ON SOCIAL MEDIA BREAKING NEWS & REAL-TIME UPDATES at www.varsitarian.netfacebook/varsitarian twitter@varsitarianust youtube/TheVarsitarianUST instagram varsitarian.ust ‘YOU ARE ACHIEVERS’ALL VOLUME XCIII / NO. 7 MAY 15, 2022 THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS Manila, Philippines UST RECTOR FR. RICHARD ANG O.P. TO BATCH 2022 NEWS ► PAGE 4 UST stays in 801-1,000 bracket in 2023 QS world ranking ► STORY ON PAGE 7 EDITORIAL ► PAGE 6-7 Clearer guidelines, stronger push for F2F classes needed SPORTS ► PAGE 6-7 5th straight UAAP general title for UST
UST stays in 801-1,000 bracket in 2023 QS world ranking
TWO THOMASIANS were named 2022 Outstanding Young Scien tists by the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST). Asst. Prof. Nikki Heherson Dagamac of the UST Department of Biological Sciences and Assoc. Prof. Maria Ruth Pineda-Cortel of the Faculty of Pharmacy were rec ognized for their contributions in the biological sciences and health sciences, respectively. In 2021, Dagamac was part of the team of UST researchers tapped to validate a newly de veloped, more efficient Covid-19 test kit by a Singapore biotech company.Pineda-Cortel, in the same year, received the Philippine Association of Schools of Medical Technology Educators Excel lence Award in Research for her research work on gestational diabetesMeanwhile,mellitus.Asst. Prof. Donna May Papa together with Thoma sian alumni Ronniel Alfred Ace bes, Meryl Grace Cuento, Adelyn Gale Serna and Tracey Antaeus Gutierrez received the 2022 Out standing Scientific Paper award for their study titled, “Comparing the efficacy of bacteriophages and antibiotics in treating Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium on Streptomycin-pre treated Mice.” The team investigated the use of salmonella phages to treat gastroenteritis as an alternative to antibiotics, citing that the overuse of conventional antibiotics may lead to antibiotic resistance. Assoc. Prof. Alan Rodelle Salcedo of the Department of Chemistry, Professor Emeritus Fortunato Sevilla III and alumna Nova Carisa Morabe also bagged the Outstanding Scientific Paper award for their research titled, “Colorimetric detection of cadmi um (II) using glutathione-capped goldThenanoparticles.”2022NASTAnnual Scien tific Meeting and awarding cere mony will be held on July 14.
University of Cambridge swapped places with Oxford University to rank No. 2 in the 2023 ranking, from No. 4 in 2022.Stanford University remained the third-best university worldwide, according to the ranking.
The QS World University ranking was based on eight indicators: aca demic reputation, employer reputa tion, faculty/student ratio, citations per faculty, international faculty ratio, international student ratio, employ ment outcomes and international research network of a university. Ong said employer reputation was the strongest indicator for UST in the 2023 ranking, with the University climbing 46 places.
—PHOTO
► Daganac and Pineda-Cortel ► Salvacion Lim-Higgins
THE UNIVERSITY maintained its spot among the world’s top 1,000 uni versities based on the 2023 Quacquarelli-Symonds (QS) World University ranking released on June 8. UST has stayed in the 801-1,000 bracket since 2018. Nestor Ong, head of the UST Office of QS/THE Rankings, said the University retained its spot because of its “business as usual” activity amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
ACTING NEWS EDITOR: JACQUELINE B. MARTINEZNEWS2 THE VARSITARIANJUNE 18, 2022
“How did we overcome this one? In March and April, we al lowed them to come to the school because we are already two years into the pandemic; the graduating batch, if we don’t allow them to affected LEAPMed program ► LEAPMed students attend a face-to-face class amid the Covid-19 pandemic. FROM DR. WENCESLAO LLAUDERES
THOMASIAN fashion designer Salvacion Lim-Higgins has been declared a National Artist, the highest recognition given to Filipi no artists. Lim-Higgins, or “Slims” as she was popularly known, was posthu mously named National Artist for Fashion. The fine arts alumna, who defied convention and revolution ized Filipino fashion, founded Slim’s Fashion & Arts School, the first and oldest fashion school in the country. In 1990, Lim-Higgins was also posthumously conferred the Hall of Fame Award at the Manila Fashion Designers Awards, which featured her final collections. She joins the Thomasian ros ter of National Artists that include F. Sionil José, Bienvenido Lumbre ra, Nick Joaquin, Cirilo Bautista, Juan Nakpil, Leandro Locsin, Ildefonso Santos, Jr., Jose Maria Zaragoza, Francisco Mañosa, Ar turo Luz, J. Elizalde Navarro, Victo rio Edades, Ang Kiukok, Ernani Cuenco, Antonino Buenaventura, Gerardo de Leon, Daisy Avellana and Rolando Tinio. Along with Lim-Higgins, the list of national artists proclaimed this year included Nora Aunor (film), Tony Mabesa (theater), Ricky Lee (film), Marilou Di az-Abaya (film), Fides Cuyu gan-Asencio (music) and Gemino Abad (literature).
Thomasian fashion designer named National Artist
By Joanne Christine P. Ramos
SPECIAL REPORT PAGE 10 ►
“During the pandemic, we took this opportunity to be active in our participation in the international scene and make ourselves effective in participating in international conferences to market and brand our University in terms of its reputation status,” Ong told the Varsitarian. Ong said the University improved its scores by 31.58 percent from the 2022 ranking and was among the top 56.3 percent of universities in 2023. The initial version of the 2022 World University ranking saw the University falling out of the top 1,000 universities in the world, but Ong clarified that it was an error due to a technical glitch in the QS portal. He said the University chose to remain silent and waited for correc tions to be made by the QS intelli genceTheunit.University of the Philippines remained the country’s top university but slipped from 399 last year to 412 in the 2023 Ateneoranking.deManila University also slipped to the 651-700 bracket from 601-650 in the 2022 ranking. Tied with UST in the 801-1,000 bracket was De La Salle University. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology remained the top uni versity worldwide among the almost 1,500 institutions ranked this year.
By Eduelle Jan T. Macababbad, John Aaron C. Pangilinan and Adrian L. Parungao DESPITE the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, UST’s Learning-Enhanced Accelerated Program for Medicine (LEAPMed) has delivered its intended learn ing outcomes, one of its develop ers said. Prof. Larry King, a faculty member at the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery (FMS) who designed the framework of the program, told the Varsitarian that administering classes had been difficult, especially since some subjects were better delivered with face-to-face (F2F) laboratory work.“Though we were able to deliv er all the courses, nothing could match the F2F setup,” he said. LEAPMed is a two-year fullblown preparatory course for medical studies introduced in Academic Year 2019-2020 aimed to lessen the burden on aspiring medical doctors.
Two Thomasians named ‘Outstanding Young Scientists’ by Nat’l Academy By Adrian L. Parungao
By Miguel Louis M. Galang
When classes shifted to online in March 2020, students were hindered from using state-of-theart facilities such as the Anato mage Table, a 3D visualization of the human anatomy, and virtual dissection tools.
Special Report
UST’s
How the pandemic
“Our University must continue to work together towards stronger inter national research collaboration, more international presence in global ac ademic engagement/activities, more virtual networking strategies to build new contacts, and more data-driven actions and plans,” Ong said.
Cardinal Advincula, 3 Thomasians installed as new members of Equestrian Order by Ma. Alena O. Castillo MANILA Archbishop Jose Cardi nal Advincula and three other Thomasians were among the new members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem Lieutenancy of the Philippines installed on May 18 at the Manila Cathedral.
PHOTO FROM HIS FACEBOOK PAGE
PHOTO BY JOSELLE MARIE B. REYES/ Msgr. Rodolfo Villanueva
► Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula is installed as the Grand Prior of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem Lieutenancy of the Philippines at the Manila Cathedral on Wednesday, May 18.
