THE VARSITARIAN P.Y. 2021-2022 ISSUE 09

IN-PERSON WELCOME WALK FOR INCOMING FRESHMEN SET ON AUG. 9

walks for incoming sophomores, juniors set on

For the first time since 2019, the University will open its gates—and the Arch of the Centuries— to incoming college freshmen for the Thomasian Welcome Walk on Aug. 9.

The Office of the Secretary General on July 13 released a circular stating that the traditional Welcome Walk, along with the

There will be two batches for the fresh man rites: one that will start at 8 a.m. and another that will start at 2 p.m.

will have their Welcome Mass at 2 p.m., ROARientation at 3 p.m., and Welcome Walk at 5 p.m.

At 6 p.m. on Aug. 9, the new tiger statue and UST block letters at the Plaza Mayor will also be unveiled in an “unboxing”-style

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Rector pays tribute to faculty retirees

UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. on July 14 paid tribute to the 92 faculty members who retired in Academic Years (AY) 2019-2020, 2020-2021 and 2021-2022, thank ing them “a million” for their service to the University.

“All the efforts you have given have not been in vain. I speak not only for myself but on behalf of our grateful students, graduates, and fellow faculty members and administrators. A million thanks to you,” Ang told the retirees in his message during the testimonial event held at the Dr. Robert C. Sy Grand Ballroom in the Blessed Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. building.

Ang acknowledged the retirees for their exhibiting

The enriched virtual mode (EVM) will remain the default mode of in structional delivery for all programs in UST even as the University continues to expand limited faceto-face (F2F) classes to several pro grams, the Office of the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs (OVRAA) said.

In a memorandum dated April 29, the OVRAA said academic units

could opt for two EVM variants: the EVM hybrid mode or EVM hyflex mode.

The EVM hybrid mode will require students to complete the necessary number of F2F ses sions or hours to accomplish the intended learning outcomes and competencies of a specific course or subject. According to the memo

randum, this will be utilized for courses or subjects whose outcomes and competencies could not be fully achieved with online learning.

Meanwhile, the EVM hyflex mode will give students an option to participate in either F2F or online classes. This mode will be for courses or subjects whose outcomes and competencies may be achieved

with online learning, and in which F2F classes are only necessary to “enrich the learning experience.”

Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Cheryl Peralta said that the University Crisis Management Committee approved additional proposals for F2F classes (hybrid

Mud

Obiena jumps to world No. 3; donates cash incentive to Asia’s former sprint queen

instagram varsitarian.ust

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freshmen pass through

Walk.

FRANCIA ARIZABAL

‘Enriched virtual mode’ still UST’s default learning strategy; admin wants ‘high stakes’ exams held onsite

UST to begin classes for AY 2022-2023 on Aug. 9

By Justin Benedict T. Lim

THE UNIVERSITY has released the collegiate calendar for Academic Year (AY) 2022-2023, marking Aug. 9 as the start of regular classes.

According to a memorandum released by the Office of the Secre tary General (OSG), the new AY will officially begin on Aug. 4 with the traditional Mass of the Holy Spirit or Misa de Apertura.

The Mass will be presided by Pasig Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara, vice president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, while the Discurso de Apertura, or the lecture delivered by a professor at the opening of classes, will be given by Prof. Clarita Carillo, the assistant to the Rector for planning and quality management.

It will be followed by freshmen orientation activities from Aug. 4 to 5 and the Thomasian Welcome Walk on Aug. 9. The OSG did not specify whether the events would be held face-to-face or virtually.

An academic break after the pre liminary period will be observed from Oct. 10 to 11, while the Undas break will be on Oct. 31 to Nov. 3.

The traditional Paskuhan festivi ties will be on Dec. 19.

The registration for the second term will commence on Jan. 10, and the second semester will begin on Jan. 16.

Another academic break after the preliminary period is scheduled for March 20 to 21.

The Easter break will be from April 2 to 10.

The Student Awards Day is set on May 26.

The Baccalaureate Mass for grad uating Thomasians is scheduled for

May 30. Solemn investiture rites for Batch 2022-2023 will begin on June 1.

Registration for the special term will be from June 13 to 14. The special term will begin on June 15.

The enriched virtual mode will

remain the primary mode of instruc tional delivery for all programs in UST in AY 2022-2023, according to a separate memorandum from the Office of the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs.

Admissions office mulling return of UST entrance exam

THE UNIVERSITY is considering bringing back the UST Entrance Test (USTET) for the admission of new students in Academic Year (AY) 2023 to 2024, the Office for Admissions (OFAD) said.

OFAD Director Assoc. Prof. Imelda Dakis said the admission process for the next AY had yet to be finalized but among the consid erations was reviving the USTET.

“Nothing is definite at the mo ment, but there is already a plan for the resumption of the USTET,” Dakis told the Varsitarian.

The University is targeting to open applications for the next AY by August 2022, Dakis said.

According to the OFAD website, the USTET provides an evaluation of applicants through a standard measure that would de termine if their cognitive aptitude and academic competencies meet the expectation for an incoming college or senior high student of the University.

UST sidelined the USTET during the admission period for AY 2021-2022 due to the Covid-19

pandemic and replaced it with the UST Admission Rating (USTAR), a score-based evaluation system that mainly looks at the academic performance and record of an applicant.

The OFAD said UST did not resort to an online USTET as it would pose several challenges for applicants and the University.

“The USTET takes hours to ad minister. Maintaining [an] internet connection for that long would

be difficult for many. Moreover, it disenfranchises many applicants who do not have continuous access to the internet,” the OFAD said on its website.

The University received 48,411 USTAR applications for AY 2021 to 2022, of which 7,772 college freshmen and 3,054 Grade 11 students were offered admission to the University.

CBCP vice president to lead Misa de Apertura on Aug. 4

By Joanne Christine P. Ramos

PASIG Bishop and Catholic Bish ops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Vice President Mylo Hubert Vergara will lead UST’s Misa de Apertura at the Santisimo Rosario Parish Church on Aug. 4.

The Misa de Apertura, or Opening Mass, will mark the start of Academic Year (AY) 2022-2023.

Vergara is a UST alumnus. He obtained his doctorate in sacred theology, summa cum laude, from the Ecclesiastical Faculties in 2001.

The Mass will be concelebrat ed by the Dominican Fathers and other priests of the University.

The Discurso de Apertura, or the inaugural lecture delivered by a professor at the beginning of classes, will be given by Prof. Clarita Carillo, the assistant to the Rector for planning and quality management.

Her lecture is titled “Quality Assurance and the 3Cs of Resil iency as Philippine Academic Institutions Move Forward.”

In a circular, the Office of the Secretary General said only selected University officials and representatives of the academic and support staff, alumni, student leaders, UST Hospital and Santí simo Rosario Parish would attend the opening rites in person.

The rest of the Thomasian community is invited to partici pate in the Mass virtually, which will be broadcasted live via UST’s official Facebook page.

In the collegiate calendar released by the OSG for AY 20222023, freshmen orientation activ ities are scheduled from Aug. 4 to 5, while the traditional Thomasian Welcome Walk is set on Aug. 9.

Classes will officially resume, mainly through “enriched virtual mode,” on Aug. 9.

Austria named regent of Graduate School of Law

By Justin Benedict T. Lim

Facilities Management Office Direc tor Fr. Dexter Austria, O.P. has been named regent of the Graduate School of Law.

Austria, an assistant professor at the Faculty of Sacred Theology, replaced Fr. Ramon Salibay, O.P, who was installed as the Parish Priest of the Our Lady of the Rosary of Manao ag last February.

Austria obtained his bachelor’s, licentiate and master’s degrees in sacred theology from the University.

He earned his sacred theology doctorate in 2016 from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas in Angeli cum, Rome.

Prof. Ma. Carlota Decena, a former assistant dean in the College of Science, was appointed director of the Office for Faculty Evaluation and Development (OFED), replacing Prof. Editha Fernandez.

Asst. Prof. Mylene Domingo and Assoc. Prof. Donald Lipardo were des ignated as OFED’s assistant directors for faculty promotion and reclassi

fication and faculty appointments, respectively.

Former Faculty of Engineering dean Prof. Philipina Marcelo was named assistant to the Rector for the UST Santa Rosa campus.

Assoc. Prof. Noel Estrella, a facul ty council member of the College of Information and Computing Science, was named executive assistant of the Office of Information and Communi cations Technology.

The new appointments were an nounced in a June 27 circular from the Office of the Secretary General.

► Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Vice President Mylo Hubert Vergara (left) will lead UST’s Misa de Apertura at the Santisimo Rosario Parish Church on Aug. 4. Prof. Clarita Carillo (right), the assistant to the Rector for planning and quality manage ment, will give the Discurso de Apertura.

ART BY JAN KRISTOPHER T. ESGUERRA

► Austria

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queue outside the Tan Yan Kee Student

Thomasians Orlina, Obiena named ‘Outstanding Manilans’

By Jacqueline B. Martinez and Mark Ernest V. Villeza

TWO UST alumni were named “Outstanding Manilans” during rites at the Metropolitan Theater on June 23, the eve of the city’s 451st founding anniversary.

The Gat Andres Bonifacio Award, the highest recognition the City of Manila can give a citizen, was award ed to Thomasian glass sculptor Ramon Orlina.

Orlina was the artist behind Quattromondial, the 10-meter-high monument erected at the UST Quadricentennial Park in 2011 for the school’s 400th anniversary.

He finished architecture at UST and began venturing into molding

glass sculptures in the 1970s after leaving his job as an architect.

His first glass sculpture, “Arcanum Paradise Gained,” which he made in 1976, is displayed at the National Museum of Natural History.

In 2014, he opened “Museo Orlina” in Tagaytay City to house various Philippine visual art pieces including his works.

Thomasian pole vaulter EJ Obiena was awarded the Outstanding Ma nilan for Sports.

Obiena, a participant in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, holds the Asian pole vault record of 5.93 meters.

Recently, the 25-year-old won the gold medal in the 2022 Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam with a record-setting 5.46-meter vault.

TV host and weather anchor Ale

jandro “Kuya Kim” Atienza received the Outstanding Manilan Award for Mass Media. Atienza studied education at UST for a year.

