The Varsitarian P.Y. 2016-2017 Issue 04

Volume LXXXVIII, No. 4 • November 24, 2016 THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSIT Y OF SANTO TOMAS Manila, Philippines

Medicine okays proposed 6-year program

By ROY ABRAHMN D.R. NARRA THE FACULTY of Medicine and Surgery is backing the Department of Health’s (DOH) proposal for a six-year medicine program, which will eliminate the pre-medicine course.

Medicine Dean Jesus Valencia said this would be a “buffer solution” to the expected impact of the K to 12 basic education reform in the faculty by the year 2021, when there would be no graduates of premedicine programs such as biology and nursing.

Valencia said the faculty had begun planning for a new two-year program. Upon completion of the program, students will be able to start medicine proper, and graduate after four years.

The six-year program will also allow the faculty to cater to an “elite group of medicine students” since the number of applicants will be fewer.

“Medicine is just like any basic course na medyo toxic or hectic. A lot of times, we see quite a few students [with good] academic credentials, okay na okay sila but after two weeks or one month, they drop the course. Sayang din lang naman `yung slot na `yun.,” he said.

The shortened medicine program can ease the lack of health workers in the country especially in isolated provinces.

Shortage of facilities Valencia however admitted the faculty was not yet prepared for the shift, as it must first address some problems like the lack of classrooms. The STRONG OPPOSITION. Youth activist groups gather in UST last Nov. 18 to denounce the sudden decision to bury deposed dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

ALVIN JOSEPH KASIBAN

Medicine PAGE 3

Duterte showed no mercy during Jubilee Year — bishop Dominican ‘saint-maker’ THE ADMINISTRATION of President Rodrigo Duterte failed to show “mercy and compassion” in dealing with suspected drug pushers and users during the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, a Catholic bishop has said.

“Hindi niya inunawa ang kalagayan ng mga tao. Hindi niya sila binigyan ng pagkakataong [magbago],” Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said in an interview with the Varsitarian.

An outspoken critic of Duterte’s bloody “war on drugs” that has led to the deaths of some 4,000 drug suspects, Pabillo said the reality was the opposite of the peace and order situation being claimed by the government as an achievement.

Pabillo added that nothing changed in the Catholic Church in the past few months that Duterte had been in office – it is still the same institution Filipinos have come to know, he said.

“What we do is still ‘critical collaboration.’ We collaborate with what’s good but we criticize what’s wrong,” Pabillo said.

Despite the tirades it has received from the Duterte administration, the Church

will continue to help the government with its community-based drug rehabilitation programs, Pabillo stressed.

Rehab program The Archdiocese of Manila, through Caritas Manila’s Restorative Justice Ministry, launched the Sanlakbay Para sa Pagbabagong Buhay Program last Oct. 23. The program seeks to provide rehabilitation to drug dependents and aid their families.

The UST Psychotrauma Clinic is among the organizations tapped to aid the Archdiocese in its drug rehabilitation program.

“Our team will be creating modules that focus on dealing with trauma, grief and loss that could be utilized in training volunteers in handling drug surrenderers,” Michael Edward Buenaflor, project coordinator of the UST Psychotrauma Clinic, said in an interview.

The Ruben M. Tanseco, S.J. Center for Family Ministries (RMT-CEFAM) is also contributing to the program through their three-way Gabay process of “teaching, training and treating” drug users.

“We help through the parish volunteers who will have teaching and training and then, hopefully, get some supervision through the weekly sessions, when they start applying their listening skills,” Fr. Teodulo Gonzales, S.J. priest-in-charge of RMT-CEFAM’s Research and Program Development said.

The modules will include 20 topics that will run over 10 weeks, every Wednesday and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.

The topics include the science of drug addiction, listening skills for understanding, mindfulness, anger management, laughter therapy and grief and trauma counselling.

“We wish to help save a few lives because we believe in the dignity of the persons as children of God. We believe in hope in healing or a culture of life as part of the good news of Jesus Christ,” he said.

Other organizations tapped to design and implement the modules of the program include the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. SIGRID B. GARCIA and KATHLEEN THERESE A. PALAPAR

Nobel laureate named honorary professor by UST PERUVIAN-SPA N ISH author Mario Vargas Llosa was named “honorary professor” by the University on Nov. 7 for being a “divinely gifted storyteller.”

The 80-year-old Vargas Llosa, who won the 2010 Nobel Prize in Literature, stressed on the role of literature in addressing contemporary social ills.

“Good literature is necessary for a society that wants to be free, that wants to be democratic,” Vargas Llosa said in Spanish during his lecture at the Grand Ballroom of the Buenaventura G. Paredes, O.P Building “Literature has somehow contributed a grain of sand toward civilization and progress,” he added.

Vice Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. lauded Vargas Llosa’s works, citing how the writer boldly

Nobel laureate PAGE 8

Villarroel remembered

By CHRISTIAN DE LANO M. DEIPARINE and KATHLEEN THERESE A. PALAPAR ACCLAIMED historian Fr. Fidel Villarroel, O.P. is known for his intellect and gentle manner, and will always be remembered for giving the University its “institutional history,” former students and colleagues told the Varsitarian.

The prior of the Priory of St. Thomas Aquinas, Fr. Rolando Castro, O.P., once a student of Villarroel, said the Dominican historian’s death was a challenge for budding historians to continue his work.

“There’s only one Father Fidel but if we will do our work well as historians, as Dominicans, then his memory is not wasted,” Castro said in an interview.

Prof. Eloisa de Castro, who teaches history at the Faculty of Arts and Letters and Saint maker PAGE 10

Filipino Catholics urged to aid persecuted Christians worldwide WITH the surge of Christian persecutions and Islamist attacks worldwide, the Aid to Church in Need, a Vatican foundation that provides relief to Christians and non-Christians in conf lict areas, opened its Philippine chapter in an inaugural conference last Nov. 12 at Saint Pedro Poveda College in Pasig.

One out of five countries from Sweden in northern Europe to Australia in Oceania including 17 African countries are experiencing violent Islamist attacks, according to their report in the conference.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas was appointed as president and will head its Philippine office at the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines complex in Intramuros.

He called for Catholics to remain faithful to the Church even if the persecution

DIVINELY GIFTED STORYTELLER. The University names Mario Vargas Llosa, 2010 Nobel Prize in Literature awardee, as “honorary professor” last Nov. 7 at the Grand Ballroom of the Buenaventura G, Paredes, O.P Building.

ALVIN JOSEPH KASIBAN

Aid PAGE 8

2 News

Editor: Alhex Adrea M. Peralta

NOVEMBER 24, 2016

More than 6,000 bar hopefuls troop to UST THE UNIVERSITY welcomed more than 6,000 bar examinees as the first day of the 2016 Bar Examinations began on Nov. 6.

The total number of examinees from all over the country reached 6,831. This was 4.4 percent lower than last year’s 7,146.

UST fielded 86 first-time examinees, Faculty of Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina said.

The UST Main Building, along with the Benavides, San Martin de Porres and St. Raymund de Peñafort buildings were designated as testing venues for examinations to be held on four Sundays of November starting today. The Tan Yan Kee Student Center will serve as the Supreme Court’s office.

Strict security measures were implemented within and outside the campus, with personnel coming from the Supreme Court (SC) and the UST Security Office.

Personnel from the Philippine National Police, Metro Manila Development Authority, Manila Police District, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, intelligence agencies and the National Bureau of Investigation also aided in security on the first day of the exams.

UST Security Office Chief Joseph Badinas said about 340 security personnel Bar exams PAGE 5

HEAVILY-GUARDED. Security personnel inspect a bar examinee before entering the UST campus during the first week of the bar exams, which the University will host on all Sundays of November.

ALVIN JOSEPH KASIBAN

Ched to provide scholarships to faculty affected by K to 12 UST improves in electronics, accountancy, chemistry boards THOMASIANS emerged as topnotchers in the recent licensure exams for electronics engineers, accountants and chemists, results from the Professional Regulation Commission showed.

UST’s passing rate in the October 2016 electronics engineering board exams went up to 74.66 percent (115 passers out of 154 examinees) from the previous year’s 65.93 percent (120 passers out of 182 examinees).

Leading the new batch of Thomasian electronics engineers was Masaru Nakaegawa who got a score of 92.30 percent. He ranked first on the top 10 list of passers.

The University of the Philippines remained the top-performing school after obtaining a perfect passing rate, with all its 53 examinees passing the test.

UST was declared the top-performing school in the separate electronics technician licensure exam, after recording a 98.85-percent passing rate. Eighty-six passed out of 87 Thomasian examinees.

Nakaegawa also ranked fourth in the electronics technician boards with a score of 89 percent. He was tied with 10 other examinees from other schools.

The national passing rate for electronics engineering climbed to 40.36 percent, with 1,784 out of 4,467 examinees passing the test.

Last year’s passing rate was 39.94 percent, with 1,914 out of 4,742 examinees making the cut.

Accountancy boards Five Thomasians landed on the top 10 list of the October 2016 board examinations for certified public accountants, and UST was named the second top-performing school.

UST recorded a 90.72-percent passing rate with 352 making the cut out of 388 examinees. This was lower than last year’s 95.29-percent passing rate or 364 passers out of 382 examinees.

Thomasians Patricia Mae Muñoz and Ariel Joseph Nipas placed third with a 93.33-percent score.

Mikie Menelli So (93 percent), John Henry Pantoja (92.67 percent) and Marlon Chris Malicsi (91.83 percent) landed on the fourth, sixth and 10th spots, respectively.

Clinching the first spot was Vhinson Jay Garcia of Wesleyan University-Philippines in Cabanatuan with a 94.33-percent score.

Boards PAGE 5

THE COMMISSION on Higher Education (Ched) is set to provide scholarships to teaching and non-teaching staff from higher education institutions (HEIs) affected by the K to12 implementation.

Ched will offer 15,000 graduate education scholarships for five years, starting from academic years 2016 to 2017 until 2020 to 2021.

Karol Yee, head of Ched’s K to 12 transition management program unit, said the scholarships for faculty and staff were initiated to achieve “a higher education sector able to compete with Asean neighbors.”

“Ched has designed the development packages, including scholarships for faculty and staff who will experience a much lower workload during the transition,” Yee said in an email to the Varsitarian.

Interested faculty and staff must apply to qualify for the scholarships.

Those who will make the cut for master’s programs will receive a stipend of P20,000 per month, while P28,000 per month will be given to those who will qualify for

Usapang Uste BAGO pa man ganap na maitalagang “Unibersidad” ang noo’y Colegio de Santo Tomas, dumaan muna ito sa mabubusising hakbang.

