holy Week traditions,” Bayaton told the Varsitarian. HOLY WEEK PAGE 9
►
► Devotees have their palm fronds blessed on Palm Sunday at the Manila Cathedral
on April 10.—PHOTO BY MARVIN JOHN F. UY