Cardinal Fernando Filo ni is currently the Grand Master of the Order of Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. The Philippine branch was the first lieutenancy in Asia. It was founded by the then-Manila archbishop Rufi no Cardinal Santos in 1958. The first Philippine lieuten ants were Ambassador Vicente Arenas and Jose Zaragosa. The order became more active when the late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin became the Grand Prior of the lieutenancy. As of writing, there are about 100 members of the EOHSJ Lieu tenancy of the Philippines. WITH REPORTS FROM ALLYSSA MAE C. CRUZ
Thomasian priest receives highest award given in Cebu City by Ma. Alena O. Castillo MSGR. RODOLFO “Rudy” Villanueva, known for his liturgical music and plays written in English and Cebuano, has received the Order of Rajah Humabon award for his outstanding achievement in literature, arts and music. The Order of Rajah Humabon is the highest award that the Cebu City govern ment can bestow to “individuals who have done gratuitous acts of extreme magnitude to the general Villanueva,citizenry.”81,received the award during a Eucharistic celebration and cere mony led by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma last June 12 at the San Carlos Seminary College.Villanueva was born on September 16, 1940 and was ordained priest on June 5, 1963. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in philosophy and theology at San Carlos Seminary in Cebu and earned his master’s degree in English in UST. He also finished his bachelor’s degree in music in piano and master’s degree in music composition in Minnesota State University in the United States. Villanueva was a music and English professor in various universities and seminaries such as the San Carlos Sem inary College, Silliman University, and the University of San Carlos. He is also a lifetime visiting faculty at the Dipolog and DumagueteVillanuevaseminaries.isknown as an award-win ning literary writer, fictionist, playwright, and icon of liturgical music. The priest was the composer of several collections of church music widely used in Visayas and Mindanao such as “Can cionero Cebuano,” “Twenty-Four Masses,” “Salterio Cebuano,” and the three-volume “Festival Series.”
Under the pen name “Renato Ma drid,” his short stories in the 1960s were published by National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin when the latter was editor of the Philippines Free Press. He was a recipient of the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature and the National Book Award by the Manila Critics Circle, particularly for his short story collection, “Southern Harvest,” published by the New Day Publishers in 1987. He also wrote novels that appear to combine sociology and religion such as “Devil Wings” and “Mass for the Death of an Enemy,” published in 1997 and 2000, respectively, by the Ateneo De Manila University Press. In March 2018, The Varsitarian award ed Villanueva and the late philosophy pedagogue Emerita Quito the Parangal Hagbong for their distinguished body of writings during the 33rd Gawad Ustetika. He was nominated for the National Artist Award for literature and theater in 2021. WITH REPORTS FROM ALLYSSA MAE C. CRUZ
JARO ARCHBISHOP emeritus Angel Lagdameo, who served as president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Phil ippines (CBCP) for four years, passed away on Friday, July 8. He was 81. The Archdiocese of Jaro announced Lagdameo’s death in a Facebook“Archbishoppost. Angel Lagdam eo returned to our Creator just this 8:30 a.m. at the age of 81. Let us include him in our prayers and masses,” the post read. Lagdameo died due to health complications, accord ing to Fr. Angelo Colada, social communications director of the archdiocese.Thearchbishop was born on Aug. 2, 1940 in Lucban, Quezon and was ordained priest for the Diocese of Lucena on Dec. 19, 1964. He was appointed auxiliary bishop of Cebu in June 1980. In 1986, he was designated as co-adjutor bishop of Duma guete and became bishop of the diocese in 1989.
The Equestrian Order is a lay institution under the protection of the Holy See designated to “provide for the needs of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and of all the activities and initia tives to support the Christian presence in the Holy Land.” Advincula was formally installed as grand prior of the Philippine lieutenancy. He suc ceeded former Manila archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, who assumed the post in 2018. Lingayen-Dagupan Archbish op Socrates Villegas performed the functions of the Grand Prior for two years since the post had remained vacant after Tagle was installed as prefect of the Congregation for the Evange lization of Peoples in 2020. Under Article 27 of the Order’s constitution, the Grand Prior “assists and cooperates with the Lieutenant in the spiritual direction of the Lieutenancy, issues directives and follows the action of the Priors of the Sec tions and Local Delegations.”
FILE PHOTO
Obituary WITNESS 3 THE VARSITARIAN JUNE 18, 2022 EDITOR: MARIEL CELINE L. SERQUIÑA
APOSTOLIC NUNCIO TO THE PHILIPPINES ‘‘
► Jaro Archbishop Emeritus Angel Lagdameo
THE VARSITARIAN ►
The Grand Prior remains in office for four years and can be reappointed, it added. Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles Brown led Advincula’s instal lation alongside Knight Com mander Jose Cuisia, Jr., a former Philippine ambassador to the United States, and Knight of the Grand Cross Jesus Tambunting, a former Philippine ambassa dor to the United Kingdom. Brown told Advincula that his new role would be a “reason for joy” among the pastoral respon sibilities entrusted to him. “We are called to continue with zeal the love for the land of Jesus and all those who live there through the Order of the Holy Sepulchre as desired by the Supreme Pontiffs,” the nuncio said, who also serves as Knight Commander with Star of the Philippine lieutenancy. Aside from Advincula, Pasig Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara and physicians Rowen Yolo and his wife Leah Uy-Yolo were also appointed as members of the Equestrian Order. Origins of the order The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem traces its origins to the First Crusade, when its leader, Godfrey de Bouil lon, liberated Jerusalem and gath ered together a group of knights to protect the tomb of Jesus Christ. In 1113, Pope Paschal II officially recognized the Or der’s existence and purpose. Pope Callistus II issued a decree in 1122 establishing it as a lay religious community with the specific responsibilities of guarding the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre and the city of Jerusalem in defense of Christi anity against Muslim attack.
Former CBCP president Lagdameo dies at 81
Pope John Paul II named him archbishop of Jaro on March 11, Lagdameo2000.served as CBCP president from December 2005 to December 2009. He was CBCP vice president for two terms or four years and chairman of the CBCP Commis sion on the Laity from 1990 to 2000. He also chaired the Office of Laity of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences. In July 2008, Lagdameo concelebrated Mass at the UST Grandstand in commemoration of the 40th year of Humanae vitae. He also opened the diocesan process for the cause of Mother Maria Beatriz del Rosario Arroyo, O.P.’s canonization in 2009.In 2018, Pope Francis ac cepted Lagdameo’s resignation at the age of 77, two years past his reaching the mandatory retirement age for archbishops and bishops. WITH REPORTS FROM ALLYSSA MAE C. CRUZ
We are called to continue with zeal the love for the land of Jesus and all those who live there through the Order of the Holy Sepulchre as desired by the Supreme Pontiffs.
Archbishop Charles Brown
Photography Francia Denise M. Arizabal, Joselle Marie B. Reyes, Gillian Kin Q. Robles
Another Duterte is off to destroy our education system
“OUR COUNTRY needs a future generation of patriotic Filipinos that advocate peace and dis cipline in their respective communities.” These were the words of now-Vice President Sara Duter te-Carpio as she accepted her appointment as the new secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) in May. While such virtues she mentioned perhaps should be instilled in the youth, it is extremely ri diculous that the priorities of the next education chief are misaligned with the current education crisis. Duterte-Carpio has made it clear that as DepEd chief she intends to prioritize “peace and discipline” through militaristic measures–when the country’s education system is facing more urgent issues such as survival (the closure of hun dreds of schools due to the pandemic) and the worsening quality of basic education, particularly in the public schools that are directly under her own
Onwatch.Jan.
And indeed, the Department of Educa tion (DepEd) has given schools until Oct. 31 to prepare for a transition to a schedule con taining five days of F2F classes and required all public and private schools to make the full shift by Nov. 2. Meanwhile, the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), has said higher edu cation institutions (HEIs) would not be required to hold F2F classes this upcoming academic year as HEIs had the authority to decide for themselves whether to hold F2F classes or not. In UST, more and more programs are announcing their plans for F2F classes; in-person classes are no longer limited to medical and other “priority” courses. The fu ture of schooling is more apparent than ever since Covid-19 broke out: blended learning is here to stay.
On April 29, the Office of the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs released a memoran dum that introduced two variants of the enriched virtual mode (EVM), UST’s main mode of instructional delivery for the past two years, to be used in the upcoming Aca demic Year: the EVM hybrid mode and the EVM hyflex mode. The EVM hybrid mode will require students to complete the necessary number of F2F sessions or hours to accomplish the intended learning outcomes and com petencies of a specific course or subject. According to the memorandum, this will be utilized for courses or subjects whose outcomes and competencies could not be fully achieved with online learning. Meanwhile, the EVM hyflex mode will give students an option to participate in either F2F or online classes. This mode will be for courses or subjects whose outcomes and competencies may be achieved with online learning, and in which F2F classes are only necessary to “enrich the learning experience.”It’sagood thing the University contin ues to reinforce its online learning program that has been in place since 2003 with more variants (that, unfortunately, have con fusing jargon for names). But, for blended learning to be better, there have to be more F2F Aclasses.2021study by Stanford University re searchers found “Zoom fatigue” and the lack of nonverbal communication affecting vid eoconferencing users. A World Bank study also found that the impact of Covid-19 on student learning worldwide has been “sub stantial” and that “inequality in learning across more advantaged and disadvantaged groups is likely going to grow over time.”