Taong 1645 nang ipagkaloob dito ang estadong “unibersidad.” Pinatunayan ito ng In Supereminenti, ang dekrito o papal bull na inilatag ni Papa Innocent X noong ika-20 ng Nobyembre ng nasabing taon.

Ayon sa dekrito, karapat-dapat lamang na mapataas ang estado ng kolehiyo sapagkat tatlong libong liga pa ang distansya nito sa pinakamalalapit na unibersidad na matatagpuan sa Lima at Mexico.

Bukod pa rito, binanggit din ang pagtuturo sa kolehiyo ng mga kurso sa balarila, retorika, lohika, pilosopiya at teolohiya.

Nakasaad din sa papal bull ang pormal na pagkakaloob dito ng mga karapatang tinatamasa ng ibang unibersidad, gayundin ang kapangyarihang baguhin,

doctorate programs.

The Commission has approved a total of 1,644 master’s degree and 429 doctorate degree scholars in 146 HEIs in the country.

Ched Memorandum Order No. 03 series of 2016, or the guidelines on graduate education scholarships for faculty and staff development in the K to 12 transition period, states that the scholarship covers full tuition and fees, stipend, transportation and book allowance, funding for thesis or dissertation writing, and insurance.

Fund release delayed Rene Luis Tadle, lead convener of the Council of Teachers and Staff of Colleges and Universities of the Philippines, however called out Ched’s inefficient handling of the scholarship funds.

Tadle said the government office needed “lots of improvement” in their scholarship distribution following several complaints of delays. “[It is] sad that while the Ched has the funds, the level of utilization of the

funds is very poor. It is a pity that up to now we are hearing a lot of complaints coming from Ched scholars,” Tadle said in an email to the Varsitarian.

Tadle said he knew of a couple of faculty scholars who, because of the delay in their stipends, were forced to go home to their provinces due to the unaffordable cost of living in Metro Manila.

“Our group has anticipated this – we warned Ched about this many times in the past. It appears that up to now their system remains wanting of the needed improvement. Again, it is a matter of record that Ched has very poor utilization,” Tadle said.

Yee said the delays were mostly because the scholar-applicants did not meet the deadline for submitting requirements.

Ched’s proposed P13.37-billion budget for 2017 was reduced by P2 billion after Congress removed P1 billion each from its K to 12 Transition Program and research partnership with the University of California. MIA ARRA C. CAMACHO and THEODORE JASON PATRICK K. ORTIZ

Uste bilang Unibersidad palaguin at palawakin ang mga ito.

Noong 1639, sinimulan ng mga Dominikano ang naturang petisiyon sa pangunguna ni P. Mateo de la Villa, Dominikanong Prokurador noon sa Roma at España.

Batid nilang magandang pagkakataon ito sapagkat nalalapit na ang katapusan ng unang pribilehiyong ipinagkaloob sa colegio.

Ayon sa naunang dekrito na ipinatupad ni Papa Paul V taong 1619, papayagang magpatuloy ang institusiyon sa pagtuturo sa mga akademikong asignatura sa loob ng sampung taon. Muli itong dinagdagan ng sampu taon sa ilalim ni Papa Urban VIII ngunit nabigong pataasin ang estado ng nito dahil sa ilang mga kalakip na kondisiyon at pagbabawal na hindi sangayon sa pamantayan ng antas ng unibersidad.

Bagaman naisulat na taong 1645 ang In Supereminenti, kinailangan munang hintayin ang royal placet o ang pagapruba ng hari ng España sa

UST Main Building

desisyon ni Papa Innocent X. Nakamit naman ito makalipas ang isang taon at personal na inihatid ng mga Dominikanong Kastila sa Intramuros kung saan matatagpuan noon ang Colegio de Santo Tomas.

Sinundan ito ng walongaraw na pagdiriwang sa loob ng kampus, kung saan ibinida ang kakayanan ng mga

DEEJAE S. DUMLAO

colegiales sa pagtatanghal.

Ipinahayag din ang natatanging pagkilala ng institusiyon sa relihiyon na siyang nagpapalakas sa pinakamatandang unibersidad sa Filipinas, maging sa Asya—ang Unibersidad ng Santo Usapang Uste PAHINA 11

News 3

NOVEMBER 24, 2016

Cultural schools for Aetas proposed A THOMASIAN anthropologist has stressed the need to establish cultural schools for aetas.

Ma. Carinnes Gonzales of the UST sociology department said establishing a school that teaches culture to younger Aetas will promote cultural preservation.

“Establishing cultural education institutions has been a successful campaign in different indigenous cultures around the Philippines and the goal there is to let indigenous youth learn the folkways and traditions of their elderly,” Gonzales told the Varsitarian during the University’s celebration of the “Araw ng mga Katutubo” in Bamban, Tarlac last Nov. 5.

Gonzales said UST can collaborate with the Department of Education, the National Commission for Culture and Aetas PAGE 10

Lumads gather in front of the Liwasang Bonifacio Monument in Manila last Oct. 27 to protest against large-scale mining operations in their ancestral lands.

DEEJAE S. DUMLAO

Pacucoa accredits accountancy, 26 grad school programs TWENTY-SIX programs of the UST Graduate School received the coveted Level IV accreditation status from the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities’ Commission on Accreditation (Pacucoa) while the Accountancy program of the University has received Level III accreditation.

Pacucoa gave the Level IV status to 15 master of arts programs and 11 master of science programs.

Master’s programs in development studies, economics, educational management and leadership, English language studies, guidance and counseling, history, hospital administration, literature, philosophy, political science, psychology and public administration retained the status. The master of arts in curriculum and instruction program was added to the list.

The master’s programs in biology, biology education, chemistry, microbiology, pharmacy, chemistry education, food science, mathematics education, entrepreneurship, nursing and medical technology also obtained the Level IV status.

“It was extremely tough since we were applying for Level IV. Research was the priority. But they also looked into our internationalization efforts and

community and extension programs,” Graduate School Dean Marilu Madrunio said in an e-mail to the Varsitarian.

“We were actually hopeful that we would be granted Level IV by PACUCOA. During the interviews between the accreditors and the faculty, the accreditors and the students, and the accreditors and the staff, all meetings went well and the accreditors seemed to be very satisfied with the responses from our stakeholders,” she added.

According to the Pacucoa website, Level IV accreditation grants full autonomy to each program for five years.

It also enables school administrators to offer new graduate programs and open learning or distance education and extension classes related to existing Level IV courses, without the need for prior approval of the Commission on Higher Education.

The Level IV status for the 26 programs is valid until 2021.

Meanwhile, AMV-College of Accountancy Dean Patricia Empleo said she has already expected the accreditation before the formal announcement of the accreditors.

“There was a closing conference with the accreditors and based on the comments of the accreditors, I felt that

we have been granted [the third level] already,” Empleo said in an interview with the Varsitarian.

The Bachelor of Science in Management Accounting (BSMA) program of the college has received the candidate status together with the third level accreditation of the Bachelor of Science in Accountancy program.

“For a program to be accredited it must at least produce three batches of graduates so we still need to (produce) these batches of graduates of our BSMA,” Empleo said.

The BSMA program has already produced four batches of graduates.

Empleo said, the college will not limit themselves with the local accreditation as they prepare for the international ASEAN University Network assessment.

“We will be subjected to an international accreditation assessment this February 2017 [because] we are not limiting ourselves to local accreditation,” she said.

Empleo said the college will commit to improvements in facilities and delivery of instruction in view of the recent accreditation.

Pacucoa PAGE 9

A LUMAD educator has slammed the government’s “lack of political will” toward the indigenous peoples’ right to education.

Miguel Ramil, chairman of the Association of Community Educators in Mindanao, said President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration has so far failed to address the education concerns of the Lumad, the indigenous people of Mindanao.

“Ang gobyernong ito ay walang political will sa pagbigay o sa pagtustos o pagtugon sa kanyang tungkulin sa basic services [tulad ng edukasyon],” Ramil said in an forum last Oct. 27 at the Engineering Conference Hall.

The Lumad are forced to build alternative schools to sustain their communities’ education, he claimed.

Ramil blamed the presence of “paramilitary forces” in Mindanao that have marked Lumad schools and learning centers as training grounds for rebels, which, he said, heightened during the “Oplan Bayanihan” under the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III. Paramilitary groups allegedly served as the previous administration’s means to suppress Lumad resistance against largescale mining in their ancestral lands.

Ramil called on Thomasians to take part in Lumad community integration to witness the indigenous people’s situation firsthand and help them fight for their rights to education and life.

“Naniniwala ako na ang edukasiyon ang tanging susi upang mabuksan ang kamalayan nating mga Pilipino, lalo na sa aking mga kapwa Lumad,” Ramil said.

National Union of Students of the Philippines spokesman Kevin Castro urged students to maximize the academe as an “extended forum” in aiding the Lumads.

The event, titled “Dialogue for Life: Just Peace for All,” was held in celebration of the National Indigenous People Month, composed of a series of events spearheaded by the UST Community Achievers Association Central Council.

The project was a collaboration between the UST Simbahayan Community Development Office, UST Rotaract Club - Pharmacy Unit, UST Unicef Volunteers, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – UST Chapter, Musikang Sikat ng mga Tomasino, UST Comach Local Units, Kabayanihan Youth, Rural Missionaries of the Philippines and Kadumahan. HANNAH RHOCELLHYNNIA H. CRUZ

UST cancermonitoring app receives grant from int’l org

Be honest in a ‘world full of lies,’ Dominican youth told in Adonai 2016 MORE THAN 700 students from Dominican-run schools across the country were urged to be truthful in a “world full of lies,” in the “Adonai 2016” vigil at Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Manila.

Richard Pazcoguin, head of the UST Center for Campus ministry, urged the youth to tell the truth amid a prevailing culture of dishonesty.

Students must forgive and continuously show “Mercy and Compassion,” Pope Francis’ theme for the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, which ends this month. “[Kapag] sinabi natin ‘Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us,’ we may not be ready to forgive yet. But if you repeat [those words] over and over again, our hearts will follow what the mouths are saying,” Pazcoguin said.

During Holy Mass for Adonai, Letran Rector Fr. Clarence Victor Marquez, O.P., said the youth should not incite fear but bring courage.

