Isko, MMDA revive underground storm flood catch basin plan; UST non-committal
By Amador Denzel M. Teston
THE METRO Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the local government of Manila have revived a decade-old proposal to dig out a rainwater catch basin under the UST Field to address chronic flooding.
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and MMDA Chairman Romando Artes trooped to UST on Aug. 27 to propose the construction of a 72,000-cubic-meter water impounding facility at the open field and grandstand, a protected national cultural landmark.
The facility, Artes said, would hold twice the estimated volume of flooding on España Boulevard, at 36,000 to 37,000 cm., assuming a water level of half a meter.
The MMDA chief told reporters the agency would soon send a definitive proposal to UST, including an offer to turn the first level of the catchment into a parking area.
“Susulat kami within the week with a definitive proposal dahil nag-offer po kami na ‘yong first level ng catchment ay puwede gawing parking ng mga sasakyan sa UST,” Artes said.
Should the project proceed, Artes said it would be funded by the MMDA and not the Department of Public Works and Highways, which has recently been under fire for corruption-plagued flood control projects.
Artes assured UST that the agency would take charge of the maintenance and sanitation of the UST Field, which was declared a national cultural treasure in 2010.
“[D]ahil ito ay heritage at conservation site, in-assure po namin ang UST na ibabalik po namin ‘yong kanilang field, kung hindi man sa dati, sa mas maganda pong state,” Artes said.
In an interview with the Varsitarian, Fr. Dexter Austria, O.P., director of the Facilities Management Office, said the University made no commitments during the meeting at the Rector’s Hall.
“We just listened to their proposal. No commitments. And we discussed several mitigation efforts with LGU (local government unit) Manila alongside their proposal,” he said.
The proposal first caught national attention in 2015 when President Benigno Aquino III mentioned in his State of the Nation Address that a “big university” had opposed the plan.
The late ex-president did not mention UST.
The open field and grandstand is the site of four historic papal visits: St. Paul VI in 1970, St. John Paul II in 1981 and 1995, and Pope Francis in 2015.
Apart from the open field, the UST Main Building, the UST Central Seminary building, the Arch of the Centuries, and the UST Baybayin Documents were declared national cultural treasures by the National Museum in 2010.
UST eventually built storm drains under Araullo, Arellano, Osmeña, Quezon, Leon Ma. Guerrero, Ceferino Gonzales and Leon Maria Guerrero drives in 2020.
Ang UST ay isa sa mga eskuwelahan sa University Belt na madalas maapektuhan ng pagbaha, lalo na bilang isa sa pinakamatandang unibersidad sa bansa.
UST Varsitarian makes history as multi-category winner in US College Media Pinnacle awards
tigious student media competitions.
Santo Tomas, reaped eight awards at the US College Media Association (CMA) Pinnacle Awards – one of the United States’ most pres-
This makes the Varsitarian the first school paper from the Philippines and Asia to win in multiple categories, in league with top campus US publications such as the University of Texas at Austin’s The Daily Texan, the University of California Los Angeles’ The
Daily Bruin, and the University of Michigan’s The Michigan Daily. The Varsitarian’s Coverage of Faith entry, “Papal Coverage: Francis’s Death and Leo XIV’s Election,” won first place in the category, followed by the University of South Carolina’s Garnet &
The detention ponds are capable of taking in 11,000 cu. m. of storm water.
Artes said he was optimistic UST would agree to the project this time, noting that the school’s willingness to entertain a letter requesting a meeting regarding the proposal was a positive sign.
“The mere fact that, upon writing a letter requesting for a meeting about it, in-accomodate po tayo ng UST, that means siguro na open sila doon,” he said.
In a Facebook post, Domagoso said the project would mitigate flooding, especially in flood-prone UST.
“Ang UST ay isa sa mga eskuwelahan sa University Belt na madalas maapektuhan ng pagbaha, lalo na bilang isa sa pinakamatandang unibersidad sa bansa,” the social media post by the Manila mayor read.
“Sa pamamagitan ng proyektong ito, inaasahang makakatulong nang malaki ang pasilidad sa pagtugon sa suliranin ng baha, lalo na sa mga darating na panahon,” it added.
UST STUDENT media organizations and publications expressed support for La Stampa, the official student publication of UST Senior High School (SHS), following the censorship of its cartoon illustration for National Press Freedom Day.
In a joint statement, the groups said the act against the publication was “not only a deliberate attack on press freedom but a direct assault” on the rights of student journalists to inform and express.
The joint statement was signed by La Stampa, TomasinoWeb, Thomasian Engineer, UST Nursing Journal, UST Science Journal, and the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery Scrubs, along with College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP).
“We, the student publications of the University of Santo Tomas, are uniting under one banner to condemn acts of adviser intervention and administrative censorship that silence the voices of the campus press,” said the joint statement released on Sept. 6.
The statement rejected the “culture of silence” in UST and described the act of rejecting the cartoon for
UST, 5 other PH schools keep spots in Times’ 2026 world university rankings
By Amador Denzel M. Teston
SIX PHILIPPINE schools including UST kept their spots in the 2026 edition of the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings released on Thursday, Oct. 9, amid
By Chalssea Kate C. Echegoyen
Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso
MANILA MAYOR
► The UST open field is flooded following heavy rains in this file photo from July 2024.
► From left to right: Asst. Prof. Felipe Salvosa II, Chalssea Kate Echegoyen (editor in chief), Logan Kal-El Zapanta (former editor in chief), and Karis Tsang (managing editor) receive awards in the College Media Association Pinnacle Awards in Washington.
Thomasians stage a snake rally inside the UST campus on Monday, Sept. 29, as part of their walkout protest against corruption.
Campus walkout: Students condemn corruption; call for accountability
By Fritz Nathan A. Diaz and Justin Jacob S. Urag
THOUSANDS OF students from the University of Santo Tomas walked out of their classrooms to make a bold stand against corruption and injustice.
Organized by the UST Central Student Council (CSC), the Sept. 29 walkout responded to widespread corruption in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and cases involving government officials, mirroring the Sept. 12 “Black Friday Protest” at the University of the Philippines.
“Isa itong pakikisama [ng] buong Thomasian community – realizing the corruption na nangyayari dito sa ating bansa,” said Samuel Llorin of the Faculty of Theology. “Lumalaban tayo against corruption. Because of this injustice na nangyayari sa bansa natin, ang daming naaapektuhan, nawawalan ng oportunidad, at nagsi-stay sa poverty.”
By Sydney Venice V. Berba
THE ARTS and Letters Faculty Association (ALFA) and a coalition of UST labor unions have issued separate statements condemning massive corruption in the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) flood-control projects.
Representing 275 faculty members of the Faculty of Arts and Letters, ALFA denounced the plunder of funds intended to mitigate perennial flooding.
“As Thomasians, we are reminded by St. Thomas Aquinas that justice means giving each person their due,” the group said in its Sept. 13 statement.
“Corruption harms the poor, threatens lives, and breaks public trust,” it added.
The message was in response to reports of an alleged loss of P118 billion in government funds, said to have been funneled to contractors, lawmakers, and other officials.
Revelations of anomalous government flood-control projects sparked outrage and congressional investigations.
