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For the first time since the dawn of the COVID-19 pandemic, UST Paskuhan Festivities were held in an in-person setup, with the theme, “Pananabik, Pagbabalik, at Panunumbalik,” launched with the Panunuluyan at Plaza Mayor last December 1, 2022.
The opening mass, Panunuluyan, was followed by Agape, a Greek word for the “highest form of charity and love” and is also known as the traditional Thomasian Christmas Feast, held the following day.
Before the Agape’s program proper, students claimed the food packs provided using the food stubs distributed by the University from November 26 to December 1, 2022. Each student was provided one food stub throughout that time period.
UST Rector Very Rev. Fr. Richard G. Ang, O.P. presided over a bestowment of blessings, which commenced the tree-lighting event. Assistant to the Rector for UST General Santos, Academician Prof. Maribel G. Nonato, PhD, and Assistant to the Rector for UST Sta. Rosa, Prof. Philipina Marcelo, PhD, led the ceremonial lighting of the Christmas tree.
Following this were the performances of Original Pilipino Music (OPM) by the UST Symphony Orchestra, UST Singers, Liturgikon Vocal Ensemble, Coro Tomasino, conductor Micheal Jacinto, and musicians from the Conservatory of Music.
The UST Rector then officially declared the formal opening of the Paskuhan Festivities 2022. lights, parols, and the University’s Christmas tree were lit followed by a majestic display of fireworks. Thereafter, a traditional siren located at the top of the UST Main Building was rung as a call to Thomasians from around the world.
Very Rev. Fr. Ang pondered on the essence of this year’s
Paskuhan in his speech to the Thomasian community, serving both as a reflection of the year passed and a reminder for the year ahead.
“Mayroong pananabik [sa ating] pagbabalik sa Unibersidad [at] panunumbalik, which is the act of restoration,” Fr. Ang emphasized in his message.
On December 7, the University-wide Advent Recollection was conducted via Zoom and was preceded by the Paskuhan Mass and the start of Simbang Gabi on December 16. Being the most-anticipated festivity this Paskuhan season, about 51,000 Thomasians were in attendance for the Paskuhan Concert last December 19 which was kick-started with an exhibition performance by the UST Yellow Jackets (YJ) in front of the UST Main Building.
“This is our reward for our finals week and hopefully we all did well. This is different kasi it’s a Monday, different from our previous Paskuhans, we had Thursdays and Fridays. So hope [that] we could all enjoy this as a reward after the exam,” UST Chemical Engineering Society (ChES) Adviser Engr. Aldrin Lorrenz Chan, MSc, said.
Meanwhile, UST Civil Engineering (CE) Department Chair Engr. Rajiv Eldon Abdullah, MEng., mentioned, “I think this Paskuhan is a redemption and is also a part of hope din kasi we’re transitioning back to more on-site classes. It’s nice to see happy faces ngayon and sana okay lahat ng grades nila for final exams.” Guest performer Earl Generao set the stage for the concert as the first act. This was followed by other guest performances from Dotty’s World, Kenaniah, and Soapdish.
UST Faculty of Engineering’s (FoE) band Illumina also graced the stage, together with fellow Thomasian bands Lucy and
Sean Archer. This lineup emerged as winners from the “Tunog Tomasino: Stellaris Bound” battle of the bands held earlier this month.
“Wala kami masabi, iba kasi yung experience, matagal na naming pinangarap ‘to, ito na yun. Sana maenjoy niyo ‘yung Paskuhan niyo this year lalo na at kababalik lang natin,” Illumina said after their performance.
College-based and university-wide dance troupes, including UST Salinggawi, who bagged the 3rd place in the recently concluded UAAP Cheerdance Competition, and Engineering DT jived with the crowd with their dance performances.
The concert welcomed three guest performers to the stage. Solo artist Adie serenaded the crowd with his heart-melting song, “Tahanan,” among others. Returning for their third Paskuhan guesting, Lola Amour energized the crowd with their hits “Pwede Ba” and “Fallen.” To end the night, prominent OPM band Mayonnaise hyped the Thomasian crowd with their hit songs “Tayo na lang Dalawa,” “Bakit Pt.2,” and their famous “Jopay.”
The Paskuhan celebration was concluded with the much-awaited eight-minute pyro-musical fireworks display with the Paskuhan theme and the singing of the UST hymn.
CE sophomore Timothy Sagun said, “Singing along with the crowd and witnessing the eight-minute-long fireworks display really made my first face-to-face Paskuhan a memorable one.”
University officials announced that both face-to-face festivities were held exclusively for Thomasian students and alumni. In anticipation of the large volume of attendees, the University declared the Thomasian-exclusive festivities a carless day. Long entrance queues were also present due to heightened security measures amid the pandemic.
THOMASIAN WELCOMING TRADITIONS RETURN AFTER TWO-YEAR HALT
After a two-year halt, the University of Santo Tomas’ Thomasian Welcome Walk made its comeback for newly admitted freshmen students while a Homecoming Walk was held for sophomore and junior Thomasians, last August 9 and 23, 2022, respectively. The two batches of Thomasians were not able to experience the traditional face-to-face Rite of Passage due to the COVID-19 outbreak last 2020. This paved way for the “Unearthing the Treasure” themed returning walk. This was also the first Thomasian tradition event the two batches experienced on-site, signifying their homecoming. Almost 10,000 freshmen, including 1,286 freshmen from the UST Faculty of Engineering (FoE), entered the Arch of the Centuries. The new UST block letters and tiger statue were also unboxed in the University’s Plaza Mayor later that day.
UST Vice Rector, Fr. Isaias Tiongco, O.P., presided over the Welcome Mass in the Quadricentennial Pavilion (QPav), where he reminded the first-year students to remain authentic as they embark on a new chapter of their lives.
Performances from the University’s pride, UST Yellow Jackets (UST-YJ), Conservatory of Music Singers, Ba Duancen, UST Prime, UST Ronins, UST Galvanize, Sinag Ballroom Dance Company, Symphony Orchestra, UST Singers, and UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe (UST-SDT), were showcased in the ROARientation.
“Nakakatuwa siya dahil maeexperience na namin ‘yung buhay ng isang Thomasian at nakakatuwa na nakita rin namin for the first time yung mga friends namin [in person] rather than online,” Johann Sebastien M. Vizconde, Industrial Engineering (IE) freshman, said in an interview. ing Dance Troupe, followed by a Thomasian life-inspired play by Teatro Tomasino.
Illumina, a band from the UST-FoE, culminated the ROARientation with their live performance. In celebration of the school spirit, the UST-YJ led the iconic Thomasian chants.
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS Volume VIII, Issue No. 1 AUGUST to DECEMBER 2022
WRITTEN BY : Szarina dela Paz, Doroteo D. Prudenciano II, Aliah Nicole C. Brillante, and Carl Christian Calderon
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WRITTEN BY : Szarina dela Paz, Doroteo Prudenciano II, Aliah Nicole Brillante, and Mary Andrew Dalogdog
PHOTO BY : Khristel Penoliar
LAYOUT BY : Jefferson Ortiz and Reinehard Aytona
PHOTOS BY : Laurence Arellano, Jeremy Edera, Aldea Mendoza, and Khristel Penoliar
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LITERARY
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“HOME” AWAY FROM HOME PAGE 11
THOMASIAN WELCOMING TRADITIONS RETURN AFTER TWO-YEAR HALT
WRITTEN BY : Szarina dela Paz, Doroteo Prudenciano II, Aliah Nicole Brillante, and Mary Andrew Dalogdog
FROM PAGE 1 ▶▶
John Allen Aguas, a Civil Engineering (CE) sophomore, took the chance to show his appreciation for the commitment of people working behind the scenes.
“I’m happy na nagkaroon tayo ng ganitong opportunity hindi lamang para makapag-enjoy sa event, para rin magkaroon ng motivation or inspiration para maging better,” he added.
To mark the end of the freshman Onboarding week, the remodeled tiger statue and block letters were unveiled. The UST-SDT accompanied the unboxing with Katy Perry’s “Roar”.
UST Secretary General, Rev. Fr. Louie R. Coronel, O.P., EHL, stated that inside the box, is a symbolism of the distinct identity of the University as the leading Catholic Higher Education Institution (HEI) in the Philippines, but more importantly, in the Asia Pacific region.
Facilities Management Office (FMO) Director, Fr. Dexter Austria, O.P. also delivered his message mentioning that the unveiling of the new structures was a representation of UST’s conquest over the pandemic.
“Tigers and Thomasians are very adaptable. Both are able to blend and excel in a given environment,” said Fr. Austria.
The FMO Director added that the structures were also to mark the expansion of UST to Santa Rosa, Laguna, and General Santos City, South Cotabato.
UST Faculty of Engineering alumni bag top spots in 2022 engineering licensure examinations
WRITTEN : Jose Miguel C. Ballecer
In 2022, the UST Faculty of Engineering (FoE) produced top performers in the Registered Electrical Engineer (REE) Licensure Examination, the Electrical Technician (ECT) Licensure Examination, and the Chemical Engineering (ChE) Licensure Examination. Neil Zachary Sargento De Guzman, who achieved an 88.55-percent rating, bagged the 10th spot in the September 2022 REE Licensure Examination. Additionally, The University recorded an overall passing rate of 90.22-percent, ranking first among other top-performing schools.
Engr. Neil Zachary De Guzman shared in an interview with the publication that Electrical Engineering was not his first choice, elaborating that before pursuing his current degree program, he first considered Civil (CE) and Mechanical Engineering (ME), both of which were quota courses.
“Nakilala ko yung friends ko na naging support system ko kaya naisip ko, why not give it a chance kasi baka ito talaga binigay sakin ni Lord. I love the course, the program, that’s why I chose to stay,” he shared.
Meanwhile, three Thomasian alumni, Jude Nico Dela Cruz Zabala, Jon Carlitos Liwag, and Juan Carlo Ramos Latonio, secured the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd spots, respectively, in the October 2022 ECT Licensure Examination. The University recorded a 92.94-percent passing rate in the said examination, becoming the second top-performing school.
Jon Carlitos Liwag, the 2nd-top performer in the ECT licensure examination, who had an examination rating of 88.00-percent, aimed to be the first engineer in the family.
“I have been longing for the title “Engineer” since I was in high school, and also, very fulfilling in a sense na I became the first licensed engineer in my family,” Engr. Liwag stated. Engr. Liwag is
also one of the University’s Electronics Engineering (ECE) licensure examination passers.
The University also produced a top performer in the October 2022 ChE Licensure Examination, where Denver Recayo Pascua garnered an 84.50% rating, reaching the 7th spot. The University recorded a 61.60-percent passing rate in the said examination, and a national passing rate of 51.25-percent was recorded.
“I have also a relative who is a chemical engineer who was involved in the manufacturing of soaps… I was inspired by that. Also, I was good in sciences and math in high school, so I decided to pursue STEM and engineering,” Engr. Pascua shared when asked about his inspiration for taking up his degree program.
In preparing for their board exams, Engr. De Guzman elaborated that aside from enrolling in a review center, his professor’s lecture notes were of great help in reviewing old topics.
Engr. Liwag also shared, “The point being, wala naman talagang tao na completely ready to take the boards, you just need to find a habit and mindset which you think will help you in a great way, because ikaw naman talaga ang nakakakilala sa sarili mo. You must find what is good for you, and what will work for you,” he stated while sharing his experience.
Engr. Pascua, who gave the board exam a difficulty rating of 7 out of 10, mentioned that it is okay to feel burned out at times and to try and collaborate with peers.
Additionally, they saw their friends, family, and the ability to shape their future as their source of motivation in preparing for the licensure examinations.
“Isacrifice niyo muna yung time niyo for studying kasi sobrang laki ng pay-off pag nakita mong pasado ka,” Engr. De Guzman advised future board takers.
USTET makes a comeback for Academic Year 2023-2024 admissions
WRITTEN BY : Kim Dator and Kateleen VicenteAfter two years of utilizing the University of Santo Tomas Admission Rating (USTAR) Score as a basis for admission, the University of Santo Tomas Entrance Test (USTET) has returned nationwide for all aspiring Thomasians in the upcoming Academic Year 2023-2024.
The examination administered to all applicants of the Education High School (EHS), Junior High School (JHS), Senior High School (SHS), Learning-Enhanced Accelerated Program for Medicine (LEAPMed) and College level covered English, Mathematics, and Science, and included an additional subtest in Mental Ability.
“Pressured po kasi nasa amin ulit yung panibagong standard… Kumbaga from online class, switch agad ng face-toface na entrance exam,“ Laurence Korbito, one of the USTET takers, shared when asked about his experience in taking the exam.
Meanwhile, Gian Manzano honestly answered, “Masaya po kaso mukhang babagsak.”
An applicant’s overall rating is composed of the USTET scores, with a percentage weight of 80 percent, and 20 percent for their computed average grade in Math, Science, and English as stated in their application forms.
The application was done online through the official website of the UST Office of Admissions (OFAD), where the registration and submission of requirements also took place.
The University provided multiple provincial testing centers from Luzon to Mindanao for Senior High School and College Applicants. These were as follows: Baguio, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, Nueva Vizcaya, Cagayan, Laguna, Batangas, Quezon, Mindoro, Albay, Camarines Sur, Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Misamis Oriental, Davao City, General Santos, and all of Region III except Aurora.
Aspiring international applicants were also allotted testing centers located in Doha, Qatar; Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE); Manama, Bahrain; and Al-Khobar, Riyadh, and Jeddah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In addition, international applicants who are not residents of the provided international testing areas were instructed to contact Dr. Ryan O. Cayubit, PhD, RPsy, RPm from the Department of Psychology.
Although both vaccinated and unvaccinated students were welcomed as applicants, the University still recommended full vaccination against COVID-19 to support the nationwide booster vaccine campaign of the Department of Health (DOH).
In accordance with Circular 25 released by the UST Office of the Secretary-General last October 14, 2022, the USTET was and will be facilitated on the following Sundays: October 23, December 4, December 11, 2022, and January 22 and May 7, 2023.
PHOTO BY : Jeremy Edera and Aubrey Mae Maula BY PHOTOS BY : Jeremy EderaFaculty of Engineering students back onsite for F2F examinations return
WRITTEN BY : Lance Andrei Campano and Mark Rafael SantosAfter two years of pure online assessments, Thomasian engineering students returned onsite to take their preliminary and final examinations for the first semester of Academic Year 2022 - 2023 in-person.
During the first week of October, first-year engineering students attended their onsite ENG203 (Calculus 1) and ENG201 (Chemical Applications in Engineering) preliminary exams while only selected engineering departments of second-year to fourthyear students sat for their respective exams in specified courses.
The limited onsite examinations aimed to bring back the integrity of the assessments taken, which the UST Faculty of Engineering Dean, Prof. Angelo R. dela Cruz, Ph.D., PECE, believed was effective. Dean Dela Cruz cited that the test scores online reflected a significant discrepancy compared to the test scores on the limited face-to-face examinations.
According to the Engineering Pre-Major Year Collaborative (EPYC) and Student Academic Advising and Services (SAAS), the implementation of in-person examinations prepares students
for board exams and helps address connection and concentration issues during tests.
Moreover, students and university staff, who were involved in the onsite assessments, were required to comply with the health and safety protocols set forth by the University.
Final examinations for the first academic term also followed the same guidelines and only the tests in major courses were administered onsite from December 12-17 for all the departments except the Electrical Engineering department, after the Civil Engineering department followed other departments’ setup.
When asked about the possibility of expanding the faceto-face policy to examinations and quizzes in general education courses next term, Dean Dela Cruz replied that the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Memorandum Order (CMO) 16 Series of 2022 prioritizes the transition of technical courses and that no plan is still in place about the general education subjects when it comes to assessments.
UST Faculty of Engineering eyes expanding LF2F lecture classes, assessments
Newly-elected UST Engineering student council officers sworn in
WRITTEN BY : Marc Ivan Dilla
The UST Faculty of Engineering (FoE) is set to facilitate more Limited Face-to-Face (LF2F) classes in the second semester of the Academic Year 2022-2023, according to UST FoE Dean, Prof. Angelo R. dela Cruz, PhD, PECE.
After a two-year halt due to the pandemic, the faculty once again conducted a series of in-person examinations under selected courses in the first semester of the current Academic Year. This is in response to the evident grade inflation that has occurred among students over the last two years.
“Apparently, malaki talaga ‘yung discrepancy kung ico-compare especially itong prelims dahil maraming nag-onsite exam,” Dean dela Cruz answered when asked why on-site assessments were prioritized next to laboratory classes.
Consequently, a significant number of laboratory and skillsbased classes were conducted across all the departments in the faculty. Cyclical cohorting was applied in consideration to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Safety Seal awarded to the faculty which required the strict implementation of COVID-19 minimum health standards stated in CHED Memorandum Order No. 4, “Guidelines on the Safety Seal Certification Program for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).”
“Hindi natin kayang i-accomodate ‘yung let’s say forty students in one laboratory space. So, ang alternative, you split the class into two, kung minsan, three nga,” Dean dela Cruz explained how the one-meter physical distancing protocol influenced the conductance of face-to-face classes in the faculty.
When asked about the preparedness of Thomasian engineering students and the University itself, Dean dela Cruz mentioned
that both parties are ready. Moreover, he also stated that UST FoE has already been planning for an increased number of on-site classes for the upcoming semester.
Dean dela Cruz added that apart from holding required onsite laboratory classes for the next term, a plan to implement on-site lecture classes is also in the works and will be amended to comply with the CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 16 that mandates at least 50 percent on-site contact time when delivering course instruction.