EDITORIAL
Camille Abiel H. Torre, Marvin John F. Uy, Arianne Maye D.G. Viri
classes.tobetter,learningBut,jargonhave(that,withplacethatlearningreinforcecontinuesUniversitytoitsonlineprogramhasbeeninsince2003morevariantsunfortunately,confusingfornames).forblendedtobetherehavebemoreF2F Take AHMED KHAN C. CAYONGCAT
Restarting F2F classes, according to the National Economic and Development Au thority, would generate P12 billion weekly for the economy as it would also lead to the reopening of more businesses and the utilization of transportation.
Clearer guidelines, stronger push for F2F needed
FOUNDED JANUARY 16, 1928 Joselito B. Zulueta Publications Adviser
THE GOVERNMENT has been pushing for the resumption of face-to-face (F2F) classes in more schools—in basic education and the tertiary level—with the hopes of augmenting its inflation-ridden economy and improving the quality of the country’s graduates.
4 THE VARSITARIANJUNE 18, 2022 OPINION Felipe F. Salvosa II, Christian V. Esguerra Assistant Publications Advisers John Ezekiel J. Hirro Editor in Chief Miguel Louis M. Galang Associate Editor Laurd Menhard B. Salen Managing Editor Jacqueline B. Martinez Acting News Editor Rommel Bong R. Fuertes Jr. Sports Editor Ahmed Khan H. Cayongcat Special Reports and Science & Technology Editor Jiselle Anne C. Casucian Features Editor Mariel Celine L. Serquiña Witness Editor Samantha Nichole G. Magbuhat Patnugot sa Filipino Nolene Beatrice H. Crucillo Circle Editor Renzelle Shayne V. Picar Chief Photographer Jan Kristopher T. Esguerra Art Director News Jamilah Mae B. Angco, Justin Benedict T. Lim, Christine Joyce A. Paras Faith Yuen Wei N. Ragasa, Joanne Christine P. Ramos Sports Anna Clarissa M. Barlam, Nicole Anne D.G. Bugauisan, James Paul R. Gomez, Jose Ama Alberto B. Rosario, Mark Ernest V. Villeza Special Reports Eduelle Jan T. Macababbad, John Aaron C. Pangilinan Features Judd Ericka Marie F. Crescini, Nina Angela Mikaela Cruz, Faith Nicole S. Gelacio, Jade Veronique V. Yap Literary Samantha Fatima C. Creencia, Alexandra L. Mangasar Witness Ma. Alena O. Castillo, Allyssa Mae C. Cruz Filipino Caitlin Dayne A. Contreras, Matthew G. Gabriel Science and Technology Louise Marie Therese B. Padillo, Adrian L. Parungao Circle Allaine Nicole C. Cruz, Charm Ryanne C. Magpali, Larissa Mae C. Tan Art Karl Joshua L. Aron, Zymon M. Gailo, Athea Monique Z. Gala, Gwyneth Fiona N. Luga, Jerome Carlo D. Macanaya, Christine Angelie P. Orines
Different international assessment programs have determined that Filipino students ranked among the lowest in math, science and reading comprehension–yet the appointed education chief is more focused on “discipline” and compul sory military service. It seems that Duterte’s true motive, like her father’s, is not to introduce discipline but fascism in our education system. In Walden Bello’s words, The whichadministration,newgainedits power through trainingthemthedeterminedcampaigns,disinformationlookstosilenceyouthbysubjectingtodocilitylikedogs.
HOT TAKE PAGE 8 ►
19, Duterte announced her full sup port for the return of the mandatory Reserve Of ficers’ Training Corps (ROTC) for all college stu dents and military service for Filipinos once they turn 18. “Hindi po ROTC lang. Dapat po, pagtung tong mo ng 18 years old, you will be given a subsi dy, you will be asked to serve our country doon sa AFP,” she said. Her idea was immediately shut down even by military officials under her father Rodrigo’s Cab inet. Then-Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Duterte-Carpio’s proposal was impractical as the country lacked funds and resources to run and manage a mandatory ROTC or a military ser vice program. He said the country was not on a war footing with any country in the first place.
Editorial Assistant Jessica C. Asprer
EDITORIAL PAGE 5 ► Hot
It’s a good thing the
classes
Just as how the pandemic made tradi tional F2F learning a thing of the past, the online-only mode put in place as a make-do solution to continue learning amid a health
Ayon kay Jose Evie Duclay, senior language researcher sa KWF, may mga tuntunin sa pagpapantig ng mga salitang may kambal-katinig na dapat isama sa mga susunod na edisyon ng mga ortograpiyang Filipino. Ang kambal-katinig ay mag kakabit na dalawang magkaibang katinig sa isang pantig o magkasunod na katinig na matatagpuan sa inisyal at pinal na posisyon ng pantig. “Kung susuriin natin ang KWF Manwal sa Masinop na Pagsulat, medyo nalimitahan lamang ang pagbibigay ng tuntunin kung papaano ang paguulit ng pantig ng mga sali tang mayroong kambal-katinig. Iilan na lamang ang nabanggit doon na tuntunin,” pagpapaliwanag ni Duclay. Ani Duclay, ilan sa mga kombi nasyon ng kambal-katinig na hindi nabigyan ng tiyak na tuntunin ay ang “n” at “gr”, at ang “l” at “ts”. Para naman kay Evelyn Pateño, isa ring enior language research er ng KWF, mayroong kawalan
Pagbabalik ng tuldik, daan sa pagpapayaman ng wikang pambansa
ng pagtalakay sa kung paano ang pagbabaybay sa mga salitang mayroong digrapong “SH.” Ang digrapo ay dalawang magkatabing katinig na anyong kambal-katinig na lumilikha ng isang tunog lamang at kadalasang nakikita sa mga hiram na salita. “Sa pagsulat ng mga salitang may SH napagkasunduan sa mga nakaraang pagpupulong na ipina nukala ang tuntunin na, banyaga man ito o katutubo, panatilihin ang orihinal na ispeling o hiramin nang buo ang salita,” wika ni Pateño. “Hindi lahat ng salita ay kailangan i-respell lalo na kung ito ay magdud ulot ng kalituhan sa mga babasa at gagamit nito. Hindi masama ang paghiram ng buo sa mga salitang banyaga at katutubo lalo na kung ito ay kilala na sa ganitong anyo,” dagdag ni Pateño. MATTHEW G. GABRIEL
IMINUNGKAHI ng isang dalubhasa ang muling paggamit ng mga tuldik at ang pagbabalik nito sa mga manwal ng ortograpiyang Filipino sa ikatlong araw ng Konsultatibong Forum sa Ortograpiyang Pambansa na inilunsad ng Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) .
Vloggers in the Palace: An impending horror story
In this age of misinformation and disinformation, the public needs those who cover people in power to be independent. Journalists are trained to report fairly; they should not work as mouthpieces or PR machinery for the sitting administration.
Ayon kay Ron Rene Cagalin gan, senior language researcher ng KWF, mas patatatagin ng paggamit ng tuldik ang pagtataguyod sa wikang FIlipino bilang estandard isado at inklusibong wika. “Sa halip na namayagpag ang pag kalito at pagiging sarado, ang tuldik ay isang paraan upang maipalaganap ang tumpak at inklusibong pananaw sa ating wikang pambansa at mga katutubong wika,” ani Cagalingan. Ang tuldik ay simbolong dinadagdag sa mga titik na su masagisag sa mga uri ng bigkas katulad ng malumay, malumi, maragsa, mariin, at malaw-aw. Ayon kay Cagalingan, magiging mas bukas ng Wikang FIlipino sa mga salitang mula sa mga katutubong wika sa bansa kung gagamitin ang tuldik. “Isinasaalangalang din sa pagtutuldik ang pagbaybay ng mga katutubong salita. Sa ganitong paraan, bumubukas ang wikang Filipino sa realidad ng mga katutubong wika at nakalalahok naman ang mga wikang ito sa pagpapayaman ng wikang pambansa,” wika niya. Idiniin ni Cagalingan na mabibi gyang-diin din ang pagpapatibay ng mga tuntunin sa paggamit ng tuldik. “Ibinabalik natin ang konsid erasyon sa mambabasang umuun awa sa ating pagsulat sa Filipino. Kasama na rito ang pagkilala sa mambabasa bilang mag-aaral, mananaliksik, at bilang nakakaengk wentro ng ating wika,” aniya. Dagdag tuntunin sa pag papantig at FIlipino,sapagbabaybaygangMayroonpagbabaybaydingmgakaragdatuntuninsapagpapantigatnadapatikonsideramgaaklatngortograpiyaparasaayonsamgadalubhasa.