Other awardees include Dr. Edgar Santos II (Rajah Sulayman Award), Angeline Quinto (Entertainment), “Barbara’s Heritage Restaurant” owner Barbara Gordon-de los Reyes (Culture and the Arts), Michi Regalado-Castro (Barangay Affairs), Trinidad Galang (Education), Sheryll Dolendo (Judi ciary), Robert Morigo (Prosecution Service), Lt. Col. Rosalino Ibay Jr. (Law Enforcement), Dr. Nerissa Sescon (Public Health) and the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Com merce and Industry Inc. (Socio-Civic).

Outgoing Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso was also rec ognized for his service to the city.

‘Repression in the guise of regulation’: CSC condemns closure order vs Rappler

THE UST Central Student Council (CSC) has condemned the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) closure order against online news organization Rappler.

The 12-page SEC order dated June 28, 2022, affirmed the commission’s 2018 decision to revoke the certificates of in corporation of Rappler, Inc. and Rappler Holdings Corporation “for violating the constitutional and statutory Foreign Equity Restrictions in Mass Media.”

In a statement on Thurs day, June 30, the CSC called the move a “capricious exercise of power” and a “form of repres sion in the guise of regulation” against the press.

“These capricious exercises of power do not uphold the ends of the rule of law, which is supposedly for the common good. There is no common good when such actions result in the defeat of our important democratic institutions, most especially the press and news media,” the council’s statement read.

“The UST Central Student Council stands against all forms of repression in the guise of regulation. No true demo cratic government weaponizes

the law to silence the press and impose a chilling effect on our freedom of speech and expres sion,” it added.

Rappler was founded in 2011 by a group of journalists and digital media experts, including its CEO, 2021 Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa.

Under President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, Rappler had been the subject of attacks by the government and administration supporters for publishing critical stories, especially about Duterte’s war on drugs.

The SEC order came two days before Duterte stepped down from power and a day after the former president admitted using his “presiden tial powers” against media giant ABS-CBN, which went off-air in May 2020 following a cease and desist order from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

“I used the presidential powers to tell Congress that you are dealing with scoun drels and if you continue to kowtow with them, kawawa ang Pilipino,” said Duterte on June 27 during the oath-tak ing ceremony of Davao City’s

“True journalism, committed to providing correct and factual information, must not be compromised for selfish political interests. Power play should never be the norm – and should never, ever be considered as an act of government in a truly free society.”

newly elected local government officials.

On June 22, the NTC blocked 28 independent media websites for their alleged affili ation with communist groups.

The CSC urged the govern ment to stop its “power play” against the media.

“True journalism, commit ted to providing correct and factual information, must not be compromised for selfish political interests. Power play should never be the norm – and should never, ever be consid ered as an act of government in a truly free society,” the council said. J.B.T.LIM

Medical technology junior dies at 20

Alysandra Isabelle Villanueva, a medical technology junior, died of arteriovenous malformation (AVM), an abnormal tangling of arteries and veins in the brain, on July 12. She was 20.

Her mother, Connie Santi ago-Villanueva, confirmed her death to the Varsitarian.

Villanueva had no symptoms of AVM or any illness before her death, her mother said.

Connie described Alysandra as a thoughtful, inceptive, caring and ideal daughter.

The Faculty of Pharmacy Student Council and the UST Or ganization for Medical Technology

Interns paid tribute to the junior.

“Andee will always be remem bered as someone who has deep care and appreciation for her friends, blockmates, and loved ones. With her charming and con tagious smile, it is no surprise that

hundreds of people mourn her early passing,” the student council said about its former staffer to the treasurer in a Facebook post on July 16.

“Andee has been our sunshine in the block for the past few years [that] we have had the privilege to be her classmate and friend. She spread love and happiness with her charming and contagious smile across the four corners of both our labs and classrooms,” the UST Organization for Medical Technology Interns said in a sepa rate post on July 15.

Sofia Cabral, a friend of Villan ueva, described her as approach

able, empathic and understand ing.

“She was easy to confide with, especially since we share the same struggles in class. We would always have [spontaneous] samgyup moments every time we had difficult practicals or exams, and I’m glad we did because those were the moments where we missed her the most,” Cabral told the Varsitarian.

A wake was held for Villan ueva at Christ the King Chapel in Malolos, Bulacan. Her remains were interred at the Legacy Me morial Park in Malolos, Bulacan.

Medical insurance no longer required but ‘strongly encouraged’ for F2F classes

THE UNIVERSITY will no longer require students to have medical insurance before participating in limited face-to-face classes (F2F) for Academic Year (AY) 2022-2023, the Office of the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs (OVRAA) said.

Students were previously required to secure a PhilHealth membership or medical insurance before participating in F2F classes, but the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases, through IATF Resolution No. 168-B, repealed the require ment on May 26.

UST, however, still strongly encourages parents and students to register or maintain their health insurance for additional financial support in case of an illness.

“Consistent with IATF Resolution 168-B, PhilHealth registration or any equivalent medical insurance will no longer be a re quirement for students to participate in F2F classes,” Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Cheryl Peralta told the Varsitarian.

“However, the University strongly encour ages students and parents to still register or maintain their Philhealth membership or supplemental insurance coverage to serve as additional financial support in case of illness, not just for Covid-19,” she added.

Aside from medical insurance, the University also requires students to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 to participate in in-person classes.

On April 29, the OVRAA announced that UST would continue to utilize the enriched virtual mode (EVM), but with two variants, the EVM hybrid mode and EVM hyflex mode, as the modes of instructional delivery for AY 2022-2023.

The EVM hybrid mode will require students to complete the necessary number of F2F sessions or hours to accomplish the in tended learning outcomes and competencies of a specific course or subject. This will be uti lized for courses or subjects whose outcomes and competencies could not be fully achieved with online learning.

Meanwhile, the EVM hyflex mode will give students an option to participate in either F2F or online classes. This mode will be for courses or subjects whose outcomes and competencies may be achieved with online learning, and in which F2F classes are only necessary to “enrich the learning experience.”

Limited F2F classes will automatically revert to online mode in case of heightened Covid-19 Alert Levels in Metro Manila.

► Villanueva

► Orlina and Obiena

UST Central Student Council

‘‘

Obituary

Spanish Dominican Fr. Pedro Tejero, O.P. dies at 101

Pope Francis appoints Thomasian Cardinal Advincula to Vatican office

Ma. Alena O. Castillo

POPE FRANCIS has appointed Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula as among the newest members of the Dicastery for Bishops, the department of the Roman Curia responsible for advising the Pope on the appointment of bishops around the world.

Advincula was among the 14 new appointees to the Vatican depart ment, including eight other cardinals, archbishops, bishops and priests from different countries.

Women were appointed to the dicastery for the first time ever, as the newest members included two religious sisters and one consecrated virgin.

By Ma. Alena O. Castillo

SPANISH friar Fr. Pedro Gonzalez Tejero, O.P., who served as the vicar provincial of the Dominican Vicariate of Our Lady of the Rosary in the Philippines, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 4. He was 101.

Tejero died due to old age, according to the Santo Domingo Convent in Quezon City.

Tejero was a professor at the University from 1979 until his retirement. He was also the longest-serving spiritual director of the UST Central Seminary, from 1990 to 2013.

In 2008, UST Rector Fr. Rolan do de la Rosa, O.P. bestowed upon Tejero the lifetime achievement award for his mission among the Chinese in Manila from 1983 to 1990 and for documenting the Order’s work in his 1993 book, “Binondo: 400 years of Dominican Apostolate.”

From 1986 to 1989, Tejero served as superior of the House of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Bi nondo, Manila after becoming the first prior regional of the newly created Vicariate in the Philip pines from 1978 to 1982.

Tejero was born in Palencia, Spain on Aug. 30, 1920.

After his profession at the Convent of Santo Domingo in Oc aña, Toledo, he began his institu tional studies in philosophy from 1941 to 1945 and theology from 1945 to 1946.

He was ordained priest on June 5, 1947 at the Dominican House in River Forest, Illinois.

In the same convent, he completed theology courses and obtained a master’s degree in 1948.

Tejero taught at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Manila from 1949 to 1954.

In 1952, he was appointed as national promoter of the Holy Name Society of the Philippines, a confraternity entrusted to the Dominican Order.

He served as prior of Santo Do mingo Convent from 1954 to 1957.

Tejero personally knew two Thomasian martyrs of the Spanish Civil War: Blessed Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. and Blessed Manuel Moreno Martinez, O.P.

Tejero’s wake and prayer vigil will be held on Friday, Aug. 5, 8 a.m. to 12 a.m. at the UST Central Seminary Chapel.

The funeral Mass will be on Aug. 6, 9 a.m. at the UST Main Chapel, followed by interment at the Santuario del Santo Cristo in San Juan.

ing bishops rests with the Pope, and he is free to select anyone he chooses.

Usually, the Pope’s representative in a country, the apostolic nuncio, passes on recommendations and documenta tion to the Vatican,” it stated.

“The Dicastery of Bishops then discusses the appointment in a further process and takes a vote. On being presented with the recommendations, the pope makes the final decision,” it added.

On Oct. 25, 2020, Pope Francis appointed Advincula as the ninth cardinal from the Philippines. He was formally elevated in an unusual consis tory at the Vatican on Nov. 28, 2020.

named Advincula as a member of the Congregation for the Clergy, which oversees matters regarding priests and deacons not belonging to religious orders.

Advincula has been appointed to two Vatican offices since becoming a cardinal two years ago.

In December 2020, the Pope

The Dicastery for Bishops, formerly called the Congregation of Bishops, changed its name in line with the new constitution that underpinned the

‘Filipinos have placed their trust in you,’ nuncio tells Marcos Jr.

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

Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles Brown urged newly inaugurated President Ferdi nand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to make good on his campaign promises during the traditional Vin D’Hon neur (wine of honor) at the National Museum of Fine Arts on Thursday.

Brown told Marcos Jr. to make use of his government experience in overcoming challenges that would arise in his administration.

“There will certainly be challeng es as there are for every administra tion. But, Mr. President, you bring to the presidency an extensive experi ence of many years in governmental service and your call for unity has resonated deeply and widely with the Filipino people,” Brown said.

“For these reasons, you begin your term as president with a strong note of hope and confidence in the

future. May God bless that future and make it fruitful for the good nation,” he added.