“Sa lecture ang mahirap i-plan kasi ang daming options [...] ang isang alternative na nai-plan ngayon ay mayroong option na full on-site at mayroong option na full hybrid,” he said as he emphasized the focus on the flexibility of these modalities with the diversity of Thomasian students in mind.
He also stressed the need for Thomasian engineering students to prepare for on-site course instruction in the next term as laboratory classes (such as Physics for Engineers Laboratory for firstyear students) are “non-negotiable” and will be held fully on-site except in specific cases where a student files an appeal to the Office of the Dean for consideration.
Moreover, Dean dela Cruz mentioned that it might no longer be possible as the University “already invested its resources to the virtual space” and emphasized that Thomasians should expect, at most, a hybrid mode of instruction.
“Definitely, gagamitin pa rin natin both physical and virtual spaces. Kung paano siya gagamitin strategically, yan ang ginagawa namin ngayon,” he clarified.
Six victors of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Engineering Student Council (ESC) executive board polls took their pledge of service today, November 29, 2022, via ZOOM and Facebook Live.
The new members of the ESC Executive Board for 2022-2023 took their oaths before Faculty Regent Rev. Fr. Roberto L. Luanzon Jr. O.P., Engineering Dean Prof. Angelo R. dela Cruz PhD, PECE, Assistant Dean Prof. Anthony James C. Bautista, PME, MBA, PhD, and members of the UST Engineering Commission on Elections (COMELEC).
As newly elected Internal Vice President of the ESC, Pauline Zian A. Suyat of the UST Department of Electronics Engineering (ECE) took her pledge of service and received her constitutional duties from Prof. dela Cruz.
The other five who took their oaths of office as new members of the ESC Executive Board are ESC Secretary Alyssa Laraine M. Cunanan, ESC Assistant Secretary Sophia Mauricia A. Villanueva, ESC Treasurer Joemille Brent R. Galera, ESC Assistant Treasurer Lourd Albert T. Bañaga, and ESC Public Relations Officer Claudelle L. Fajardo.
Rev. Fr. Luanzon, O.P. blessed the elected officers after they took their oaths, applauded them for winning the elections, and encouraged them to give their best in serving the UST Faculty of Engineering (FoE).
Prof. dela Cruz and Asst. Prof. Bautista also delivered congratulatory messages to the council members present in the meeting.
The oath-taking ceremony concluded after Internal Vice President Suyat, on behalf of the newly-elected officers, offered her gratitude in response to the messages of the Faculty Regent, Dean, and Asst. Dean.
UST IEC BAGS OUTSTANDING UNESCO CLUB AWARD
The UST Industrial Engineering Circle (UST IEC) brought pride to the University after being awarded as one of the Outstanding United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Clubs for the 2022 College Level and Science and Technology Category last September 25, 2022, announced via UNESCO’s Facebook page.
In applying for re-accreditation, UST IEC submitted documents about the programs they facilitated last year 2021: HINAGAP: We Stand As One, Breakthrough, Forging Ahead, Paper for All, VIRTUAL: Venturing Into Remote Transition with Unique Approaches for Learning, IE-Land: The Industrial Engineering Night 2021, GOING IELC: Industrial Engineering Leadership Congress, and IE PODCAST: “IEwan Ano Ba’ Yun.”
These projects exemplified UNESCO’s values and principles of fostering cultural diversity and advancing world peace and development. Moreover, the officers’ efforts to advance social development among Thomasian Industrial Engineering students were also considered as one of the contributing factors to the recognition.
“Para sa akin malaki ang impact niya. It can serve as an inspiration for Industrial Engineering students and we can also be leaders of our own. Even though estudyante pa rin ang IEC officer, winning the award reflects that they are doing their job well. And also IEs are known to be leaders of the industry someday. It is a training ground for them,” Engr. Yoshiki B. Kurata, PhD, CIE, Assoc. ASEAN Engr., the Adviser of UST IEC, mentioned after being asked about the impact of the award on the Thomasian IE Community.
“For those students na medyo hesitant, as they are doubting themselves, I hope this award can serve as a model for them that anyone among us can also be recognized as long as we value the Thomasian values that we have,” He added.
After receiving the award, UST IEC plans to continue to lead, serve, and provide projects for the improvement and development of Thomasian Industrial Engineering students.
“Speaking as an adviser, to help other organizations to also be part of UNESCO, this award is not just the award of the IEC or IE department, but is also a recognition that Faculty of Engineering student leaders are actually doing well. Kasi we do not just represent IE alone, but we represent the whole Faculty of Engineering,” Engr. Kurata answered when asked about the organization’s future plans in relation to the recognition.
WRITTEN BY : Justine Keith Moises and Marc Ivan Dilla PHOTO BY : Bea Galvez and Yves Caballes PHOTO BY : Dana Arcilla WRITTEN BY : Justine Keith MoisesUSTEAAI welcomes 14 new scholars for A.Y. 2022-2023
The UST Engineering Alumni Association, Inc. (USTEAAI) welcomed 14 UST Faculty of Engineering (FoE) student scholars for the Academic Year 2022 - 2023, last August 2022.
The USTEAAI Scholarship is a financial assistance and scholarship program conferred by UST Engineering alumni to deserving second to fourth-year engineering students of the University.
To qualify for the scholarship, the duly recognized second, third, or fourth-year student applicant must have a General Weighted Average (GWA) not lower than 2.50, have no incurred failing grades in any academic subject, and not be a recipient of any other scholarship grant.
Along with the application form and other documents required, the student applicants were tasked to submit an essay answering the prompt “why you should be given a USTEAAI scholarship” in not less than 50 words. The applicants were also further screened through an interview.
When asked about her experience during the application process, Alyzza Bianca Lopez, one of the new USTEAAI scholars,
Annual engineering recruitment week remains online
The Engineering Student Council (ESC) launched the annual Engineering Recruitment Week, titled “R101: Engineering Recruitment Week,” last October 17, with applications still held virtually.
The virtual week-long event commenced with a Facebook Live featuring organizations in the Faculty of Engineering (FoE), giving glimpses of the experiences and responsibilities awaiting the student applicants.
Prof. Angelo R. dela Cruz, Ph.D., PECE, UST FoE Acting Dean, officially kickstarted the event with his opening remarks, acknowledging the efforts of the organizations and their participation in the event. He recalled the lessons people learned and lost in the time of the pandemic, its disruption in people’s way of life, and how those brought out the best in each person.
“With all the lost opportunities in the past three years of the pandemic, we hope that many of our students will not miss this opportunity to participate, be involved, and become a member of the student organizations of the Faculty of Engineering,” Dean dela Cruz elaborated.
In the opening program, titled “R101: Prologue,” one student leader from each engineering department and how they were able to manage both their academics and extracurricular activities.
The representatives shared the importance of time management in being an organization member and a student. They gave tips on how to balance their responsibilities, such as avoiding procrastination and learning how to prioritize tasks properly. Management applications such as Notion and TimeTree were a couple of the softwares suggested by the speakers that would assist students in managing their time.
This was succeeded with films-inspired introduction of the different organizations and an audio-visual presentation showcasing their organization’s mission, vision, and benefits to its members.
Carlos Joaquin T. Dimaguila, UST-ESC Interim Executive Vice-President, formally commenced the event with his closing remarks where he expressed his gratitude to the organizers and attendees of the event and reminded student applicants that serving the student body is a commitment to uphold everyday.
“The pleasure in leading is not [through] title-seeking but the [through] people you transform and those hearts you have touched,” he concluded his speech.
The following organizations participated in this year’s Engineering Recruitment Week: Rotaract Club – UST Engineering Unit, Cisco Networking Academy Gateway (CNAG), UST Engineering Commission on Elections (COMELEC), One Voice Engineering Chorale (OV), UST ChemicalEngineering Society (ChES), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (UST-IEEE) Student Branch, UST Electrical Engineering Circuit (EEC), UST Mechanical Engineering Club (MEC), American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-conditioning Engineers- UST (ASHRAE), Engineering Dance Troupe (EDT), UST Network of Electronics Engineering Students (NECES), UST Association of Civil Engineering Students (ACES), UST Industrial Engineering Circle (IEC), Operations Research Society of the Philippines – UST Chapter (ORSP), and Thomasian Engineer (TE) – the student publication of UST FoE.
said that she willingly allotted much time for it and paid the needed expenses for the transportation and requirements to complete her application.
“It really shows siguro na kung kailangan mo talaga nitong scholarship na ‘to, tatrabuhuin mo ‘yon,” Lopez quoted.
She added, “At that time, personally, it was really really helpful kasi we were financially challenged talaga at that time. Noong nalaman ko talagang natanggap ako sa scholarship, it was really timely kasi at that time hindi na talaga kami … hindi na namin alam kung paano kukuha ng tuition fee for this semester. So, I am really, really grateful to USTEAAI for this opportunity.”
When asked about what he looks forward to after being granted the scholarship, Wilbeth Lhance Sacro, also a new USTEAAI scholar, said that he looks forward to meeting other future engineers from other departments—an opportunity to steer away from the “linear” experience he would have had if he were not to become a USTEAAI scholar.
“May mga kasama rin po ako na scholars dito from IE, from EE, [...] and malalaman ko po yung perspective nila sa engineering, which will help for my growth in the future,” he stated, adding that this experience would help him “get out of his comfort zone.”
As part of their duties as new scholars of USTEAAI, Lopez noted that they are also tasked to help with the internal events of the organization as well as help with programs of the University geared
towards helping Thomasian engineering students. She further added that lending them a hand was their way of giving back to the association as scholars.
“Nakipag-partner si Engineering CCC pati si Alumni Association kung paano ma-help yung students—so now, we are currently being tutors; we are giving supplementary instruction,” Lopez said while talking about the program offered by the USTEAAI to assist those who garnered low scores in the Engineering Proficiency test given to first-year students.
Furthermore, when asked about how she plans to maintain her scholarship, “Doing my best part in USTEAAI means that I have to be a good student, I have to perform well, I have to study hard, I have to get my grades pumped,” Lopez said.
Lopez also said that they are taught by USTEAAI how to help people, give back, and be grateful, which she said is one of the best driving forces for one to be successful and keep themselves grounded. On the same note, Sacro also responded that he was inspired by USTEAAI to give back to Thomasian engineers in the future since he “wants to share this blessing and opportunity” with other future engineers.
The USTEAAI is an alumni association of the UST Faculty of Engineering that aims to be an active, committed, and service-oriented association of Thomasian alumni professionals in the fields of engineering and technology.
UST conducts UAAP Kickoff party after a two-year halt
WRITTEN BY : Axel Adame and Kim DatorThe Thomasian community growled in synergy as the University of Santo Tomas (UST) conducted “Tiger Resurgence: UAAP Kickoff Party 2022,” organized by Tiger Media Network (TMN) and the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (UST-IPEA), at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion last September 28.
The kickoff party aimed to send off the student-athletes and fire up their spirits for the upcoming season 85 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).
The hosts, Joanne Villanueva and Kobe Dayao of the UST Tiger TV Sports, opened the event by featuring six rookies of this season’s roster in interview segments.
Following this was an intermission number by the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe accompanied by the UST Yellow Jackets. A pre-recorded video performance showcasing the famous spots in the university was also featured.
Afterward, the various sports teams of the university, along with their coaches, were introduced while doing the university’s signature “Go USTe!” chant across the arena.
Director of UST-IPEA, Rev. Fr. Rodel S. Cansancio, officially marked the pep rally with his welcome remarks focused on UST’s goal of winning in the 85th season of UAAP.
“UST will rise as one,” Rev. Fr. Cansancio pronounced as he ended his welcome remarks.
To establish athlete participation, El Legaspi of UST Tiger TV hosted a game called “Tomasino Name It” which featured the sports culture in the university. The sports teams showcased their special performances subsequently.
An exhibition game between the UST Alumni team and the current UST Men’s basketball team also took place at the kickoff party which ended with a score of 112-93, resulting in the victory of the current line-up of the UST Growling Tigers.
Along with the kickoff party, the yellow day celebration,
a Thomasian tradition, was also brought back on the same day in support of the Thomasian athletes set to participate in the upcoming season of UAAP.
Furthermore, some of the student-athletes from the UST Faculty of Engineering (FoE) who are set to participate in the 85th season of UAAP shared their goals and expectations for their upcoming games.
Civil engineering student-athlete Marvin Joseph Trillana who will play for the university’s men’s baseball team, UST Golden Sox, mentioned that the general championship of UST and the victory of their team are his expectations for the coming season.
From the UST Tiger Fencers, electronics engineering student-athlete Joseph Den Amores shared that the passion behind his fence was rooted because of his asthma and inclination in exercising. He expects a better performance of their team and their championship, together with the overall championship of UST. For Jana Elizabeth Torres, a student-athlete from Mechanical Engineering Department, the Thomasian community was the reason why she ended up playing for UST. Torres will play for the university’s women’s volleyball team, UST Growling Tigresses, this season of UAAP.
Miguel Pangilinan, a civil engineering student-athlete and the UST Growling Tigers shooting guard said that the team is working on their improvement and will surely do their best for the upcoming season.
“We will do our best and learn from our mistakes,” Pangilinan added.
The men’s and women’s basketball teams, UST Growling Tigers and UST Golden Tigresses, will tip off on Saturday, October 1, against Adamson University at the Mall of Asia Arena. The Thomasian community will roar as they unleash the tigers bringing the phrase “UST will rise as one.”
UST intensifies security measures amidst safety threats
The University remains vigilant and proactive amidst threats to the safety and security of the Thomasian community, as stated by UST Secretary General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P. Julius Oliveras, a civil engineering student, posted on Facebook about a criminal attempt on a girl near Gate 14, claiming he saw a knife being drawn after giving a small paper to the girl, last August 19, 2022.
In light of the increasing criminal occurrences in the area, the University installed lights on Lacson Avenue and tasked guards to roam around the campus, said Coronel in an interview.
He also mentioned that the UST Hospital and Santísimo Rosario Parish have always lined up with the University alongside the Office of the Mayor, Manila Police District, and barangay officials in integrating security measures.
WRITTEN BY : Kim DatorIn a separate interview, Police Lt. Col. Ramon Nazario, the station commander at Barbosa Police Station, said that the main component of the security protocol was enhancing police visibility and surveillance.
In particular, Nazario said that they enforced police mobiles circling the streets of Dapitan, España, Lacson, and P. Noval; and posted tarpaulins with QR codes along the gates of the University referring to the police’s contact information, safety reminders, and directions for theft or kidnapping encounters.
Further, Barbosa Police Station can be reached at (02) 8723-2708 or (02) 8520-1791.
Coronel also reminded Thomasians to always present their IDs, bags, and health declaration form via ThOMedSS upon entrance as adherence to safety precautions.
PHOTO BY : Doroteo Prudenciano II WRITTEN BY : Mark Rafael Santos and Szarina dela Paz PHOTO BY : Julia Beatriz Galvez WRITTEN BY : Aryzza Antonette Aperocho and Marc Ivan DillaMARTYRS FOR DEVELOPMENT
“NAPAKARAMING INHINYERO DITO SA AMIN NGUNIT BAKIT TILA WALANG NATIRA?”
Would it all be worth it?
As released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on January 5, 2023, the country’s inflation rate in December 2022 increased to 8.1%. In the same year, over 5.6 million Filipino families fall under the poverty line as reported by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
In terms of wage, according to the Department of Labor and Employment - Bureau of Local Employment in 2019, Chemical Engineers have the lowest starting salaries among engineers, at 10,000 pesos, while Network Engineers have the highest starting salaries, at 25,000 pesos. Moreover, the starting wage of Metallurgical, Mining, Civil, Electrical, and Geodetic Engineers
ranges from 14,500 pesos to 20,000 pesos.
As the prices of commodities continue to surge, would 10,000 pesos be enough to put sufficient food on the table?
With the unattractive picture painted by this narrative, would the youth still be enticed to pursue engineering in the future? Are they ready to take on the misery accompanied by the honorific ‘Engr.’?
The demand determines the supply. In a ranking released by the UK-based Oxford Economics, the Philippines ranked 13th out of 14 Asia Pacific economies, with an overall scarring score of -0.4, in terms of its ability to attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDI). Moreover, the country only scored a -1.3 in infrastructure and logistics which is ironic as the Duterte administration invested US$164.7 billion in its “Build, Build, Build” program which was composed of infrastructural projects that
targeted to improve the Philippines’ economic growth through enhancing mobility and connectivity across the country.
On the other hand, in the 2015 World Economic Forum, it was revealed that the Philippines produces less than 50 engineering graduates per 100,000 population which is significantly lower than that of our ASEAN neighbors such as South Korea, which produces 287, and Malaysia, which generates 175. Moreover, the Philippines ranked second lowest in science and mathematics among 79 countries in the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which assessed the competence of 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics, and science. In the 2019 Trends in International Mathematics and Scientific Study (TIMSS), which examined the math and science skills of grade four students, the Philippines ranked the lowest out of 58 countries.
The health of a country’s economy influences employment and impacts the attitude of the youth toward their career choices in the future (Zhang, 2007). Reflecting upon this statement, it could be assumed that the country’s worsening economic health, which equates to the lagging of industrial development, is one of the major factors as to why the interest of the youth in pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education decreases through time. This dilemma posed a huge concern among government officials and led to the filing of the 18th Congress - Senate Bill No. 369 which aimed to promote the establishment of public science high schools in underserved areas and the allotment of sufficient funds for it.
Few are drawn to STEM courses, particularly engineering, because quality education is not guaranteed in the country and there is little to no demand for it due to the lack of industries to house them. This scarcity also explains the low salary that Filipino engineers receive annually.
