The Varsitarian
Founded 1928
The official student publication of the university of santo tomas
UST ranks 101st in Asia
Vol. LXXXI, No. 14 • June 18, 2010
www.varsitarian.net
Manila, Philippines
Leaps by 43 steps to surge past La Salle in Top 200 list
THE UN IVERSITY welcomed the new academic
year—and its Quadricentennial—on a high note
by securing the 101st spot in the annual listing of
Asia’s Top 200 Universities by the London-based
Times Higher Education-Quacquarelli-Symonds
(THE-QS), UST was tied with Japan’s Tokyo
University of Agriculture and Technology and
Thailand’s Prince of Songkla University. Last year,
it placed 144th.
De La Salle University trailed behind UST
at 106, while no significant changes were seen im
the rankings of Ateneo de Manila University and
University of the Philippines, which landed 58th and
78th, respectively.
In the field of Social Sciences, the University fell
from 75 last year to 83 this year. It also declined in
Arts and Humanities, dropping from 55 to 69.
However, UST went notches higher from 85 to
69 in Biomedicine.
But still, the Asian rankings placed UST behind
Ateneo in Life Sciences and Biomedicine despite
the fact that UST offers more courses, dominates
licensure exams, and is the acknowledged pioneer
in the field.
Com menting on the results of the su r vey,
Prof. Fortunato Sevilla, member of Malacanang’s
Presidential Coordinating Council on Research and
Development and former dean of the College of
Science, said UST should be thankful that it got into
the survey.
“We should be happy about (landing 101st). At
least UST has been acknowledged. Imagine how
many universities there are in Asia. Last year, UP and
Ateneo complained because of their rankings. I think
we should view this in a positive light and try to be
happy about where we stand now,” he said.
Asian ranking, Page 4
Steps scores
lowest in
‘exit’ survey
THE SANTO Tomas e-Service
Providers (Steps) scored the
lowest satisfaction rating, in
an annual “exit” survey, in the
aftermath of the late release of last
semester’s grades.
STePS, which is also in
charge of the UST website, was
deemed by students as the “most
important” administrative office,
scoring an average of 3.77.
Data from Office of Planning
and Quality Management showed
that STePS gained the lowest
satisfaction score of 2.63, in a
scale of zero to four, with the latter
being the highest.
Fr. Arthur Dingel, O.P.,
assistant to the Rector for planning
and quality management,
attributed STePS rating to
problems encountered by students
on the UST website.
“It’s a good eye-opener for
STePS, so next year, [it has] to
do better,” said Dingel. “This
also indicates that the survey is
accurate, and the students are
aware of the services given to
them.”
STePS had drawn flak from
students for the “inefficient”
service of the MyUSTe Student
Portal in releasing last semester’s
grades, which the registrar’s
office, the custodian of University
records, blamed on colleges that
submitted grades beyond the
deadline.
STePS was the only
administrative office that
received a grade below 3.00
in key performance indicators
Survey, Page 4
Students from different colleges and faculties flock to the Central Seminary Gym during the enrollment last June 3. Recently, the University imposed
a four-percent increase in tuition.
JILSON SECKLER C. TIU
Pope, Spanish royals not coming for 2011
By CLIFF HARVEY C. VENZON
ASIDE from Pope Benedict
X V I , Sp a i n’s k i n g a n d
queen have tur ned down
an invitation to grace the
400th year celebration of
the Pontif ical and Royal
university.
Vice Rector Fr. Pablo
Tiong, O.P., in an interview,
confirmed that King Juan
Carlos I and Queen Sofia of
Spain will not attend UST’s
Quadricentennial in January
next year.
“They (king and queen
of Spain) will designate a
special representative, but
I do not know if it will be a
member of the royal family,”
he added.
Tiong said the Spanish
throne did not give a reason
for the rejection of UST’s
invitation.
Last May 7, papal nuncio
Archbishop Edward Joseph
Ad a m s w rot e a let t e r t o
Filipino bishops saying the
pope won’t make it to the 2011
festivities. He did not state the
reason.
CBCP News, the official
news agency of the CBCP,
reported that the Pope will
instead send his representative
to grace the event, the name
of which will be published
on L’Osservatore Romano,
the Vatican’s newspaper, on
November 27.
“The Holy Father will
not be comi ng to Manila
for t he a n n ive r s a r y, but
given the importance of the
quadricentennial celebrations
of the university, His Holiness
w i l l b e s e n d i n g fo r t h e
occasion his special envoy,
whose name will be published
in L’osservatore Romano the
after noon of Saturday, 27
November 2010,” A dams said
in news published at the CBCP
website (cbcpnews.com).
Tiong said the Pope’s nonacceptance of the invitation
was expected.
“Inasmuch as we would
like that the Pope be around
on [January 2011]… we had to
be realistic. We are aware of so
many factors that may prevent
him from coming.
He has his hands full of
so many problems and issues
right now,” Tiong said.
B u t Ti o n g a d m i t t e d
the Pope’s absence in the
Quadricentennial will reduce
the hype of the celebration.
“[The Pope’s absence] will
tone down a bit the level of
celebration, but the Pope’s
attendance is not absolutely
essential, the event will go
on,” he added.
“We invited the Pope for
the January 2011 celebration
and that was the invitation
which was refused. We have
not invited the Pope for the
closing ceremonies,” Tiong
said.
Meanwhile, Tiong said
the royal couple of Spain were
the only heads of state invited
to the Quadricentennial, but
foreign diplomats were also
given invitations.
“The designation ‘royal’
is by now a historical title and
not a functional title anymore,
in a sense that the title does
not oblige doing anything
special for the king and queen
of Spain,” he said.
In 1785, King Charles
III gave the title “Royal” to
the University, while in 1902
through a papal decree, Pope
Leo XIII bestowed the title
“Pontifical” to UST, putting
the University directly under
the Holy See.
In the last decades, UST
was paid visits by popes and
a Spanish King: Pope Paul VI
in 1970, King Carlos I in 1974
and 1995, and Pope John Paul
II in 1981 and 1995.
Accountancy examinations goes automated
JUST in keeping with the times.
The AMV-College of Accountancy will adopt next school
year an automated way of computing grades after a successful
trial during the final examinations for summer classes.
College Secretary Josephine Relis said Opscan
Insight 4 OMR 202, the counting machine
purchased from supplier Syrex Corp. can
evaluate 2,000 test papers in an hour.
“We’ve wanted to acquire this machine
for a long time. Now the students will know
their test results within minutes after the exam,”
Relis said.
The same machine is also being used by the
colleges of Rehabilitation Sciences, Medicine
and Surgery, Nursing and the Admissions Office.
College of Accountancy clerk Shirley de
Chavez said customized test papers that look like
“lotto cards” will also be used.
“The students will have to answer our 120-item
specialized test papers from the supplier,” De Chavez said.
Fourth-year accounting student Cris Evert Ramos said
automation may be advantageous, but worried about making
erasures.
“The machine is good, our test results came out almost
instantly. But erasures can sure shave some points off our
test,” Ramos said.
All faculty members and staff of the college will be
oriented on how to operate the machine to ease the workload
of professors checking the students’ papers.
Accounting professor Edgar Allan Uy said automation
will relieve the stress of checking exams.
“The grading of students will be more efficient,” Uy said.
Aside from counting test scores, the machine can also
count ballots for student elections and tally responses from
University surveys. But Relis said the machine is strictly for
examinations only. Darenn G. Rodriguez
The
Varsitarian
NEWS
Danielle
Danielle Clara
Clara P.
P. Dandan,
Dandan, Editor
Editor
2 JUNE 18, 2010
Police mum on full report
April carpark fire
blamed on negligence
NEGLIGENCE caused in
the blaze at a restaurant in
the multi-deck carpark last
April 23, the Manila Fire
Department has found.
Chief Arson Investigator
F02 Bernardo Carta said
stocked oil at the Sticks and
Bowls restaurant has the
cause of fire that burned down
P20, 000 worth of property.
Initially, the fire department
blamed an overheated
exhaust duct for the incident.
However, Carta
declined to give a copy of
the incident’s full report to
the Varsitarian, saying there
was an “agreement” between
him and Selegna Holdings
Corp., carpark deck operator.
“There was negligence,
but to whose responsibility
I cannot say. It is between
us and the company,” Carta
said in a phone interview,
without elaborating.
The findings were shared
by the UST security office,
which is part of the UST crisis
management committee that
ordered a probe of the incident.
“Oil must have been
stocked for a long period of
time, and created a reaction
resulting in combustion,”
security office chief Joseph
Badinas said in an interview.
But the Facilities
Management Office (FMO),
another member of the
crisis management team,
upheld to the initial findings
of the fire department.
FMO engineer Oliver
Gagarin, who was at the
vicinity of Sticks and Bowls
when fire broke out, said he
found an exhaust duct lying
on the ground outside the
‘Inang’ Tanlayco; 78
WELL-LOVED UST literature
pedagogue Milagros Tanlayco
devoted her life to imparting
the knowledge and beauty of
literature to eager students.
After nearly six decades of
mentoring countless students,
who have become great
literary writers and literature
teachers themselves, Tanlayco
succumbed to a stroke
last May 10. She was 78.
“She was a dynamic
professor with a sense of
drama,” said Ferdinand Lopez,
a former student of Tanlayco
who now teaches literature at
the Faculty of Arts and Letters.
“She is strict but at the
same time sympathetic to
the needs of her students,”
said Theology professor
Crispulo Acuña, who was
also a student of Tanlayco.
“She was always on
time for class, armed with
a well-made syllabus, and
meticulous when it came to
details,” said Paulo Tenchavez,
a student of Tanlayco at
the UST Graduate School.
Tanlayco herself had been
mentored by well-loved UST
literature professors Clemencia
Colayco and Carolina Garcia.
She initiated courses such as
Oriental literature, African
literature, literary criticism,
and the Bible as literature.
Called “Inang” by
younger professors at Arts and
Letters, Tanlayco had a strong
conviction for democracy
up until the recent national
elections, when she suffered
a stroke after failing to vote
because of the long queues and
extreme heat at the Torres High
School in Gagalangin, Tondo.
She got a high fever
and after housemates
found her unconscious
in bed, she was rushed to
the UST Hospital. She was
pronounced dead at 7:15 p.m.
“She died trying
to vote,” Jose Victorino
Tanlayco, her nephew, said.
“The importance of
God, family, loyalty, integrity
and the individual person
were lessons we have learned
from Auntie Mila,” he added.
Her remains were
transferred to the Santisimo
Rosario Parish last May 14
for a UST necrological service
arranged by Artlets. Father
Vice-Rector Pablo Tiong,
OP led the Mass. Many old
professors came to pay tribute
to Tanlayco, including retired
deans and faculty. Tanlayco
was cremated on the same
day at La Loma Crematorium.
During the necrological
service, UST Graduate School
Dean Lilian Sison described
Tanlayco as a dedicated
professor. “Tanlayco was a
pleasure to work with,” she said.
“She loved English
intricacies,” remembered
Alice Colet Villadolid, a
professor at Artlets and
a classmate of Tanlayco in
her undergraduate studies.
Dean
Emerita
M a g d a l e n a Vi l l a b a ,
remembered Tanlayco’s
“handbag of pharmacy”:
she would fish out medicine
from her bag whenever her
friends needed medication.
Tanlayco graduated
cum laude in the AB
English program of the
then Faculty of Philosophy
and Letters in 1951. She
finished her master’s and
doctorate in literature at
the UST Graduate School.
She received the Catholic
Authors Award in 1997. In
2002, Tanlayco was named
Professor Emerita. She taught
for 58 years. K.N.K.C. Grafil
restaurant after the incident.
“It is hard to reconcile
the findings of FMO and the
arson investigator. Most likely
I’ll go for our own finding
because we were there before
the fire started,” said FMO
Director Fr. Roberto Pinto, O.P.
The exhaust duct absorbs
smoke from food establishments
and releases it outside. Pinto
said something might have
hit the exhaust duct causing
the smoke to concentrate
inside Sticks and Bowls.
“In our findings it
seems that there is no fire.
But since the fire investigator
is the third party, we take
their report,” he added.
The Varsitarian tried to
get a comment from the carpark
management, but they declined.
FMO fire and safety
engineer Antonio Espejo said
the carpark deck had complied
with the building requirements
set by the National Building
Code of the Philippines.
The whole building is
made of reinforced concrete
or a combination of concrete
and reinforcing steel bars.
The fourth floor of the deck,
where the AMV-College of
Accountancy is located, has
a sprinkler system, 54 fire
extinguishers, four fire hose
cabinets, four fire exits, and
one main enclosed staircase
with emergency lights and
visible fire escape plans.
“The AMV building
should have had the [Fire
Safety Inspection] certificate
b y n o w, b u t i n s p e c t o r s
were not able to continue
inspecting because they were
called on duty,” Espejo added.
Kalaine Nikka Kay C. Grafil
Facilities and Management Offices personnel install tarpaulins in
preparation for the Lumina Pandit exhibit in the UST Miguel de
Benavides Central Library.
Paul allyson r. quiambao
Kagawaran ng Filipino, ibinalik
BU BU H AY I N
ng
Unibersidad ang Kagawaran
ng Filipino matapos itong
buwagin tatlumpo’t isang
t aon na a ng na kalilipas
at ilapat sa kasalukuyang
Kagawaran ng Wika
It o’y i b i n a l i k p a r a
makisabay sa pagdiriwang
ng ika-apat na raang taon
ng Unibersidad sa 2011.
Si Imelda de Castro,
isang propesor ng Filipino
s a Fa cu lt y of A r t s a nd
Let ters, ang mamumuno
ng baging depar tamento
sa darating na semester.
Ay o n k a y M a r i l u
Madr unio, puno ng
Kagawaran ng Wika, mas
mabibigyang pansin na ang
mga pangangailangan ng mga
propesor ng Filipino ngayong
may sarili na silang kagawaran.
“Karamihan sa mga isyu
sa aming departamento ay
walang kinalaman sa Filipino.
Ngayong may sarili na silang
kagawaran, magkakaroon sila
ng sariling pondo na maaaring
magpalaganap ng Filipino sa
Unibersidad” ani Madrunio.
Dati nang may
Kagawaran ng Filipino ngunit
ito’y binuwag noong 1979 at
sa halip ay inilipat na lang sa
general education subjects.
Sa ilalim ng dating
pamamalakad, ang
Depar tment of Languages
ay n a n g a n g a s iw a r i n s a
kagawaran ng wikang Ingles,
Español, at Filipino. A ng
tatlong departamento rin ay
naghahati sa iisang badyet.
Maaari ring magkaroon
ng sariling gabay sa
ortograpiya ang Unibersidad
kung makakabuo ang
K a g a w a r a n n g Fi l i p i n o
nito, dagdag ni Madrunio.
Noong nakaraang taon,
binalik rin ang Departamento
ng Kasaysayan sa bagong
pamumuno ni Augusto De
Viana. Bahagi ang kagawaran
ng Filipino at Kasaysayan
FMO installs CCTV cameras
THE UST campus is now equipped with
closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras
as school facilities were renovated under
a yearly summer maintenance program.
Facilities Management Office
Director Fr. Roberto Pinto, O.P. said his
office is also planning to install CCTV
cameras inside buildings, aside from
road intersections across the campus.
“The recordings of the camera
cannot be erased. Rather hi-tech, it
can be used for police work as
well as surveillance.” Pinto said.
Security Office chief Joseph
Badinas said the surveillance cameras
will ease their security operations easier.
“If there is a crime happening,
we can easily gather information,”
Badinas said. “However, security
officers need to have proper training
on how to use this [technology].”
The monitoring room for the CCTV
cameras might be installed in his office.
The total cost of the twelve
CCTV cameras set up across the campus
amounted to P3 million, Pinto said.
The first batch of cameras is a
“dry run” since they have not yet been
officially ordered, because electrical
components needed to be fixed first.
Meanwhile, several buildings
were renovated. In St. Raymund’s
Building, which houses Faculty of Arts
and Letters and College of Commerce
and Business Administration,
m o s t cl a s s r o o m s w e r e r e p a i n t e d .
The painted glass panes of
the classrooms were replaced
with reflectorized glass windows.
“The glass panes have become brittle
over time that the slightest contact might
shatter the window,” said Artlets Dean
Michael Anthony Vasco. “This will also
give a corporate look to the building.”
The building’s audio-visual room
(AVR) was also transferred to the second
CCTV, Page 4
ang proyekto ng Unibersidad
na vertical articulation
kung saan binubuo ng mga
sariling departamento ang
iba’t ibang disiplina para
mapalawak ang pagaaral dito.
Sabi ni Madr unio,
inabot sila ng apat na
taong pangungulit sa
administrasyon para mabuong
m u l i a n g d e p a r t a m e nt o.
“Apat na taon na naming
hinihiling sa administrasyong
ibalik muli ang departamento.
Ngayong mag-aapat na raang
taon na ang Unibersidad, ito
na ang repormang hinihintay
nating mag papalakas sa
Filipino.Darenn G. Rodriguez
Globe UST SIM
cards released
T HOM ASI A NS f i n a l ly got t hei r
own UST-Globe subscriber identity
m o d u l e (S I M ) c a r d d u r i n g t h e
enrollment for school year 2010-2011.
A booth was set up at the first day
of enrolment last May 31, where students
got their own UST-Globe SIM, exclusive
to Thomasians through a tie-up between
the University and Globe Telecom.
About 2,000 SIM cards were initially
distributed to University employees,
alumni, and faculty members on May 5.
Em ily Cioco, marketi ng f ield
supervisor of Fonetech said Globe Telecom
aims to distribute some 16,000 SIM
cards by June 12. Fonetech is the official
distributor of the special Globe SIM card.
“R ig ht now, we are t arget i ng
16,992 SI M ca rd s by t he e nd of
e n rol l me nt [ p e r iod], so st ude nt s
SIM, Page 4
UST Singers reap nine awards in European tour
THE UST Singers bagged nine awards
in three separate international choral
competitions during their latest European tour.
In a message to the Varsitarian,
Fidel Calalang Jr., conductor of the UST
Singers, said the choir has been getting
awards during its 18th international tour that
started last April 9 and would end in July.
The choir took four first prize
awards in the 17th Bangor International
Choral Festival April 22 to 25 at
Northern Ireland in United Kingdom.
They won first place in the Mixed Voice,
Madrigal Singing, Open Choral and Sacred
Music categories. They were also awarded
as the Best Visiting Choir in the festival.
Meanwhile, the singers received
two special awards at the 56th Cork
International Choral Festival held
in Ireland from April 28 to May 2.
They received the Lady Dorothy Mayer
Memorial Trophy, awarded for a brilliant
performance of a piece for 20th century music
programming and the Peace Trophy, given to
the choir whose performance in the festival
displayed the advocacy of the benefactor of the
award, and touched the hearts of the audience.
The Singers also wowed the Polish
in the 6th Mundus Cantat International
Choral Competition in Poland last May.
They bested choirs from Norway,
France, Sweden, Ukraine, Slovenia, as
well as the Polish. The choir also won
first prize in the Sacred Music, Secular
Singers, Page 5
The
Varsitarian
SPECIAL REPORTs
Alphonsus Luigi E. Alfonso, Editor
JUNE 18, 2010 3
This new academic year...
CSC eyes passage
of Students’ Code
Jilson seckler c. tiu
THE CENTRAL Student Council
(CSC) plans to address old problems
in the quadricentennial school
year, particularly the delays in the
passage of the UST Student’s Code,
considered the centerpiece project of
the celebration as far as student leaders
are concerned.
“We are here to provide the
projects that we feel the students
need,” Leandro Santos, CSC President
said in an interview.
The council has lined up
projects such as unified information
dissemination, sustainable
environmental campaigns, thorough
grievance consultation, “lasting
awareness” of students’ rights,
intensified security building and
focused community development
projects. It also wants to enrich
Thomasian pride.
Topping the list is the long overdue
UST Students’ Code, which has
dragged on from one administration
to the next. The Students’ Code is
undergoing yet another review after
being brought back from Rector Fr.
Rolando de la Rosa, O.P.
“With our advocacy geared over
the Thomasian studentry, we will do
what we can to finally set the pace of
the code in the University,” CSC vice
president Eula Edrem See said. “We
will still hold a meeting regarding the
code and decide on what plans and
actions we are going to do.”
But a bigger problem looms, this
time concerning students’ knowledge
of the code. Randolph Clet, Faculty of
Civil Law Student Council president
and speaker of the CSC Central Board,
said students should first learn what
the code is before anything else. “We
want the students to own the code as
their own,” Clet said.
Paul June San Diego of Alyansa
ng Kristiyanong Lakas (Aklas) party
agreed, saying the CSC last year failed
to address students’ indifference.
“This has been the problem of the
outgoing CSC officers. They failed
to exert enough effort to market their
projects well to the majority of the
students that resulted to (sic) students’
aloofness,” San Diego said.
The CSC should establish
personal relations with students by
“mingling” with them, he added.
See said CSC will collaborate
with local student councils to gain
the support of the whole Thomasian
can] text them,” Santos said. “Texting
40,000 [students] may cause delay
but I want them to feel that there’s
an attempt on the part of the CSC to
reach them”
John Ryan Sze, CSC public
relations officer, proposed the project
titled “CSC Infoblast,” which aims to
disseminate information to the student
body by individually texting them
updates.
Recently, UST forged a tie-up
with Globe Telecom for a special
subscriber identity module (SIM) card
exclusive to UST students, faculty and
alumni, who will receive updates and
notices such as class suspensions from
the University administration.
Own projects
With our advocacy geared over the
Thomasian studentry, we will do what
we can to finally set the pace of the
code in the University.
-Edrem Eula See
community.
Jernold Vergara, AMV-College
of Accountancy Student Council
president, said his council will have
its own activities, while engaging with
CSC’s own.
Commerce Student council
president Ryan Amandy said it is not
enough to just implement projects
within the college.
“We do not want to fill our
calendar with just college-based
activities because we would want to
take a big part in the University’s
celebration as a support unit for
events,” Amandy said.
Santos, for his part, said the
council is planning steps on how to
effectively disseminate important
notices to the studentry.
“We intend to get the [cellphone]
numbers of each student [so that we
Aside from providing assistance
to CSC, local student councils plan to
“spread the light” through their own
undertakings.
Clet said the Civil Law Student
Council will promote student legal
assistance on campus.
Lordan Carreon, Faculty of
Medicine and Surgery Student Coucil
internal vice president, said his council
plans to hold a national convention of
medicine schools.
Nielson Dane Gustilo, College
of Nursing Central Board of Students
vice president, plans to have a monthly
blood pressure- taking activity.
“We are aiming to venture into
different types of advocacies. With
this, we can help promote health
consciousness in UST,” Gustillo said.
A journal titled, “The Legacy
Remains: 400 Reasons why UST
CSC, page 4
(from left) John Ryan Sze (Public Relations
Officer), Kristine Mae Urbi (Secretary), Eula
Edrem See (Vice President), Leandro Santos
II (President), Joan Charmaine Lim (Auditor),
and Franz Kevin Geronimo (Treasurer).
Students on ‘Q’
Compiled by ALEXIS AILEX C. VILLAMOR, JR.
ANTICIPATION is growing months ahead of the
University’s quadricentennial. As Thomasians
eagerly await the festivities, some of them could not
resist voicing out recommendations for this oncein-a-lifetime celebration. The Varsitarian gathered
some of the suggestions.
What do you want to see
in UST’s quadr icentennial
celebration?
“Ever since, [UST’s] fireworks displays have been
great, but I want [to see] a better one, like fireworks that say ‘400’.”
- Joshua de la Cruz, vice president external Medical Technology
Society
“A grand classical orchestra playing songs of the 17th to 20th
century.”
