THE VARSITARIAN P.Y. 2021-2022 ISSUE 04 & 05

VOLUME XCIII / NO. 3 & 4 · FEBRUARY 25, 2022 · THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS · Manila, Philippines ON SOCIAL MEDIA

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UST TO HOST CNN DEBATES

1. ABELLA, ERNIE Independent

2. DE GUZMAN, LEODY PLM

3. DOMAGOSO, ISKO MORENO Aksyon

4. GONZALES, NORBERTO

5. LACSON, PING

8. MONTEMAYOR, JOSE JR. DPP

9. PACQUIAO, MANNY

10. ROBREDO, LENI

PDSP

PDR

ABSENT 6. MANGONDATO, FAISAL KTPNAN

7. MARCOS, BONGBONG PFP

PROMDI

Independent

THE UNIVERSITY will host the CNN Philippines debates, where nine presidential candidates and seven vice-presidential candidates are expected to square off.

UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with CNN Philippines President Benjamin Ramos on Feb. 17.

The Quadricentennial Pavilion, a sports complex, will be the venue for the debates on Feb. 26 (vice presidential) and 27 (presidential) from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

UST and CNN Philippines also inked a memorandum of understanding with Microsoft Philippines, which will be in charge of

the event’s virtual audience.

Ang said signing the agreement with CNN Philippines showed UST’s commitment to spreading the truth and promoting human dignity, freedom, and justice for Filipinos, as envisioned

by Fr. Miguel de Benavides, O.P., the University founder and the third archbishop of Manila.

► CNN DEBATES IN UST PAGE 5

► UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. (center) signs memoranda with CNN Philippines president Benjamin

Ramos (left) and Microsoft Philippines director Joanna Rodriguez (right) on Feb. 17.—CAMILLE ABIEL H. TORRES

Quadricentennial Pavilion to house command center of PPCRV to ensure ‘transparent’ tally of votes THE CHURCH-BASED poll watchdog Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) has moved its command center to the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion (QPav).

UST Secretary General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P. said the University was “keen on extending its assistance to the Church” by providing space and manpower necessary to secure the data server of PPCRV and the transparency server of Comelec.

The PPCRV is an accredited

citizen’s arm of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) “that works assiduously for clean, honest, accurate, meaningful and peaceful elections.”

It operates the transparency servers that receive electronically transmitted results from polling precincts every election along with the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP).

Coronel said the PPCRV’s transparency work would give Filipinos a triangulated account of casted votes and an “added lay-

er of check” during the canvassing of votes.

“Despite the presence of a system that ensures the secrecy and sanctity of the votes of the Filipino electorate, the votes should not be simply treated as a written document (ballot) that is digitally transferred to Comelec’s transparency server but should be viewed as a collective responsibility of the nation,” Coronel told the Varsitarian.

PPCRV PAGE 11

►

SPECIAL REPORTS ► PAGE 5

Can Marcos Jr. afford to ignore debates, media interviews?

OBITUARY ► PAGES 8-9

Remembering ‘Manong Frankie’

THE VARSITARIAN

FEBRUARY 25, 2022

2

NEWS

ACTING NEWS EDITOR: JACQUELINE B. MARTINEZ

UST student leaders oppose proposed mandatory military service STUDENT COUNCIL officials condemned the proposed mandatory military service and compulsory enrollment in the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) of some politicians running in the 2022 elections.

The spirit of patriotism and nationalism, along with discipline, is not cultivated through blind marches under the scorching sun nor through tutorials on handling guns, but through long-term education plans that seek to solve our societal problems ► Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC) cadets practice their drills at the UST field during a training.

-Ce n t ra l St u d e n t Co u n ci l

rampant in ROTC units nationwide.

Following the death of Mark Welson Chua, a Thomasian who exposed corruption in the ROTC-UST unit in

—FILE PHOTO

2001, Republic Act 9163 or the National Service Training Program Act of 2001 was signed into law, abolishing the mandatory ROTC program.

College students are now allowed to choose any of the three National Service Training Program compo-

Stricter policies vs sexual harassment issued

By Eduelle Jan T. Macababbad

THE UNIVERSITY has issued stricter guidelines on sexual harassment cases, setting procedures for complaints and establishing a committee to deal with such matters.

In a six-page document obtained by the Varsitarian, UST listed 12 forms of sexual harassment, on top of the acts listed under the Safe Spaces Act which was signed into law in 2019.

The law considers the following as acts of “gender-based sexual harassment”: catcalling, cyberstalking, gender-based online sexual harassment, homophobic remarks or slurs, misogynistic remarks or slurs, sexist remarks or slurs, transphobic remarks or slurs, and stalking.

The University’s guidelines added the following as forms of sexual harassment: persistent “green” jokes; taunting an employee or student with sexual innuendos; displaying offensive pictures or publications; asking about a person’s sexual activities or preferences; making offensive hand or body gestures; sending obscene messages through electronic devices during or outside working hours; “Chancing”; unnecessary brushing up against the body; pinching of buttocks; touching a person’s sensitive parts; threat of sexual assault or rape; and other acts of similar nature. “[UST] values and respects the dignity and rights of its employees and students […] and is committed to keep its work and education en-

vironment free from gender-based sexual harassment and all forms of sexual intimidation and exploitation,” the policy statement, signed

by UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P., stated.

The guidelines cover sexual harassment acts committed inside or outside the campus, at school or training or education related-functions, in the course of work assignments or course assignments outside the campus, and during work- and training-related activities such as conferences, seminars, studies, sessions, and travel.

If the perpetrator of the act is a student, the complaint must be filed with the college-level Student Welfare and Development Committee (SWDC) or the Office for Student Affairs. The majority of the members of the investigating panel must be women, if not, the OSA director may appoint a female to oversee the case.

A Committee on Decorum and Investigation (CODI) will be in charge of cases wherein the perpetrator is an employee, faculty member, or official of UST. The CODI will be composed of a female representative of the vice rector who will serve as the chairperson, an official appointed by the vice rector, a faculty or labor union representative if the perpetrator is a faculty member or a support staff member, and a Central Student Council representative and another UST official if the complainant is a student.

All cases must be investigated and decided on within 10 days after

the complaint is received.

Complaints filed to the CODI should include the full name and designation of both the complainant and the respondent, a specific charge sufficient to constitute the offense, and a brief statement of relevant facts with particulars as to date, time and place, persons present, and other circumstances.

The decisions of the CODI will be deemed final and executory, unless the respondent obtains a stay order from the Office of the Rector within 10 days from the receipt of the decision.

The chair of the CODI may place respondents under 30-day preventive suspensions if their continued employment “poses a serious and imminent threat to the life or property of UST, its employees and/or student/s.”

Penalties include dismissal, suspension for a maximum period of one year, and reprimand, taking into account the seriousness of the offense in light of the facts and circumstances of the case.

The CODI’s investigation will be kept “under the strictest confidence.”

“It is the intention of UST that rights of the parties, especially the innocent ones, are protected. At the same time, however, dignity and honor shall be preserved for all the parties concerned by keeping all information gathered through the investigation process confidential at all times, even after the conclusion of the investigation proper,” the guidelines read.

nents: ROTC, Literacy Training Service, and Civil Welfare Service.

Debates over the mandatory ROTC and military service in the Philippines resurfaced after vice presidential aspirant and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said that she would

push mandatory military service among Filipinos aged 18 and above should she win in the 2022 elections.

Her father, President Rodrigo Duterte, had called for the revival of the mandatory ROTC. JUSTIN BENEDICT T. LIM

Virtual student polls set April 4-8 The UST Central Commission on Elections (Comelec) has announced that this year’s student council elections would be held from April 4 to 8.

The filing of certificates of candidacy will begin on March 1. Candidates will be given until March 4 to submit documents.

The UST Central Comelec will release the official list of candidates on March 4.

Campaigning will be allowed

from March 5 to 17 and from March 30 to Apr. 2. The miting de avance will be held on the last day of the campaign period.

The canvassing of votes and proclamation of winners for central and local student councils will be on April 8.

All activities for this year’s student polls will remain virtual, as Covid-19 continues to limit on-campus activities.

UST HALALAN 2022:

CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES (CENTRAL STUDENT COUNCIL)

FILING OF CERTIFICATES OF CANDIDACY

MARCH 1

SUBMISSION OF DEFICIENCIES

MARCH 2-4

RELEASE OF OFFICIAL LIST OF CANDIDATES

MARCH 4

CAMPAIGN PERIOD

MARCH 5-17; 30 - APR. 2

MITING DE AVANCE

APRIL 2

NO CAMPAIGN PERIOD

MARCH 18 - 29; APR. 2-4

*ELECTION PERIOD

APRIL 4-8

*CANVASSING AND PROCLAMATION

APRIL 8

*ALL CENTRAL AND LOCAL STUDENT COUNCILS

ART BY JAN KRISTOPHER T. ESGUERRA

In a statement released on Monday, Jan. 31, the UST Central Student Council (CSC) and college councils said mandatory military enlistment would promote “blind obedience and subservience, not patriotism and nationalism.”

The government should focus on educating Filipinos to instill a sense of nationalism and patriotism by intellectualizing the Filipino language and literature and implementing mandatory subjects like Philippine history in high school and Philippine politics and governance in college, they said.

“The spirit of patriotism and nationalism, along with discipline, is not cultivated through blind marches under the scorching sun nor through tutorials on handling guns, but through long-term education plans that seek to solve our societal problems,” the statement read.

The student leaders claimed that mandatory ROTC became a “pit of violence and corruption” when it was in effect.

Citing a report by the National Union of Students in the Philippines, they also said multiple cases of “abhorrent actions” such as red-tagging, assault of democratic rights, surveillance, abuses and hazing remained

THE VARSITARIAN

FEBRUARY 25, 2022

NEWS

3

UST, Manila mark 77th anniversary of Battle of Manila THE UNIVERSITY, in partnership with the city government of Manila, commemorated the 77th anniversary of the Battle of Manila and the liberation of the Santo Tomas Internment Camp with rites at the Plaza Mayor on Thursday, Feb. 3.

The commemoration featured a wreath-laying ceremony attended by officials of UST, Manila City Hall, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, and the embassies of the US, UK, Japan, Australia, and Canada.

In his opening remarks, UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. highlighted the importance of remembering while recalling the heroes and victims of World War 2.

“Remembering is part of healing. We can only make sense of the past by our ability to retell the story and acknowledging the pain and sufferings inflicted,” Ang said.

Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, who delivered the keynote speech, hailed the heroism of Manuel Colayco, a UST faculty member who was killed at the gate of UST as he guided the American forces sent to liberate the campus from Japanese

► Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. (fourth and fifth from left on photo on the right) are flanked

by Manila Councilor Yul Servo, Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna, National Historical Commission of the Philippines Chairman Rene Escalante, and others during the 77th anniversary commemorative rites marking the Battle of Manila and the liberation of the Santo Tomas Interment Camp.

—PHOTO BY JEAN GILBERT T. GO

Acting vice rector for research named FR. JANNEL Abogado, O.P., the former director of UST’s athletics program, has been named acting vice rector for research and innovation.

Abogado was included in the new set of administrators appointed by UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P., the list of which was released by the Office of the Secretary General on Jan. 19.

Abogado replaced National Academician Prof. Maribel Nonato, who was appointed assistant to the Rector for UST General Santos.

The former regent of the College of Science, Fr. Franklin Beltran, O.P., was appointed regent of the UST-Alfredo M. Velayo College of Accountancy. Beltran replaced Fr. Reynaldo Adalid, O.P., who held the post from June 2020 to November 2021.