On Sept. 21, thousands of Filipinos gathered at Rizal Park for the “Baha sa Luneta” protest and marched to the Mendiola Peace Arch, which coincided with the 53rd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law.
Sophomore communication arts student Jethro Firmanes said he joined the rally to condemn the billions lost to graft.
“Ang mga flood-control projects ay limpak-limpak na at bilyon na ang ninakaw nila. Ito na ang panahon upang ipaglaban natin kung ano ang dapat. Hindi na dapat tayo nagpapaapi sa mga korapsiyon na nagaganap ngayon,” Firmanes said.
On Sept. 18, Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon said in a Senate Blue Ribbon probe that trillions could have been lost to anomalies in flood control projects.
The money lost came at the ex-
‘‘
Ang mga flood-control projects ay limpak-limpak na at bilyon na ang ninakaw nila. Ito na ang panahon upang ipaglaban natin kung ano ang dapat.
Hindi na dapat tayo nagpapaapi sa mga korapsiyon na nagaganap ngayon.
pense of crumbling public services such as education and health care.
“Nakita namin firsthand ‘yong situation, health care system ngayon dito sa Pilipinas and ‘yong bilyon-bilyong pondo na sana inilaan sa pangkalusugan ay ibinulsa na ng mga corrupt na officials,” said sophomore applied physics student Marky Mendoza.
The Philippine Statistics Authority reported a P1.56-trillion health budget in 2024, but the health group P4H Network said 42.7% of health costs were still borne by households, straining thousands of families.
“The construction of roads, classrooms are also an issue. Multiple classrooms are not being built and education is not being delivered to the students,” said Sebastian Miguel Salvador of the College of Education.
A Presidential Communications Office report said the education sector received P1.05 trillion in 2024, but irregularities have since surfaced, including unfinished and unusable classrooms, delayed construction, and
ghost projects. Information technology sophomore Sophia Abuna said her presence at the rally reflected her values as a Thomasian and a Filipino.
“[Bilang] isang Pilipino na talagang nakakaranas ng iba’t ibang klase ng korupsyon, siyempre, nakakagalit lahat,” Abuna said.
Tradition of resistance
Kyle Labay, a senior nursing student, shared that in his four-year stay in UST, it was the first time he had seen different academic units come together to fight for a common goal: to abolish corruption, to be heard by the higher-ups, and to encourage awareness.
“Since four years na ako sa UST, I think this is the first time na nakita kong nag-bond [ang] different departments and colleges to fight for one goal, which is to abolish corruption, to be heard by [the] higher ups, and to see everyone as aware and using their voice
ALFA urged fellow faculty members, other faculty clubs, the UST Faculty Union (USTFU), Samahan ng Manggagawa ng UST (SM-UST), Ugnayang Nagkakaisang Manggagawa
– UST Hospital (UNM-USTH), and the UST management to unite in condemning corruption and press-
La Stampa
press freedom day as a “shameless contradiction” of the values that the University claims to stand for.
“To censor a statement on the very day that commemorates the struggles and sacrifices of journalists is a grave insult to the press and is authoritarian control,” it said.
The groups joined La Stampa in calling for publication autonomy, review of the advisership system, approval of the revisions in the constitution and by-laws of the publication, release of a budget report, and funding for competition activities.
The UST Journalism Society, in a separate statement, said the act against the publication material contradicts the principles of free speech and freedom of the press.
“Like the professional press, campus publications exist to report truthfully, critically, and responsibly, not to serve as tools of institutional image management,” it said.
“Any interference by administrators or advisers threatens not just the upholding of freedom of the press, but the democratic values of transparency, accountability, and freedom of
expression within our University,” it added.
The society also called on higher educational institutions to uphold the rights of student journalists.
The UST Engineering Student Council also called on Thomasians to stand with La Stampa and counter acts of repression against campus journalism.
“Censorship has no place in an institution that prides itself on truth and reason. Protecting a free press is essential to nurturing an informed and engaged Thomasian community,” it wrote in a statement.
On Sept. 2, CEGP released a statement calling out the rejection of the publication material, which they described as a “blatant act of censorship.”
The editors of La Stampa and the SHS officials met virtually on Sept. 4 to discuss the concerns of the publication.
According to La Stampa, SHS Principal Erika Bolaños agreed to discuss changes to the publication’s constitution and by-laws, including the approval of new committees and offices.
In an interview with the Varsitarian, Bolaños said both parties showed commitment to continuous dialogue to “arrive at constructive ways forward.” ALEXANDRA S. DEMAISIP
►
— PHOTO BY DJENHARD YRENEO RAPHAEL Y. SAPANHILA
EDITORIAL
A nation flooded with corruption
WHEN THE rains come and waters rise, it is not just our streets that are submerged – it is the very dignity of our nation.
Every year, Filipinos wade through floods, their homes ruined, their livelihoods swept away. Yet behind this perennial tragedy is not merely nature’s wrath but the treachery of those in power: public officials who have made flood-control projects into their personal gold mines.
In schools, students would often worry about coming to school wet and having to cross ankle to waist-deep flood levels on campus. It has always been the same thing — that’s why we just get used to it. But apparently, we have funds – a lot of funds – to actually solve this. Apparently, the Philippines is not really poor. We’re just rich in corrupt leaders.
Recent exposés on the massive corruption in flood-control projects, from overpricing and substandard materials to ghost projects that exist only on paper—have ripped apart the veil of lies long peddled by government contractors and complicit bureaucrats.
The Commission on Audit (COA) has repeatedly flagged irregularities in these projects, yet the vicious cycle continues unchecked. Contractors collude with politicians to siphon off taxpayers’ money, while oversight agencies turn a blind eye.
The Department of Finance estimates that corruption in flood-control projects drained the Philippine economy of as much as ₱118.5 billion from 2023 to 2025, but Greenpeace warns the real cost could be at P1 trillion.
Greenpeace cited data from the National Integrated Climate Change Database and Information Exchange System that in 2025, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) had P800 billion of climate-tagged projects.
During the 2025 State of the Nation Address of President Marcos Jr., he ordered an investigation into possible corruption in flood control
projects, directing the DPWH to submit a list of projects done in the last three years.
Few months later, investigations exposed what would later be called the Discayas revelations: a web of collusion between DPWH officials, favored contractors, and political allies who had cornered flood-control projects across the country. Documents showed padded budgets, “ghost” dredging operations, and recycled contractors winning billions worth of bids despite glaring irregularities.
The COA confirmed long-standing suspicions, flagging projects that were either incom-
every class disrupted by knee-deep waters, every Thomasian forced to wade through floods on their way home is a living reminder of how corruption kills both time and future. The billions stolen from flood-control projects could have spared us from this recurring misery. Instead, they became mansions, luxury cars, campaign funds, and offshore bank accounts for officials who dare call themselves “public servants.”
We should be angry because this is not mere inefficiency—it is premeditated betrayal. Corrupt officials knew exactly what they were doing when they signed padded contracts, approved
There are our so-called leaders who campaigned to uphold our rights, to promote peace and justice, but all along it was them – a whole cabal of shameless interests – that stole not only people’s money but also their dignity, their hope, their very chance at safety and survival.
plete, substandard, or nonexistent. Rivers supposedly dredged were still clogged with silt, and drainage systems that cost billions collapsed after a single heavy rain.