Neglect makes it easier to move on.
According to Pro-People Engineers and Leaders (PROPEL), outside the capital region, monthly salaries for entry-level engineering roles are much lower than those of the NCR, ranging from P10,000 to P15,000. Consequently, from 1998 to 2011, engineers, with 28%, ranked second to nurses and midwives, with 59%, in terms of the number of Science and Technology professionals in other countries. Based on Workabroad.ph’s yearly report, a chief engineer can earn P96,000 per month. Moreover, land-based engineers in the Middle East and Asia-Pacificcan earn P57,000 or P59,000 per month.
Seeing the difference between the salaries offered by the Philippines and foreign countries to Filipino engineers, it is understandable why a lot of them prefer to work and serve in other nations as they feel more appreciated and valued.
In college, engineers barely survive exams. In real life, they barely survive…
As the painting of the picture ends, an unappetizing narrative on the realities of the engineering field in the Philippines is made — a masterpiece that holds thousands of interpretations but only the eyes of aspiring Filipino engineers could give meaning to. Would it be seen positively — a hopeful one that change could start somewhere and that they could be the catalyst? Or negatively — rethinking one’s life decisions as to why they wanted the profession and did not think of dodging the misery of becoming a Filipino engineer in the first place?
While the dedication of those who still continue to pursue engineering despite hardships should be admired, may the government recognize that if they continue to neglect them, the low annual production of 50 engineering graduates per 100,000 population in the country might decrease until no one is motivated to become an innovator and a builder of this nation.
Engineers deserve better than being ‘martyrs for development’. They should not let themselves be devalued by the nation they put value into.
EDITORIAL
Of Storms, Highways, and Unprotected Riders
WRITTEN BY: JAIME FRANCHESCA LOPEZMultiple businesses have fallen into bankruptcy at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on a November 2021 report by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), some corporations failed to recover, as 10% of the initially-registered enterprises in 2019 have permanently closed. With declining incomes and the shrinking economy, this universal effect was anticipated. Even with the circumstances, some sectors were able to take advantage of the situation, such as delivery or courier services, which were in full operation, transporting all sorts of goods, from food to medicine to hardware. However, looking at the other end of this economic chain—the riders—it is worth taking note that these blue-collar employees are constantly working under unsafe conditions, which begs the ongoing question of ethical capitalism. With this, should consumers be held accountable for compromising these workers’ safety when they choose to avail of such services in the event of a storm?
Other than assisting the public with its immediate needs, these services undoubtedly contributed to personal convenience as a whole. When strict health protocols were in place, having this option minimized the risk of spreading the virus. Courier companies even went as far as offering contactless delivery to further mitigate the dangers of infection. Yet, in exchange for customer satisfaction, these workers are compromising their safety by driving on slippery highways and accident-prone areas.
Some people argue that it is unethical to use such services, given the situation. These individuals believe that consumers must collectively stop getting things delivered to reduce the risk for the riders.
Conversely, the opposition asserts that consumers must not be burdened by the pressure of these hazards. Deciding for the workers will ultimately deprive them of a livelihood. Some companies only offer quota-based salaries to their riders instead of hourly income. They are contracted in such a way that their earnings are dependent on a certain quantity of deliveries, which means that they will earn relatively less if consumers do not avail themselves of the service altogether. In doing this, consumers allow these workers to choose for themselves, gauge their respective sit-
uations, and arrive at a resolution as to whether they can execute the task or not. As customers, one may give a hearty tip or simply be considerate by expecting longer delivery durations. While the opposition supports the employees’ revenue, it is worth mentioning that the said risks are not mere paranoia. Two-wheeled delivery drivers, whether cyclists or motorcycle riders, are among the most vulnerable road users. Around 70 people are killed and 2,000 people are injured in work-related accidents. Additionally, a significant proportion of this statistic occurs during deliveries and collections as stated in the reports of Thursby (2022) and Waring (2021).
porations to ensure that their employees are receiving as much compensation and benefits for their work. With the escalating number of road accident cases encountered by riders, some businesses have started instilling protocols to protect their employees.
For instance, Manila Standard revealed that Lalamove provides personal accident insurance for all drivers and has also partnered with Honda Safety Driving Center in launching the “Angat ang Maingat” campaign in 2019, which involves a series of seminars to remind their growing partner driver community of the importance of safety. A more proactive and commendable response was made by GrabFood in their decision to lay down the “Merchant Rainy Day Protocol,” which renders restaurants temporarily unavailable for delivery, increases consumer fees, disables the long-distance feature, and reduces the maximum scheduled orders per hour. Other courier companies have followed this resolution in acknowledgment of the issue.
Though changes have been made, a 2022 research study by a group of University of the Philippines (UP) professors has proven that employers are still lacking in the provision of adequately safe measures for their workers. This article does not only tackle shortcomings in road safety but also their low regard for curative strategies to prevent the transmission and contraction of COVID-19. Such findings demonstrate that these corporations’ initiatives are not enough, which ultimately calls on the Senate of the Philippines to instate laws that guarantee the workers’ security.
With the rise in work-related casualties and relentless concern over inconsistent employee protection, the government must start recognizing their responsibility and the weight of their lack of participation. In October 2021, Senator Risa Hontiveros filed Senate Bill No. 1373, or the Protektadong Online Workers, Entrepreneurs, Riders at Raketera (POWERR) Act. This bill requires the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to mandate rules that classify these online platform workers as regular employees entitled to a salary that is at least the minimum wage and would allow them to be enrolled in government social protection programs such as PhilHealth, SSS, and Pag-IBIG among others. It also demands that courier companies be more transparent and negotiable with their terms. However, a year after its filing, there is still no development.
This concern has been up for debate among consumers as it places them in a dilemma. While both parties put forward rational sentiments, this predicament is not an issue solely dependent on an individual’s morals and decisions. Instead of villainizing the proposition and the opposition, everyone must be made aware of the fact that matters concerning an employee’s working environment require the intervention of a governing body, which consists of the company and the country’s lawmakers. most people still prefer getting their food through delivery apps, as it provides a more pleasant experience and, at times, is the thriftier option. With the are getting, it must be the
Rising Grades, Failing Systems: The Tragedy of Filipino Learners
WRITTEN BY:The pandemic has already taken loved ones and normalcy from students’ lives; let it not deprive them of their sense of achievement.
During the onset of face-to-face graduation ceremonies last June 2022, loud whispers of those vexed by the sudden increase of honor graduates menaced the celebrations of students. The most notable instance, as reported by Bernardo (2022), was when a professor of journalism in UP-Diliman urged the need to “seriously discuss grade hyperinflation” after about 1,433 students would graduate with Latin honors, 147 of which were Summa Cum Laude; an uncommon occurrence considering the university’s history.
Generally, these displeasures sprung following the trend of relatively—and to some, unfairly—higher grades of students during the worst of the pandemic.
Wiith the halt of face-to-face setup in early 2020, many students continued their education in their homes through online learning via electronic devices. This combination of a virtually unrestricted environment with the power of the internet at students’ leisure has provided an opportunity for academic dishonesty. A news article by Bautista (2021) showed that a now-archived facebook page called “Online Kopyahan” was used by students to disseminate their modules, and request answers from the group’s members–about 600,000 in number at its peak. Additionally, students can use search engines, open files, and even collaborate with others while taking exams. Professors have also pointed out that the online setup is just not challenging enough, and institutions have become too lax. These became the primary suspects for grade inflation, explaining why better grades were not viewed as a direct result of greater effort.
The integrity of systems that evaluate student performance was shrouded by a sea of doubt. Thus, Philippine society—whether in households, schools, and companies—has unfortunately adopted an invalidating mindset where student performance during the pandemic is treated less favorably than that of the previous years.
Pandemic students often hear the disheartening words, “ma-suwerte nga kayo kasi online.” And any form of triumph
in school is sure to be followed by the condescending “syempre madali kapag online lang” or “if face-to-face naman mahirap i-achieve yan.” Varieties of these statements exist; some are more subtle, while others are explicit, but all cuts just the same.
To conclude that grade inflation is just a function of academic dishonesty and institutional leniency while implying the rise of student complacency is short-sighted and, as a student, personally, enraging. It is appalling that the fruits of the labor of
As we recognize the intricacies of the issue, we will realize that it is not a matter that is merely debatable among consumers of contradictory values. It involves the life, safety, and rights of the workers who are continuously undermined for their efforts. Viewing it as a dispute of preferences instead of an issue with the Philippine government’s failure to protect the working sector from inhumane contracts, or lack thereof, is a relatively shallow perspective. As citizens of the country and members of the consumer population, we hold the responsibility of demanding urgency to both the corporations and the senate. If the situation persists, employees will become the sacrificial lamb for as long as this gray area remains unresolved.
of the virus’s spread does not seem effective or properly under control. This stress results in increased anxiety and depression, which negatively affect the ability to learn and perform.
Making matters worse, our educational system and society value students’ grades more than their learning progress. Everything is about outputs and scores, but never about skill, potential, or growth. Students have become machines whose grades reflect their value as workers. Hence, the loss of one’s academic standing is always attributed to a bleaker future, which makes some learners feel pressured to compensate, even by any means necessary. With these heavy expectations from several entities, students see that the benefit of cheating outweighs its risks [3-4].
That being said, these statements in no way justify duplicitous conduct. Rather, they bring to light that the solution to academic dishonesty is not just the implementation of anti-cheating programs. It also requires a remedy for the mental, societal, governmental, and institutional factors that breed this kind of deceitful behavior. Simply pinning all the blame on students without delving into its roots is like employing a militaristic solution to a medical problem—unwise, and damaging.
The saturated discussion on academic dishonesty makes me believe it is necessary to remind the readers that not all students cheat, nor do students cheat all the time. Mainstream media have supported the idea that cheating is the norm for students nowadays. But it is important to break this cycle of thought, as the genuine efforts and struggles of numerous students have been overlooked. People act as if pandemic students have all turned into lazy, ungrateful monsters who do nothing but complain despite everything being served on a silver platter. Society tends to forget that students are also victims of the pandemic.
Students were denied a normal college experience, underwent difficulty adjusting and learning, and were subjected to the daily fear of death and the uncertainty of tomorrow; some lost their lives, while others lost their loved ones. Nothing speaks of leniency nor bears any semblance to a “silver platter.” Students endured this hellish historical moment but still managed to push through it all. Alas, what welcomes them to the finish line of their academic endeavors is a society that doubts and reproaches.
Students did not simply achieve during the pandemic but, more notably, achieved despite it.
the learners that survived or are still pushing through the plights of the pandemic has been reduced to a mere product of circumstance or ‘luck’.
With regards to the issue of academic dishonesty, scientific papers, such as the article of Jenkins et al. (2021) and the research paper of Arie & Jacobs (2021), mentions “stress” and “pressure” as primary motivations for cheating, and when COVID-19 is taken into consideration, the potency of these motivators is compounded. Students deal with the demands of school in a completely new setting while constantly fearing for the safety of their families and themselves. It does not help when the containment
If we insist on degrading the achievements of students during the pandemic, then it is only right that we call out and condemn the inadequacies of the government and institutional responses just the same. After all, unlike students, the people in positions of authority and influence were not as powerless in the face of this biological disaster. Their active choices and superficial proactiveness led to the cultivation of a system that was less than adequate, perhaps even damaging to the growth and learning of students during the pandemic.
Grade inflation is real, but it must not reflect subpar student performance and efforts but a substandard educational system and a non-holistic pandemic response.
JF NICHOLS CORTEZ
Should consumers be held accountable for compromising workers’ safety when they choose to avail of such services in the event of a storm?
The pandemic has already taken loved ones and normalcy from students’ lives; let it not deprive them of their sense of achievement.
The Picky Playfield
WRITTEN BY: JOSE MIGUEL BALLECERAs the common saying goes, there’s more to it than meets the eye. And that same thing is reflected in the sports industry.
One of the things embedded deep into the country’s culture is sports. Before the country’s long history of colonization, Filipinos already played sports such as arnis, the country’s national sport. After being influenced by foreign cultures, Filipinos then began developing a liking for other sports, such as football, baseball, and volleyball, among other sports. In an article by Thomas Devlin published in 2021 about the most popular sports in each country, basketball emerged as the most preferred sport in the Philippines.
Along with modernization comes an increase in consumers’ dependence on media. As such, it is the media’s responsibility to keep
above, and the media focusing their attention on two sports, this reflects the general public’s inclination towards specific sports only.
As stated by Blanco in Sports governance stakeholders, actors and policies in the Philippines: current issues, challenges and future directions about the state of the sports industry within the country, “In the Philippines, prominent private corporations serve as generous sports patrons of both grassroots and elite sports development.”
The economy is one of the main reasons that draw attention towards specific sports - the boost in the countries’ state. When looking at the country’s major league sponsors, specifically in PVL and PBA, it can be found that most of the country’s largest companies, such as San Miguel Corporation and PLDT, play in these conferences.
In contrast, other major leagues have no notable sponsors besides the Philippines Football League, sponsored by Qatar Airways. From here, it is evident that companies and viewership display a direct correlation. A higher rating, indicative of its performance in mainstream media, attracts bigger companies as it finds itself in a place with large audiences. More prominent companies open avenues for these associations, thus, drawing the focus of the public eye.
Additionally, two home-grown athletes, well-celebrated in their respective sports, face budget-related problems due to the need for more support.
everyone informed of the country’s current affairs in several industries. In Lou Antolihao’s book, “Playing with the big boys: Basketball, American imperialism, and subaltern discourse in the Philippines” published in 2015, basketball and volleyball emerged as the most preferred sports for both men and women to watch and play. From this, it is evident that the Filipino community prefers specific sports only, such as basketball, boxing, volleyball, and football, and in modern times, esports.
With the few exceptions of athletes who rose to fame, such as EJ Obiena, who rose to stardom due to his exceptional skill in pole vaulting, tying with Tiago Braz for the 3rd (and 4th) best spot amongst other world vaulters as per World Athletics, most of the sports the country houses are left in the dark. This, then, begs the idea that viewers only focus on specific sports. Amidst the glory that the other athletes experience, locally and internationally, the general public barely bats an eye to them outside of their wins, outside of their glory. Seemingly, this hardly happens in popular sports, where fans grab every opportunity to support these players. At the very least, this is disappointing - disappointing to see how underappreciated some athletes are due to the preference of the public for specific sports.
The country’s preference towards specific sports is evident even in the collegiate-level sports associations, the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP), and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). These collegiate athletic institutions host 20 and 12 sports in which participating universities are allowed to compete, respectively. However, except for one or two sports, the remaining sports are only talked about once the participating university produces a champion, evidencing that although the industry does not discriminate against specific types of sports, the limelight is not shared by everyone.
Though the country is home to a large number of sports, it only has 13 top-flight leagues in six sports. These leagues include the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), Premier Volleyball League (PVL), and the Philippines Football League, to name just a few. Additionally, the country only has four major media partners that provide sports coverage, namely Solar Sports, GMA, Tap Sports, and TV5, that cater to viewing some of these top-flight leagues. The main problem, however, is that the media focuses more on basketball and volleyball, leaving only a few sports available for viewing. With all the leagues mentioned
Bince Rafael Operiano, a 9-year-old who dominated in the 6th Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championship, and his father, Ben, admitted in an article written by Bernie Franco in 2022 about the chess prodigy that, prior to the competition, he [Ben] had difficulty securing sponsorships to fund them. Furthermore, Ben went on to discuss their experience sleeping in the airport, again due to their lack of budget.
Meanwhile, Hidilyn Diaz, the Philippines’ Golden Girl, admitted that although she is a respected and well-known athlete, she faces difficulties acquiring financial backing for her competitions outside the country.
The above-mentioned experiences of the country’s top athletes reflect the industry’s current state outside of the more preferred sports - neglected and suffering. These athletes lack the support given to other sports - the support provided by the government and the private sector. Though they were celebrated for their victories on the international stage, the public barely gave them any attention beforehand. If these trends were to continue, in a few years, these athletes could no longer compete on the world stage. Luckily, this was not the case; however, this is just the start for the country to finally see the potential the Philippines has outside its currently preferred sport.
Admittedly, forcing the public to like sports other than their preferences will be counter-productive; it would serve no harm to give them support, in any form, at the very least. The public needs to understand that the country performs reasonably well outside of popular sports. Aside from Diaz and Operiano, the country also houses Carlos Yulo (Gymnastics), EJ Obiena (Pole Vault), Janelle Freyna (Chess), and Eugene Torre (Chess), to name a few. Furthermore, the public also needs to understand the importance of finance in these matters and that, rather than judging these athletes, they should choose to aid them and, ultimately, help boost the sorry-state of our country’s sports industry.
Though it is evident that, slowly, the country is beginning to draw its eyes toward uncommon sports, it still has miles to go before it can share the limelight that popular sports are currently experiencing. It is also true that the public is now beginning to support athletes outside of popular sports also holds true in this time.
Truthfully speaking, we may already be missing out on the potential of the unseen Filipino athletes- the potential that these athletes will be those that will raise the country’s flag in the international scene, bagging medal after medal, hoisting the Philippine sports scene to a new glory- one that it has yet to attain. After all that’s been said, it’s worth remembering that nothing will ever be so wrong with supporting and recognizing everyone in the sports industry, especially those that do not get their fair share of the limelight.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR :
As one of this year’s Thomasian Engineer’s ardent readers and followers on Facebook for the past seven (7) months, something caught my attention. Just as I had envisioned my term on the UST-Engineering Student Council, which aimed to provide advocacy-driven service to the engineering community, the self-love and self-care series postings, such as the “7 days of self-love” and “2023 Reset Guide”, have had a significant impact on the community as we went through the bumpy road of virtual learning set-up. Getting back on track with these postings helps a lot of students experience peace and life once again as we are now transitioning back to face-to-face learning setup.