- Ralph Bejar, Mr. Thomasian Personality 2010
“Freebies, contests, and live bands! Things like that.”
- Daryl John Tulay, third year, Information Technology
“Victory. I want to see UST as the top university in the Philippines,
not just the oldest but the most outstanding. Also, victory in [the next]
UAAP Cheerdance Competition.”
- Nagatoshi Ebisawa, third year, Biology
“I want to see the products of UST for the past 400 years—the
changes and improvements through the years. Things that will make
me more proud as a Thomasian. I want to see Pope Benedict XVI, too!”
- Katrina Coro, fourth year, Tourism
How do you want the Quadricentennial
Central Student Council to perform in 2011?
What do you want it to achieve?
“I consider the Central Student Council as our dynamic
and creative partners in our information campaign regarding the
Quadricentennial celebration. I want them to generate participation
for our Quadricentennial celebration and, in line with our theme, that
they become leaders in building the church, the family and the nation.”
- Giovanna Fontanilla, director, Office of Public Affairs
“I would like to see the CSC spearheading innovative projects that
would not only benefit the whole student body but the also the partnercommunities of the University, which is line with the Father Rector’s
project for the 400th anniversary of UST.”
- Paul Castillo, National Service Training Program facilitator
“I want them to have more effective information dissemination,
because we rarely receive information about the happenings in UST at
the Beato Angelico Building.”
- RJ Liahona Burgos, managing editor, Vision Magazine of
the College of Architecture
“I hope the Quadricentennial student council would do their job
and live by the true Thomasian identity and initiate activities to help the
University’s mission to instill in the young the values of competence,
compassion and commitment.”
- Hanna Joy Viloria, third-year, Legal Management
What do you think about Pope skipping the
quadricentennial celebration?
“On our part in the Security Office, we want him to attend UST’s
celebration in 2011. It saddens us that he would not be able to come.”
- Joseph Badinas, detachment commander, UST Safety and
Security Services
“The papal visit is something that we, Thomasians anticipate.
It is sad that [Pope] Benedict XVI will not be able to come anymore.
However, with or without the Pope, UST at 400 is expected to be a
blast!”
- Rogelio Mariano, Jr., vice president internal, Communication
Arts Students Association
“It will be something more
memorable to us Thomasians if he
graces our most awaited event. And
without his presence, it could be a
big loss to us.”
- Anjo Resurreccion,
Psychology alumnus, Batch 2010.
photo courtesy of the central student council
Graphics by Carla T. Gamalinda
“ He shou ld not s k ip t he
qu a d r ice nt e n n ial celebr at ion
because it is, as of this century, the
biggest celebration that UST will
hold.”
- Faith Justine Benitez,
second year, Advertising Arts
The
4 JUNE 18, 2010
Varsitarian
special reports
From page 1
Hong Kong schools got
the first two spots: University
of Hong Kong,followed by
the Hong Kong University
of Science and Technology.
Neighboring countries
have more schools in the Top
200 than the Philippines:
Taiwan has 17, India 12,
Malaysia six, and Indonesia
six.
Countries which
d o m i n a t e d t h e To p 2 0
include Japan with eight
schools, South Korea with
four, Singapore with two,
China with two, and Hong
Kong with four.
The criteria were global
academic peer review (30
percent), citations per faculty
(20 percent), student faculty
ratio (20 percent), global
employer review (10 percent),
international faculty(five
percent), international
s t u d e n t s (f i v e
percent).
Graphics by Jasmine C. Santos
UST ranks 101st in Asia
UST failed
to get a slot in
Na t u r a l S c ie n c e s
and the Information
Te c h n o l o g y a n d
Engineering
categories.
This year saw
Ateneo took the
lead on each area
a mong Ph il ippi ne
schools exce pt i n
Life Sciences and
Biome d ici ne, a nd
Social Sciences.
UST dropped behind
the three Philippine
universities in Social
Scie nc e a nd A r t s
and Humanities
with scores of 16.20
percent and 17.90,
respectively.
But among the
Philippine schools,
UST was the most
i mproved over all.
This was due to
t he fact t hat UST
landed in the top 10
in one key criterion,
citations per
Table shows the top three Philippines schools’ ranking in 2009 and 2010 released by the London-based Times
Higher Education-Quacqerelli Symonds survey on Asia’s top 200 universities.
Graphics by Carla T. Gamalinda
faculty. In fact, it placed
eighth in the criterion.
“Our researches are
entered in the Scopus,”
said Fr. Arthur Dingel,O.P.,
assistant to the Rector for
planning and management.
“Scopus is a kind of journal
wherein all the scientific
researches around the world
CSC
From page 3
remains in shape,” will be launched by the
College of Education Student Council. Details
of the project were unavailable as of press time.
Meanwhile, the College of Fine Arts and
Design Student Council is not only preparing for
the Quadricentennial, but also for the college’s
10th anniversary.
Diana Lynn Sy, College of Tourism and
Hospitality Management Student Council
president, said her council will make the presence
of the college felt this year.
Kabaitan Bautista, Conservatory of Music
Student Council president, shared the same
sentiment.
“We will make it a point that our term will
be about service to the students,” Bautista said.
“And we will continue what our college has
become through the years.”
Evelyn Songco, assistant to the Rector for
student affairs and CSC adviser, also expressed
optimism that her comeback to the student affairs
office will be fruitful.
“I would like to see from them greater
dynamism, greater creativity, and greater sense
of oneness with everybody working with them
this coming year.” Songco said. Ian Carlo B.
Antonio and Marnee A. Gamboa
SIM
From page 2
better hurry while supplies last,” Cioco said.
The UST-Globe SIM card charges 50
centavos per text message and P3 per minute
for calls to Globe or Touch Mobile (TM). It
charges the normal rate of P1 per text and
P6 per minute for calls to other networks.
In an earlier interview, Fr. Arthur Dingel,
O.P., assistant to the Rector for planning and
quality management, said the SIM will be able
to receive up-to-date announcements from the
University such as class suspensions, for free.
En rollees were asked to pay a P20
“activation fee” upon claiming their exclusive
SIM card last May 31. Darenn G. Rodriguez
is entered. If we can get to
be published in the journal
then that would mean added
points for us. But the thing
is, this year we did not meet
the deadline for the journals.
We are still in the process of
reapplying. If granted, maybe
our rank will go higher.”
In the Recruiter Review
CCTV
From page 2
floor from the ground floor.
Va s c o s a i d t h e AV R
was converted to classrooms
while rooms 210 to 216 were
renovated to become new AVR.
“The wisdom behind the
[transfer of the AVR], is because
every rainy season, the first floor
gets flooded. So it is not wise
to put an audio-visual room in
the first floor. It will damage
the electrical system and the
equipment of the lecture hall,”
Vasco said, apparently referring to
the onslaught of cyclone “Ondoy”
last September when the campus
Steps
c a t e g o r y, a l l Ph i l i p p i n e
schools showed declines in
their ranks. UP ranked 22nd
(from 10), Ateneo 25th (from
11), La Salle ran ked 29th
(from 15) and UST 59th (from
21). According to the Asian
University Rankings website,
the Recruiter Review is like
the Academic Peer Review.
submerged in a waist-deep flood.
The Father’s Residence and the
Main Building also had renovations.
Pinto said the cost of
the renovations amounted
t o m o r e t h a n P 6 0 m il l io n .
“Most of the projects were
done last May 31. But some of the
projects cannot meet the deadline
because they started late.” Pinto said.
A p o r t i o n o f t h e f o u rpercent increase in tuition fees
for school year 2010-2011 is
allocated for maintenance work.
Pinto said the Quadricentennial
is just partly the reason for the
renovations, adding it has been
a regular routine for campus
improvements to be made during
summer. Jonas Eleazar B. Trinidad
From page 1
used, equivalent to “Somewhat Satisfied” and
“Moderately Satisfied.”
A rating of 4 means “Very Satisfied,” 3 means
“Moderately Satisfied”, 2, “Somewhat Satisfied”,
1, “Not Satisfied,” and 0 “Not observable/not
applicable.”
The Varsitarian tried to get comment from
STePS concerning its ranking, but officials said
STePS Director Fr. Winston Cabading, O.P. was out
of the country. Other officials declined to comment.
Other administrative offices that scored higher
than STePS are the Office of Public Affairs (3.06),
accounting office (3.11), UST security office (3.27),
Office of the Secretary General (3.31), and the
Facilities Management Office (3.38).
In the support services category, health
services scored lowest with a 2.83 average, followed
by the Educational Technology Center (EdTech),
facilitator of the UST e-Learning Access Program
(e-Leap), with 2.83, student services (3.01), Miguel
de Benavides Library (3.06), registrar’s office (3.1),
and guidance counseling (3.21).
UST Health Service Director Dr. Ma. Salve
Olalia attributed her offices’ low scores to students
who did not undergo minor operations such as tooth
B u t UST’s Wa t e r l o o
r e m a i n s Ac a d e m i c Pe e r
Review.
UST landed 90th. Both
U P and Ateneo improved
their positions, ranking 23rd
and 24th, respectively. La
Salle fell from 70 to 72.
“There is such a thing
as Academic Peer Review
Tiger Cubs
wherein deans and presidents
of dif ferent u n iversit ies
a re g ive n su r vey for m s
to answer,” Father Dingle
explained. “Their questions
mai n ly revolve on what
school pioneered in the field
of health related sciences
and medicine and nursing.
The choice of each person
would depend heavily on
what school advertises the
most. UST is still new in
this system.”
In International Faculty
and Students, no Philippine
university figured.
Other local universities
figured in some categories.
In the Student to Faculty
Category, the University of
South Eastern Philippines
rose from zero to No. 43.
I n t he cat egor y of
Student Exchange Inbound,
the University of San Carlos
and Ateneo de Manila
placed 53rd (from 39) and
48th (from 56), respectively.
“R ig ht now we a re
tr ying to patter n the
University’s website to suit
the qualif ications of the
THE-QS,” Dingle said. “We
do hope that our combined
efforts in advertising our
University would soon bear
fruit.” Monica N. Ladisla
From page 2
coach Ascue said. “But the team became too inconsistent. We never
made a complete attendance during practice trainings, which affected
the team’s overall performance during the games.”
Coach Ascue also said that some of the Cubs did not show up in
important games either because they are sick or are on vacation. The
Cubs are going through a rebuilding process following the departure of 11
players due to graduation. Lester G. Babiera and Angelo Nonato Cabrera
Taekwondo
From page 20
upcoming stint in the Asian
Games in Guangzhou, China later
this year.
M a n a l o , a 19 -ye a r- ol d
extractions and nursing care.
“It is understandable why we fared poorly
because these students did not avail [themselves]
of these (health services) since these were not
needed,” Olalia said.
Health services also got low ratings of 2.99 to
2.68 for the question “the clinic staffs attend to my
cares promptly.”
Olalia said the Health Service has its own
regular survey in which her office consistently
gets requests from students for additional doctors,
nurses, and clerks.
“This can be tied with the poor rating regarding
prompt service,” she said. “We have notified the
administration officials about these concerns, and
they are exerting best efforts to address these.”
In the academic services category, the College
of Rehabilitation Sciences (CRS) scored the highest
rating of 3.30.
“One of the things that keep the students
satisfied with our academic service is that we have
a listening ear,” CRS Dean Jocelyn Agcaoili said.
CRS conducts its own satisfaction surveys
every after its first shifting exam called a “formative
evaluation,” at the middle of every semester, and
a “summative evaluation” at the end of every
semester. The survey also revealed students from
College of Tourism and Hospitality Management
st ude nt f rom t he C ol lege of
Education, will suit up for UST for
the last time this coming school
year. Mapilisan, also 19, is from the
College of Rehabilitation Sciences
who has been playing for UST
for seven years now since high
school. Frauleine Michelle S.
Villanueva
would “most likely” recommend UST to their
peers. The electronics engineering program
of the Faculty of Engineering came out as
the “highly recommended” course in the
University followed by accountancy, and
medical technology.
The annual exit survey was conducted
from March 16 to April 10 with a total of 23,340
respondents. The survey has been expanded to
all year levels from only graduating students in
previous years.
Students from the colleges of Accountancy,
Science, Rehabilitation Sciences, Tourism and
Hospitality Management, Architecture, Fine
Arts and Design, Commerce, and Nursing,
together with the faculties of Pharmacy, Arts
and Letters, Engineering, Medicine and Surgery,
and the Conservatory of Music, participated in
the assessment.
“The students should always expect a
better service to keep us motivated to become
innovative,” Dingel said. “We will not only be
forced to do something better than this year,
but we will be inspired because the fact that
they expect something from us means that
they believe that we can do it.” Charmaine M.
Parado with reports from Kalaine Nikka Kay
C. Grafil
The
Varsitarian
WITNESS
JUNE 18, 2010 5
Quinia Jenica E. Ranjo, Editor
New media at the service of the word
By JENNIFER M. ORILLAZA
our cities and stop before the threshold
of our homes and our hearts,” the
Supreme Pontiff said.
Father Nicanor Lalog II, a UST
Journalism alumnus who has a Radio
Veritas show, said the new digital
technology is more than a means and
an instrument for communication; it is
also a milieu in itself.
“A lot of priests have indeed tried to
use social networking to reach out to
the young people,” said Father Lalog,
who’s taking up MA Theology in
Socio-Pastoral Communications at the
UST Graduate School. “Priests and the
church hierarchy are very much into
these new communication technologies
Heroism
From page 8
pattern on the woman’s body consists of small
human figures awaiting their release into the
outside world. The painting presents the pains of
childbirth that a mother suffers willingly for her
child from the time of conception. “Every Filipino
who exerts an effort to become worthy children
of the Motherland is a hero” is the tagline of the
art piece.
Heroism is Innate
Daniel Aligaen’s black-and-white Japanese
tattoo-inspired work,“It’s In Our Hands,” serves
as an eye-opener for his highly symbolic and
subjective art.
“My target is the one who is looking at the
painting—it is you. The message depends on who
is looking at it and how the person perceives the
symbolism in my work,” Aligaen said.
The subjectivity of the painting is evident in
its clashing images of a skull and random patterns
on the background such as falling missiles,
different flora and a Japanese mask.
“In Every Corner” by Art Petron Grand
Prize winner and Benavidez awardee Yveese
Belen, resembles a chess board with the squares
displaying scenes. The artist’s trademark naïf
figures go well with her simple yet resolute
statement, “Filipino Heroes. W herever.
Whenever.” The painting portrays the Filipino
as an all-around hero, whether it be at work or
play and in times of hardship and doubt.
The scenes in Belen’s piece show that
Filipinos always persevere through times of
trouble with their deep faith and an uncanny
ability to smile despite their problems. Singers
From page 2
Music and Spiritual and Gospel categories.
UST Singers are in Berlin, Germany and will
move to Paris, France and Belgium for concerts.
In June last year, the UST singers took home
three awards in the California International Choral
Festival and Competition. The UST group won
first prize in the Required Pieces and Folk Song
competitions, besting five other contenders.
The choral group was also awarded the
People’s Choice award based on audience votes
after the competition. Jonas Eleazar B. Trinidad
not only (in reaching out) to the youth,
but also to everyone in proclaiming
the gospel.”
He also recognized the new media as
a remedy to the youth’s aloof attitude
toward religion.
Media-savvy
But while the clergy recognize the
vital role played by the digital media
in evangelization, they also discern the
downside of technology having too
much exposure in the limelight, to the
point of it overshadowing the message
of the gospel.
“There are priests who are stuck with
the typewriter while there are those
on the extreme side (who overuse
technology),” Lalog said. “Some priests
are just media-savvy, but empty of the
Gospel.”
He noted that this “spiritual emptiness”
brought about by the overuse of
technology shows that person-toperson communication is still the most
effective approach in helping people
strengthen their faith.
“It is only with the life of the priest, his
life of witnessing and his holiness, that
he could truly proclaim Jesus Christ’s
gospel,” said Lalog.
“It’s not really with his laptop or with
his BlackBerry, neither with his antics
nor jokes,” he said.
Santisimo Rosario Parish, PPCRV
work together for clean elections
By BRYLLE B. TABORA
AUTOMATION was a historic first for
Philippines elections last May 10, but the
problems remain the same, such as votebuying amd personality-oriented politics.
This was the the main observation of
poll volunteers from the UST Santisimo
Rosario Parish, who took part in the
country’s first automated polls.
Fourty-three Thomasians —
composed students, faculty members, and
University officials — volunteered with the
Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible
Voting (PPCRV) and were assigned in
three polling precincts - Ramon Magsaysay
High School, Juan Luna High School, and
the Mormon chapel on Morayta Street - of
District Four in Manila.
According to Vincent Aguila,
president of the Political Science Forum, 38
students from the Political Science Forum,
Political Science professor Ma. Zenia
Rodriguez, former Faculty of Arts and
Letters Dean Prof. Belen Tangco, PPCRV
coordinator of the Santisimo Rosario
Parish Bro. Rolando Ingaran, PPCRV
assistant coordinator Fr. Rodel Aligan,
O.P., and Santisimo Rosario Parish priest,
Fr. Franklin Beltran, O.P., represented the
Thomasian community in helping maintain
the integrity of the elections through
responsible stewardship.
Aguila said that the Thomasian
volunteers served as poll watchers and also
assisted the voters who were unfamiliar
with the use of the automated machines.
Tangco was the one who tapped the
Political Science Forum to participate in
the elections, to which the latter agreed
to join. Beltran, on the other hand,
encouraged Catholics to volunteer and
participate in the election with the PPCRV,
and a total 167 volunteers (Thomasian and
non-Thomasians alike) responded to the
call.
Election experience
The Thomasian
volunteers’ experience at
the polls were rife with
the common problems in
elections, one of which
was vote buying.
“ We e n c ou nt e r e d
i ncident s l i ke vote buying, [so] I asked some
of our volunteers to take
pictures of any suspicious
individuals who [did the
act],” Aguila said.
He also said t hat
they had diff icult y in
mobilizing volunteers since one-third of their
organization was taking summer classes,
forcing him to delegate people below 18-yearsold and those who didn’t register to assist in
their respective precincts.
People outside the precincts also kept
giving away campaign paraphernalia even
though such an activity is banned during the
actual election.
“Some of the people outside the [polling]
precincts were handing out fans with the
candidate’s face on it and some were even
giving away money to passersby just to take
them,” he said. “We reported them to the
authority.”
For most of the volunteers, it was a tough
and challenging experience. But Aguila said
that even though they encountered a lot of
problems during their volunteering stint, they
were still able to do their tasks accordingly.
On a report given by the Political Science
Forum to the Varsitarian, the Political Science
Forum extended their time until 2 a.m. the
next day to get the election returns. They were
accompanied by Bro. Rolando Ingaran.
“The Thomasian volunteers, especially
the students, were very active during the
election. I only paid a few visits [to] the
polling precincts since we already had many
isabela a. martinez
WHO WOULD’VE thought that “faith”
and “facebook” would go hand in hand
in preaching the Good News?
The 44th World Communications
Day, with the theme, “The Priest
and Pastoral Ministry in a Digital
World: New Media at the Service
of the Word,” focused on the “new
vistas for dialogue, evangelization
and catechesis” offered by modern
technology such as blogs and social
networking sites. The event kicked off
with worldwide thanksgiving masses
last May 16, which also commemorated
the Pope’s declaration of 2009 as the
Year of the Priests.
“Church communities have always
used the modern media for fostering
communication, engagement with
society, and for encouraging dialogue at
a wider level,” Pope Benedict XVI said
in his message released last January 24.
“Yet the recent explosive growth and
greater social impact of these media
make them all the more important for a
fruitful priestly ministry.”
This “almost limitless expressive
capacity” of the digital media demands
greater responsibility from those who
are called to preach the Gospel. Priests
who are called to build a communion “in
Christ and with Christ” are challenged
to shift from the traditional means to
the latest generation of audiovisual
resources such as blogs, videos, images,
and websites in fulfilling their mission.
The Pope explained that these
technological innovations are great
instruments that will help Catholics
understand the life of Christ.
“Thanks to the new communications
media, the Lord can walk the streets of
Fr. Rodel Aligan, O.P., dean of the
UST Faculty of Sacred Theology
and a former media practitioner, also
recognized the negative effects of the
mass media.
“The mass media, by its very nature,
creates a trap for its practitioners,”
said Aligan he said in his talk, “The
Priest and the Mass Media: Celebrant
or Celebrity,” during last April’s UST
Theology Week.
. “Despite their goodwill and
imagination, [media practitioners] are
caught in a large corporate mechanism
that [transmutes] every vision into an
ideology defending an existing order.”
Aligan reminded priests that regardless
of their personal abilities and talents as
a communicator, their task is to be the
representative communicator of Christ
himself.
“The priest and the priesthood are
not self-sufficient or independent of
Christ. If so, he would lose his proper
missionary strength, reducing himself
to a mere human communicator—
someone unable to communicate and
represent Christ,” Aligan said.
Elvira Go, national chair of the Power
to Unite Catholic Family Bible Group
Inc., and host of the NBN-4’s religious
program “Power to Unite,” said that
religious broadcasters like herself are
given the special task to use the new
media to unite the people in the name
of Christ.
She noted that their gift of gab must
be placed in good use to strengthen the
faith of the Catholic laity.
“We should help the Church together,”
she said. “[Let] us bring it closer to the
people, [so that we can] make them
understand.”
volunteers and I didn’t need to worry [about]
them. What I did was to prepare the food
for the volunteers,” Beltran said, lauding the
volunteers for their active role.
Operation CHAMP
Serving as a watchdog in the elections
is no easy task. One must be mentally
prepared for the demands of the job.
Knowing this, the volunteers underwent
training seminars in time for E-day.
“We underwent a voter’s education
program for one week to prepare us in
time,” Aguila said.
The training they took was in the form
of a program called Operation CHAMP (or
Clean, Honest, Accurate, Meaningful and
Peaceful Elections) which was launched
by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of
the Philippines (CBCP) last May 7 in their
official website.
It aims to provide an “objective
assessment of the first automated national
elections in the country.” The program also
allowed the public to give commentaries and
to upload materials relative to the election.
The
Varsitarian
OPINION
6 JUNE 18, 2010
Editorial
Illustration by Fritzie Marie C. Amar
Some things amiss
with Top 200 list
HERE’S good news to start the new academic year on a
positive note - our beloved University clinched the 101st
spot in the 2010 listing of Asia’s Top 200 Universities by
the London-based Times Higher Education as gathered
by the consultancy firm Quacquarelli Symonds (THEQS).
Coming from a dismal 144th placing last year,
UST’s new ranking is a testament to how much it has
improved in such a short period of time. Currently, UST
is now perched comfortably in the third spot among the
four Philippine universities that often place in the list,
overtaking De La Salle University-Manila (at 106), but
still lagging behind Ateneo de Manila and the University
of the Philippines (UP), at 58 and 78, respectively.
T h e i m p r o v e d r a n k i n g k i c k s o f f U S T ’s
Quadricentennial celebration on a high note, and it
may spark a trend wherein the University can continue
to develop its programs so as to rise higher yet in the
prestigious list. Most of all, it serves as an affirmation
to the new batch of Thomasian freshmen that the
University they have chosen is globally-competitive and
competent, as attested by the THE-QS survey.
But UST should not also miss out on the survey’s
revealing findings, which must serve as a wake-up call
to UST as well as a reminder for it not to be too trusting
with the reliability of the THE-QS.
In the first place in the area of life sciences, UST’s
obvious specialty and edge among the others, it is way
behind. It is in 69th place, behind UP (32nd), Ateneo
(38th) and La Salle (84th).
In arts and humanities, UST placed far worse. It
took the 69th place, fourth after La Salle (54), UP (16)
and Ateneo (14). In some subjects, UST even failed to
place at all, as in IT and Engineering, and in Natural
Sciences.