While billions of pesos are poured into drainage systems and river dredging projects, ordinary citizens ask the most damning question: Where did the money go? The answer, all too familiar, is that it lined the pockets of thieves masquerading as public servants.
As a flood-prone University, we should be angry. Every downpour that submerges España,
substandard projects, and turned their backs on accountability. They chose greed over service, comfort over duty, theft over life itself.
it is not only because of clogged drains and swollen rivers. It is because corruption has drowned our institutions, our laws, our very sense of justice. And until these thieves in power are named, shamed, and punished, we Thomasians—and the entire Filipino people—will continue to pay the ultimate price.
The most soul-crushingly enraging thing about this situation is that these funds did not come from just a simple printer. It was—is—the Filipino people’s money. It came from the very sweat of workers who slave away for meager wages, from farmers who break their backs under the sun only to be neglected, from students who endure skyrocketing tuition and crumbling classrooms, from families who pay taxes on every grain of rice, every drop of fuel, every piece of bread.
There are our so-called leaders who campaigned to uphold our rights, to promote peace and justice, but all along it was them – a whole cabal of shameless interests – that stole not only people’s money but also their dignity, their hope, their very chance at safety and survival.
They masquerade as guardians of the nation, yet in truth they are leeches and parasites, sucking the lifeblood out of every honest taxpayer. They are not public servants; they are predators in power, wolves fattened by the hunger of the poor. Each peso they pocket is a coffin nail driven into the lives of families forced to rebuild again and again from the floods.
And what cuts even deeper is the revelation that three of those implicated in this grand plunder are our UST system alumni: former Senate majority leader Joel Villanueva and former House appropriations chair Zaldy Co, and Henry Alcantara.
This is more than shameful; it is a desecration of everything UST stands for.
If floodwaters continue to rise in our streets,
It is enraging beyond words: while children wade through filthy waters on their way to school, these officials sip wine in glittering halls; while ordinary workers lose everything to swollen rivers, they gamble our future away in smoke-filled rooms. This is not governance—it is organized plunder, treachery with a human face. And we, the people, are expected to endure, to forget, to suffer in silence. But no—enough is enough. This is not mere negligence. This is criminal cruelty. This is betrayal of the nation’s soul.
Joselito
Art Aisha Sofia M. Fortes, Mhyzell Dayne J. Oblepias, Jinmarson Chester V. Pua, Denisse Amber N. Reyes, Antoinette Lindsey G. Solis, Arlene F. Turla
Precious
Andaya, Pia C. Barretto, Ethan
Nikholai F. Guisama,
Ibañez, Montrell
Matias, Djenhard Yreneo Raphael
Sapanhila,
Viray
Journalism is in need of soul-searching
ROB ANDREW L. DONGIAPON
LAST MAY, Prof. Jeremaiah Opiniano, chair of the UST Department of Journalism, left me with a line that has stuck in my head ever since: “Don’t prostitute the profession.”
It was for my final project in Journalism Ethics, a subject usually taken in our third year.
Frankly, it was the first time I had heard the phrase put that way.
When I asked him about “envelopmental journalism”—the dirty shorthand for reporters accepting or demand bribes or perks in exchange for favorable coverage, softball questions, or watered-down reporting—he explained enough for me to grasp how corrosive the practice is.
And then, just recently, Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto reminded the nation what Opiniano meant.
In a social media post, Sotto alleged that broadcasters were paid P10 million to feature Sarah and Curlee Discaya on featured interviews, which were released online from Sept. 2024 to Jan. 2025, from Julius Babao’s Julius Babao Unplugged posted on YouTube in 2024, Korina Sanchez’s “Rated Korina” in 2024, “Korina Interviews,” which aired on Net25
channel in 2025.
The interviews, hosted by veteran journalists Korina Sanchez and Julius Babao, showed off the couple’s sprawling mansion and fleet of luxury cars.
The management of the programs denied the allegations of receiving a P10-million figure.
“There is no such thing as P10 million placement for an interview. This is simply not true,” the management of Rated Korina and Korina Interviews said in a statement.
Babao, for his part, also denied the allegation outright.
These programs resurfaced just as President Marcos Jr. himself flagged the Discayas as major players in questionable DPWH flood-control projects nationwide. The videos were dated late last year, months before Sarah Discaya ran against Sotto for the Pasig mayoral post.
Some viewers brushed the interviews off as harmless lifestyle features. Others saw them as thinly veiled propaganda—glossy advertorials dressed up as journalism, turning a blind eye to how the Discayas gained what they have today.
The couple flaunted their riches with the swagger of people who felt no need to explain. The journalists, instead of probing, obliged.
This is where the problem lies. The Discayas should have been pressed—at the very least—on their role as contractors and Sarah’s political ambitions. A journalist’s instinct should have raised
red flags. Instead, the stories were framed as “inspirational,” a rags-to-riches tale with all the inconvenient context stripped away.
And that, perhaps, was the point of Sotto’s allegation.
But journalism is not advertising. A journalist’s duty is not to decorate, but to dissect.
By lending their platforms to the Discayas without scrutiny, Sanchez and Babao allowed themselves to be used—not as journalists, but as amplifiers of someone else’s propaganda.
And here is where Opiniano’s warning returns. To “prostitute the profession” is not just about taking money; it’s about surrendering journalism’s purpose. It is the abandonment of scrutiny, the silencing of instinct, the betrayal of the public trust.
Every journalism student is drilled on the basics: research your subject, dig for context, avoid conflicts of interest, never accept bribes or gifts that compromise your independence. If students know this by heart, what excuse do professionals with decades of experience have?
The usual defense is that lifestyle shows are “soft” journalism. But soft journalism does not mean soft on accountability. Human-interest features still require framing, balance, and context. Otherwise, they become little more than infotainment at best—or disinformation at worst.
Thomasians involved in flood-control plunder are a disgrace to UST
Penchants
RALENT M. PENILLA
WHAT STARTED as a simple inquiry into worsening floods as a result of the heavy and continuous monsoon rains in July turned into a tangled story of horror after horror – corrupt public officials, many of them elected, could pocket wholesale sums of public money meant for flood-control and other public works, and how all three branches of government – executive, legislative, and even constitutional bodies and the judiciary – have all along countenanced and even abetted graft and corruption what amounts to a grand conspiracy against the Filipino people.
But as the Tagalog proverb goes; “Kapag puno na ang salop, dapat na itong kalusin.” The ever patient Filipinos have their limits, and they have now become enraged and demanded accountability by all three branches of government.
Three UST system alumni were implicated: Sen. Joel Villanueva, Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara, and former House appropriations chair Zaldy Co. Villanueva was accused of demanding kickbacks. Co was pinpointed as the mastermind of “congressional insertions,” which inflated the government’s budget this year by P13 billion. Alcantara was linked to ghost and unfinished projects in Bulacan, the province with the most flood-control projects.