Brown, who is the dean of the diplomatic corps in the Philippines, and Marcos Jr. shared a toast with other diplomats.

The papal nuncio assured the new Philippine head of state that foreign diplomats would cooperate and collaborate with Marcos Jr.’s administration to help it achieve its goals.

“The Filipino people have placed their trust and their hopes in you — their hopes for a future that is prosperous, safe, equitable, and just,” he said.

“I know that I speak for all the diplomats gathered here with you this afternoon when I say that we, too, in the international community harbor the same hopes for your presi dency and for your nation,” he added.

In his brief speech, Marcos Jr. underscored the importance of

reform of the Vatican by Pope Francis.

Titled Praedicate Evangelium (Preach the Gospel), the new consti tution provides that “any member of the faithful can also lead a Vatican dicastery or other bodies, given their particular competence, power of gover nance and function.”

“The ultimate decision in appoint

The Pontiff appointed Advincula as the 33rd archbishop of Manila on March 25, 2021.

Advincula obtained his bachelor’s degree in theology at UST and earned his licentiate degree in canon law at the Pontificia Università San Tomma so D’Aquino or the Angelicum in Rome.

strengthening and cultivating rela tionships with other countries.

“The transformation of the world economy and recovery from the pandemic will be dependent on our partners and our allies. And it will be those partnerships that will strengthen that recovery, that will make a more balanced and stable new global environment for us to work in,” Marcos Jr. said.

Boycott ‘Maid in Malacañang’ — San Carlos bishop

SAN CARLOS Bishop Gerardo Alminaza has called on the public to boycott “Maid in Malacañang,” a movie supposedly about the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s final 72 hours in power.

In a Facebook post, Alminaza blasted the movie’s trailer as “shame less” for showing the late president Corazon Aquino playing mah-jong with a group of nuns.

“The producer, scriptwriter, direc tor and those promoting this movie should publicly apologize to the Carmelite nuns, to President Cory Aquino’s family and to the Filipino people,” Alminaza said.

Alminaza also urged the Movie and Television Review and Classifica tion Board (MTRCB) to “act responsi bly on this and perform its mandated duty.”

The MTRCB has given the movie a “Parental Guidance” (PG) classifi cation and urged parents to “conduct their own assessment and use their best judgment to guide their chil dren’s viewing activities.”

“We also note that the said mo tion picture is a dramatization of the last seventy-two hours of the Marcos family in the Palace in 1986 and does not purport to be a documentary,” MTRCB Chairperson Diorella Maria Sotto-Antonion said.

In a statement on Aug. 2, the Order of Discalced Carmelites of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel expressed dismay over the Marcos-funded film’s historical revisionism.

“The attempt to distort history is reprehensible. Depicting the nuns as playing mah-jong with Cory Aquino

is malicious,” said Sr. Mary Melanie Costil las, prioress of the Carmelite monastery in Barangay Mab olo, Cebu City.

“Any seri ous scriptwrit er or movie director could have shown such elemen

tary diligence before making such movie. [A]fter all, many of those nuns are still very much alive and mentally alert,” she added.

Costillas also emphasized that although the nuns in the movie were not wearing the brown religious habit, “the allusion to the Carmel

Pope Francis congratulated Mar cos Jr. a day before the president’s inauguration.

“I send you my congratulations and cordial good wishes to Your Ex cellency as you begin your mandate as President of the Republic,” the Pope said in a message relayed to Marcos Jr. by Brown.

ite Order in Cebu is too obvious for anyone not to see.”

In February 1986, as Aquino called for civil disobedience follow ing a fraudulent snap election, she took shelter at the Carmelite monas tery in Cebu. It was the height of the People Power revolution and there were threats to her life.

“The truth was that we were then praying, fasting and making other forms of sacrifices for peace in this country and for the people’s choice to prevail,” Costillas said.

“We knew the dangers of allow ing Ms. Cory Aquino to hide in the monastery. But we also prayerfully discerned that the risk was worth it, as our contribution to put an end to a dictatorial regime. Indeed, we were ready to defend her at all costs,” she added.

► Cardinal Jose Advincula delivers the homily during the rites for his instal lation as the 32nd Roman Catholic archbishop of Manila on Thursday, June 24, at the Manila Cathedral.

PHOTO

► Fr. Pedro Gonzalez Tejero, O.P

► Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles Brown delivers his message to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. during the traditional Vin D’Honneur (wine of honor) at the National Museum of Fine Arts on June 30.

► Bishop Alminaza

Poetry Unang Gantimpala

Essay Unang Gantimpala

Mud in Malacañang

The unwitting moviegoer might find “Maid in Malacañang” as just another Filipino film melodrama, top-billed by relatively popular have-been and never-were actors, both old and new. Even the title—which seems to be a play on the early 2000s romcom, “Maid in Manhattan”—is innocuous enough. But don’t be fooled by the wolf in sheep’s clothing; this film is nothing more than a pro-Marcos propaganda piece disguised as a boilerplate family soap opera.

A close examination of Maid in Malacañang’s production credits reveals Sen. Imee Marcos’ name under the role of “creative producer.” And her “creative hand” is certainly felt throughout the film: in the movie she’s played jarringly enough by the pretty Cristine Reyes, hardly Imee’s deadringer, chin and all, and her character predictably enough boasts the most screen time so that she bookends this vapid two-hour spectacle. In one telltale scene, Cesar Montano’s Ferdinand Marcos Sr. calls Imee “my darling genius girl” and the “best maid” in the Palace because of her stalwart support to the family amid their dire circumstances. Obviously, Imee performs to the hilt her role as “creative producer”; the movie may as well have been titled “Imee in Malacañang.” She’s very creative in twisting history to malign the masses and deodorize the bloody and corrupt legacy of the Marcoses.

Normally, high-profile personalities don’t meddle in dramatic adaptations of their lives for they run the risk of public scrutiny for their involvement (unless they are the ones funding the project, which is a whole different story). And ultimately, it should be the director’s vision cast onto the film, which makes “Maid in Malacañang” an anomalous case: here you have Imee Marcos—the very subject of the film—

conspiring with an obnoxious content creator (Darryl Yap) to tell the shallowest PG-friendly narrative of her family’s dark and violent history.

And “Maid in Malacañang” is obsessed with history: revising it, distorting it, twisting it. There is no mention of the kleptocracy of the Marcoses and their cronies, the atrocities of martial law, particularly the staggering human rights abuses under Marcos Sr. while the EDSA protesters were inaccurately depicted as savages, storming the Palace with flaming torches, which did not happen (or else Imee and her avaricious family would have been impaled like witches and vampires and not lived to tell her tale, and a fake one at that, too)

And despite being touted as an insider’s account, the film offers neither real illumination nor groundbreaking information about the Marcoses other than they were really devastated to leave behind the life of opulence and power. There is even a bittersweet montage of Imelda Marcos (played by Ruffa Gutierrez) and her Goliath shoe collection, which the film tries to downplay but nonetheless the thought is already implied.

“Maid in Malacañang” also betrays its own lack of sound storytelling through its (over)reliance on title cards, which elucidates to viewers what was happening after each “chapter” in the film and what the Marcoses were feeling at that point. It’s contrived and borderline spoon-feeding; technique prevents the viewer from

What a great time to be a journalist

Sincerely Adamant

A JOURNALIST’S JOB is to ask critical questions and report the issues in our society. But to deliver a fair and accurate report, journalists spend hours rigorously researching and fact-checking informa tion, analyzing data, and reaching out to sources — a process that bloggers and vloggers fail to com mit given their baseless and revile remarks and clickbait contents.

So what happens when they, those who iden tified themselves as “pro”, cover the most crucial seat in the government? Chances are no critical questions will be asked, and only churned and un verified information will be disseminated. When worst comes to worst, the spread of disinformation leads to historical revisions.

Nobel laureate Maria Ressa once said to over come “online violence”, one must “know the values you are fighting for”, and to us journalists, as au thors Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel said, our first obligation is to the truth. In the digital age where fake news spreads like wildfire and troll armies bullies about anyone on the internet, it is indeed a great time to be watchdogs of society.

Passing my college entrance in UST under the Journalism program was an answered prayer. More so when I saw my name among the new staff members of the Varsitarian in 2018. I thought that, as an aspiring journalist, becoming a part of the V would make a good addition to my experience. But Varsi was not just another extra-curricular activi ty I signed up for in college. It became my second home.

Covering the Witness (Religion) section was not an easy task. It is like taking an extra course in theology whenever I verify Church history and its hierarchy. Indeed, in journalism, you learn ev ery day. Also, Livetweeting and transcribing will al ways be in the routine. But as I encountered sever al homily, statement, and appointment stories, to name a few, my listening skills and eye for a story also improved. Importantly, without the guidance of my editors, seniors, and advisers, I wouldn’t be able to be where I am today.

In his message for the 2022 World Communi cations Day, Pope Francis said, “Good communi cation, instead, does not try to impress the public with a soundbite, with the aim of ridiculing the other person, but pays attention to the reasons of the other person and tries to grasp the complexity of reality.”

In a time where the “Marites” and troll armies propagate ridicule, fear, and hatred by spreading fake and misleading content online, journalists continue to debunk false claims, practice account ability, and responsible news gathering, and rede fine the boundaries of news reporting and dissem ination through various forms of media. Moreover, with the greater call to safeguard the truth and hu man dignity, Catholic journalism remains stead fast in linking the relevance of morality to current social issues.

Being part of Witness was a calling with a mis sion to be a pillar of truth and justice. I am truly grateful to Varsi for challenging my capabilities and for entrusting me with big responsibilities. Above all, I thank V for the friends I have gained

CELINE

And despite being touted as an insider’s account, the film offers neither real illumination nor groundbreaking information about the Marcoses other than they were really devastated to leave behind the life of opulence and power.

What is Monkeypox?

THE PHILIPPINES has detected its first case of monkeypox amid the rise in Covid-19 cases.

On July 29, the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed the country’s first monkeypox case: a 31-year-old Filipino who arrived from overseas. But what is monkeypox?

Monkeypox was first discovered in research monkeys in 1958 and was found to be a close relative of the small pox virus. The source of the disease, however, remains unknown.