How could a university that constantly dominates
the board exams in these subjects be beaten by other
schools that can’t even match the number of sciencerelated courses offered by UST? The mere fact that the
University produces top-notch graduates who do very
well in board exams should be telling enough of the
high-quality of education UST offers in such programs?
So what went wrong?
Editorial, Page 17
The Varsitarian
Founded Jan. 16, 1928
WHENEVER my friends ask
me “Emil, what is it like to be
a student-journalist?” I always
answer with an array of safe,
ready-made lies so far off from
the actual truth that it totally
misses the mark. (Of course,
this never happens as my friends
really don’t give a hoot about
this subject, but I wouldn’t want
accuracy to ruin that lead.)
Perhaps the reason why I opt to
go for the safe answer is because
it is too complicated to talk
about the multitude of emotions
one feels upon becoming a
student-journalist. On the one
hand, it is an ennobling feeling
giving back to the Thomasian
community by chronicling
UST’s history. On the other
hand, there is the constant
stress and pressure of the job
to consider, which makes being
in the school paper a daunting
commitment not to be taken
lightly.
One such stress as a studentwriter would be the fact that
you have to be deadlineoriented in order for the news
to preserve its’ timeliness. This
year, the Varsitarian staff, being
the masochists that they are,
decided to undergo a bimonthly
or “15-day cycle,” which, in
laymen’s term, means that the
Emil karlo A. de la cruz
Editor in Chief
PRINZ P. MAGTULIS
Managing Editor
dANIELLE CLARA P. DANDAN News Editor
JEREMY S. PEREY Sports Editor
aLPHONSUS LUIGI E. ALFONSO Special Reports Editor
SARAH JANE P. PAUYO Features Editor
MARIAN LEANNA T. DE LA CRUZ Literary Editor
MARK ANDREW S. FRANCISCO Patnugot ng Filipino
QUINIA JENICA E. RANJO Witness Editor
ALENA PIAS P. BANTOLO Sci-Tech Editor
PAUL ALLYSON R. QUIAMBAO Photography Editor
News Jennifer Ann G. Ambanta, Jilly Anne A. Bulauan,
Kalaine Nikka C. Grafil, Adrienne Jesse A. Maleficio,
Charmaine M. Parado, Darenn G. Rodriguez,
Jonas Eleazar B. Trinidad, Cliff Harvey C. Venzon
Sports Charizze L. Abulencia, Lester G. Babiera,
Angelo Nonato P. Cabrera, Mary Athena D. de Paz,
Ana Carmela M. Dayauon, Frauleine Michelle S. Villanueva
Special Reports Ian Carlo B. Antonio, Andrewly A. Agaton,
Rose May Y. Cabacang, Monica N. Ladisla, Alexis Ailex C. Villamor, Jr.
Features Justinne Chynna V. Garcia, Margaret Rose B. Maranan,
Marnee Sue A. Gamboa, Alma Maria L. Sarmiento, Ronalyn M. Umali
Literary Mika Rafaela A. Barrios, Rose-An Jessica M. Dioquino,
Robin G. Padilla, Azer N. Parrocha
Filipino Julie Ann Dominique P. de Leon, Patricia Isabela B. Evangelista,
Danalyn T. Lubang, Kacelyn Faye L. Paje
Witness Abigael P. Alcantara, Florench May C. Corpuz,
Jennifer M. Orillaza, Brylle B. Tabora
Sci-Tech Camille Anne M. Arcilla, Julienne Krizia V. Roman,
Rommel Marvin C. Rio, Antonio Ramon H. Royandoyan
Circle Maria Joanna Angela D. Cruz, Ana May R. Dela Cruz,
John Ernest F. Jose, Alyosha J. Robillos James C. Talon
Art Fritzie Marie C. Amar, Rey Ian M. Cruz, Patrick C. de los Reyes,
Carla T. Gamalinda, Lorena D. Mondragon, Jasmine C. Santos,
Jilson Seckler C. Tiu, Karla Mides C. Toledo
Photography Lester G. Babiera, Josa Camille A. Bassig,
Giannina Nicolai P. Melicor, Isabela A. Martinez, Lorena D. Mondragon,
Jilson Seckler C. Tiu, Karla Mides C. Toledo
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 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 Bldg., University of Santo Tomas, España, Manila.
THIS may be the most boastful
opinion piece you’ll ever read.
Wit hout f u r t her a do,
let me, the news editor of
publication year 2009 – 2010,
present to you the barriers
hurdled by the Varsitarian,
particularly by struggling news
writers.
T h is ye a r, t he News
section of the Varsitarian
covered a wide array of any
news-worthy stories under
the sun – from campus car
accidents to faculty issues and
controversial elections.
The obstacles included
uncooperative sources, scarce
data, stringent academic duties
and faltering grades.
E a r l y l a s t ye a r, t h e
publication had an extensive
coverage of the AH1N1 flu scare
that disrupted the academic
calendar. The Varsitarian
made use of its new and
improved website to feed the
online Thomasian community
news by the minute.
T he Va r sit a r ia n also
started publishing its editions
fortnightly, that is, every two
weeks.
But perhaps it the death
in August of the country’s first
woman president, Corazon
Aquino, that was particularly
memorable for the staff. The
publication was able to release
am eight-page “Cory Forever”
special exactly five days after
her death. In the issue were
Not just writing
This year, the
Varsitarian staff,
being the masochists
that they are, decided
to publish a bimonthly
newspaper comes out twice a
month. For the Thomasians,
this is a good thing as they will
be getting twice their dose of
the university news, but for the
staffers, this is nothing short of
a slow gory death reminiscent
of “Kill Bill” fame.
But amidst the insanity of the
bimonthly set-up, one must
not forget that there still is the
academics to consider. While
on the surface it may look like
your friendly neighborhood
student-journalists live in the
publication’s office (albeit
making a small nest using
newspaper bits and befriending
the office-critters for company),
we actually take our academics
very seriously. Of course, to
the untrained eye, this doesn’t
normally show because we
are often late or even absent in
class, making it look as if we
were contestants in an episode
of “Who Wants to Get F.A.’d?”
It is only logical to put
academics on top, considering
that you can’t be a studentwriter without being a student.
And with academics and the
extra-curricular activities taking
most of our time, it is a given
that some aspect of our life must
therefore take a backseat – less
time for yourself, your friends,
your family or even your jowa.
All this is from the writer’s
perspective, of course. The
student-editor’s point-of-view,
on the other hand, is a different
story altogether. While the
legwork is considerably less,
the mental strain of the job more
That’s a wrap
This year, the
news section of the
Varsitarian covered
a wide array of any
news-worthy story
under the sun
her acceptance speech at the
Santisimo Rosar io Par ish
when she received an honorary
Doctor of Laws and the Golden
Cross award from UST on
Feb. 9, 1987. The news writers
also got involved in the actual
hustle and bustle of journalistic
coverage outside the campus
borders.
Before t he semest r al
break, the Varsitarian ran a
series of stories on the status
of the Selegna Holdings Inc.
versus UST case,a tug-of-war
over the campus carpark. The
issue also catered to students
whose vehicles got stuck in the
high-priced car park during the
onslaught of typhoon “Ondoy.”
Meanwhile, hits f rom
the Varsitarian.net website
continued to soar—from a
measly 20,000 to a whopping
400,000.
It was also through the
student publication that the
online exam photo frenzy
was clarified. Remember the
photog raph of Com merce
students wearing anti-cheating
devices made of cardboards in
your Facebook wall? Thanks to
the ‘V,’ UST was able to explain
the issue which drew a lot of
comment boxes in the social
networking site.
A couple of months later
yours tr uly was given the
privilege to interview former
US envoy to the Philippines
, Kristie Kenny, when she
toured the University before
bidding Manila goodbye. This
was shortly followed by US
Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton visit of the University
last December, in which she
held a dialogue via satellite with
college students from all over
the Philippines. Both visits had
their much-deserved coverage
and spaces in the fortnightly to
serve as one of UST’s historic
memorabilia.
Also in December, seven
than makes up for it. There are
the story proposals to think
up of, the stubborn writers to
discipline, the venom-filled
letters from the administrators
and faculty alike complaining
about an article, the recurring
“no-comment” replies from
officials and sources (as if
they were involved in a dark
occult secret happening within
UST that will be the plot for
the next Dan Brown novel)
not to mention the presswork
days wherein you have to stay
overnight in the office just to
finish the newspaper layout,
only coming home once in a
while to find out that your once
baby brother is actually now in
grade four.
So why bother being a studentjournalist at the Varsitarian, if it
seems to be one problem after
the other?
The answer would be that it is
well worth it. Despite everything
you have to hurdle along the
way I delight in the fact that,
even after three years of (over)
staying in this organization, I
still continue to learn something
new everyday. And not just
writing-related lessons, mind
you, but also things not directly
Sideways, Page 12
presidential hopefuls trooped to
the Medicine Auditorium. This
landed as the December issue’s
banner story.
Again, using its website,
the Varsitarian was able to
release in advance high-quality
photos and the report of the
much-awaited Paskuhan 2010
minutes after the Countdown
to 400 was formally launched
d u r i n g t h e a n n u a l UST
Christmas gig.
And so, as the cliché goes,
the rest is history.
The Varsitarian also
committed some mistakes.
But the paperowns up to them
regularly by runnign errata.
I am optimistic that the next
roster of Thomasian campus
journalists will give you more
than what we have offered.
***
T he st r uggle and the
glory of the Varsitarian won’t
continue without these people:
Felipe Salvosa II, Lito Zulueta,
and Christian Esguerra. I would
be forever thankful to them for
making me realize journalism
school is worth every penny.
I hope you won’t grow tired
honing the countr y’s best
campus journalists.
Jilly, Darenn and Cha,
take good care of the section
I have treasured for the past
three years. Help the advisers
keep their cool. To the new
Bubblewrapped, Page 17
The
Varsitarian
OPINION
Beauty, harshness, and apathy
“ON THE tip of my tongue, an
offensive is poised and rearing.
My intention a bullet my body
a trigger finger—yeah my pen
is a pistola!” –Incubus–Pistola
For this last column, I’d like
to share a few words. All
my columns this year were
critical to an extent, but highly
impersonal. Before I par t
mysef from this public trust
that is the Varsitarian, please
let me give a bit of advice to
those who read this column.
The quote above has been
an inspiration for my writing
for the past few years. It was
in my third year that I started
to seriously write essays on
various topics. I suggest that
all who wish to write for public
service listen to the whole
song.
***
In the weeks prior to the
writing of this piece, I have
become at peace with myself
rather suddenly and realized a
few things.
First, I have been in and
around Manila and saw the
beauty that you see underneath
all the soot and dirt. For those
We are a 400-yearold University, but
we fail to realize that
the one beside us is
essentially a sibling.
afraid to venture out of their
comfort zone (particularly
fresh graduates, debar red
students or transferees), do
not forget this: the world is both
a beautiful and a harsh place.
Second and more
alarming—there is apathy and
petty quarrels in our University
community. A casual observer
will see this by standing in a
corridor or in the parks and
looking around.
We are a 400-year-old
University, but we fail to
realize that the one beside us
is essentially a sibling. (As for
an immediate solution, I can’t
offer any. Looking into one’s
conscience and consciousness,
perhaps?)
***
Even though I said that we
writers, photographers, artists
and editors of the V are more
than mere marks on paper
(read: “Marks on paper” almost
a year ago), I have to admit that
I forgot to show a bit of myself.
So please pass me the tissue as
I bid adieu to the people I got
to know in the past four years,
and to the V-staffers.
Fi r st of al l, L egal
Management batch 2010 —
you have made me learn about
myself and helped me out one
way or another, even though
we were never that close. And
more so to Marc, whose gungho attitude helped keep our
thesis and projects move like
‘30’
clockwork.
I also owe a great deal of
thanks for my friends in the
other people in AB (Mayam
and people in Literat u re,
Political Science, Philosophy,
among others), Arki (Pada,
Francis) and Educ (MC, Zel,
Jemai, Pong, Ruthie, Vien,
Phillipe)
Big than ks go to t he
Spe cial Re por t s se ct ion:
Andrewly, Rose and Ailex.
We managed to get through the
whole year even though we had
a few bumps, even with each
other. The companionship and
the hard times we had were
both frustrating and exciting.
Emil and Prinz, I
commend and admire you
both. No one feels the burden
of coming up with the campus
publication regularly more than
its editorial board. Good luck
with your respective endeavors
as journalists.
My Inkblots 2009 cochairpersons and editors, Eli
and Dani—I’m glad we were
able to push through with
Inkblots relatively unscathed,
Brightlance, Page 19
Hemostasis
Hemostasis – the arrest of
bleeding
IF THERE is one thing I have
learned from being a Varsitarian
staffer, it is to never doubt God’s
will. Disappointment may at first
knock on my door, but I have
learned that it should never deter
me from what I want to achieve
in life.
Four years ago, I was a
college freshman, eager to prove
herself to her new environment.
My mother, being a UST
Journalism graduate, encouraged
my interest in campus journalism
by suggesting that I try out for
the Varsitarian. Because the
publication does not accept
freshmen, I decided to try out for
our faculty’s publication, instead.
Unfortunately, I didn’t pass the
qualifying exams.
That failure almost ended
my career in college campus
journalism even before it started
because admittedly, it was a huge
blow to my self-confidence. I
Disappointment may at
first knock on my door,
but I have learned that it
should never deter me from
what I want to achieve in
life.
thought, if I didn’t get accepted
in a faculty publication, what
chance do I have against the
Journalism students who will try
out for the University’s official
student publication? Thinking
that I wouldn’t lose anything
and that I should simply let the
V serve as a gauge of whether I
should continue writing or not, I
took the qualifying examinations
in January 2007. To my utter
disbelief, I passed not only the
qualifying examinations but
the specialized exams and the
interview that followed. Before I
knew it, I was a bonafide V staffer.
Looking back, I guess it
really was God’s will that led
me to the Varsitarian. I know
that there are many other good
Thomasian writers out there and
the odds of me getting admitted
to the publication if they only
decided to take the exams when
I did. For me, the years that
followed served as testament to
that will.
It was in the V where I met
the craziest, funniest, and most
intelligent individuals who I
would later on refer to as my
friends. It was in the V, through
these people, that I learned how
to live life fully. Because of
the staffers, I learned to enjoy
the company of people my
age through retreats, outings,
pressworks, and extra-editorial
activities. Together with them, we
struggled to balance the V along
with our studies and personal
lives. It was also with them that
I struggled to save myself from
obsessing over academics when
it was fast starting to take its toll
on me.
For me, being a Varsitarian
staffer is not only a vocation—it
is a way of life. When I don’t
have classes, I go to the V
office to revise articles, edit
articles, update on extra-editorial
activities, do legwork, perform
V-related errands, or (if time
permits) study. Sometimes, when
I am buried under workloads of
V-related tasks, I think that the
time I spend with my family or
in the classroom are the only
Hemorrhage, Page 16
Getting comfy in my white uniform
“It’s never too late to be
what you might have been.”
- George Eliot
I was talking over the phone
with my mom and dad the
other night, just before they
left for a trip to the US. What
st r uck me wa s whe n my
mother said, “It’s okay if you
don’t pass the boards, we won’t
die if you didn’t. Nakakahiya
nga lang.”
I don’t k now if t hey
were trying to do a reversep s y c h o l o g y, o r i f t h e y
h a d e volve d f r o m b ei ng
a u t h o r it a r i a n p a r e nt s t o
benevolent ones. All I know
is that I am worried about
passing, not because I failed to
prepare enough but because in
truth, nursing has never been
my passion.
I d o n o t k n ow wh a t
future awaits all of the UST
Nursing graduates. Some of
my classmates have gone to
Canada and the US as early as
now, while the rest have stayed
to prepare for the July exams.
Four years of bittersweet
When I started as a student
nurse, I was clueless―like
the blind leading the blind.
But now, having spent three
years as a student nurse in the
hospital, I can say I have had
a dose of everything.
study, and now we are on our
own. The University is vying
for a 100 percent passing rate.
The pressure is becoming
more intense as the countdown
before judgment day draws
nearer. Anxious and nervous
as I am today, I am brought
back to the question of why
I chose this path that I never
even wanted in the first place.
I wa s a mbivale nt al l
along. I got hold of shifting
papers when I was an
incoming college sophomore.
I never thought I would finish
Nursing, because every start
of a new school year, I always
contemplated on embarking
on another field of study. I
ask myself, “Bakit, hindi ba
ako uunlad kung hindi ito ang
kinuha ko?”
W he n I s t a r t e d a s a
student nurse, I was clueless―
like the blind leading the blind.
But now, having spent three
years as a student nurse in
the hospital, I can say I have
had a dose of ever ything.
From bei ng re pr i ma nded
by my clinical instructor, to
being truly appreciated by
my geriatric patient; I have
been exposed to a different
life that is a completely new
JUNE 18, 2010 7
universe―the hospital.
I am aware that internship
is far from the real nursing
wo r k . Ho n e s t ly, I n e ve r
loved the seemingly routine
t asks, which all requi red
extensive k nowledge and
the use of critical thinking.
Not to ment ion ut ili z i ng
one’s physical, emotional
and spirit ual aspects- it’s
“biopsychosocially” draining.
B u t e ve n i f I l a c k t h a t
certain kind of fervor for the
profession, I can firmly say
that I will stand for it.
In the end, it seems that I
will never ever get to imbibe
what I have experienced in
this profession if I took another
“path to success.” But ask me
now if I’ll miss working in
the hospital, and I’ll say “no”.
Nevertheless, I will miss the
lessons I learned from fellow
health care workers, most
especially from those patients
lying in bed, who taught me
the simplest, most genuine
meaning of living.
Catnip, Page 17
SA WAKAS, hindi na mananatiling
pangarap ang pagkakaroon ng
Kagawaran ng Filipino sa UST.
Nagbunga na rin ang ilang
dekadang paglalathala ng Varsitarian
ng mga hinaing ng mga guro sa
Filipino sa pangangailangan ng
isang tahanang masisilungan at
magkakanlong sa wikang Filipino.
Isang regalong maituturing ang
pagkakabuo sa kagawaran noong
Mayo 17 lalo na’t nataon ang
pagbabalik nito sa quadricentenary
ng Unibersidad.
“Ito na iyong repormang inaasam-asam namin matapos
ang apat na taong pangungulit sa administrasyon,” ani Marilu
Madrunio, pinuno ng Department of Languages ng UST na
siyang nagsilbing tahanan ng wikang Filipino sa loob ng apat
na taon.
Iniulat ng seksyong Filipino noong Agosto ang naging
“paikot-ikot” na kalagayan ng wikang Filipino sa Unibersidad
“magmula nang buwagin noong 1979 ang dating Kagawaran ng
Filipino at ipagsanib ito sa isang departamentong binubuo ng iba
pang itinuturong wika sa Unibersidad. Nang maglaon, binuwag
rin ang kagawaran ng wika at pinalitan ng isang departamento
para sa mga asignaturang general education.”
Ngayong mayroon nang sariling kagawaran sa wikang
Filipino ang Unibersidad, na pamumunuan ni Imelda de Castro
na propesor sa Faculty of Arts and Letters, asahan na natin ang
pagkakaroon ng direksyon at pagpapalawak ng saklaw ng pagaaral ng Filipino sa UST gaya ng pagbabalik ng undergraduate
at postgraduate degree programs para sa FIlipino.
Nang maging tagapangulo ako ng Ustetika Taunang
Parangal Pampanitikan noong Disyembre 2009, napansin ko na
30 porsiyento lamang ng mahigit 100 lahok ang sumali sa mga
kategoryang Filipino, parehong bahagdan ng mga lumahok sa
kategoryang poetry pa lamang.
Tila pagbabadya ang mababang bilang ng lahok sa mga
kategoryang Filipino ng papakaunting bilang ng mga mag-aaral
sa UST na nangangahas sumulat gamit ang Wikang Pambansa.
Minsan nang inihayag ng ilang guro sa Filipino ang
“pagkadismaya” sa hindi paggamit ng wikang Filipino sa
Unibersidad na resulta umano ng pagkawala ng sariling
kagawaran ng Filipino sa UST.
“Ang mga taga-La Salle, taga-Ateneo, at taga-UP, may
sariling boses ang wikang Filipino. Pero sa UST, pahina nang
pahina,” ani Reynaldo Candido, guro sa UST at dating katuwang
na patnugot ng seksyong Filipino ng Varsitarian sa isang
talakayan sa Faculty of Arts and Letters noong 2004.
Ngunit ngayong naibalik na ang kagawaran, maging
hudyat na sana ito ng muling pag-usbong ng mga Tomasinong
manunulat sa Filipino.
* * *.
“Lumilipas ang panahon, kabiyak ng ating gunita. Sa
paglipas ng panahon bakit kailangan din lumisan.”
– Kanlungan, Noel Cabangon
Iniuugnay ang numero 30 sa katapusan ng buwan
samantalang sa pamamahayag, ginagamit itong pananda ng
katapusan ng artikulo.
Simbolikong maituturing na sa loob ng dalawang taon ng
pagpapaanod ng mga salita sa Varsitarian, nakapagsulat ako
ng 30 kuwentong humubog sa akin bilang isang manunulat.
Ang nakakatuwa (at nakakalungkot din), itong pitak na ito ay
ang aking pinakahuli at ika-30 rin.
Kaya naman bago mag-sara ang ikawalumpu’t isang
tomo ng Varsitarian, nais kong ipaabot ang aking taos-pusong
pasasalamat sa mga taong naging bahagi ng aking apat na taon
sa UST – dalawang taon doon, ginugol ko sa “Varsi.”
Una sa lahat, salamat kina Mama at sa aking mga kapatid
sa kanilang pag-intindi kung madalas ay mas matagal pa ang
oras na ginugugol ko sa “Varsi” kaysa sa bahay ; at kay Papa na
nagsilbing inspirasyon ko mula nang pumanaw mahigit isang
dekada na ang lumipas.
Walang kaparis ang inyong patuloy at walang-sawang
paggabay sa “Varsi,” Sir Lito at Sir Ipe. Ang bawat aral,
kritisismo at komento ay magsisilbing gabay sa pagpapabuti
ng aming pagsusulat.
May mga pagkakataong naisip natin bumitiw ngunit
ipinagpatuloy natin ang pagpapalipad ng guryon, kapwa ko
outgoing staffers. Ngayon, panahon na upang ipasa ito sa mga
maiiwan, babaunin ko ang ating mga katuwaan at ilang iyakan
at ‘di pagkakaintindihan na sumubok at nagpatatag pa sa ating
pagkakaibigan.
Mahalin at alagaan ninyo ang Varsitarian, incoming at
incumbent staffers. Sa pagsasara ng tomong ito ay magiging isa
ang inyong mga batch. Maraming bagay ang mas mauunawaan
ninyo sa oras na kayo na ang magpapalipad ng saranggola.
Matuto sana kayo mula sa aming mga pagkakamali. Hindi
maiiwasan ang paminsan-minsang paglakas o paghina ng ihip
ng hangin na susubok sa inyo pero huwag kayong susuko.
Pangarap lamang natin noon ang magkasama-sama sa
isang organisasyon, Danielle, Ching, Athena, Sarah, at Prinz.
Sabay-sabay man tayong nagsipagtapos sa Journalism at
“Varsi,” alam kong simula pa lamang ito ng ating habambuhay
na pagsasamahan.
Saludo ako sa inyo, Emil at Prinz, maging sa mga kapwa
ko patnugot ng mga seksyon ng Varsitarian sa naging maayos
na pagpapatakbo ng publikasyon ngayong taon.