So unholy has been the alliance between lawmakers and contractors that the latter have sought more and more to enter public office. Zaldy Co in fact was a big-time contractor who formed his own
party-list, Ako Bicol, and became a party-list representative and member of the House of Representatives and ended up leading the all-important appropriations committee, where government budget matters are decided.
Since then, the nation has seen the rise of congtractors, the vicious portmanteau of contractors becoming members of Congress.
Such is the case of Cezarah and Pacifico Discaya, the contracting couple – nine of whose firms, were listed among the Top 15 construction com-
As against the supposed values fostered by Thomasian education – competence, commitment, and compassion – they have flouted all rules and introduced and practiced their own three C’s – corruption, cruelty, and criminality.
panies that bagged around 15% of all the flood control projects in the country for this fiscal year.
The latter ran for mayor of Pasig, while the former was party-list nominee in the last election. Things would have been fine if it were not for their avarice to aim for political office, so that chasing media to earn publicity points and energize their campaign, flaunting their very luxurious lifestyle, including owning a fleet of some 40 luxury cars and admitting to buying a P33 million car just because it came
with a free umbrella.
The Discayas were obviously following the example of Co, a big-time contractor who became party-list nominee of Ako Bicol, and entered Congress through the elections of 2019.
By skipping the traditional avenues for kickbacks, contractors-turned politicians changed the rules of the game, apparently all in their favor.
Co, Alcantara, Villanueva, and other Thomasians implicated in the anomalous flood control scheme should be ashamed. They have departed far from the ideals and values historically upheld by the University. As against the supposed values fostered by Thomasian education – competence, commitment, and compassion – they have flouted all rules and introduced and practiced their own three C’s – corruption, cruelty, and criminality.
They are corrupt, crass, cruel charlatans. Villanueva, Co, and Alcantara are a disgrace to UST.
The scandal underscores the split-level Christianity that has bedeviled Philippine society. Spending time in any Catholic or Christian institution –Villanueva and Alcantara finished Commerce and Engineering, respectively, in UST, Co took up his MBA at UST Legazpi, and the Discayas finished college at the Pasig Catholic College, is hardly an assurance that one will practice and uphold moral integrity in one’s profession, much less in public service.
Pinnacle
FROM PAGE 2 ►
Black on second, and the University of Michigan’s The Michigan Daily on third.
Its sports entries, the sports feature (A/V), “‘Superstar’ – UAAP Season 87 Second Semester Primer,” produced by incumbent Varsitarian editor in chief Chalssea Kate Echegoyen, won first place in the category.
It was followed by Appalachian State University’s AppTV on second place and the University of Kentucky’s KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion on third.
The Varsitarian’s “Superstar,” featuring Thomasian athletes competing in the UAAP games, was shown during the CMA Film Festival on Oct. 16.
For opinion and news pinnacles, the editorial cartoon, “Surviving Without Sara, the ‘Designated Survivor,’” by former layout editor Jan Esguerra, and the general news photo, “Welcome Rites at UST GenSan,” by former photo editor Jeremy Edera, placed second and third, respectively.
Under promotion and advertising, the ad campaign entry, “26th Inkblots Promotional Campaign,” animated by former ‘V’ artist Louelle Marie Bumalay and Aisha Sofia M. Fortes, and the video advertisement, “Pautakan 2025 Teaser,” animated by incumbent Varsitarian artist Jinmarson Chester Pua were given honorable mentions.
The Varsitarian’s “The People’s Pope: Pope Francis, 1936-2025” was given honorable mention in the special section category.
The sports photo, “Golden Tigresses Outlast DLSU in 5 Sets,” by Varsitarian photo editor James Magboo, was also given honorable mention.
The CMA Pinnacle Awards recognize student-produced media across seven divisions: Creative Pinnacles, Features Pinnacles, General Pinnacles, News Pinnacles, Opinion Pinnacles, Promotion or Advertising Pinnacles, and Sports Pinnacles. Founded in 1954, the CMA is the leading organization for collegiate media and their advisers in the United States.
With over 600 members, the organization supports student journalists by providing education and resources through collaboration with media and education groups.
The awards received more than 3,000 entries this year.
pines followed in the 1,201-1,500 bracket.
There were no new Philippine schools in the 2026 edition of the ranking.
THE noted improvements in research strength among the six ranked Philippine universities.
Research output was cited in the 2025 edition as “the worst performing metric” of the Philippines when compared with the Asian average.
“Although all the Philippines’ institutions have held their positions since last year, the country is improving in several metrics including doctorates-awarded-to-academic- staff
ratio, research influence and research strength,” THE said.
The National University of Singapore led Southeast Asian institutions in the global rankings, placing 17th overall, while Indonesia was the most represented Asean country with 35 ranked institutions.
Malaysia’s top-ranking institutions, University of Malaya and Universiti Teknologi Petronas, placed in the top 250, while Thailand’s Chulalongkorn University, its highest ranked university, broke into the top 600 for the first time.
Brunei’s top institution Universiti Brunei Darussalam rose to the top 400, while Vietnam’s highest ranked school, UEH University, placed in the 501-600 bracket.
UST scores high anew in int’l outlook
UST’s top category remained to be international outlook, where the University scored 59.5, good for 635th globally.
This “pillar” looks into the international staff, students, and research collaborations of an institution, THE said.
The University placed in the 1,000+ range in four other categories with its lowest ranked pillar being research environment, which scored 10.2, good for 1,864th.
Teaching scored 23 (1,333th), research quality, 32.1 (1,641th), and industry, 21.1 score (1,787th).
Asst. Prof. Nestor Ong, director of the UST Office of the QS/THE rankings, said that while the University kept a “strong
“One who is not angry when there is a just cause for anger is immoral,” said St. Thomas Aquinas. And so it is understandable that widespread public outrage has greeted the highway robbery by these grafters and contractors. But anger alone is not enough – it must lead to action, change and an end to this culture of impunity. Otherwise, Filipinos will forever be submerged, not only in floods, but in the morass of corruption and debauchery.
national position,” it could still improve on some of the pillars such as research development to attain a higher standing in the future.
“UST maintains a strong national position but faces challenges internationally, especially in creating a robust research environment,” he told the Varsitarian
“Its international collaborations and visibility are strengths it can build upon to improve future global rankings. To advance, emphasis on research development and improved funding and facilities will be essential,” Ong said.
Global ranking
The University of Oxford in the United Kingdom ranked No. 1, extending its
The competition covered works published from June 18, 2024, to June 17, 2025, and featured entries from student newspapers, magazines, yearbooks, websites, and broadcast outlets.
The awarding ceremonies were held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington from Oct. 16 to Oct. 17.
streak as the world’s top university for 10 years. It was followed by the United States-based Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which also placed second in the 2025 edition of the ranking.
A total of 2,191 institutions from 115 countries were ranked by the THE this year, up from last year’s 2,092 and the highest in six years.
THE World University Rankings assess a university’s performance in five aspects: teaching (29.5%), research environment (29%), research quality (30%), industry (4%), and international outlook (7.5%).
The methodology involved measuring 18 “carefully calibrated performance indicators,” THE said.