While monkeypox was initially reported in several central and western African countries, the disease later spread throughout other continents this year. Most of the cases were linked to international travel to those coun tries where monkeypox commonly occurs.

On July 23, the World Health Organization declared monkeypox as a “public health emergency of interna tional concern.” To date, 83 countries have reported cases of monkeypox.

Monkeypox can be transmitted through skin-to-skin, face-to-face and mouth-to-skin contact, as well as contact with bodily fluids and objects

ART BY ZYMON M. GAILO

used by an infected person. It has not yet seen to be airborne.

Symptoms include fever, head aches, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches and backaches, and rashes that can be found in the genital area, as well as on other parts of the body.

There is currently no cure for monkeypox while vaccine studies are limited.

In an interview with the Varsitari an, Dr. Teodoro Herbosa, special advis er to the National Task Force Against Covid-19, said that the country won’t

implement border control, but instead focus on monitoring entry from abroad.

“Border control is not recommend ed by the WHO, so we will not imple ment it,” Herbosa said. “The key is you monitor entry; if there is someone from abroad that enters with monkeypox

and you identify these at the border, you will immediately isolate this per son and do contact tracing.”

He also said that monkeypox is not as fatal as Covid-19.

“We have a higher mortality [rate] in Covid-19,” he added. “Most of the cases of monkeypox reported in the UK, US have a low mortality rate: less than 1 percent. So much much lower than Covid-19, [which is] 1 to 2 percent, so it’s less fatal, but very infectious.”

DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosa rio Vergeire earlier said that closing the country’s borders would be “irrational” since monkeypox is different from Covid-19 and is known so far to only spread through close contact.

The public is still advised to contin ue wearing masks and observe physical distancing as well as being informed of the disease.

“If you are a Filipino and you are traveling to countries that have mon keypox, you should be aware of how you interact with people in that coun try,” Herbosa said. “If you come from abroad and start to develop [monkey pox], we encourage you to report to our local health officials so that you can be tested.” ADRIAN L. PARUNGAO

have a rite of passage through the Arch of the Centuries, UST SHS Student Council president-elect Kenshin Mamuad told the Varsitarian.*

The University’s “onboarding season” for Academic Year 2022 to 2023 will commence on Aug. 3 with the first of the triduum Masses in honor of St. Dominic de Guzman.

The Misa and Discurso de Apertura will be on Aug. 4 at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., respectively.

‘Homecoming’ walks

UST will also hold a modified version of the traditional Welcome Walk for sophomores and juniors on Aug. 23.

Called the “Homecoming Walk,” the event was organized for secondand third-year students of the higher education cluster and learners in Grades 8, 9, and 12 who entered UST without experiencing the Welcome Walk.

UST Secretary General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P. said in a circular that the Homecoming Walk would be held in three batches.

The first batch will include students from the College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Engineering, Conservatory of Music, College of Fine Arts and Design, and College of Architecture. Assembly will start at 6:30 a.m.

The Faculty of Arts and Letters, College of Tourism and Hospitality Management, College of Information and Computing Sciences, Institute of Physical Education and Athletics, College of Science, College of Nursing, and College of Education will comprise the second batch, which will commence at 12 noon.

The last batch will start at 4 p.m. and include the Graduate School, Faculty of Civil Law, Graduate School of Law,

College of Commerce and Business Administration, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, UST-Alfredo M. Velayo College of Accountancy, and the Ecclesiastical Faculties.

Grades 8, 9, and 12 students of the UST Junior High School and Senior High School will have their Homecoming Walk on Aug. 24 at 6:15 a.m. It will be followed by the Welcome Mass and Alab 2022.

Minimum public health protocols will be enforced throughout the “homecoming” events, such as wearing well-fitting face masks, one-meter physical distancing, and frequent hand sanitizing.

The Welcome Walk, which symbolizes the start of freshmen’s academic journey in UST, was limited to virtual editions via the virtual Minecraft platform in 2020 and 2021 due to pandemic restrictions.

their commitment to teaching students despite the challenges in teaching brought about by the pandemic.

“You made your mark in history when you chose to stay and kept your commitment to your students in the face of the pandemic. During these unprecedented times, everything is volatile and uncertain, even the manner and the method we educate our students,” the Rector said.

“I know that for some of our retirees, abandoning our comfort zones was quite a

challenge, but you stuck it out with your students through tough times. We witness your dedication,” he added.

The Rector also reminded the retirees that their retire ment only marked the start of a new adventure full of “exciting possibilities.”

“Their retirement day is the beginning of their new adventure. I refuse to call it only the new chapter or the epilogue. The retirement is the sequel. Today inaugurates exciting possibilities for you,” Ang said.

Below is the full list of the 28 faculty retirees this year:

College of Accountancy

Asst. Prof. Marie Anne Lourdes N. Guanzon

Faculty of Arts and Letters Asst. Prof. Beyan Atta Mohamed Hagos, Ph.D. Assoc. Prof. Alice T. Maghuyop, Ph.D.

and hyflex instructions) for the A.Y. 2022-2023.

“However, the timeframe for the actual commencement of (F2F) classes for these programs, the year levels in volved, and the courses that will involve face-to-face classes shall depend on the intended learning outcomes identified by the unit and their compliance with the requirements of CHEd (Commission on Higher Education) or DepEd (Depart ment of Education), whichever apply,” Peralta told the Varsitarian.

The OVRAA also advised academic units to conduct “high stakes” examina tions and assessments onsite whenever possible and announce the implementa tion of F2F classes for selected programs and courses for the guidance of all stakeholders.

The selected academic units and programs that were granted the CHEd Safety Seal and are currently allowed to hold F2F classes are as follows:Fac ulty of Medicine and Surgery: Doctor of

Medicine, BS in Basic Human Studies, Master in Clinical Audiology; College of Nursing: BS in Nursing; College of Rehabilitation Sciences: BS in Phys ical Therapy, BS in Speech-Language Pathology, BS in Sports Science; Faculty of Pharmacy: BS in Medical Technology, BS in Pharmacy, BS in Biochemistry; College of Science: BS in Biology, BS in Microbiology, BS in Chemistry, BS in Applied Physics, BS in Psychology; Grad uate School: MS major in Biology, PhD major in Biology, MS major in Microbiol ogy, MS major in Chemistry, PhD major in Chemistry, MS major in Food Science, MS in Medical Technology, PhD major in Medical Technology, MS in Pharmacy, PhD in Pharmacy; College of Commerce and Business Administration: BS in Business Administration, BS in Entre preneurship; College of Accountancy: BS in Accountancy, BS in Management Accounting, BS in Accounting Informa tion Systems; College of Education: BS in Nutrition and Dietetics, BS in Food

Technology; Conservatory of Music: BM in Composition, BM in Music Education, BM in Music Technology, BM in Music Theater, BM in Performance, BM in Mu sicology, BM in Jazz; College of Tourism and Hospitality Management: BS in Hospitality Management, BS in Tourism Management; Faculty of Engineering: BS in Civil Engineering, BS in Chemical En gineering, BS in Industrial Engineering, BS in Electronics Engineering; College of Information and Computing Sciences: BS in Information Technology.

CHEd will visit the University again for the Safety Seal application of the programs BS in Occupational Therapy, Bachelor in Secondary Education, BS in Mechanical Engineering and BS in Electrical Engineering.

In-person classes will automatically revert to EVM in case of heightened alert levels in Metro Manila.

College of Fine Arts and Design Asst. Prof. Benedicto B. Ducat Assoc. Prof. Nady S. Nacario

Faculty of Engineering Asst. Prof. Evangeline E.

Deleña

Prof. Marilyn C. Mabini, Ph.D. Assoc. Prof. Maria Theresa L. Roque, Ph.D.

College of Information and Computing Sciences Asst. Salve L. Diaz

Junior High School Ms. Rosemarie S. Cabauatan

Faculty of Medicine Assoc. Prof. Emmanuel D. Almazan, M.D. Assoc. Prof. David T. Bolong, M.D.

Prof. Maria Minerva P. Calimag, M.D., Ph.D. Assoc. Prof. Melchor M. Chan, M.D.

Assoc. Prof. Maria Theresa Torres-Cosme, M.D. Prof. Olivia C. Go, M.D. Prof. Daisy K. Ismael, M.D. Asst. Prof. Benigno R. Santi, M.D. Assoc. Prof. Teresa T. Sy Ortin, M.D. Asst. Prof. Juan S. Lopez, M.D. Asst. Prof. Wilson L. Tan De Guzman, M.D.

College of Nursing Assoc. Prof. Mila Delia M. Llanes, Ph.D.

Prof. Susan N. Maravilla, DNM

Institute of Physical Education and Athletics Asst. Prof. Laura Victoria W. Clavo De Comer

Faculty of Pharmacy Asst. Prof. Maria Socorro M. Crooc Asst. Prof. Editha B. Ocampo, Ph.D.

Institute of Religion Asst. Prof. Rosario D. Verdeflor

College of Science Asst. Prof. Sonia N. Javier Prof. Maribel G. Nonato, Ph.D. Prof. Corazon A. Menguito, Ph.D.

Marcos Jr. urges Congress to revive mandatory ROTC

PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has urged Congress to pass a bill making the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) mandatory for senior high school students.

During his first State of the Nation Address on July 25, Marcos Jr. said that the bill, which was among the 19 bills he recommended for passage, would reinstate the ROTC program as a required component of the senior high school curriculum in all public and private schools.

“The aim is to motivate, train, organize, and mobilize the students for national defense preparedness, including disaster preparedness and capacity building for risk-related situ ations,” Marcos said.

Marcos Jr. leaves big promises for agriculture, energy in first SONA

PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has vowed to increase agri cultural and energy production in his term by pardoning farmers’ existing land loans and expanding the coun try’s power sources.

Marcos Jr., who is also the tem porary chief of the Department of Ag riculture, said he would issue a oneyear moratorium on amortization and interest payments of agrarian reform beneficiaries to help farmers focus more on production.

“A moratorium will give the farm ers the ability to channel their resourc es in developing their farms, maxi mizing their capacity to produce, and propel the growth of our economy,” Marcos said during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Mon day, July 25.

He also called on Congress to pass a law amending Republic Act 6657 or the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1998 to free farmers from their debts.