Lahat ng aking natutunan sa pagiging isang mabuting
manunulat at patnugot ay utang ko sa aking mga nakasama
sa seksyong Filipino: kay Kuya Sam sa pagtuturo ng lahat
ng aking dapat malaman at sa pagsisikap na maitaguyod ang
Haraya, Page 12
The
Varsitarian
circle
8 JUNE 18, 2010
Canciones de la Revolution Filipina:
A musical way of teaching history
By ANA MAY R. DELA CRUZ
FOR A PROFESSOR,
explaining a complex history
while keeping the audience
interested can be a daunting
task. But wrap this lecture
around an elegant musical show,
and one can definitely have the
best of both worlds.
Canciones de la Revolución
Filipina: Songs of the Philippine
Revolution from 1872 to 1898
is a lecture-concert presented by
Tawid Publications with support
from Ministerio de Cultura
of Spain, Spanish Program
for Cultural Cooperation and
Instituto Cervantes de Manila.
The event was held last April
24 at Salón de Actos, Instituto
Cervantes in Ermita, Manila.
The night featured an allThomasian performing arts cast
led by UST Conservatory of
Music Dean Raul Sunico, who’s
an international concert pianist
and also the vice-president and
artistic director of the Cultural
Center of the Philippines.
Sunico was the lecturer, musical
arranger and composer of
the event. Other performers
were UST alumnus Ronan
Ferrer, one of the Philippines’
finest tenors; Enrique Barcelo,
the Philippine Philharmonic
Orchestra’s principal flutist;
pianist, organist, arranger and
conductor Jason Ros; Ruben
Reyes, the coordinator for
the guitar department of the
UST Conservatory; and Coro
Tomasino, the university-wide
choral group.
“The main purpose of the
lecture-concert is to show that
there is a literary culture in
the country as early as 1872,
which bestowed a path for
the development of Philippine
Music as inspiration for Filipino
soldiers, expression of
lament from oppression
and the primary
outlet for a sense
of nationalism,”
Sunico said.
This
UST alumnus Ronan Ferrer performed in the event. He was
also a conductor in a performance by Coro Tomasino (above).
Photos by Lorena D. Mondragon
lecture–concert first discussed
the events that transpired
during the Philippine revolution
against Spain, and how these
events affected the Filipino
psyche, leading them to create
the compelling musical pieces
that were then played after each
short lecture.
Canciones de la Revolución
Filipina also served as an
exposition for the anthology of
songs and poems from 1872,
when martyrs Mariano Gomez,
Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora
were executed, and the desire of
the “Indios” for constitutional
reform led to the revolution
of 1898. Primarily, the songs
presented were in the genre
of Kundiman, a portmanteau
of “Kung Hindi Man” and a
variety of traditional Filipino
love songs characterized by
gentle rhythm and smoothflowing melody. This genre
was inspired by Western music
brought about by Spain, and
does not only depict love for
somebody but also love of
country, which Filipinos used
back then to conceal their
growing patriotism from the
Spanish colonial establishment.
Most of the songs in the first
part hailed from Nueva Ecija,
Cavite, Laguna and Bulacan
which were the cradle of the
Philippine revolution. These
were Halina, Sa Dalampasigan
(also known as Ang Mga
Martir), Mula ng Mauso Damit
na Kundiman, Sa Iyo ang
Dahil, Iginanti’y Pinatay, Alerta
Katipunan, Ako’y Pinabayaan,
Naghihintay and Jocelynang
Baliwag.
Sa Dalampasigan was Dr.
Sunico’s favorite from all the
musical arrangements for the
lecture-concert. It came from
Guimba, Nueva Ecija in 1897. It
commemorates the martyrdoms
of Jose Burgos and Jose Rizal,
who were both executed in
Luneta, the park by the Manila
Bay.
“The music and lyrics are
the things we really have to
treasure and try to perpetuate,
so that we will know the history
of our own compatriots,” Sunico
said.
The second half of the
concert presented Rizal’s
literary works such as Sa
Magandang Silangan, Sa Aking
mga Kabata (or Wika ni Rizal)
and Kundiman ni Rizal, but
with a musical twist by Pedro
Gatmaitan Santos and Pedro
Cadsawan, composed in the late
19th century. Other renditions
were Rizal’s Alinmang Lahi
and La Deportacion arranged
by Sunico.
Trece Martires, a song of
lament and sympathy by Julian
Felipe, was also performed
during the second part. It is
dedicated to the 13 martyrs
of Cavite who were executed
by musketry on September
11, 1896 for cooperating
with the Katipunan. The
controversial Marangal na Dalit
ng Katagalugan by Juan Nakpil,
(which was supposed to be the
national anthem as suggested
by Andres Bonifacio) was also
played.
The event ended with
Bonifacio’s poem Pag-ibig sa
Tinubuang Lupa, with musical
composition by Sunico.
Sunico acknowledged
official Spanish support for the
project. “We cannot change the
course of time, we may look
back at the painful history but
nevertheless we must always
look forward for better things,”
he said.
“The lyrics were pessimistic
because the era was really not a
happy time. Basically, the songs
are about love for freedom,”
he explained. “When one has
no liberty, one learns to fully
appreciate it.”
Filipinos during the
revolution used literature and
music as creative vehicles
for their passion and zeal for
freedom, the catalyst for art. The
creative forms become a tapestry
of Philippine history.
“The uniqueness of this
concert is that it has presented
something which is largely
unknown; it is a welcome
supplement to our history,”
Sunico said.
Paintings depict stories of heroism’s ordinary face
By JOHN ERNEST F. JOSE AND ALYOSHA J. ROBILLOS
THE HEROIC need not be ascribed only to
extraordinary men of extraordinary feats; even
the plebeian citizen has the capacity to become
heroic.
The Center for Art, New Ventures and
Sustainable Development (CANVAS), with
the National Commission for Culture and the
Arts, launched Everyday Filipino Heroes, an
outdoor banner project cum art exhibit held in
connection with the May 10, 2010 elections at
the Vargas Museum in the University of the
Philippines (UP).
Although the original pieces were
displayed at the museum, images of the
artworks were made into outdoor banners
which were then shown around the UP
Academic Oval. The exhibit featured
artistic statements by the artists themselves.
The artworks varied in genres, styles, and
media, but had a singular goal—to give due
recognition to the overlooked day-to-day feats
of heroism by ordinary people.
Among the participating artists were
Thomasians Daniel Aligaen, Anton Balao,
Yveese Belen, Buen Calubayan, Salvador
Ching, Julio Austria, Anna de Leon and Dr.
Dante Lerma of the UST Health Service.
Everyday people
Heroes and heroines are present even
in the typical household, playing their roles
without inhibitions or expectations.
De Leon’s surreal “Mommy” depicts in
mixed media a mother and child holding each
other’s hands on an elevated platform made of
narra wood. Strands of copper wire are woven
together to form the intimate image, with
the open sky as the background. Adorning
the heavenly backdrop are separate lines of
intertwined copper running vertically through
the canvas.
“I idolize my mom. This is a tribute
to all mothers,” de Leon said. Juggling her
career as an artist and freelance
interior designer while being a
dutiful mother to her children, she
strongly believes that mothers are
heroes. “Mommy” is reflective of
de Leon’s belief that the value of
gratitude in all sons and daughters
should be revived, as today’s
generations seem to be taking their
parents for granted, who ironically
always see beyond their child’s
faults and flaws.
Austria’s “Wonder Boy” is
inspired by the relentless hustle of
everyday vendors in a dog-eat-dog
metropolis. A fusion of urban art
and abstraction, the picture depicts
a dejected street vendor set against
an abstract background consisting
of graffiti and free-flowing brush
strokes reminiscent of vandalism.
Austria implies that the
informal sector are capable of
nobility of work. “They earn a
Dr. Dante Lerma’s “Call Juan-24/7-Heroes” (left) ulio Austria’s “Wonderboy” (middle) and Buen Calubayan’s “Pinger”
decent and honest living compared
(right) tell powerful messages of the ordinary filipino’s heroism.
to corrupt politicians who live
photos by Isabela A. Martinez
prosperous lives as a result of
stealing from the country’s
coffers,” the artist said.
willingness to help anyone in times of need.
Meanwhile, the surreal “Fish be with You” Heroism Requires Action
“It’s always refreshing to know that
Emphasizing how a single cast ballot
by Ching pays homage to the important role
then and now, at a moment’s call, there will
can make or break a country, CCP 13 Artists
fishermen play in our society.
be heroes ready to sprint into action,” the
“Their job is to not only feed their families, awardee Buen Calubayan urges social and
physician-artist said.
political transformation through “Pinger,”
but the whole community as well,” Ching said.
Inspired by the flourishing call center
an edgy work depicting a red fingerprint
His black-and-white depiction of a fisherman
industry, the painting depicts a Filipina wearing
staring off into space gives an aura of solemnity set against a jet-black background. In his
traditional clothing with modern footwear and
statement, Calubayan says that the work
and contemplation and the floating fish in the
holding a cellphone—a traditional Maria Clara
has been visually triggered by the rhetorical
background ascribed the country’s marine
with a modern twist.
question “Ako ba ang simula ng pagbabago o
bounty as a blessing from heaven.
Meanwhile, Anton Balao’s oil-on-canvas
panggagago?” (Am I the origin of change or
What gives the painting distinction is
“Everyone, Push” features a woman giving birth.
corruption?)
Ching’s use of workmen’s denim as canvas,
Executed in tones of black, grey and white, the
On the other hand, Lerma’s “Call Juan
which embodies the Filipinos’ hardworking
Heroism, Page 5
24/7 Heroes” commends the Filipino’s
nature and ability to withstand strife.
The
Varsitarian
circle
JUNE 18, 2010 9
By ALYOSHA J. ROBILLOS
WITH ITS vast waters, diverse
mountain ranges and wide variety of
flora, China’s Yangtze River boasts
of the most breathtaking daybreaks in
Asia. Reminiscent of dawn breaking
quietly along the river, the works
displayed at James Onglepho’s 29th
solo exhibit were as awe-inspiring as
any sunrise.
Presenting the latest batch of his
lotus flower and landscape pieces,
the artist, together with some of his
collectors, opened the show at the Asia
Art Gallery last April 24.
Since his first exhibit in 1959,
this contemporary Filipino master
had always captivated his audience
with still-life works that reflected his
Chinese heritage. Lotus flowers and
landscapes have become his preferred
subject in the world of realism, making
this his mark in the local art scene.
Since 2007, Onglepho has been
holding his annual one-man exhibit in
his gallery at the Mall of Asia. But the
artist stressed that the way he crafted
this year’s batch of artworks was
different from the previous years. This
year, he pays more attention to detail as
well as colors and composition.
For his florals, Onglepho played
with shades of magenta, violet, purple
and blue, inspired by lotus flowers
he chanced upon when he traveled to
Macao, Shanghai, Taipei, Beijing and
Hong Kong.
“The lotus flowers of China,
Taipei, Hong Kong and the Philippines
are different in color. Here in the
Philippines, our weather is hot, so most
of the lotus flowers here are pink or
red while the lotus flowers of the other
places range from violet to magenta to
white,” he said.
Onglepho also stressed the
compact compositions, which he
believes to be an essential trait of
an excellent painting. In “Sharing,”
for example, the artist shows lotus
flowers in different stages of bloom.
The strategic placement of the flowers
added to the artwork’s overall flair
and leads the eyes from one point to
another.
“The angling of the elements in
the painting should guide the viewer
and never permit sight to veer away
from the canvas,” he explained.
For his landscape pieces, he
strayed from his standard oil on canvas,
and used colored pencils, a refreshing
change. The imagery is similar to the
Floral designs rework
Filipino design motifs
photo by lester G. Babiera
FLORAL designer Rachy Cuna renders Filipino leitmotifs
into colorful floral constructions in DramaCuna, originally
installed at the National Museum and now running at the
UST Museum of Arts and Sciences until June 15.
Cuna, who calls himself a floral architect, used materials
native to the Philippines to promote the local crafts.
Upon entering the exhibit, visitors will immediately
see the intricate “Kulasisi,” inspired by the bird of the same
name. The work which uses bamboo, buri and fossilized
roses shows interconnected baskets that represent the nest of
the bird, which is endemic to the Philippines.
“Bola-bolahan” is made from bingo cards, bottle, chips,
rice grain, nito, coconut ribs and metal to represent the
favorite Filipino past-time. “Papalaot,” on the other hand,
is composed of rattan, wood shavings, fossilized leaves
and miniature decorative boats which Cuna bought from
Palawan.
An installation composed of rattan, coconut fruits,
husks and flowers and big bottles or demijohns is aptly titled
“Tagay,” about the native lambanog, which is made from
distilling the nectar from the coconut flower.
“Rafia Reef” is an artistic and
colorful representation of Philippine
marine life through the use of rafia,
wood, abaca fiber and
wood shavings to look
like fish and underwater
plants. Meanwhile
“Karyoka” is a large scaled
decorative rendition of the
street food of the same name
made of sweetened sticky rice,
balled up and put on a stick.
However, the piece is made up
of nito, rattan fruits and grass.
Made of clay pots, rattan,
paper flowers and harvested
rice is “Pang-alay,” which
evokes the ancient rituals of
indigenous tribes, such as the
Ifugao harvest ritual, and
shows the staple food that
Drama, Page 19
One of the featured
works of Rachy Cuna
was the Raffia Reef
made out of Raffia wood,
Abaca fiber and wood
shaving flowers.
mountain ranges that run alongside
the Yangtze River. Many of the
mountain s’ peaks would often be
likened to the lotus buds which are
endemic to the provinces that the
river passes through.
Although the evolution of his
works may have been untraceable
to the untrained eye, the artist was
still able to capture the atmosphere
of life in small villages that depended
on the river as their means of living.
The concept of his pieces may be
seen by others as passé, but his style
still remains distinct in the way the
artwork instills a sense of calm and
quiet, while showing the dynamic
bloom of blended colors.
“No one will be able to exactly Artist James Onglepho
copy my work because my technique
is different. It’s a secret,” Onglepho
said.
It was in 1964 when he was first
inspired by the lotus flower, urging
Thirst for learning
him to perfect his genre. He attributed
Unlike most artists who seem his skill to his formal training at the
to be married to the features of their University of Santo Tomas where he
artistic expression by their middles majored in Painting. A classmate and
ages, this veteran has never been afraid close friend was fellow Chinese-Filipino
of daring himself out of his comfort Ang Kiukok (now a National Artist) and
zone. Believing that inspiration should his teachers included Victorio Edades
be innate, he paints everyday as if to and Vicente Manansala (both to become
invoke a continuous flow of ideas.
National Artists later).
“I have a deep sense of gratitude
towards UST. Had I not entered UST, I
Onglepho’s works, “Sharing”
wouldn’t have become a professional,”
(leftmost) and “Lotus” (left)
he said as he expounded on how much
uses oil on canvas to portray
he learned during his four-year stay.
poignant images of the lotus
Being an established visual artist
flower in bloom.
does not stop him from trying other
forms of art.
“He is a frustrated photographer.
photos by isabela A. Martinez
He even has his own DSLR but he
hasn’t figured out how to use it yet,”
Germaine Ong, James’ granddaughter
laughingly shared during the event.
“He also drives us to school,” she
isabela a. martinez
A master in perpetual bloom
added, musing about how active her
grandfather still is.
This octogenarian also contributes
to a Chinese newspaper and has recently
finished writing a book in Chinese as
well. Despite his drive, there were those
days when his age inevitably slowed
him down. In fact, it was only after his
second eye operation in 2009 that he
was able to paint free of troublesome
vision problems.
“Before, I had a hard time using
certain colors because of my eye
problem, but today, my eyes can already
see as clearly as yours,” he beamed.
Many have tried to imitate his
works but James Onglepho knows
better than to take this in offense. He
considers this as a challenge to bring
something new to the table every
time he paints. Being an artist of his
stature and experience, he has remained
confident in his talent, transforming
even at a stage where metamorphosis is
most difficult for any craftsman.
Faith & architecture
Retablo, altar of a people’s worship
By JOHN ERNEST F. JOSE
MORE than an institution
of worship, the church
is a plethora of many
art forms that reflect the
magnificence of God, in
particular architecture,
but which is often taken
for granted. Architect
Manuel Maximo Lopez
del Castillo-Noche,
alumnus and assistant
professor of the College
of Architecture, tries
to make up for this
neglect through the
photo exhibit, Living
Shrines of Faith: The
Art of Colonial Retablos
in the Philippines, at
the Greenbelt 3 lobby
recently.
The retablo is the
carved altar behind
the communion table
where the tabernacle,
crucifixion and icons of
a parish church’s patron
saints are enshrined.
Since the Spanish
Catholic missionaries
were mostly fired by
the martial spirit of the
counter-reformation in
the 16th century, many
of the retablos are
militantly Baroque in
spirit but as transposed
in the tropical islands,
they are syncretic,
eclectic, and uniquely
Philippine. “These
retablos are neglected
and underappreciated art
forms in churches. They
are slowly disappearing and
someone has to document
them,” said Noche, an
architecture historian. For
the exhibit, he showed 20
images of different retablos
from various parts of the
Philippines, such as Nabua,
Camarines Sur; Tanay, Rizal
and Orion, Bataan.
Retablos greatly vary in
terms of architectural style,
materials and sizes. For
example, the Retablo Mayor
de Iglesia de Santa Catalina
de Alejandria in Tayum,
Abra is influenced greatly by
Romanesque architecture—
twin Corinthian columns,
semicircular arched
openings and simple
ornaments are some of its
most prominent features.
On the other hand,
the Retablo Mayor de
Iglesia de Santa Cruz in
Maribojoc, Bohol clearly
exhibits a style inspired
by Gothic architecture,
characterized by the use
of pointed and overlapping
arches, extensive use of
ornamentation and the
emphasis on verticality.
The documentation
posed challenges since many
of the churches are located
in remote islands. “The
hard part was travelling,”
said Noche. “You have to go
to each of the small towns
to look for old churches.
It’s basically a hit and miss
thing.”
“It takes
passion for heritage
a nd t r avel t o b e
able to collect the
retablos,” he added.
As a board
member
of
the Heritage
Conservation
S o c i e t y, N o c h e
noted that Filipinos
by and large do not
seem to value their
cultural heritage,
i n pa r t icula r t he
cultural patrimony
of t he Cat hol ic
Church.
“You may be
religious or you may
be Catholic but you
may not necessarily
appreciate church
art for,” said Noche.
“Church art has never
been much promoted in
the Philippines.”
To d r u m u p
appreciation for
cult ural heritage,
the HCS conducts
semi nars, tou rs and
other activities to raise
awareness regarding
the r ich t apest r y of
cultural artifacts and
forms that the nation
has produced and
e volve d a c r o s s t h e
centuries.
“T he only way
for the Filipinos to be
proud of the Philippines
is to know where their
country comes from—
to know our history,”
he said.
The exhibit showcased Orion’s
“Retablo Mayor De Iglesia de San
Miguel Arcanghel” (topmost) and
Tanay’s “Retablo Mayor de San
Ildefonso” (bottom)
Karla Mides C. Toledo
The
FEAT
10 JUNE 18, 2010
Sarah Jane P.
W
hen UST was relocated from
Intramuros to Sampaloc in 1927,
Thomasians had to tread on nameless
streets and do away with landmarks
and buildings inside the campus for
directions. But 32 years later, one
student’s initiative christened the 19
roads in the University. That student
was Luis Ablaza Jr.
“UST is already like a city within
a city,” Ablaza told the Varsitarian on
what inspired him to come up with
the idea.
And so the former president
of the Central Board of Students
submitted a resolution for this purpose
in 1959, and more. The following year
on March 7, campus streets finally
got their formal identification after
deliberations on a list of 100 names of
exemplary alumni.
Today, the 71-year-old Ablaza is
the consul of the Republic of Zambia
and president of the Chamber of
Pawnbrokers of the Philippines,
Inc. (CPPI) where he now serving
his 12th term. He is also the man
behind the L&R Corporation, the
Ablaza Pawnshops and the
Contemporary Hotel in Quezon City.
But on top of his wealth and
accomplishments, the Banking and
Finance alumnus’ desire to contribute
and give back to the University didn’t
stop from his college days. Just last
year, the Luis I. Ablaza Jr. Distinguished
Professorial Chair in Entrepreneurship
was launched with a donation of P1
million during the 76th anniversary of
the College of Commerce and Business
Administration.
“We [have] to encourage more
students to go into entrepreneurship
after graduation,” says Ablaza. “Most
kids immediately look for a good
job. But if you can have your own
small business and have one or two
employees, you are already helping.”
Photos by Jilson Seckler c. Tiu
Luis Ablaza Jr.
Visionary model
of entrepreneurship
By MARNEE A. GAMBOA
On his own
The eldest child of a contractor
and a housewife, Ablaza owes his
background on entrepreneurship to his
great uncle, who was president of the
old Monte de Piedad Savings Bank.
This inspired Ablaza to set up his own
pawnshop business.
The dream materialized when he
established the first Ablaza Pawnshop in
Sampaloc, Manila in 1967 together with
his wife Mellie.
They didn’t hire employees at first.
Instead, the couple worked together and
helped each other learn the dynamics of
business: from apparaising the valuables
pawned to them, to the technical and
managerial aspect of the pawnshop.
“We started out small,” says
Ablaza. “I didn’t know anything about
the business. It just so happened that my
wife was a lawyer [and since we didn’t
have any employees at the time] she was
also the appraiser. We had our helpers to
serve as clerks.”
The Ablazas eventually branched
out a decade later and they now have 95
shops around the metro in their nearly
48 years in the business.
Miss Earth Eco-Tourism Angela Fernando
Beauty with a cause
“Don’t be afraid to start small,” he
says. “If I was afraid, I would just have
been an employee or working like my
father, a contractor. Instead of looking
for jobs, create them.”
It was in 1980 that Ablaza joined
CPPI.
“I wasn’t even the largest
pawnbroker,” Ablaza says. “Some had
a nationwide operation, but in my case,
I only operated in Metro Manila.”
Ablaza has contributed much to
the industry with the establishment of
policies such as the conversion from the
10-percent value added tax to 5-percent
gross receipt tax for all pawnshops and
close coordination with the Philippine
National Police to thwart pawnshop
robbers.
As if this wasn’t enough, Ablaza
and his wife are also involved in
foreign service. Mellie is the consul of
Guatemala. From his end, Ablaza has
hosted dinners and parties for various
dignitaries such as Jorge Skinner-klee,
Deputy Minister of Foreign Afffairs of
Guatemala and Zambian Ambassador
Godfey Simasiku.
Lift to leadership
His road to the top started due to an
incident in college, the effects of which
no one could not have predicted.
The young Ablaza, then a
freshman, was on his way to class and
had to take the stairs since his classroom
was on the third floor. Wanting to take
the elevator instead, he was stopped by
the operator since only faculty members
and titled students were allowed to
take the lift. This sentiment ignited the
leadership fire in him to take charge
and maximize the students’ privileges.
Thus, on his senior year in 1958,
he became the board’s president. He
took a Special Course in Tariff and
Taxation at the Graduate School the
following year.
Ablaza also reaped accolades in
the Jaycee Foundation such as the Most
Outstanding Jaycee of Quezon City in
1966 and 1968, Ulirang Ama Awardee
for Business in 1999, and awarded Most
Outstanding Alumnus by the College
of Commerce in 1977, among others.
Ablaza has gone far from being
a student leader into a business magnate
with big corporations under his belt.
But unlike his pawnshop business,
Ablaza’s success can never be appraised
by achievements alone, but by the
innovations and gret ideas he has given
to society.
Keepsakers
IT IS IN the nature
of a person to give
value to inanimate
objects. But as far
as keepsakes go,
what do collectors
actually get from their
collection, anyway?