Editorial FROM
Acknowledging their bias becomes pointless when they become blinded to the truth because of their bias.Unless these vloggers seek to do a similar job as the legacy media and be fairly critical of elected politicians, their existence and possible Palace ac creditation would do the country more harm than good. In a country where trust for explicitly biased networks like SMNI and Net25 is increasing, adding vloggers to the mix would make for worse informed citizens. But then again, this is a Marcos regime.
5 THE VARSITARIAN JUNE 18, 2022 FILIPINOEDITOR: MARIEL CELINE L. SERQUIÑA
THE PLANNED accreditation would give vloggers— specifically those with high social media reach and engagements—the same access journalists enjoy. Inspired by the press secretary’s idea, some vloggers have formed a group, “United Vloggers and Influenc ers of the Philippines” (UVIP), which intends to be “a partner [group] of the government.” In forming a pro-government coalition while seeking access to “cover” Palace events, these vlog gers seem to be forgetting (among many things) an essential principle for the existence of the press: independence. As Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel wrote in their book, “The Elements of Journalism,” journalists must maintain an independence from those they cover and be independent monitors of power. In covering the head of the state, journalists do not work as a partner of the government. Their job is to watch over, keep an eye out for power abuse and hold these elected “leaders” accountable. They are not given the coverage pass to create content for exposure or to boost, defend or discredit politicians, which is a prominent practice for some vloggers and influencers from both sides. However, the PCOO’s plan is no surprise. During the campaign period, Marcos avoided journalists and restricted their access to his engagements. He turned down interviews and his camp called jour nalists “biased” in the process. Meanwhile, his vlog ger supporters enjoyed wider access to live-stream ing and joining his campaign trail. Freedom of speech is mandated in the Consti tution. Filipinos are free to side with any political ideology and support any politician as they desire. But in openly acknowledging that they are allies of the administration, members of the UVIP are build ing echo chambers for those impervious to the truth who only want to hear what they want to hear. In this age of misinformation and disinforma tion, the public needs those who cover people in power to be independent. Journalists are trained to report fairly; they should not work as mouthpieces or PR machinery for the sitting administration. Before being released for public consumption, journalists’ works are vetted and checked by editors to ensure they fit a publication’s standards. Vloggers mean while practice a different form of independence by releasing any material they desire, often coming up with what would be food for the administration’s trolls.These vloggers know how to communicate and disseminate information. However, when they con tinuously ignore, distort or purposely omit the truth to fit their narratives and stir more support for their beloved politician, they themselves embody what they accuse mainstream media of— being biased, unbalanced, malicious, and peddlers of “fake news.”
BAHAGI ang isang Tomasinong aktor sa serye ng mga monolog ong tumatalakay sa mga tauhan ng nobelang Noli Me Tangere. Isa si Joem Bascon sa mga inanyayahang magtanghal ng dramatikong pagbabasa ng mono logo bilang isa sa mga tauhan sa nobela ni Jose Rizal sa programang Sari-Sari ng Radyo Katipunan. Gumanap siya bilang si Elias, hango sa mga pangyayari sa ika-62 kabanata ng nobela. Ayon kay Gary Devilles, dalubguro ng Filipino ng Paman tasang Ateneo de Manila at isa sa mga tagapagpadaloy ng programa, makikita sa monologo ang malalim na tiwala ni Elias kay Crisostomo sa kabila ng mga kasawian niya sa nobela. “Sa kabila ng pagtataksil o sa pagaalipin sa kanila ng mga Ibarra, nakuha niyang ipusta ang buhay niya, ang prinsipyo niya sa isang tao, at iyon si Ibarra,” wika ni Devilles. Dagdag ni Devilles na nagka roon si Elias ng tila pagbabadya sa mga mangyayari kay Crisostomo. “Ang araw na kayo ay maghi rap, magutom, pag-usigin, ipinagkanulo, at ipagbili ng inyo ring mga kababayan, sa araw na iyon inyo’y susumpain ang sarili ninyong katawan, ang inyong kinamulatang bayan, at ang lahat,” wika ni Bascon bilang si Elias. Ibinahagi ni Bascon ang kanyang proseso ng panana liksik para sa karakter ni Elias at ang kanyang personal na koneksyon sa karakter na ito. “Siguro yung pagiging mag kapareho namin is andito lang ako sa bansa ko, hindi ko alam kung ano mangyayari sa akin pero lalaban ako para mabuhay, para sa sarili ko. Yung gagawin ko yung mga normal kong ginaga wa at iyon yung ginagawa ko para sa bayan ko,” ani Bascon. May bahagi rin ng monologo kung saan mayroong pagsusu ri sa pagkatao ni Elias upang mas makilala ang karakter. “Kahit ano man ang ginawa sa kanya ng mga kanunununuan ni Ibarra, binigay pa rin niya ‘yung full guarantee niya doon sa naging kaibigan niya kay [Crisostomo]. So, may mga ganung tao, may iba na hindi nila kakalimutan iyon at babawi sila,” wika ni Bascon. Nai-broadcast ang monologo sa Radyo Katipunan noong ika-8 ng Hunyo kung saan kasama rin sa mga nagbasa ng monologo sina TJ Trinidad bilang Crisostomo Ibarra, Jasmine Curtis-Smith bilang Maria Clara, at Mercedes Cabral bilang Salome. MATTHEW G. GABRIEL crisis also needs to be done away with as soon as possi ble. Students have to return to their real, tangible class rooms—safely—to make the most of their education. Several studies have found that classroom learn ing was more effective than online learning and that teaching and learning were more effective before the pandemic than during the pandemic.TheUniversity has to be more aggressive in rolling out F2F classes. The intro duction of the EVM variants is a good start as it recogniz es the need for F2F sessions in “enriching” learning, but they should be expanded to cover more courses.
Lookout JACQUELINE B. MARTINEZ
PAGE 4►
Tomasinong aktor, bahagi ng mga monologong base sa Noli Me Tangere
► Representatives bear the flags of academic units prior to the start of the Baccalaureate Mass for Batches 2020 and 2021 on June 5.
“Your late graduation doesn’t mean less.”
‘Better late than never’:
‘Closure’ Rome Gomez, former president of the UST Student Organizations Coor dinating Council, said he was happy to it the Thomasian way, by exiting the Arch of the Centuries,” Gomez, a Batch 2021 master of science in human re source management graduate, told the Varsitarian.Former UST Journalism Society President Loreta Arroyo who gradu ated in 2021 said she was happy to be back at the University and meet the people she had spent college years with“[F]oragain.me, what makes this day special is I get to be with people. I get to meet my blockmates. You get to be with the University, the building that I’ve been walking on the past four or so long years. That’s what makes it spe cial, not really the event itself,” Arroyo told the Varsitarian. She also said the late graduation rites were more special as graduates like her already had working experi
PHOTO BY MARVIN JOHN F. UY+
PHOTO BY JOSELLE MARIE B. REYES
► Accountancy graduates take a selfie as they exit the Arch of the Centuries after the Baccalaureate Mass for Batches 2020 and 2021 on June 4.
GRADUATION 20226-7 JUNE 18, 2022
PHOTO BY JOSELLE MARIE B. REYES
UST Vice Chancellor Fr. Filemon de la Cruz, O.P. told the graduates of Batch 2020 and 2021 that their de layed graduation did not mean less, as he lauded the graduates for surviving the challenges of the pandemic and online“Medyoclasses.late nang kaunti, but it doesn’t lessen the meaning,” de la Cruz said in his homily during the Bacca laureate Mass for Batch 2020 and 2021. He also encouraged the graduates to look back at their resilience during the Covid-19 pandemic when they need strength in the future. “Anuman ang inyong daanan, when life gets tough, you can say: ‘Kaya ko ‘to, naka-graduate nga ako, pande mya pa no’n.’” the vice chancellor said.
“Iba ‘tong batches na ito. Iba ang kanilang dinaanan at kinaharap. Marami silang natutunan, sana higit ng makikita sa aklat o sa libro,” he said. The head of the Filipinos Domini cans also urged the graduates to help 2020 and 2021 was part of the Univer sity’s June-wide in-person graduation season, which started with a similar Mass for Batch 2022. The Mass was followed by the blessing and imposition of the Thoma sian Cross and the Ceremony of Light.