Fr. Gaspar Sigaya, O.P. was appointed to two posts: acting regent of the College of Information and Computing Sciences and acting archivist of the Archivo de la Universidad de Santo Tomás.

Asst. Prof. Joreen Rocamora of the College of Tourism and Hospitality Management was named director of the Office of Public Affairs, succeeding the late Giovanna Fontanilla.

The Institute of Religion’s Assoc. Prof.

Ma. Sanita Quilatan was appointed acting director of the Center for Campus Ministry, replacing Assoc. Prof. Richard Pazcoguin, O.P., who passed away last year.

Philippe Hernandez was officially appointed director of the Communications Bureau. He had held the office in an acting capacity since July 2021.

Fr. Wenifredo Padilla III, O.P. was named acting assistant to the Rector for information and communications technology.

Assoc. Prof. Al Faithrich Navarette was appointed assistant dean of the College of Commerce and Business Administration.

The Office for Faculty Evaluation and Development welcomed three new officials: Prof. Ma. Carlota Decena, the director; Asst. Prof. Mylene Domingo, assistant director for faculty classification; and Assoc. Prof.

Donald Lipardo, assistant director for faculty appointments.

Artlets Regent Fr. George Phe Mang, O.P. was named general manager of the UST gift shop.

control.

“Colayco was a picture of fearlessness, as he risked his life being the commanding officer of the Allied Intelligence Bureau – Manila Unit,” Domagoso said.

Colayco had a UST site named after him, the Colayco Park located behind the Main Building, until it was replaced by the Quadricentennial Park.

UST itself is an important World War 2 historical site, as it became an internment camp for some 3,700 foreigners, mostly Americans and British, who were trapped in Manila at the outbreak of the Pacific war. The internees suffered from hunger and malnutrition. The death toll reached 465.

“UST will be remembered as a living proof of the harsh realities of an armed conflict,” Moreno said. JOANNE CHRISTINE P. RAMOS

82% of UST students fully vaccinated vs Covid-19 MORE THAN 82 percent of the University’s student population have completed their Covid-19 vaccinations as of January 2022, the UST Health Service said.

Based on the data provided

by Health Service Director Dr. Sheryl Dionisio to the Varsitarian, 38,535 or 82.90 percent of 46,480 UST students have received either both doses of two-dose Covid-19 vaccines or one shot of single-dose vaccines.

A total of 342 students (0.73 percent) have yet to receive their second doses.

Also, 1,943 (84.62 percent) of UST’s 2,296 teachers have been fully vaccinated. Nineteen (0.82 percent) of them have yet to complete their vaccinations.

Data showed that 97.56 percent (681 out of 698) of the University’s non-teaching personnel have been fully vaccinated.

The Health Service data also showed that 353 students, 111 teaching personnel and 34 non-teaching personnel contracted Covid-19 in January, the month the Omicron Covid-19 variant surged in the country.

Of these cases, 284 students, 78 teaching personnel, and 28 non-teaching staff have already recovered.

F2F preparations

In an email to the Varsitarian on Feb. 2, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Cheryl Peralta said the University remained in the process of preparing documentary requirements and conducting risk assessments necessary for the resumption of limited face-to-face (F2F) classes.

According to Peralta, the risk

assessment takes the following into account: health status of the University staff and students who will participate in the limited F2F classes; nature of the learning outcomes that need to be accomplished; and program-specific government policies for limited F2F classes.

Most health-related programs have resumed F2F classes following Metro Manila’s placement under Alert Level 2. CHRISTINE JOYCE A. PARAS

New undergrad program on data science and analytics to be introduced next AY THE UNIVERSITY will begin offering a bachelor’s degree program in data science and analytics in Academic Year (AY) 2022 to 2023.

The data science program will be housed under the College of Science’s Department of Math and Physics and co-offered by the College of Information and Computer Science (CICS).

Science Dean Rey Donne Papa said the program was designed to be a “four-plus-one plan” that will give students an option to continue their studies for another year after graduation to obtain a master’s degree.

Graduates of the program can become data analysts, data scientists, or employees in research firms, government, or corporate entities.

Other possible careers include systems analysts, business intel-

ligence, machine learning, digital analysts, and research scientists.

Papa said the University began planning for the new program three years ago.

Two coordinators are eyed for the new program, one from the Mathematics Department and another one from the CICS. “This is something new to all of us involved, but we are confident that we will be able to manage it more efficiently this way,” Papa told the Varsitarian.

Data science students will have access to the facilities of both the College of Science and the CICS. “This is the first time in a long time that two academic units will be jointly supervising the offering of an undergraduate program in UST, capitalizing on the expertise of both units,” the Science dean

said.

Courses will be taught either by a member of the College of Science or CICS faculty depending on the specialization, degrees or advanced training obtained, research expertise, and industry experience.

UST’s computer science program used to be housed under the College of Science’s Department of Mathematics and Physics before it was transferred to the Faculty of Engineering.

The then-Institute of Information and Computer Science separated from the Faculty of Engineering in 2014. The institute was elevated to a college in July 2021.

FAITH YUEN WEI RAGASA WITH REPORTS FROM CHRISTINE JOYCE PARAS

THE VARSITARIAN

FEBRUARY 25, 2022

4

WITNESS

EDITOR: MARIEL CELINE L. SERQUIÑA

Advincula to Thomasians: ‘Pursue education, formation amid tough times’ MANILA Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula urged Thomasians to channel St. Thomas Aquinas’ resolve in teaching and learning as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to disrupt traditional education in the country.

In his homily during the Mass for the feast of the University’s patron saint at the Santisimo Rosario Parish Church on Jan. 27, Advincula said teachers and learners alike should exhibit UST’s “3Cs” (compassion, competence and commitment).

“It is important to persevere in this mission of education and formation — pandemic or no pandemic — if our hope is to produce Catholic students who are committed, compassionate, and competent to face the questions and challenges of our time,” Advincula said.

“Pagsikapan natin magturo at matuto gaya ni Santo Tomas na nakikinig at gumagamit nang buong lakas at talino upang tumugon mula sa pananampalataya,” he added.

The prelate emphasized that persevering is more meaningful if done “not only for our personal aspirations but also for the dreams of those whom we love.”

“Both teachers and students know the perseverance needed in online teaching and distance learning. Both staff and administrators hope for the end of the pandemic for a safer and more suitable environment to work and study,” he said.

The theme of the University’s celebrations for the patron saint’s feast was “Saint Thomas: Beacon of Hope and Perseverance.”

Advincula reminded the faithful to turn to prayer and the Eucha-

rist whenever their patience and perseverance are tested.

“May we encounter the ultimate reason for all of our hope who will give both rest and security and passion to pursue. Like St. Thomas, we persevere in hope so that we may see goodness in His acts and give praise to our Heavenly Father so that all of our lives will be for the love of thee,” he said.

The Mass was concelebrated

by Dominican Prior Provincial and UST Vice Chancellor Fr. Filemon de la Cruz, Jr., O.P. and UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. Advincula also led the conferment of the academic mandatum or teaching mandate on faculty members of the Institute of Religion.

The University held triduum and rosary prayers from Jan. 25 to 27, the days preceding the Jan. 28 feast of St. Thomas.

St. Thomas Aquinas is the patron saint of Catholic schools and universities. He is also considered the “Angelic Doctor of the Catholic Church.”

According to St. Thomas, the pursuit of knowledge and truth could only be found in God. Aquinas stopped writing his greatest work, the Summa Theologica, after offering Mass on Dec. 6, 1273.

“I cannot go on…. All that I have written seems to me like so much straw compared to what I have seen and what has been revealed to me,” he told his companion, Reginald of Piperno.

He died on March 7, 1274, and his feast day falls on Jan. 28. MA. ALENA O. CASTILLO AND ALLYSSA MAE C. CRUZ

Pope’s ‘Traditionis Custodes’ draws mixed reaction from Catholics

► Pope Francis delivers his Christmas Eve Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City on Dec. 24, 2021—FILE PHOTO

Pope Francis’s recent measure against traditionalists, Traditionis custodes, which he issued motu proprio or on his own initiative, has drawn cheers and jeers from Church officials and Latin Mass-goers.

While some saw it as a guide to the Church, others viewed it as an avenue to draw division among the faithful and a limit in the practice of faith by restricting the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM).

Pope Francis’s Traditionis custodes, promulgated on July 16, 2021, repealed Pope Benedict XVI’s 2007 apostolic letter Summorum pontificum.

Summorum pontificum had allowed the practice of the Tridentine Mass or the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) as “extraordinary” forms of Mass, with the “ordinary” forms being the ones that use the Roman Missal promulgated by Pope Paul VI.

Pope Francis, upon having heard the opinion of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), declared the liturgical books promulgated by Saint Paul VI and Saint John Paul II as the unique expression of the lex orandi or rule of prayer of the Roman Rite in a move to establish ecclesial communion, essentially restricting the celebration of the TLM. Cheers and jeers Fr. Roberto Luanzon, Jr., O.P., the regent of the Faculty of Engineering and the vice rector for finance, welcomed the Pontiff’s motu proprio.

“Sa akin naman, wala namang masama i-guide ang mga tao kung mayroong division o hindi maliwanag.

Based on the document, it is to guide the people properly about what is important to do about the liturgy of the Church,” Luanzon told the Varistarian.

“Hindi lang naman ito galing sa

Pope; tinanong din ang mga bishops at (CDF) ng Vatican. I think this is the result of the consultation: to shed light on how the present world would view his idea of the practice of TLM,” he added.

As a Latin Mass goer, Rommel Lopez of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Media Office said he was dismayed over the Pope’s apostolic letter.

“I attend both forms of the Mass.

But personally, nasaktan ako sa ginawa [ni Pope]. He is supposed to be a Pope of mercy and compassion. Why is [the Pope] taking (TLM) away from us?”

Lopez told the Varsitarian.

Lopez said he preferred attending Masses in Latin over the ordinary forms.

“I don’t find Latin Mass harmful. It is spiritually nourishing,” he said.

TRADITIONIS CUSTODES PAGE 9

Archdiocese of Manila commemorates 150th anniversary of Gomburza’s martyrdom with ‘penitential walk’

► Archdiocese of Manila priests hold a penitential walk from the Manila Cathedral to the Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora De Guia on the 150th martyrdom anniversary of the Gomburza on Feb. 17. —ARIANNE MAYE D.G. VIRI

The Archdiocese of Manila on Feb. 17 commemorated the 150th anniversary of the martyrdom of Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora, collectively known as Gomburza, with a penitential walk and a Mass celebrated

by Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula.

The penitential walk started from the Manila Cathedral and then proceeded to the

Gomburza memorial marker in Luneta and the Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora De Guia.

In his homily, Advincula said the penitential walk was “for the sake of our nation and in solidarity with our suffering people.”

Advincula also called on Filipino Catholics to elect government officials who will serve for

the common good. “[This coming election], we ask our fellow Filipinos to be ‘maka-Diyos kaya makabayan’ to discern their choice well and prefer leaders who embody and promote the values of the kingdom of God,” Advincula said in his homily at the Manila Cathedral.

“We say ‘maka-Diyos kaya makabayan’ because true heroism is born of holiness and true holiness issues into service for justice,” he added.

Echoing Pope Francis, Advincula urged the faithful to engage in “social charity” or the willingness to serve for the “common good” in order to attain “genuine and integral development” of the country.

The clergy was also called to be “open to continuous conversions” to obtain social transformation.

“As priests and religious, let us be more faithful to the gospel and our vocation. Let us transcend our selfish preferences. Let us sacrifice our personal conveniences,” Advincula said.

Gomburza was publicly executed by use of a garotte at Bagumbayan in Intramuros on Feb 17, 1872.