“Bilang mga kabataan,

Lumad educator calls on gov’t to ensure indigenous people’s right to education

LAID TO REST. Members of the Order of Preachers attend the funeral mass for the “saint-maker” and historian Fr. Fidel Villarroel, O.P. at the Santisimo Rosario Parish last Oct. 26

ALYSSA ADRIENNE T. SAMONTE

Medicine FROM PAGE 1

faculty is sharing the St. Martin de Porres Building with the College of Nursing and College of Rehabilitation Sciences.

“I’m in favor of [the proposal] pero we’ll have to be sure na we can address those major concerns once we start the program. Hindi tayo ready because of physical Adonai PAGE 11 facilities,” Valencia said. “We are

having problems with rooms.”

Given existing resources, the faculty can only hold one or two classes at most, with 75 to 100 students, for the new program, Valencia said.

DOH Secretary Paulyn Ubial said during the oath taking of newly physicians last Oct. 21 that the country needed to change the paradigm of the educational system to attract more aspiring doctors.

Under the existing scheme, aspiring physicians must study for eight years, with the first four

years for a bachelor’s degree and the remaining four years for the doctor of medicine degree.

The University of the Philippines – Manila, through its Intarmed program, implements a seven-year medicine program that shortens medical education by two years.

Ubial said the country was in need of about 15,000 doctors to adequately meet the health standards of Filipinos every day. The country has a ratio of one doctor for every 33,000 patients.

A HEALTH-monitoring mobile application by a University research team has received a grant from an international organization of physicians and oncologists.

The project, titled “A Mobile Application for Monitoring Patient-Reported Outcomes in Cancer Care,” was one of the four recipients of the 2016 International Innovation Grant of the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s (ASCO) Conquer Cancer Foundation.

The researchers developed a prototype mobile app called iComPAss (Internet-based Computerized Patient Assessment System) in 2014 to facilitate the remote monitoring of patients’ symptoms and to enable physicians to advise patients on the need for a followup visit.

The research was led by Teresa Sy Ortin, director of the UST Hospital Benavides Cancer Institute, and Jocelyn Que, chief program officer of the UST Center for Pain Medicine.

The one-year research grant will provide up to $20,000 or P1,000,000 in support of projects that will have an impact on cancer control in low- and middleincome countries.

With the grant, the research team is working on the clinical validation of the mobile application that it has developed, to facilitate monitoring of patient-reported outcomes. It is expected to be completed by 2017.

ASCO International is the world’s leading professional organization for physicians and oncology professionals for people with cancer. It has more than 40,000 oncology professionals worldwide. ROY ABRAHMN D.R. NARRA

4 Opinion

NOVEMBER 24, 2016

Editorial

Supreme Court, supreme hokum SISYPHUS would probably be ashamed of the absurdity of eternally pushing his boulder up a mythological hill if he would look down at Filipinos whose preposterous historical amnesia seems to last a lifetime. Or even after death.

On November 8 the Supreme Court (SC) permitted the burial of deposed dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. Nine justices dismissed the petitions opposing the move, arguing that there is no such law prohibiting the act. The high court also maintained that President Duterte has the authority to order such given that he “acted within the bounds of the law and jurisprudence.”

The jurists added that according to the bylaws of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Marcos, who declared martial law and instituted the despised dictatorship and militarization of the country whose effects can still be felt up to now, infecting the government and the courts, especially the courts it seems, is still entitled to a spot in the Libingan since he allegedly received the medal of valor and served as commander-inchief when he was president.

The Supreme Court ruling is supreme baloney.

This was the same high court that ruled effectively in favor of martial law and the 1973 Constitution passed by the rubber-stamp Constitutional Convention. There had been hopes in the runup to its ruling that the high court would at least have a relatively longer memory especially since its independence was restored after the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolt and 1987 Constitution. But the hopes were in vain.

The Libingan was established in 1947 when the Philippines had not yet fully recovered from the destructive war.

President Elpidio Quirino signed Republic Act 289 on June 16, 1948 to initiate the construction of a “national pantheon” for the patriots of the country. The memorial was “to perpetuate the memory of all the Presidents of the Philippines, national heroes and patriots for the inspiration and emulation of this generation and of generations still unborn.”

Now it should be asked: Ousted in 1986 by a popular revolt against his murderous dictatorship and merciless plunder, could Marcos qualify to be numbered among former presidents like his fellow Ilocano Quirino and Editorial PAGE 5

FOUNDED JAN. 16, 1928 BERNADETTE A. PAMINTUAN Managing Editor DARYL ANGELO P. BAYBADO Associate Editor

ALHEX ADREA M. PERALTA News Editor DELFIN RAY M. DIOQUINO Sports Editor MARIA CORAZON A. INAY Features Editor AMIERIELLE ANNE A. BULAN Circle Editor KIRSTEN M. JAMILLA Art Director ALVIN JOSEPH KASIBAN Chief Photographer

News Mia Arra C. Camacho, Hannah Rhocellhynnia H. Cruz, Christian de Lano M. Deiparine, Roy Abrahm D.R. Narra, Theodore Jason Patrick K. Ortiz, Maria Crisanta M. Paloma Sports Jan Carlo Anolin, Carlo A. Casingcasing, Ivan Ruiz L. Suing, Ralph Edwin U. Villanueva Special Reports Ma. Angela Christa Coloma, John Paul P. Corpuz, Maria Consuelo D.P. Marquez, Neil Jayson N. Servallos Features Daniella T. Cobarde, Ma. Czarina A. Fernandez, Alyssa Carmina A. Gonzales Literary Nikko Miguel M. Garcia, Cedric Allen Sta. Cruz Filipino Jolau V. Ocampo, Winona S. Sadia Witness Joel Sebastian D. Cristobal, Sigrid B. Garcia, Kathleen Therese A. Palapar Science and Technology Karl Ben L. Arlegui, Dan Albert D. Besinal, Edris Dominic C. Pua, Julius Roman M. Tolop Circle Klimier Nicole B. Adriano, Audrie Julienne D. Bernas, Chelsey Mei Nadine B. Brazal Art Shaina Mae L. Santander, Seldon May T. Tagao Photography Deejae D. Dumlao, Miah Terrenz Provido, Maria Charisse Ann G. Refuerzo, Ma. Alyssa Adrienne T. Samonte, Basilio H. Sepe, Jamillah N. Sta Rosa

FELIPE F. SALVOSA II Assistant Publications Adviser JOSELITO B. ZULUETA Publications Adviser Letters/comments/suggestions/contributions are welcome in the Varsitarian. Only letters with signatures and corresponding contact details will be entertained. Original manuscript contributions must be typewritten, double-spaced, on regular bond paper, and should include a signed certification bearing the author’s name, address, year, and college. The identity of a writer may be withheld upon request. The editors will not be responsible for the loss of materials. Contributions must be sent to THE VARSITARIAN office, Rm. 105, Tan Yan Kee Student Center, University of Santo Tomas, España, Manila.

Marcos crimes should not be forgotten THE CATHOLIC Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) in an official statement last November 9 has expressed disappointment over the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) allowing the burial of former President Ferdinand Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani, saying, “Marcos is no hero!

He should not be presented as one.”

The Church said Marcos was an ousted dictator who did not deserve to be called a patriot or a hero.

The CBCP further said the decision of the SC would abet the worsening culture of impunity in the country.

“Burying Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani will not bring peace and unity to the country,” said the CBCP. “Peace can only come if there is justice. Justice demands recognition of the harm done to the people and restitution to the victims.”

The CBCP has taken a valiant stand.

The bishops remind the Duterte

It was Marcos after all who divided and nearly destroyed the nation because of his dictatorship.

Before according him national burial, there should be justice accorded first to his victims. administration and the Supreme Court that wanted ostensibly to allow the Marcos burial in order to unite the nation that there the basis of unity is justice.

It was Marcos after all who divided and nearly destroyed the nation because of his dictatorship. Before according him national burial, there should be justice accorded first to his victims.

Like the Church, I choose to never forget how Marcos had made many people suffer by arbitrary torture and death during Martial

Law. I choose never to forget how he corrupted the nation, set up his own cronies as the new oligarchy, and mismanaged the economy and fostered monopolism by his cronies, resulting in the impoverishment of the country.

Like the Church, I promise to never forget the way those nine Supreme Court justices who favored Marcos have forgotten the EDSA spirit and the efforts of the heroes who fought to restore democracy. Aren’t they the ones who are supposed to deliver justice?

Reading a statement of opposition from the Catholic Church seemed to validate my opinion that Marcos is far from being called a hero.

It is pure courage on the part of the CBCP to make a stand on this important national issue. Aside from enriching the faith and spirituality of the Filipinos, the Church is there to guide the nation morally.

During the visit of Pope Francis in Manila last year, the Holy Father reminded government and its officials to gather all the resources needed to meet the demands of the present, and to equip the future generations with authentic justice, solidarity and peace. But the SC decision has taken the opposite tack. It encourages the country’s leaders and politicians who are supposed to be the promoter of fairness and equality, to disregard the value of compassion, justice and unity.

Territory PAGE 9

Promotion of indigenous education DESPITE the government’s efforts to uplift the status of indigenous people (IP), cultural communities in the country continue to be deprived of basic human rights, including educational opportunities.

In an article published by the Varsitarian last Oct. 27, Miguel Ramil, chairman of the Association of Community Educators in Mindanao, said President Duterte’s administration after 100 days in office had so far failed to address the education concerns of the Kalumaran, the confederation of 18 IP groups in Mindanao.

Ramil also claimed that the Lumad, as the IP’s in Mindanao are called, had been forced to build alternative schools to sustain their communities’ education. But the presence of paramilitary groups in Mindanao served as a threat to their alternative education system. These paramilitary groups had reportedly labeled the schools as communist fronts.

According to a rerport by the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs report, an international human rights organization

Education is not only for the privileged and the fortunate, but for all. But for the Philippine’s indigenous communities, it is a right that has to be asserted and realized. staffed by specialists and advisers on indigenous affairs, 82 attacks on Philippine indigenous schools had been recorded from 2011 to 2015, which involved 57 schools run by non-governmental organizations. Hundreds of students were barred from attending classes and at least 24 primary and secondary indigenous schools were reportedly forcibly closed down by the Department of Education on the suspicion that they were training grounds for revolutionary groups.

Under section 28 of Republic Act 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997, “the State shall, through the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP), provide

a complete, adequate and integrated system of education, relevant to the needs of the children and young people of Indigenous Cultural Communities or Indigenous People.”

Section 30 of the same act states that “the State shall provide equal access to various cultural opportunities to the Indigenous Cultural Communities or Indigenous people through the educational system, public or private cultural entities, scholarships, grants and other incentives without prejudice to their right to establish and control their educational systems and institutions by providing education in their own language, in a manner appropriate to their cultural methods of teaching and learning. Indigenous

children/youth shall have the right to all levels and forms of education of the State.”