Baseline
WITNESS
‘Nakakahiya’: Head of Catholic schools network admonishes ‘corrupt’ alumni
THE JESUIT head of the country’s biggest network of Catholic educational institutions admonished alumni of Catholic schools involved in corruption scandals and anomalous government projects on Tuesday, Sept. 30.
Fr. Karel San Juan, S.J., president of the Catholic Education Association of the Philippines (CEAP), said graduates who were involved in the flood control scandal did not live the values imparted to them by their Catholic schooling.
“Nakakahiya naman kayo kung Catholic school graduate kayo, tapos nagko-corrupt kayo. You’re living lives contrary to the very essence of the values that we have taught you in the schools and universities,” he said during the first day of the CEAP National Convention in Pasay City.
San Juan, president of Ateneo de Davao University, urged alumni of Catholic institutions to uphold integrity in any profession they pursue.
“Try to live them out, struggle even with them, and struggle to live lives of truth and integrity and consistency with your faith. ‘Yong pananampalataya na tinuro namin sa inyo, alalahanin niyo ‘yan,” he said.
The Jesuit priest also invited former students of Catholic schools to return to their universities “to rekindle the spirit of truth, decency, social justice and social transformation.”
San Juan praised the alumni of Catholic schools who became “heroes, great public servants and leaders in government, business and other sectors.”
“We have very good lawyers, doctors, teachers [and] nation builders. They innovate. They are compassionate to the poor… we are very mighty proud of them,” he said.
He emphasized that the responsibility of forming good students and alumni extended not only to the schools, but also to the families and communities to which the students belong.
CEAP, composed of 1,500 member schools, has also condemned corruption in flood-control projects and participated in recent protests calling for government accountability, including the “Trillion Peso March” at the EDSA People Power Monument on Sept. 21.
Three UST system alumni are among those tied to anomalous flood control projects.
Among them are Sen. Joel Villanueva, resigned Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co, and former Bulacan public works district engineer Henry Alcantara. ALEXANDRA GABRIELLE C. MASINEROS
for good,” he said.
In 1972, Thomasians staged protests in UST against the Marcos regime and University actions such as the dismissal of a faculty member.
In 1986, they held a prayer vigil while manning barricades on campus, while others marched to Camps Crame and Aguinaldo to oust former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
During the presidency of Joseph Estrada, Thomasians joined rallies against charter change in 1999 and amid an impeachment trial that led to his eventual ouster in 2001.
Students walked out of classes in 2002 to press for the abolition of manda-
EDITOR: VINCE ALFRED M. PILLAGARA
Return stolen money, Cardinal David tells corrupt lawmakers, officials
CARDINAL PABLO Virgilio David on Sunday, Sept. 21, called on government officials involved in corruption to return their massive loot to public coffers.
Speaking before thousands of protesters during the “Trillion Peso March” at the EDSA People Power Monument, David said the public was looking for immediate results to various investigations into the flood control mess, not empty words or grandstanding.
“Ang taong bayan ay naghahanap ng kongkretong solusyon, hindi mga hungkag na salita… hindi mga palabas na politika, hindi ‘yong walang katapusang delaying tactics,” the Kalookan bishop and president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said.
Stressing that corruption is not only about stealing government funds but also stealing the future, David emphasized that the march was not a political protest but a moral stance.
“[Ito ay isang] pagkilos ng pananampalataya at pagkakaisa laban sa kultura ng katiwalian na patuloy na nagnanakaw sa dangal ng tao, nagpapalubog sa mahihirap at sumisira sa kinabukasan ng ating bansa,” he said.
Echoing his pastoral letter for the CBCP, David urged the laity to be vigilant and reject patronage politics and political dynasties.
He also urged the public, particularly the youth, to share only verified information, fight social media trolls,
and be present in the digital space to combat the spread of lies.
He called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to prioritize a bill creating an independent commission to investigate the flood control project anomalies and alleged budget insertions.
“Tama na, sobra na, ikulong na, ‘wag na nating hahayaang mamatay na lang ang usaping ito,” the cardinal added.
Addressing government officials involved in the flood control mess, the CBCP president said there was still time for repentance and conversion, and told them, “isauli ninyo ang
Frassati, Acutis proclaimed saints, held up as youth models
By Reya Vincent P. Misa
THE CATHOLIC Church proclaimed two new saints on Sunday, Sept. 7, at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
Pope Leo XIV canonized St. Pier Giorgio Frassati and St. Carlo Acutis, introducing them to the Church as models of youthful holiness in the modern age.
Speaking before thousands of pilgrims at the canonization Mass, Pope Leo urged Catholics to emulate Frassati and Acutis, who led their lives in deep devotion, charity and joy.
tory ROTC, following the death of a UST cadet, mechanical engineering student
Mark Welson Chua, who had exposed corruption.
Carrying on this tradition, frustrations once again echoed as Thomasians protested against corruption.
Among the youngest protesters was UST Education High School student
Ekim Dela Cruz, who stressed why youth participation matters.
“Kahit kami [ay] 13, 14, 12 years old, nandito po kami lumalaban kasi gusto po namin katotohanan. Para po sa kinabukasan namin ‘to,” Dela Cruz said.
“Ang simbahan nga po mismo, galit po sa mga magnanakaw, kami pa po bang mga kabataan na pag-asa nga po ng bayan,” Dela Cruz added. Echoing the Thomasian tradition of
“Saints Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis are an invitation to all of us, especially the youth, not to squander our lives, but to direct them upward and make them masterpieces,” Pope Leo said in his homily.
“They encourage us with their words: ‘Not I, but God,’ as Carlo used to say, and Pier Giorgio, ‘If you have God at the center of all your actions, then you will reach the end,” the Pope added.
will be
The two
resistance, students urged both the government and their own community not to be complicit in corruption and abuse.
“Oras na para mag-ingay, oras na para marinig. Ito na ang panahon upang ipaglaban natin kung ano ang dapat,” Firmanes said.
‘Competence, commitment, corruption’
Students also expressed anger at UST system alumni implicated in the flood control anomalies.
“Mali ata ang tatlong Thomasian core values nila,” said Faculty of Civil Law student Elizabeth Alejandro.
“Competence, commitment, at corruption ang pinapalagananap nila. Hindi tayo sang-ayon dito, [kaya] dapat singilin sila, dapat panagutin sila.”
Tama na, sobra na, ikulong na, ‘wag na nating hahayaang mamatay na lang ang usaping ito
hindi inyo.”
“Hindi tayo magkakaroon ng katarungan kung walang pagsisisi. Huwag tayong sumagot ng karahasan o pananahimik o pagwawalang bahala. Sasagutin natin ito ng pananampalataya, ng lakas ng loob at ng pagkakaisa,” David said.
Earlier, Bishop Elias Ayuban of the Diocese of Cubao and Kidapawan Bishop Colin Bagaforo, chairman of Caritas Philippines, presided over separate Masses at the EDSA People Power Monument and National Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace, respectively. A.G.C. MANSINEROS
Abuna also distanced herself from the three implicated alumni.