In his book, Fr. Fidel Villarroel, O.P., historian and longtime archivist of the University, said the deaths of Gomburza was the “rallying cry of the Propaganda Movement and the Philippine Revolution.”

UST Secretary General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P. said Gomburza’s push for the secularization of parishes “ignited the notions of equality, meritocracy and human dignity among Filipinos” and shaped the course of the country’s history.

“As we commemorate the martyrdom of the Gomburza, may our love for country be an authentic expression of our discipleship in Christ,” Coronel said in a circular.

Burgos of the Gomburza was a Thomasian.

He obtained his three doctorate degree in sacred theology, philosophy and canon law in UST. M. A. O. CASTILLO AND A. M. C. CRUZ ► Fathers Mari-

ano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora, who were executed in 1872 for pushing for the seculatization of parishes.

►

THE VARSITARIAN

FEBRUARY 25, 2022

SCITECH

EDITOR: AHMED KHAN H. CAYONGCAT

College of Science dean is chair of Taal volcano research council DEAN REY Donne Papa of the UST College of Science has been elected as chairperson of the research council of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) for Taal Volcano Protected Landscape.

“The research council is a provision which calls for the creation of a group of scientists to provide scientific advice to the PAMB as well as review and endorse research proposals to be conducted within Taal Volcano,” Papa told the Varsitarian.

Limnology, or the study of freshwater ecosystems, is Papa’s field of expertise. He has been doing research on Lake Taal since 2003.

He was part of the team of aquatic biology researchers that visited Taal in December 2020 to propose conservation and management measures after the volcanic eruption that same year.

He is also one of the project leaders of the Taal Post-Eruption

5

Thomasian physician discovers genetic cause of blindness in Filipinos

By Louise Marie Therese B. Padillo

A THOMASIAN doctor has discovered the cause of blindness due to inherited glaucoma among Filipinos.

► Papa

Ecological Research program funded by the National Research Council of the Philippines.

The Protected Area Management Board is a decision-making body which exercises jurisdiction over a protected region within its area of responsibility.

LOUISE MARIE THERESE B. PADILLO

UST physicians offering free telemedicine services Students and doctors from the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery are offering free online medical consultations to the public through the UST Community Medicine page.

Telemedicine Service consultations are available every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., except holidays.

Consultations are strictly by appointment through the UST Community Medicine Facebook page.

The schedule of the consultations is as follows: • Internal Medicine/ Family Medicine – 8 a.m. – 9 a.m.

• Pediatrics/Surgery/ OB-GYN – 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.

• ENT/Ophthalmology/Dermatology – 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.

• Neurology/Psychiatry/Rehabilitation Medicine – 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Dr. Ma. Teresa Tricia Bautista, community development coordinator and head of the Department of Preventive, Family and Community Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, is the head of the telemedicine program. “[The UST Community Medicine] has improved access to healthcare and continuity of care [especially] for the elderly, vulnerable and home-

bound,” Bautista told the Varsitarian.

Bautista added that the program also serves as a training ground for medical students.

“Senior medical students perform the history and virtual physical examination with the guidance of the consultants. They are managed by consultants. Students learn from the patient encounter,” Bautista said.

The disruption of health services in UST’s partner community in Navotas led to the opening of the telemedicine program in January 2021.

“We had a meeting with health center physicians in Navotas; since their clinic services had been limited, it was deemed timely and relevant in the midst of the pandemic,” Bautista said.

Bautista said the telemedicine program would continue to operate beyond the Covid-19 pandemic.

JAMILAH B. ANGCO AND JUSTIN BENEDICT T. LIM

Dr. Edward Ryan Collantes, a Harvard-based ophthalmologist and researcher, identified changes in a gene called EFEMP-1 in Filipino families with juvenile open-angle glaucoma (JOAG).

Changes in the EFEMP-1 gene cause proteins to pile up inside the cells of the eye and in turn increase pressure leading to glaucoma and eventual blindness.

JOAG afflicts patients as young as three years old up to 40 years old. It contains an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance which means each offspring of an afflicted parent has a 50 percent chance of inheriting the eye condition.

“We know about glaucoma for centuries now but to this day, we don’t have the exact picture of what happens,” Collantes said in an interview with the Varsitarian.

“My objective in this research is to find out what genes are causing these diseases.”

He added that some of his patients believe that their eye conditions are “curses” imposed upon their families.

► Dr. Ryan Collantes—PHOTO FROM HARVARD OPHTHALMOLOGY/MASS. EYE AND EAR

“We want them to be able to understand that this is not a supernatural phenomenon,” he said.

“When you help them understand, they are in a better position to make decisions for themselves.”

Collantes hopes that this breakthrough will lead to more diverse studies in the field of genetics as well as inspire

younger generations to partake in the research.

“The more you study diverse people, the more that you understand what makes us sick, what makes us human,” he said.

Hopefully, that translates to better medical treatments later on.”

Collantes earned his degree in medicine at UST in 2008.

CNN debates in UST ► FROM PAGE 1

“We acknowledge the importance of this partnership, and we express our full support to educate voters for the May 2022 polls,” Ang said in his speech at the Benavides Garden.

The Rector also recognized the University’s role in raising public awareness and fighting misinformation and disinformation this election season.

“UST would like to contribute a significant degree towards combating misinformation and disinformation, raising public awareness and deeper understanding of confounding issues of national and international import affecting the general population and providing access to information so that our voters will have informed choices in the exercise of their democratic right to chose the leading leaders,” Ang said.

Ramos said the debates aimed to grasp the candidates’ competence, authenticity, integrity and agendas.

“Through these debates, our electorate will be able to assess whether candidates are in touch with the lives and outlooks of our people. We hope to hear persuasive arguments and their priorities and solutions to the ills that confront our nation,” Ramos said in his speech during the program.

Microsoft Philippines public sector director Joanna Rodriguez added that the partnership would help inform voters to make “intelligent decisions.”

“Through this partnership, CNN, Microsoft and UST can help every Filipino voter be informed and make intelligent decisions about the candidates who [they will] vote into office in the highest post of our country,” Rodriguez said.

Only a few on-site guests would be accommodated during the debates to ensure that Covid-19 health protocols are followed, Ramos said.

On-site guests for the two-day debate must present their vaccination cards and undergo reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) swab tests within 72 hours and an antigen test within 24 hours.

Aside from the on-site guests, a virtual audience would be accommodated and handled by Microsoft Philippines.

Empty podiums for absent candidates Empty podiums will be left on stage during the debates to highlight the absence of candidates who have decided to skip the event.

“We have already set up podiums for the 10 presidential candidates, so we will just leave it blank and just wait for them just in case [they change their] mind. Hindi natin masabi baka magbago [ang] isip [nila],” Ramos said.

Former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who is gunning for the presidency, will not attend due to a “conflict of schedule,” his camp said. His running mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, will also miss the event but did not specify a reason.

The nine presidential candidates who will attend include former presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella, labor leader Leody de Guzman, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, former defense chief Norberto Gonza-

les, Sen. Ping Lacson, Faisal Mangondato, Jose Montemayor Jr., Sen. Manny Pacquiao and Vice President Leni Robredo.

Meanwhile, the seven vice-presidential candidates who will attend are former congressman Walden Bello, Rizalito David, Manny Lopez, Willie Ong, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, Carlos Serapio, and Senate President Tito Sotto.

Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza withdrew his previous confirmation, citing a medical procedure to replace his knee.

The debates will be aired live on CNN Philippines Free TV Channel 9, cnnphilippines.com and CNN Philippines’ official Facebook account. J

► Posters for CNN Philippines’ presidential and vice

presidential debates—PHOTOS FROM CNN PHILIPPINES

THE VARSITARIAN

FEBRUARY 25, 2022

6

SPECIAL REPORTS

EDITOR: AHMED KHAN H. CAYONGCAT

Can Marcos Jr. afford to ignore debates, media interviews?

FORMER Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s absence in presidential forums and debates may be inconsequential to a generally “personality-oriented” electorate, but it may imperil his bid for the presidency if he continues on with such strategy, a political analyst said.

Marcos skipped the Jessica Soho Presidential Interviews on Jan. 22, a non-debate program, claiming that its host was “biased,” and the forum for presidential aspirants organized by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) due to a “conflict of schedule.”

Marcos will also miss the Commission on Elections-sanctioned CNN Philippines’ presidential debate on Feb. 27 due to a supposed schedule conflict.

In an interview with the Varsitarian, Asst. Prof. Dennis Coronacion, chair of the UST Political Science Department, said that Marcos’s decision to

skip forums and debates might not be totally disadvantageous for his presidential bid. “[T]he ultimate goal is to gain as many votes as possible…so bakit hindi interesado si BBM? Why does he skip some of the invites for interviews and debates? Kasi tingin niya, he has already reached out to a huge number of people even before the campaign period,” he said.

Marcos emerged as the frontrunner for president in two recent surveys by Pulse Asia and the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

In the Pulse Asia survey conducted from Jan. 19 to 24, Marcos was preferred by 60 percent of the respondents. Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo placed second with 16 percent.

Marcos also topped the SWS survey, conducted from Jan. 28 to 31, with 50 percent followed by Robredo with 19 percent.

“We can infer that his absence in the…presidential interviews did not have an adverse impact on his survey numbers,” Coronacion said. “[But] we saw the disadvantages of skipping presidential interviews [...] nagkaroon ng backlash, somehow, and ‘yung Marcos campaign team basically resorted to troubleshooting.”

The hashtag “#MarcosDuwag” made the rounds on social media after Marcos skipped the Soho interview and the KBP forum.

But the Marcos camp did not play unfazed and resulted to “troubleshooting” after the former senator faced backlash due to his absences, Coronacion said.

“It somehow became a concern to the Marcos camp,” Coronacion said. :Ayaw nilang lumaki ito so agad silang nag-troubleshoot. That’s how I saw it.

Bigla silang nag-troubleshoot and they immediately went into a series of me-

EDITORIAL

A coward should not be president FERDINAND “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has no business being arrogant.

art by christine angelie p. orines

In turning down the invitation of “Jessica Soho Presidential Interviews” and calling its multi-awarded journalist host “biased,” the namesake and son of the late Philippine dictator proved that he is not ready for the arduous job that is the presidency.

In explaining the decision, Bongbong’s camp claimed Soho was “biased against the Marcoses.”

Perhaps the son of the strongman is having traumatic flashbacks from how Soho rattled him in an interview a decade ago.

But such a petty reason is inexcusable. Bongbong may have become overly conceited after topping early presidential surveys. While getting interviewed in Soho’s program is not a requirement for the presidency, Bongbong’s excuse for refusing to be interviewed because of the TV journalist’s alleged bias is a mere pretext: he remains unwilling to own up to his family’s atrocious history and he seems to only care about polishing the Marcos name.

“The questions are tough because the job of the presidency is tough,” GMA Network said in refutation of the Bongbong camp’s statement. Indeed, there may be no tougher task than leading the country’s rise from the Covid-19 pandemic and ensuring the return of people’s lives to normal.

Bongbong could have used the airtime to discuss the plans he has for the country, apart from setting the record straight about all the controversies surrounding the Marcos family name.

After all, Junior has an unimpressive public service track record despite being in the politics game for decades.

He has no notable political achievements. Some of the

“achievements” his supporters are touting are based on disinformation—that he authored Republic Act 9522 or the Philippine Archipelagic Baselines Law, that the Bangui windmills were his brainchild, and that his family-owned gold reserves could pull the Philippines out of its abysmal debt.

He has a questionable educational background, too. He did not finish college and was only awarded a “special diploma” by Oxford University, which the English school stressed, “was not a full graduate diploma.”

His popularity is all thanks to his famously infamous Marcos name.