But is the Philippine government really implementing the IP law?

Education is a right that everyone deserves to enjoy. It is not only for the privileged and the fortunate, but for all. But for the Philippine’s indigenous communities, it is a right that has to be asserted and realized.

Advocacy groups, the Church and various universities including UST have made efforts to fight for IP right to education through dialogues and protest marches. Last month was actually National IP Month, but it seemed to have gone unnoticed—hardly was there any noticeable observance or celebration from government.

Ten to 20 percent of the country’s more than 100 million national population—or some 6.5 million—belong to IP communities.

Indigenous people have suffered enough from their geographical isolation that has made them Lionheart PAGE 8

NOVEMBER 24, 2016

Sorry not sorry BEING the custodian of the Varsitarian’s online platforms allows me to monitor the reactions of our readers, which include negative criticism. As such, it has become easy for me to accept that we cannot please everyone with the work we do. But what I find appalling are the baseless and vicious remarks about the publication each time it reports about licensure exams.

Last Oct. 7, when the Varsitarian broke the news on Twitter that UST was named third top-performing school in the mechanical engineering licensure exam, with an improved 92-percent passing, there was a flood online of congratulatory greetings for the passers and for UST’s mechanical engineering program.

But there were a few who made it an opportunity to take a swipe at the publication.

One Twitter user posted a screengrab of the official results and said, “Hindi na tayo tatrashtalkin ng Varsitarian.”

The Twitter user must

Boards FROM PAGE 1 The University of the Philippines-Diliman was still the top-performing school. It recorded a 100-percent passing rate with all of its 69 examinees passing the test.

This year’s national passing rate slipped to 36.48 percent, with 5,249 out of 14,390 examinees passing

As campus journalists, our duty is to deliver only the facts and not to stoke the ego of onion-skinned Thomasians. be referring to the article, “UST Posts Lower Passing Rate in Mechanical Eng’g Board Exams,” published in October 2015. It reported that UST’s 63.21 percent passing rate was lower compared with the 2014’s 92.03 percent passing rate.

Every time we publish an article about a decline in UST’s score in the board exams, we are met with the same accusations of being inconsiderate campus journalists.

“Parati silang (Varsitarian) gumagawa ng headlines na palait kapag hindi maganda results ng board exams. Hindi lang sa [engineering],” another

Twitter user said.

Someone even suggested that Varsitarian staff members “shut up” since they do not take board exams.

These reactions are understandable considering that Filipinos are known to be very sensitive. But they should also understand that the Varsitarian merely reports the official figures from the Professional Regulations Commission and other official examiner boards. And its reports are almost always comparative—they compare the present performance with previous performances.

What the Varsitarian

the test. Last year’s passing rate was 41.06 percent, with 5,468 out of 13,317 examinees hurdling the board exams.

last year’s 78.26 percent, in which 36 passed out of 46 examinees from UST. Thomasian Kent Caesar Gervacio placed sixth with a score of 88.25 percent. He shared the spot with Lizatte Mella of the University of the Philippines-Diliman and Jonniel Sison Vince Cruz of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.

Thomasian Robert Bryan Yee, who got a score of 87.75 percent, ranked eighth, with Jerwin Jay Taping of UP-Manila.

Chemistry boards Two Thomasians also made it to the list of top 10 passers of the October 2016 chemistry licensure examinations.

UST recorded a 73.17-percent passing rate, with 30 Thomasians making the cut out of 41 examinees.

This was lower than

does is simply get the information and report with comparative analysis. Some articles include interviews with deans and program coordinators to provide more insights about the results.

Definitely the Varsiarian does not report purposely to cast UST in a bad light.

In any case it is always a struggle for campus journalists to report about something that would put UST in bad light. It is the same heart-wrenching feeling the Varsitarian staff gets when it reports our athletes’ losses in the UAAP. Because before we are Varsitarian staff members, we are first and foremost Thomasians.

We, too, take pride in the achievements of UST and are crushed when it delivers comparatively not as well.

But each time we take on reporting duties, we are forced to draw a line and uphold impartiality. As campus journalists, our duty is to deliver only the facts and not to stoke the ego of onion-skinned Thomasians.

UP Diliman was named the top-performing school after posting a 95-percent passing rate. Out of 60 examinees from UP, 57 passed.

The national passing rate dropped to 54.86 percent, with 559 passing the test out of 1,019 examinees, from last year’s 59.72 percent, in which 421 out of 706 examinees passed.

MIA ARRA C. CAMACHO, CHRISTIAN DE LANO M. DEIPARINE AND THEODORE JASON PATRICK K. ORTIZ

Editorial FROM PAGE 4 among patriots and heroes buried at the national memorial?

Considering his bloody record, could he serve as an inspiration worthy of emulation by young Filipinos now and in the future?

The Supreme Court said there’s no law to bar the burial and in any case, the Marcos legacy should be better left to the judgment of history: “There are certain things that are better left for history—not this Court—to adjudge,” the high court says in its conclusion. “In the meantime, the country must move on and let this issue rest.” But the Supreme Court itself has already prejudged history and voted in favor of the Marcos legacy. It has effectively passed the law bestowing state honors to a despised deposed dictator.

The Supreme Court has shown its true colors. The Supreme Court embodies the people’s supreme amnesia, the people’s utter inability to look beyond clannishness and narrow

Bar exams FROM PAGE 2 were deployed around the campus.

Judicial Security officer

Opinion 5

How sad are you?

HERE’S the thing about depression –it can affect anyone, regardless of race, age, gender or status. As one of the leading causes of suicide, this is a problem.

Based on a study by the World Health Organization,the country has one of the lowest suicide rates in the Asean region, but the highest depression rates.

Depression is one of the most trivialized mental illnesses in the country, believed to be interchangeable with sadness.

Seriously, how many times have you said that you were depressed over your one true pairing breaking up?

People cope with depression through a number of ways; some develop anorexia nervosa while others binge eat; others find themselves incapable of doing any activity while others push themselves to work hard in order to escape.

Those with the latter are categorized into what is called high-functioning depression, a classification of the disorder that is harder to detect and not as immediately treated.

No one really expects the bibo kid, the kid with all the medals and the first places under his belt, to be the one who can’t breathe when they’re left alone.

I have met people who keep their emotions in a bottle because they were raised in a certain way – to

High-functioning depression chooses no one. It could take anyone regardless of race, social and economic status, physique, age and gender. use their head, to control their emotions and to be practical. Crying was seen as a pointless endeavor whenever they found something displeasing or unfortunate.

That ideology was reinforced by our society, particularly for men who are expected to be “manly.”

Society degrades and ostracizes those with mental illnesses. This negative image leads to people keeping things to themselves.

High-functioning depression challenges the stigma of depression as dark, moody and “emo.”

Those with high-functioning depression manifest the symptoms through active involvement in schoolwork and extracurricular activities.

High-functioning depression chooses no one.

It could take anyone regardless of race, social and economic status, physique, age and gender.

Depression is highly linked to suicide. Depression is like cancer: you can’t cure it with one pill and the person who suffers from it needs all the support they could get. personal interests for the sake of the larger nation.

The Supreme Court is a cabal of small minds: how else could one interpret that the majority of its members voted in favor of the burial citing there was no law or legal impediment to it.

The same Constitution that restored the independence of the judiciary is also the same law that declares as a state principle the abolition of political dynasties but which has not been realized because Congress, the beneficiary like the Supreme Court of the democratic restoration of Edsa, does not want to pass an enabling legislation.

But the Supreme Court may be right in one implication of the nation’s failure to pass laws abolishing dynasties and prohibiting Marcos’ burial in the Libingan ng mga Bayani for its patriots and former presidents.

The implication is that the nation cannot summon up the political will and the collective conviction to banish the dark past of the dictatorship. Last May, the dictator’s son nearly won the vice-presidency.

The Marcos dynasty has remained firmly entrenched despite—and since—the 1986 revolution.

And Filipinos, exalted for their alleged resilience amid adversity, have earned again acclaim for the vivacity of their amnesia— their historical memory may be short but it is at least long, tenacious, and obdurate in its vacuousness and laxity.

Their parochialism and inability to look beyond their narrow interests, their sheer vapidity in sensibility, all of this, is likewise resilient. And now the Filipino people should thank the Supreme Court for supremely embodying their own supreme inanity.

Jayson Domingo said “UST is the second heavily guarded facility in Manila next to Malacañang.”

A liquor ban was implemented around UST, with beer and other alcoholic beverages prohibited

between 4 a.m. and 8 p.m. on examination days.

The 115th bar exams is headed by Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. MARIA CRISANTA M. PALOMA and MIA ARRA C. CAMACHO

6 Lenspeak

NOVEMBER 24, 2016

Editor: Alvin Joseph Kasiban

Editor: John Gabriel M. Agcaoili

Witness 7

NOVEMBER 24, 2016

Holy Doors close, but God’s mercy endures

By SIGRID B. GARCIA and KATHLEEN THERESE A. PALAPAR MERCY knows no religion.

This was the message of Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, archbishop emeritus of Manila, during the closing of the Jubilee door at the Manila Cathedral last Nov. 12.

“Mercy belongs to everyone.

It is not only the task and mission of Christians,” Rosales said in his homily during the Holy Mass.

Through mercy, God reveals His love to humanity through His son Jesus Christ, the 84-year-old prelate said.

“The identifying mark of Jesus is mercy. He was merciful to everyone, even to those who faulted Him,” Rosales said.

The celebration of the Jubilee Year does not end with the closing of the Holy Doors, Rosales added,

calling on the faithful to continue doing “little acts” of mercy.

Fr. Reginald Malicdem, parish priest of the Manila Cathedral, called on the faithful to continue doing simple acts of mercy in their respective fields. “’Yung maliliit na bagay na ginagawa natin [are] expressions of mercy. So kahit tapos na ang Jubilee Year, patuloy pa rin nating gawin iyon,” Malicdem said.

“The doors of our hearts must remain open to love, to understand, to be patient, and to forgive,” he added.

Encounter Jesus in the poor, enemies Malicdem read the message of Manila Archbishop Luis

Antonio Cardinal Tagle, who was in Rome.

In his message, Tagle reminded the faithful to encounter Jesus in the poor, recalling the opening of the cathedral’s Holy Door last year in which he was accompanied by Glyzelle Palomar and Jun Chura, the former streetchildren who met Pope Francis in his visit to UST in January 2015.