Nenunca Canlas,
a psychologist from
the De La Salle
University, explained
that collections indirectly
represent a person’s emotional
and personal needs. The hobby
of collecting is the person’s way
of expressing himself.
“There are also people who
collect because they want to
show off - not their collections
but themselves,” said Canlas.
This “sense of fulfillment”
is probably the main reason
why these Thomasian collectors
amass seemingly random stuff
through different ways—
some through buying it after a
painstaking hunt, while others
do so by makig the items
themselves.
Diovie Navarra, a Guidance
Counselor of the College of
Education, said people start to
collect things they have deep
appreciation of. When sustained,
this passion becomes a hobby.
“It is also possible that
collecting has a certain connection
to their past and something that
they enjoy when they were little
or something that they also lack,”
said Navarra.
Third-year literature student
Linberg Gablan, for example,
enjoys collecting swords on his
free time. He also makes them
himself out of wood and other
improvised materials such as
cardboard, cartolina, thumbtacks
and even nails.
Gablan saids he started in
By JUSTINNE CHYNNA V. GARCIA
Thomasian collectors find fulfillment
in collecting these keepsakes. From
left to right, a sword, coke and pollypocket collection.
sixth grade, when his father made
him a sword and encouraged him
in his hobby.
Though Gablan has made
about 30 swords, he only has
19 left with him since he makes
swords for others for free.
“If someone wanted a
sword, all you have to do is ask
me to make one for you. Just give
me your design,” says Gablan.
Collection in its finest
Erika Jemimah Dimayuga,
a student of the Faculty of Arts
and Letters, has a big collection
of Polly Pockets, or miniature
toy houses and dolls. She started
collecting themn when she was
in first grade when she got the
toy from her godmother in the
United States. Since then, her
collection has reminded her of
her childhood. Dimayuga’s Polly
Pocket collection has grown into
80 to 90 play sets, from vintage
1988 models to the latest version,
each one coming in different
sizes.
However, she secretly
stashes these toys from others’
prying eyes.
“I hide these toys from
others because sometimes people
don’t believe me when I say I
collect these,” said Dimayuga.
“I guess it also does not
show in my personality. So
instead of being frustrated, I
just hide it.”
Privacy in collection is also
important.
“People who are afraid of
letting other people know about
their collections have a satisfied
need in them that has not been
addressed during earlier years in
life,” Canlas said. “Thus, they
guard their collections with the
sanctity of their privacy.”
Navarra said that the collector
probably feels or thinks that other
people may not appreciate it or
understand them. “It can also be
that the person may be hiding their
collection because their keeping a
certain image,” she said. “But we
can never generalize it.”
Apart from the obvious
personal reasons for collecting
(such as to have something as a
hobby, or for sentimental
Coke enthusiast Albert Buenafe
CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
youth, particularly
A THOMASIAN beauty straps on her heels,
those in the public
paints a sweet smile, and steps into the
schools.
stage—all for the good cause of helping the
environment.
Lessons from the
Medical technology student Angela
pageant
Fernando bested 49 other title aspirants from
Fernando,
all over the country, en route to clinching
whose curves figure 33-24-34, is
fourth place in the Miss Philippines Earth
already a veteran of these events, having
pageant last April 24.
joined different beauty contestssince high
Fernando, the 5’7” tall beauty from
school. In 2007, she won Ms. Pharmacy and
Lubao, Pampanga, also bagged the Best in
represented her college in the universityCultural Costume award after flaunting
wide pageant the
an embroidered white
f o l l o w i n g y e a r.
gown with wildflowerFernando was only a
like designs from native
freshman when she
products in Lubao, such
was named the Miss
as palay, corn hash and
Ideal Thomasian
sampaguita flowers. She
Personality in 2008.
also won special awards
But the Miss
like Ms. Photogenic, Ms.
Philippines Earth
Ever Bilena and Miss
pageant proved to be
Eco-Tourism
a tougher ride than
“I’m very glad
the contests she had
to have given pride to
previously joined
UST,” said Fernando,
in. Preparation and
who is a former Ideal
rehearsals would
Thomasian Personality
sometimes end
awardee in 2008.
at midnight and
But beyond
would start again
winning the Miss Earth
at 5 a.m. the next
pageant is a commitment
day. The cutthroat
to the environment,
competition caught
which “needs as much
Fernando by
attention [as in] our
surprise that she
health or education
because it’s obviously Fernando in the gown that won her Best Cultural actually did not
an essential to healthy Costume at the pre-pageant night of Miss Philippines expect to be one of
the titlists.
living,” Fernando said. Earth.
“You need to
True enough, she
be versatile and
ready every time—
had been actively involved in the Zero
physically, mentally, and emotionally,”
Waste Election with Eco Waste Coalitions, a
Fernando said. “Also, you have to know
campaign spearheaded by Miss Philippines
how to deal with all kinds of people. I think
Earth and Miss Earth Foundation to minimize
those don’t only apply to pageants but even
garbage from the May 10 elections.
in our daily lives.”
The team went to communities in Quezon
Fernando translated what could
City to help remove campaign materials and
have been a stressful experience into
educate residents on how to recycle these.
a memorable thing” and focusing on
As the next school year opens this month,
her sources of strength—her family and
the foundation will also hold school tours
friends. Justinne Chynna V. Garcia
to promote environmental awareness to the
Google Images
Va
arsitarian
TURES
JUNE 18, 2010 11
Pauyo, Editor
Lessons of May 10
Photos by Isabela A. Martinez
Fast results, trust in the new system
By ALMA MARIA L. SARMIENTO
THE VOTES are in and in all
likelihood, it seems that “yellow”
will be the new color of change.
As Filipinos await the
proclamation of the next
president and vice president, it’s
time to reflect on lessons learned
from the country’s first-ever
nationwide automated balloting,
an exercise that attracted some
50 million voters.
“Filipinos are always eager
to try something new,” said Zenia
Rodriguez, Political Science
coordinator of the Faculty of
Arts and Letters, explaining the
overwhelming influx of voters.
According to her, this was due to
the Filipinos’ initial acceptance
of the new voting procedure,
despite it being relatively new
Just
once. The voting
system may have changed
but one thing hasn’t: the board
of election inspectors still used
indelible ink to ensure voters had
already voted.
and complicated.
But more than the novelty
of the electoral process, the fast
turnover of results made all the
difference.
“The results are out faster.
The longer it takes for the results
to come out, the more you will
doubt the results,” said Alvin
Ang, director of the research
cluster for culture, education,
and social issues.
For
Rodriguez, the
speed of election
results resulted
in something
deeper—a
reinvigorated
trust on the
electoral system.
“As far as the candidates
are concerned, it boils down to a
certain point—trust the system,”
Rodriguez said.
Stark contrast
Previous elections had
votes counted manually, giving
more room for election-related
fraud. Add that to the “never say
die” attitude of losing candidates
appealing for a last-minute
recount.
But as early as May 11,
just one day
after the elections,
staunch presidential
candidates Manny Villar and
Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro already
conceded, as Benigno “Noynoy”
Aquino III began to break
away from his opponents with
almost 14 million votes in the
what people wanted and it also
matched the survey,” she said.
Determination for change
The Philippines is still
taking its baby step on the nittygritty of automated elections,
compared to its Western
counterparts.
In fact, recent
reports may
have shown the
many downside
of it. From long
lines at polling
precincts and
technological
glitches to the
recent controversy regarding a
massive election fraud involving
a person in a “koala bear”
mask. This tough balancing act
between the good and bad side
of the elections has blurred the
real outcome of the automation.
But for Ang, what matters is
that the majority of the Filipinos
still remain hopeful that the
elections is a successful and
credible one.
“It is for the best interest of
everybody to make the election
successful. The mere fact that
Elections are still the best and
most peaceful way to change
last unofficial tally of the Parish
Pastoral Council for Responsible
Voting (PPCRV).
“(On) face value, the
election is credible,” Rodriguez
said. “The formal tallies of the
PPCRV and Comelec match that
is why some candidates decided
to concede early on because they
trusted the results.”
Eula See, incoming vice
president of the Central Student
Council, saw this as a positive
sign.
“The results are reflective of
people waited means that they
want to make this work,” Ang
said.
See, a first-time voter,
felt that the elections not only
brought excitement but also a
good disposition for the newlyelected officials in the upcoming
administration.
The Advertising Arts
student said through the May 10
election, the people were able to
implement political changes.
Daryl Morales, an incoming
fifth-year Architecture student,
echoed See’s ideas saying that
the sheer number of voters and
volunteers said it all.
“Filipinos are united in this
year’s elections,” Morales said.
“Everyone is determined to have
change in our government. You
can see this with the number
of people who voted and
volunteered to make sure that
the voters are educated.”
Whether or not the first
automated elections was a boon
or bane, what matters is that
Filipinos have taken the first
steps toward change. “It really
doesn’t matter who wins, what
matters is that we did it well,”
said Ang.
n
a
i
s
s
a
r
e
m
e
t
o
n
u
Th
vol
in
n
o
i
act
By Margaret Rose B. Maranan
Young Thomasians gave up their usual summer
pastimes in order to help ensure clean and peaceful
elections last May 10
SOCIOLOGY student Justin Elizaga was
counting election returns that scrolled through
his arms day and night.
He encoded some of the 76,475 election
returns for validation and catalogued them,
not an easy task especially when you had been
doing this non-stop all day, up until the wee
hours of the night.
Still, Elizaga did not let up knowing he—
like many other UST volunteers of the Parish
Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting
(PPCRV) for the May 10 elections—was doing
something noble.
“It wasn’t really just a piece of cake,”
Elizaga said. “It was a real job in the real
world. It was something for our country.”
‘Getting involved’
As the external auditor of the recent
elections, PPCRV assigned volunteers to its
media and communications centers, including
its encoding staff.
“It’s a matter of getting yourself involved,”
said Eilleen Esteban, president of YouthPinoy,
the official youth arm of PPCRV.
YouthPinoy had four Thomasian alumni
in its office to help in delegating and teaching
the poll watchers about their responsibilities.
“I’ve seen Thomasians work, and I can
say that they really stand out from the rest,”
the legal management alumna said. “They are
low-profile but amazingly competent in what
they do.
Esteban launched YouthPinoy’s website
last January in the University to encourage
Thomasians to actively participate in the
organization’s events, especially with regard
to guarding the vote.
“Thomasians recognize the value
of servant leadership,” said Esteban, who has
always been active in her organizations even
as a college student. This leadership showed
especially when she became the vice-president
internal of the Thomasian Alumni Leaders
Association last year.
“I’ve learned that academics is not
primarily the thing they teach you in school,”
she said. “My alma mater has molded me
as a total human person in the Thomasian
upbringing.”
Passion in action
Elizaga, president of the UST Sociology
Society, took his 200-hour internship in
PPCRV. But the job proved more than just a
school requirement. Elizaga, along with the
2,800 volunteers, found a deeper meaning.
“Volunteerism is not easy,” Elizaga said.
“It was just really a part of my on-the-job
training. But when I knew that the situation
called for my participation, I stopped counting
the hours that passed by.”
The seemingly unending hours monitoring
the election and the canvassing made the youth
members heavy-lidded and exhausted. But
PPCRV command center on UN Avenue.Top
left: Eileen Esteban, Justin Elizaga, and another
Thomasian volunteer.
stepping out of their comfort zones and giving
up on the usual outings on the beach in order
to do election work was all worth it. It meant
being part of history.
“All the stress and strength drained were
all worth it in the end,” Elizaga said.
The
12 JUNE 18, 2010
N
filipino
Miting de avance
nakalaan para roon ay ginamit sa
pagpapagawa ng court.”
Mababakas ang kaba sa
boses ng alkalde.
“Hindi rin po totoo ang
tsismis na ako’y may sakit sa
puso. Wala po akong sakit.
Kayang-kaya ko po kayong
paglingkuran.” Matapos
magsalita ay bumaba ang alkalde
sa entablado. Agad siyang
dinumog ng mga tao na hinabol
siya hanggang sa kanyang kotse
para lamang makamayan.
Pag-uwi ni Mayor Lucky sa
bahay, napag-usapan niya at ng
kaniyang asawa ang eksena sa
Barangay Luna.
“Nakakainis yoong
nasa Barangay Luna! Pati
ang pinagawa kong court
pinupuna nila, sila naman ang
nakikinabang doon.”
“Hayaan mo na. Panahon
lang kasi ng eleksyon ngayon
kaya ganoon sila. Lahat ng
tsismis sa iyo, ilalabas,” sagot ni
Cora, asawa ng Mayor. “Maiba
ako Lucky, may mabuting balita
ako sa iyo. May balita ako roon
sa paghahanap natin sa nanay
mo. Sabi noong imbestigador,
baka raw buhay pa siya. May
nahanap daw siya roon sa
probinsya ninyo na maaaring
nanay mo na talaga.”
“Sino na naman kaya iyan?
Baka naman gumagawa lang ulit
ng istorya iyan?” duda ng Mayor.
“Hindi ko alam. Puntahan
na lang natin para malaman
natin.
Kinabukasan, imbes na
mangampanya ay pinili ng
Mayor na buong kaba’t pagasang puntahan ang sinasabing
makapagtuturo sa matagal na
niyang hinahanap na ina.
Pagdating nila sa lugar,
sumalubong kay Mayor ang mga
dikit-dikit na barong-barong, mga
musmos na naglalaro sa labas,
at ang ‘di kanais-nais na amoy
ng basurang naiipon sa isang
gilid ng lugar. Gayunpaman,
tiniis niya ito at mas binigyang
pansin ang matandang babaeng
nakatingin sa kaniya mula sa
pintuan ng bungad ng isang
bahay.
Nilapitan niya ito at
sinabing, “Magandang umaga
po Misis. Gusto ko lang pong
itanong kung kilala niyo si Fidel
Gonzalez? ”
“Aba’y oo naman! Si
Fidel ang dati kong asawa
ngunit pinalayas ako noon ng
Ni Paul A. Castillo*
IPINAUBAYA na ang lahat
sa kaniya. At hawak niya
Dibuho ni Rey Ian M. Cruz
Kristo
sa kanang kamay
ang mga papalarin
na maisalba
ang kanilang mga pera
na ipinampusta
sa tupada.
Marami ang kaniyang tinawag
ngunit iilan lamang ang tumugon
at papalaring manalo.
*Mula sa koleksiyong “Hanapbuhay” na nagwagi ng unang
gantimpala para sa Tula sa Gawad Ustetika Taunang Parangal
Pampanitikan noong 2009. Si Castillo ay dalawang beses nang
hinirang na Makata ng Taon noong 2007 at 2009.
Dibuho ni Rey Ian M. Cruz
AWA’Y gabayan kayo
ng Panginoon sa tamang
pagpili ng mga kandidato
sa darating na eleksyon. Iboto
niyo ang karapat-dapat ayon sa
inyong konsensiya.”
Agad-agad na pinaligiran
ng mga bodyguard si Mayor
Lucky Gonzalez at ang kaniyang
pamilya sa hudyat ng pagtatapos
ng misa.
“Nakakangalay naman na
kumaway palagi sa mga taong
hindi mo naman kilala. Halos
mabali na ang braso ko,” ani
Mayor Lucky sa sarili habang
palabas ng simbahan.
Sari-saring mga isyu
at eskandalo ang bumabalot
sa lungsod ng Mati tuwing
dumarating ang panahon
ng eleksyon. Tulad ngayon,
balitang balita sa lahat na
ang kasalukuyang alkalde
ay may sakit sa puso, isang
karamdamang diumano ay
matagal na nitong lihim na
iniinda. Gayunpaman, muli
siyang tumakbo para parehong
posisyon.
Kilala si Mayor Gonzalez
bilang isang matulungin at
maunawaing tao, subalit marami
pa ring bumabatikos sa kaniya
dahil daw sa nawawalang pondo
ng kanilang lungsod. Ngunit
nananatili siyang patok sa masa
dahil sa kaniyang mga proyekto
tulad ng libreng agahan sa city
hall tuwing Linggo.
“Kailan ko ba kayo
pinabayaan? Nakapagbigay ako
sa inyo ng maraming trabaho
at tinitiyak ko na lahat kayo ay
magkakatrabaho kung ako’y
muling mahahalal,” pambungad
ng alkalde sa kaniyang
pangangampanya sa Barangay
Luna.
Masigabong
nagpalakpakan ang lahat sa
pangako ng alkalde, habang
namimigay ang kaniyang mga
tauhan ng libreng pamaypay
na may tatak na “Lucky for
Mayor.”
“Mayor, paano po ninyo
ipaliliwanag ang nawawalang
pondo para sa pagpapagawa
ng basketball court?” sigaw ng
isang residente.
Halos umurong ang dila ng
alkalde nang marinig ang tanong
habang hindi magkamayaw ang
hiyawan ng mga tao sa loob ng
court.
“Nais kong pasalamatan
ka ginoo sa iyong tanong. Dahil
diyan, malilinis ko na ang aking
pangalan. Alam po ninyo, iyang
paratang na iyan ay galing sa
aking mga katunggali sa pulitika.
Ang pondo para sa basketball
court ay kailanman hindi
nagkulang. Bawat sentimong
Varsitarian
kaniyang ina. Kaya nagkalayo
kami pati ng aking anak. . Hindi
ko na alam kung nasaan sila.
Marahil ay kasing edad mo siya
at kasing kisig din,” pahayag ng
matandang babae.
“Alam po kasi ninyo, ako
po ang anak ni Fidel Gonzalez
at matagal ko na rin pong
hinahanap ang aking ina.”
“Kung gayon,” sambit ng
matanda sa alkalde at bigla itong
yumakap sa kaniya.
Sa mga sandaling iyon,
hindi maipaliwanag ni Mayor
Lucky ang pakiramdam niya.
Sa kaniyang pagkakayakap sa
matanda, naramdaman niya ang
yakap ng isang ina.
Sa pagkakayap nito,
napansin ni Mayor Lucky ang
braso ng matanda. Bigla nitong
naalala ang sabi ng ama na ang
kaniyang ina raw ay may tatong
rosas na may pangalang Lucky
sa ibaba.
Nadurog ang damdamin ni
Mayor Lucky nang makita nito
na walang tato ang matandang
babaeng kayakap nito. Dali-dali
itong tumayo at umalis sa lugar.
“Bakit nila ako
kailanganang lokohin?” galit
na galit na sabi ng Mayor
pagkasakay sa kotse.
“Pasensiya na Luck, hindi
ko naman alam na ganoon pala
ang mangyayari,” sagot ni Cora.
“Niloko nila ako!” sigaw ng
Mayor. “Bakit hindi ko siya—”
Bigla itong natumba sa sahig at
nanlaki ang mga mata.
Hindi na naituloy ng alkalde
ang sasabihin at tuluyan na itong
nawalan ng malay.
Haraya
***
“Tatapatin kita misis, ang
sakit ng inyong asawa ay malala
na. Bawal siyang makaramdam
ng sobrang poot, galit, at sama ng
loob,” paliwanag ng doktor kay
Cora. Sa gitna ng kanilang paguusap, nagising si Mayor Lucky.
“Kailangan kong umalis
dito. Hindi dapat malaman ng
tao na ako ay may sakit. Kapag
nagkataon, hindi na nila ako
iboboto. Ayoko na rito. Ilabas
n’yo na ako rito.”
“Pero kailangan mong
magpahinga, Mayor,” sagot ng
doktor.
“Hindi na. Kailangan ko
nang umuwi. May eleksyon pa
akong kinakailangang ipanalo.”
Walang nagawa si Cora
kundi sundin ang nais ng asawa
na siya namang agad bumalik sa
pangangampanya.
Sa gitna ng
pangangampanya ng Mayor,
dumating ang imbestigador
upang magbalita muli tungkol sa
ina ni Mayor Lucky.
“Ano pang ginagawa mo
rito? Ayaw ko nang marinig ang
mga kasinungalingan mo tungkol
sa aking ina. Mula ngayon, hindi
ko na siya hinahanap,” bati ng
Mayor sa imbestigador.
“Sir, patawarin n’yo po ako.
Sa katunayan, ito pong nahanap
kong matandang babae ay may
malubhang sakit na. Minsan ay
mula pahina 7
ating seksyon; at Quinia, pinatunayan nating hindi
makakasira ang isang posisyon sa ating pagkakaibigan.
Sana’y naisalin ko sa inyo ang lahat ng aking
natutunan, Iska (bagaman kinailangan mong lumisan
sa kalagitnaan ng taon), Celyn, at Dana. Iilan lamang
ang nangangahas na sumulat sa Filipino kaya’t
natatangi ang mga nagiging bahagi ng seskyong ito
ng Varsitarian.
Isa nang alamat ang ating tribo, Itals!
Papuri’t pasasalamat sa poong Lumikha sa
kaniyang mga biyaya!
Madalas kong sabihin na dito ako sa “Varsi”
naging tunay na masaya kaya’t ngayong panahon
na ng paglisan, pakiramdam ko ay ninakawan ako
ng kaligayahan. Pero sabi nga ni Paulo Coehlo,
“Remember that there was a time when you could
live without that thing or that person - nothing is
irreplaceable, a habit is not a need.”
Magtatapos man dito ang kabanatang ito ng aking
buhay, hindi rito magtatapos ang aking pagsusulat.
Magpakailanman ay mananalaytay sa aking haraya
ang mga alaalang nabuo sa sintang Varsitarian.
Ngunit para sa ngayon, oras na upang isulat ang 30.
naugnay sa iyong ama. Siya ay
nakaratay ngayon sa ospital at
gusto niyang dalawin ninyo siya
bago siya tuluyang mamahinga,”
sagot ng imbestigador.
“Wala akong pakialam sa
mga impostor. Kung pupuwede
umalis ka na. Wala akong oras sa
mga gaya mo.”
Kinagabihan pag-uwi ni
Mayor Lucky, bumungad sa
kaniya ang tanong ng asawang
si Cora. “Nabalitaan ko ang
nangyari. Sumusuko ka na sa
paghahanap sa iyong ina? ‘Di
ba’t ikaw naman ang may gusto
niyan? Baka magsisi ka,” bungad
ni Cora nang makauwi ang
asawa.
“Masisisi mo ba ako?
Masakit para sa akin na lumaking
walang ina. Magmula nang
mamatay si Dad, saka lamang
ako nagkaroon ng lakas ng
loob na hanapin siya. May mga
pagkakataon noong bata pa ako
na hinangad kong sana’y may
nanay ako. Kaya masakit sa
aking niloloko ako o pinapaasa.”
“I’m sorry Lucky pero
hindi pa dapat sumuko. Puntahan
nating iyong sinasabi ng
imbestigador. Malay mo—
“Ayaw ko na, Cora! Takot
na akong umasa o magkamali.
Iniwan niya ako noong bata
pa ako dahil hindi tanggap ng
lola ko ang kaniyang estado sa
buhay. Lumayas daw siya sabi
ni Dad dahil madalas silang
Sideways
related to my course. Thanks to the
extra-editorial events like Ustetika
or Pautakan, I learned how to host,
make videos, socialize, and even do
some heavy lifting (although I still
strongly believe they should have
placed a disclaimer in the Varsitarian
application form warning you that
apart from writing, you might also
have to lift some tables and chairs
along the way).
And more than a goldmine of
experience, there is also the people
you meet to consider. A lot of times
I have thought about quitting but it’s
the bond I have established with my
co-workers that keeps me rooted to
this place. Thank god for those crazy
bunch for keeping me sane throughout
a stressful year.
At the end of a long and eventful road,
I leave this organization with mixed
feelings, both bitter and sweet. I am
magkasagutan ni Lola. Gusto
ko lang malaman kung bakit
hindi na siya bumalik. Pero
ngayon, ayoko na. Isa pa, sa
makalawa na ang eleksyon at
kailangan ko nang maghanda.