To Bongbong’s credit, evading grilling by journalists may prove to be a wise campaign move. Soho’s interview program was viewed over 7.5 million on YouTube, but the Marcos camp may be thinking that less is more when it comes to publicity and Bongbong’s 53-percent score in the December 2021 Pulse Asia presidential survey, which was 33 percentage points higher than second-placer Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, is quite revealing.

But cowards should not be president. If Bongbong did not want to face Soho because of petty reasons, how will he, if elected president, face the Malacañang Press Corps? How will he face the nation? How will he fare as the chief architect of the country’s foreign affairs? How will he confront Beijing the bully? How will he handle criticism? In skipping what may be his first job interview for the presidency in the Soho program, the cowardice of Bongbong, who is used to getting everything on a silver platter, is obvious.

Hopefully, Filipinos will vote wisely in May.

dia-related activities. Inintensify nila ‘yung media presence niya. Grinant niya ‘yung mga requests for interview, so that’s how he was able to get away with it.” “[T]here is a possibility that it might happen again. If Marcos is already certain that he will not be there in the CNN presidential debates, he might encounter the same concern,” Coronacion added.

Assessing the electorate According to Coronacion, the majority of Filipinos select their candidates based mainly on their personalities, not on their political platforms. “[I]t’s a sad path about our politics, about our elections, na majority of the Filipinos would rather look at the personality of a candidate than his platform of government, than his prefered policies and vision for the country,” Coronacion said.

“It has always been the nature of our voters – and even our politics in general – to be personality-oriented rather than issue-oriented. We are easily charmed by the candidates, oo. We tend to forget that most of them, most of these candidates, have issues in the past that we need to think of in the present election,” he added.

Coronacion urged those who already have their minds made up to vote for Marcos to continue watching presidential debate programs “because they might see something.”

“Do not deprive yourself of the chance to get to know the other candidates,” he said. “Ang election kasi, if you have so many candidates, the purpose is to have as many choices as possible.

Hindi ‘yung early on in the game, ‘Marcos na ako, ayoko nang tignan ‘yung iba,” he said.

MARCOS PAGE 11

►

UST Heritage Library’s restoration efforts continue amid pandemic

► A UST Heritage Library worker arranges pages of a book for a book resto-

ration project—PHOTO FROM THE HERITAGE LIBRARY WEBSITE

By Eduelle Jan T. Macababbad

LOCKDOWNS have decelerated the UST Heritage Library’s book restoration efforts, its head book restorer said.

Ginalyn Santiago, assistant head librarian of the Antonio Vivencio del Rosario UST Heritage Library, told the Varsitarian that restoring a book would now be prolonged because of existing Covid-19 restrictions.

“Now that we are in the middle of a pandemic, a book restoration job that would typically take us a month to finish would now take two to three months because of the limited days and time of our onsite schedule and [...] the reduced number of personnel working at a given time,” Santiago said in an email interview.

The Heritage Library houses prized ancient books spanning from the 15th to 19th century, including the oldest in its collection, Josephus Flavius’s “La Guerra Judaica (The Jewish War),” published in 1492, and the first printed editions of José Rizal’s “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo.”

Santiago said that when the first lockdown took effect in March 2020, the entire library was closed; thus, the staff relied on data loggers to ensure its collection remained intact.

A data logger, Santiago explained, monitors temperature and humidity over a certain period, with records accessed on a software that the staff can

check remotely.

“Environmental monitoring is vital in keeping our collections in pristine condition because a sudden change in temperature could easily damage our collection, especially the rare books,” she said.

With that, nothing was destroyed during the pandemic’s course.

Slower, painstaking restoration The Heritage Library, with its painstaking responsibilities, is trying to weather the obstacles brought by Covid-19.

“Frankly speaking, [...] the pandemic [...] only delayed the operations of the Heritage section,” Santiago said.

The staff combs through rare Filipiniana books that are dilapidated, said Diana Padilla, chief librarian of the Heritage Library, in a webinar series in July 2021 organized by the Intramuros Administration. A panel, headed by Santiago, will physically assess the item, whether it is preservable or not. If so, it will undergo 20 steps of restoration, from washing to digitization.

“You imagine how tedious this kind of work is, and now, luckily, with the help of our library benefactor, the Unionbank of the Philippines (UBP), we are able to do this through the use of machines.

Unlike before, we had to do it manually,” Padilla said.

HERITAGE LIBRARY PAGE 12

►

THE VARSITARIAN

FEBRUARY 25, 2022

PINOY

EDITOR: SAMANTHA NICHOLE G. MAGBUHAT

Bagong kilusang pangkultura, inilunsad

‘Disertasyon ng Taon,’ iginawad sa Tomasinong guro ng Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino Nakamit ng isang Tomasinong guro ang Gawad Julian Cruz Balmaseda ng Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) para sa pinakamahusay na tesis o disertasyon sa humanidades at agham panlipunan nonng ika-26 ng Enero.

Itinanghal bilang “Disertasyon ng Taon” ang “Pagpiglas sa Bartolina: Naratibo, Espasyo, at Bayan sa Panitik ng mga Bilanggong Politikal na Manunulat” ni Jonathan Geronimo, guro ng Filipino sa Unibersidad.

Bukod sa isang plake ng pagkilala at medalya bilang nagwagi sa kategoryang nabanggit, nakatanggap din ng P100,000 si Geronimo.

Ayon kay Geronimo, laganap pa rin ang dominanteng naratibo kung saan nagiging masama pa rin ang tingin sa mga aktibista, peace consultants at iba pang indibidwal o grupong nagtataguyod ng alternatibong panlipunang kaayusan.

Aniya, bihirang mapag-usapan ang mga ganitong paksa sa larang ng akademya kung kaya’t ninais niyang bigyang-pansin ito.

“Sa tingin ko kasi kapos ang kurikulum natin sa pagbibigay-diin sa mga isyung may kinalaman sa isyu ng kapayapaan, mga karapatang pantao at iba pang katulad na alternatibong diskurso ng mga marhinalisadong sektor gaya ng mga bilanggong politikal,” wika ni Geronimo sa isang panayam sa Varsitarian.

Kabilang sa mga naging interes niya ang mga alternatibong panitikan na may kakayahang makapagbigay ng panibagong pagtingin sa realidad.

Ibinahagi rin niya na maaaring makapagbukas ng diskurso ukol sa mahalagang tanong kung bakit may mga bilanggong politikal na

umusbong pa sa panahong kolonyal hanggang sa kasalukuyang neokolonyal sa pamamagitan ng kaniyang saliksik.

“Sa ginawang pagsusuri sa produksyong pampanitikan ng mga bilanggong politikal na manunulat, mauunawaan natin ang pangangailangan ng kapayapaang nakabatay sa hustisya at kung paano natin ito kolektibong makakamit,” isinaad niya.

“Makatutulong ang pag-aaral na ito para ipakilala sila sa publiko, ang kanilang karanasan, at maging kontraryong naratibo sa ipinapalaganap ng estado tungkol sa kanila na itinatratong terorista,” dagdag pa niya.

Sa pamamagitan ng disertasyon na ito, sinusubukang maituwid ang maling nosyon na limitadong nagaganap lamang sa prosesong akademiko ang intelektuwalisasyon ng wika.

UsapangUste

dibuho ni jerome carlo d. macanaya

ISANG bagong organisasyon na pinangalanang Katipunan sa Kultura at Kasaysayan ang itinatag sa pangunguna ng mga alagad ng sining at ng mga manggagawang pangkultura.

► Geronimo

GERONIMO PAGE 11

7

►

Ipinahayag sa isang Facebook post ni Virgilio Almario, Pambansang Alagad ng Sining sa Panitikan, ang pagbuo sa organisasyong naglalayong ibalik ang diwa ng Himagsikan ng 1896 at ng Kartilya ng Katipunan sa bayan.

“Higit nating maipagtatagumpay ang mga adhikang pambansa at makabansa ng Filipinas sa pamamagitan ng wastong pagpapahalaga sa ‘Kartilya’ at sa pamamagitan ng pagpapatúloy at pagpapayábong sa diwa ng Himagsikang 1896,” wika ► Logo ng Katipunan sa Kultura at ni Almario.

Ayon kay Galileo Zafra, dalub- Kasaysayan guro ng Filipino at Panitikang Filipinas ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas KKK, ang mga ideya na mula pa - Diliman at isa sa sa mga tagapag- sa panahon ng himagsikan dapat tatag na kasapi ng bagong KKK, ang mailalapat pa rin sa kasalukuyan pag-iral ng mga hindi kanais-nais kaya nararapat lamang na maisna kondisyon sa ating lipunan ang abuhay ito. nagtulak sa pagtatag ng organisay“Hindi para lamang iyan sa on. panahon ng pakikipaglaban sa mga “Ang mga kondisyong umiiral Espanyol. Lalampas yan sa sarili sa ating bansa noong panahon ng niyang panahon. Kung may dapat Himagsikan ay umiiral din sa kasa- balikan na batayan ng moralidad, lukuyan: kamangmangan, kahira- iyan ang unang dapat balikan,” isipan, korupsiyon, karahasan. Kaya naad ni Coroza sa Varsitarian. naman ang mga paninindigang Naniniwala si Coroza na may isinulong ng ating mga bayani ay kalakip na hamon ang tungkulin dapat na itaguyod at isabuhay,” ng mga manggagawang pangkultudiin ni Zafra. ra sa pagpapalaganap at pagtuturo “Kailangang ang bawat kasapi ng diwa ng Kartilya ng Katipunan ay tumulong sa pagpapaliwanag sa lipunan. sa kahalagahan ng pangangalaga “Ang tanong nga ay gaano sa pambansang kultura at pagpa- ba naiintindihan? Naaalala ba paunawa sa kabuluhan ng maka- ang diwa na ito? Napakabigat na bansang kasaysayan,” pagpapatu- tungkulin nito, ang magpaalala ng loy ni Zafra. maaaring nakalimutan o, para sa Para naman kay Michael Coro- iba, ni hindi manlang nalaman,” za, Tomasinong dalubguro ng Fil- diin ni Coroza. ipino ng Pamantasang Ateneo de “Ang lagi dapat na makita ay, Manila at kasapi rin ng bagong iyon bang mga pagbabago ay na-

gagabayan ng mga kaisipang may hangaring mabuti at maganda para sa pangkalahatan, o mga pagbabago dulot lamang ng mga ‘di maiwasang pangyayari? Na dahil nangyari ay may nabago?” dagdag niya.

Makabagong Kartilya Hindi lamang parte ng kanilang adbokasiya ang pagsasabuhay sa Kartilya ng Katipunan, ngunit naging batayan na rin ito sa pagbuo ng kanilang sarili at makabagong kartilya na mas angkop sa kanilang layunin.

“Mag-uusap tayo ng tungkol sa etika, mag-uusap tayo ng tungkol sa hustisya o katarungan. Nandyan mismo sa diwa, nandyan mismo sa Kartilya ng Katipunan,” paliwanag ni Coroza.

Ayon naman kay Zafra, hindi naman talaga nalalayo ang diwa ng naunang kartilya kapag inihambing sa kasalukuyang kartilya.

“Ang binubuong kartilya ng KKK ay nakasuso sa naunang kartilya ng Katipunan. Maaaring naiiba lamang ang kasalukuyang kartilya sa pormulasyon para umangkop at tumugon sa mga kongkretong pangangailangan at konteksto,” ani Zafra.

Aniya, inaasahang bunga ng bagong Katipunan ang pagbabalik tanaw at tuluyang pagsasaloob ng mga Filipino sa diwa ng Himagsikang 1896 at ang paggamit nito para sa bayan.