“Jesus will never close the door of his heart to those who seek his mercy. The need of a poor person is our door to the heart of Jesus,” he said.

Tagle reminded the faithful to be empathetic and recognize the “wounds” of enemies and persecutors.

Tagle said the closing of

the Holy Door “does not close the heart of God,” urging the faithful to continue seeking and approaching God through others.

“Let us also keep our hearts open to the poor, to those we have offended and to those who have hurt us. Through justice watered by mercy, the wounds ... would be healed,” he said.

The Dominican church of Santuario del Santo Cristo in San Juan also closed its Jubilee door on Nov. 12, led by Msgr.

Bong Lo, a Thomasian alumnus and vicar forane of St. John the Baptist Vicariate.

Three other churches in the Manila archdiocese closed their Jubilee doors: the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Mandaluyong, the National

Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Makati and Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Pasay.

Fr. Jason Laguerta, director of the Office for the Promotion of the New Evangelization, said the five churches in Manila were able to collect sufficient donations from pilgrims for institutions performing works of mercy such as providing care for the homeless and the sick.

The Vatican formally announced the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy last April 11, 2015 through a Bull of Indiction signed by Pope Francis titled “Misericordiae Vultus.”

The Holy Year ended with the closing of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome on Nov. 20.

The closing of Jubilee Door at the Santuario del Santo Cristo Church in San Juan last Nov. 12.

ALVIN JOSEPH KASIBAN

Philippines can learn from Batanes’ bloodless drug-menace solution, says bishop THE DRUG menace in Batanes was controlled without bloodshed, and the rest of the Philippines can learn from it, Batanes Bishop Camilo Gregorio Diaz told the Varsitarian.

Diaz said the drug cases in Batanes decreased even before President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration launched an allout war against drugs.

“Before itong ‘Oplan Tokhang’ (Operation ‘Knock and Plead’), we were very concerned about the drug problem in Batanes kasi laganap na. We did something without waiting for Duterte,” Diaz said in an interview with the Varsitarian.

Diaz praised the previous Aquino administration for fighting drugs without killing drug users and suspects. “They (Aquino administration) did a good job.

Walang mga killings. Pag-aarest lang [`yung ginawa nila],” he said.

He said the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) “Oplan Tokhang,” in which police visits and raids often ended up

with the operatives killing drug suspects supposedly in self-defense, was nonexistent in Batanes.

“It is currently more controlled with the reinforcement of President Duterte in office. I [can] claim that we have had no killings there until now,” Diaz added.

Senior Supt. Edgardo Pamittan, former director of the Batanes Provincial Police Force, confirmed Diaz’s statement that there were no extrajudicial killings in Batanes.

Pamittan denied allegations of police involvement in summary killings.

“The police would never condone killings. We also lose men during police operations, these are just for rebellious acts against the government,” he said in a phone interview.

Role of the Catholic Church Diaz stressed the importance of the Catholic Church, as it contributes to the morality and spirituality of the Filipino

people.

“Hindi nakikita ng gobyerno ang magagawa ng Simbahan Katolika, for the good and the welfare of the people.

Masyado silang natatabunan ng material things, and we know from history na it never worked when God is out. Things don’t work out well when God is out,” Diaz said.

Diaz also maintained that death penalty would not solve the drug and criminality problem in the country.

“We see the practical urge to solve the problem [quickly], and through that we are tempted,” the bishop said.

He called on the Duterte administration to end impunity among police officials in anti-drug raids. “[They] rationalized that the suspects fight back, but I think it is being abused,” he said.

He urged the PNP to adopt the spiritual concept of “restorative justice.” JOEL SEBASTI AN D. CRISTOBA L

Diaz

8 Features

Editor: Maria Corazon A. Inay

NOVEMBER 24, 2016

Thomasian brings to life French sci-fi book A THOMASIAN artist is making waves in the French art scene for his illustrations of Jean-David Morvan’s graphic novel trilogy, Ravage, a science fiction novel by René Barjavel.

Rey Macutay, who studied advertising at the then College of Architecture and Fine Arts, was tapped to work at Editions Glénat, a French comic publisher, by Morvan after seeing his works on Facebook.

“Morvan said he liked the artworks I was posting on my Facebook page and told me that I should work at Glénat,” said Macutay.

Macutay, a concept artist from Caloocan City, communicates with Morvan and some editors at Glénat via email.

“My publishers are in France. Our colorist, Walter Pezzali, works and resides in Japan. But it felt like we were just a jeepney ride away from each other,” he said.

He used a traditional painting technique called “ink wash” over the line art to produce an entirely grey or midtone color.

More “appealing and dynamic,” the technique uses a brush instead of a pen, which gives the watercolour-like effect in the graphic novel.

Eloise de la Maison, who also works at Glénat, translates the novel script in

English for Macutay.

“They know I don’t speak French so they try to communicate in English as much as possible,” he said.

Layouting the illustrations was the biggest challenge for Macutay even though he was a layout artist for 12 years.

“Deciding from what panel to use and figuring out caption and speech bubble placements tricky,” he said.

He also had to consider how to establish focal points, eye movement of the reader, composition, camera angles and negative spaces.

“I tend to give a lot more weight on this part of the process,” he said.

Macutay, who has always envisioned himself to be a comic illustrator, penetrated the French art scene when he illustrated the book Jaurès in 2014.

“Jaurès was my first ever published work in the French market.”

He first worked in the local comics industry in 1990.

“I used the works of Filipino masters like Nestor Redondo, Alfredo Alcala, Alex Niño, Francisco Coching, Rudy Nebres etc., as references,” he said.

Macutay is still affiliated with Glénat and is currently working on a new volume of Morvan’s graphic trilogy.

Macutay

Macutay’s sample works

Catholic aid FROM PAGE 1

of Christians is a worsening situation in various parts of the world.

“In the midst of our persecution, we can rejoice. Carrying our cross, we can smile because God is faithful with his promise,” Villegas said in the inauguration conference.

ACN executive president Baron Johannes Heereman von Zuydtwyck of the Knights of Malta, a Christian military order in Germany, likened St. Thomas Aquinas’ doctrines as the Doctor of the

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas

Church to the duties needed to uphold mercy amid crisis.

“St. Thomas Aquinas expressed one view he would only define as merciful: someone who strives actively to ease the suffering of another,” Heereman said.

The inauguration conference was attended by victims of high-conf lict areas in the country and in Syria and Malawi.

The discussion of Christian persecution in the Philippines led back to the 1980s where kidnapping incidents in Basilan involved native priests, said Ozamis Archbishop-elect Martin Jumoad.

“These were perpetuated by the extremists who want Basilan to be a purely Islamic state,” Jumoad said.

Bishop Antoine Chbier, Maronite

MEI TERRENZ PROVIDO

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JEAN-DAVID MORVAN TWITTER ACCOUNT

Bishop of Latakia-Tartus in Syria, tackled the current persecution and war in Syria, describing it as the “Westerners’ war.”

“The war in Syria is not ours; it’s the Westerners’ war. They are only taking advantage of Syria with the effect on the country’s economy,” Chbier said.

He added that the economy of their country is now in “the doldrums” with Syrian pounds dropping at a significant rate: from an equivalence of 40-pound to $1 to 550 Syrian pounds.

Majd Al Jalhoum, a volunteer from Homs in Syria, added that Islamic and extremist groups are now building their own empires on several fronts of the country, causing the growing plurality among its districts.

A witness to numerous heavy fighting and bloodshed, Homs, Syria’s third largest city, is now posing a threat to its inhabitants especially the children, said Al Jalhoum.

Bishop Montfort Stima of the Archdiocese of Mangochi in Malawi discussed how political inf luence started the discord in his country.

He narrated how Malawi’s first democratic president, Bakili Muluzi, inf luenced the Muslims in their country to look down on Christians which resulted to conf licts in most districts.

“The cultural differences started the conf lict. This shows how an attack on culture is an attack on the religion,” Stima said.

Stima reported that Muslims only take up 12.8 percent of Malawi’s 13,931,831 population while Christians take up 79.9 percent. Other religions occupy 3 percent while the remaining 4.3 percent is occupied by those with no religion at all.

ACN was founded in 1947 by Norbertine priest Fr. Werenfried van Straaten to cater the needs of the 14 million displaced Germans. In 2003, His Holiness John Paul II honored Werenfried by naming him as an “Outstanding Apostle of Charity.”

Recognized as a papal foundation since 2011, ACN has currently over 5,000 projects a year in over 145 countries which now includes the Philippines. Its main headquarters is based in Konigstein in Taunus, Germany. A . J. D. BERNAS

Nobel laureate FROM PAGE 1 tackled issues in Latin America such as revolution, dictatorship, racism, religious fanaticism and messianism.

“He is perhaps the most successful and certainly the most fearless novelist of the past 40 years,” Fr. Ang said.

Llosa received the honorary professor’s medallion and diploma from Fr. Ang, who was accompanied by Faculty of Arts and Letters (Artlets) Dean Michael Anthony Vasco and Artlets Regent Rev. Fr. Rodel Aligan, O.P. “[The honorary professorship is given to] someone who is exceptional in his field of expertise and has made a mark of honor and contribution to the academic community in their lifetime,” Fr. Ang explained.

Former recipients of the honorary professorship include Mahathir Mohamad, former Malaysian prime minister; Yuan Tseh Lee, president of the International Council of Science and 1985 Nobel laureate in chemistry; and Msgr. Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo, chancellor of the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Science. NI KKO MIGUEL M. GA RCI A

Lionheart FROM PAGE 4 a prey to land-grabbing and other forms of exploitation. But their physical situation is worsened by their social marginalization.

As a result, they have been continuously deprived of their right to self-determination and right to their ancestral dominion.

Government should help alleviate the IP’s condition by education and social services. Government should them inclusive education, allotting funds for indigenous schools and institutions. Teacher-training programs can also be initiated to shape educators and prepare them to teach in IP schools.

Filipino 9

IKA-24 NG NOBYEMBRE, 2016

Ang makabagong binyagan Ni JOLAU V. OCAMPO “TYPE ‘Amen’ if you love Jesus” ang animo nakabibinging sigaw ng deskripsIyon ng larawan ng Banal na Puso ni Hesus na may mapungay na mata, nakabukas ang kanang palad na bahagyang nakaangat at kaliwang kamay na hawak ang kumikinang na puso.

“A-M-E-N,” tinipa ni Jude sa kaniyang keyboard na naglaho na ang ilang mga titik, upang sumunod sa 5,790 komento rito.