And as we quickly approach the end of the Academic Year 2022-2023, may we continue to help students how to cope with the stress that comes with it; whilst doing this, may we not forget to also take care of ourselves in the process.
Cordially yours,
Your appreciation to the publication’s postings and contents brings so much delight to us. We are beyond happy to know that our thoughts translated into words were able to paint a vivid picture of what self-care looks like to those students who might have forgotten minding themselves along the process of minding their future. Through your feedback, we are more than determined to post contents related to handling stress and taking care of oneself, so we may see the whole engineering community, not only being masters of tremendous mathematical computations but also of self-love.
As we continue to entertain Thomasian Engineering students with our timely and relevant reads, we will always make sure to keep in mind that the major purpose of our existence is to inform and shed light on matters that are often unseen, unheard, and neglected.
Truthfully speaking, we may already be missing out on the potential of the unseen Filipino athletes.BY: WALDY HANS DE CASTRO
WinterSolstice
JAN HARVEY LASICIt’s December
Any plans for advent?
Have you studied?
I haven’t
‘Cause you’re all I think about I am a hopeless devout
Well…
I hope you smell the flowers I gave you
They’re dried but fragrant too
Did you open my gift? Don’t worry
It’s the last, I promise. I’m sorry
Merry Christmas
Happy new year
All I wish is for you to be here with me
Merry Christmas
Happy new year
But letting go is a bitter sweet gift and I’ll take it
Santa, make it quick
Merry Christmas
Happy new year
Long nights and frost bites will soon leave us, my dear
It’s 7 pm
Too early for self loathing
Didn’t finish the concert
Without you, ‘twas boring
I love you for who you are
I loved you, now who am I?
Well…
I hope you’re happy that you didn’t see me in the field where lovers feel the music under the gloomy sky
Good bye
Merry Christmas
Happy new year
All I wish is you’d be here with me
Merry Christmas
Happy new year
But letting go is a bitter sweet gift and I’ll take it
Santa, make it quick
Merry Christmas
Happy new year
Long nights and frost bites will soon leave us, my dear
SERENDIPITY
WRITTEN BY: JULIENNE RAMANOthrough this realm we dreamed of we had our silent battles dictate hereafter and so the road was rough, oh, and tough but sure, ‘twas infused with laughter
FROM SHUTTERSTOCK.COM ENHANCED BY: REINEHARD AYTONAPaskong Pinoy: Reliving the Traditions in a Flash
“Maligayang Pasko!”
Napangiti ako sa bati ng tindera.
“Maligayang pasko rin po,” bati ko rito.
Kinuha ko na sa kanya ang binili kong mga prutas at umalis. Hindi ko maiwasang pagmasdan ang paligid habang ako ay naglalakad pauwi.
Maraming tao ngunit mga naka-facemask.
Pinalibot ko naman ang tingin sa mga establisyemento at mga bahay. Bumalik sa akin ang mga nakikita kong mga magagarbong dekorasyon at ilaw na nakasabit sa mga bahay noon pero ngayon, kakaunti na lang ang mga kumukuti-kutitap na parol. Kung minsan, maliwanag nga ang bahay ngunit parang ang lungkot pa rin ng atmospera.
Buwan na ng Disyembre ngunit mayroon pa ring mga bahay na walang dekorasyon. Dati, Septembre pa lang ay kumpleto na ang mga ornamentong nakasabit sa bawat sulok ng munting tahanan.
Habang naglalakad, hindi ko maiwasang tignan ang mga reaksyon ng mga mamimili. Hangad nila’y sumaya sa kanilang mga ginagawa, ngunit ang pagod at problema ay hindi naikukubli ng kanilang mga mata habang sila ay namimili ng kanilang panghanda at pangregalo.
Bakit kaya?
Tingin ko, ito’y may kinalaman sa pagmahal ng mga bilihin.
Tayo lang ang may karapatang magmahal, ‘di ba?
Bumuntong-hininga na lamang ako at pinagpatuloy ang paglalakad hanggang sa makarating ako sa harap ng bahay namin.
Sa hindi kalayuan, may naririnig akong mga bata. Aba, sa wakas! Nakarinig muli ng mga nangangaroling!
“Patawad!” rinig kong sigaw ng may-ari ng bahay.
Agad nang bumusangot ang mga bata habang paalis sa tapat ng bahay na iyon. Matumal siguro ang bigayan ng pamasko ngayon. Nang makita naman nila ako ay agad namang lumiwanag muli ang kanilang mga mukha.
Napangiti ako.
Tumakbo sila papunta sa akin at nagsimulang kumanta. Hinintay ko munang matapos nila ang isang kanta at binigyan sila ng pamasko.
“Maraming salamat po, ate!
Merry Christmas po!” Sabi ng isa.
Kumanta sila muli bilang pasasalamat at tu makbo na paalis papunta sa kasunod na ba hay. Nakita ko rin na mayroon silang nakasa lubong na nangangaroling din na mga bata at mukhang nagyayabangan sila sa kung magkano na ang nakuha nila.
Napahagikhik na lamang ako sa kapilyu han nila at pumasok na sa loob ng bahay.
Bumungad sa’kin ang nakababata kong kapatid na naglalaro sa cellphone habang nanonood ng telebisyon.
“Merry Christmas, ate,” bati niya sa’kin nang hindi inaangat ang tingin sa cellphone.
Malungkot akong ngumiti at binati siya pabalik. Pagtapos, narinig ko naman ang bati ni inay galing sa kusina.
“Maligayang pasko, anak! Pasok ka na at maghahain na ako ng handa natin,” sabi ni inay.
Tinanggal ko ang aking mask at nginitian sila, sabay bati pabalik. Pumasok na ako sa kusina kasama ang kapatid ko at nakita ang nakahanda sa lapag. Hindi ito kasing-rami katulad ng dati, ngunit sapat na para sa amin.
Nagdasal na kami at nagpasalamat sa biyaya na natanggap namin.
“Kumain na kayo! At pagkatapos nito ay maglalaro na tayo,” sabi naman ni itay.
“Anong laro, itay? Marunong na ho kayo mag-Mobile Legends?” Tanong ng kapatid ko.
Nagtatakang tumingin naman sa kanya sila itay.
“Mobile Legends? Ano iyon? Magbo-board games tayo, anak. Masaya ito!” Sagot naman ni inay.
“Online board games po?”
Tanong muli ng kapatid ko.
Sasagot na sana ang kapatid ko nang sumabat ako.
“Tradisyonal na board games ang lalaruin natin katulad ng Scrabble. Ay naku, huwag kang mag-alala. Tuturuan ka namin kung paano.”
finding your luck in the unknown bearable for it was you who tagged along and in the tip, if i have so far flown ‘twas you who painted me strong was meeting you a planned instance? maybe a glanced happy chance would’ve not traded you for dust for our echoes are stars; shining through my dusk
Tinitigan ako sandali ng kapatid ko at tumango na lang. Nakita kong umiling sila itay kaya naman binigyan ko sila ng isang alanganing ngiti.
Kasabay ng pag-agos ng oras, mayroon palang mga bagay ang napagkalakhan ng panahon. Ang mga uso ng nakaraan ay tila’y hindi na para sa ngayon.
SA PANULAT NI: MAYCHIE ORTEGA WRITTEN BY: ILLUSTRATEDWHAT IF BUMALIK ANG GREATEST WHAT IF MO?
ART BY: MARIAH ANGELIQUE MALABANAN
ART
FEATURE KASA GIBI
Kapos sa Ginintuang Bilihin
Sa paglalakad sa pamiliha’y napagtanto: Sibuyas? Bigas? Kaliwa’t kanan presyo’y ginto! Sa pandemya’y kalusugan ay nalugmok, ngayon, perang kinita’y naglalahong parang usok. Taglay sa bulsa ang pitakang naghihikahos, wala na bang magagawa sa estadong kong kapos?
Paghingi ng mga palad sa publiko, “pa’no nga pera’y mapapagkasya? Saan na ‘ko tatakbo?”
Nasaan ang inaasam na pagbabago, ‘di mabilang na pangako ng gobyerno’y sobrang labo Panaghoy para sa solusyong naaayon! Talaga ngang nabalik na tayo sa Ginintuang Panahon.
NEW BEGINNINGS
With the beginning of a new year, we find ourselves wishing for it to be great. As we progress through this, we may feel scared or nervous for what’s to come. Remembering our past regrets or mistakes might make this hard on us. But through all these uncertainties, there is always hope that it will be better in the end.
THE WONDERS OF DIGITAL ART
Digital art gives the creators the ability to tap numerous art styles through expressing one’s inner thoughts, even art done in the traditional manner.
ENGINEERS, LET’S PLAY!
PREPARED BY: MIRIAM FARAH RUANO
can you spot all 6 differences?
PREPARED BY: JEAN LOUISE ORMEHOW EVERY ADVERSITY IS A MILESTONE
WRITTEN BY : Patricia Nikole Valdecañas“Your attitude determines your actions, and your actions determine your accomplishment.” ―
John C. MaxwellToday’s society views intellect as one of the many important variables of success. It is a dated way of thinking to gauge achievement by one’s intelligence quotient (IQ). Being successful involves more than just being smart; it also involves building a character that can adjust to adverse environments. Because of this, some intellectually brilliant people cannot live up to society’s expectation that they prosper before those who are disadvantaged. This marks the introduction of the Adversity Quotient.
The Adversity Quotient (AQ) is a new paradigm that redefines the basis of success. According to Paul Stoltz, AQ is “a scientifically-grounded set of tools for improving how you respond to adversity, and, as a result, your overall personal and professional effectiveness.”
In his book, Adversity Quotient: Turning Obstacles into Opportunities, he introduces the three types of people that we encounter in life–the Quitters, Campers, and Climbers. The Quitters are types of people who have a low AQ, they are those who readily give up in the face of difficulty. The Campers are those with an average adversity quotient, and unlike quitters, they try before giving up. Meanwhile, Campers are those who go as far and say, “this is as far as I can (or want to) go.” Lastly, Climbers are those with a high adversity quotient. Climbers are those who go far beyond their comfort zone. They are the most dedicated people who won’t allow any hurdle to get in their way of success.
But how can overcoming adversity improve academic performance? Here are some tips and explanations for boosting it.
Adversity Quotient pictures how well you do in various aspects of life including productivity, learning and creativity, pace, energy, physical and emotional health, and your response to change. So, if you are one of those people who are anxious that they are not as clever as others, AQ will be your knight in shining armor. And take note, AQ can be
LAYOUT BY : Aubrey Mae Maulaimproved!
Like how most people say it, experience is the best teacher. AQ influences productivity in a way that people with higher AQ have more control over stressful situations. Additionally, it diminishes the thought of giving up once things do not go the way they planned, thus, increasing their productivity. Students with higher adversity quotient improve their creative thinking skills more than those with lower AQ (Putri, et al., 2019). AQ also influences a student’s learning outcome. Research shows that students with higher AQ have favorable learning outcomes than those with lower AQ (Sigit, et al., 2019).
Most people believe that the only constant thing in life is change. Penny Locaso believes that people nowadays face a serious “adaptability skill gap” that causes significant stress. She cites Charles Darwin: “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, it is the one that is the most adaptable to change.” She also mentions that if a person suffers to respond to change, one should work on improving their AQ; and according to PEAK Learning, “AQ drives velocity”.
Resilience is one factor that averts the emergence of mental health problems. Knowing well how to respond and handle hardships affects your overall physical and mental health; it prevents you from being drowned by hardships. Resilience assists you to handle stressful situations better and enables you to keep on performing effectively, according to Mayo Clinic. According to Lisa Neff and Elizabeth Broady, “individuals who are exposed to moderately stressful experiences and who have the initial resources necessary to overcome those stressors may develop a resilience to the deleterious effects of later stress.” Likewise, PEAK Learning suggests that a higher AQ results in being more optimistic, thus, having greater energy.
Stoltz also said that if there is one area in which you can concentrate to improve many elements of your life and achieve
MODERN MAN-HATING: DRAWING THE LINE BETWEEN FEMINISM AND MISANDRY
WRITTEN BY : Gerald M. AracoSociety is moving towards a more progressive social climate. It is tipping the scales towards fairer opportunities, treatment, and outcomes between men and women. However, for those (men) who have been grandfathered into advantageous positions from their arbitrary birthright, equality seems a tad similar to oppression; so, they quarrel back. They quarrel back through exclusion, mansplaining, violence, and gratuitous assertion of dominance. Such has been the case in the workplace, in politics, in business, in school, in households, and so on. This abject fear mongering against “breaking the glass ceiling” is the driving force of sexism against women in the 21st century.
This force is known as misogyny.
Both sexism and misogyny are the bastions of the patriarchal system that categorically excludes women on the basis of their sex. While mainstream culture’s loose references to the terms cause people to confuse their meanings, they are both part and parcel of the same patriarchy that has oppressed women for far too long. To clarify, one can think of sexism as the broad stretch of assumptions, theories, stereotypes, and general attitudes that are largely prejudiced against women. Such prejudices have been the fuel for gender-based violence, hate crimes, microaggressions, and open discrimination, all of which represent acts of misogyny. Misogyny is sexism’s hatchet man that translates bias against women into hostile real-life effects. For example, the notion that women must be clothed in a particular fashion and not leave the premises of their home at night represents sexism, but to make ill-humored jabs at the clothing choices of rape victims and hinting that they are to blame for their assault, is a subtle but very rampant form of misogyny (Prassad et. al, 2019). As awful as they are, both are conditions that are still accepted in society.
Fortunately, these old ways are slowly beginning to dissipate. Granted, there is still much left to be desired with regard to equality between sexes, feminism has done well to address the appalling discrimination that women face. From subjugation to menial roles in society, unequal pay, domestic abuse, lack of political representation, and very turbulent opposition, feminism has weathered all this and scored a great number of key victories for millions, if not, billions of women across the world against these terrible things. Spanning the better part of the last 150 years, feminism has gifted women suffrage, education, employment, addressed rape culture, combated sexual assault (#MeToo Movement), given women birth control and abortion rights, and a great deal of other achievements that have equalized many things between men and women.
Indeed, feminism is backed by the strong tailwinds of improving times. The present circumstances of growing accountability, representation, and support has helped mature the discourse in society on gender roles & practices and has leveled the playing field somewhat in educational and professional respects, all of which seemed two miracles shy of sainthood in an era not so long ago. Therefore, this begs the question that if we have come this far, why are we still not there yet?
The short answer? Distractions. The long answer: it is because of the deadlock between misogyny and misandry.
Like any social movement, feminism possesses a spectrum of interests and ways in which they are expressed. There are those that are more tempered, if not, passive in their approach in voicing their
LAYOUT BY : Reinehard Aytonademands and calling out gender discrimination but then feminism is also not without its radical counterpart found in its third (and current) wave from which misandry was borne. Misandry, simply put, is the antithesis of misogyny. It constitutes the set of beliefs, ideas, and acts that are prejudiced against men. It is distinct from feminism as it aims not to establish equality between genders. Rather, it seeks to develop a matriarchal society in which women monopolize the majority of power, control, and prestige while men, this time, are vilified and oppressed due to their gender. Readily apparent examples of this would be how easily hate speech phrases such as “kill all men” or “all men are trash” are thrown around by a number of radical activists without so much as a serious consequence for such behavior. Institutionally, the West has made misandry a standard practice in how easily any false sexual assault allegations can tarnish a man’s career and reputation for good, or how the difference in which support is given to female victims of domestic and sexual abuse versus men, or even the cases of preferential treatment of women in divorce settlements and custody battles. All of these hostile attitudes are perpetuated by online publications like Buzzfeed whose brazen hatred of men have spurred more contempt between men and women than the solidarity needed for achieving gender equality.
While large-scale man-hating is a concoction of far-left women’s rights’ groups in highly progressive countries like the US, UK, and Canada, many still argue about where all the sentiments shared by misandrists supposedly take root. The most common suspicion is that it stems from resentment for historical and ongoing injustices directed towards women for which they want retribution rather than meaningful long-term change. However, it is the sordid and indiscriminate ways in which misandrists lash out against men (and women too) that cause people to conflate them with feminism and become disillusioned with the movement as a whole. It is highly doubtful that the majority of women would want to see all men burn at the stake but this small but highly vocal sect of the feminist movement has indulged itself too generously in histrionics rather than the necessary work for their goals (if any) to prevail.
Instead of concrete action plans that their predecessors have carried out, misandrist social justice warriors waste away at wreaking havoc, protesting, and engaging in rows online without any clarity or direction. For them, “hot takes” have taken precedence over discussing clear-cut solutions that can help to alleviate the real problems faced by women. What misandry has produced instead of marginal strides towards gender equality is a rejuvenated face of misogyny; one that is helmed by the likes of Andrew Tate, Ben Shapiro, and Joe Rogan, to name a few. Through their rhetoric, they have emboldened men's rights activists to push back against sexism against men. However, they have also inadvertently been responsible for the revival of some toxically masculine and outright sexist beliefs and behaviors as a response made from the pent-up frustrations of many young men without proper guidance, most of whom are frequent targets in the wake of modern-day misandry. All this furor has only served to undermine the concrete progress that more wholesome and responsible men and women’s rights activist groups have been working to achieve.
Unfortunately for women, who are already disadvantaged by ex-
success, it is your capacity to deal with adversity. And so, he introduces the four dimensions of AQ that can aid in your road to success–Control, Ownership, Reach, and Endurance.