► Former Central Student Council president Robert Gonzales delivers his message during the Baccalaureate Mass for Batches 2020 and 2021 on June 4.
BATCH
After years of waiting and makedo virtual send-off ceremonies when lockdown restrictions were tight, grad uates of Batch 2020 and 2021 finally exited the physical Arch of the Cen turies during the in-person Baccalau reate Mass and rites at the Sampaloc campus on Saturday, June 4.
► An architec ture exitsgraduatetheArch of the Centuries after the forlaureateBaccaMassgraduatesofBatches2020and2021onJune4.
The celebration concluded with the graduates’ exit through the Arch of the Centuries, a rite that was limited to UST Minecraft last year.
“I also wanna tell my professors na, ‘Ito na po ‘yung ako ngayon. I’m already a writer. I’ve been doing a lot of projects [...] I might get a promotion this month.’ I wanna show them na ‘di naman nasayang ‘yung pagtuturo nila sa’kin. Meron naman akong maipapa kita sa iyo na, ‘Look, eto na po ako,’” she UST had 10,480 graduates for Batch 2020 and 2021.The College of Ac countancy had the biggest number of grad uating students for both Faculty of Engineering with 1,163 and Batch 2020, 2021 finally exit Arch of the Centuries ► Batch 2020 and 2021 graduates participate in the Ceremony of Light during the Baccalaureate Mass at the UST Grandstand and Open Field on June 4.
PHOTO BY MARVIN JOHN F. UY
Medyo late nang kaunti, but it doesn’t lessen the meaning. Anuman ang inyong daanan, when life gets tough, you can say: ‘Kaya ko no’n.ako,naka-graduate‘to,ngapandemyapa Fr. Filemon de la Cruz, O.P. UST VICE CHANCELLOR ‘‘ ‘20, ‘21 PAGE 8 ►
PHOTO BY JOHNMARVINF.UY
My congratulationsheartfelt to all the graduates. Mahal kayo ng ‘‘
Debarment is the non-readmis sion of a student because of academic deficiencies, according to the Student Handbook.“Hindi po totoo ‘yun,” Ang said in his homily. “Noong ako’y estudyante pa sa Faculty of Arts and Letters, kami ng mga classmates ko madalas kaming dumaan diyan.” Ang graduated from the Faculty of Arts and Letters in 1990 with a degree ► Batch 2022 graduates exit the historic Arch of the Centuries following the Baccalaureate Mass in a symbolic Thomasian rite of passage marking the end of their academic journey in UST on June 3. BY MARVIN JOHN F. UY AND JOSELLE MARIE B. ► About 9,000 students of Batch 2022 attend the Baccalaureate Mass at the UST Grandstand and Open Field on June 3.
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BATCH ‘22 PAGE 8 ►
THE VARSITARIAN
PHOTOS
Rector praises Batch 2022’s ‘survivors’: You are all achievers
PHOTO BY ARIANNE MAYE D.G. VIRI
UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. on June 3 called the graduating students of Batch 2022 “survivors” who should be proud of themselves for completing their studies despite the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. In his homily during the Bacca laureate Mass for Batch 2022, Ang said the pandemic has formed resilient stu dents.“[Y]ou are all survivors. If you sur vive the pandemic, you can survive anything at all,” Ang said. More than being survivors, the Rector said the graduating students were all “You“achievers.”areallachievers, not just sur vivors. […] We tend to fit ‘achievers’ for only those who graduate with honors and awards, but definitely, no. I beg to disagree with that misconception, without, of course, prejudice to our honor students.” Ang said. “Each and every one of you is an achiever, a victor, a high flier, and a hotshot. All of you are equally deter mined. All of you have worked hard for this, and now that you have attained your goal, each of you deserves to stand tall and be recognized,” he added. The Baccalaureate Mass for Batch 2022 kicked off the University’s Junewide graduation season and was the first massive in-person UST event since the Covid-19 pandemic. The Baccalaureate Mass was followed by send-off rites, namely the Ceremony of Light and the exit through the Arch of the Centuries. Batch 2022 consisted mostly of the first students to finish the K-12 pro gram in Because2018.of the pandemic, the ma jority of students from the batch spent most of the past two years in the Uni versity’s distance learning program, the enriched virtual mode of learning. Ang also reminded the 8,926 grad uating students of Batch 2022 that all things would come to an end, as he pushed them to not be afraid of seek ing new “Mabilisbeginnings.tumakbo ang panahon. Maikli lang ang apat o limang taon. Your time is almost up and very soon, it will be time for you to go,” the Rector said.“After this Baccalaureate Mass, you will have your respective commencement exercises. Slowly, it will dawn on you that your life as a student in your academic unit is finished, and is completed. Consummatum est (It is finished),” Ang added. But according to the Rector, end ings should not be looked at with a wistful eye but with a hopeful view. “Oo, totoong sinasabi ko na walang forever. Lahat may katapusan, pati ang inyong pag-aaral. Kaya lang, ang inyong pagtatapos ay hindi nanganga hulugang pagtigil,” Ang said. “Ang pagtatapos ay bagong pagsisimula. Ang pagtatapos ay pagbubukas ng maraming pinto na magbibigay ng pagkakataon at oportunidad para sa inyo para maabot ninyo ang tugatog ng tagumpay,” he added.
No taboos Ang also de bunked the Uni versity urban legend that claims prematurely exit ing the Arch of the Centuries before graduation would lead to a student’s debarment.In2002, UST began the Welcome Walk tradition, with freshmen passing through the historic Arch of the Centu ries from the direction of the España Boulevard in a symbolic Thomasian rite of Thepassage.passage through the arch is considered the freshmen’s “welcome to UST” moment, and according to the urban legend, students should not exit the arch until their Baccalaureate Mass—or else they would get debarred.
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REYES
JUSTIN BENEDICT T. LIM AND EDUELLE JAN T. MACABAB BAD WITH REPORTS FROM FRAN CIA DENISE M. ARIZABAL she could turn DepEd into a gigantic Philippine Military Academy. The new admin istration, which gained its power through disinforma tion campaigns, looks deter mined to silence the youth by subjecting them to docil ity like training dogs. When asked about the consequence of a disci plinary form of education, lawyer VJ Topacio, convenor of the Abolish ROTC move ment in 2001, puts it very well: this type of education instills fear, not discipline. “It trains students to obey orders without asking why. It is a hindrance to the critical thinking of students,” he told the LestVarsitarian.weforget the time she red-tagged teachers. In 2018, during her time as Davao City’s chairperson of the Local School Board, Duterte called several teach ers “liars, terrorists and sym pathizers of terrorist groups” in one of her Instagram posts. This was her retort to their calls for local allowanc es for public school teach ers. The education sector does not deserve a chief who red-tags and vilifies public schoolInexperiencedteachers. and ma licious, the Vice President will doubtlessly destroy our education system. The gov ernment should appoint an education chief who is better experienced in public education, and one whose main focus is to solve peren nial problems such as poor quality of education, teacher shortages, poor public school facilities, overcrowded class rooms, and low wage sala ries.The country does not de serve another Duterte who, like her father, wants to re move democratic spaces, freedom of speech and criti cal thinking. Let’s not allow another Duterte to further destroy our education sys tem. who graduated in 2020 and 2021 finally get closure from UST with an in-person Baccalaureate Mass on Saturday, June 4. BY JOSELLE MARIE B. REYES than than
PHOTO BY JOSELLE MARIE B. REYES her classmate BY JEAN GILBERT from Batch of the Centuries JOSELLE MARIE B.
in joy ous fashion on June 3. PHOTO BY
T. GO ► Pharmacy graduates
REYES
NAME SURNAME the Faculty of Pharmacy with 884.The total number of gradu ating students per faculty and college in both 2020 and 2021 were as follows: Architecture (519), Arts and Letters (442), Canon Law (10), Commerce (384), Education (9), Faculty of Philosophy (25), Fine Arts and Design (356), Graduate School (370), College of Information and Computing Sciences (267), Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (175), Medicine and Surgery (949 with 35 clini cal audiology and 78 LEAPMED graduates), Music (122), Nurs ing (127), Rehabilitation and Sciences (227), Sacred Theology (95), Science (263), and Tourism and Hospitality Management (100).