Nakababad na lamang siya sa kaniyang laptop habang nakaupo sa kama at tumitingin ng mga video, retrato, status at tweet sa Facebook at Twitter matapos panoorin ang live telecast ng isang misa sa telebisyon. Marami pang nakatiklop na pahina ng kaniyang aklat sa Chemistry na nakasilip sa kumot sa ibabaw nito sa gawing kaliwa niya. Patuloy ang paghapuhap ni Jude sa News Feed habang hinihintuan ang mga retrato ni Hesus at mga salita na galing sa Bibliya.

Agad na sinusunod ni Jude ang mga post na may kaugnayan sa Panginoon mapa-like, share o comment man dahil tila nakikiusap ang mga mata Niya sa mga retrato na sundin ang panuto na nakalagay rito.

Ilang sandali pa at nakita niya naman ang retrato ng isang hindi niya kilalang batang babae na nakahiga sa kama ng isang ospital. Tabingi ang mga labi.

Tagilid ang ulo at kulubot ang mga kamay at daliri niya. Isinasaad ng deskripsiyon ng larawan na mayroong Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) ang bata, isang malubhang karamdamang naaapektuhan ang utak at spinal cord kung kaya’t hindi na maigagalaw ang halos lahat ng bahagi ng katawan.

Nakita niya pa ang komento niyang “Amen” noong isang linggo dahil ayon sa retrato: “1 ‘Amen’ = 1 prayer.” Nagcomment ulit siya ng ‘Amen’ dahil nakita niya na mula sa 3,782 na mga comment noon, 5,973 na ang mga ito ngayon.

Kinuha ni Jude ang makapal na

aklat ng Chemistry at binilang ang mga pahinang nakatiklop. Bubuklatin na niya ito nang biglang tumunog ang notification sa Facebook—ni-like ng isa niyang kaibigan ang kaniyang retrato ng batang pulubing binigyan niya ng tirang siomai na may kanin noong nakaraang linggo.

Naglalakad noon sa kalye ng Dapitan si Jude matapos mananghalian bitbit sa kanang kamay ang styro ng pagkain na mula sa Dimsum Treats na medyo may kagaanan na. Tangan niya naman sa kaliwa ang iPhone 6 na nakabukas na ang kamera.

Hinanap niya ang mga magagaslaw na batang pulubing mas magaling pa sa kaniya sa matematika sa pagsagot ng square root problems. Ilang saglit pa at nakita na niya ang magbabarkadang musmos na magkakahiwalay na humihingi ng kung hindi barya, ang kinakain mismo ng mga estudyante sa kalye. “’Te, penge barya” usal ng mga bata sabay tapat ng marungis na kamay malapit sa puting uniporme ng mga mag-aaral kaya’t bahagyang napaatras ang mga ito matapos umiling nang matindi.

Nilapitan si Jude ng isa sa mga musmos. “Kuya akin na lang ‘yan,” ani ng batang nakasuot ng sandong manipis at saluwal na pinaitim ng grasa. Agad na ibinigay ni Jude ang styro. “Kuya, salamat,” ani ng bata sabay upo sa isang bahagi ng bangketa na pinagigitnaan ng dalawang kotse. Nang binuksan ng bata ang styro, kaagad itong kinuhanan ni Jude ng retrato at umalis.

“Jude, magwalis ka muna rito sa sala!” sigaw ng kaniyang nanay na nasa unang palapag ng kanilang bahay. Bumalikwas ng tayo si Jude sa kama at bago lumabas ng kaniyang kwarto at nag-tweet ng “will do some house chores.”

Pagkatapos magwalis, humilata ulit siya sa kaniyang higaan at tumapat sa laptop. Sinipat niyang muli ang makapal na Chemistry book na nakasilip sa likuran ng laptop. Kinuha niya ito at tiningnan ang

mga naka-bold na termino, ang pamagat ng kabantang kaniyang babasahin at tinipa ang mga ito sa Youtube – baka sakaling mayroong Youtuber na nagmagandangloob upang gumawa ng video tutorial tungkol sa balancing chemical equations.

Nakahinga nang mapayapa si Jude nang matapos na niyang mapanood ang 30 minuto na video tungkol sa mga chemical equation para sa kaniyang pagsusulit kinabukasan.

Patuloy ang pag-angat ni Jude sa mga video, retrato at iba pang na-share ng kaniyang mga kaibigan sa Facebook.

Ilang sandali pa, ibinalik ng “Memories,” kung saan ipinapakita ng Facebook ang iyong mga inilabas na retrato isa o mahigit pang taon ang nakalipas, ang isang retratong nai-post niya dalawang taon na ang nakararaan. Makikita rito ang isang altar at dalawang malaking kandila na pumapagitna sa kabaong ng kaniyang pinakamatalik na kaibigan. Nakaitim ang mga kamag-aral na nasama sa larawan habang nakayuko at pantay ang mga mukha.

Napahinto si Jude sa pag-angat sa kaniyang news feed. Pinagmasdan niya ang larawan at ilang sandali pa, pinindot niya ang “share.”

Bahagya siyang naluha sa retratong nakita. Kinuha niya ang kaniyang iPhone 6 at tiningnan muli ang mga retrato nila ni Luke. Nang binalikan ni Jude ang kaniyang laptop, umani ng 80 likes ang retratong muling nakita, ngunit hindi na niya nasilayan ang pagngisi man lamang ng naiwang kaibigan kahit mas maraming likes ang retrato kaysa sa sarili niyang profile picture.

Naisipan ni Jude na pumunta sa himlayan ng kaibigan na ilang kanto lamang sa kanilang bahay. Dalawang taon na rin pala ang nakalipas, wika niya sa kaniyang sarili habang matamang nakatitig sa puntod. Dalawang taon na rin ang nakararaan nang huli silang

magkayakap at magkatawanan. Ngayon, sa social media na lamang nila naaalala ang isa’t isa, subalit hindi tuwing kaarawan, kung hindi tuwing sa araw ng pagpanaw.

Umupo siya sa luntiang damo na mamasa-masa pa sa nagdaang panakanakang ulan. Hindi na niya dinukot ang telepono sa bulsa upang kuhanan ng retrato o balikan ang mga lumang retrato nila doon.

Humihip ang habagat at napahaplos si Jude sa mga tumindig na balahibo sa kaniyang braso na hindi natatakpan ng puting kamiseta. Ngayon na lamang ulit siya nilamig sa hangin na hindi galing sa aircon.

Hagikhik sa masalimuot na kasalukuyan: Pagsilip sa ‘Troya’ ni Joselito Delos Reyes BAGAMAN suntok sa buwan kung maiging maipagtatagpi, nagawang pagbuklurin ni Joselito de los Reyes ang dalawang magkaibang mundo ng katatawanan at masalimuot na realidad. Umaapaw sa mga mga nakatatawang linya ang kaniyang aklat na Troya na tila panandaliang lumimot sa talas ng mga napapanahong usaping panlipunan.

Sa bagong limbag na koleksiyon ng maiikling kuwento na pinamagatang Troya (Visprint Inc., 2016), inilatag ni Delos Reyes ang iba’t ibang mahahalagang paksa sa kasalukuyan gaya ng kahirapan, politika at maging ang mga katakot-takot na kaganapan sa kasaysayan Joselito Delos Reyes na matalinong hinabi sa pamamagitan ng masining na pagkatha. Isinulat niya ang Sa “Field Trip,” tila mga ito gamit ang ordinaryong iginuhit niya sa pamamagitan wikang gamit sa araw-araw na ng mga salitang “amihan” at hinayaang maging komportable “taliptip” ang palaisdaan sa ang mga mambabasa sa bawat Salambao, Obando, Bulacan, na paglipat ng pahina. nagpalawak sa imahinasiyon ng Ipinaliwanag sa “Barangay mga mambabasa. Matatagpuan Pinagpala Namin” ang positibo din dito ang ilang mga salitang at negatibong epekto ng suwerte bihirang gamitin sa lungsod maging ang iba’t ibang paraan gaya ng “liwalo,” “ayungin” at ng paggamit, pagpapahalaga “taliktik.” at paglapit dito. Ipinaalala rito Mahusay niyang inilapit ang ang kadalasang paglimot ng tao mga mambabasa sa kahirapan sa minsan niyang minahal na at konsepto ng pagsusugal sa pinagmulan.

“Bethany.” Nagwakas ito sa Sa bawat pangungusap, matapang at marahas na desisyon dinala ni De los Reyes ang ng pangunahing tauhan na si Otep mga mambabasa sa iba’t na nakawin ang mamahaling ibang tagpuan—sa lungsod at tropeo bago pa ito maihatid sa lalawigan—kasama ng mga pinakamalaking mamimili ng tauhan na labis ang pagkakaiba kumpanyang Bethany. sa isa’t isa.

Inilarawan naman sa

sundalo noong panahon ng giyera laban sa mga Hapon.

Mahusay na hinikayat ni De los Reyes na magisip ang mga mambabasa sa ilang mga kuwento ngunit hindi siya natakot na tumalon mula sa malalalim na paksa ng kasaysayan papunta sa mababaw na usapin ng break-up sa “Hbd.” Umikot ang kuwento sa hiwalayan ng magkasintahang Bless at Denver na nagwakas sa pagsisimulang muli ni Bless ng panibagong buhay nang wala ang dating kasintahan sa tabi.

Maganda naman ang MARIA CHARISSE ANNE G. REFUERZO paggamit ng metapora sa kuwento ng “Troya” na tumalakay sa politika. Sa pamamagitan “Monumento ni Sarhente” ang ng paggamit ng pinakamaliit pakikipagsapalaran sa masisikip ng yunit ng pamahalaan, ang at matataong daan sa Maynila. barangay, naiparating ni De los Sa mas malapit na punto de vista, Reyes ang patuloy na lumalaking ikinuwento ni De los Reyes ang pagsubok sa gobyerno. Ginamit araw-araw na pinagdaraanan niyang simbolo ang troya o ni Sarhente, isang lumang bus, kabayo na kumakatawan sa mga makatawid lamang sa Edsa at pagsubok na kinahaharap ng iba pang mga daanan sa siyudad. bansa.