Control: “To what extent can I influence whatever happens next?”
To improve your AQ, learn how to be in control of your situation instead of outright giving up. Create a strategy for how you can overcome the setback you are currently facing, and point out solutions that can improve your adaptability.
Ownership: “How likely am I to step up to do anything to improve the situation?”
Don’t turn your back on the situation; be accountable for dealing with and resolving it. For no one can work your situation out other than yourself.
Reach: “How far will it reach into and affect everything else?”
Whenever you face adversity, do not discourage yourself by thinking that you have already failed. Accept that mistakes and challenges are an unavoidable part of the process. Learn from your mistakes and don’t let them affect everything else.
Endurance: “How long will it take to get past this situation/adversity?”
Build trust in yourself and maintain the courage to get back up. Adversities are a temporary thing that will soon pass. Remember that things won’t always go as planned. Whenever you face difficult situations, make an effort to see the bigger picture while holding onto the optimism and confidence to proceed.
Action and success are so deeply entwined. With the improvement of your Adversity Quotient, the way you handle distress could foreshadow how well you perform in life. As a result, being able to increase your AQ through CORE will be significantly beneficial in helping you achieve greatness.
ILLUSTRATED BY : Jefferson M. Juanisting inequalities, they have to grapple with the backlash that their hard-liner allies have negligently dealt them. Misandrists have deadlocked public discourse by turning it into a rock and a hard place situation wherein any slight deviation from very strong public opinions on gender issues will be met by a sea of vicious protests. The desire for reasonable discussions is carelessly tucked behind the rage that has become the standard manner in which opposing views on gender-related subjects are discussed, especially on the majority of online platforms. With feminism sitting in the no-man’s-land of this malicious fire against fire confrontation, its goals of gender equality end up being sidelined.
Even if misogyny has been the more historically obvious obstacle to women’s rights, misandry has not done feminism any favors to this date. Hand in glove, they both obscure the voice of reason that would supposedly unite and steer all parts of the feminist movement towards a more fully productive direction. This is why it is imperative that free speech, important as it may be, should really only be seriously entertained if it has everybody’s best interests at heart and is not simply a means for people to weaponize false virtue in order to advance hateful causes. It may well be a flight of fancy that there would be a sudden paradigm shift in these radical groups but when given the media for self-expression, they will see fit to exploit it needlessly for their ease of mind rather than the well-being of their peers. Therefore, it should be people’s responsibility to prevent the white noise of these hate groups from ever seeing the light of day on mainstream media.
That said, is there any way to reconcile the differences between misogynists and misandrists?
Not quite. Experts and social commentators have tried time and again to conjure up a solution to appease both parties but neither are thoroughly able to give up ground and entertain a compromise with the other. The only way to level off the heat and end the unnecessary rift between men and women’s rights activists is to minimize the clout given to misogynists and misandrists on mainstream media. More importantly, people must make a concerted effort to go back and reinforce the original feminist agenda that has gifted women the equality for which they have worked tirelessly; to give people fair treatment, rights, and opportunities regardless of their gender.
Feminists have earned every right to continue celebrating their triumphs, promote body positivity and mental health, lobby for legislation that give women their due rights and liberties, and of course, to empower women to push back against toxic male behavior. These are the things that have worked and will continue to work in changing things for the better. However, scheming for an equality of outcome (50-50 male-female representation) in all areas of life is somewhat idealistic, by any stretch. So, that should not be a goal for the immediate future. Instead, feminism has and should continue to reduce the importance of one’s gender in accessing rights, opportunities, and the merits of success. Any constructive effort made with that intent in mind, from politics all the way down to the home, will have a more lasting impact on women’s rights than anything a misogynist or a misandrist could do to detract from it.
A JOURNEY TO THE ARCH
WRITTEN BY : JF Nichols Cortez
As I opened my eyes, which were heavier than usual, the first thing I reached for was my buzzing phone. It was my alarm, which said it was three o’clock in the morning. My body, tired and weary, pushed itself off the bed—a mechanism I have mastered in order to get ahead of my brain before it decides to sleep again. It was not effective. Nor were the five succeeding alarms, each just five minutes apart, that I had set in anticipation of my feeble ability to stay awake. But who could blame me? The excitement and suspense prevented me from sleeping continuously, like a child unable to keep his act together the night before a field trip. In my case, however, it was the upcoming and long-overdue journey of a lifetime.
At the sixth alarm, I finally had enough mental strength to get out of bed. It was about quarter to five o’clock when I finished my breakfast, took a bath, and put on my assigned navy-blue shirt. At that time, I chatted with my friends to check on them. To no surprise, some were already in a jeepney that early in the morning, while others were closing in on UST grounds. I was not shaken up by their proximity because the dorm I was staying in was just five minutes away.
This might have been my closest experience to living the dorm life again. More than two years have passed since I stayed in a residence near UST, yet without fail, it seemed I would still arrive in the designated building much later than those in farther cities. Complacency is the death of dormers. Knowing that UST is just five to ten minutes away makes one believe that sprinting one side, street to street, in under two minutes is possible, preferable even.
I gleefully messaged a friend—who told me he was near—to go to my dorm’s lobby before proceeding to UST so that we could walk together. He indulged my request. And there it was, a fleeting feeling I have not felt for so long. I checked my essentials—my facemask, I.D., keys, and ThOMedSS—before hurrying to the elevator. Despite my clear enthusiasm, it wasn’t out of eagerness to see him for the first time. In fact, we already did.
This meeting happened less than a month ago when my friends and I decided it was high time we all had the pleasure of meeting in person. Two years of nothing but a virtual presence and, finally, there they were standing…all of them with facemasks on—a comedic coincidence had it been a different time. As we told stories, said jokes, ate together, and bonded, it felt normal. It felt right and deserving to be with friends after all we’ve been through. My only regret is that I was deprived of this bliss for more than two years.
So, the enthusiasm I was exhibiting was nothing but the thrill of meeting a friend. After joining him in the lobby, we made our way to UST. But, as soon as I was no longer under the building’s entrance, I felt a familiar sensation—it was the drizzle of rain. At that moment, I realized I had forgotten a crucial item—the friend of every Thomasian—the mighty umbrella.
What kind of Thomasian does not bring an umbrella during this season? A true Thomasian is always ready for rain.
After rushing back for my umbrella, my friend and I continued our trip, but now against a more pronounced pour of rain.
Before allowing us to enter, the UST guard glanced over our shoes up to our heads—most likely to ensure appropriate attire and the presence of an I.D.; he then requested that we present our accomplished ThOMedSS. When everything was set, he let us in.
From our location, we had to walk a tad more because the Ruaño Building was still at the other end. However, I considered this serendipitous because one could enjoy the serene and cozy atmosphere of the campus, complemented by the rhythmic rain, in the early morning. It had a very Thomasian ambiance. Continuing our journey, we got a glimpse of the grandstand and a beautiful view of the wide green field. Keeping true to the serendipitous theme of the morning, we got a prelude to the main event as we walked past the Arch of the Centuries. I could not help but smile at what was in store for us.
When we finally reached the Roque Ruaño Building, I parted ways with my friend as another dear friend messaged me to assist her. She was actually the reason why I woke up much earlier than what could be expected of a dormer, but nothing beats listlessness better than the request of a friend. As I hastily strolled towards her dormitory along Lacson St., it felt different.
I had already walked the streets of Manila before. The atmosphere then was bleak due to the constant fear of imminent danger. But this time, the street was brimming with hope, emanating from the horde of students. It was viral, not the virus, but the festivity brought by these buoyant learners with their balloon clappers, head gear, light sticks, banners, and more. It was exhilarating to see how normal it felt—how I pray every day to be the same.
It was already past the call time when I met with my dear friend, who explained that it was the excitement that became her undoing. We hurried back to Ruaño and upon entering the building, we were met with a challenge locating our assigned rooms. It was a hectic journey despite the seemingly simple route designs in Ruaño. Regardless, I got to see plenty of should-have-beens like the classrooms, the laboratories, the open area, the faculty rooms, and others whose functionalities have all been reduced to a mere screen these past two years. It was weird how nostalgic it felt, even if I didn’t spend my college life in this building.
After finding our sections, we were finally on our way to QPAV. Inside the multi-purpose gymnasium, my friends and I sat on the “Ruaño” side as we watched more and more students fill the seats. We first hid our festive materials, as the next part would be the Homecoming Mass. It is always so serene to attend Mass with friends. It was delightful to
“HOME” AWAY FROM HOME
“What excites you in taking up the Ergonomics course? What do you look forward in this class?”
I remember the first time I encountered these questions. It was a prompt for an activity in our Ergonomics 1 class— “Anong Kwentong Ergo mo?”. Sir Yosh tasked us to write a journal—this became our platform to share our thoughts, suggestions, concerns, or anything under the sun relevant to the course.
I initially thought of writing a simple essay of how excited I was to gain knowledge in another field and to experience an onsite class where I can actually apply my learnings after having two years full of online classes. But as I was starting the activity, I questioned myself, were these really the moments I was excited for the most? Deep down, I knew that I wanted to write it in a more personal way.
As we will be having onsite classes in this course, I started the journal entry with how I have always wondered how would it feel to study in the four corners of the Roque Ruaño building. I have lived all my life in the province, in the four corners of our home. Thinking about moving out of my comfort zone after 20 years made me excited and anxious all at once. Why would I not be excited? My Pinterest board was pinned with inspirations of becoming “that girl”— a girlboss striving to be the best that she can be, including living alone and independently. It is one of my dreams to be able to do this, and our Ergonomics course made it possible.
The same day I wrote that entry was the day I traveled to Manila.
It was that day that my journal entry was becoming a reality. It marked one of the biggest turning points of my life as I left my family for the meantime to chase my best self. I remember Sir Yosh sharing a quote with us saying that we are destined for greatness. At that moment, I wanted to believe that it was one of the greatness destined for me.
But it was also that day—the day I officially moved to an empty dorm. The day when I stared at the empty unit, with my things still in
boxes and bags, it started to sink in. It is happening. Now, I am here. Adjusting to a whole new environment—unlearning some habits and learning new ones. Coping and adapting to this new life that I will temporarily have.
Now, I know how to cook rice and a proper meal (And nope, not fried ulams). I have learned how to commute—may it be Grabs, taxis, tricycles, jeeps, UVs, buses, LRT, or MRT. I got the hang of tracking my expenses and budgeting my allowance. I can walk and cross the streets alone without getting anxious anymore. I do my laundry no matter how dry my hands get. I am learning how to balance and manage my time in attending classes while doing personal responsibilities.
It was those little things that I got to learn and do on my own. It is those little things that I am still trying to learn on my own. My little successes, if I may call it that way. Those were the same things I imagined I would be doing while I was writing down in my Ergo journal.
I had fun. I am having fun.
Despite how tiring and messed up living alone may get, I am glad that I am able to experience this because I know that these things will mold me to become the best version of myself. It is fun to go through my Pinterest board and tell myself that I am finally doing the ones I once thought were plain inspiration. I remember writing in my journal entry...
“It’s the thought that despite leaving home and starting living independently, I am now finally conquering my fears and reaching my dreams. I am now finally given the opportunity to grow mature, to learn doing life skills, and to stand on my own no matter how lonely it may get.”
But it is all those same little things that I used to do with my family. It is those little things that I am used to but now I am not.
Yes, I am having fun. But It can also be draining. It is exhausting to try to conquer the world with no one but you.
But wasn’t this the one I wanted the most? To have my own personal space to grow? Why am I starting to feel hollow?
During our Undas break, I had the opportunity to go home. Having to live home once again made me realize how comforting and secure it is to be there.
It was leaving for the second time around that it hit me. Homesickness hit me.
I cannot blame myself. Nothing beats home, I guess. No matter how messy it may get, I still find myself running home.
With all the tons of activities, quizzes, and exams coming around, I
see the student body in harmonious unity for such a celebration. The homily was about honoring the treasures we have in life and remembering to be grateful to all who have helped us unearth them. Those words spoke to me because it is the friends I have surrounded myself with, who have given me the strength to find joy amidst the cruel pandemic—they are my true treasures.
Once the mass had ended and as the stage was being prepared for the much-awaited ROARientation, the student body, just like myself, could no longer contain our elation, so we all began to cheer our hearts out. The closer it was to getting started, the louder the uproar was. As the lights dimmed and the hosts said their intensifying greeting, the roar of the students peaked. This festival was nothing compared to what I or any of us have experienced these past years. One would be in a state of euphoria as they were swept by the sea of flickering lightsticks and reverberating shouts of everyone. We were connected not just by our joys but more strongly by our shared desire to finally belong to something greater than ourselves again—the Thomasian community. The ROARientation continued with its program. It was filled with exhilarating games, events, and moments. My mind is filled with memories of laughing and bonding with my friends, and of swimming in exuberance throughout the program. Adding to my jubilant condition was the fact that we were getting closer and closer to the final act—the Homecoming Walk.
It was almost noon when the ROARientation ended, and preparations for the walk started. As we waited, we saw on the large screens the conditions outside—the rain was vigorous. Unlike most, I was not gloomy about the fact that it was raining. Compared to the uncertainties of waiting for this moment for the past two years, the strong downpour of the heavens was just a mere setback—a surprise ingredient to what would still be a delicious meal for the heart.
After about thirty minutes, we were guided to the entrance of QPAV, where we began walking towards the arch. The rain had not weakened my spirit. With our opened umbrellas and wet shoes, we first circled back in front of Roque Ruaño, back to QPAV, and towards the Arch. It was amusing to see others and ourselves try our best to avoid puddles of water in our path. I thought to myself, “what could be a greater Thomasian experience than having strong rain and a Homecoming walk on the same day?” As I got a glimpse of the fountain beside the arch and heard clearly the thunderous beats of the drums, I began to prepare my heart and spirit. Getting nearer the Arch was nerve-wracking because pressure sets in the body as you try to think of how to act and behave to make the experience count. Is there something more I should be doing? A prayer? A song? A dance?
Moments before entering the Arch, we decided to let out one last cheer to mark this Thomasian milestone. The act of passing through was not what made it magical. It was that, despite the two-year halt, it was finally happening and that we were with cherished friends. The path to the Arch did not merely begin at the entrance of QPAV, nor at the entrance of Roque Ruaño, nor at our beds this morning. Instead, the journey began more than two years ago—it was a long, tiring walk filled with dreadful challenges that pushed our physical, mental, and social selves to the limit. But amidst all the sorrows, tears, doubts, and constant rain, the arch was finally reached, and it was nothing but beguiling.
The arch is not only a symbol of new beginnings but also of the tribulations that we once championed, igniting a spark of a more hopeful vision of the future. It was not passing through the arch that brought us growth, but the path we had to take to get there. Let what we unearth from this experience also kindle our appreciation for ourselves, the pain we endured, and the strength we exhibited to reach this moment.
cannot think of anything but to feel the coziness of our home once again. Not just that. I want to feel the comfort of having my loved ones around, helping me or even doing chores for me; It is tough not seeing their support in person.
When homesickness hits, it hits deep.
Some days I enjoy living in the city, roaming around with friends, and living independently. Some nights I want to give up, pack my bags, and just go home. I am caught up between growing up and being comfortable.
This is the reality I was unable to realize in my journal. This is the complete opposite of what my independent living in 20s no one warned me about.
After passing my journal entry for my “Anong Kwentong Ergo mo?”, Sir Yosh commented.
I know how it feels to live alone, trying to be strong, but inside, tao lang tayo eh.
He’s right. I am caught up and confused. But why would I not be? Tao lang ako.
As someone who has lived in my comfort zone all of her life, it is impossible for me to adjust and adapt immediately. It takes time. Everything takes time. Just like how a plant takes time to grow into a tree.
No one can ever learn to stand on their own, unless they experience it firsthand. No one learns inside their comfort zones. They learn outside their bubble, in the bigger environment that the world can offer.
Sir Yosh reassured me in his comment saying,
Pero wag kang mag alala, kasi at the end of this, alam naman natin di ba, para sa kanila [pamilya] ang lahat ng ito. Angela, life in this world is tough - but we have to stand up and say, magiging okay din ang lahat.
In times na nahihirapan ka, isipin ang dahilan bakit ka nagsimula at bakit kailangan mong tapusin. Malapit na Angela, masusuot mo na ang itim na toga. At sana sa pagkakataong iyon, taas noo kang babalik sa probinsya ninyo dahil yung mga dahilan ng hirap at sakripisyo mo ay natakpan na ng itim sa toga mo.
You are saying once you leave home, everything will never stay the same again. Actually, its true, pero dapat dagdagan mo. "But when you go back home, it will feel a different way, na mas buo kang haharap kasama ng mga mahal mo sa buhay, at magiging worth it ang lahat..."
It is not easy living away from our homes.
But we need to remind ourselves that growth is supposed to be uncomfortable. It is being tried and tested in various circumstances in order to fully actualize our best selves, who we are supposed to be. And unless we let ourselves be uncomfortable, we will never attain the sweetness of success.
I may be living far away from home, but I am trying to find solace and growth with where I am right now.
I may not be able to go home as often as I used to, and my home may not be the same as it used to be, but I can say that I am starting to build my own home through the comfort of living my dreams, growing wherever I am, and learning to stand by myself and for myself— my “home” away from home.