“In this law, the loans of agrari an reform beneficiaries with unpaid amortization shall be condoned.

Layunin ng batas na ito na burahin ang hindi mabayarang utang ng ating mga magsasaka na benepisyaryo ng agrari an reform,” Marcos Jr. said.

“Agrarian reform beneficiaries who are still to receive their awarded land under the comprehensive agrarian re form program shall receive it without any obligation to pay any amortiza tion,” he continued.

Marcos said condoning the loans would benefit a total of 654,000 farm ers as it would cover P58.125 billion and involve a total of 1.18 million hect ares of awarded land.

He said the government would also distribute 52,000 hectares of un used agricultural land owned by the government to landless war veterans and their surviving spouses and or phans, retirees of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Na tional Police, and graduates of agricul tural programs, as provided by existing laws.

Marcos also promised to modern ize the agriculture sector with the lat est technology to increase farm yields and resilience to the effects of climate change.

According to a report by debt watcher Moody’s Investors Service, the war between Russia and Ukraine has

made the Philippines, alongside other Asia-Pacific countries, “highly vulnera ble” to volatile food and energy prices because of its dependency on imports.

The Philippine Chamber of Agri culture and Food Inc. also said it was possible a food shortage could hit the country by the fourth quarter of the year, during the holiday season.

Expanding power sources

To address the growing demand for energy in the country, the President wants to expand the country’s energy production, mixing traditional and re newable energy and noting solar pow er’s practicality in the country.

“At present, our demand for ener gy far exceeds our reliable supply. We must increase the level of energy pro duction… We must build new power plants. We must take advantage of all the best technology that is now avail able, especially in the areas of renew able energy,” Marcos said.

The most “particularly attractive” energy source for the Philippine set up, Marcos said, was solar power, as it “is practical almost everywhere in the Philippines all year round.”

“Our search for new power sourc es should always be with an eye to improving the energy supply mix between traditional and renewable sources,” he added.

Marcos said he also wanted to re view the Philippines’ strategy in build ing nuclear power plants, vowing to comply with the regulations set by the International Atomic Energy Agency in building nuclear power plants.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said he hoped Marcos Jr. would explore the use of nuclear energy as his father, the late dictator Ferdinand Mar cos Sr., was behind the construction of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant.

The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, which cost more than $2 million, was the country’s only nuclear power plant.

Completed under the Marcos Sr. regime, it was never fueled nor used due to safety concerns. After Marcos was overthrown and in the wake of the 1986 Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant disaster, the succeeding admin istration of President Corazon Aquino mothballed the Bataan plant.

Marcos Jr. also wants a review of the system of transmission and distri bution of electricity to consumers as he seeks to lower rates.

The ROTC training was made optional in 2002 through Republic Act (RA) 9163 or the National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001, following the murder of Mark Welson Chua, a former cadet of the UST’s ROTC unit.

Chua was killed by his fellow cadet officers after he exposed the corruption, bribery and extortion prac tices of the University’s ROTC unit to the Varsitarian.

The 19-year-old’s dead and decom posing body was fished out of the Pa sig River on March 18, 2001, with his head wrapped in cloth and packing tape and his hands and feet tied with shoelaces.

Two of Chua’s murderers, Paul Tan and Michael Rainard Manang bao, remained at large more than 20

years later, while Arnulfo Aparri was sentenced to life imprisonment and Eduardo Tabrilla pleaded guilty to homicide in 2006.

The revival of the mandatory ROTC training for college students had been floated by Marcos Jr.’s predecessor, former president Rodrigo Duterte, and his allies to “reinstill a sense of patriotism and nationalism” in the Filipino youth.

As of 2021, 21 bills seeking to revive the mandatory ROTC have been filed in the House of Representatives, while nine bills have been filed in the Senate. No law was passed to reinsti tute the mandatory training during Duterte’s term, however.

Sen. Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa has vowed to refile his ROTC bill in the 19th Congress.

During the campaign period, nowVice President and Education Secre tary Sara Duterte-Carpio proposed a measure to require all Filipinos who reach the age of 18 to undergo man datory military service. CHRISTINE JOYCE A. PARAS

BY ARIANNE MAYE D.G. VIRI

“We must expand the network of our transmission lines while examin ing schemes to improve the operation of our electrical cooperatives. All this in aid of reducing energy cost, espe cially but not limited to households,” Marcos said.

No more lockdowns

Despite the extant threat of the Covid-19 pandemic, Marcos is not keen on imposing lockdowns in the country.

“Hindi na natin kakayanin ang isa pang lockdown. Dapat nating balanse hin nang maayos ang kalusugan at kapakanan ng ating mga mamamayan sa isang banda, at ang ekonomiya naman sa kabilang banda,” Marcos said.

He said the government would continue its vaccine booster rollout to protect Filipinos and study how to im prove the implementation of the alert level system.

“I-aayon natin ang ating health protocols sa kung ano ang ating pan gangailangan sa paglipas ng panahon at lalo pang i-ibayuhin ang kooper asyon kasama ang pribadong sektor upang tumaas pa ang kumpyansa ng mga mamumuhunan, nang sa gayon ay bumalik na sa full capacity ang mga negosyo,” the President said.

To sustain economic recovery, Marcos bared his medium-term fiscal strategy, which he said would guide legislators in the next six years in pre paring annual budget plans and imple menting sound fiscal management.

He noted that other issues inter twined with the economy might have

lasting effects if they remained unre solved, such as climate change.

“If we cannot mitigate climate change, all our plans for the economy, for our future, will be for naught,” he warned.

F2F classes, economy

Reiterating his support for the re sumption of face-to-face (F2F) classes, Marcos Jr. said students should now return to the classroom after two years of enduring the virtual setup.

“I believe it is time for our children to return to full face-to-face classes once again,” the President said.

The Department of Education ear lier announced that five-day F2F class es would begin on Nov. 2 for both pub lic and private basic education schools.

The Commission on Higher Edu cation (CHEd) meanwhile said higher education institutions would not be required to conduct F2F classes this upcoming academic year as they had the authority to decide for themselves whether to hold F2F classes or not.

Although vaccination remains op tional, Marcos Jr. encouraged partici pants of F2F classes to get their booster shots.

“We must ensure that our class rooms are safe for teachers, for stu dents, and the entire academic community when they return to faceto-face classes. We continue to encour age everyone to get their booster shots in preparation for the resumption of in-person classes,” he urged.

According to the National Eco nomic and Development Authority, the resumption of in-person classes could generate P12 billion weekly for the economy as it would also lead to the reopening of more businesses and the utilization of transportation.

To further boost the economy, Mar cos Jr. also promised to continue and expand the infrastructure projects started by Duterte and make “basic de velopments” for tourism, such as road

► First State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., 25 July 2022 PHOTO

FROM OPS

From our archives

ROTC whistleblower found dead

► A protester holds a ‘never again to martial law’ sign in a rally along Commonwealth Ave. before Presi dent Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. delivers his first State of the Nation Address on July 25. PHOTO

► A painting of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. is stomped on during a protest along Commonwealth Ave. on July 25. PHOTO BY ARIANNE

MAYE D.G. VIRI

Marcos Jr.’s delivered first SONA on ‘safe mode’—analysts

By John Aaron C. Pangilinan and Eduelle Jan T. Macababbad

PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s first State of the Nation Address (SONA) was safely packaged in a way that controversial issues were kept at arm’s length, political analysts said.

Marlon Villarin, a lecturer at the UST Political Science Department, described Marcos Jr.’s pledges in his SONA as practical and doable but also incomplete and questionable.

“In political and campaign strate gies, it’s normal that he will just sim ply provide things that are doable, and the very reason why he did that is he doesn’t want his future opponents to have a card displaying his inability to deliver services,” he told the Varsitar ian.

“[I]f you look at the entirety of the SONA of President Marcos, the state ments, the content, napaka-safely packaged in a sense that most of the promises, most of the agenda, most of the plans that he offered to the peo ple…are all doable,” he added. “These are doable in a sense na nakikita natin na he really doesn’t want to provide promises that practically will not be met even until 2028.”

According to Villarin, the presi dent’s SONA was less political than usual.

“Very safe, naka-safe mode ang kaniyang first-ever SONA because, as you could see, his SONA is practically more administratively delivered, less of politics. He didn’t mention anything that directly or indirectly attacks who ever will hinder his political dreams and activities,” he said.

Anthony Andrew Divinagracia, an

other lecturer at the department, not ed how Marcos Jr. did not discuss is sues that inflamed public opinion and caused controversies during the time of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

“It could be na wala ‘yun dun, it was intentionally left out, kasi wala pa sila nailalatag na konkretong mga pla no para i-address ‘yun. Ayaw naman siguro niya magmukhang tanga na magsasabi lang siya ng ganun for the sake of saying it pero wala naman tala ga siya ganun,” he said.

No mention of unity Marcos Jr., as a presidential can didate, hammered voters with his am biguous call for “unity” but did not use the word during his SONA.

Instead, he focused on issues in volving the ailing economy, agricul ture, health and the Covid-19 pandem ic, and energy, among others.

He also listed 19 priority bills, which Villarin said were not new as they only needed sustaining the pro grams already implemented by previ ous administrations.

“I think si President Marcos is very cautious about his statements and pronouncements niya, kaya pa rang lumalabas, ‘Let’s take it one at a time.’ Like, for example, unity will not be realized by simply letting President Marcos open his arms and invite the opposition to work together. That’s not

unity, that’s just a plain invitation,” Villarin said.

Marcos Jr. admitted in his SONA that meaningful change would not arrive instantaneously: “Hindi ito magagawa sa isang araw, hindi ma gagawa sa isang buwan, o isang taon lamang. Ngunit kailangan na natin simulan ngayon.”

Divinagracia said judging the Mar cos Jr. administration at this point would be too early as it had yet to leave its mark.

“Nakaka-isang buwan pa lang ‘yung presidente. Whether we like it or not, let’s be patient. At this point we have to suspend judgement,” Div inagracia said. “Tingnan muna natin ‘yung gagawin nung tao tsaka natin hiritan. [...] I’m not saying na huwag tayong magbantay. Hindi. Bantayan natin. Kumbaga pabuweluhin muna ‘yung tao. Tingnan natin, first one hundred days. After, tingnan natin ano ‘yung mga tama mo, ano ‘yung mga sa blay mo.”