Mula pa raw sa Bataan ang tsasis Sa pagtalakay ni Delos Reyes at muwelye ni Sarhente sa pinira- sa mga unti-unting lumalaking pirasong tangke-de-giyera. suliranin sa lipunan, iniwan niya “Walang kasingdiin ang sa mga mambabasa ang malayang huling giyera ng matandang pagtakda sa maaaring susunod mandirigmang wala pang balak na hakbang bilang bahagi ng gumarahe.” mamamayan. Inungkat niya ang Muli namang binuklat ang mga usaping tila iniiwasan ng isang mahalagang bahagi ng ilan sa pamamagitang ng Troya— kasaysayan ng Filipinas sa “Ang isang kalipunan ng mga maririkit Mga Beterano.” Tungkol ito sa na panimula at malilikot na pag-usisa ni Dwight sa nakaraan pagtatapos. JOL AU OCA MPO at ng ama niyang nagsilbing WINONA SA DI A

Territory FROM PAGE 4 While the government failed to nurse the deep wounds of the poor human rights victims during the Martial Law period, it is the Church that extended its care and concern for the victims who don’t know where and who to turn to for comfort.

It is the Church that chose to understand and empathize with the hurting victims.

It is the Church that has played the part of a caring mother to a weeping child.

Like the Church, let us extend our concern and comfort to the victims. May we not forget.

Pacucoa FROM PAGE 3 “We commit our students that there will be improvement in facilities, improvement of delivery in instruction although they perceive differently the delivery of instruction in the college,” Empleo said.

The Level III status for the Accountancy program will be valid from to April 2019 while the Level IV status for the 21 programs is valid until 2021.

According to the Pacucoa website, Level III accreditation status grants school administrators the authority to revise the curriculum and set the tuition and other fees without the need for approval of the Commission on Higher Education.

It also enables administrators to offer new graduate programs, and open learning or distance education and extension classes related to the course. ROY ABRAHMN D.R. NARRA and MARIA CRISANTA M. PALOMA

10 Limelight

Art Director: Kirsten M. Jamilla

NOVEMBER 24, 2016

BUHAY USTEDYANTE BY CHINNY MAE F. BASINANG

EVERYDAY ESPAÑA BY IAIN RAFEL N. TYAPON

TOTOY N BY SELDON MAY T. TAGAO

Saint maker FROM PAGE 1 was chief editor of Villarroel’s book “The University of Santo Tomas: Four Centuries of Higher Education in the Philippines,” said Fr. Villarroel overturned the established historiography.

“His works alone are enough to change the way people look at not just UST but Philippine history, as the information he had given would generate discussions and debates among historians,” de Castro said in an interview.

De Castro said William Henry Scott, an American historian known for his work on Philippine pre-Hispanic history, once praised Fr. Villarroel for his “extremely fine historical research.”

“Every page is loaded with information that it is a delight to read,” de Castro said, quoting the renowned historian.

Department of History Chairman Augusto de Viana credited Villarroel for shedding more light on the lives of the country’s heroes, including Jose Rizal.

Villarroel’s research on Rizal’s scholastic records from Ateneo de Manila and UST, all found in the UST Archives, showed that the national hero was not discriminated against in UST. “He clarified the lives of our national heroes Rizal, Mabini, del Pilar, even Fathers Burgos and Zamora kasi all of them are alumni here and he had access to their records,” de Viana said in an interview.

Aetas FROM PAGE 3 the Arts and the National Commission for Indigenous People to help the natives draft the curricula for the school.

“What UST can do is, other than sponsoring their education and community development, we should also develop their culture in this sense, because once you lose a culture, you can’t get it back,” Gonzales said.

Fr. Villarroel Photos courtesy of PAUL QUIAMBAO

Sr. Corazon de Leon of the UST Hospital Pastoral Care Service thanked Villarroel for writing the history of her congregation.

“Siya ang gumawa ng history ng congregation namin, the Religious Missionaries of St. Dominic. Brother talaga siya sa amin, a brother and a father, at the same time, lolo namin,” de Leon said in an interview.

The Aetas were displaced from their homelands after Mt. Pinatubo erupted in 1991, prompting them to live with the natives of Pampanga and Tarlac.

UST Simbahayan Assistant Director Froilan Alipao said efforts to establish a cultural school for Aetas started in 2005 in partnership with the College of Education. But the plan was scrapped due to lack of support.

“We opted for formal education assistance for them,” Alipao said in an interview.

Alipao said Simbahayan

“Worthy of emulation” For de Castro, Villarroel’s death marked the end of an era of great Dominican historians.

Villarroel, she said, is “very much worthy of emulation” as he set an example to all of his students and colleagues.

“Fr. Villarroel ministers to the needs of the people. The Dominican Order is so fortunate to have him during all this time,” she said.

will be looking for new sponsors and resources to restart the efforts in establishing a pilot cultural school for the Aetas.

Since 2004, UST has participated in the annual Araw ng mga Katutubo that is a part of the Simbahayan’s distance education program for Thomasian students.

The program involves literacy education, with UST professors giving adult Aetas the necessary information they need to improve their living standards.

NEIL JAYSON N. SERVALLOS

De Viana considers Villarroel an “inspiration for allowing me to see history from the other side.”

“He was never idle and always writing. He was unselfish [and] willing to help. Our job is to imitate his virtues. He was always humble, willing to take judgement from others,” he said.

Saint-maker Villarroel, 87, passed away last Oct. 23. at UST Hospital

Tigersharks FROM PAGE 16 because some are enrolled in time-demanding programs like science courses and architecture,” he said.

The tactician said the Tigershark’s comeback to the top spot would have to wait for years as La Salle, Ateneo and the National University have raised the

following multiple organ failure.

His remains were laid to rest at the Santuario de Santo Cristo, a church administered by the Spanish Dominicans in the Philippines.

He is credited for writing the historical research that led to the canonization of the first Filipino saint Lorenzo Ruiz in 1987 together with 15 other Dominicans martyred in Japan.

Villarroel was ordained priest in 1953 and was assigned to the Philippines in 1957, where he served as UST’s archivist for almost 50 years. He headed the University’s Spanish department from 1957 to 1966 and from 1968 to 1981.

In 2009, the Dominican Order named Villarroel a Master of Sacred Theology, a title revered by the Do minicans and held by the founder St. Dominic de Guzman himself.

Villarroel authored 23 books and 65 articles on theology and the histories of UST, the Philippines and the Catholic Church.

His two-volume masterpiece “A History of the University of Santo Tomas: Four Centuries of Higher Education in the Philippines,” published in 2012, earned him the Gintong Aklat Award.

In 1984, Pope John Paul II granted Villarroel the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice or the Cross of Honor Award – the highest distinction bestowed on the laity by the papacy.

The Spanish government awarded him the Cruz de Isabel la Catolica award in 1985 for his works that exemplified relations between Spain and the international community.

bar in the recruitment wars.

Homegrown talents leaving Aside from recruitment woes, Alcantara said the lack of loyalty among his junior squads is also a problem he hopes to solve in the future.

“I had a swimmer before in the juniors’ team who was lured by another university with a brand new car as part of the offer.

I cannot match that offer, UST will never do that

because it is not within the University policies,” he said.

This year, UST lost Skyler Claveria and Francis and Alvin Marquez who all left the squad for personal reasons. Alcantara hopes that the players in UST’s boys team, which ended Ateneo’s 11-year reign, and the girls team, which won two titles in the last three years, will continue to play for UST in the collegiate level. CARLO A. CASINGCASING

Editor: Delfin Ray M. Dioquino

Sports 11

NOVEMBER 24, 2016

Lady Paddlers scare DLSU in table tennis final THE UST Lady Paddlers surrendered to the De La Salle University, duplicating their 2009 silver finish in the UAAP Season 79 table tennis tournament at the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagle gym last Oct. 28.

Finishing the elimination round at third place, the Lady Paddlers neutralized Far Eastern University’s twice-to-beat advantage in their semifinals clash.

UST then gave La Salle all it could handle in a do-or-die Game 3, a feat nobody saw coming as the Lady Archers looked invincible with a 14-0 sweep in the elimination round.

With the championship in the line in the seventh and last match of Game 3, UST captain Niña Nacasabog yielded an 11-3, 4-11, 6-11, 11-3, 10-12 verdict against La Salle star Chantal Alberto. “[I cried] because [the loss] was a near miss. But I am happy that we reached the championship round. We were almost there, we just fell short,” Lady Paddlers coach Lorida Wadjad told The Varsitarian.

Danica Albura of the UST Lady Paddlers shouts and pumps her fist in elation after scoring a point against her FEU opponent.

ALYSSA ADRIENNE T. SAMONTE

Jins win third straight crown FROM PAGE 16

team cheers and boosts that person’s morale. We don’t blame each other’s shortcomings. We talk and work it out among ourselves and continue practicing. The bottomline is we need to trust each other,” Ramos said.

While the Tiger Jins have been stellar for the past three years, the women’s team has yet to duplicate its championship it last won in 2014.

Strachan-Simpao said that despite both teams undergoing the same rigorous training twice a day, the team’s performance boils down to mental fortitude.

If one were to ask silver-medalist Marjelle Sy, it is the case of being humbled that prevented them from showing what they truly are capable of.

“Many of us know we could defeat our opponents, but fear first gets in the way. In the end, all we can do is to regret for our losses,” Sy said.

The Lady Jins, who finished with a 4-2 record, could have won the championship if they defeated National University, which finished the tournament with a clean 6-0 card. They fell against the Lady Bulldogs, 3-4.

“It may be a probability [that mindset has affected their performance], but the goal we set every time is to get the championship. It’s getting harder every year to get a podium finish especially now that other teams also now have star players.” PHILIP MARTIN L. MATEL

Usapang Uste MULA SA PAHINA 2 Tomas.

Tomasino siya Napakarami nang naiambag ni P. Fidel Villarroel, O.P. (1929-2016) hindi lamang sa Unibersidad kundi pati sa labas ng Filipinas.

Isa sa mga pinakamalalaking naging kontribusyon ni P. Villarroel ang pagsulat ng causa na nagtanghal kay San Lorenzo Ruiz bilang unang santong Filipino.

Nagsilbing katuwang na kalihim sa Apostolic Nunciature ng Filipinas si Villarroel sa loob ng tatlong dekada na nagbigay-daan upang maisulat niya ang “positio” o causa na nagtulak kay Lorenzo Ruiz at mga kasama niyang martir sa pagkasanto. Isinakatuparan ito ni Papa John Paul II nang bisitahin niya ang Filipinas sa unang pagkakataon noong 1981, kung saan isinagawa niya ang beatipikasiyon ng mga ito.

Kasunod ng nabanggit na hakbang,

Recent struggles After UST won its 12th championship in 2006, the league’s winningest women’s table tennis team had a hard time crashing back to the Finals.

After dominating season 69, UST lost in the Finals

three consecutive times. The Lady Paddlers also were not able to overcome twice-to-beat disadvantages three times in the last six seasons.