ILLUSTRATED BY : Waldy De Castro WRITTEN BY : Mary Angela Aquino ILLUSTRATED BY : Toby Orduñawith such ease, growing up surrounded by praise, never exerting an ounce of effort just because you were naturally smart, or so you thought. You’re acing every exam, excelling in activities outside the academic realm, and you continue to be eager in exploring more of your abilities. It’s like having a free pass at one of the most challenging and crucial parts of an individual’s life—being a gifted kid in school, that is. To some people, it was their reality. However, a few years later, these people realize how ordinary they are, just like everybody else. The problem is, they’ve already formed a harmful mentality, weighed down by the constant need to be perfect and living in fear of inevitable failure. But why do most gifted kids fail?
It cannot be denied that social pressure from other people plays a significant role. Growing up with the never-ending reminder that gifted kids are supposed to succeed can be harmful in the long run. Also, being the first or the only child in a conservative Asian household comes with a lot of baggage, especially if one belongs to the middle or lower class in the Philippines. These people carry so much weight at such a young age: the expectation to be exceptional in school, with no room to make mistakes, and eventually become the breadwinner of the family.
The Paradox of Being A Gifted Kid
ART BY : R. Aytona
Moreover, in educational institutions, competition is inescapable. One may be familiar with teachers hanging a list of names on the wall, ranking the top ten students based on their grade point average. It was anticipated to be a way of motivating others, but it quickly escalated into a breeding ground of contempt. These students would do their best just to place on that list, but ultimately, it can become a cause of rivalry of who would rank first, every quarter, for the whole year. Parents would start pressuring their children, and eventually, bring out a child’s constant habit of comparing themselves to others. If there is too much competition, it may reach a point of unhealthy contention among students—it ruins friendships and distances children from their parents. Being too fixated on the notion of excellence without regard for one’s well-being can become a source of anxiety, frustration, and the fear of losing control.
Other than this culturally-rooted and deleterious environment, operant conditioning or the reward system—a method that alters a person’s behavior in a way that makes them crave reinforcements and avoid punishments—is in effect, as well. It has been proven that bribing or rewarding students for certain efforts deprives them of understanding the inherent meaning of the whole activity or process (Baranek, 1996). Yet, we fail to acknowledge that the Philippine education system is synonymous with this psychological procedure, where it focuses on and prioritizes inaccurate outcomes, instead of performance. As schools continue to operate under distance learning, the issue is more intensified than ever. Because of this system, gifted kids develop the tendency of tying one’s self-worth to achievements, which can be the start of an unending spiral of self-doubt.
Even with societal pressures and inconsistent measures of success, the Philippine education system’s flaws affect the students more than what meets the eye. In a nutshell, it negatively
WRITTEN BY : Jamie Franchesca Lopezinfluences a student’s approach to learning. After heavily relying on raw intellect for more than a decade, gifted kids failed to develop the necessary study habits, which is the whole point of early schooling. So, when the courses become complex, these kids can’t adapt. Rattled by confusion, with no idea of what went wrong, gifted kids are slapped with this newfound reality as a wake-up call that some sort of effort is required, but they ultimately fall into a slump after being completely oblivious of where to begin.
Establishing that these flaws are way beyond repair, gifted kids are forced to heal on their own. Most feelings of self-doubt come from comparing. This habit needs to be stopped as incessant jealousy, discontentment, and hopelessness can be a source of chronic anxiety and depression. One must also recognize these shortcomings and start putting in the effort. Being naturally smart is helpful, but hard work comes a long way. Finally, there is no need to blame anyone nor live in self-hatred for not fulfilling the expectations of others. Where there is weakness, there will be progress. Gifted kids were brought up to think that the world works in their favor; therefore, they are not allowed to fail. However, these people should not mistake such errors as an indication of incompetence, but instead, a call for growth.
Learning the truth about how fundamentally inept the Philippine education system is, and how internally corrupting Asian culture influences a child’s upbringing, gifted kids should not be blamed for failing. Society has framed such a harsh environment that it is unfair to say that these kids are at fault for developing such self-deprecating philosophies. In an age filled with openness and kindness, this new generation of individuals must construct holistic and healthy ways of learning and completely abolish these degrading traditionalist mechanisms.
Let children be children, free of any pressure to be who they are expected to be. These kids must be given full autonomy on how they wish to explore the world—the elders are simply there to guide, not to decide, and most definitely, not to dictate. At the end of it all, a person’s unfiltered and intrinsic intelligence is a testament of innate humanity. One’s uniqueness comes from learning, failing, and experiencing. That should be the bedrock of education, not mere numbers on a transcript.
“SANA BUMAGYO”
One cannot blame the desperate to exhibit a moment of weakness. But one can condemn the system and institutions that make them desperate repeatedly. And in the Philippines, students are always desperate.
During the emergence of Typhoon Paeng at the end of October 2022, several schools announced their suspensions. It is no surprise to witness—in group chats, comment sections, and other various social media platforms—several students thrilled with the news of “extra rest days” despite the onslaught that was soon to ravage communities.
Student behavior before, during, and after calamities becomes a controversial subject. What does it say if the students’ first thought during the emergence of strong rains is “sana lumakas pa, para walang pasok”, and when students hope for a prolonged suspension through the storm’s activity? Is it a reflection of the deteriorating morality of students where they care more about the cancellation of classes over the safety of other people?
I’d like to think otherwise. This is but an unfortunate act of desperation—a call for help from students.
A research article indicated that the primary stressors of college students in the Philippines are academic difficulties, workloads, and time management with their subjects and organizations1. With the added challenges of the pandemic, such as an unconducive environment, lowered learning quality, and feelings of anxiety, bore-
dom, grief, and isolation, the academic burnout and mental health decline of students become more frequent and prominent2-3.
In the life of a learner, almost all their courses mandate the submission of several outputs for a single semester. When these requirements accumulate, students experience what they aptly call “hell weeks”—a tiring cycle where the end of a finished output immediately signals the start of another. Sadly, the instructors focus much of their attention on pressuring students to produce quality yields but are stiff by what should come after—feedback. There is little to no assistance for improvement when these outputs are considered subpar. Students just usually hear “galingan niyo na lang sa susunod” and “bawi na lang kayo, madami pang ipapasa”.
It is difficult not to see that the educational system cares more about output-based performances than the actual learning progress of students. With this output-to-output pattern, school becomes a place of compliance, not of learning3.
In their moment of weakness, students unwillingly seek and await natural intervention, especially considering the high frequency of storms in the Philippines.
With the overwhelming stress, students are prone to exhibit anxiety, depression, worrying, and catastrophic thinking1. To exacerbate the circumstances, the Philippines is a country where mental health issues and concerns are still stigmatized4. Our culture finds it hard to differentiate anxiety and depression from “pag-iinarte”
FOE FACULTY MEMBERS AWARDED RECOGNITION ON 2022
In 2022, several faculty members from the UST Faculty of Engineering (FoE) were recognized for their hard work and outstanding contributions to the field of Engineering.
Engr. Mark Elson C. Lucio, MS of UST Civil Engineering (CE) Department was appointed as the Vice President of the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines, Inc.’s (ASEP) Officers and Board of Directors for the year 2022-2023. ASEP’s known publications are the National Structural Code of the Philippines and Philippine National Building Code-approved referral codes.
Engr. Rajiv Eldon E. Abdullah, M.Eng., UST CE Department Chair, was proclaimed as the President of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) - Philippine Chapter. The Society is known to dedicate itself to the development of geotextiles, geomembranes, related products, and associated technologies.
Asst. Prof. Beatriz A. Belmonte, Ph.D., of the UST Chemical Engineering (ChE) Department was elected as one of the new PAASE full members of the Philippine-American Academy of Science and Engineering (PAASE) during the 2022 Annual PAASE Meeting & Symposium (APAMS) hosted by the University last October 11-14, 2022 via Zoom.
PAASE is a non-profit professional organization of distinguished Filipino engineers and scientists who have been recognized in scholarly and research-related activities. The organization held the 42nd APAMS with the theme “Engaging Next Generation Science and Engineering.”
Professor Maria Natalia Roxas-Dimaano, PhD, also from ChE and a Graduate School faculty member, was recognized as the Most Outstanding Professional (PRC MOP) in Chemical Engineering award at the 2022 Professional Regulation Commission Awards last July 29,
LAYOUT BY : Aubrey Mae Maula
and “katamaran”. Hence, students feel that institutions and/or instructors would become lenient in giving a much-needed break when a storm comes because its destruction is more quantifiable and visible than the academic burnout and mental health decline of the student body.
That being said, it is still problematic and alarming when students, despite their awareness, feel any sense of relief in periods of calamities. With about 150 dead, more than 200,000 displaced families, and billions worth of damaged crops after Typhoon Paeng5, there is simply no room for delight. Students must refrain from rhapsodizing catastrophes and realize that an “extra rest day” brought about by a storm is more than enough to ruin the lives of thousands.
The burden of this change in behavior does not solely rest on the students’ shoulders but heavily necessitates the cooperation of the institutions that set the systems that make them unable to react appropriately in the first place. Reform in the educational system that prioritizes mental health and mitigates academic burnout is a must if we hope to produce learners that see storms for what they truly are—a disaster.
After all, how can we expect students to show proper sympathy when they are too busy fearfully complying with the unreasonable demands of their education? The very education that was tasked with disaster awareness, no less.
2022. She was also recognized in 2021 by the Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers (PIChE) as an Outstanding Chemical Engineer for Research and Development.
Engr. Madecheen S. Pangaliman, MSc, from the Electronics Engineering (ECE) Department is one of the newly approved National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) associate members under Division VII - Innovation and Engineering Research who had their oath-taking last October 13, 2022.
NRCP of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) serves to promote the continuous development of an individual or group’s research capability and forms linkages with local and international scientific organizations. Further, the council aids in issues of national interest and promotes the scientific and technological culture in all facets of society.
USTWRITTEN BY : JF Nichols Cortez WRITTEN BY : Szarina dela Paz, Aldous Caballero, Aryzza Aperocho, and Jose Miguel Ballecer
Hustling Could Be Bottling One’s Needs
WRITTEN BY : Aliah Nicole C. Brillante LAYOUT BY : Regine Jeza E. EnclonaHave you ever felt the need to work aggressively and incessantly to the point where it has already become a lifestyle, or embraced the mentality that there is always something more or a higher wall to climb in spite of nonstop efforts? Perhaps you are now under the impression that constant grinding is the solitary route to success. Welcome to the hustle culture!
Also known as grind culture, and burnout culture, the hustle culture is a notion embraced by many, wherein one places work at the center of life, and considers rest as a type of surrender. Among younger generations, this has been regarded as the standard in measuring progress and productivity. For students, in particular, it has been a means to somehow excel and manage piles of deadlines effectively.
The Root of the Culture
With the rise of productivity and study with me videos in the past years, media consumers are being unconsciously pressured to mimic the extent of work accomplished by the people they watch. Although this can be a needed push to attain multiple things at once, some promote the glorification of overworking and toxic productivity at the same time.
This culture imprints on people’s minds that always going the extra mile and devoting more time at work will magically make the present tiredness worthwhile. Individuals practicing the culture are further motivated to continue this path because of the rewards awaiting in exchange for their grit and sacrifice.
More Harmful than Helpful
With overworking being considered a badge of honor, shame has been linked to taking breaks and doing less for hustlers. This makes them feel hesitant to pause during sickness and accommodate personal time. In turn, physical health is oftentimes at
risk. The culture also forces positivity beyond a person’s boundaries and tends to neglect the emotional aspect of a person. Hence, burnout is a usual consequence.
As more motivational videos are easily accessible to everyone, they may heavily encourage comparisons as they mostly only portray the perfect side of working. This may influence the mental capacity of an individual as it mostly pinpoints the things that a person lacks in contrast to other people, which frequently results in an outlook that one isn’t doing enough in life.
Hustling is additionally characterized by multitasking to easily achieve goals. However, what a lot of people are unaware of is that studies confirm that productive multitasking is a misnomer as the brain is incapable of performing multiple tasks that require high-level brain function at the same time. With this, efficiency and performance are compromised as organization, concentration, and attention to detail become difficult tasks while switching from one activity to another.
Finding Balance
One of the potentially emerging responses to the hustle culture is quiet quitting, which is the exact opposite, and refers to doing the bare minimum and rejecting the mindset that work has to take over one’s life. This draws clear boundaries and awareness as to when someone can be invited to rest or work hard.
Yet, beyond this surfacing term is the call for a better balance— a life binding self-acceptance and self-growth, and prioritizing rest as much as work. By holding oneself accountable for their own wellness, and scheduling time for work and play, workaholics can slowly transition to a life past the hustle and bustle, and redefine success as something that really matters to them, rather than the route that everyone else takes.
Thomasians Develop Drone Attachment for Filipino Farmers
WRITTEN BY : Szarina dela Paz and Patricia Nikole Valdecañas
LAYOUT BY : Regine Jeza E. Enclona
A NEW ERA OF CITY ARCHITECTURE: NEOM’S THE LINE
Integrated smart agricultural machinery has shaped global agricultural development. This includes Automated Irrigation Systems which have enhanced the efficiency of water systems to harvest Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) that contain artificial characteristics such as increased resistance to pests and improved nutritional value.
However, the Philippines is far behind in the advancement of agricultural technology as it continues its backward traditional farming practices. This is because agricultural research and development in the country is under-funded and the incorporation of farming equipment has not been widely spread (Baconguis, 2022). This data does not complement the statistic that 40 percent of Filipino workers are in the field of agriculture.
This led to five University of Santo Tomas-Faculty of Engineering (UST-FoE) students, Gerard Tenedero, Patrick Diaz, Vincent Especi, Asuka Watanabe, and Cheska Desagun, together with Asst. Prof. Anthony James Bautista, DT, UST-FoE Acting Assistant Dean, to develop a Fertilizer Tank Sprayer drone attachment hoping to contribute to the growth of agricultural technology in the country.
The Drone Attachment Tank Sprayer (DATS) comprises a pump, water container, three nozzles, and a casing that contains the Arduino program, battery, wirings, and switch to the power system. The unit is fastened to the drone for it to function.
“As it hovers above the rice crops, by pressing a button from the RC controller that was programmed in the Arduino through a relay, the pump would activate and the prototype would then spray the fertilizer at the desired height and starting location,” the researchers said in an interview with Thomasian Engineer.
The Filipino Farmers from Nueva Ecija, which is also the
province that produces the majority of the nation’s rice crops, are the key demographic and region where the DATS would be deployed.
Assistance and support of the AQUA Drone and RoboTractor research team, projects that are also led by Asst. Dean Bautista, were of great help to the DATS team. Although the drone attachment had undergone test runs earlier this year, the team admits that there are numerous problems yet to be solved.
“During the flight tests, we had to make continuous adjustments to the design to have a successful take-off and flight while ensuring that the entire unit would still perform as desired,” the team shared their experience during the test runs.
The ability to effectively introduce smart farming to the country’s local farmers proceeds to be the priority goal of this project. The team emphasizes that by having a key demographic, the introduced agricultural operation can be efficient on both an economic and environmental level.
When asked about their vision for DATS upon completion, the team responds that they plan to introduce further improvements and aspire that the drone attachment will be adapted by
Tarek Qaddumi, Executive Director of Urban Planning of NEOM claims that ‘The Line’ Megacity “rethinks our urban life from the ground up,” in an exclusive interview with Dezeen, an architecture, interiors and design magazine.
The megacity stretching 170 kilometers across the Saudi Arabian desert prospects to house nine million residents, and will supposedly run under renewable energy, with no cars nor carbon emissions. His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, founder of NEOM, envisions this as an identity of being an agent of progress and change.
Despite these ambitious proposals, NEOM remains steadfast. Will ‘The Line’ mark the start of a new era owwwwf city architecture, or will it fail spectacularly in its ambitions?
One of its main goals is to create a net-zero carbon city. Although the megacity has prepared different methods of preventing carbon emissions, there is the probability that it is not possible to completely eradicate the emission of carbon in a definite space, most especially one housing nine million people.
The project heavily emphasizes its ‘no cars, no street’ vision. Indeed, curbing the emission of carbon dioxide has been the dream of many researchers and scholars of science. Before we marvel at how idealistic this may be, we need to realize first whether this is attainable and whether the resources spent on this project would not go to waste. That said, reaching this very dream may prove to be the Achilles heel of this project.
The Line will supposedly have its own transportation system that would transport residents end-to-end within 20 minutes. Amenities are said to be accessible within a five-minute walk while parks and natural settings only require two minutes to reach which removes the need for cars and other carbon dioxide-emitting vehicles. Artificial Intelligence (AI) would be incharge of monitoring the city; it is expected that the AIs would use algorithms to construct models in order to “improve the daily life for its citizens.” Other than that, this project is targeted to only use renewable energy to sustain itself.
Another goal of the megacity is to address the population density in cities. Whereas the presented solution is the production of vertical housing instead of a landscape topography. About 80,000 people can be reached within a 5-minute travel going upwards or downwards through the city.
However, three things must be addressed to realize this: whether the alternative transportation will be cost-efficient and energy-saving, a sufficient degree of efficiency will be met to replace cars, and a monitoring framework will be needed to ensure the stability of the system. Because case in point, all promises listed above, with a heavy emphasis on no net carbon emissions, is the weak point of this architecture.
With the megacity’s environment-friendly goal–the presented solutions to no carbon emissions, use of AI monitoring, alternative transportation, renewable energy dependency, vertical neighborhood, and the desalination process to produce potable water, altogether, does not equate to a self-sustaining city.
rice farms in the country. In the hopes that the project will be utilized in the field of rice farming, the team believes that this will be an opportunity to showcase the impact of technology on agriculture.
Smart farming can positively impact the farmers, ultimately also benefiting crop consumers. This project is only a glimpse of how technology can impact our country’s agriculture economically; more so since the Philippines largely relies on agriculture. With the proper funding and concentrated research on farming equipment, farming productivity can heighten greatly.