“Nais naming tumulong sa pagsusuri ng mga suliranin ng bansa at sa paghahanap ng tunay at pangmatalagang lunas upang itaguyod ang malaya, makatarungan, at ligtas na lipunang Filipino,” isinaad ni Zafra.

MATTHEW G. GABRIEL

Mga Tomasino, kabilang sa rebolusyon sa Edsa noong 1986 BAHAGI na ng buhay ng bawat Filipino ang pag-alaala sa malawakang protestang naganap noong ika-22 hanggang ika-25 ng Pebrero taong 1986 na nagbunga sa pagpapatalsik sa yumaong diktador na si Ferdinand Marcos.

Kinilala ang protestang ito bilang EDSA People Power, isang kilusang pinuri ng mundo sa pagiging mapayapa at sa hindi paggamit ng dahas.

Sa makasaysayang pangyayaring ito, paano nga ba naging bahagi ang mga Tomasino?

Mayroong higit 1,500 tomasino na dumalo sa mga protestang ito na kinabibilangan ng mga pari, mga opisyal ng paaralan, at mga pinunong mag-aaral.

Naging tugon ito sa panawagan ng dating arsobispo ng Maynila na si Jaime Cardinal Sin kung saan hinikayat niya ang publiko na magpunta sa Camp Crame o Camp Aguinaldo.

Pinamunuan nina Fr. Frederik Fermin, O.P., Fr. Tereso Campillo, O.P., Fr. Fausto Gomez, O.P., Prop. Emanuel Galang, at Alexander Tagaro ang mga Tomasinong nakilahok sa milyong mga Pilipinong dumalo sa protesta.

Mga seminaryo at mga miyembro ng Thomasian Alliance for Civil Disobedience (TACID) at Koalisyon ng mga Tomasino Laban sa Pandaraya at Terrorismo (KATAPAT) ang mga bumuo sa hanay ng mga tomasinong mag-aaral sa protesta.

Bukod sa pagdalo ng mga tomasino sa

protesta, nanguna rin ang mga ito sa paggawa ng hakbang upang matigil ang pagbebenta ng mga produktong gawa ng San Miguel.

Dinaluhan din ng 500 na tomasino ang protestang naganap sa Rizal Park noong Pebrero 16 matapos ideklara ng Batasang Pambansa ang pagkapanalo ni Marcos sa naganap na snap election.

Tomasino siya

HINDI maitatangging maraming tomasino na ang nagiging tanyag sa larang ng medisina at pananaliksik, kasama na rito si April Joy Gascon na tinuturing na isa sa tagapagtaguyod ng eletronic learning o eLearning.

Naging tanyag si Gascon sa pagiging dalubguro sa UST College of Nursing at sa kaniyang mga saliksik sa larang ng eLearning.

Si Gascon ang EdTech coordinator ng Unibersidad mula noong 2013 at naging eLearning Specialist ng UST Educational Technology Center, siya ang nangunguna sa mga usapang may kaugnay sa online learning.

Pinarangalan ng Best Research Paper Award sa International e-Learning Congress noong 2017 ang pananaliksik na pinamagatang “Project Skill-Smart Lab: Merging Simulation, Multimedia, and Audiovisual Reality-Based Training to Improve Nursing Students Clinical Skill Outcomes” kung saan isa siya sa mga mananaliksik nito.

Noong 2018, nahalal si Gascon sa Board of Trustee at bilang kalihim ng Philippine eLearning Society.

Kinikilala din siya sa iba’t ibang unibersidad kung saan inaanyayahan siyang magsalita ukol sa kanyang kaalaman sa pagtuturo ang pagkatuto sa pamamagitan ng teknolohiyang digital.

Sa kasalukuyan, isa siyang team leader para sa eLearning management ng Unibersidad.

Nagtapos si Gascon sa Unibersidad noong 2002 sa kursong Nursing, kung saan natanggap din niya ang kanyang masteral noong taong 2011 at kasalukuyang isa sa mga dalubguro ng nasabing kolehiyo.

CAITLIN DAYNE A. CONTRERAS AT MATTHEW G. GABRIEL

Tomasalitaan: Ótok (pnd.) - pigilin ang paghinga.

Hal.: Sinasanay kaming otukin sa klase ng P.E kapag kinakailangang sumisid o lumangoy.

SANGGUNIAN: UP Diksyonaryong Filipino UST Educational Technology Center. (2021).

Remote supervision and monitoring of student organization activities. Nakuha noong ika-29 ng Enero 2022 The Varsitarian, Tomo 57, Bilang 12, Marso 8, 1986, 1985 - 1986, p. 2

FEBRUARY 25, 2022

8-9

OBITUARY

Nat’l Art F. Sionil

art by athea monique z. gala

NATIONAL Artist for Literature F. Sionil José, the Philip translated author and most prolific novelist in English, Jan. 6, 2022 at age 97.

José died in his sleep at the Makati Medical Center where he was supposed to undergo an angioplasty on Friday, Jan. 7, according to his wife, Tessie.

José took up Litt. B. Journalism at the old Faculty of Philosophy and Letters. His teachers included Fr. Juan Labrador, O.P. and Paz Latorena, often called as one of the three literary matriarchs of Philippine letters in English (along with Paz Marquez Benitez and Loreto Sulit).

José was the editor in chief of the Varsitarian from 1948 to 1949.

Five of José’s works have won the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature: his short stories “The God Stealer” in 1959, “Waywaya” in 1979, “Arbol de Fuego” (Firetree) in 1980, his novel “Tree” in 1978, and his essay, “A Scenario for Philippine Resistance,” in 1979.

Also among his most notable works were the Rosales Saga novels “The Pretenders” (1962), “Tree” (1978), “My Brother, My Executioner” (1979), Mass (1983), and “Po-on” (1984); “Ermita” (1988); “Viajero” (1993); “Sin” (1994) and “Ben Singkol” (2001).

His fiction, especially his novels, have been translated into at least 27 languages.

In the 1990’s Random House, the venerable US publishing house, published the US editions of the Rosales Saga, as well as the novels “Three Filipino Women” (1992) and “Sins” (1996).

In 1957, he founded the Philippine PEN (Poets and Playwrights, Essayists and Novelists), the local chapter of the international federation of writers promoting freedom of expression.

He was the owner of the “best little bookstore in Asia,” the Solidaridad Bookshop and Publishing House, in Ermita, Manila, which opened in 1964.

He also became an art entrepreneur with the setting up of Solidaridad Galleries in Malate, Manila.

Among the artists who held their first exhibits there were National Artist for the Visual Arts J. Elizalde Navarro, art editor of the UST Varsitarian when José was the EIC; Nena Saguil, Onib Olmedo, Ibarra de la Rosa, and others who became trailblazers in the Philippine art scene.

Because of his opposition to Ferdinand Marcos, José was blacklisted and forbidden to travel during the early years of martial law. He was

removed from th help of his frien eign minister Ma José received Award for Literat Because of it dent activism d “Mass” was first p its Dutch transla and Brussels whe seller. The origin came out the follo after the assassi Aquino Jr. which of protest across In 1980, José mon Magsaysay ism, Literature which is conside sion of the Nobel He became a Literature in 200 he was conferred Japan’s Order of S José received Centennial Awar José was named in France’s Ordr Lettres (Order of In his twilig came controvers of President Ro his criticism of ning the 2021 No

Remembering ‘M

It is the mem erosity as a frien with Lualhati Ba “He always b writers to lunch me Christmas gi That is the kind was,” the acclaim ipino said in an Varsitarian.

Bautista wil José for his surp ous gestures such given a check w Christmas.

“Sabi ko, baki said, Wala becau why!” she said.

Family mem colleagues paid t “Frankie”, as José and his prolific ning literary care Prof. Cristina director of the U ative Writing an spoke of José’s e port local autho especially throug

THE VARSITARIAN

tist for Literature l José; 97

José’s final words:

‘Thank you, brave heart’ Thank you, brave heart. There are times when as an agnostic I doubt the presence of an almighty and loving God. But dear brave heart, you are here to disprove this illusion, to do away with the conclusion that if you doubt Him, you kill Him. I cannot kill you, dear heart; you have to do that yourself.

For 97 years you have been constantly working patiently pumping much more efficiently and longer than most machines.

Of course, I know that a book lasts long too, as the libraries have shown, books that have lived more than 300 years. Now, that I am here in waiting for an angioplasty, I hope that you will survive it and I with it, so that I will be able to continue what I have been doing with so much energy that only you have been able to give. Thank you, dear brave heart and dear Lord, for this most precious gift.

ppines’ most , passed away on

he list through the nd, then acting foranuel Collantes. d the City of Manila ture in 1979. ts depiction of studuring martial law, published in 1982 in ation in Amsterdam ere it became a best nal Manila edition owing year but only ination of Benigno h unleashed a wave the nation. é received the RaAward for Journaland Creative Arts, ered the Asian verl Prize.

National Artist for 01. The same year, d the third class of Sacred Treasure. d the Pablo Neruda rd in 2004. In 2014, an officier (officer) re des Arts et des Arts and Letters). ght years, José besial for his support drigo Duterte and Maria Ressa winobel Peace Prize.

Manong Frankie’

mory of José’s gennd that will remain autista. brought us younger h and dinner, sent ifts big and small … d of friend Frankie med novelist in Filinterview with the

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► F. Sionil José’s Solidaridad bookshop in Ermita, Manila—PHOTO FROM THE SOLIDARIDAD BOOKSHOP FACEBOOK ACCOUNT

‘‘

We write from life and call it literature, and literature lives because we are in it.

F. Sionil José

IN SEARCH OF THE WORD: SELECTED ESSAYS

Bookstore.

“Solidaridad’s doors were always open to us,” Hidalgo said in a Facebook post. “Frankie was always willing to host our book launches, even when the books were by young writers whom he did not personally know.”

She said that though they might have disagreed on political issues, they still remained good friends over the years and she experienced nothing but “support and encouragement” from José.

Anthropology professor Felipe Jocano, Jr. told the Varsitarian that José’s passing was “unexpected” and recalled the writer’s “close friend-

—F. SIONIL JOSÉ

► National Artists and Philippine literary legends Bienvenido Lumbera

(left) and F. Sionil José (right) attend the Varsitarian’s grand alumni homecoming in 2019. Lumbera passed away in September 2021, four months before José.—FILE PHOTO

ship” with his father, the late anthropologist F. Landa Jocano.

José was married to Teresita Jovellanos with whom he had seven children.

Tonet, the eldest of Jośe’s children, recalled they were “well-guided” as children by their father who encouraged them to stand up for their beliefs.

“He was very fatherly, si Papa, and he taught us to be independent

and to speak our minds. He doesn’t stop us from what we believe in unless mali. We were well-guided,” he said in an interview with the Varsitarian.

Evelina, one of José’s daughters, told the Varsitarian what their father wanted his epitaph to read: “He wrote stories, and he believed in them.”

‘MANONG FRANKIE’ PAGE 11

►

THE VARSITARIAN

FEBRUARY 25, 2022

10

EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL

EDSA at 36:

Do not invite plunderers back to your home IT HAS been exactly 36 years since millions of Filipinos gathered along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) to oust the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and restore true democracy in the Philippines.

The world applauded our country’s triumph, and the EDSA People Power Revolution became a blueprint for other nations to pursue democracy––starting a domino effect of peaceful uprisings that toppled dictatorial regimes all over the world.

But while we left the world in awe by successfully regaining the people’s power and ending Marcos’ two-decade dictatorship without bloodshed, we failed to banish the notorious legacy of Marcos for good.

Corruption and cronyism similar to those fostered by the conjugal dictatorship of Marcos and Imelda Romualdez and the kleptocracy they and their cohorts have continued to bedevil the country.