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8 THE VARSITARIANJUNE 18, 2022 GRADUATION 2022 in philosophy and finished sacred the ology at the Faculty of Sacred Theology in 1997. He was ordained to priesthood in 1998.Ang earned his master of arts in theology in 1999 and doctor of philos ophy in 2010. As he ended his homily, Ang thanked the students of Batch 2022 for entrusting their education to UST. “My heartfelt congratulations to all the graduates. Mahal kayo ng Universi ty of Santo Tomas. Sana the feeling is mutual,” he said. Ang also told students to bypass a taboo and sign each other’s uni forms—a custom specifically prohibit ed by some academic units prior to the event.“Tell your classmates what you want to tell them before you go your separate ways. Sige na, sulatan ninyo ng pentel pen ang kanilang mga uni porme,” Ang said. “Ilagay niyo ang magandang dedi kasyon. At kung pwede, lakihan ang in yong mga signatures para hindi [nila] makalimutan ang inyong mga pan galan,” the Rector added. Joys and fears of the pioneers Outgoing UST Central Student Council (CSC) president Krizia Bricio, a graduating legal management student, said she was happy to return to campus for the Baccalaureate Mass and solemn investiture rites. “Ito ‘yung batch ng pioneers of the K-12 program so it’s super fulfilling to finally be here again at UST to experience the Baccalaureate Mass and graduation, which we’ve all been looking forward to from the very start,” Bricio told the Varsitarian. Bricio’s sentiments were echoed by outgoing CSC secretary and graduating journalism student Arnet Paguirigan. “[Dahil] galing kami sa pioneering batch and nagkapandemic pa, iba ‘yung saya at ‘yung tuwa na nararamdaman, but at the same time may halong takot kasi e-exit kami ng University from an online environment,” she told the Varsitarian. “Hopefully, with all of the learnings from the past two years in the online setup, we can cope […] Hopefully nakatulong ‘yon with our outside of the University mga ganap ganon,” she added.Beach volleyball player and 2019 SEA Games bronze medalist Jaron Requinton was also glad to finally meet his classmates after two years. “Sobrang saya kasi hindi namin expect at muntik nang hindi matuloy ‘yung Baccalaureate Mass ngayon, so masaya kasi nakita ko na ‘yung mga batchmates ko ulit, and ‘yung mga cograduates ko nakita ko na rin after two years na hindi kami nakapunta sa dito sa UST,” Requinton, a graduating sports and wellness management student, told the Varsitarian. The University had 9,233 candidates for graduation this year. The Faculty of Pharmacy had the biggest number of graduating students for this batch, with 1,508. It is followed by the Faculty of Arts and Letters with 1,248 and the Faculty of Engineering with 978. The number of graduating students per faculty and college this year was as follows: Accountancy (682), Canon Law (1), Civil Law (120), Commerce (724), Education (296), Faculty of Philosophy (9), Fine Arts and Design (383), Graduate School (140), Graduate School of Law (5), College of Information and Computing Sciences (417), Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (115), Medicine and Surgery (430 with 23 clinical audiology and 75 LEAPMED graduates), Music (38), Nursing (315), Rehabilitation Sciences (376), Sacred Theology (43), Science (710) and Tourism and Hospitality Management (597).
JuneoftheFieldUSTilluminateBatchgraduates9,000of2022theOpenduringCeremonyLighton3.
► A Thomasian writes on the uniform of
PHOTOS
during the Baccalaure ate Mass for Batch 2022 on June 3. PHOTO
2022 exit the Arch
Hot Take FROM PAGE 4► Batch ‘20, ‘21 FROM PAGE 4► Batch ‘22 FROM PAGE 4► ► Thomasians
Protest vs Marcos Jr. as UST fine arts grads wear pink masks
‘Homecoming’ For Niklaus Sia, an advertising arts major from Batch 2020, the in-person graduation ceremonies was a “homecoming” for It’s a homecoming: Thomasians celebrate return of in-person grad rites ► College of Fine Arts and Design graduates don pink face masks during their solemn investiture rites held the on June 30, inauguration day of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. PHOTO BY JOSELLE MARIE B. REYES
PASSION PROJECT PAGE 11 ► EDITOR: JISELLE
NEWS 9 THE VARSITARIAN JUNE 18, 2022
“I sat with teary eyes [at the] Quadricen tennial Pavilion, trying to grasp that I’ll walk up on stage with my parents and receive my medal as a cum laude graduate,” Diestro said in an interview with the Varsitarian. “It feels so surreal, and there’s no better way of ending my journey as one of the pioneers of the K-12 program … than the #QPav2022.”
Chelsea Tiaga, a special needs educa tion major, said that having onsite solemn investiture rites gave her batch “closure” after completing most of their studies online.
JUDD ERICKA CRESCINI AND FAITH NICOLE GELACIO
CASUCIAN
Accountancy major and San Lorenzo Ruiz scholar Sharlene Eve Diestro said that march ing to the Quadricentennial Pavilion capped off her journey as one of the pioneering batch of the K-12 program.
LOCATED in the desert community of Joshua Tree in Southern California is Casa Luisa, a Filipino-owned rental vacation resort run by a Thomasian doctor.Dr. Joel Oconer, a UST Medicine alumnus, was inspired by his passion for the arts and hosting to set up a vacation getaway in California where he is currently based. “I like entertaining and I like being a host—[those] give me joy,” he said in an interview with the Varsitarian. “I have a knack for creating art and interior design, and Casa Luisa has become an Growingoutlet.”up,Oconer wanted to pursue a career in the arts, but was encouraged by his parents to go for a more stable profession such as a physician.Afterpassing the medical boards in 1999, Oconer worked for a year at the emergency room of a hospital in Bataan. He then flew to the United States to pursue his medical license there, but was put off by the difficul ty of the examinations and the visa process.Concurrently, he worked as a nurse in the San Francisco Bay Area before landing his present job as a clinical researcher in a pharmaceuti cal company.Buttheidea for Casa Luisa came in 2018 after a friend took him to Josh ua Tree National Park in San Bernardi no County, California where he found a former nursing home in the area and was inspired to renovate it into an air bed and breakfast (airbnb).
“Gusto nating ipakita na hindi pa tapos ang laban at nagsisimula pa lang kung tutuusin,” he said. “Talagang it is our responsibility to influence each other, to give hope to each other na kaya pa ‘to.” ‘Art is political’ As fine arts majors, Cabero and Cortez are both familiar with the longstanding debate about whether art and artists should be involved in politics. “Art has always been political. Sa art history, art movements were made or birthed to address the current situation of the society,” Cortez“Usingsaid.our art to make state ments about our country’s ills and bringing attention to what’s happening really helps even if you think it doesn’t,” Cabero said. Even as the Marcoses return to Malacañang, 36 years after the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. was ousted and brought an end to his abusive Martial Law era, art must continue to stand up for truth and justice.“Don’t stop making state ments with your art dahil lang naka-upo na,” said Cabero. “Wag kayo matakot, hindi tayo nag-iisa.” “I call my fellow artists to use our talents and skills for a greater purpose na ipaglaban ang kato tohanan, ang hustisya. Magbigay lang [tayo] ng hope sa ibang tao with the works that we do,” Cortez said.
For Batch 2021 valedictorian and advertising arts major Paolo Cortez, the wearing of pink face masks, though unplanned, was a symbolic statement on their graduation day. “‘Di talaga siya planado at ‘di pinag-usapan pero around 70 per cent nagpalit ng masks and I can say that it was still a batch effort and meron talagang statement ‘yun,” Cortez told the Varsitarian. He asked permission from Cabero if he could mention her “pink gesture” in his thanksgiving address in relation to the results of the 2022 elections.
PHOTO BY JOSELLE MARIE B. REYES HOMECOMING PAGE 10 ► ► Medicine alumnus Dr. Joel Oconer’s Casa Luisa, a vacation resort in the desert community of Joshua Tree in Southern California. PHOTOS FROM OCONER ANNE C.
“Having graduation ceremonies onsite after finishing senior high school, graduating from a new curriculum, and transitioning from online learning made us feel that we finally got the closure that we deserve,” Tiaga told the “OurVarsitarian.batchwaschallenged to understand life’s unpredictability and withstand amidst the uncertainty. Thus, the once-in-a-lifetime face-to-face graduation was a big leap for us,” she Pamelaadded. Dela Cruz of Batch 2022 said that earning her degree under the abnormal circumstances shifted her perspective as she remembered those who lost their lives to the pandemic.“I’dsay this degree holds not only the struggles of each student but as well as to who they dedicate it to,” Dela Cruz, a legal manage ment major, told the Varsitarian. “Since I am not only doing this for myself but carrying the dreams of those who are not with us today anymore, this really made it more valuable for me,” she added.