Magpapahinga na ako.”
Pinahid niya ang luha mula sa
mata at saka nahiga sa kama.
***
“Mabuhay si Mayor
Lucky! Mabuhay!” hindi
makamayaw ang sigawan ng
mga tao.
“Maraming salamat po sa
inyong pagtitiwala. Hindi ko
kayo bibiguin,” pambungad
ni Mayor sa kaniyang
pasasalamat na talumpati sa
court.
Sa pagbaba niya
sa entablado, nagulat ito
nang muling makita ang
imbestigador.
“Sir, patawad po sa abala
pero gusto lang po kayo makita
no’ng matandang babaeng
sinabi ko sa inyo noong isang
araw. Kahit isang beses lang
daw po bago siya mamaalam.”
“Tama na. Hindi na ako
interesado sa bagay na iyan.”
Biglang sumingit si Cora
sa usapan nang marinig ang
kanilang pag-uusap.
“Sige na Lucky, nanalo
ka na naman. Pagbigyan mo
na ang huling kahilingan ng
matanda,” udyok ni Cora sa
asawa.
Nagdadalawang-isip
man, napilitan si Mayor Lucky
na pumunta at dalawin ang
matanda.
Sa ospital, nakita ni
Mayor Lucky ang isang
matandang babaeng may
malalaking mga mata, kulubot
na balat, mukhang pagod ang
itsura at tila naghihingalo na.
Walang maramdamang kahit
ano ang Mayor kung hindi awa
sa sinapit ng matanda. Nang
lapitan niya ito, ngumiti ang
matanda.
“Paumanhin at salamat.”
Pagkatapos niyang sambitin
ang mga kataga, dahandahang pumikit ang mga
mata nito. Umalingawngaw
ang nakabibinging tunog at
lumitaw ang isang tuwid na
linya sa cardiac monitor na
nakakabit sa matanda.
Nang buhatin ang
matanda para dalhin sa morgue,
nakita ni Mayor Lucky ang
tila dumi na nasa kanang braso
nito. Nilapitan niya ito at doon
nakita ang tatong rosas na may
pangalang Lucky sa ibaba.
Hindi nakapagsalita sa
gulat ang kani- kanina lamang
ay nagbubunying Mayor.
Kasabay ng kaniyang pagluha,
nakadama siya ng paninikip ng
dibdib.
Huli na nang dumating
ang doktor. Patricia Isabela B.
Evangelista
From page 6
thankful to be free from the shackles
of this very demanding job, but at the
same time, I relish in the memories
of success and hardships the staffers
have endured just for the sake of
documenting UST’s history. Being a
student-journalist is definitely hard
work, but the payoff is invaluable–
writing experience, long-lasting friends
and confidence in one’s potential. Not
a bad deal, I think, even if it means
pulling a few muscles from all the
heavy lifting along the way.
***
To the next batch of student-journalists,
may you continue to chronicle UST’s
glorious history as it enters its 400th
year mark. And may the spirit of
accuracy and objectivity guide your
hand as you begin to ink each and every
article over the course of your college
writing career.
The
Varsitarian
filipino
JUNE 18, 2010 13
Mark Andrew S. Francisco, Patnugot
Jejemon at
wikang Filipino
jilson seckler c. tiu
MARAHIL kung wala ang sumunod
na pangungusap, mahihirapan ang
sino man na basahin at intindihin
ang simpleng tanong na nakasulat
sa paraang kinaiinisan ng marami sa
kasalukuyan— ang jejemon language.
Maliban sa kakaiba nilang
pananamit – maluwag na kasuotan at
makulay na cap na pinapatong lamang
sa halip na isinusuot– pinupukol
ng mga batikos ngayon ang mga
taong tinaguriang “jejemon” dahil sa
paraan nila ng pagsulat at pagbaybay
ng mga salita sa text message:
ang pagpapahaba ng mga salita sa
pamamagitan ng pagdaragdag ng
mga letrang h, w, y, z, at paggamit
ng mga numero kapalit ng ilang letra
(gaya ng “4” sa halip na “a,” at “1” sa
halip na “I”). Dahil dito, inilarawan
ng Urbandictionary.com ang mga
jejemon bilang “anyone with a low
tolerance in correct punctuation,
syntax and grammar.”
N g u n i t s a p a n a y a m n g
Varsitarian kay Nero San Juan, isang
estudyante sa mataas ng paaralan
at aminadong jejemon, sinabi niya
na ang pagsusulat at paggamit ng
jejemon language ay style lamang
niya.
“Noong una nga, hindi ko naman
alam na jejemon na pala tawag doon
sa estilo ng pagte-text ko. Design ko
lang kasi ‘yong ganoon sa pagte-text
B
AT O N G B A H AY,
hindi munti. Ang mga
kuwento ng pamilyang
naninirahan doon ay sarisari.
Dito umiikot ang
Batong Bahay: Naratibo
ng Kahirapan at Tagumpay
ng Isang Karaniwang
Pamilyang Pilipino
(UST Publishing House,
2010) ni Clarence Batan,
guro at mananaliksik ng
sosyolohiya sa Faculty of
Arts and Letters. Ito ay
kuwento ng pamilya ng
may-akda na tinulak ng
determinasyon at pag-asa
upang makaahon sa hirap
at makapagpatayo ng bahay
na yari sa bato. Nahahati sa
limang kabanata, binubuo
ito ng mga salaysay ng
mga miyembro ng
pamilya at kung paano nila
matagumpay na naipatayo
ang pangarap nilang tahanan
mula sa unang porma nito na
gawa lamang sa pinagtagpitagping kahoy.
Inialay ng may-akda
ang unang kabanata na
pinamagatang “Pundasyon
tulad ‘nong iba na may sariling style
din sa pagte-text,” ani San Juan.
Kaya naman hindi raw niya
maisip kung bakit pinalaki ng mga tao
ang isyu tungkol dito. “Minsan iniisip
na lang namin ng mga kaibigan ko na
sikat kami kasi pinag-uusapan kami.
Kaya lang kasi, minsan nakakainis
‘yong dinidiktahan kami na ‘wag
kaming maging [jejemon]. E sila
naman hindi namin pinakikialaman
kung paano sila pumorma o mag-text,”
ani San Juan.
Language trend
Ayon kay Fernando Pedrosa,
sosyologo at tagapangulo ng
Department of Social Sciences,
maituturing na “status symbol”
ang pagiging jejemon dahil sa
pangangailangan ng mga taong ito na
mapabilang sa isang natatanging grupo
kung saan malaya nilang naipapahayag
ang kanilang mga sarili.
“They (jejemons) want to
belong in that particular in-group.
Sociologically, they want to belong.
It’s part of our basic need to belong,
to be accepted, to be recognized,” ani
Pedrosa.
Ayon naman kay Eros Atalia,
propesor sa Filipino sa Faculty of
Arts and Letters, bumubuo ng isang
language trend ang mga jejemon.
“Maaaring sabihin na ang
jejemon language ay bunga lamang
ng nagbabagong panahon na dulot ng
mabilis na pag-usad ng teknolohiya
hatid ng texting at Internet,” ani
Atalia.
Dibuho ni Rey Ian M. Cruz
EyoW PfoUwhsZ! N4i!n+1nD!h4n
nY0oHw Pfu0H b4nGzZ 5!n4$4b!
kOwhH??? (Hello po! Naiintindihan
n’yo po ba’ng sinasabi ko?)
Iginaya ni Atalia ang jejemon
language sa mga sa nausong salita
noong dekada ‘70 tulad ng “kilig to
the bones,” “kilig to death,” at “yosi.”
Ang sward speak o ang salita ng mga
bakla, at ang pasosyal na pamamaraan
ng pagsasalita ng ilang kolehiyala ay
halimbawa din ng mga ito.
Ngunit para kay Jose Dakila
Espiritu, guro sa Filipino at dating
katulong na dekano ng College of
Education, magdudulot ang jejemon
language ng malaking kamaliang
intelektuwal ang mga kabataang
‘Mas makakalito sa larangan ng
wastong gamit, ng wastong gramatika,
at wastong balarila [ang paggamit ng
jejemon language]. Imbes na makatulong
para mas mapahalagahan ang wika,
mas nagugulo pa’ - Jose Dakila
Espiritu, guro sa College of Education
gumagamit nito.
Kamakailan nga ay naglunsad ng
isang “all-out war” ang Department
of Education laban sa mga jejemon
sa nalalapit na pasukan. Ayon kay
Mona Valisno, kalihim ng kagawaran,
magdudulot ng masamang epekto sa
sistema ng edukasyon sa bansa ang
jejemon language.
“Mas makakalito sa larangan ng
wastong gamit, ng wastong gramatika,
at wastong balarila [ang paggamit ng
jejemon language],” ani Espiritu.
“Imbes na makatulong para mas
mapahalagahan ang wika sa tunay na
essence nito, mas magugulo pa.”
Aniya, kahit pa nagbabago ang
wika kasabay ng panahon, marapat pa
rin daw na gamitin ng kabataan kung
ano ang tama at nakasanayang gamit
ng balarila.
“Papayuhan ko sila (jejemon)
na bumalik sa dati at huwag guluhin
ang set-up ng utak lalo na iyong
maliliit na bata na sa halip na matuto
e mas malilito,” ani Espiritu sa mga
kabataang tumatangkilik sa jejemon
language.
Hindi rin nakikitaan ni Espiritu
ng sining ang ganitong pamamaraan
ng paggamit sa wika, kung hindi
“sinisira lamang nito ang wastong
baybay ng mga salita, hindi bumubuo
ng bagong bokubolaryo at higit sa
lahat, walang bagong matututunan.”
Kinontra ito ni Atalia na
nagsabing hindi naman kasalanan ng
kabataan kung nagsasalita sila ng wika
ng kanilang panahon.
“Sinong magdidikta ng tama at
mali? Akademiya ba o ang aktuwal
na gumagamit ng wika? Ang papel
ng akademiya ay una, ilarawan kung
paano aktuwal na ginagamit ng tao
ang wika. Pangalawa na siguro ang
istandardisasyon,” ani Atalia.
Dagdag pa niya, hindi magdudulot
ng pinsala sa ating wika ang jejemon
language dahil alam ng mga taong
gumagamit nito kung kailan dapat
at hindi dapat gamitin ang ganitong
pananalita.
“Kahit ganoon ang kaniyang
pagbabaybay ay hindi naman niya
intensyon na isubo sa iyo na ganito
ka rin dapat magbaybay, ganito ka rin
dapat magsalita, hangga’t hindi niya
pinipilit ‘yong wika niya sa’yo, fine.
Kung sa kanilang grupo nagsasalitaan
sila ng ganoon, fine. Let’s leave them
alone.”
Magkasalungat man ang
paniniwala, nagkasundo naman sina
Atalia at Espiritu na hindi maituturing
na mahina ang pag-iisip ng mga
jejemon.
“Hindi mahina ang ulo nila.
Natutuwa lang sila na makisama at
dumami ‘yang mga taong iyan na
makiliti sa larangan ng pagsulat [at]
pagbaybay [nila],” ani Espiritu. J.A.D.
P. De Leon at P. I.B. Evangelista
Batong Bahay ni Clarence Batan
Sari-saring kuwentong tahanan
sa dapit-hapon” sa kaniyang
Nanay Biday (lola sa ina), na
itinuturing niyang pundasyon ng
kanilang tahanan. Ang pagpanaw
ng kaniyang lola ang nagsilbing
hudyat sa pagpapatayo ng
kanilang tirahan.
Sa mga sumunod na ikalawa
at ikatlong kabanata naman
(“Haligi ng buhay” at “Ilaw
ng tahanan”), isinasalaysay
ng ama at ina ng may-akda
kung papaano nila nairaos ang
kanilang pamilya sa kabila ng
kahirapan.
Inihambing naman ni Batan
ang nag-iisa niyang kapatid sa
“buhanging nagpapakapit sa
relasyon ng pamilya,” na naging
titulo ng ika-apat na kabanata.
Dito isinalaysay ng Kuya
Sherwin niya ang mga naging
hidwaan nilang magkapatid
dahil sa pagkukumpitensya sa
isa’t-isa buhat noong sila’y mga
bata pa lamang. Binigyang linaw
naman sa huling kabanata na
pinamagatang “Interseksiyon:
Bahay kubo’t bahay na bato”
ang tanong kung bakit sa kabila
ng payak na buhay na kinagisnan
ng pamilya ay nangarap pa
rin silang mabili ang lupang
kinatitirikan ng kanilang bahay
at makapagpatayo ng sarili
nilang tahanan na yari sa bato.
Malinaw na naipakita sa
pagkakahati ng bawat kabanata
ang pagkakasunod-sunod ng
mga pangyayaring naganap sa
buhay ng pamilya. Nagkaroon
ng kaisipan ang mambabasa
ukol sa mga ikinikuwento sa
bawat kabanata dahil sa ilang
pahinang puno ng makukulay
na larawan ng pamilya.
Nakabuti din ang diretso ngunit
kontemporaryong paggamit ng
wika ng may-akda upang mas
naintindihan ng mambabasa
ang mga pagpapahayag ng mga
nagbigay ng salaysay.
Mahusay ding nabigyan
ng tamang pagpapakahulugan
ni Batan ang mga kaganapan sa
kanilang buhay. Sa paraang ito
ay naipakita niya ang kaniyang
sinseridad na mailahad ang hirap
na pinagdaanan ng kaniyang
pamilya upang makamit ang
minimithing pangarap.
Inilakip din ng mayakda ang ginamit niyang
metodolohiya sa pagsusulat
upang magawa ang aklat na
inihambing niya sa mga “pakong
ginamit upang mapagdikit-dikit
ang mga materyales sa pagbuo
ng kanilang tahanan”, bagay
na nagpatunay sa pagkahilig ng
may-akda sa sosyolohiya.
Kapansin-pansin din ang
talento ng may-akda sa paggamit
ng mga matatalinghagang salita
bilang pagpapakahulugan sa mga
tao o paksang tinatalakay niya
sa kuwento, gaya na lamang ng
pagpapakilala niya sa kaniyang
Daddy Israel: “Tulad ng aming
dating bahay, ang kaniyang
pagka-ama ay nagsisimula sa
pira-piraso, pinagtabasan, at
pinagtagpi-tagping plywood.”
Nakawiwili rin basahin ang
ilang linyang nag-uugnay sa
nabuo niyang kaisipan tungkol
sa ating kultura gaya ng, “hindi
pala simple ang maging ilaw
ng tahanan, ang maging ilaw
‘Bigyang halaga
ang bawat
sandali sa arawaraw na buhay
ng pamilya’
ng pamilya. Dahil dito sa
Pilipinas, ang pagiging ina ay
hindi lang para sa mga anak.”
Sa huli, naging
matagumpay naman ang
Batong Bahay sa nais nitong
ipabatid sa mga mambabasa,
ang “mabigyang halaga
ang bawat sandali sa arawaraw na buhay ng pamilya,”
na napatunayan niya sa
pagkakabuklod-buklod ng
kaniyang pamilya upang
maitayo ang kanilang batong
bahay.J.A.D.P. De Leon
The
Varsitarian
LIterary
14 JUNE 18, 2010
The Thomasian Writers Workshop through a fellow’s eye
Fueling the Thomasian literary fire
IT WAS exactly like my first day in
the University.
The air teemed with that
familiar awkwardness as I entered
the room, yet the fellows seemed
to know what they were there
for - their heads high despite the
imminent critiques they would
have to endure for the next few
days.
For the past ten years, UST
held an annual National Writers
Workshop, where only two to three
fellows were Thomasians, the rest
coming from other schools.
But this time, the workshop
was exclusively for members of the
Thomasian community—students,
alumni, faculty members, and
non-teaching staff – and I was one
of them.
Spearheaded by Writer-inResidence Dr. Ophelia Dimalanta,
the first Thomasian Writers
Workshop is one of the University’s
activities in celebration of its 400th
year.
Twenty slots were open to
be filled, but only 17 attended the
six-day workshop from May 17-22,
which delved into poetry and prose
in English and Filipino.
The workshop was facilitated
by Al Dimalanta, a professor of
the Faculty of Arts and Letters.
Joining the Dimalantas in the
roster of panelists were renowned
writers Cirilo Bautista, Carlomar
Daoana, Lourd de Veyra, Nerisa
Guevara, Eros Atalia, Joey delos
Reyes and Jerry Gracio.
On Imagery
On the first day, Filipino
poetry was discussed by Atalia,
Gracio and delos Reyes.
The first work to be criticized
was “Pasyon,” a poem by Joyce
“The collection of poems
presented are among the best I’ve
seen in this workshop,” said Atalia.
The author (third from right) poses with the other fellows of the first Thomasian Writers Workshop.held last May 17-22.
Ann Macatuno-Tolentino, a
Journalism alumna and Ustetika
winner now taking up her master’s
at De La Salle University.
Both members of the panel had
a problem with Tolentino’s use of
imagery, where the color left on the
mouth by eating the fruit discussed
in the poem was compared to the
Almighty’s sacrifice.
Gracio, a member of Linangan
sa Imahen, Retorika, at Anyo
(LIRA), said that the imagery
was “made worse by the title and
capitalization of Mo and Ka,”
which prompted Atalia to ask “Are
we talking about God here?”
The discussion concluded that
Doody’s in trouble
Lovely women
clad in animal skin
strut the streets
with phony smiles
and painted faces.
Clever men with
crooked schemes
play games, perform
magic tricks.
They vanish
as their prey
rummage through
empty purses.
Sleek rides
strike
in intense speed.
Red, green and amber
do not mean
the same thing: ‘Go!’
But she can’t tell.
She moves ahead,
never knowing what hit her.
Azer Parrocha
everyone has to agree on the literal
level first to be able to understand a
poem metaphorically.
“In order to be able to talk
about what is unsaid, we first have
to agree on what is being said,”
Atalia said. But both panelists
recognized the author’s “elegance
in use of language” and the promise
of the poem.
In “Sa Kabila ng Lahat,” of
Paul Castillo, an AB-BSE alumnus
and former Ustetika Makata ng
Taon who now works for the
University’s Literacy Training
Service (LTS) program while
taking up his master’s at the UST
Graduate School, Atalia was
PHOTO COURTESY OF JAMES TANA
adamant in pointing out that “art
should no longer be made artful.”
“Why make it hard for your
reader when he doesn’t even have
to waste time on your work?” he
said.
Delos Reyes, also a member
of LIRA, countered his statement,
saying that what is not easily
understood can be a challenge.
He added that the poem had
good intentions, but it was not clear
as to what war it was pertaining
to, since it used clearly used war
imagery.
But all three panelists were
pleased with most of the fellows’
works.
Minding grammar
The discussion on poetry
was carried over to day two, now
focusing in English. Dr. Dimalanta,
Bautista, de Veyra and Daoana
served as panelists.
Dimalanta taught the basic
formula of poetry—objectifying
the subject (“Poetic imagery is a
very important tool of poetry.”)
and subjectifying the object (“You
cannot just describe without a
point.”)—and also joined the
rest of the panel in stressing the
importance of language.
In the discussion of “Infidelity
on Wires” by Literature major
Kristinne Nigel Santos, Dr.
Bautista, a Palanca winner and
Parangal Hagbong awardee said
he expected “words to be used
properly because it is the first thing
I notice.”
“If you make a mistake at
language, it lessens the value of
your poem,” he added.
Dr. Dimalanta, meanwhile,
pointed out that writers have to be
responsible on the denotative and
connotative aspects, where many
find difficulties in.
“Youngsters think codes show
linguistic audacity, but it often
turns out ridiculous,” she said.
Defying conventions
Days three and four were spent
on prose in Filipino and English,
respectively. Problems from poetry
still persisted, particularly in
language and details, where some
Workshop, page 15
Sunny upside down
I
T’S NINE in the morning and
Wide-hipped Neighbor is starting
the didactics on her husband,
who most probably has just woken
up. We heard last night that he was
once again laid off a construction job.
Word has it that he drove the loading
truck towards the site’s barriers and
into the street, filling the air with
drunken laughter as he did.
And here goes Fred, two hours
late for work. He’s staring at the
ceiling, fingernails scratching his left
palm, ears shut from the children’s
squeals, from Old Maid’s attempts
to shoo them away from her gate,
from the repeated honking of horns
at the nearby road. I lie here, staring
at his profile, but he doesn’t mind. He
looks at ease just lying there on the
crumpled bed sheets.
But his officemates are probably
freaking out.
His phone has been restless
under this pillow for the past hour,
but he just lets it be, the vibration
quickly, gets out of bed, and comes
downstairs, his rubber slippers
banging on the wooden steps.
But today is no different from
the other days for the past three
months. He has lost his promotion
bid (and got demoted; thank God he
didn’t lose his job completely); he
has lost interest in watching NBA;
he has lost his take-a-bath-twice-aday habit, sometimes can stay in his
pajamas for days. Worst of all, he
doesn’t—no, refuses—to listen to
what I have to say.
You’re already later than late,
Freddy, I tell him softly.
He sighs, rolls over to lie on his
stomach, and buries his face on the
pillow. He grunts.
Come on, I urge. You should’ve
had a meeting an hour ago. You could
This was how it used to be—I get up at six thirty to
cook breakfast, then I go upstairs at seven to wake
him up. When I do this, he sits up quickly, gets out
of bed, and comes downstairs, his rubber slippers
seeping through the pillow and on the
back of our heads. I reach for him and
he just sighs.
This was how it used to be—I
get up at six thirty to cook breakfast,
then I go upstairs at seven to wake
him up. When I do this, he sits up
at least show up to apologize and—
Isn’t it your team’s presentation day
today?
I take a deep breath and touch his
arm hesitantly, afraid that he’ll push
me away.
Come on, sweetheart, I urge.
He gives in and pulls himself
away from the mattress. He yawns,
arms stretched as far as they can
go. He slips his feet on a pair of
slippers—mine—but I don’t tell him
that.
I walk behind him, holding
his hand loosely. I watch his steps,
waiting for him to realize that the
slippers were furry and a size too
small for him. But he just goes on,
sliding the pads on the unpolished
steps.
Close to the landing, I let his
hand go. He misses a couple of steps,
hitting the wall.
He stops. Sniffs. Frowns.
Here, I say as I guide him to the
dining table. He has left all the lights
on the previous night and doesn’t
bother stopping in front of the switch.
He pulls the nearest chair away from
the table—the one without rubber
ends on its legs. It makes a scraping
sound on the tiled floor.
He sits down. Looks up the
clock. 9:15. He grabs the bag of bread
Sunny, page 15
The
Varsitarian
LITERARY
Marian Leanna T. Dela Cruz, Editor
Jeepney Poetry
Urban word trip
By MIKA RAFAELA A. BARRIOS
and ANGELO NONATO P.
CABRERA
IT’S POETRY on wheels.
In an unconventional mix
of love for literature and the
environment, Instituto Cervantes,
together with Renato Redentor
Constantino and the Institute for
Climate and Sustainable Cities
(ICSC), launched the “Berso sa
Metro: Jeepney Poetry Tour (La
Poesia Viaja en Jeepney)” last
April 17, a poetry-reading event
which made pit stops at various
bookstores in the metro via
electric jeepneys, an innovation
of the iconic Filipino transport
vehicle ran by electricity and
does not require gasoline to fuel
its engine.
A Different Bookstore
in Bonifacio High Street,
Powerbooks at Greenbelt 3 in
Makati and Mag:Net Café in
Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City
were the three stops of the route
which served as venues for the
readings.
With Thomasian poets Vim
Nadera and Michael Coroza on
board, the e-jeepneys sported
verses of famous Spanish poets
with its corresponding Filipino
translations on the exteriors of
the environment-friendly vehicle.