“Hindi nila nire-representa lahat ng Tomasino sa UST. Naniniwala ako na maraming Tomasino na galit ring makita na binibitbit nila ‘yong pangalan ng UST, pero ‘yon pala ‘yong ginagawa nila,” she told the Varsitarian
The three graduates are Sen. Joel Villanueva, who finished commerce in 1996; former House appropriations chair Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, a 1998 MBA graduate of UST Legazpi; and Henry Alcantara, a 1994 engineering graduate.
Villanueva was tagged by a former DPWH engineer in anomalous projects in Bulacan, allegedly receiving kickbacks from flood control funds.
Co was linked to budget insertions and billions in alleged kickbacks and contracts.
Alcantara, meanwhile, was dismissed from DPWH after admitting he had signed off on ghost projects worth tens of millions.
Students’ message to the government was clear: demand accountability and transparency.
Llorin described his participation as “theology in the margins,” stressing that his vocation must not ignore injustice.
“As future priests, hindi kami dapat blind sa nangyayari sa sosyedad. We do theology not only in the classrooms but also in the community,” he said.
The rally began with participants marching from their colleges before converging at the Plaza Mayor, drawing an estimated 1,500 students and faculty. WITH REPORTS FROM
AND RALENT M. PENILLA
saints
commem-
Cardinal Pablo David CBCP PRESIDENT
► Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David speaks before thousands of protesters during the “Trillion Peso March” at the EDSA People Power Monument on Sept. 21. — PHOTO BY VIO NEIRO M. VILLAESCUSA
► From left to right: St. Carlo Acutis, Pope Leo XIV, and St. Pier Giorgio Frassati. — ART BY JINMARSON CHESTER V. PUA
UST Singers founder earns Award of Excellence from Fil-Am orchestra
By Rev E. Dela Cruz
BRINGING Philippine choral artistry to the global stage has earned the UST Singers founder and conductor Prof. Fidel Gener Calalang Jr. the Award of Excellence in Music from the Filipino-American Symphony Orchestra (FASO) in Los Angeles.
It marks the first time the recognition was granted for choral music, honoring Calalang’s lifelong work as a conductor, composer, arranger, and mentor. Under his leadership, the UST Singers have won more than 80 top awards worldwide and produced generations of choristers.
The accolade places Calalang, who founded the UST Singers in 1992, in the company of some of the Philippines’ most respected musicians, such as Maestro Louie Ocampo and Apo Hiking Society.
“I’m very proud that as a Thomasian, this recognition is bestowed on me. And of course, it is also in recognition of my contribution to choral music,” Calalang told the Varsitarian Calalang first learned about
the honor in 2020, but the pandemic forced the awarding to be postponed for three years. FASO honored another musician during that time but affirmed Calalang’s selection this year.
Calalang has taken the UST Singers on 38 international tours, securing major wins in Europe and Asia, including the grand prize in Norway last year.
His contributions have also been recognized with the Presidential Merit Award and the Ani ng Dangal.
Many of his former singers have gone on to become celebrated conductors and soloists, forming the UST Singers Alumni International, a global network of alumni spread across different countries.
“It’s not just about music — it’s about discipline, camaraderie, unity, teamwork, patience, commitment, and sacrifice,” he said.
“When I was in Los Angeles for the tribute concert, I heard the alumni perform and realized that the sound, the spirit, and the friendship have endured.”
The UST Singers’ 28th anniversary concert in 2020 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines
reflected this sense of kinship, carrying the theme Amor y Amistad (Love and Friendship).
Calalang remains active in giving workshops, judging competitions, and mentoring ensembles, believing Philippine choirs will continue to play a vital role in sustaining the country’s reputation as a global choral powerhouse.
As 2025 draws to a close, the UST Singers are set to perform in the United Kingdom, Macau, and Japan for a series of concerts and invitations. Calalang is likewise serving on the jury of several festivals this year.
But more than the accolades and invitations, Calalang remains steadfast in guiding the next generation of musicians.
“To enhance your skills, you need to have exposure. And for me, experience is the best teacher,” he said. “Passion must be forged through practice and experience — it’s the only way to grow.”
A full-time faculty member at the UST Conservatory of Music, Calalang teaches conducting, piano, and choral courses. WITH RE-
PORTS FROM JUSTIN JACOB S. URAG AND BILLY ANDREI P. RAMOS
The Ridleys trace beginnings to Battle of the Bands in 2016
ON AUG. 7, Filipino indie folk group The Ridleys took the stage at the Thomasian Welcome Party for incoming freshmen at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion, performing crowd favorites like “Aphrodite,” “Love Is,” and “Be With You.”
For the band, the show was a homecoming to the University where, a decade earlier, The Ridleys had debuted as a group of student musicians joining a rock-off.
In 2016, Bryant Ayes, then studying at the College of Architecture, invited fellow musicians Benny Manaligod, Jan de Vera, and Joric Canlas to join the college’s Architecture Week Battle of the Bands.
They didn’t win the contest, but the moment sparked the beginning of something greater.
“I remember na we’re just really happy to be able to have a stage to perform ‘yong mga compositions ni Benny, and to be able to share them with a crowd,” Ayes told the Varsitarian. “Like I said, we weren’t really there to win.”
The group’s name was the result of a rushed decision. With the contest deadline looming, Manaligod — who then had a crush on Star Wars actress Daisy Ridley — suggested “The Ridleys.” The name stuck, and nearly a decade later, it has become synonymous with their rise in the local indie music scene.
Since then, the band has put out six albums and nearly 40 songs across streaming platforms. They began by playing open mics and small university stages, later juggling the realities of school, day jobs, and the financial risks of eventually going full-time.
A milestone came in November 2024, when they headlined their first solo show, “Someday We’ll Make a Home,” at the Music Museum in San Juan.
The two-night, sold-out concert traced their eight-year journey, from early songs like “Aphrodite” to their latest album, “All These and More.”
Ayes, who obtained his architecture degree from UST in 2019, said he never envisioned going full-time in music, treating it only as a passion and a breather from his academics.
Although his original plan was to pursue engineering, he listed architecture as a fallback — a choice that unexpectedly grew into a calling.
“I wouldn’t call it an accident because I do believe that everything happens for a reason,” he said. “I couldn’t imagine not being in architecture, kasi if I didn’t go to architecture school, I wouldn’t have met my wife.”
Architecture, he added, instilled in him discipline, problem-solving, and creative habits that later shaped his approach to music.
“‘Yong creative thinking that I learned at school, surprisingly, I also get to apply it to music, ‘yong problem solving about how to approach things in a very ‘out of the box’ kind of way,” he said.
But balancing school and gigs was far from easy. He recalled rushing from classes to late-night shows, taking quick naps in Grab rides, then heading home to finish design plates.
“Doing music was really just a way for me to de-stress from the academic load,” he said. “I loved what I was doing in school, but sometimes you need that kind of rest — not physically but mentally.”
Perseverance eventually brought them to bigger stages. In the past year alone, The Ridleys has performed at three major UST events: College of Science Week, UST Senior High School Week, and the Thomasian Welcome Party.
“It’s a blessing and privilege for me to be able to perform and be part of the college journey of Thomasians,” Ayes said. “I get to be part of freshies’ journeys, much like the bands who I witnessed perform before sa UST during my college days were (also) part of my journey.”
E.H.B.