► College of Fine Arts and Design’s graduates from Batches 2020 and 2021 attend their graduation ceremonies at the Quadricentenni al Pavillion on June 30.
GRADUATES of the College of Fine Arts and Design (CFAD) donned pink face masks during their solemn investiture rites, which coincided with the inauguration of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as the country’s 17th president on June 30. CFAD is commonly associated with the colors maroon and green, which were also the campaign col ors of the winning Marcos-Duterte tandem for the 2022 elections. But for Ijay Cabero, an adver tising arts graduate from Batch 2020, wearing pink face masks to their graduation served as a form of “subtle“Whenprotest.”ourgraduation was planned for June 30, there was no question for me about what colors I would be wearing for a subtle protest,” Cabero said in an inter view with the Varsitarian. Pink is largely attributed to former vice president Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo during her presidential bid in the 2022 elections.While originally just bring ing some for her friends, Cabero ended up buying more than 300 pink face masks to give away to her fellow “Originally,batchmates.Ithought about just giving face masks to my friends and acquaintances, but then I was thinking, ‘Ang angas siguro if may sea of pink kahit papaano sa June 30?’ she said. “I ended up buying 300 plus face masks and gave them away to any one that wanted to wear them.”
Not a last resort: Thomasian doctor fulfills ‘passion project’ with California vacation spot
MORE THAN TWO years of being cooped up indoors and a hundred Zoom classes later, Thomasians finally culminated their uncon ventional college journey with the return of face-to-face graduation ceremonies.
“I found this place and my first project was to put a yard or fence around the vicinity so it’s secure,” he said. “I bought it for a short-term investment and short-term rental kasi nga may passion ako for hosting.” He called the site a “canvas” for him to express his creativity through designing the overall theme and constructing the different amenities of Casa Luisa. But managing a desert park airbnb proved challenging for Oconer who also works a day job as a clinical researcher.“Angchallenge is I have two jobs: I’m working in clinical research and I’m managing Casa Luisa,” he said. “In the last year or two, my passion for science is waning and mas napagtutu unan ko ng pansin ang [resort].”
. SAMANTHA FATIMA
JUDD ERICKA
AND FAITH NICOLE HomecomingGELACIO FROM PAGE 9►Special Report FROM PAGE 2►
Covid-19 has posed a steep chal lenge for LEAPMed’s pioneer batch, who experienced F2F classes for just nine months before moving on to medical school. King, who also teaches physiolo gy in UST’s medicine program, said LEAPMed graduates were notable in the FMS for getting high grades.
While the battle against the pandemic continues, finishing your studies—and a higher education at that—in the midst of it all is still a victory and worthy of celebration.
King said the University was also aiming to gain accreditation from the Department of Science and Technol ogy (DOST) so it could start offering scholarships for LEAPMed.
Thomasians after the pandemic halted all faceto-face activities in the University for two years. “It was different in a way that it felt like a homecoming rather than a send-off,” Sia said in an interview with the Varsitarian. “The nostalgia that it gave to everyone—all the mixed emotions and all the memories of not one batch but three batches— it’s andmeetingfreshmansaidalsograduateunbelievable.”LegalmanagementJulianUmali,fromBatch2020,thathefeltlikeaagainafterhisblockmatesprofessorsforthe first time after two years.
“[E]ven though the pandemic hit us hard, we never gave up,” Umali said. “We rose to the occasion, we have strived for this moment.” CREENCIA, CRESCINI Without a direct bridging aseveninternshipproper,fourpreparatoryto15willtostudentsprogram,whowantpursuemedicinehavetostudyforto18years–fourfiveyearsinaprogram,yearsinmedicineoneyearinandfivetoyearsstudyingspecialization.
“Since this is a new program, we limited it to two sections or 90 students. So, maybe in the future, if the direction is to go for a shortened preparatory course, then maybe we can offer LEAPMed. But, of course, I think LEAPMed is, sorry to say, not for everyone because it is a shortened intensive course,” he said.
“In UP, it is handled by liberal arts, so there’s a major difference. So our students, they have an in-depth understanding already of the basic sciences and medicine because they are taken care of [by] members of the FMS,” King said.
COMICS10 THE VARSITARIAN ART DIRECTOR: JAN KRISTOPHER T. ESGUERRA JUNE 18, 2022
DAGDAG GAS-TUSIN ZYMON M. GAILO INTO THE ONLINE-VERSE: GHOSTe JEROME CARLO D. MACANAYA
RAYA’S CONCENTRATION—GONE GWYNETH FIONA N. LUGA come to school […] they would be grad uating without seeing UST, it would be a pure, 100-percent online program for them,” King said. Dr. Wenceslao Llauderes, an FMS faculty member, said the pandemic made teaching patient-care skills difficult, especially as “the essence of healing starts from a human touch.”
LEAPMed’s roots The LEAPMed program was introduced after the implementation of the Enhanced Basic Education Law that added two years of high school to the basic education curriculum. Without a direct bridging pro gram, students who want to pursue medicine will have to study for 15 to 18 years – four to five years in a preparatory program, four years in medicine proper, one year in intern ship and five to seven years studying a specialization.“[S]tudents are complaining that what they are taking right now are repetitions of most of the subjects in your Grade 11 and 12, so parang it is a waste of time and resources. So that’s why we came up with this innovative, shortened, intensive, preparatory course for medicine,” King said. The two-year program consists of four regular terms with two special terms during the summer. Unlike other health-allied college programs with around 21 to 24 units per term, LEAPMed has 29 units for freshmen and 30 units for sophomores, while the special terms consist of nine units in year one and 12 in year two. Llauderes said the curriculum of the program was more focused on the human sciences needed for medi cine proper, which makes LEAPMed unique from other programs such as the University of the Philippines’ (UP) Integrated Liberal Arts and Medicine (IntarMed) program. LEAPMed students are also al lowed to use the facilities of the FMS as much as regular medical students do to give them more familiarity with medical equipment.
“[F]acilitators used personal ex periences in their respective clinical practice relaying to students aug mented by a live walk thru experience exposures in areas like emergency room, operating room and general wards,” he said. “It’s a bit challenging because there was a major shift of teaching style from the F2F set up to virtual, but eventually we caught up with the new trend of time,” Llauderes said. “For me, the LEAPMed intended learning outcomes had been met.”
From LEAPMed to med school Maxine Francesco Baculo, a Batch 2021 LEAPMed graduate and a firstyear medical student, said there were no “major differences” that would separate a LEAPMed and a nonLEAPMed student in medical school. “Being a LEAPMed student enables you to be exposed to the ins and outs of medical school and the medical field in general. Because of this, medical concepts that would be essential in practice are taught very early on,” she said. The same sentiment was shared by Mikaela Apollo, a summa cum laude graduate from Batch 2021, who said LEAPMed provided her with theoretical knowledge that helped her in medical“Whateverschool.subject we had in LEAPMed, it was reflected in med school,” she said. “It was a baby ver sion of medicine, in a sense that they didn’t take out the important things. They emphasized the important things.”Apollo said the program had given her as much “headstart” for medical school as it could despite the pan demic’s disruptions. “LEAPMed really tried to give whatever it could to prepare us as much as it could for medicine,” she said. “It’s just a shame lang talaga na nagkaroon ng Covid kasi I think the curriculum is really nice and they really planned for it.”
Patricia Bojador, now in medicine proper, said that the formats of activ ities and examinations in LEAPMed gave her a glimpse of medical school. “We can say that we got a ‘taste’ of what [med school] was like at that early age, and we were able to adjust our learning habits and manage our drives to achieve our goals,” she said.
“I have also asked, communicated [other teachers], and they informed me that those getting high grades are mostly from LEAPMed,” he said. Apollo said studying in a program as intensive as LEAPMed in a virtual setup was especially challenging. “[S]a online, it’s so hard to try to find that motivation in itself. It wasn’t more of the quality. It was more of the work ethic kasi nawalan ako ng work ethic during that time. [‘Yung] burnout sa online was more enhanced or mas na-stress out siya,” she Asidesaid. from being committed, LEAPMed students should also be determined and “have the stamina,” King added. What’s next for LEAPMed? As the present LEAPMed program caters to a select pool of 90 students, King floated the possibility of the program eventually increasing its number of slots.
“We want the program to be ac credited by DOST so that most of the students can avail of the scholarship provided by DOST. […] Our students are from all over the Philippines and many of them are financially challenged. So, we need funding. That would be a very good help for our students if we will be accredited by DOST,” he said.