Democracy continues to be a plaything of despots and pretenders. Rodrigo Duterte tarried up to the last minute to proclaim his presidency and basically told lies during presidential debates, such as jet skiing on Philippine waters to ward off Chinese invaders. In office, he has embraced totalitarian communist China and become

Peking’s duck.

Upon election, Duterte threatened to declare martial law and start a revolutionary government. Like Marcos, he used the police and the military to kill off drug suspects, bully his enemies, and suppress human rights.

Come to think of it, Duterte allowed Marcos to be buried in the Libingan ng mga

y r a t n i o r t h up ls i o w v u e r d n a d e b n i m e f o r

finished fifth in the race, but her only son and namesake to the late dictator was victorious in his congressional bid in their home province, Ilocos Norte.

It took several attempts before they won back more of their power and influence. By 1998, two of the Marcos’ spawns were elected to positions in local government, commencing

Wih t e hgtn iameo rlh tf orse h ct orna M , y c n t e i d s e r p i e m i t n e o k at e w h a e r dteah kw rcetaihsp ot sriph36 s r a e. yo g a

Bayani.

We thought we’d seen the last of the Marcoses when they were exiled to Hawaii but their return in 1991, permitted by President Corazon Aquino, was the unforeseen revival of their pursuit for political power.

Just a year after their return, the Marcos widow, Imelda, ran for the presidency with brazen confidence. She failed in her bid and

the clan’s comeback to the country’s political center stage.

And now, with Marcos Jr. vying for the presidency, we are back to the same spot in 1965, bewitched by the pipe dreams conjured by the same family of plunderers.

If the recent election surveys results, indicating that Marcos Jr. is leading the presidential race, are true, then perhaps

the nation has slid back to the morass of corruption and moral iniquity. The reprobate plundering family of the Marcoses and their likes has succeeded in reducing the commemoration of the EDSA Revolution into a mockery of democracy.

With the looming threat of another Marcos presidency, it is time to reawaken the revolutionary spirit within us and be reminded of what sparked the historic protest 36 years ago.

The four-day demonstration was the culmination of a long struggle when rage upon piled up in the heart of the people over the Marcos dictatorship–widespread suppression of human rights, corruption in high places, economic decline, extrajudicial killings, imeldific excesses, monopoly, and cronyism.

During Marcos’ reign of terror, poverty worsened and the country’s debt skyrocketed from $0.36 billion in 1961 during the Macapagal presidency to $28.26 billion in 1986. In 2004, a global corruption report by Transparency International revealed that the Marcoses stole $5 billion to $10 billion during their reign. The heist was so monstrous that it was named “The Greatest Robbery of A Government” by the Guinness World Records.

EDSA AT 36 PAGE 12

►

FOUNDED JANUARY 16, 1928

John Ezekiel J. Hirro Editor in Chief Miguel Louis M. Galang Associate Editor Laurd Menhard B. Salen Acting 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 Photography Francia Denise M. Arizabal, Joselle Marie B. Reyes, Gillian Kin Q. Robles Camille Abiel H. Torre, Marvin John F. Uy, Arianne Maye D.G. Viri Editorial Assistant Jessica C. Asprer

Felipe F. Salvosa II, Christian V. Esguerra Assistant Publications Advisers

Joselito B. Zulueta Publications Adviser

THE VARSITARIAN

FEBRUARY 25, 2022

OPINION Conscription: Sara follows dad’s fascist footsteps Free the Sails MIGUEL LOUIS M. GALANG

WHEN ASKED how she would empower the young generation to take part in nation-building, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said that if she won, she would push for mandatory military service among young adults, both male and female, once they reached the age of 18, or right before they would enter college. She also clarified that her program wouldn’t be like her father President Rodrigo Duterte’s (failed) proposal to revive mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) for all males. But like her father—and it shouldn’t come as a surprise—the military mania runs deep in the family and the presidential daughter wants nothing more than to follow her father’s fascist footsteps.

The inspiration behind Sara’s conscription proposal are Israel and South Korea, two countries that are known to mandate military service among young adults: In Israel, all Israeli citizens both men and women over the age of 18. In South Korea, whose

Thtdnel umgvosn apiwrethm cl var eoyvgrt hon u c d nla,. isnrhdceat ol bmnreuiYe htowas ec orl a II f o Coe, z di ytrevon,dhalstu rion ehxcdspa en l hg.net ilrzya etmchuibvo xs-altmc oien pr dc ne a p enlistment system is well-known to Filipinos crazy over K-drama actors and K-pop idol entertainers, only males are compelled to render military service.

But unlike Israel and South Korea, the Philippines is not on any “war footing” with its neighbors, according to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. Even the maritime dispute with China should not be a basis for compulsory conscription.

Even her father, the commander in chief, saw compulsory ROTC not as aiding the country’s external defense or as a means to ward off the China threat: he had wanted it restored to back up his bloody war against drugs. In short, he wants ROTC cadets to assist in his “tokhang” genocide, not to confront China. Despite building on Philippine waters military facilities with their guns pointed at Filipinos, Beijing has been called by President Duterte a “friend.” Sara’s dad is a certified Peking’s duck.

Perhaps Sara should ask herself where she

would get the budget for conscription. Lorenzana, while open to the vice presidential candidate’s proposal, said that such would face “huge hurdles.”

The government would have to erect training camps all over the country as well as allocate resources, both financial and human, he added. And in Year II of Covid, the country, and its next leaders, should prioritize not only maximizing health care but also post-pandemic economic recovery.

Sara should consider the glaringly obvious needs of the youth. Would it be really worthwhile for 18-year-olds to give up a pivotal period of their life just to prove their patriotism? Moreover, conscription, like mandatory ROTC, may lead to corruption. Thomasian Mark Welson Chua, blew the whistle on the abuses of the ROTC, was brutally killed and his death still looms over debates of reviving the program.

Obviously Sara is truly daddy’s girl. Dad and daugher never learn.

‘Traditionis Custodes’: Anti-synodal, Ultramontane Sincerely Adamant MARIEL CELINE L. SERQUIÑA

LAST JULY 16, 2021, Pope Francis issued “Traditionis Custodes,” a motu proprio (a document issued on one’s own initiative) that addresses the “constant search for ecclesial communion” to promote the “concord and unity of the Church.” In this apostolic letter, Pope Francis restricted the traditional Latin Mass, which his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, in his 2007 apostolic letter “Summorum Pontificum,” allowed to be practiced as an “extraordinary form” of the Mass.

“Traditionis Custodes” was issued supposedly after the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith held “detailed consultation” with bishops around the world in 2020 through a survey, assessing the application of “Summorum Pontificum.” The details regarding the survey such as the number of participants and the content were not disclosed to the public.

It is curious that even in UST, a pontifical institution and no less than “The Catholic University of the Philippines,” nobody seems to have been consulted, much less heard consultations about “Traditionis Custodes.”

None of the clerics or theologians or theology

It sgin t op tashid e,posPi cna rohFw sah deyta cwolvard f , y e u t g i o l a , d n y t s i a v y uh l e c r n d i v t e m s i l e h t g n i d l o h fo eh t Trenit d s a M tuoh iwdaon ribs u c i.dnoat lusno c professors had any knowledge about the alleged survey of bishops. To be sure, the bishops seemed not to have consulted the faithful at all on what to do with the Latin Mass.

Pope Francis has signaled that his papacy would be characterized by “synodality” and greater consultation with bishops. And in the runup to his brainchild, the “Synod on Synodality” in 2023, the bishops have been instructed to hold discussions with the laity on the three supposed themes or targets of the “Synodal Church”: “communion, participation, mission.”

But all of these “themes” and “synodal consultations” seem absent when the Pope issued “Traditionis Custodes”!

It is disappointing that Pope Francis, who has always advocated for dialogue and inclusivity, has severely limited the holding of the Tridentine Mass without broad discussion and consultation.

Instead of opening an opportunity to allow the faithful to practice the traditional Latin Mass and introduce it to more Catholics, especially the youth, the Vatican has unfairly limited, nay practically banned, its practice.

We understand that the sacredness of

the traditional Latin Mass must be preserved from exploitation by ideologues and so-called traditionalists. Nonetheless, suppressing the Latin Mass is not the best way to deal with such problem. Malpractices and other exploitations must be checked and banned, but not the whole Eucharistic celebration. The Holy Mass, whether it is the traditional Latin Mass or the Novus Ordo, must be shared and nurtured through communal celebration, dialogue, and education.

Regardless of the alleged divisions the traditional Latin Mass may be causing among the faithful, it, along with the Novus Ordo, serves as an avenue toward communion with God, an expression of faith and devotion to God. For all intents and purposes, “Traditionis Custodes” has abolished the Latin Mass; this in itself is ecclesiologically suspect, even theologically heterodox. Can a motu propio disregard the Latin Mass that was codified by an ecumenical council, no less than the longest ecumenical council in history (1545-1563)?

TRIDENTINE MASS PAGE 12

►

PPCRV ► FROM PAGE 3

“Thus, the sanctity of these votes needs to be properly and accurately accounted for in determining the election results,” Coronel added.

PPCRV chairman emeritus Henrietta de Villa said the QPav, a sports complex, was an ideal place to accommodate the PPCRV as it was larger than the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in Paco, Manila, which previously housed the command center.

“Malaki e, [QPav] can accommodate 5,000 people kaya ang social distancing, iyong mga para sa media, para iyong mga pupunta roon, iyong mga volunteers lalo na ng PPCRV, nakakasiguro ka ng safety according to social distancing protocol,” de Villa said on Feb. 9 in a “Laging Handa” briefing.

“At isa pa, ang daming facilities, within that floor and below it, ang daming kuwarto na akmang-akma sa pangangailangan ng command center or especially for pandemic times,” de Villa added.

Emmanuel Batulan, the executive assistant of the Office of the Secretary General, told the Varsitarian that the PPCRV would occupy the sports

complex for 32 days: from two weeks before until two weeks after the May 9 elections.

The sports complex was inspected on Dec. 20 by representatives of the Comelec, PPCRV, Smartmatic and the KBP. The inspection was attended by Comelec’s Teopisto Elnas, Jr., Marissa Nefalar, Glory Perez-Reyes, Gener Sayo and Roderick Ilagan; PPCRV’s William Yu, Johnny Cardenas, Arwin Serrano, Paul Hinlo, Abet Laurel, Angela Antonio, Divine Duran, Mary Grace Vivar, Ralph Reyes, Richard Santos, Jef Dizon and Kimi Antonio; Smartmatic’s Niel Baniqued; and Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas’ Noel Galvez.

Coronel along with Batulan, Health Service Director Sheryl Dionisio, Asst. Prof. Virginia Sembrano, Michaela Lagniton, Katherine Sibug, Shenine Pascual, Joseph Badinas, Lordly Sahagun and Sebastian Mendoza represented the University during the inspection.

The Comelec estimates some 65.7 million local Filipinos and about 1.8 million overseas Filipinos to vote in the 2022 polls. J.B.T. LIM

11

‘Manong Frankie’ ► FROM PAGE 9

American writer James Fallows called F. Sionil José “the conscience of the nation” while novelist Charlson Ong said José was forthright and made controversial statements to wake people out of their lethargy.

Fallows and Ong were among writing colleagues and others who paid tribute to the late National Artist for Literature during the virtual event hosted by Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Philippine Center of International PEN on Feb. 14.

“José has a deadly-serious claim to being the conscience of his nation—at legal and physical risk during the Marcos years and as a sobering voice in the years since then,” Fallows, a US National Book Award-winning author said.