Divinagracia said the challenge for Marcos Jr., as with every other presi dent, was to prove to the people that he could fulfill his promises before his tenure ends.

“[I]n actuality, if you go down to work, lahat ba ‘yon matutupad? It’s al ways like that. We have to manage our expectations from the new president,” he said.

Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Ange les told reporters on July 27, that the president would address unmentioned issues in due time: “Just because it is not mentioned, doesn’t mean it isn’t there.”

Do we really need mandatory ROTC?

By Eduelle Jan T. Macababbad

THE PROPOSALS of the country’s two highest executive officials to reinsti tute mandatory military service or the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) within the next six years have been met with mixed reactions, with some recalling the abuses of the past.

Both President Ferdinand “Bong bong” Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio have made calls for the country to revive the defunct program to “instill nationalism” among the country’s youth.

But for Manuel Mogato, a lecturer at the UST journalism program, the military’s objectives could be attained by other means, not just mandating the youth to undergo grueling training.

“E sa pag-aaral lang ng history na tin, you can instill nationalism,” he told the Varsitarian.

Mogato also said the logistics of Duterte-Carpio’s proposed mandatory military service would be difficult.

“‘Pag nangyari ‘yan, that means you have to build more bases nation wide. And you have to recruit cadres to train them. And then you have the lo gistics, kailangan mo ng baril, kailan gan mong pakainin ‘yan. So, malaking gastos ‘yan, it will be in the billions,” he said.

Former defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana also called Duterte-Carpio’s proposal difficult to implement, as he said the country lacked funds for it.

Michael Henry Yusingco, an in dependent policy analyst and consti tutionalist who previously worked at the Ateneo Policy Center, said the dif ferences between mandatory military service and ROTC should be clearly

defined.

“[P]ag sinabi mong mandatory military service, ilalagay mo [ang mga bata] as members of the Armed Forc es…you’re going to pay for their sala ries, you’re going to pay for their health insurance,” he said.

Mandatory ROTC, meanwhile, would be part of the tertiary education curriculum.

The ROTC training was made optional in 2002 through Republic Act (RA) 9163 or the National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001, following the murder of Mark Welson Chua, a former cadet of UST’s ROTC unit.

Chua was killed by his fellow cadet officers after he exposed the corrup tion, bribery and extortion practices of the University’s ROTC unit to the Varsitarian.

Col. Ricky Bunayog, group com mander of the Army’s National Capital Region Regional Community Defense Group (NCRRCDG), told the Varsitar ian that the implementation of the NSTP was lacking because, at the end of the day, only ROTC students re mained active in the community even after graduation.

“While [in] ROTC, we maintain a database of all graduates, walang nag ma-maintain ng database for CWTS (Civic Welfare Training Service) and LTS (Literacy Training Service),” he said.

“Dapat meron ‘yang national da tabase that includes ROTC, CWTS and LTS, [kaso] pinabayaan. Nakikita ko na hindi rin na-achieve ng NSTP…ang kanilang program kasi pagkatapos ng lahat, ang ROTC graduates ang nag per-perform ng civic welfare and even

literacy,” he added.

Bunayog said the military was looking to implement a flexible model where Filipinos could defer undergo ing military service so they can focus on college first.

“’Pag sinabing mandatory mili tary service, hindi ka naman pipilitin na pagdating mo ng 18, papasok ka kaagad,” he said. “Actually, we value [a] more matured [Filipino] na papasok sa reserved force…kasi may experience na siya.”

There are seven subjects currently taught in ROTC that the military aims to be part of the mandatory military service framework: personnel, intelli gence, operations, logistics, cyber and signal, civil-military operations, and education and training. These subjects are compressed in ROTC just to be taught in a year or two terms.

Yusingco suggested adding sub jects that reservists could utilize in real-life situations.

“Puwedeng cybersecurity, I would recommend that. […] On strategic thinking, paano mag-game plan or paanong mag-battle plan. Also ‘yung urban warfare, puwede rin, kasi bago ‘yan…Mga ganung klaseng subjects where you can learn skills that you can apply to other aspects of your life, not just in the military context,” he said.

After graduation, cadets become full-fledged reservists who can be called upon by the Armed Forces in times of war, rebellion, invasion and disasters. They could also aid the gov ernment in various socio-economic programs.

Bunayog said he favored the insti

What are your thoughts on President Bongbong Marcos’s proposal to mandate ROTC?

By Eduelle Jan T. Macababbad and John Aaron C. Pangilinan

I genuinely believe that ROTC should be voluntary rather than mandatory. The government’s proposed main goal for ROTC being mandatory is to promote nationalism and disci pline the students by having a “military training”. However, it tolerates different kinds of abuse such as sexual assault and hazing. It also violates human rights which contradicts the reason of mandating this program. With this being said, schools can use other alternatives to instill nationalism like preventing historical distortion or foster the study of Philippine culture in schools. Our country can not afford this program due to our very limited resources today—ERICA LEI MANGILIMAN, 2nd Year Legal Management

Making ROTC mandatory could lead to various reper cussions. One would be the financial effect of allocating a budget to pull all students to commit to the service, if ROTC becomes mandatory then a large budget would be given to this and it may lead to the neglect of the other socio-economic problems our country is facing.—GILLIAN DAPHNE, 1st Year Sociology

I actively joined the CAT as a cadet officer and ROTC as a NCO which provided me bountiful insights about the issue at hand. In an ideal setting, ROTC could be a good pro gram to support the current manpower of the AFP in terms of disaster management operations and humanitarian assistance as well as enhance the capability of the citizens to be more proactive in responding to both external and internal threats. However, there are a lot of issues that need to be addressed before materializing a mandatory ROTC program which could put a lot of people in jeopardy. Issues such as abuse of authority, funding problems, and an ineffective curriculum would only outweigh the benefits that the said program could provide, which is why I’m against it. There should be significant reforms in the current ROTC program first.

My experience with the ROTC program is that the curric ulum is lacking as it focuses too much on learning military drills and other formalities. It would be better if the empha sis was put on enhancing the overall capability of a cadet in responding to certain threats.

Aside from that, financial burdens also affected my welfare as a student as the uniform and other training expenses (such as transportation and food) cost too much for me to handle. These are the things that the current administration should reconsider before making the program mandatory while also taking into account the current situation brought by the pandemic.

MATTEW MARBELLA, Graduate (Batch 2022) BA Politi cal Science - Faculty of Arts and Letters

With the current educational system of the Philippines, mandatory ROTC should not be implemented. While most think it may teach the youth discipline, bravery, and patriotism, the said program can also be seen as promoting violence and corruption. It is true that there will always be a constant threat that justifies the government’s urging of the populace to enlist in the reserves; however, we are hopeful that this is not the case in the Philippines. I strongly believe the educational crisis should be addressed first rather than mandatory ROTC..

JANINA PEARL LOCSIN, Second Year BS Medical Tech nology - Faculty of Pharmacy

As someone who voluntarily signed up for ROTC back in my freshman year, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I acquired practical skills, gleaned insights from various perspectives, and made new friends. The reason why ROTC left a positive imprint on me was because I chose it out of my own volition. “Nothing is stronger than the heart of a volunteer.” Revitalizing interest in ROTC among young people cannot be done by imposing it on the studentry en masse. Efforts by the AFP to encourage the youth to choose ROTC and join the reserve force must be done through positive reinforcements, not by mandating the program.

ALDRICH LLOYD REQUERME, Graduate Batch 2022 BA Political Science - Faculty of Arts and Letters

I believe that making ROTC mandatory is an act of dis service to those who fought to end its being mandatory. It is not the only way of instilling discipline and promot ing nationalism among the younger generations, as acts of community service and safe workplace immersions could achieve the same objectives of ROTC. Furthermore. there had been numerous cases of corruption and abuse throughout the years that further contradict what mandato ry ROTC is trying to aim for: discipline and order—JERICHO RODEL VALIENTE, 3rd Year BS Pharmacy Faculty of Pharmacy

I strongly oppose the proposal to reinstitute the ROTC program as a mandatory component of the curriculum. I believe that its aim, “to motivate, train, organize and mobi lize students for national defense preparedness” is unnec essary for the time being. From a sociological perspective, mandating ROTC is just a way of imposing a culture of guns to normalize violence and impunity while opening the doors for atrocious acts such as hazing. While it is true that ROTC can also offer lifelong learning and skills, I believe students should have a choice whether or not they want to take it.—

AARON DAVE MARTIN, Applied Mathematics, major in Actuarial Science College

Science

tution of mandatory military service to instill values of patriotism and discipline among the youth, which he said were key traits necessary for nation-building.

“I am from Northern Mindanao. We grow up with values, particularly delicadeza and loyalty. We are miss ing these values at this current time. I believe we need a reset to reestab lish those values and it could start with a national program such as the mandatory military service,” he said.

“[T]he exposure would help our young people become mature as they transition into adulthood,” he added.

‘PH not on war footing’

The Philippines’ neighbor coun tries with mandatory military pro grams are facing “existential threats” that warrant conscription, Yusingco

said.

Singapore, for instance, has a small population with just a few thousand regular forces. Israel is being threatened with a wipeout by neighboring Arab countries. South Korea is still technically at war with North Korea.

Yusingco said conscription could be the only option small countries have to keep an adequate number of men available to staff the army, navy and air force.

Though the Philippines is not facing a war, Yusingco said he be lieved China’s incursion at the West Philippine Sea was a “clear and pres ent danger” that could justify policy makers exploring conscription.

Bunayog said the Russia-Ukraine conflict could lead other countries with strong military forces like Chi

na to invade smaller nations, so con scripting the youth could strengthen the Philippines’ defense system.

“That is one way of showcasing our defense preparedness. Showing what we have resources-wise and, of course, the training of our people. If they know our people are trained in warfighting, mag-isip talaga mga iyan,” he said. “Directly, ang effect ng ating mandatory ROTC or mandato ry military service will be a deterrent to other countries attacking us.”

Old concerns

As the possibility of conscription is put on the table, analysts are skep tical that it would be free from the irregularities that hounded the man datory ROTC program before.