Possibly, in the first year of operation, all prepared measures and features will be executed properly. But in the long run, given that this is a project meant to sustain a lifetime, the megacity is bound to fail its ambitions. Perhaps, The Line’s hopes are meant to stay as a wish, with goals that remain to be a setting in a fiction novel.
Everything that is new does not need to be normal. But for it to be accepted by people, it needs a degree of certainty and some sense of plausibility. Unless the key points asked above are given light, it would be impossible to imagine how this project would be built, much less how it would fare. And until we see more of the plans laid down for The Line, this new era of city architecture will remain a dream or until we see a glimpse of how it is doing by 2030.
WRITTEN BY : SZARINA DELA PAZ AND WENDELL JOHN RAMOSSandcastle Engineering: Finding Meaning in the Joys of Life
WRITTEN BY : Miggy Ballecer LAYOUT BY : Regine Jeza E. EnclonaIn a society where innovation is sought after day by day, it is often found in the most mundane things, though usually ignored. One of which is how sandcastles are built. With just a bucket, spade, or even bare hands, anyone could create a sandcastle and fill their hearts with joy. Primarily through the mixture of air, water, and sand, engineers can have a takeaway from such a familiar and fun structure.
However, there is more than what meets the eye in creating the best version of these ever-so-simple structures. It will not last by simply mixing sand, water, and air. It may seem simple, but building the perfect sandcastle has tons of considerations.
These structures are built upon the following concepts: surface tension, capillarity, and suction stress.
First in consideration is sand. Sand, which is inarguably the most important thing in a sandcastle, must be the right one. Although beaches are where we see them most of the time, the sand found there is not the best. Perfecting sandcastles require rough-
edged or angular grains, as opposed to the round-edged grains found on beaches, brought by the continuous interactions with water and air.
Now, why is it that rough-edged sands work better? This type of sand inter-locks better, creating better strength when compared to round-edged grains.
However, water is what will make it work, make it stand. Without it, it is just sand and barely a castle. Simply put, water acts as the sand’s binder. Doing so can create “bridges” that pull the grains together, eliminating the space between them. Engineers refer to this pulling action of the water as suction stress.
With enough “bridges” formed, the sand and water mixture will gain strength and hold its form, a step closer to building a sandcastle.
Knowing that water is not enough to keep sand bonded together, finding the right balance between water is also important, since too much will destroy the compact bridge, and too little will
fail to bond. In a practical setting, it is best to remember one part of water for every eight details of sand.
Air also plays an essential part in making surface tension happen. Without it, there would be no force restricting the behavior of water, freeing it to push the sand grains apart rather than pull it. Now this phenomenon of air-water interaction that pulls water grains, along with sand, is surface tension.
From this, one could see the concepts of engineering peek through, specifically in civil engineering. Finding the right balance between water and sand can be correlated to the cement-and-water ratio, where the proper ratio equates to the best concrete strength.
Sometimes, rather than pushing ourselves to find explanations in the most complicated ways, it is better to have fun and enjoy life and let all explanations flow through naturally. Just like building sandcastles, it is important for us engineering students to seek enjoyment in learning.
Squad Vehicle Charlie: A VEHICLE SPEARHEADED BY THOMASIANS
More often than not, national security comes down to the quality of equipment just as much as the brave soldiers that operate them on the front lines. In the case of military transport vehicles, Anos Research Manufacturing (ARM) has become a recent game-changer in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program, having recently unveiled its brand new Squad Vehicle Charlie in Camp Aguinaldo.
While ARM has been a leading figure in the firefighting vehicle industry, having manufactured and sold over 540 of its own trucks and apparatus since 1976, it has recently ventured into designing and supplying various classes of military transport vehicles, with the Squad Vehicle Charlie set to take center stage as the first among National Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)-standard military vehicles produced entirely in the Philippines.
The Squad Vehicle Charlie (SVC) is ARM’s proprietary design of an Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV). It is a high-speed, all-terrain, light utility vehicle intended for a variety of applications such as troop transport, ambulance, firetruck, and as a weapon-mountable armored vehicle.
The SVC contains the following features: a six-speed manual transmission, all-wheel drive, 3.0 Liter Turbo Diesel Engine, and a weight of 2,800 kg. On top of that, the SVC project has provisions for equipment such as radio antennas, a gun turret, and a mobile rocket launcher, depending on its intended mission objectives. Its modular design (removable doors, panels, and components) allows it to be converted into a full armored vehicle (and many other variations) in just a matter of minutes. All of these features, while not entirely unique, still manage to put it in the same rarefied level of
Sports
its Western-made (US) versions in terms of function, performance, and reliability.
Against domestic competitors’ vehicles in the same category, it has a nearly 50-percent lower market cost without compromising its operational capabilities. Supplementing its price-point advantage over competitors is the fact that all aftermarket (replacement) parts are readily available on the global market, which streamlines the process of addressing vehicle repairs, modifications, and upgrades. This makes it a more economically viable option for the AFP to invest in the long-term.
In short, the SVC is in a class of its own.
Of course, behind great innovations are equally great minds that toil relentlessly to bring them to life. UST beams with pride as the alma mater of ARM’s latest addition to the SVC development team; Lester Garcia.
Lester Garcia, a graduate from UST Mechanical Engineering (ME) Batch 2022, was instrumental in strategizing SVC’s location deployment by determining what roles and functions would be best suited to the vehicle for AFP military objectives. Garcia, along with his father, Opet, was invited to be a part of the SVC project. Having owned an owner-type jeep, the elder Garcia, through his connections in their hometown, Malabon, Bulacan, was approached by ARM.
At this point, Garcia was still a 4th-year ME student, totally unaware of the buzzing opportunity of a lifetime that would follow. But, as the powers that be would have it, his knowledge and passion for vehicles would allow him to make tremendous contributions to some major needs of the SVC project; a truly remarkable
The UNBREAKABLE Path to FITNESS
Due to the diverse repercussions of the global pandemic, the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas altered its modal delivery for all of its courses. From full face-to-face fashion, adjustments were produced in order to supplement the succeeding academic years through enriched virtual learning.
In due course, students and their instructors were able to adapt to the ongoing setup; yet, a good few still struggled in this regard. For instance, general education courses such as Physical Education are customarily intended to be delivered in person. In such a manner, both highlights and challenges are manifested throughout.
Traditionally, students would arrive at the institution to participate in their respective Path-Fit classes. Depending on the sort of activities, regions were designated for each and every session. This type of conventional framework was considered highly effective for some, while others found it inconvenient.
Typically, the institution provides the materials and equipment for its pupils. Proper techniques are also sufficiently exhibited and can be easily reiterated for the sake of clarification. Regardless, drawbacks are still induced in this setup. For instance, students with serious health-related issues found it difficult to partake in physical activities.
Unlike the current virtual setup, where learners can ob-
serve their courses in their individual homes, managing time was likewise regarded as a bit of a concern due to the fact that some schedules are continuous, particularly for irregular pupils. Also, students who live far from the university struggled the most in the face-to-face setup.
As Path-Fit classes persisted in the comfort of the learners’ own homes, students were able to address their time management concerns. Necessary preparations for classes were trimmed, and travel time was cut, granting more spare time to be allotted to personal matters.
In correspondence to the physical classes being halted, the utilization of uniforms was also involved. As a result, some students benefited from this matter, due to the fact that school expenses were also lessened. This aided numerous students in cutting down on school fees and reserving their funds for other necessary expenses.
Unlike the face-to-face setup where assessments are done physically, requirements and activities are to be submitted directly to the professor, resulting in some students performing better and more comfortably. Assigned tasks can also be performed multiple times, permitting the students to submit a higher-quality output that unleashes the best out of them. Also, in terms of lectures, recordings are handed out which allow the
accomplishment made at such a young age.
As a ME graduate, Garcia noted that his collegiate program found direct bearing and applications in the development of the SVC.
“This project was [built] at the exact time I took Automotive Engineering as my elective course and as we progressed on building the SVC, the elective course guided me,” stated Garcia in an interview with Thomasian Engineer representatives.
To UST’s credit again, Garcia is not the only Thomasian graduate involved in the project. The SVC’s designer, John Martin Anos Garcia, is a graduate of UST Architecture while his younger brother, Stephen Anthony Anos Garcia, took up a Bachelor of Science in Commerce Major in Entrepreneurship at UST as well.
“Representing the Philippines is a big honor, combined with my passion and love for cars, [is] a dream come true. I would love to continue working and fulfill the goal, to show the Filipino skills to the world,” Garcia said with pride.
ARM’s development of the Squad Vehicle Charlie sets a new precedent in the Philippines’ ability to independently produce world-class military vehicles and equipment, leaving behind its history of outsourcing second-rate equipment from other countries. Although the SVC’s operational capabilities are yet to be put to the test, one cannot help but look on in awe at the groundbreaking strides made by ARM and its proud Thomasian members in overhauling and improving the AFP’s military assets to better uphold national defense, peace, and order in the Philippines.
pupils to watch and examine them numerous times for further clarification and comprehension.
Nevertheless, a home setup is still considered a challenge in relation to physical classes, due to the fact that the integrity of physical classes is somewhat overlooked. Materials and equipment that are unavailable in the students’ comfort would mandate them to improvise on their own. Further, not all are capable of acquiring a good space allocation for physical activities, making it tough for them to participate.
One significant factor that the online mode of learning delivery cannot provide is the physical interaction of the students. The fun and comfort that a student receives from their relationships with their blockmates and friends are missed out. Nonetheless, this detail is sacrificed in order for students to endure learning during the time of the pandemic.
As face-to-face classes transitioned to online classes, necessary adjustments and the best possible solutions were generated and followed to overcome hurdles encountered along the way. The solutions implemented have pros and cons, but it is given that they can’t be bypassed. At this time, people have shown eagerness and resilience in continuing to trace the path toward fitness.
WRITTEN BY : Gerald Araco and Szarina Dela Paz WRITTEN BY : Leandro Sarmiento and Genesis HernandezDefending from thefront lines:
TIGER SPIKER’S COLINARES
WRITTEN BY : Juan Carlos Fernandez and Yitzhak Osei Bumanlag
Oozing with talent, skill, and confidence, Edlyn Paul “King Popoy” Colinares has proven himself within the court that he is a force to be reckoned with. Being crowned as a University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Junior Division’s Best Middle Blocker as a Junior Tiger and now fresh off as a contributor to UST’s 1st-Runner Up finish in the V-League Collegiate Challenge, the Second Year Mechanical Engineering Student will make his debut as a collegiate-level player in the upcoming UAAP Season 85 Men’s Volleyball tournament.
Starting to play the sport at 9th grade, Edlyn has only been in the game for roughly five years, citing that watching his brother play the sport as the reason he became hooked on volleyball, eventually joining as well. Upon being asked about his main motivation in continuing his stellar play, he fondly states that his family and his dream keep him going through the rigors of being a highly competitive athlete.
Fierce as a competitor and relentless as an individual, Edlyn is regarded as a player of unlimited potential, and combined with his imposing 6’2 height as well as stifling defense made him a valuable piece of UST’s rotation. Experiencing the regular defensive assignments as the first line of defense, Popoy confided that their training was tough and challenging but adding that it is worth it as it is beneficial for their improvement as players and enabling them to perform better.
Along with his training comes his academic balance, the 21-year-old expresses that one of the difficulties that he faces is the schedule they have with online classes because it can sometimes be conflicting with their training schedule. However, he remarked that having proper disci-
pline and time management is the key to being able to juggle sports and academic responsibilities.
Being challenged individually and as a team by the sudden halt of competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he muses that weight gain has been an obstacle due to the absence of equipment to use for training. From a team standpoint, Edlyn notes that the lack of communication and chemistry due to the lack of team practices has been another barrier for them but has already been a nonissue since their return to a normal regimen and team training.
Last played at the UAAP Season 82, the tiger spiker denotes that the experience from before is different now that he is participating on the collegiate level. He expects a higher level of intensity in every game and that their opponents should not be underestimated in any way. Now healthy as a team, the second-year student has only responded that they have been doing their best to compete and prepare for a highly anticipated upcoming season not only for the players but for the fans as well. When asked about the team’s greatest strength, Edlyn proudly says that they are a whole team as all players treat each other as family and boldly proclaims that they have the confidence as a team, not as an individual - signifying a cohesive and well-balanced approach with the team-first mentality already being displayed in their second-place finish at the V-League.
Despite the rigors the upcoming season may have, he, however, remains unfazed and looks forward to the challenges the competition will bring. Nonetheless, the player remarked that each of them has been preparing for the upcoming UAAP Volleyball Tournament in February 2023.
A YOUNG ROSTER; A NEW SYSTEM
WRITTEN BY : Gab MalabagWith a reformed roster, a young and aspiring UST Growling Tigers is one of the contenders for the awaited Men’s Basketball Tournament of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85. Mentored by Bal David, a UST alumnus who gave two championships to the university during his playing career, the Tigers are looking set for the upcoming season. Players like Nic Cabanero and Adama Faye, who led the team during their exhibition game against the UST alumni which was held before the tourney are the ones who are expected by the Thomasian community to perform well when the tournament begins.
The two didn’t disappoint at their match against the tournament hosts, Adamson Soaring Falcons on the opening day of the tournament. Cabanero led the team with his career-high 33 points that gave the Tigers the win with a score of 69-60 with Faye having his share on the rebounding end with a tally of 15.
Since Cabanero performed well during their previous match, the La Salle Green Archers gave him a hard time with their excellent defense throughout the game, holding the star player to only 10 points on a sub-par 5-of-20 shooting. The Archers continued their dominance on both ends and won the game by a large margin, 83-63.
The Tigers were hoping to get back to their winning ways against the NU Bulldogs in the first round. But after a back-and-forth match until the final stretch of the game, Faye’s contribution of 20 points was not enough to get them the win, 67-60.
The remaining games for the Tigers proved to be a challenge as they go up against the likes of the contenders in last season’s Finals, the Ateneo Blue Eagles and UP Fighting Maroons. These series of games further worsened the standing of the newly-formed roster, ending their first round with a 1-6 record.
One of the highlights for the second round was the close game be-
tween the Tigers and the Soaring Falcons again which went down the wire. But due to the excellent defense of the Falcons, they thwarted the chance of Cabanero to score the winning shot of the game. The Tigers lost by a slim margin against the players from San Marcelino, 55-56.
As Cabanero said in the post-game interview, “When I’m having a hard time, I need someone to back me up. You’re not a leader when you don’t have followers”. This was evident as the Tigers blew a 19-point lead and only scored 5 points in the fourth quarter of the head-to-head with him racking up a total of 22 points for the whole game.
The third-quarter shutdown of the Tigers, as denoted by many, has been the problem of the new roster ever since the start of their losing streak wherein they tend to lead early in the game but always struggle after the halftime break. Because of this, the record of the Tigers fell to the bottom of the team standings at the end of the season at 1-13, matching their worst record during 2017 under coach Boy Sablan.
Having won only one game for the whole tourney, the Tigers are back to the drawing board again, especially this off-season. Players from other teams like La Salle’s Evan Nelle in an interview with inquirer.net believes that Cabanero and the rest of the squad will come back stronger next season with the latter ending as the league’s highest scorer, averaging 17.75 points per game.
“We went through a lot of adjustments and struggles. Despite that, we still showed improvement by the end of this season. But I hope by next season, we will have better chemistry and become more solid as a team”, Cabanero noted. This will involve the team regaining their composure and working on their chemistry as only some of the things that will surely be done by the coaching staff. Rest assured, that the Thomasian community will be supporting them until they get back to hopefully bounce back next season.
Setting the “Bar”: A RECAP OF EJ OBIENA’S POLE VAULTING JOURNEY THIS 2022
WRITTEN BY : Ady AdvinculaObiena welcomed the month of July by claiming the gold at the Jump and Fly Meet in Hechinger, Germany last July 2, achieving a performance of 5.80 meters after finishing sixth in Sweden. China’s Huang Bokai won silver with a performance of 5.50 meters, besting Vincent Hobbie, a local competitor, who had jumped 5.10 meters.
Obiena arrived in Los Angeles last July 7 and was shocked as he was detained by US Department of Homeland Security officials for more than 12 hours on suspicion of evading felony charges in the Philippines. According to the report, his detention was justified on the grounds that he might be a wanted fugitive. An unnamed source possibly provided US officials with information about Obiena “with the objective to obstruct” his entry into the country as well as his goals of winning and making the podium. Obiena was later released with commiserations from the US Immigration authorities.
Even with the hindrances, the Filipino vaulter showed up at the World Athletics Championships from July 15 to 24 in Oregon, USA. Obiena ended strong by clearing the 5.94-meter mark while beating his previous Asian record of 5.93-meters, leaving him with a bronze medal. Following his historic podium triumph in the Eugene, Oregon, 2022 World Athletics Championships, Obiena showed he is still the greatest in Asia by moving up three spots to a new career-high No. 3 and was announced as the first Filipino podium finish at the World Athletics Championship
Obiena continued his winning momentum after earning the bronze medal at the Silesia Diamond League on August 5 in the Śląski Stadion in Chorzów, Poland. Armand Duplantis, the world’s best, took the lead in the event after setting a new meet record at 6.10 meters. While Sondre Guttormsen, of Norway, won the silver following the countback rule.
The Top 3 pole vaulter had a great start to his eight-meet streak after defeating world no. 2 Christopher Nilsen in the 26th Internationales Stabhochsprung-meeting in Jockgrim, Germany, on August 23. On his third try, Obiena successfully cleared 5.81 meters to win the gold medal. Two days after his first competition of the second outdoor season, Obiena competed at the Athletissima in Lausanne, Switzerland, but only completed the tournament with bronze.