Fallows also praised José’s novels. “[He] was not writing only about his home islands,” said Fallows, who’s been inducted to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. “[H]is work is rich, broadly human, and beyond borders.”

Ong said José made a lot of uncomfortable pronouncements.

“He was a writer: a person who refused to be comfortable even though he could have been,” added Ong, chair of Philippine PEN. “Manong Frankie was always ready to inspire the next generation of writers, readers, literature teachers with his impromptu and straightforward, and often controversial pronouncements,” said CCP Vice President Chris Millado.

Former Supreme Court associate justice Antonio Carpio said José “[was] engrossed in gathering preeminent Filipino achievers to harness their talents towards nation-building.”

Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. said “Frankie” dedicated his life to remembering the “struggles, follies and triumphs as a nation.”

Former ombudsman Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales recalled José’s generosity and how they bonded over their Ilocano roots.

“Contrary to the impression that Ilocanos are kuripot, he was very generous—he was never selfish in sharing his thoughts, in advising me, and with his words of appreciation,” she said.

“He took pride in knowing that I was an Ilocano and gave me books with dedication in Ilocano, reflective of his pride as a kababayan from way up north.”

“He challenged us to write more novels of weight and substance and to persevere to the very end,” fictionist and columnist Jose “Butch” Dalisay, Jr. said. “He even wrote his last column on what turned out to be his deathbed.”

Speaking on behalf of the family, Alex José said his father always urged them to remember their history and sharpen their memories so as to impart wisdom to the next generations.

“Knowing my father,” Alex said, “nothing would make him happier than to see current and future generations remembering their history and for those lost to waken from their wandering idle slumber.”

ALEXANDRA MANGASAR, CHRISTINE JOYCE PARAS, JADE VERONIQUE YAP AND SAMANTHA FATIMA CREENCIA

Marcos ► FROM PAGE 6

ic and the KBP inspect the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion on Dec. 20, 2021.—PHOTOS BY

‘Di mo alam baka ‘yung ibang candidates offer you a better program of government, a better set of policies, and you’re depriving of that chance.”

Marcos’ running-mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, will also miss CNN Philippines’ vice presidential debate on Feb. 26.

Empty podiums will be left on stage during the debates to highlight the tandem’s absences, and in case the candidates changed their minds and decided to attend.

JOHN AARON PANGILINAN

JOSELLE MARIE B. REYES

AND EDUELLE JAN T. MACABABBAD

► Officials from Comelec, PPCRV, Smartmat-

THE VARSITARIAN

FEBRUARY 25, 2022

12

COMICS

ART DIRECTOR: JAN KRISTOPHER T. ESGUERRA

SABI MAG-IPON EH! GWYNETH FIONA N. LUGA

INTO THE ONLINE-VERSE:SHIPPING JEROME CARLO D. MACANAYA

REPORTING ZYMON M. GAILO

Traditionis custodes ► FROM PAGE 3

Baguio Bishop Victor Bendico said the point of Traditionis custodes was to promote communion.

“If ever may nagsasabi na [it caused] division, baka na-misinterpret nila ‘yung mind ni Pope Francis,” he said. “Gano’n din si Pope Benedict noong nag-release niya ‘yung [Summorum pontificum], it is more on communion. The Church is always for communion and not for division.”

Bendico also said that because Vatican II wanted a sense of community to manifest in the celebration of the Mass and other sacraments, the “communitarian” ordinary Mass was better. “‘Yung ordinary Mass ni Pope Paul VI ay ‘yung pari nakaharap sa tao then there is more spirit of community…we feel that we are in community with the priest. Alam na natin ‘yung nang-

yayari at ginagawa ng pari diyan,” he said.

“Sa (TLM), nakatalikod ‘yung pari at ‘di mo alam ‘yung sagot yung Latin.

‘Yung sense of community parang di masyado lumilitaw,” he added.

Bendico, who also chairs the CBCP Commission on Liturgy, stressed that Pope Francis considered the wishes of the bishops and bishops’ conferences all over the world.

“He heard the opinion of the (CDF). He desires now an ever search for ecclesial communion he has now established,” Bendico said.

The Pope’s said it was up to each bishop’s “exclusive competence” to authorize the use of the Latin Mass according to the 1962 Roman Missal in his diocese.

“It belongs to the diocesan bishop, as moderator, promoter and guardian of the whole liturgical life of the particular Church entrusted to him, to regulate the liturgical celebrations of

Edsa at 36

his diocese,” read Article 2 of Traditionis custodes.

This means that priests who currently use the traditional Latin rite must request permission from their bishops before continuing to do so.

Bendico also suggested that the Philippine Church conduct a survey before arriving at a conclusion regarding the practice of TLM. “I could not say anything to encourage or discourage. If I have to be very objective, we need to have a survey so that based on the survey, we could go from there. Something should be based on facts,” he said.

In a statement dated last July 2021, CBCP backed Pope Francis’s order to restrict the celebration of TLM. “We express our obedience to and communion with the Supreme Pontiff as he leads us in the realization of the unity of the Church by means of the proclamation of the Gospel and in a particular manner in the celebration

of the Eucharist,” the statement read.

It added that as “guardians of the tradition,” based on the title of the papal document, each bishop as “moderator, promoter, and guardian of the whole liturgical life of the particular Church” must “implement the provisions of the motu proprio with utmost care, patience, justice, and pastoral charity.”

The Diocese of Tagbilaran and Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan announced in their official Facebook accounts that communities who have been practicing the Latin Mass were given permission by their bishops.

Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan said the Santuario de San Juan Evangelista is the only parish in the archdiocese permitted to celebrate the Traditional Mass and could only be done twice a month, according to a circular released last July 24, 2021.

MA. ALENA CASTILLO AND NUEL SABATE

Tridentine Mass

► FROM PAGE 11

Marcos’ rule was also deemed the bloodiest, Amnesty International said that from 1972 to 1981, about 72,000 people were imprisoned, 34,000 were tortured, and 3,240 were killed. In his recent interview with Boy Abunda, Bongbong Marcos has denied all of this.

To control the public’s access to information, Ferdinand Marcos also took over major media outlets nationwide.

This move of Marcos paved the way for him to completely silence his critics and political rivals.

It is important to relive the Philippines’ dark history as Spanish writer and philosopher George Santayana said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” An overused aphorism but still relevant, especially now that it starting to appear as if history is harshly repeating itself.

We must do whatever it takes to prevent the return of the Marcoses to power. Their win will be a slap to all

Heritage Library

► FROM PAGE 11

Filipinos who rallied along EDSA to rebuild the democratic institutions destroyed by Marcos.

To elect Marcos Jr. is to condone all the miseries endowed by his family and to trivialize the sufferings of millions of Filipinos under his father’s rule. We owe it to the heroes of EDSA to protect the values they fought for and the democratic institutions they restored.

Marcos’ “golden age” of corruption and human abuses is a historical fact, anything that indicates otherwise is false propaganda.

The Malacañang Palace may be the official residence of the head of the state, but the Filipino people own it. As granted by the powers of democracy, we are its owner. We are the ones who decide which family gets to be invited back to the executive mansion, and to all the homes in the country.

Which is why the million-dollar question is: are you willing to invite thieves back to your home?

While giving back jurisdiction over the celebration of the Latin Mass to bishops, “Traditionis Custodes” declares that every decision regarding the holding of Mass in an ordinariate must be approved by the Vatican.

This practically ensures that the Latin Mass won’t be celebrated in any diocese in the world. Where is synodality here? “Traditionis Custodes” practically criminalizes the Latin rite and may drive underground those who wish to celebrate it, making them look like the catacomb Christians of Rome during the first centuries of Christianity.

So, is the Vatican persecuting those who want to celebrate the Latin Mass? Has the See of Peter now assumed the role of persecutor of what could be the third millennium’s Roman martyrology?

That “Traditionis Custodes” has centralized all decisions about the Latin Mass to the Vatican flies in the face of the

Pope’s purported claims of synodality, devolution, and promotion of lay participation. Ultimately “Traditionis Custodes” is Ultramontane.

In his World Communications Day message, released on Jan. 24, Pope Francis warned the faithful on the fading ability to listen, and that the two-year global consultation for the Synod on Synodality is a good opportunity to build a “communion” that mutually listens to one another.

It is true that the liturgy is our “first source” of “divine communion” with God so in this crucial time where the Covid-19 pandemic remains a huge threat to humanity, may the Vatican adhere to the call to allow more dialogue on the celebration of the traditional Latin Mass in order to open opportunities for the faithful to express their faith without the inquisitorial eye or persecutorial arm of Rome.

► FROM PAGE 4

UBP partnered with the University in April 2012 to grant financial support for the Heritage Library’s conservation, digitization and publication efforts.

The family of the late Ambassador Ramon V. Del Rosario Sr., former ambassador to Japan, is also financing the library, keeping it afloat despite receiving no new funding during the pandemic.

Currently, it is restoring Pedro Alexandro Molo Agustin Paterno y de Vera Ignacio’s “La Antigua Civilizacion Tagalog (Apuntes),” printed in 1915.

The future of the Heritage Library

The Heritage Library remains “steadfast” in preserving rare books and periodicals, increasingly focusing on the digitization of its collection. “[C]ontinuous scanning, uploading, and cataloging of the rare digitized collections, especially Filipiniana rare books and periodicals, is being done for digitization,” Santiago said.

“Moreover, the Digital Library website has recently undergone updates for a more user-friendly online searching experience,” she added.

High-resolution copies of public domain rare materials are free of access online, at http://digilib.ust.edu.ph/, but publications dating 1921 and up are restricted due to copyright concerns.

The Heritage Library allows free digital access because its resources are not the sole ownership of the University.

“These important collections that we are giving [are] not only for UST but for the nation.

Thus, we want to share what we have to a wider community through the digitization project,” Padilla said.

THE VARSITARIAN

FEBRUARY 25, 2022

SPORTS

EDITOR: ROMMEL BONG R. FUERTES JR.

Growling Tigresses gearing up for ‘3x3 basketball’

15

EJ-Eya era in UST ends

THE UST Growling Tigresses are looking to mount an on-campus “bubble” in the first week of March, hoping that the UAAP would add 3x3 basketball in its limited Season 84 lineup.

IPEA athletics director Fr. Rodel Cansancio told the Varsitarian that the UAAP was studying the possibility of adding more sports in its Season 84 lineup aside from the headlining men’s basketball and women’s volleyball events.

“Other than the priority events (basketball men, volleyball women and cheerdance), the UAAP is planning to include these sporting events for Season 84: 3x3 basketball (men and women), beach volleyball (men), poomsae and chess,” he said.

UST Golden Tigresses head coach Haydee Ong told the Varsitarian that her players had yet to train as a team since the Covid-19 pandemic.

“For the past two years we did online training so we will see [adjustments] after two weeks of training inside the bubble,” Ong said.

Ong also said she was looking forward to how the Fil-Am acquisition

► The UST Growling Tigresses face the UE Lady Warriors in the UAAP.

—FILE PHOTO

Nikki Villasin would work out with the team.

“With the videos she sent to me [I] hope she could gel easily with [the] team and maximize her potential so she could help and contribute to [the] team,” Ong said.

The team has yet to decide on who will be on the lineup for the 3x3 events, Ong said.

In the meantime, the Tigresses continue to train virtually with

workout sessions conducted through Zoom.

The Commission on Higher Education and the Department of Health have allowed UST to establish an on-campus training “bubble” at the carpark building for its student-athletes ahead of UAAP Season 84.

On-campus training began in January, while Season 84 is expected to begin in March 2022. MARK ERNEST V. VILLEZA

Ex-Tiger Spiker Umandal tapped as import in Bahrain FORMER UST volleyball standout Joshua Umandal has been selected as an import of the Bani Jamra Volleyball Club, a team in Bahrain’s Isa bin Rashid Volleyball League.