“[N]asa sistema natin ‘yan. ‘Di maaalis ‘yan. Kasi kung sa sistema [ng

militar], meron ‘yan, paano pa kaya gagawin mong Mandatory ROTC, eh ‘di ine-extend mo lang ‘yung corrup tion, ‘yung abuse, ‘yung hazing na si nasabi,” Mogato said.

“The only way na mai-stop lahat ‘yan is ‘wag gawing mandatory,” he added.

Yusingco said unless proponents release a detailed proposal, questions on how to safeguard cadets from abuses would remain unanswered.

However, Bunayog claimed the military nowadays was more profes sional, demanding the “highest stan dards of decorum, professionalism and integrity from [its] troops.”

In his first State of the Nation Address, Marcos Jr. listed mandatory ROTC as among the 19 bills he wanted Congress to prioritize.

improvements and the creation and upgrading of airports.

He said he had instructed the De partment of Social Welfare and Devel opment to better prepare for disasters and vowed to add more operation cen ters and warehouses, wherein relief goods would be stored and easily dis tributed when a disaster strikes.

The President capped his 78-min ute address by urging the 19th Con gress to pass the following bills: National Government Rightsizing Pro gram, Budget Modernization Bill, Valu ation Reform Bill, Passive Income and Financial Intermediary Taxation Act, E-Government Act, Internet Transac tion Act or E-Commerce Law, Govern ment Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery (GUIDE), Estab lishment of the Medical Reserve Corps, Creation of the National Disease Pre vention Management Authority and the Philippine Center for Disease Pre vention and Control, Creation of the Virology Institute of the Philippines, Creation of the Department of Water Resources, Unified System of Separa tion, Retirement and Pension, E-Gov ernance Act, National Land Use Act, National Defense Act, Mandatory Re serve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), Enactment of an Enabling Law for the Natural Gas Industry, Amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, Amendments to the Build-Oper ate-Transfer Law.

People’s SONA

In the morning, a people’s SONA was conducted along Commonwealth Ave., where progressive groups dared Marcos Jr. to escape his predecessor and father’s shadow.

since day one. Because of them, I had meaningful memories of college.

Amid the name-calling of the troll army to journalists and the efforts to accredit bloggers and vloggers to cover the Malacañang, the practice and credibility of journalism are once again being chal lenged. But instead of being discouraged, may this in stance keep us reminded of the disciplines that journal ism tirelessly constructs and teaches to future generations.

Now that my time with V has come to end, I will al ways carry the lessons I gain as I brave through the future I aspire to have. Maraming

intelligently interacting with the film to come up with their own conclusions. Just sit back and listen to our side of history, is what Yap, Imee, and everyone involved in this film are apparently trying to say.

But that’s not how history works. It’s not exclusive to the experience of one person or one family, and its authority is not dictated by those who have the resources to tell it and revise it as they like. Just a few days before Maid in Malacañang’s theatrical release, a scene from the film went viral online for erroneously depicting the late Corazon Aquino playing mahjong with nuns. But despite being debunked by the Carmelite nuns of Cebu and the American journalist that covered Aquino during the 80’s, Yap still insists on his “interpretation” of history.

Near the end of the film, Marcos Sr. tells his daughter, Irene (played by Ella Cruz of “chismis” fame), that “kasaysayan na ang huhusga sa atin (history will be the one to judge us).”

Indeed, history has already rendered its judgment 36 years ago along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue. The only purpose of films like Maid in Malacañang is to revise; to shake the foundations of our national history and to dishonor the horrific experiences of our people.

Maid in Malacañang ends with a cover of the song “Nosi Balasi,” which also opens the film. An ironically apt theme because it demands responsibility from the viewer to ask: sino ba sila? Who are the Marcoses?

And if you really want to know, then it’s best you hit the history books and martial law archives instead of watching this reprehensible piece of vainglorious propaganda.

But the song is really a potshot taken at the victims and critics of the Marcoses, who are no less than the Filipino people, who continue to pay for the billions of dollars in loans contracted by the Marcos regime that fed the corruption and mismanagement of the Marcoses and their cronies and cohorts. “Nosi ba lasi,” Imee with heavily reengineered visage seems to inveigh before the Filipino nation—“Sino ba sila!” or “Who are they to criticize us!” “Huwag mong pansinin ang naninira sa ‘yo,” a line in the song says. It’s the perfect song, yes, but because it rids the Marcoses of responsibility for what they have done to this country—from being the Pearl of the Orient to the Bad Joke of the Pacific. It’s a statement that says, “We don’t care,” but also somewhat admitting they were wrong. Terribly, terribly wrong..

“Ito ay mga hamon namin na pa tunayan niya na siya ay hindi si Dute rte, patunayan niya na hindi siya an other Marcos Sr., at may kakaibang katangian siya na ipatupad at galangin ang kahilingan ng manggagawang Pili pino at ng mamamayang Pilipino,” El mer Labog, Kilusang Mayo Uno chair person, said.

More than 8,000 protestors carried effigies and raised placards expressing their fear of and discontentment with Marcos Jr.’s leadership.

They sought better wages and working conditions for laborers, an end to the red-tagging of the opposition, concrete economic plans and uphold ing freedoms such as that of the press.

Supporters of the president, mean while, gathered at the other side of the avenue to express their support, don ning red and green clothing that sym bolized Marcos Jr.’s campaign. EDU

MONKEYPOX ZYMON M. GAILO

WELCOME BACK, THOMASIANS! KARL JOSHUA L. ARON

UST Jins cop medals in int’l poomsae tilts

Representing the Philippines, UST Jins gained podium finishes at the 2022 Asian Poomsae Championships in Chuncheon, South Korea held from June 22 to 27 and the 2022 Chuncheon Korea Open International Taekwondo Championships held from July 1-4.

In the Asian Poomsae Champi onships, Tiger Jin Darius Venerable and UST alumnus Rodolfo Reyes Jr. dominated their respective leagues and were named Most Valuable Players.

Venerable snagged the silver medal in the men’s over-17 freestyle category with 7.380 points. Korea’s Jae Hyeon Han ruled the event with a 7.700 average while Thailand’s Jiraphong Khetlak finished third.

“Naging masaya ako sa per formance ko kahit ‘di man ako binigyan ni Lord ng Gold medal per formance, binigyan niya naman ako ng pang-MVP na performance pero ang mas naging masaya ako ay yung nararamdaman ko yung sarili ko habang ako ay nag lalaro sa stage,” Venerable told the Varsitarian.

The MVP also teamed up with fellow Tiger Jin, Justin Kobe Macario, Juvenile Crisostomo, Jan na Dominique Oliba, and Jeordan Dominguez to give the country another silver in the over-17 free style mixed team with a 7.180-point performance. The Korean team dominated the category with 7.460 points.

UST alumnus and 2019 Southeast Asian Games medalist,

Reyes Jr. took home another silver with 7.51 points after falling short against Korea’s Wan-jin Kang who averaged 7.72 in the men’s under-30 individual category.

Former Lady Jin Jocel Lyn Nino bla and Reyes Jr. bagged the team’s bronze medal after scoring 7.54 in the under-30 pair event.

Macario and Crisostomo added bronze medal finish under the over17 freestyle mixed pair category, as they garnered an average of 6.880.

The trio of Lady Jin Aidaine Laxa, Angelica Gaw, and Laeia Soria captured the bronze with a 7.53 average, as they bowed out against

the Chinese Taipei team in the semi-finals round.

The Philippine poomsae team finished with five silver and three bronze medals, ranking fourth overall in the six-day international tournament.

In the 2022 Chuncheon Korea Open International Taekwondo Championships, Tiger Jin Kobe Macario took home the team’s lone gold in the competition’s individual event with a score of 7.700 in the over-17 men’s freestyle category.

“My teammates and my coaches play a huge part in my winnings as well. I am humbled that I am a

part of such a supportive and strong team that’s why I always push to be better and go over and beyond of what is expected of me,” Macario told the Varsitarian.

In the same event, UST’s Darius Venerable finished third with a 7.566-point performance. Korea’s Park Seung-jin secured the silver with 7.633 points.

Southeast Asian Games med alist and former Tiger Jin Rodolfo Reyes Jr. reaped the bronze medal in the men’s under-30 individual category. Korea’s Kim Sang-woo and Kim Kyeong Seo clinched the gold and silver, respectively.

In women’s play, former Lady Jin Jocel Lyn Ninobla gave the team Philippines a silver while Aidaine Laxa secured the bronze in the under-30 individual category. Jung Haeun of Korea topped the event, which has 68 competing players.

Under the senior mixed team event, two sets of trios from the Philippines dominated the podium finish.

Reyes Jr. teamed up with Enrico Mella and Angelica Gaw to reap the country’s second gold medal in the competition after scoring 21.931 points. The trio of Ninobla, Patrick Perez, and Nikki Oliva placed sec ond (21.831).

“To the other UST Jins that also won, I am proud and elated as always. As most people say, “all for one, one for all,” said Macario.

The Philippine team registered a 2-3-4 gold-silver-bronze medal tally.

UST team tops collegiate campus tourney

“In assuring you of my prayers that you will be sustained in wisdom and strength, I invoke Almighty God’s blessing of peace and prosperity upon the nation,” he added.

Brown also assured Marcos of the “collaboration and the support of the Catholic Church as he takes on the weighty responsibility of his office.”

The diplomatic corps is a conjoint body of foreign diplomats commissioned to a particular country.

They include accredited heads of mission (ambassadors, high commissioners, nuncios, and others) who represent their countries in another state or country.

Marcos Jr., the son and namesake of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., was sworn in as the 17th president of the Philippines after his landslide victory in the May 9 elections.

The former senator and congressman took his oath of office before Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo at noon on Thursday, June 30, at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Manila.

Marcos Jr. won the 2022 presidential race after getting over 31.1 million votes for the first presidential election via majority. Sara Duterte-Carpio, Marcos Jr.’s running mate and daughter of newly stepped down president Rodrigo Dute rte, also won the elections in a landslide with more than 32.2 million votes.

By James Paul R. Gomez

The UST Teletigers bagged gold in the grand finals of the Alliance Games for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang after dominating the Uni versity of Batangas (UB) Brahman Sports, 3-1, at the CONQuest Festi val at the SMX Convention Center on July 24.