“We wanted to promote
poetry and reading on something
environment-friendly, hence the
use of the e-jeepneys,” said Jose
Rodriguez, director of Instituto
Cervantes.
Rodriguez also explained
that the primary goal of the
institute was to bring back the
culture of reading books and
appreciating literature among
Filipino people, especially to the
young generation whose interest
have significantly dwindled.
Likewise, the campaign also aims
to strengthen Spanish-Filipino
ties.
Along with Nadera and
Coroza, the tour also featured
Sunny
and takes a hardened pan de
sal.
A sunny side up will
be good with that, I suggest
with a smile.
He stands up. Reaches for
the mug rack. Reaches for
the thermos. Fills it halfway,
tears the side of a 3-in-1
coffee pack, and pours all of
its contents on the water.
“You can’t drink it like
that. Stir.”
He takes a teaspoon and
does as I tell him. He taps it
on the rim of the mug twice
before setting it down.
It’s 9:26.
He tears the bread in
half and dunks a part on the
coffee. Takes it in his mouth,
the movement of his jaw
showing how difficult it was
to chew the age-old bread.
He repeats this eight times,
heading to 9:40, with four
pieces of pan de sal.
You’re already later than
late, Freddy.
He sighs and I can hear
the heaviness in it, even with
the complaining engine of a
tricycle joining all the other
city noises.
Just leave it on the table,
sweetheart.
He ties the bag of pan de
sal closed. Takes the mug,
the teaspoon, and the coffee
Saving the environment through poetry. Instituto
Cervantes director Jose Rodriguez poses with the e-jeepney featuring
Spanish and Filipino poetic verses..
Jilson seckler C. tiu
poets such as Ramon Sunico,
Marra Lanot, Mookie KatigbakLacuesta, Pete Lacaba, Joel
Toledo and Jose Luis Gomez
Tore, a famous Spanish poet who
flew into the country to grace the
event. Tore read his pieces in his
native language which a Filipino
poet later translated.
At Serendra, poets recited
their pieces concerning “city life”.
Lacaba’s “Sa Kanto ng Langit
at Laong-Laan” delved into the
sinister elements of the streets
as he described
his journey
along Laong-Laan while riding
a jeepney. “EDSA” by Marra
Lanot is a nostalgic take on the
once peaceful avenue as the poem
From page 14
ends with “Nasaan ang bahaghari
ng dating Highway 54?” Ture
shared his plight as a foreigner
in a strange land in his poem,
“Extranjero en Delhi (Foreigner
in Delhi)”.
At Powerbooks, the theme
shifted to “Memories, Dreams
and Nightmares”. In “Serenade
on a Pitch-Black Night”, Sunico
describes the confusion in
darkness once a worker comes
home at night to a black-out.
Lacaba’s “Bangungot” narrates
his eerie descent into his own
nightmare and a brush with Death
himself.
The last stop at the Mag:net
Café, a known hub for lyricists
and poetry reading, gave the
poets freedom to choose and
read their own selection of works.
Lanot first recited “Riding the
Full,” a poem about the effect
of the full moon on women’s
monthly cycles and then “Como
Quisiera,” her poem in Spanish
that was about an unreachable
dream.
After each reading session
on three stops of the e-jeepney
route, Coroza and Nadera would
perform a balagtasan, a Filipino
poetic debate which the two
poets spiced with much humor
and wit. The two lyricists jousted
about living in the province and
in the city on the first stop in
relation with the city-life theme.
At the next stop, Coroza disputed
the stance of ‘being awake’
over Nadera’s ‘asleep,’ with
which he literally “dozed-off” as
Coroza justified his stance with
consciousness fully alive. And on
the last stop, the two poets debated
if writers were good lovers or
not. The Coroza defended that
poets were great romantic lovers
with their mast ery in words to
capture their beloved’s heart,
while Nadera stood for the bitter,
opposite end.
“So far, Instituto Cervantes
has been successful with their
advocacy. They have been
recognized for their efforts in
their reading campaigns,” said
Nadera. The institute received an
award from the Public Relations
Society of the Philippines (PRSP)
for their first “Berso sa Metro”
poetry and reading campaign
which featured poems recited in
the Light Rail Transits 1 and 2 and
the Metro Rail Transit.
“As Filipinos, we should be
the ones initiating campaigns like
this instead of foreigners doing it
for us,” added Nadera.
“Berso sa Metro” is a project
in line with Instituto Cervantes’
“Dia del Libro” (International
Book Day) which they had
celebrated last April 24.
Workshop
From page 14
sachet. He heads to the sink.
When he has placed
everything on it, it’s 9:49.
I’m about to clear my throat,
but I see his hands gripping
the sides of the sink. His
head is bowed. A sigh.
I reach for him, a hand
gently rubbing on his back.
I move closer, wrapping my
arms around his waist. I rest
the side of my face on his
back.
A sigh. Another tricycle
passes by. The Old Maid
next door has had enough.
The children squeal as
if the reprimand is just a
game, pairs of alfombra
rhythmically hitting the
asphalt. Wide-hipped
Neighbor’s drunkard of a
husband yells. Then follows
whiny tears. A man screams
“Taho!” and gates squeak
in rust
The honking of horns
is filling up our little piece
of sky. Drivers are shouting
“Move it” from a distance.
But Fred doesn’t listen.
There are just soft, abrupt
quakes against my cheek. He
holds on tighter to the sides
of the sink.
You’re already later
than late, Freddy, I say. As if
he’s going to hear me. RoseAn Jessica M. Dioquino
of us struggled against.
In “Kaliwete” by James Luigi Tana, a piece on
masturbating for the first time, the panelists noticed the
“awkward restraint” contained in the text.
“Use vulgar words and make no apologies for it,” said
Gracio.
Atalia commended the author’s courage in writing
the essay, but said that the writing could’ve been “wild all
through out,” doing away with the social commentary that
sprung up at the end.
“You should’ve zeroed in on the first time and the
sensations,” he added.
For “Pamamaalam sa mga Pader,” by incoming
Journalism junior Dennesse Vsmyn Victoria, the panelists
pointed out that the essay, which talks about how the author
intends to contribute for the country’s good, could’ve worked
if it was rooted on a particular experience.
“For starters, don’t write about things too broad,” said
Gracio.
“Creative non-fiction is more personal and has a broader
scope, which will not be readily understood unless the text is
based on something specific,” added delos Reyes.
Brevity and length
For English Fiction and Non-Fiction, the definition of
flash fiction arose, given that most of the entries did not
exceed three to four pages.
Dimalanta said that the main determinant of a flash
fiction is its length and it may contain at least one (or all of)
the elements of a modern short story.
He and Dr. Dimalanta argued a few times about whether
flash fiction was easier to write than a modern short story. He
pointed out that “young writers fail because they think it’s
easier.”
He, however, agreed with Dr. Dimalanta that one should
first know the craft of modern short story before writing flash
fiction.
JUNE 18, 2010 15
Guerrilla
A hiss curling around
the ears, cutting the dirty
beige façade of a building.
Tonight, I use gunmetal grey—
a fast color for this city, this canvas
where flowers shoot
from the barrels of Remingtons;
where empty theaters,
smoke-blackened gates,
and half-burnt bath-tile walls
are robed with layers of
stickerpaperstenciled murals
in paintaerosol.
My stories have a well-worn path;
pull the trigger, innocent dies,
pull the lever, guilty man
crumples into a drab heap.
Pull the wool from your eyes
roll the dice, and pray that the city
never runs out of places
safe enough for a small tale
.Marian Leanna T. Dela Cruz
During the discussion of “The Mystery That Was Her”
by Literature major Den Owen Cacho, Dimalanta disclosed
that flash fiction does not allow much space for building
characterization, so everything that is placed in a story
matters.
Daoana, however, saw the details in the story as a “setup.”
And there was mine
When it was my work’s turn to be “butchered,” the
group embarked on a lengthy discussion on whether it was
flash fiction or not, because it did qualify for length.
The other panelists, however, pointed out that since
my story was not properly established, I had put in the
ingredients of a full-blown short story.
Ms. Guevara pointed out the clichés, something that I
could’ve prevented by using fresh description.
Dr. Dimalanta recognized that my “command of
language is good,” but again emphasized that in order to
write flash fiction, I should be adept with writing modern
short stories.
Daoana stressed that my focus on “capturing an episode
narrative-wise” weakened the story. He also felt that the
story was “more like a finger exercise” because I wrote about
something I knew well which failed to take me out of my
comfort zone.
Clearing misconceptions
The panelists repeatedly suggested works that could help
improve the fellows’ writing skills, emphasizing the phrase
“Read, read, and read so that someday, you will be read.”
As the days went by, I also came to realize that I was
wrong in thinking that the other 16 fellows who were with
me in that week-long journey knew what they were in for.
During the workshop, I saw fear hidden behind smiles and
thank-yous, with our emotions tucked under our sleeves as
we kept all the lessons in mind.
“Behind your smiles, I know you’re breaking,” teased
Daoana, who himself was a product of workshops.
Surprisingly, the workshop did not douse our literary fire
at all, but rather fueled it – until we finally meet our muses
again. Rose-An Jessica Dioquino
The
Varsitarian
SCI-TECH
18
16 JUNE 18, 2010
Reality behind graphic images
The hologram misconception
By Camille Anne M. Arcilla
THERE’S much ado about holograms.
The country’s first automated
elections saw the biggest broadcast
networks trying to outdo each other
in using television graphics, nearly
overshadowing the more pressing
election issues.
Instead of the tried and tested
“splitscreen” often used to broadcast
reports by TV reporters outside the
studio, rivals ABS-CBN and GMA
Networks harked back to the Star Wars
era and showed images of reporters
standing inside the studio carrying on
conversations with news presenters,
as if seeing each other despite the fact
that latter were in remote locations.
“The idea is that the viewers can
see the graphics that are actually not
there at the studio. Large graphics can
be seen in a sense that they’ll think
it’s there but it’s not,” Favila told the
Varsitarian.
Through a tie up with Orad HiTech Systems Ltd., the creator of this
technology, ABS-CBN brought the
reporter’s image from the field into the
studio.
Danton Wieneke, ABS-CBN
News and Current Affairs engineering
department head, said augmented
reality involves image transfer from
live video to a frame.
“For example, if we are going to
insert a video, we send a live video
feed to the hardware so it may repost
the video or the graphics with the live
‘The word ‘hologram’ itself is not copyrighted.
There is no standard organization for
hologram technology that explicitly states the
actual definition of the word,’-Chan
The truth was that these reporters
were merely standing in front of
“green screens” and superimposed
on the studio. Unlike Star Wars, the
news presenter and the reporter did not
really see each other eye to eye.
And so when GMA kept repeating
it was beaming holograms into its
“Eleksyon 2010” studio, ABS-CBN,
which used the term “augmented
reality”, cried foul. GMA was forced
to use the term “hologram effect”
instead.
Cheryl Favila, ABS-CBN News
and Current Affairs supervising
producer, said the network made use
of “augmented reality”.
video on the studio,” he explained.
“The reporter is virtually present
because we can move the camera. We
can pan toward the reporter that is in
the field like he is really in the studio.
We can pan to him, we can zoom in the
camera to him, we can pan back to the
anchor, who is really in the studio as
if the reporter is really on the studio,”
Wieneke added.
GMA Network, on the other hand,
boasted of its “holographic effects” in
its election coverage, claiming it was
the same technology used by the Cable
News Network (CNN) during the
United States elections in 2008. What
it did not say was that CNN drew flak
for the use of the technology, with
critics pointing out that the holograms
were awkward and unnecessary.
Kilai
Rivera,
Educational
Technology Center multimedia and
video specialist, explained that GMA
Network made use of the “chroma key
technique” that requires a green screen
as a background. The image passes
through a switcher, a device that selects
between different video sources. The
background is cut creating an illusion
that the reporter is really in the studio.
“CNN also used Vizrt software
for their hologram, but on a much
grander scale,” Chan said.
“However, CNN’s effect had
more dimension, thus enabling
cameras to move all around the
hologram without making it look flat,
unlike that of GMA.”
But Wieneke did not agree. “A
hologram, like CNN did, has over 20
or 30 cameras situated 360 degrees
around the reporter or subject on the
field,” he said. “GMA has only one
camera shooting against green screen.”
But Nicholas Chan, system
specialist of Vizrt, Malaysia, defended
the use of the term “hologram”.
He said the term “hologram”
was used to refer to the effect of the
software that the network used.
“The word ‘hologram’ itself
is not copyrighted. There are a few
differing definitions of it and there is
no standard organization for hologram
technology that explicitly states the
actual definition of the word,” he
added.
For her part, Favila said ABSCBN never claimed to have produced
a hologram through the network’s
technology during its Halalan 2010
coverage.
“We never said it’s hologram, not
even a hologram effect, because when
you see a hologram, you see 3D,”
she clarified. “Hologram, I believed
should be 3D. But in that particular
effect of virtual presence, it was not
3D, it was just a virtual presence.”
A plasma television served
as guide to the anchors to see the
graphics.
“We look at graphics as a tool for
us to be able to make our presentation
more clearly to the viewers so that they
could appreciate and understand our
reporters better,” Favila said. “That’s
why we need to practice several days
and nights to get the hang of it.”
Comparing the two network’s
technology, Rivera said ABS-CBN’s
augmented reality is better than
GMA’s chroma key.
“Observing the graphic images
produced by the two networks,
ABS-CBN’s augmented reality
were more seamless and less
glowing than GMA’s chroma
key,” Rivera said.
However, he was
quick to point that the
two technologies are
different from each
other.
“There is no
correct technique
since the two
networks
are
using different
technologies.
But if I were
to compare the
two, I think
A B S - C B N ’s
augmented
reality was more
high- end,” he
said.
Favila said
the real aim of
this innovative
El Niño and climate irregularities
By Antonio Ramon H.
Royandoyan
THERE are “twins” visiting the
Philippines once in a while.
Just as the long dry spell
that hit the country is coming
to an end, the weather bureau
said there is a 40 percent chance
that strong rains would replace
it— something meteorologists
attribute to a cycle occurring
every two to seven years.
Edna Juanillo, chief of
the climate monitoring and
production section of the
Phillippine
Atmospheric
Geophysical
Astronomical
Services
Administration
(Pagasa), said the El Niño
phenomenon is a recurring
cycle.”El Niño is not an effect
of global warming because it is a
cycle,” Juanillo, said.
El Niño, the abnormal
warming of the Pacific Ocean,
has hit the country since (what month), and
has damaged around 12 billion in crops
as of April. Weather forecasters have long
warned of El Niño even before it came,
citing irregularities on the cycles of cooling
and warming of temperature in the Pacific
Ocean.
Juanillo said the Philippines is within
the “Niño regions” or areas in the Pacific
Ocean that are most likely to have El Niño.
Countries such as Peru and Ecuador also
fall in the category.
“Sea surface temperature anomalies
determine the occurrence of El Niño and
La Niña,” she said.
“Areas in the Pacific Ocean, called
“Niño regions,” directly affect the
occurrence of El Niño along the Pacific
Ocean,” she said. Countries that fall in the
“Niño regions” are those situated near the
while drought is a dry
Illustration by Lorena D. Mondragon
spell coming to fruition,
reaching for about five
to six months without
rainfall, she said.”
A study by Pagasa
titled
“Seasonal
Reversal of ENSO
Rainfall Signal in the
Philippines” describes
the events that may
happen before the
onset of an El Niño
phenomenon.
“As of June last
year, the Pacific Ocean
posted a 1.5 degrees
centigrade sea surface
temperature anomaly,
which prompted us
to
give
warnings
concerning El Niño
that the country may
experience during the
summer,” Juanillo said.
She added that
Pacific Ocean such as Peru, Ecuador and the typhoons that ravaged the country last year
Philippines.
were a precursor to the El Niño.
A 3.4 degrees centigrade sea surface
With the predicted end due at the end
temperature anomaly within the “Niño regions” of June this year, the country may expect
will indicate that an El Niño event is about to a “neutral period” before experiencing
happen. Climatologists use the increase of 0.5 another period of dry spell or cold nights,
degrees centigrade as gauge to determine El ranging from about a few months to about
Niño.
a year.
Juanillo added that the highest recorded
The Philippines is now at the tailevent occurred in 1997 to 1998, posting a end of the El Niño weather disturbance,
record-high 3.5 degrees centigrade increase.
although its effects will be felt until June,
The time frame used to determine the sid Nathaniel Cruz of Pagasa according to a
cycle of El Niño dates back to 1971 until 2000, report from inquirer.net.
making up 30 years.
However, the International Research
El Niño, which usually occurs in Institute predicted a 35-percent probability
Mindanao and Bicol, causes dry spells and El Niño recurrence in the later part of the
droughts. Juanillo clarified there is a difference year.
between the two terms.
But Pagasa has reported that La Niña
“Dry spells are periods wherein the maybe following El Niño in the later part
country experiences below normal rainfall of the year.
technology was to catch the attention
of young viewers.
“[We wanted] to get them to
watch our coverage, help us look after
the integrity of our entire election
process. It is for the viewers to say that
with the use of this technology, they’ll
be able to guard the integrity of the
election process,” she said.
GMA’s Eleksyon 2010 has bested
their election coverage over ABSCBN’s Halalan 2010, rating 12.3 on an
AGB Nielsen survey in Mega Manila.
The audience share was 39.6 percent
on GMA compared to the 31 percent of
ABS-CBN’s. They have edged theirs
with advantages such as quick count
on the election night, in which ABSCBN had none.
Illustration by Carla T. Gamalinda
Hemorrhage
From page 7
moments when I get to stop being a V staffer. And
so, after what seemed like forever, it is with much
anticipation and sadness that I leave this way of life
behind to pursue a higher degree of learning in the
University’s medical school.
As I finally close this chapter of my life, I would
like to thank the following who have been with me
in all my years as a V staffer:
My parents, Police Senior Superintendent
Allen Bantolo and Mrs. Pia Marie Cecilia Bantolo,
and my siblings, Alene Marie and Aleana Cecilia,
for their unwavering support, understanding, and
encouragement. Not once did they ever tell me to
quit from the V, in spite of the countless demands
of the publication to its staffers.
Sir Lito and Sir Ipe, for the guidance and for
the lessons learned.
My classmates from 3H Medical Technology
who have been understanding and accepting of my
unusual V staffer-cum-med tech student lifestyle.
Cams, Chris Mark, and Mel, who served as
“chimisan” buddies and true friends who would keep
my hand outs in class whenever I was not around to
claim them because I was on a coverage.
All of the V staffers whom I have worked with
through the years, it has been a pleasure shedding
blood, sweat, and tears with you as we slave over
one extra-editorial activity after another. Emil and
Danielle, my remaining V batchmates, for being
steadfast and unwavering. Thank you for the
companionship for the last three years.
Jet, the V friend I’ll always look up to. Levine,
who will always be my kuya.Eli, who will always
be my best friend and chismisan buddy.FJ, my
co-writer, editor, future colleague, and ultimately,
my sibling.
My former editors, Kuya Laurie and Ate
Celina, for everything that I have learned and will
pass on to other Science and Technology writers.
My former co-writer, Ian, for the camaraderie. My
writers, Yen and Ramon: as cliché as it may sound,
I would still say that I could not have asked for
better writers than the two of you. Thank you for
your support and cooperation. Ramon, Yen and I
have faith in you. Keep the Science and Technology
tradition burning.
To those I have failed to mention, I thank you
for being a part of my College life and V life.
Once a V staffer, always a V staffer!
The
Varsitarian
SCI-TECH
JUNE 18, 2010 17
Alena P. Bantolo, Editor
The Philippine Technology Transfer Act of 2009
IP commercialization for a better nation
By Rommel Marvin C. Rio
Editorial
It wou ld s e e m t h at UST’s
Waterloo lies in the academic peer
review criterion, which made up
30% of the weig ht. Here, UST
was given the 90th place, the last
among the “big four.” This criterion
refers to how academics all over
perceive the researches within the
university. But this was checked by
another criterion where UST made
its highest mark – researchers and
citations. Here, UST was 8th overall,
with a score of 98.8.
In short, despite UST having
good programs in the sciences,
despite having a better research
regime, it is weighed down by its
academic reputation as a result of
low peer acceptance. In the past
year, this was the Father Rector’s
explanation to the low ranking of
UST in the THE-QS survey: he said
that the University does not engage
in self-promotion.
B u t g i ve n t h a t t h e T H E QS list is used by students, both
international and local, to determine
their choice of what college to apply
for, isn’t it about time for Asia’s
oldest university to indulge in a
little self-promotion, especially on
its 400th anniversary?
Surely there is reason to do so,
given the prestigious history of the
university and its alumni. In fact,
this promotion should not be seen as
arrogance or ego-booster, but rather
as a means to advertise good quality
education among young people
wishing to take up higher education.
But marketing and advertising
The Philippine Technology Transfer Act grants researchers intellectual rights to their
inventions and research but will this law encourage researchers to further delve into
Philippine research?
are paid to do research, the output is
naturally owned by the University.
“The newly approved law did
not change UST’s existing IP policy
but will help protect the intellectual
property of the University. It also
serves as a mechanism for technology
transfer where the government legally
gives the IPR from governmentfunded researches to the University,”
Sevilla said.
The University, through the
Technology
Licensing
Office
(TLO) under the Office for
Research
and
Development,
facilitates the implementation and
‘ The research institution has a
responsibility to have the intellectual
property patented and commercialized.’
-DOST’s Bernie Justimbaste
From page 6
can’t do the trick alone. The low
grade in the humanities is shocking
inasmuch as UST has produced
National Artists, top-notch writers
and humanists of the land. In fact,
the credibility of the survey suffers
in this area, since how could UST-with its top literature, journalism,
a nd ph i lo s o phy p r og r a m s , it s
Conservatory of Music, and its fine
arts school that pioneered modern
art in the Philippines--lag behind
schools that hardly offer them?
But the poor score may be a
wake-up call since humanities has
been on a retreat in UST since the
abolition of the UST creative writing
and intercultural centers, the firing
of several young fine arts faculty
over-- of all things!--haircut and
dress code, and, as the Varsitarian
Special Reports article in the last
issue reveals, by the misguided and
ultimately stupid policy of some
science-based colleges in UST of
replacing literature and humanities
subjects with technical writing
courses.
The listing should be taken with
a grain of salt. While questioning
the criteria and how they have been
applied, some of them questionably,
admittedly, UST should look at the
listing as a way of checking how it
fares in the bigger picture and what
areas to work on to be globally
competitive. No matter its perceived
strengths, UST cannot rest on its
laurels. At the least, there is still
some room for improvement, even
when one is 399 years sold.
Catnip
Luring the youth to research
Justimbaste said the law would
also be a great tool to boost the interest
of the youth on doing research.
The number of Filipino science
and technology professionals are
one of the lowest in Southeast
Asia, he said, without citing
data.
“Because not many
young Filipinos take up
science
and
technology
courses, there is a decline
in the number of scientific
researchers,” he said. “The
government has to show
that there is money
in science and
technology,
a n d
From page 7
I bow down to those who express true empathy.
A dear friend told me that sometimes, the will to
win is more important than the skill to win. Now, I firmly
believe in his supposition.
In the next few months I wish to be clad in the most
white gala, together with my batch mates, but I don’t
know if I’d ever see myself wearing the white uniform
again when I take my dose of the “real world.”
***
Salute to the Varsitarian. I still am alive and kicking.
To our V advisers, thank you for the trust and the
opportunity that you gave me. Despite the jumble I got
into when you pushed me into being “holy,” I still value
everything.
To my original Filipino family, thank you. Kuya
Sam, you are the best editor one can ever have. Mark,
my best partner, I’ll always treasure the times when I
Bubblewrapped
editorial board—AJ and Cliff, your
success makes me feel my stint was
historical. Prove that loneliness
at the top is a choice, not a curse.