Umandal left the Philippines on Friday morning.

Virtual Playground, Umandal’s agency, confirmed the 22-year-old’s commitment with Bani Jamra, making him the second Filipino import to play for the team after Ateneo alumnus Marck Espejo in 2020.

“Gagawin ko ang lahat ng makakaya ko para masuklian ang binigay nilang tiwala sa Pinoy,” Umandal

said in a statement.

The former Tiger Spiker earlier decided to forgo his final year with UST after the UAAP was long delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The six-foot-two athlete was part of the national men’s volleyball team that bagged silver in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

Umandal also played a vital role in the Philippines’ run during the 2021 Asian Club Volleyball Championships, where the country placed ninth.

He averaged 19.4 points in the first five games of the tournament.

► UMANDAL

JAMES PAUL R. GOMEZ

► EJ and Eya Laure

VOLLEYBALL fans have seen the last of the Laure sisters in the UAAP. EJ Laure has decided to forego her two remaining playing years with UST and turn professional, signing with Chery Tiggo, a team in the Premier Volleyball League.

EJ made the decision given the uncertain future for the collegiate league, which has been been sidelined for over two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

EJ and her younger sister Eya only played two games as members of the Golden Tigresses, both in the whatcould-have-been Season 82 that was prematurely ended by the pandemic.

Season 82 saw EJ’s return to the Tigresses after two years of being sidelined due to a “shoulder injury.”

In those two games, EJ averaged 14.5 points per game (ppg), while Eya averaged 16.4 ppg.

“Before pa kasi mag-start ‘yong UAAP last time, nag-usap na talaga kami ni Eya na isang year lang talaga akong sasama sa kaniya,” EJ said in an interview with the One Sports’ The Game on Feb. 2.

“Siyempre pagbibigyan lang din namin ‘yung parents namin, at saka ‘yung lolo and lola namin na makasama ko siya sa court nang one year pero naudlot,” she added.

Both EJ and Eya were rookies of the year. EJ earned her award in Season 77, while Eya received the plum in Season

81 when she and Sisi Rondina carried the Tigresses to the finals for the first time in eight years.

Eddie Laure, the sisters’ father, told the Varsitarian that the EJ’s enrollment in UST played a significant factor in her departure. “[M]alaking factor na hindi na siya nakapag-enroll and ang target talaga dapat nila [ay] ‘yung 2020 UAAP before pandemic na magkasama sila ni Eya sa UST,” he said.

EJ could have been eligible to play in Seasons 84 and 85.

“Si EJ naman sa pagkakakilala ko sa kanya, pagdating sa loob ng volleyball court, bata or kahit matatanda ang kalaban niya, lalaban at lalaban yan. Ako naman as a father, alam ko na si EJ babalik siya sa laro [nang] mas stronger, focus at matured,” Eddie said.

Cherry Tiggo head coach Aaron Velez affirmed that the ex-Tigress would make an impact in the professional league.

“She’ll make an impact,” Velez told the Varsitarian. “EJ is EJ. She’s still the EJ Laure we know. Talented and has natural athleticism.”

The Laures joined UST in 2010. The University offered them slots in the team after losing key players Alyssa Valdez to Ateneo and Kim Fajardo to La Salle. ANNA CLARISSA M. BARLAM

Geronimo ► FROM PAGE 4

Lady Booters ► FROM PAGE 16

For MJ Indac, the WNFT’s win was proof that Filipina women could reach great heights in their respective sports.

Just last year, the country won its first-ever Olympic gold medal thanks to Hidilyn Diaz.

Also in the Tokyo Olympics, Nesthy Petecio claimed a silver medal in the women’s featherweight event and became the first Filipina boxer to win an Olympic medal for the Philippines.

“Filipino athletes really have a great chance to qualify in world competitions. Women in sports are making history recently,” Indac said.

The Lady Booters said they hoped more focus would be giv-

en to the sport of football in the country.

Rubio said more professional football leagues should be established to give footballers avenues to showcase their talents and grow. “[H]aving professional leagues and high-level football competition might be a springboard to making the sport known to the country,” Rubio said.

Prado expressed hope of the Philippines becoming a football country someday, saying players in the sport could also “bring pride and honor to the country,”.

Indac said that Filipino footballers had been doing well in the country, but their successes were not being recognized by the majority.

“I hope this is a start to not only focus on mainstream sports because other events have the potential and are worth investing in,” she said.

Added Absalon: “Football is now growing in the Philippines and I hope it will reach our government so that football players can receive support similar to other sports.”

The WNFT ended its AFC run after a 2-0 loss against South Korea.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup will be held from July 20 to Aug. 20, 2023. It will be co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia.

“[D]apat isaalang-alang ang proyekto ng demokratisasyon at intelektuwalisasyon… bale wala ang matalas na diskurso kung hindi ito magreresulta ng mga kapaki-pakinabang na pagbabago at pagsasakapangyarihan sa mamamayang gumagamit ng wika,” aniya.

Nais din niyang bigyang-diin na marami pang maaaring pag-aralan gamit ang ating sariling wika at karanasang bayan at mali ang kolonyal na mga ahensya ng ating edukasyon sa paglilimita sa kakayahan ng wikang Filipino at panitikang bayan sa mga batayang pag-aaral lamang.

“Balewala ang matalas na diskurso kung hindi ito magreresulta ng mga kapaki-pakinabang na pagbabago at pagsasakapangyarihan sa mamamayang gumagamit ng wika,” idiin niya.

Tampok sa kaniyang disertasyon ang produksyong pampanitikan ng mga bilanggong politikal, kung saan sinuri ang limang koleksyon ng mga

akdang piitan sa lente ng kanilang naratibo o kwentong-buhay.

Naniniwala si Geronimo na nagsisilbi ang mga akdang pampanitikan na ito bilang pagmumuni sa espasyo ng piitan at lagpas sa piitan at ang itinatampok na aspirasyong bayan sa mga akdang ito.

Nagsimula ang gawad noong 2015 at ito ang pinakamataas na pagkilala na pagpaparangal ng KWF. Layunin nito na hikayatin at palaganapin ang pagsusulat at publikasyon sa Filipino at ibang mga wika ng Pilipinas ng mga akdang orihinal, kabilang ang mga teksbuk at sangguniang materyales sa iba’t ibang disiplina.

Isang bantog na makata, mandudula, nobelista,dalubwika, iskolar, at kritiko si Julian Cruz Balmaseda at isa rin sa mga tagapagtatag ng Aklatang Bayan na isang organisasyong pampanitikan. CAITLIN DAYNE A. CONTRERAS

Sports

Growling Tigresses gearing up for ‘3x3 basketball’ THE UST Growling Tigresses are looking to mount an on-campus “bubble” in the first week of March, hoping that the UAAP would add 3x3 basketball in its limited Season 84 lineup. ► PAGE 15

► PAGE 11

EJ-Eya era in UST ends

The Varsitarian FEBRUARY 25, 2022

FOR REAL-TIME SPORTS UPDATES, FOLLOW:

@VSportsUST

PH team’s FIFA World Cup ticket inspires UST Lady Booters

By Mark Ernest V. Villeza

The Philippine Women’s National Football Team (WNFT) recently made history as the first-ever Philippine football team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup. The national team edged out Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals of the AFC Women’s Asia Cup, 4-3, in a match whose winner was determined via penalty shootout, to book the country’s first FIFA ticket.

UST Lady Booters head coach Ag-

ing Rubio said the WNFT’s historic accomplishment was proof that Filipino women in sports could do more.

“It made an impact that [proves] women teams can do more and should be given more attention to,” Rubio told the Varsitarian. “It was a

► The Philippine National Football Team arrives in the country after quali-

fying in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.—PHOTO FROM WNFT’S TWITTER ACCOUNT

Thomasians named to PH team for 31st Sea Games in May

Eight Thomasians landed slots in the national volleyball teams for the 31st Southeast Asian (Sea) Games.

The Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) on Sunday released the full list of the athletes who will be sent to Hanoi, Vietnam in May. UST’s four-time UAAP MVP and 2019 Sea Games bronze medalist Sisi Rondina and UAAP Season 82 women’s beach volleyball champions Genesa Jane Eslapor and Babylove Barbon were named into the eight-player women’s beach volleyball pool.

Season 82 champion and 2019 Sea Games bronze medalist Jaron Requinton made it to the men’s beach volley-

ball pool alongside former Tiger Spiker Anthony Arbasto Jr. Former Golden Tigresses middle blocker Ria Meneses made the 20-player cut for women’s indoor volleyball.

The men’s indoor volleyball squad will include former Tiger Spikers Mark Alfafara and Joshua Umandal.

UST coaches Odjie Mamon and Paul Jan Doloiras will call the shots for the women’s volleyball and women’s beach volleyball team, respectively.

The 31st SEA Games in Vietnam will be held on May 12-25.

JAMES PAUL R. GOMEZ

great performance. It was inspiring to see.”

“Sustaining the great performance showed by the current squad of WNFT will be more challenging, but I hope the country would show more support in any way possible,” she added.

Lady Booter Nathalie Absalon said the national team’s victory fulfilled the FIFA dreams of footballers nationwide and seeing Filipina women flourish in football on a global stage was inspiring.

“They inspired me to strive harder and follow their footsteps,” Absalon said. “With this, I can say that football is now growing in the Philippines, and I hope that it will reach our government so that football players can receive support similar to other sports such as basketball and volleyball.”

Judy Mae Prado said the WNFT’s historic win was a product of continuous effort and sacrifice.

“As a player, sobrang saya at proud ako sa na-achieve ng team,” the UST Lady Booter said. “They inspired me to do and be more.”

LADY BOOTERS PAGE 15

►

Teletigers shine in AcadArena tourneys THREE teams of the UST Teletigers secured podium finishes in AcadArena’s League of Legends (LoL), Wild Rift, and Mobile Legends Bang Bang (MLBB) tournaments in January.

TGR Dawn earned the Wild Rift championship in dominant fashion after sweeping the five games of the competition.

“I believe we had the better draft in all our games,” team captain Polan AJ “Shift” Palaypayon told the Varsitarian. We were confident in our picks, sticking to what we’ve practiced and banning out the comfort picks of our enemies, breaking their momentum leading up to the finals.”

TGR Dawn was composed of Palaypayon, Calvin Patrick “Winter” Chia, Marcus Uriel “Meelo” Palomo, Jani An “Shoti” Descalzo, Yanni Raleigh “new year new me” Lomo, Johann Mark “Lazuli” Tena and Justin “Cookiez” Lorenz.

TGR Haze placed second in the LoL tournament after succumbing to Mapúa University’s MGS Mages in the finals.

“The biggest challenge was the pressure,” TGR Haze team captain John “Dizzy” Pelante said. “Our opponents were better the longer the game goes, so we had to try closing out the game early.”

“We were already ahead by so much but we did not capitalize on it and just took every fight instead

► The UST Teletigers logo

of finishing the game,” he added.

The team, composed of composed of Pelante, Darius “Bit” Ty, King “Zenxia” Ramiro, Karl “Krimson” Guevarra, Marc “Tenebria” Benito and coach Shotaro “Gimber” Akehira, finished the tournament with a 4-1 win-loss record.

The Teletigers’ MLBB represen-

tative, TGR Chaos, finished at third place after trouncing Holy Angel University’s Valiant Esports in the bronze medal game.

TGR Dawn took home a P5,000 cash prize, while TGR Haze and TGR Chaos bagged cash prizes of P3,000 and P2,000, respectively..

JAMES PAUL R. GOMEZ