Obiena stepped up to win the gold at the True Athletes Classic in Leverkusen, Germany, last August 28 after failing to win in Athletissima. Obiena beat off Kurtis Marschall of Australia and Rutgar Koppelaar of the Netherlands by a distance of 5.81 clearance on his second attempt.
On August 31, Obiena won the Wendel City Jump competition in Germany, continuing his streak of victories. Obiena’s remarkable 5.86-meter clearing, which won him the gold medal, overcame Menno Vloon of the Netherlands and Anthony Ammirati of France, who both managed 5.81 meters.
And who could forget the IAAF Diamond League Memorial Van Damme athletics meeting in Brussels, Belgium last September 4, where Obiena shocked everyone by defeating the Olympic World Champion, Armand “Mondo” Duplantis with a 5.91-meter jump over Mondo’s 5.81 meters.
UST Golden Tigresses pre-season tournament
WRITTEN BY : Axel Adame and Brix Dela Cruz
After ending their season at the third spot last University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) season 84 women’s volleyball and bowing down to Ateneo Blue Eagles in the semi-finals match, the UST Golden Tigresses joined preseason tournaments - Shakey’s Super League and V-league - to gain more experience and prepare their rookie players for the upcoming season 85 of the UAAP.
Shakey’s Super League (SSL) was composed of both UAAP and NCAA schools. Following the fishbowl method, the UST fell under pool B together with the Adamson University (AdU), Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU), San Sebastian College of Recoletos (SSC-R), and the Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC).
The UST Golden Tigresses fought against the Adamson Lady Falcons on the opening day of the tournament, September 24, 2022, with the historical match ending the game at midnight the next day. With the help of their senior and supposed to be reserved player, Eya Laure, they ended it in the fifth set (25-20, 27-29, 15-25, 29-27, 15-10) and bagged their first win of the tournament. Succeeding the single-robin preliminary round, the UST Golden Tigresses swept the NCAA teams moving into the quarter-final round.
Starting the quarter-final round with a round-robin format against the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers, they fell short and saw the match end in four sets. The UST Golden Tigresses ended the quarter-final round behind the Adamson Lady Falcons and pitted to face the National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs at the knockout semi-finals match.
In the battle against the NU Lady Bulldogs, the UST Golden Tigresses managed to snatch a set against the reigning UAAP champion. Following the second set, NU took their way and won the remaining sets to end the match in four sets and booked their finals ticket. After closing out the opening day in a historical match-up, the UST Golden Tigresses settled for the bronze medal match against the Adamson Lady Falcons.
UST Golden Tigresses was up for a strong start winning the first set at 25-27. Heading to the next set, the Adamson Lady Falcons bounced back and snagged the second set. Answering the call of Coach Kung Fu Reyes, the girls in black and gold won the third set, 16-25. After the third set, the Lady Falcons showed their might to extend the match. Heading to the fifth and last set, the UST Golden Tigresses fell short and bowed down to the Adamson Lady Falcons and concluded the game at 25-27, 25-20, 16-25, 25-22, and 15-1, missing out on a podium finish.
While there was this ongoing SSL, the UST Golden Tigresses had a strong start at the V-League - collegiate challenge cup women’s elimination after beating San Beda University Lady Red Spikers, 3-0, held at the Paco Arena, last November 9.
After they strongly proceeded to the quarter-finals, the girls in black and gold committed crucial errors, which gave the Adamson Lady Falcons a chance to bounce back
The Golden Tigresses fearlessly tried to get back on track and solidify their offense, however, they fell short and lost against the Lady Falcons, 25-15, 25-15, and 25-22.
Steadying their composure with the loss against the Lady Falcons, the Golden Tigresses settled for a classification match against San Sebastian College-Recoletos (SSC-R) and succeeded in the match, 3-0.
The UST Golden Tigresses ended the league at the sixth spot after they fell short at fifth against the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws in the last classification match, ending it at 25-23, 25-22, 2426, 21-25, and 15-11.
Joining the preseason tournaments and battling up against different schools would definitely help the Golden Tigresses’ campaign, to bring back the crown to España in this upcoming UAAP season 85 women’s volleyball tournament.
CLEAVING CAGES
WRITTEN BY : Wendell John RamosObiena once again golden victory in the 2022 Golden Fly Series in Schaan, Liechtenstein last September 11. On his second attempt, he successfully cleared 5.71 meters. Olen Tray Oates of the United States and Riccardo Klotz of Austria both settled for silver and bronze. At the Gala dei Castelli competition in the Bellinzona Municipal Stadium in Ticino, Switzerland, Obiena added another gold to his collection before concluding his outdoor season.
Despite the many events Obiena participated in, there are also somewhere the pole vaulter was not able to compete in. Obiena sadly missed the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade, Serbia due to his fiasco over the alleged misuse of funds with the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA). This issue almost caused Obiena to not compete at the Southeast Asian Games and the World Outdoor Athletics Championship. However, when the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) asked the National Sports Associations (NSA) to submit the names of the athletes who will be traveling to Hanoi, Vietnam for the SEA Games, reports of the master list without Obiena’s name were discovered. POC President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino then quickly expressed his disapproval with PATAFA and Juico’s decision.
Due to Obiena’s recent successes on the field, Terry Capistrano, the new president of PATAFA, formally informed PSC of the association’s decision to reinstate Obiena. Obiena, the third-best pole vaulter in the world, was officially admitted back to the national track and field team on August 17. Obiena was then off the case as last March 30 when PATAFA finally settled the conflicts and misunderstandings between the association and Obiena.
Even with his dispute with PATAFA and a knee operation last January, Obiena has kept his game at a high level, earning him entry into the World Indoor Championships. However, due to PATAFA’s lack of endorsement, Obiena will have to wait at least another two years to compete in the elite championship.
After competing in major international tournaments, Obiena proudly returned home and was conferred by the Pope John Paul II Award for his Outstanding Achievement in Sports on September 29, 2022, at the Buenaventura G. Paredes O.P., Building’s Grand Ballroom. For the next season of Obiena’s career, the pole vaulter is coming back to compete in upcoming international competitions alongside his plan to invite Duplantis of Sweden here in the Philippines for a major invitational pole vault competition in 2023.
With his stellar performance over his past tournaments, the ever-supportive Thomasians are looking forward to more achievements and medals that the Electronics Engineering student will bring home for the next season. As he truly set the bars high this season, the star pole vaulter from the University of Santo Tomas representing the Philippines also demonstrated throughout this season that even after COVID, the US Department of Homeland Security, and PATAFA dilemmas and his knee injury, “I would keep my feet on the ground and keep soaring high for the University, for the country and hopefully make the world a little bit better in my own way”
It is always remarkable and spectacular when a crowd cheers for a sports team. The passion and eagerness from the fans—whether from the roaring cheers in the stadium to the supportive comments on social media—is indeed inspiring. But when things turn south and all the praises of laurels are replaced by words inked by rotten tomatoes, it could not be denied that a team receiving hateful words would not only feel pressure but would also doubt themselves. .
To describe the performance of the Tigers at the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Men’s Basketball this season as lackluster is an understatement. After snatching the first game, hopes were high for the team, only to slip harder and deeper. The team, too, solely relied on Cabañero during the first half, becoming a onetrick pony. Although the team is indeed relatively new, such reasoning seems to elude the minds of many fans. As a result, words sharper than knives penetrated various comment sections and threads.
But can we blame the fans? In their defense, they only wish for the team to succeed.
It may be true that fans are eager for the team to win, but our men’s basketball team has been on the receiving end of hate speeches even before the games. Such boorish remarks and warped criticisms about them on different platforms had definitely psyched them out. As a consequential result, directly or indirectly, UST had one of the alltime-low points per game (ppg) in the league. This thereupon begs to ask: Should the team listen to such words and prove their haters wrong or should they ignore and play at their own pace?
The performance of the team, with how they handled all the negative words that surrounded them, should serve as a lesson for all other competitive sports teams of our university. It is not bad to read comments and treat them as constructive criticisms. But it becomes toxic when you immerse yourself in hateful words that are below the belt. If possible, athletes should censor themselves from reading any posts related to their game during the run of their competition. They too must pick on themselves the skill of knowing when to listen and who to listen to.
As social media is now deeply integrated within our society, it can make or break any existing social construct, much more a person or a team, no matter how long this would take. And regardless of what effort we exert, we individuals would fail to censor plenty of comments across social media. Thus, learning the value of selecting what to read, or better having the virtue of not reading any comments at all, on social media proves to be the best solution. Only when our athletes begin to take caution and avoid immersing themselves in boorish criticisms can they cleave the cages that their own minds made.
FROM PAGE 16 ▶▶
A YOUNG ROSTER; A NEW SYSTEM
FROM SWEATS UNTOLD
TO SIGHTS OF GOLD
WRITTEN
When the hauls of gold were handed, both the Judokas and the Woodpushers knew that it weighed more than what a weighing scale amounts it to.
What seemed to be an easy win was far from a walk in the park. Behind the actual training was tons of pressure—be it from maintaining the title to having a revenge from a pitiful loss—that even the winners were too stunned to speak.
“Para sa’kin napakasarap po sa feeling,” Aaron Reyes a UST Judoka Middleweight and a Mechanical Engineering student said on an exclusive interview, “redemption year ko rin itong year na ‘to.”
A BELT, A BOW, AND PLENTY OF BRAVENESS
UST Judokas showed no mercy, as it clinched the title for five consecutive years with 48 points, leaving a huge margin against this season’s runners-up (26 pts for University of the Philippines and 14 pts for De La Salle University)
Reyes had a lot of pressure on his shoulders as he opened the team’s match this season. Battling it out against Karl Tenorio from UP and Robert Morico and Arhann Rodil from ADMU, he tallied a Waza ari (half point) and two Ippons (full points), respectively.
His strong start gave his team room to breathe, “Yung contribution points ko dumagdag sa lead namin ng Day 1 [kaya] nabawasan iyong pressure sa Day 2.”
“[Noong] pre-pandemic, rookie season ko at [wala akong] naiuwing medal para sa team,” Reyes quipped. He added that he was extremely happy that he was able to continue the team’s winstreak. “Pumasok ako as a freshman,” referring to the team’s championship win “at champion pa rin kami [ngayong] senior na.”
DOMINANCE,
TO
STAY ON THE TOP
The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Male Tiger Woodpush-
ers maintained their title and pulled off their back-to-back championship in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) season 85 chess tournament last December 17 at the FEU Tech Gym.
The Male Tiger Woodpushers ended it with 31.5 points as early as the penultimate round with a 3-1 win over De La Salle University (DLSU).
Julius Gonzales, Board 1 silver medalist, led the charge after capturing the co-MVP title with the University of the Philippines’ Fide Master Stephen Pangilinan. UST finished a dominant season run with three other members steadied medals in their respective board assignments.
“We expected to win the UAAP title again, because we know we trained hard for it and we sacrificed a lot,” Lee Roi Palma, a Civil Engineering student. “Our adjustments were preparing for the style of play of our opponents, in order to push them out of their comfort zone that allows us to gain an advantage,” he added.
Roi Palma spearheaded the dominance after being undefeated in nine rounds, approaching the last round, “We were very thrilled winning the back-to-back championship, because we were able to bring honor again to our University.” He uttered about winning their second straight championship.
He secured gold in Board 4, “My individual gold made me happy because it is just like a token of my efforts for helping the team achieve our goal.”
“I learned that hard work doesn’t always ensure victory, but it helps you greatly in achieving the goal.” Lee Roi Palma after ending their season 85.
Brylle Vinluan and Antonio Almodal II both secured gold in Boards 3 and 5, respectively. On the other hand, a bronze in Board 6 completed UST’s medal haul by Mark Gerald Reyes.
In the women’s division, UST’s Macydel Fajardo clinched a
Setting the “Bar”: A RECAP OF EJ OBIENA’S POLE VAULTING JOURNEY THIS 2022
“Win the gold, that’s it, man. That’s a really hard goal to achieve, but that’s the goal. That’s why I’m doing all of this, not to get second and not to get third... to win it.”
This season, everyone has been rooting for Filipino Olympian and the world’s top 3 pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena as he reaches for the sky with every pole vault tournament he took part in this year.
Starting the year, Obiena missed on the Init Indoor Meeting last January 28 at the Karlsruhe, Germany event, which was supposed to be his first major jump after a long break. Jim Lafferty, the Filipino pole vaulter’s coach, claimed that Obiena did not have enough time to prepare for the particular competition as he had just undergone surgery to repair a minor meniscus tear in his left knee. In an article, Lafferty stated, “We have decided to pull out of Karlsruhe. EJ just hasn’t had enough training days post surgery and his timing is off. And of course, the ongoing issues vis-a-vis Patafa don’t help. The knee is fine and pain-free. He just is having timing issues, particularly on a full approach and this takes some time to work out.”
The Filipino pole vaulter competed in his first event of the year in the Internationales Stadionfest (ISTAF) Indoor Berlin last February 4, held at the Mercedes-Benz Arena, Berlin. After clearing 5.70 meters, Obiena placed fourth behind Sweden’s Armand Duplantis, USA’s KC Lightfoot, and Germany’s Oleg Zernikel. Five days later, Obiena finished eight after clearing the 5.70-meter mark at the Beijer Pole Vault Gala in Uppsala, Sweden.
The Top 3 pole vaulter regained his composure after having trouble in his first two competitions of the year. Obiena won gold after reaching 5.81 meters in one try last February 11 in Lodz, Poland, at the 2022 Orlen Cup. Thiago Braz, an Olympic gold medalist from 2016, and Polish pole vaulter, Piotr Lisek took the second and third place, respectively
Obiena once again received his season’s lowest ranking on February 17th.He finished 10th at the Meeting Hauts-De-France in Lievin, France. Chris Nielsen of the United States won the competition, while Thiago Braz of Brazil and Menno Vloon of The Netherlands chose silver and bronze as their final finishes.
The Top 3 pole vaulter won his second gold medal at the 2022 Orlen Copernicus Cup before taking off for Vietnam last February 22 in Arena Toru, Poland, and recovered to a 5.81-meter mark following a subpar showing a week ago.
Obiena, seeking to build on his recent success, broke all indoor national records with a 5.91-meter effort to win silver in the Perche Elite Tour in Rouen, France, on March 5. The Tokyo Olympic silver winner Christopher Nilsen finished his second French meet of the year with a personal best and new American record of 6.05 meters, finishing behind Thiago Braz in third place.
The Filipino vaulter then proceeded to participate and proudly carry the Philippine flag at the opening ceremony of the Southeast Asian Games. last May 14 at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi, Vietnam. He maintained his SEA Games men’s pole vault title with his gold medal jump of 5.46 meters. This
bronze medal in Board 1 behind the season’s rookie of the year, Me Ann Baclayon of Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), and DLSU’s Samantha Revita, who both took home the silver and gold, respectively.
In board 5, UST’s Jamaica Lagrio bagged the silver medal, while Ateneo’s Kristine Flores and NU’s Princess Ballete secured the gold and bronze medal, respectively.
TIGERS WORKED HARD TO EARN THEIR STRIPES
Before their victorious roars were the silent struggles that both Judokas and Woodpushers faced. Beyond their everyday training, the pressure to win and excel haunted them both.
Every step of the way has only one goal, every sweat has one scent, and every tear with a common fall - to bite the championship title. Preparing to start their season was also the beginning of their hard work. Agility was in the pocket of the Judokas and wit was in the eye of the woodpushers.
Pacing their feet on the platform and conducting their fingers on the board were what the Judokas and woodpushers showed throughout the season. With a fruit of their preseason training, a tiger that was ready to conquer the hunt of protecting the crown of España.
And after all the trials and tribulations, both Judokas and Woodpushers finally earned their stripes and bellowed a kingly roar.
When the hauls of gold were handed, both the Judokas and the Woodpushers knew that it weighed more than what a weighing scale amounts it to because behind the resplendent yellow medal were ounces of blood, liters of tears, and gallons of sweat that the team sacrificed for the win.
jump allowed Obiena to break his previous mark of 5.45 meters at the 2019 SEA Games. Obiena encouraged the crowd to cheer as he attempted to surpass his Asian record of 5.93 meters by going for 5.94 meters. Obiena tried three times, but as Hanoi began to pour with rain, he was unsuccessful.
Obiena made his comeback to the European stage with a 5.85-meter clear in front of the Basilica di Santa Maria di Collemaggio on May 29 during the Federazione Italiana Di Atletica Leggera-International meet in L’Aquila, Italy. Austin Miller from the United States and Huang Bokai from China took second and third place, respectively. Following in the footsteps of a stellar performance in Italy, COVID-19 has halted Obiena’s momentum. Obiena revealed on June 14 that he would miss the Oslo and Paris Diamond League events as a result of a positive coronavirus test.
The Filipino vaulter returned with a gold medal on June 28 at the Taby Stavhoppsgala in Taby, Sweden, recording a 5.92-meter mark, following recovery from COVID-19. Obiena continued to work on breaking his 5.93-meter Asian record but was unable to achieve 6.01-meters in three tries. Obiena then placed sixth in the Stockholm Diamond League in Sweden two days later. Only 5.73 meters were cleared, a far cry from his stellar performance in Taby, Sweden, while Armand “Mondo” Duplantis, the Olympic gold medallist, dominated the competition with a new record of 6.16-meter mark.
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BY : Wendell Ramos and Axel Adame LAYOUT BY : Reinehard Aytona
WRITTEN BY : Zein Ady Kristianna Advincula
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