CORTEZ
Remembering UST ‘desaparecidos’ 53 years after Martial Law declaration
IT HAS been 53 years since dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. declared Martial Law in the Philippines on Sept. 21, 1972, beginning a 20-year rule marked by fear and repression.
The suspension of the writ of habeas corpus during this regime gave rise to desaparecidos (victims of enforced disappearances), or people abducted, detained, or presumed killed by state forces, their fates deliberately concealed.
According to Assoc. Prof. Augusto de Viana of the UST Department of History, these desaparecidos fall into two types: those seized by state agents and never seen again, and those who chose to vanish.
Many of those abducted, often labeled “enemies of the regime” and listed in the military’s “order of battle,” which included journalists, student leaders, and union organizers, were either permanently silenced or never found.
According to the Human Rights Violations Victims’ Memorial Commission, there were 2,326 recorded deaths and disappearances under the dictatorship. Some were Thomasians.
Armando Mendoza Born and raised in Manila, UST student Armando Mendoza was an active member
of Kabataang Makabayan during the protest known as the “First Quarter Storm” in 1970. His brother, broadcaster Alfredo Mendoza, was also among the desaparecidos. Following the declaration of Martial Law, Mendoza became a prominent underground organizer. By 1973, he was mobilizing farmers in Batangas on land rights and community issues, drawing the attention of the military.
He was arrested in November 1974, tortured in
and later
Sta. Cruz, Laguna,
transferred to Camp Vicente Lim.
► UST Singers founder and conductor Prof. Fidel Gener Calalang Jr. — ART BY AISHA SOFIA
► From left to right: Benny Manalingod, Bryant Ayes and Jan de Vera — ART BY JED WILLIAM V. GOCATEK
Catholic Church, youth join calls for protest at ‘Baha sa Luneta’
By Justin Jacob S. Urag and Micah G. Pascua
THE NATIONWIDE Sept. 21 protests against massive corruption in flood-control projects has sparked renewed interest in the “people power” narrative of non-violent reform.
Organized by the Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusado Network Alliance (Tama Na), the “Baha sa Luneta” morning protest at Luneta (Rizal) Park in Manila denounced widespread siphoning of government funds by lawmakers and public works officials.
Protests also took place in provinces such as Bulacan and Cebu, which ranked first and second, respectively, among provinces with the most flood-control projects in the country.
People also gathered at the historic EDSA Shrine in the afternoon for what was dubbed the “Trillion Peso March,” following the 2013 “Million People March” that decried the misuse of pork barrel funds.
Among the attendees at the Luneta march were members of the Christian clergy, including the Conference of Major Superiors in the Philippines (CMSP) and the United Methodist Church.
“It’s not political. This is a stand for the gospel,” said Fr. Angel Cortez, OFM, co-executive secretary of the CMSP.
“Maraming nagtatanong, ‘Bakit nangingialam ang Simbahan?’ Kung papakinggan natin ang ebanghelyo: ‘Huwag ka magnakaw, huwag kang manlalamang,’” he said.
The Philippine Church has a history of galvanizing social movements.
During the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jaime Sin called on the laity to protect rebel forces and join protests that eventually overthrew the regime of dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr..
With the country now under the toppled strongman’s son Ferdinand Jr., the Church aims to peacefully denounce widespread government corruption.
“Noong panahon ng EDSA, talagang lumabas sa mga kumbento ang mga laiko. Puwede naman ang mapayapang pagtugon para ipakita na tayo ay tutol sa ginawa ng diktadurya noon at ginagawa ng gobyerno ngayon,” Cortez told the Varsitarian
The CMSP, joined by the Catholic faithful, offered Holy Mass at the Manila Cathedral before uniting with the main protest at Luneta.
According to the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), the government allocated P545 billion in over 9,000 flood control projects from July 2022 to May 2025.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson has linked the Department of Public Works and Highways, bids and awards committees, and the Commission on Audit to corruption, with funding for projects barely reaching 40 percent of the original budget.
“The gravity of the flood control anomalies is almost equivalent to the gravity of the plunder that the Marcoses did before,” said Karl Suyat, co-founder of archival organization Project Gunita.
The Luneta protest was followed by a march to Mendiola, where tensions flared between rallyists
and law enforcement.
The Trillion Peso March against corruption at EDSA coincided with the mobilization at the Mendiola Peace Arch, the historical site of protests close to the gates of Malacañang.
Youth join protests
Central Student Council president Annie Agon said the Sept. 21 protests had no political association.
“Hindi ito araw ng mga Duterte at ng Marcos, kung hindi, araw ito ng paniningil ng taong bayan sa mga politiko,” Agon said.
Supporters of former president Rodrigo Dute-
rte staged their own demonstrations against the current administration, advocating for his return from detention at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, where he faces a charge of crimes against humanity.
Supporters of the former president gathered outside Camp Aguinaldo but also staged a protest at Liwasang Bonifacio in the morning.
“Sa mga kababayan natin na nandoon sa Liwasang Bonifacio, huwag na. Hindi si Duterte ang lulutas ng problema na kinapapakinabangan niya
Campus youth groups join rally vs. flood-control corruption
By Justin Jacob S. Urag
CORRUPTION in flood control projects has sparked waves of dissent as the country confronts a deepening crisis of graft and mismanagement in big-ticket public works.
On Sept. 13, protesters gathered at the historic EDSA Shrine to denounce anomalies in governance and the misuse of public funds, particularly in flood control projects. The protest, organized by Kalayaan Kontra Korapsyon, drew participation from progressive groups including Panday Sining, Anakbayan, and the Kabataan partylist.
“‘Yong pagpunta natin sa mga pagkilos katulad na lamang ng ngayong araw ay isang pakikibaka, na mayroong mga kabataang estudyante na nais baguhin ‘yong corrupt system ngayon sa loob ng gobyerno,” first-year philosophy major Raven Racelis said. An independent commission is set to investigate the
anomalous flood projects. It is composed of former public works and highways secretary Rogelio Singson, accountant-lawyer Rossan Fajardo and Mayor Benjamin Magalong of Baguio.
For Francis “Kiko” Aquino Dee, senior lecturer in political science at the University of the Philippines, Congress must exact accountability.
“Sana magkaroon ng totoong ngipin, kailangan ng corresponding na batas mula sa Kongreso na magbibigay ng subpoena at contempt powers sa commission,” said Dee, a member of the prominent Aquino family.
A more extreme measure must be taken to address systemic corruption, said ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio.
“Walang ibang solusyon dito kundi ang pagsama-samang pagkilos ng taong-bayan. Kailangang panagutin ang mga dapat managot, pero kailangan din baguhin ang sistema,” he said.
Thomasians present at the rally called for accountability and youth participation in political discourse.
“Kung binabaha tayo sa España, bahain rin natin ng protesta ‘yong
panawagan natin, ‘yong ating mungkahi na bigyan tayo ng suporta, ng representasyon, palayain ang ating tinig, at baguhin ‘yong ganitong kaayusan,” said Justine Badilla, a humanities and social sciences student.
On Sept. 12, the country saw 13 rallies across Metro Manila, referred to as the “Black Friday” protests.
Students at the University of the Philippines Diliman wore black shirts for a campus protest with a similar theme.