The Lady Paddlers’ lowest point in the same span came during seasons 74 and 75, when they settled for fourth place.

Although disappointed with the loss, Nacasabog is still proud because no one expected their team to reach the finals.

“I am happy that even though they are a step ahead in terms of players, we fought for the team and we took them to the edge,” said Nacasabog.

The 20-year-old from Bukidnon said that the confidence showed by Wadjad reflected on the team en route to their glorious Season 79 run.

“Coach Wadjad always tell the team that we should always bring our ‘A’ game and to play with no pressure. Even if we knew that La Salle was stronger, we just dismissed that idea,” Nacasabog said.

With the team’s stellar performance this season, Wadjadsaid a championship title, which they last won in 2006, is possible next season.

“I don’t want to say that we can beat them, but always we are trying our best to win. Next time, we want to have our revenge against La Salle,” Wadjad added.

RALPH EDWIN U. VILLANUEVA

Carla Sandoval: Tigresses’ rising star CARLA Sandoval is making a name for herself after an impressive showing as an open hitter in the Shakey’s V-League Reinforced Conference despite the Golden Tigresses’ early semifinal exit The 5-foot-7 sophomore had a statement game of 19 points in UST’s win against Philippine Coast Guard last Oct. 3 and followed it up with a team-high 14 points in their game against the University of the Philippines last Oct. 10.

A hand injury hampered her strong performance leaving her out of the V-League semis where Pocari Sweat thrashed UST. Tigresses head coach Emilio Reyes said it was just a matter of time for her prized recruits to turn heads.

“She peaked earlier.

Honestly, I expected her to peak in her third year,” said Reyes.

binansagang “saint-maker” si Villarroel dahil sa kaniyang mahusay at maingat na pananalisksik sa buhay ng mga martir at sa mga salik kung bakit karapat-dapat silang hiranging mga santo.

Bukod sa pagkumpleto ng positio ni San Lorenzo Ruiz, tumulong din si Villaroel sa pagsulat ng causa para kina Mother Francisca at Beato Buenaventura Garcia Paredes at mga kasama niyang martir.

Taong 2009 nang ipagkaloob kay Villarroel ang titulong Master of Theology, ang pinakamataas na pagkilalang ibinibigay sa mga Dominikano. Tinanggap din niya ang Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice mula kay Papa John Paul II, ang natatangi at pinakamataas na pagkilala naman na ibinibigay ng Santo Papa.

Nagtapos ng teolohiya sa España si Villarroel at nagtuloy ng mas mataas na pag-aaral sa University of London at Unibersidad ng Santo Tomas, kung saan siya nagsilbi kalaunan bilang dalubguro sa Ecclesiastical Faculties.

Bukod pa rito, naging arkiwista si Villarroel sa Unibersidad sa loob ng maraming taon. Ginamit niya ito

Sandoval was a badminton player before she was introduced to volleyball by her Sister Caryl Sandoval, a UP Lady Maroon.

She became a star player back in Angelicum College and helped win back-toback titles in the Palarong Pambansaplaying for the National Capital Region team.

Her prolific performance drew the attention of UST, La Salle, Adamson and FEU. “I chose UST because I feel at home here like when I was in Angelicum,” she said.

With UST’s remarkable performance in the V-League, Sandoval believes that the Tigresses, which has been out of the UAAP Final Four in the past four years, can deliver a stellar

athleticism this season.

“We are ready for the UAAP especially me since I will get to play against the best teams.” IVAN RUIZ L. SUING

upang palawakin ang kasaysayan ng paaralan, maging ng buong Filipinas, sa pamamagitan ng pagbubukas sa publiko ng mga mahahalagang dokumento na nagsasalaysay sa mga kaganapan sa nakaraan.

Sa kasalukuyan, patuloy na ipinalalaganap ang mga aklat ni Villarroel patungkol sa mga natatanging tauhan, institusiyon at kaganapan na nagbigaykulay sa kasaysayan ng Filipinas. WINONA S. SADIA

Tomasalitaan Taliktik (png) – hangganan; saklaw.

Hal: Tila palayo nang palayo ang taliktik habang pilit ko itong tinatanaw, tanda na hindi ko dapat labis alalahanin ang mga banta ng hinaharap.

Mga sanggunian Villaroel, F. (2012) A History of the University of Santo Tomas. Manila: University of Santo Tomas Publishing House Villaroel, F. (1987) Lorenzo de Manila: protomartyr of the Philippines and his companions. Manila: UST Press

Sandoval

Adonai FROM PAGE 3 mahalagang mahalaga na kayo ang mamuno sa pagpapahayag at pagsasabuhay [ng mga katagang] ‘huwag matakot,’” Marquez said in his homily.

“Kaya nga dapat tayo huwag matakot, kaya nga tayo dapat magtiyaga, dahil naniniwala tayo na may magandang bukas.

Ang bukas na iyon ang tinatawag nating happy ending. At ang happy ending sa kuwentong ito ay kaligtasan,” he said.

Youth participants from 20 Dominicanrun schools including UST, Siena College and Angelicum College joined the vigil organized by the Dominican Network Youth Group on Nov. 12 to 13.

Speakers included Gabriel Kintanar, former UST Central Student Council president; Manuel Zamora, former director of the Letran Center for Community Development; Sr. Cecilia Espenilla O.P. of the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena; and Bro. JC Libiran of the Feast Manila. MA. ANGELA CHRISTA COLOMA and SIGRID B. GARCIA

Sports

NOVEMBER 24, 2016

Tiger Paddlers end La Salle reign, win title THEY swept in the 14-game elimination round and never dropped a single match against three-time defending champions De La Salle University in the finals of the UAAP Season 79 table tennis tournament at the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagle gym last Oct. 26.

“The sweep was a big deal for us because it is our history.

It is not easy to get a sweep because the other teams prepared for the tournament as well,” said Most Valuable Player Norielle Pantoja.

The improvement was evident when they dispatched La Salle, University of the East, Far Eastern University and the University of the Philippines in a single day despite most of the players suffering from flu-like symptoms.

“We are really hungry [to win] and we really wanted to end up as champions. There is already a rivalry between La Salle and UST ever since so we really doubled our sacrifices this time,” said Gil Ablanque.

In 2012, the Tiger Paddlers took three straight championships against La Salle but the Green Archers got their revenge the following year.

Last year, UST ran out of steam in the finals as La Salle completed a three-peat of their

own.

Determined for a comeback, the Tiger Paddlers doubled their preparation this season.

“Our goal was to win and to get the championship so there is no reason for a player to be lazy during trainings. I see to it that they should as determined as I am,” Pantoja added.

Perfect end Seniors Pantoja, Ablanque and Alberto Bazar could not be happier as they entered UST as champions and will leave the University as champions.

“It was beyond perfect,” said Bazar. “All the struggles in our training paid off and I am satisfied that we won the championship on my last playing year.”

Aside from the three veterans who will leave, Paul Que is undecided whether to suit up for the Tiger Paddlers next year.

Que is a graduating Accountancy student but still has three playing years left in his UAAP career.

“This is a big decision for me because I think this is still not the perfect way to end my career. It still depends on the upcoming circumstances,” he said. JAN CARLO ANOLIN

SWEEP. The Tiger Paddlers celebrate its victory after dethroning the three-time defending champions De La Salle University in the finals of the UAAP Season 79.

JAMILLAH N. STA ROSA

Tiger Jins wallop way to third straight crown, Lady Jins pocket silver anew

Contrinuing recruitment woes doom Tigersharks’ legacy

THE TIGER Jins reigned as champions for the third straight year while the Lady Jins settled for silver again at the UAAP Season 79 taekwondo tournament at the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagle gym last Oct. 25.

UST’s taekwondo program boasts the most number of championship titles in taekwondo history: 14 for the Tiger Jins and 10 for the Lady Jins.

Tiger Jins coach Dindo Simpao said it’s time that more UST

FAILING to recruit top talents appears to be sinking UST’s title hopes in the UAAP swimming competition.

Despite a combined 63 titles, UST’s swimming program has settled for runner-up finishes.

The Tigersharks have won only two individual gold medals combined in both divisions since 2012.

This year, both teams settled for fourth anew behind Ateneo de Manila University, University of the Philippines, and the De La Salle University.

The Tigersharks and Female Tigersharks last won the championship in 2008.

Head coach Cyrus Alcantara said poor recruitment remains as the top reason behind their mediocre showing in the past seasons.

“As a coach I want to recruit strong players but I can only offer what the University offers to student-athletes, a good education and school pride.

Apparently, it barely works anymore,” he said in an interview with the Varsitarian.

The 14-year head coach said other universities invest in cars or house to offer their swimmers, things that UST does not do to lure athletes.

Subpar recruitment leaves

athletes represent the country in international competitions.

Jasmine Strachan-Simpao, Dindo’s wife and head coach of the Lady Jins, recalled that UST jins used to dominate the national pool.

This year, there are only three Thomasians in the Philippine squad: Abigail Cham, Joaquin Mendoza, and junior Lady Jin Leila Delo.

In the past decade, the UST taekwondo program has produced three Olympians.

Strachan-Simpao herself played in the world’s biggest sporting stage in the Sydney Olympics in 2000 along with former Tiger Jin Donald Geisler, who also qualified in Athens 2004.

Tshomlee Go was the last Thomasian jin in the Olympics

when h e represented the country in the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics.

For Simpao, producing Thomasian Olympians is his ultimate goal.

“Much of our success is anchored in our pursuit of Olympic glory. I’m still running after it,” he said.

Stiffer competition Under the Simpaos’ tutelage, the Tiger Jins have won 11 titles while the Lady Jins have six.

But with other universities aggressively pursuing top high school athletes, the championships are now up for grabs.

“It’s now everybody’s game,” said Strachan-Simpao.

“It also depends on how our players look at every situation. We are not after the individual medals, what we’re after are the group medals. It’s a team game, plus there are some of the games that are completely out of our control.”

Team captain Juan Miguel Ramos said having a championship mindset gives them an advantage, boosting their confidence in maintaining their hold over the men’s division.

“If one falters, the rest of the Jins PAGE 11

Alcantara has no option but to settle for players who are far behind the talents of other competing schools.

“In swimming, it takes two to three years before a potential player becomes at least a decent swimmer and we have been dealing with that for the past years,” he said.

Alcantara also faces the inability of some of his wards to balance academic loads with their daily training.

“Despite reaching their best times in the pool, it is evident that some of my players are having difficulty p l a c i n g their focus in the training

Tigersharks PAGE 10