“I felt like I was a first year student again making friends for the first time after two years,” Umali told the Varsitarian. “I was so happy that I got to see my friends and professors again because they made my college years so much fun.”
Oconer hopes that tourists and guests will not only be charmed by the resort’s rustic desert theme, but also by their service and “Filipino hospital ity” which is inspired by his mother whom Casa Luisa is named“Myafter.mom was an elemen tary public school teacher in Bataan and the kids that she taught years ago would come to our home and she [would] al ways [be] welcoming,” he said.
“She’s my inspiration, siya ang nagmulat sa akin sa pagho host,” he Oconeradded.islooking to expand his resort business to other places while boosting Casa Luisa’s market presence. “There’s a lot of improve ment to do in marketing and hopefully, I could have a team to make this [into] a more global presence,” he said. “My vision is to continue what I’m doing and maybe expand and take another place to nurture.”
Passion Project FROM PAGE 9►
UAAP chess title
The UST Jins gave UST its first gold medal of Season 84 as they reclaimed their UAAP poomsae title on May 31. The UST Tiger Sands clinched their thirdstraight men’s beach volley ball gold medal on June 5. The UST Growling Tigers ended their Season 84 cam paign at a dismal seventh place in the men’s bas ketball tourney but found redemption as they clinched the the 3×3 basketball title. UST’s final gold medal was won by the Male Wood pushers, who ended their nine-year title drought on JuneThe15. UST Growling Ti gresses bagged silver in the women’s 3×3 event.
► The UST Growling Tigers are awarded the 3x3 championship. UAAP PHOTO
UST was awarded the UAAP Season 84 general champi onship for the fifth-straight time on Tuesday, making the school a 45-time general champion in the seniors division.
By Anna Clarissa M. Barlam, Nicole Anne D.G Bugauisan, James Paul R. Gomez and Mark Ernest V. Villeza
Theearly.UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe also placed fourth in the UAAP Cheer dance Competition held on May 22. Season 84, the first UAAP season since 2020, was limited to the follow ing events: basketball, 3×3 basketball, beach volleyball, chess, poomsae, cheerdance (which was not part of the computation) and volley ball.
THE UST Male Woodpushers were crowned as champions of the UAAP season 84 chess tournament after ending their nine-year title drought at the Far Eastern University Mini Auditorium on June 15. The team garnered a total of 28 points in 10 rounds, best ing the De La Salle University Green Woodpushers in the double-round robin match, 2.5-1.5.“Sa caliber ng mga players natin talagang sabi ko nga sig urado ‘yong podium, although syempre wala naman certain, pero sabi ko sa strength ng line up, I can assure for a podium finish, kasi ‘yong strength nila pang-champion talaga, “ head coach Ronald Dableo told the Varsitarian In the 9th tie, the UST male woodpushers were up by 25.5 points, followed by the Univer sity of the Philippines with 22.5 points, DLSU with 22 points and FEU with 21.5 points. UST was one win away from securing the champion ship when Julius Gonzales delivered the championship point, ousting La Salle’s Francis Xavier Guimalan, 1-0. UST team captain Brylle Vinluan lost to Cyril Telesforo, Lee Palma settled for a draw, and Antonio Almodal contrib uted another point for the male woodpushers, 0-1, ½-½, 1-0. The Woodpushers’ gold medal win was the third of the University in UAAP Season 84. NICOLE ANNE D.G. BUGAUISANTiger Sands score beach volleyball 3-peat
FAITH NICOLE GELACIO
The UST Golden Tigress es finished at fourth place in the women’s volleyball tournament after falling off the UAAP stepladder semifi nals
5TH STRAIGHT UAAP GENERAL TITLE FOR UST
THE UST Tiger Sands swept the National University Bulldogs in the UAAP Season 84 men’s beach vol leyball finals, 28-26, 21-15, to claim their third consecutive title at the SM Sands by the Bay on June 5. A quick attack by UST’s Rancel Varga sealed the deal to take home championship number six for the hitters, making them the winnin gest team in the league for the men’s beach volleyball events. UST was up 12-9 in the second salvo when they launched four unanswered points to put them up, 16-9. In a tight first frame, the set point had to be raised to 28 after consecutive kills from both squads. A crosscourt kill from Varga and an off-the-block hit from Jaron Requinton snapped the deadlock to take a 1-0 lead, 28-26. It was only during the semi finals when two-time Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist Requinton was activated after being on the bench during the elimination round.Varga was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, a title he has claimed back in Season 82. The Tiger Spikers secured a finals berth after winning over the De La Salle Green Archers: 21-9, 21-10 the day prior.
UST concluded Season 84 with a haul of four golds and two silvers for 84 points. After National Universi ty’s (NU) win in the women’s volleyball title against La Salle, they finished in second with 81 points. DLSU is a lock for third place with 76 points.USTwon gold medals in the poomsae, 3×3 basket ball, men’s chess and men’s beach volleyball events. The UAAP point system gives 15 points to an event’s champion team, 12 to the second placer and 10 to the thirdTheplacer.fourth to eighth placers are given 8, 6, 4, 2 and 1 points, respectively.
EDITOR: ROMMEL BONG R. FUERTES JR. SPORTS 11 THE VARSITARIAN JUNE 18, 2022
“I know I have rookie jitters, it’s all part of the game, […] my teammates helped me out, our coaches gave me confidence as well, I know I did my best. I just have to work more,” Mantua said. Santos said he thought the Tigers were the best-conditioned team in the 3×3 tournament and attributed their training to their success. “Araw-araw kami nagprapractice, ‘yun lang sa conditioning, alam naman namin na ‘yung ibang UAAP schools… ‘yung iba nagsaya na, ‘yung iba nag-cel ebrate na, nawala na ‘yung focus nila sa 3×3,” he said. The Growling Tigers prevailed over the University of the Philippines Fight ing Maroons, the Season 84 5×5 champi ons, 21-12, to advance to the finals. UAAP’s 3×3 basketball tournament was introduced in 2018. Season 84’s gold was UST’s first in the tournament’s short history NICOLE D.G BUGAUISAN ► The UST Male Woodpushers pose for a photo after snapping their nineyear title drought at the FEU Mini Auditorium on June 15. JOSELLE REYES
Growling Tigers snag UAAP 3×3 title
AFTER a disastrous 3-11 finish in the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball tournament, the UST Growling Tigers found redemption in the 3×3 tourney, beating the De La Salle Green Archers, 21-20, in the finals at the CaSoBe resort in Batangas on June 3. Sherwin Concepcion was hailed Finals MVP with 12 points, including the game-winning bucket. “Sabi ko sa mga kasama ko na dapat bumawi kami dito and dapat mabigay natin ‘yong best natin and para maiba lik ‘yong mga tiwala ng mga tao sa atin, lalo na ‘yong UST community..‘yong ma saklap noong nangyari sa amin noong sa 5×5, ‘yon sabi ko dapat makuha natin itong championship na ito,” Concepcion told the DownVarsitarian.byninepoints, 12-3, in the early minutes of the game, the Tigers went on a 12-3 blitz to tie the game at 15-all.The Archers were up, 20-19, in the crucial point of the game when Con cepcion sank a dagger fadeaway to give the Tigers their first basketball title in 16 years. Rookie champions UST’s championship run was led by Concepcion and rookies Nic Cabañero, Royce Mantua and Bryan Santos. Cabañero said playing in the 3×3 tournament was a huge confidence booster after the Tigers’ forgettable 5×5 finish. “Sa last performance ko sa 5×5 nakita rin ni coach yung pagiging competitive ko, pagiging fighter ko as a player, at parang binibigay ko yung best ko para sa UST,” Cabañero told the Varsitarian. “Despite ‘yung losses na we encountered last season, stepping stone din ‘yon para sa improvement.” Mantua, who averaged nine minutes of playing time with 1.67 points per game in the 5×5 tournament, said win ning the 3×3 championship was huge in removing his rookie jitters.
► UST-IPEA Director Fr. Rodel Cansancio, O.P. (4th from left) and IPEA Secretary Asst. Prof. Gilda Kamus (3rd from right) receive the UAAP Season 84 general championship trophy on June 21 at the Mall of Asia Arena. UAAP
Male Woodpushers bag
FAITH NICOLE GELACIO
► Jaron Requinton and Rancel Var ga celebrate after scoring a point in the UAAP Season 84 beach volleyball event. UAAP PHOTO
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BYART GALAZ.MONIQUEATHEA AND ORINESP.ANGELIECHRISTINE