My apologies for my machine
gun mouth and raised eyebrows
at times. You have to admit, those
“endearments” worked on you.
To Mark, Sarah, Chi ng,
Cheenee, Prinz, Jamie, Rose,
Rona, and Celyn, your stay in the
Varsitarian made me want to go
on despite all the conundrums and
all the “I-want-to-quit” drama.
What else can I say, we will grow
old together.
increase the number of researchers
and professionals in the country.”
Data from the Intellectual
Property Office of the Philippines
(IPO) showed that foreigners
outnumber Filipinos in seeking
patents to their inventions.
From 1998 to 2009, only 2,089
Filipino applications were received
by the IPO compared with 32,525
from foreigners. Of the Filipino
applications, only 189 were granted
by the IPO for the past 10 years.
“Through this law, an ‘incentive
structure’ will be established to
encourage the youth to pursue a career
in research,” Justimbaste said.
On UST’s part, its IP policy also
includes an IP Education Program that
aims to promote a better understanding
of general intellectual property rights.
“The law, in fact, not only affects
science and technology, but also the
arts. In the [College of] Fine Arts [and
Design], there are already students
who have applied for patent,” Sevilla
said.
Justimbaste said the government
hopes to increase the number of
patented researches and other
intellectual properties.
“With this law, we
hope to motivate young
people to take up science
and technology careers
among others,” he
added.
Karla Mides C. Toledo
A NEW law enacted last March 23 is
aiming to protect Filipino scientific
researches
through
government
assistance in receiving intellectual
property rights (IPR).
Republic Act 10055 or the
Philippine Technology Transfer Act of
2009 mandates the grant of intellectual
rights to research and development
institutions that conduct governmentfunded researches for the “national
benefit.”
The law encourages research
institutions to have their research
output patented to protect them
from being imitated, and for
commercialization purposes.
Bernie Justimbaste, director
of Planning and Evaluation Service
under the Department of Science and
Technology, said the law recognizes
the significant contributions of
research to economic development.
“The government should fund
researches where the people are
the ones who will most benefit. By
funding these researches, they will
provide better products, services, and
job opportunities,” Justimbaste said in
an interview.
According to Justimbaste, the
act will determine who should set
intellectual property rights of a
research work—the funding institution
or to the research-finding body.
“Since there were problems
like this, some government-funded
research and developments were not
being commercialized because of fear
of having legal problems,” he added.
The government patterned the law
after the Bayh-Dole Act of the United
States, which allows universities,
and other research institutions to
have exclusive control over output
generated from researches funded by
the government.
Fortunato Sevilla III, member of
the Presidential Coordinating Council
on Research and Development, said
that since Thomasian researchers
commercialization of UST research
products.
Sevilla, former assistant to the
Rector for research and development,
was one of the drafters of the
University intellectual property (IP)
policy. Under UST’s IP policy,
revenue from research will be
divided as follows: 50 percent to the
researcher, 15 percent to the TLO,
and the remaining 35 percent shall go
to the University; 40 percent of which
goes to the mother unit responsible
for the research and 60 percent to the
University administration.
“The Philippine Technology
Transfer Act of 2009 will help
protect the University’s intellectual
property. It will serve as a mechanism
for technology transfer where the
government legally gives the IPR
from government-funded researches
to the University,” Sevilla said.
Graphics by Fritzie Marie C. Amar
worked with you.
To my Witness family, may you continue the legacy
of being “holy.” To those I have ‘mentored,’ I hope you
learned something from the pseudo-greenhorn. Jenn
O., I trust you. Brylle, may you be able to accept your
fate. Robin, may your coming home bring you closer
to God, as well as to the priests. Ching, thank you for
being ever reliable. And to Camille, thanks for being
my best V-buddy.
To the Varsitarian staffers, good luck on all of your
endeavors.
To 4NUR8, my RLE 8.3, my best thesis-mates Jer,
Nikki, Gelo, Graci, and Ruby, and to Marcus, thank
you for making me feel blissful during my best and my
worst times in Nursing.
To our professors in the College of Nursing, I
promise to use all that I have learned from you when
my time comes to impart what I have.
To my family, and to the Lord, I offer you all.
And to the Gremlin that I refused to leave, “may
you find your way in the dark.” From page 6
A big hug to Toni and Jeff, who
own the prefixes “best” and “boy”
before the “friend,” respectively.
Thanks for sticking with me for the
past 15 years, Toni. Hope you’ll do
the same and even more, Jeff. My
relationships with the two of you make
me appreciate the value of patience and
its prize. I pray and believe we’ll grow
old together as well. And when we do,
we won’t notice how grey we have
become for each moment was filled
with hearty laughs.
To my Mom, Kuya, Ate, Tita and
Lolo, thanks for enduring my presence
inside the house every day. Til the next
pay check.
A nd lastly, I extend the
greatest thanks to my number one
fan and critic who has been happily
spending the past two years with the
Lord right now: Daddy, I miss you.
I know you’re proud, you must be.
God bless the Varsitarian, the
University and all Thomasians. See
you at 400.
Hi. This has been Danielle
Dandan, Major in the Varsitarian,
minor in (insert course here). Now,
I can safely use that decades-old
‘Varsi joke.
Once a V staffer, always a V
staffer!
The
18
18 JUNE 18, 2010
Varsitarian
LIMELIGHT
Tomas U. Santos
By Rey Ian M. Cruz
Towazinos
By Jasmine C. Santos
SINTOmas
By Carla T. Gamalinda
Tomahawk
Baranggay San Tomas
By Jilson Seckler C. Tiu
By Karla Mides C. Toledo
The
Varsitarian
SPORTS
JUNE 18, 2010 19
Jeremy S. Perey, Editor
Cheerleader on the sidelines
By ANNE MARIE CARMELA L. DAYAUON
O N E O F U S T ’s b e s t
volleybelles is also its top
cheerleader.
The contributions of
20-year-old Angeli Tabaquero
are not limited to her killer
plays. They’re palpable
also whenever she gives
teammates—exhausted and
probably disheartened—that
extra push only a veteran
spiker like her could provide.
Images of Tabaquero
running (actually jumping)
all around the court after a
successful rally have become
LORENA D. MONDRAGON
Angeli Tabaquero often leads rallies during crunch time.
quite common in UAAP
replays.
“It’s a big factor that
Angeli has her high spirits
inside the court,” said coach
Cesael Delos Santos. “As a
senior player, she helps the
team to relax and enjoy the
game.”
Tabaquero commands
respect and solicits admiration
mainly through her many
achievements as a member of
the school’s female volleyball
team.
A consistent Best Player
of the Game in UAAP and
Shakeys V-league, the 5-foot7 open spiker bagged the
Best Server award in the
2008 Philippine Volleyball
Federation Inter-Collegiate
Volleyball tournament.
She was also part of the
RP women’s volleyball team
in 2006, alongside Thomasian
siblings Mary Jean Balse and
Cherry Anne Balse, teammates
Denise Tan, Aiza Maizo, Ruby
de Leon and Lilet Mabbayad.
Part of her success is
attitude. Delos Santos sees her
as a team player who follows
instructions well and makes
others around her better.
“Once you think you’re
good, you’ll stop being good,”
she said.
Tabaquero was discovered
in 2005
by then
coach
August
S t a .
Maria
during
the National Capital
Region Palaro, where her team
represented Quezon City. She
passed the UST
In her years juggling
volleyball with academics,
she said had somehow gotten
the “rhythm,” meaning one
did not have to suffer because
of the other.
Comeback
But
soon,
volleyball beckon
a n d Ta b a q u e r o
was back in the
game.
Suiting
up with
UST in
t h e
tryouts with
flying colors and
immediately tapped to
join Team A.
“I was really happy because
after the tryouts and everything, we
already joined a league in Baguio,” she said.
“It was also a (rare opportunity) to be part of
team A on your first year.”
But Tabaquero knows there’s life
besides volleyball. That’s why she
makes it a point never to take her
education for granted. In the second
semester of 2008, she took a break
from the game and focused on her
Communication Arts studies.
“Playing volleyball is just there, it
will soon fade,” she said. “Whatever you
learned in school, it will not vanish. It
[education] will take you to whatever
path you chose.
She added: “I stopped because my
body was tired of what I was doing.”
FILE PHOTO
second conference of
V- l e a g u e l a s t y e a r, s h e
showed no game rust as
though she never left the
game. In fact, she led the team
to victory against Far Eastern
University in her comeback
game in the semifinals and
bagged the Best Player of the
game award.
“At first I felt nervous,
but I guess volleyball was in
my system so I came back,”
said Tabaquero, who began
playing at 12 years old.
A fter her collegiate
volleyball stint, she dreams of
joining a commercial league,
if not the RP team. She is
also eyeing a sports science
degree later on.
“I see myself taking
care of [players] because
I know what they feel,”
she said.
Just recently, the
UST Lady Spikers
missed the
leadership
services
o f
Tabaquero
in the bestof-three finals
of V-league after
sustaining a left
knee injury from a
bad fall in first set of
Game 1.
Junior Paddler Abendan Who says losers can’t win?
Music students rule commercial fitness contest
tops chancellor’s cup
“I just stuck to the game
plan,” Abendan said.
But Abendan had a very
different fate in the second
Metropolitan Table Tennis
Association (MeTTA) Cup,
after suffering a 1-3 upset in
the qualifying match for a slot
in the quarterfinals against Far
Eastern University’s Jhinno
Selma. Abendan lost his focus
and failed to break out of a
deuce in the 14th point of the
fourth set.
In the distaff side, Season
71 Rookie of the Year Princess
Masong of UST placed
third in the girls’ under-17
event. Angelo P. Cabrera
Brightlance
From page 7
along with the fellows who joined Inkblots.
To my fellow editors, I thank you for the friendship and
even the arguments. I pray that we will meet again at the next
Valik-Varsi with more marks on our belts.
To the next set of staffers, the task soon at hand will be very
challenging, but keep in mind that what matters most is the public
service rendered
To my parents Pedrito and Minerva, my brother, Izi, and my
cat, Marble—I’d like to thank you very much for all the support
all throughout college and my life in the Varsitarian. You never
really spoke against the things I did in the V and you pushed me
to stay at the V when I didn’t want to stay. It’s quite an irony that
I now love it so much that it hurts.
And to Aya, fellow editor, writer, very fun girlfriend and my
“dear friend” in the traffic column last year—you make the feeling
of writing infectious. When you become a teacher, please bring
the joy of writing and reading to your students; it’s indispensible.
I will miss making articles for Special Reports and being
part of a public trust—the campus newspaper.
And with a bow, I’d like to thank you, the most humble
reader. My column is never complete until it is read. It is through
your reading that makes the two of us more human. But for
now, this Brightlancer, hangs his proud lance with a heavy but
nevertheless satisfied heart.
‘I am proud to be a Thomasian, but I am prouder still to be
a Varsitarian staff member.” –Dr. Apolonio de Jesus, last of the
founding fathers of the Varsitarian. So once a V-staffer, always
a V-staffer!
STUDENTS from the UST
Conservatory of Music were
hailed the biggest losers in a
health-awareness contest, and
they bagged P150,000 and a trip
to Boracay to prove it.
Team Jakob, a group of
students from the Conservatory
of Music composed of Kabaitan
Bautista, Roman Enguero,
Jasper Jimenez and Bon Peralta
lost 49 kilos collectively to
come out on top in the Del
Monte Fit n’ Right’s Fit n’ Fab
4 Weight-loss Challenge 2010.
Under the contest rules, the
group that lost the most number
of pounds in a month would be
declared champions.
“We joined the competition
only to challenge ourselves
and see how far we could go
within a month amid extracurricular activities, academics
and responsibilities, since
we’re all officers of different
departments and members of
varied organizations,” Bautista
said. P50,000 of the cash prize
will be given to their college’s
Composition and Guitar
Department.
Tiger Jin Dane Pio de Roda,
Sean Llanto, Jared Manrique
and Dan Sy (also known as team
Fet N’ Ryt) from the Faculty of
Drama
V-league
Softball
From page 9
From page 20
From page 20
Filipinos can’t live without.
“…Ni Neneng” is
made of a curtain of bakya
(native wooden slippers) and
a group of batya at palopalo (native metal basin and
wooden laundry club). The
installation is a composite
of two folk songs, “Bakya ni
Neneng” and “Batya’t Palopalo.”
Cuna’s book,
Adornments: A Floral
Inspiration, was published by
the UST Publishing House in
2007, with a foreword by Fr.
Isidro Abano, O.P., director
of the UST Museum. Maria
Joanna Angela D. Cruz
setback last May 16 (3230, 15-25, 25-23, 23-25, 1015).
In the quarterfinals, the
Lady Spikers stunned Ateneo
De Manila University (25-10,
23-25, 18-25, 29-27, 15-6) last
May 13, and the College of St.
Benilde Lady Blazers (25-10,
25-20, 25-14) last May 2.
The Lady Spikers ended
the eli m i nations with a
convincing victory over the
University of St. La Salle (1825, 25-20, 25-21, 25-9) last
April 27, after a straight-set
loss to SSC-R (21-25, 21-25,
23-25) last April 25. Charizze
L. Abulencia
in a scale of one to ten,
head coach Sandy Barredo
said he would give them a
“nine.”
“The errors were
minimal,” he said. “They
[the Softbelles] were not
pressured and simply enjoyed
the games.”
Despite the recent victory,
Barredo believes the team
still had a long way to go in
preparation for Season 73.
“We are not yet ready,”
he said. “We’re in a process
of rebuilding the team because
many of them graduated.”
Anne Marie Carmela L.
Dayauon
Engineering dropped a total
of 45 kilos to settle for second
place. They were awarded
P20,000. Third-place honors
went to Team Hot Rod from
Ateneo de Manila University.
The competition gathered
representatives from various
universities in Luzon. Winners
were awarded last April 17 in
Fiamma, Makati city. Lester
G. Babiera
Photo courtesy of azraelsmerryland.blogspot.com
UST JUNIOR Paddler
Christian Abendan edged out
Walden Ledesma of Xavier
School, 3-1, to rule the boys’
under-17 division in the 12th
S T I G A - U P C h a n c e l l o r ’s
Cup at the SM North EDSAAnnex last April 6 to 10.
Abendan smashed his way
to the top against Ledesma who
had a rigorous training
in China before the tournament.
With his fierce thirdball kills, deadly spin and
hard-chop service, Abendan
toyed with Ledesma who
apparently struggled in
reading the UST paddlers’
hits.
UST Music students rejoice after winning
Del Monte’s weight-loss tournament
UAAP
From page 20
f rom more than 30
cou nt r ies i ncludi ng I ran,
K o r e a , C h i n e s e Ta i p e i ,
and Vietnam.
The tournament served
as a tune-up for the UST jins’
upcoming stint in the Asian
Games in Guangzhou, China
later this year.
Manalo, a 19-year-old
student from the College of
Education, will suit up for UST
for the last time this coming
school year. Mapilisan, also
19, is from the College of
Rehabilitation Sciences who
has been playing for UST for
seven years now since high
school. Frauleine Michelle S.
Villanueva
V-league tiara stays in España
SP
The Varsitarian
Vol. LXXXI, No.14
Founded 1928
RTS
www.varsitarian.net
June 18, 2010
DE LA SALLE University isn’t alone in the history books anymore.
V-league Finals MVP Aiza Maizo makes a solid spike, leading UST to a four-setter win in Game 3 over the
Lady Stags, 25-20, 25-27, 25-12, 25-15.
ISABELA A. Martinez
By Alexis ailex a. Villamor JR.
DESIRE to land a spot in UST’s
official UAAP lineup next
season proved disastrous for
the Tigers. Playing under the banner
of Dickies clothing company,
the team showcased in dividual
talent only to succumb to a
Manuel L. Quezon University
(MLQU) squad, 96-98, in
the Millennium Basketball
League at the New Tiger Gym
in Mandaluyong City last May
20.
The tournament was to
serve as a gauge for coach Pido
Jarencio in picking players who
would comprise the Tigers’
official 16-man lineup in
Season 73. The coaching staff
is currently training 20 players.
Individual efforts were
reflected in the scoreboard.
Season 72 Rookie of the
Year Jeric Teng led the way for
UST with 23 points, while Clark
Bautista and Carmelo Afuang
contributed 20 points each. Jeric
Fortuna added 19 markers.
Still, the Tigers fell behind
as as many as 12 points in the
third quarter before mounting
a comeback in the fourth that
fell short via a failed Camus
buzzer-beater.
Afuang buried a triple with
less than 20 seconds in the game
to give UST the upperhand,
94-93. But MLQU’s Tonton
Ilustestica responded with a
three of his own to give his team
a 96-94 lead with 10.8 seconds
remaining.
Teng was fouled in the
ensuing play but he split his
charities for a 97-96 score
in favor of the opponents.
MLQU scored a point in the
freethrow line for the final
count. Jack Malansan and Daniel
Bardevarona topscored for
MLQU with 14 points apiece.
“We lost but still, I am
happy because the team is
gaining experiences,” Jarencio
said in Filipino. “But this game
must serve as a wake-up call for
us to do better in the coming
games. They need to fight to
win.”
UAAP Athlete of the Year
bags bronze in international tilt
A TIGER jin took home
a bron ze med al i n the
highly competitive
19th Asian Taekwondo
Championships in Astana,
Kazakhstan held from May
21 to 23.
Twe n t y-ye a ro l d M a r l o n Av e n i d o ,
a sophomore from
t he Col lege of Fi ne
Arts and Design, accounted
for one of on ly t wo
medals won by the 12man Philippine contingent
to the tournament.
Te a m m a t e J o h n P a u l
AVENIDO
Lizardo scored a first runnerup finish in the finweight
division.
Ave n i d o h a s b e e n a
member of the national team
since 2007 and was a gold
medalist in the Southeast Asian
Taekwondo Championship and
a silver medalist in the Asian
Games.
B e sid e s h i m , fel low
UST jins Camille Manalo
and Nicole Mapilisan
bannered the Philippines in
theKazakhstan meet, which
attracted competitors from
m o r e t h a n 30 c o u n t r ie s
including Iran, Korea,Chinese
Taipei, and Vietnam.
The tournament served
as a tune-up for the UST jins’
UAAP, page 19
to take the steering wheel, 9-7.
Twin service aces by
Rhea Dimaculangan backed
by kills from Santiago and
Michelle Carolino gave UST
an advantage point, 23-20,
before an attack error from
S S C - R ’s S u z a n n e R o c e s
ended the set at 25-20.
It was a different story
in the second set, however,
as the Lady Stags capitalized
on the errors of UST to carve
their widest lead in the game,
11-20.
But the Lady Spikers
woke up just in time to spark a
5-0 run planted on a variety of
their kills and level the score
at 22-all. However, SSC-R
grabbed the set with Analyn
Benito’s off-the-block hit and
a block from Roces, 25-27.
UST then redeemed
themselves in the next set with
a 9-0 stretch from Balse’s four
service aces. The Lady Spikers
rode on this momentum to
ice the set with a convincing
25-12 output, courtesy of
Finals MVP and league’s Best
Attacker Aiza Maizo’s off-theblock shot. UST carried the onslaught
in the fourth set with the
Maizo-Balse-Santiago
triumvirate providing much of
the firepower to give the Lady
Spikers an 18-10 cushion.
Carolino’s attack put the
Lady Spikers at match point
before another service ace
from Dimaculangan sealed the
deal for UST, 25-15.
Maizo topscored for UST
with 17 points while Maika
Ortiz churned in 16 markers.
Prelude to the battle
Prior to their epic clash,
the Lady Spikers succumbed
to SSC-R after five grueling
sets, 25-21, 16-25, 25-15,
20-25, 15-13, last May 25 in
Game 2 of the Finals. UST’s
loss allowed the Lady Stags
to avenge their first-game
defeat against UST last May
23—25-21, 22-25, 25-20, 2515—to kick off the Spiker’s
championship quest with a
bang.
UST also had to take
the long road to the top,
bulldozing the Lyceum of the
Philippines University Lady
Pirates with a back-to-back
victory last May 20 (25-19,
21-25, 25-17, 25-18) and May
18 (25-18, 25-23, 25-22) in
their best-of-three semi-finals
match, after a first game
V-league, page 19
Cubs bow out of FCBL semis
THE UST Tiger Cubs badly
missed the Final Four bus
after taking a 69-82 beating at
the hands of the twice-to-beat
Ateneo de Manila University
Blue Eaglets in the third
Filipino-Chinese Basketball wingmen
League (FCBL) Freego Cup at E J C o r r e
the Buddhacare Academy Gym a n d J a y p e e
Sarcia’s scoring
last May 20.
Coach Jerome Ascue said that explosion. But
his boys got a bit overconfident t h e E a g l e t s
in facing the undermanned rallied back for a
Ateneo team with the absence 57-42 lead.
The four th
of experienced stalwarts Von
Pessumal and Keiffer Ravena. quarter was all
Charles Dumrique led E a g l e t s , w h o
the charge for the Eaglets with registered their
20 points, followed by Jay biggest lead in the
Javelosa with 17-point markers. game at 23 with
The Cubs trailed early on 4:25 remaining.
“Despite
within the first minutes of the
t
h
e
loss
opening canto as the Eaglets
erected an 18-point deficit, t o d a y, t h e y
7-25. Ateneo kept the pressure st ill remai n
in the second quarter, taking t o b e o n e
advantage of UST’s turnovers for m id able
to finish the half with a 40-25 team to be
feared in the
lead.
The Cubs showed signs of UAAP,”
life in the third, but could only
Tiger Cub E.J. Corre slashes through the double
get within 10 points courtesy of Tiger Cubs, page 19 team of the Blue Eaglets for a lay-up.
giannina nicolai p. melicor
Gearing up for UAAP
Tigers strive to be in Pido’s ‘Magic 16’
The Lady Spikers
duplicated the Lady Archers’
historic three-peat run in
the V-League by trouncing
the San Sebastian CollegeRecoletos (SSC-R) Lady
Stags in Game 3 of their epic
four-setter clash at The Arena
in San Juan last May 27.
UST snatched its sixth
crown in seven seasons
in dominating fashion by
subduing a tough SSC-R
squad in four sets, 25-20, 2527, 25-12, 25-15.
“I am so happy because
we have been working hard
for this [championship]. I
always tell them [the Lady
Spikers] to be patient and
keep focused to reach our
goal,” a jubilant coach Cesael
de los Santos said. “We are
doing this to make the people,
especially the fans, happy.”
The Lady Spikers
controlled the tempo of the
fourth set, anchored on kills
from Mary Jean Balse, and
consistent blocking from Rhea
Dimaculangan and Denise
Santiago.
UST struggled in the
opening canto, allowing the
Lady Stags to get the edge
early, 2-5. But the opponents’
errors paved the way for UST
Season 72 champions take home
National Softball Open crown
REIGNING UAAP
champions UST Softbelles
battered the heavilyfavored Rizal Technological
U n i v e r s i t y ( RT U ) L a d y
Thunders, 3-1, to clinch
the women’s crown in the
Cebuana Lhuillier-National
Softball Open last May 7, at
Melvin Jones Park in Baguio
city.
UST alumna and RP Blu
Girl Esmeralda Tayag played
the heroine’s role in the fifth
inning when her run batted
in (RBI) single gave UST the
marginal point after a scoreless
truce in the first four frames.
Tournament MVP Corazon
Sobere immediately followed
suit, propelling Season 72
Best Hitter Lani Sarmiento
and Nelia Lara to home base
in the sixth.
In the semifinals, UST
pulverized the University of
the Philippines via a 10-3
verdict to secure a slot in the
championship, while RTU
booked its Finals ticket after a
4-1 manhandling of Adamson
University.
Asked how he would
gauge the team’s performance
Softball, page 19