TGR Chaos took first blood with 13-11 team kills in Game 1 but Brahman Sports retaliated in Game 2, 13-26.

Despite UB having more team kills in Game 3, 17-18, UST still se cured the game after sealing Game 4 with 13-10 team kills.

“We trusted each other in the team and played as one every time,” TGR Chaos team captain

Jerome “TGR Røme” Escalante told the Varsitarian.

Escalante said the team’s lack of practice resulted in some uncertainties for the finals series but they did not deter the team’s performance.

“The advantage of the team [TGR Chaos] against UB was team chemistry, everyone in the team knew what they should do and each of us trusted each other,” he added.

TGR Chaos head coach Joshua “TGR Chino” See said there is always room for improvement as they believe that they can always be better.

“For me, the team has not reached its peak form yet. Kum

baga marami pa kaming bag of tricks,” he said.

The team was composed of TGR Røme, Kobi “TGR Drew_” Ortua, Nathanael “TGR Emper orzxzz” Teodoro, Wilfredo “TGR Daisey Gorgeous” Pico Jr., Armen “TGR Armen” Chung, John Patrick “TGR yoshii” Santos, Marius “TGR YECHEIL” Pedrealba, with TGR Chino as their coach and Nicole “TGR Titania” Tecson as the team’s manager.

TGR Chaos took home a P40,000 cash prize.

CONQuest Festival 2022 is one of the most anticipated gaming and pop culture festivals in the Philippines, which started in 2017.

Obiena jumps to world No. 3; donates cash incentive to Asia’s former sprint queen

Thomasian pole vaulter EJ Obiena moved up to third from sixth after his stint in the World Athletics Champion ships in Eugene, Oregon, last week.

Obiena cleared 5.94 meters to set a new Asian record where he also took home the bronze medal in the tourna ment.

“As of July 26, [the] Philippines is [the] best in Asia and the 3rd best in the world for pole vault,” Obiena wrote on his Facebook page.

He also bested the national outdoor record in pole vault and his personal best.

World record holder Armand Du plantis of Sweden topped the rankings after setting the bar at 6.21 meters to break the world record anew for the fifth time where he took home the gold medal after clearing 6.06 meters.

USA’s Christopher Nilsen ranked second. He cleared 5.94 meters in one attempt where he settled for silver.

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) gave cash incentives to Obiena amounting to P250,000 for breaking the Asian record that Obiena decided to donate to “Sprint queen” Lydia de Vega in efforts for her recovery from stage 4 cancer.

The former UST Trackster also took home prize money from the tourna ment amounting to $22,000 (around P1.2 million) for bronze medalists.

Villanueva

his decades of experience in the PBA to rebuild our team,” Villanueva said. “I guess I speak for all Thomasians. We are all excited to see ‘The Flash,’ the legend, the former point guard of Barangay Ginebra lead the Growling Tigers to the top.”

David reenters UST hoping to instill a winning culture to the Tigers team that finished with a 3-11 win-loss slate in UAAP Season 84.

Villanueva said his former team mate was the most qualified to help UST take the next step in its rebuild.

“Amidst the enormous hurdles that challenge the UST Tigers right now, Bal David is most fit and suitable for coach ing the team. And what better way to make a comeback and make UST Tigers the force to reckon with once more than with Bal David at its helm,” he said.

MARK ERNEST V. VILLEZA

► Obiena

► (From left to right) Darius Venerable, Justin Kobe Macario, head coach Rani Ann Ortega, Aidaine Laxa, Jocelyn Ninobla and Rodolfo Reyes Jr. show off their hardwares after the 2022 Asian Poomsae Championships in Chuncheon, South Korea held from June 22-27.

PHOTO FROM RODOLFO REYES JR.

► (From left to right) Joshua See, Jerome Escalante, Nathanael Teodoro, Wilfredo Pico Jr., Kobi Ortua, John Patrick Santos, Marius Miguel Pedrealba, Nicole Tecson and Armen Chung pose with their Alliance Games cash prize after dominating UB Brahman Sports, 3-1, at the SMX Convention Center on Sunday, July 24.

PHOTO FROM JOSHUA SEE

Sen. Joel Villanueva says ex-teammate Bal David perfect coach for Tigers

Sen. Joel Villanueva said his former Growl ing Tigers teammate Bal David Jr. was the perfect coach to help the UST men’s basketball team return to its winning ways.

Villanueva shared the backcourt with David in his rookie year for the Tigers in the 57th season of the UAAP in 1994.

That year, David played hero for the Tigers with his per formance in Game 3 of the 1994 finals between UST and De La Salle University, in which he scored a game-high 17 points and sank the game-winning free throws with six seconds left to win UST’s second-straight basketball championship after a 29-year title drought.

“I distinctly remember that during the dying seconds of the Game 3 finals at the Cuneta Astrodome, La Salle was leading with one point, but Bal David’s two clutch free throws sealed the Growling Tigers’ back-to-back UAAP men’s basket ball championships,” Villanueva told the Varsitarian.

“It was a defining moment for Bal David as a basketball player. Years of hard work, discipline, and consistently striving to perfect his craft shaped his professional career in the PBA,” the senator added.

David was drafted in 1995 by the Sunkist Orange Juicers, but he would play his entire 10-year PBA career with the Barangay Ginebra Kings. He was named an all-star in the pro league four times and became champion twice.

David was announced head coach of the Growling Tigers on July 22.

“I can’t wait to see him coach and use

UST Jins cop medals in int’l poomsae tilts

‘THE FLASH’ DAVID RETURNS AS TIGERS’ NEW HEAD COACH

UST legend Bal “The Flash” David, who helped steer the Growling Tigers to backto-back championships in the early ‘90s, is the team’s new head coach, multiple sources told the Varsitarian.

David, a four-time all-star and twotime champion in the PBA, was tapped to help redeem the UST team that fin ished with a 3-11 win-loss slate in UAAP Season 84.

David was a UST guard under the tutelage of the late UST coaching great Aric del Rosario. He is best known for his heroics in Game 3 of the 1994 finals between UST and De La Salle University, in which he scored a game-high 17 points and sank the game-winning free throws with six seconds left for the title.

He was also part of the 1993 UST team that won the championship by sweeping the elimination round.

The return of the UST legend marks an important part in the rebuilding of its

basketball program after the departure of several players and erstwhile head coach Aldin Ayo.

David replaced former head coach Jinino Manansala, who is now in charge of the UST Tiger Cubs.

Mindset

As he took on UST’s head coach ing job hoping to reinstill the winning culture in a squad he once helped build, David’s first order of business for the Tigers was simple: fend off negativity.

David said he had underscored to the young UST team the importance of work ing together and building an identity.

“Sana lang magtulungan tayo at iwasan muna natin ‘yung mga negative.

So, trabaho muna tayo, work muna tayo, marami pang dapat trabauhin,” he told the Varsitarian.

David said he was overwhelmed by the trust placed upon him by IPEA Director Fr. Rodel Cansancio, O.P. but was excited to help the team return to its winning ways.

“Actually, I’m so overwhelmed,” he said. “Hopefully, makatulong ako sa Tigers, syempre we bleed gold so ang mis sion natin is makatulong sa team.”

“Personally since malapit na yung UAAP, kami na sigurong mga coaches ang maga-adjust sa kung ano ‘yung nandun,” David added. “Maga-adjust kami du’n tas du’n kami magbe-base kung ano ‘yung ipapasok namin sa sistema, tas dun natin makikita ‘yung makukuha nating improvement.” NICOLE ANNE D.G BUGAUISAN WITH REPORTS FROM MARK ERNEST V. VILLEZA

Obiena sets new Asian record with World Athletics bronze

Thomasian pole vaulter EJ Obiena made history as the first Filipino to secure a podium finish in the World Athletics Championships finals in Oregon, USA on July 25.

Obiena took home bronze after clearing 5.94 meters in two attempts, eclipsing the previous Asian record at 5.93 meters.

The 2021 Tokyo olympian cleared 5.55 meters on his first try then cleared 5.70 meters in two attempts. He then jumped 5.80 and 5.85 meters, respectively.

Armand Duplantis of Sweden took home the gold medal after being the only finalist to clear the bar at 6.0 meters.

After clearing 6.0 meters, Duplantis cleared 6.06 meters to break the championship record.

He then had the bar raised to 6.21 meters, a centimeter higher than his erstwhile personal best, for a shot at the world record. He mistimed his jump in his first attempt and cleared the bar in his second attempt to mark the fifth time in

his young career he has broken the world record.

USA’s Christopher Neilsen snagged silver after clearing 5.94 meters in one go.

Obiena is the first Filipino to qualify for the World Outdoor Athletics Championships after missing his stint in the World Indoor Athletics Championships earlier this year in Belgrade, Serbia.

Obiena was ranked sixth in the world’s list of best pole vaulters to begin 2022s.

ERNEST V. VILLEZA

MARK

Laure brother commits to Growling Tigers

The younger brother of UST volley ball standouts EJ and Eya Laure will join the Growling Tigers, their father Eddie Laure said.

“Good decision para sa kanya kasi maganda mag-alaga ang UST at alam naman natin ‘yan,” said the father, who also is an assistant coach for the UST Growling Tigresses.

“Malamang kung ano man ang maibibigay na role ng coach sa kanya gagawin niya nang tama at baka higitan niya pa.”

Echo Laure will be eligible to suit up for the Tigers in Season 85 togeth er with other recruits Kean Baclaan and LA Casinillo.

Eddie said carrying the Laure name could put pressure on Echo but

said he was confident his son would adapt to a higher level of play.

“Ang pressure nandyan na ‘yan. Mayroon talaga pero ang maganda lang sa kanya, alam niya kung paano i-handle para makapaglaro siya sa level at kakayahan niya,” the father said.

Standing at 6-foot-5, the former National University Bullpup adds height and defense to UST’s wing rotation.

“[Si Echo] depensa siya. Rebound and score, bonus nalang sa kanya ‘yan.”

Laure is currently in the United States and is set to return to the country in Augusts.

►

►Obiena

►Villanueva

►New UST head coach Bal David (right) poses for a photo with UST IPEA Director Fr. Rodel Cansancio, O.P. (left). David is the new head coach of the UST Growling Tigers, replacing Jinino Manansala PHOTO