John Fariñas, a junior political science student, skipped classes and dedicated his protest participation to his parents.
“Inaalay ko ito para sa mga magulang ko na sawang-sawa nang nakikita ‘yong mga tax nilang binabayaran na napupunta lang sa wala,” he said.
For Kabataan party-list Rep. Renee Co, the protest at EDSA was reminiscent of the ouster of the administrations of Joseph Estrada and Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
“Nandito tayo dahil ang kabataan, we are taking ownership of our future,” Co said.
Who are the UST system alumni involved in flood-control mess?
THREE UST system alumni are among those linked to flood control projects, as investigations in Congress continue to uncover anomalies.
Among them are former Senate majority leader Joel Villanueva and former House appropriations chair Zaldy Co, who have been tagged in projects worth billions of pesos.
Wealthy contractors Sarah and Pacifico Discaya, who have nine construction firms under their names, have raked in ₱31 billion in projects and told lawmakers they gave some legislators up to 30 percent of the budget allocated for flood control projects.
During his fourth State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., called out government officials tagged in corrupt practices surrounding flood
control projects. This was after a series of typhoons hit the country and caused massive flooding.
Villanueva was tagged by former Bulacan assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez, who told a House probe that senators were involved in the fiasco, while Co was named in the Discayas’ sworn statement submitted to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
Emmanuel “Joel” Villanueva Villanueva graduated with a degree in commerce in 1996, with a specialization in economics. While at the University, he played for the men’s basketball team in UAAP Seasons 56 to 57, winning back-toback championships. Villanueva entered politics in 2001 as partylist representative for Citizens’ Battle
Against Corruption, and served as director general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority in 2010. In 2016, Villanueva won a Senate seat and six years later became Senate majority leader, a post he held until Sept. 8, when the chamber saw a leadership shakeup. Hernandez, a former assistant engineer from the Bulacan engineering office, told House members that Villanueva was involved in anomalous flood control projects in 2023, particularly in Balagtas and his hometown of Bocaue. Hernandez claimed Villanueva accepted P600 million in flood control funds, with a 30% kickback as part of the scheme.
He also said the delivery of kickbacks
► Students, faculty members, progressive groups, and Filipinos across the country stage simultaneous anti-corruption protests in September and October to denounce corruption and demand accountability from public officials.
PHOTOS BY ALEXA F. VIRAY,
FILIPINO
‘Saandaang
Saling Agham,’ inilunsad para sa sentenaryo ng Kolehiyo ng Agham
Ni Justin Jacob S. Urag
BILANG PAGHAHANDA sa ika-100 anibersaryo nito sa Marso 2026, inilunsad ng Kolehiyo ng Agham ang mga programa upang palakasin ang paggamit ng wikang Filipino sa agham at teknolohiya.
Katuwang ang Sentro ng Salin at Araling Salin (SSAS), sisimulan ng kolehiyo ang proyektong “Saandaang Saling Agham” na naglalayong isalin ang 100 abstrak ng mga tesis ng mga nagsipagtapos noong 2024 at makabuo ng glosaryo ng mga terminolohiyang pang-agham.
“Isang daang iba’t ibang abstracts [na] manggagaling sa iba’t ibang departamento at iba’t ibang programa ‘yong pagninilayan at pag-uusapan natin,” wika ni Kawaning Dalubguro Henmar Cardiño sa seminar na “Salinsanay 2025: Pagsasanay sa Pagsasaling Pang-Agham” sa Thomas Aquinas Research Center Auditorium nitong ika-14 ng agosto.
Ayon kay Cardiño, nakalap na ang mga abstrak at kasalukuyang nire-rebisa, at nakatakdang ilunsad ng kolehiyo bilang aklat sa Marso 2026 kasabay ng sentenaryo.
Nakaugat ang proyekto sa Memorandum CSM 71, Series of 2025, na nag-aatas sa mga guro ng Kolehiyo ng Agham na isulong ang paggamit ng wikang Filipino sa pagtuturo ng mga teknikal at propesyonal na kurso.
Sa panayam ng Varsitarian, inihayag ni Dekano Rey Donne Papa na inilunsad ang seminar upang linangin ang kakayahan ng mga academic staff sa paggamit ng wikang Filipino sa kanilang mga kurso.
Dagdag pa niya, pag-aaralan ng kolehiyo sa mga susunod na taon ang epekto ng inisyatiba sa pagkatuto ng mga estudyante.
“Kung epektibo ang Filipino sa pagpapalaganap ng maling impormasyon gaya ng fake news, mas epektibo itong gamitin para ipaliwanag ang mga facts sa agham,” ani niya.
Inklusibong pagtuturo
Inihayag ni Dino Tordesillas, kawaning dalubguro mula sa Departamento ng Biyolohiya at isa sa mga tagapagsalita sa seminar, mas inklusibo ang lektura sa wikang Filipino, base sa kaniyang walong taong karanasang pagtuturo nito.
“[K]apag Filipino ang gamit, hindi lang basta-basta nakikinig ang mga mag-aaral, nagiging bahagi sila ng usapan. Mas madali silang nakapagtatanong kapag wikang Filipino ang gamit, hindi sila nahihiya, at madali nilang nasasabi ‘yong mga nais nilang sabihin,” tugon ni Tordesillas sa Varsitarian Binigyang-diin niya na dati’y iilan lamang ang gumagamit ng Filipino sa pagtuturo sa agham.
“Pero ngayon kasi, ginawa nating formal initiative ng college na suportahan ‘yong mga panawagan ni Dr. [Fortunato] Sevilla na gamitin ang Filipino sa pagtuturo ng Agham,” ani Papa.
Si Sevilla, isang propesor emeritus, ay dating dekano ng kolehiyo na nangungunang tagapagsulong ng paggamit ng Filipino sa agham.
Ani Prop. Roberto Ampil ng Kolehiyo ng Edukasyon, ang relasyon ng agham at wika ay maaaring ilarawan bilang symbiosis, kung saan kapwa nakikinabang ang dalawang larangan.
“Ganoon nakatutulong ang science sa wikang Filipino kasi lumalaganap, naiintelektwalisa ang wikang Filipino dahil nagagamit ito sa larangan ng agham,” dagdag pa niya.
Para kay Ampil, mahalagang matutuhan muna ng kabataan ang sariling wika bago tuluyang maunawaan ang mga teknikal na asignatura gaya ng matematika at agham.
Dating KWF chair Cassanova, kinuwestiyon ang itinalagang bagong tagapangulo ng ahensiya
KINUWESTIYON NG dating tagapangulo ng Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) at komisyoner para sa wikang Tagalog na si Arthur Casanova ang pagtatalaga sa abogadong si Marites Barrios-Taran bilang pinuno ng ahensya.
Sa isang media forum, nilinaw ni Casanova na siya ay nagbitiw sa posisyon bilang tagapangulo noong Mayo 2025 bilang tugon sa hiling ng Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na maghain ng courtesy resignation ang lahat ng appointees.
“Ako po ay nagresign bilang head of the agency—bilang head ng KWF noong Mayo 2025. Ngunit noong ika-5 ng Agosto ng taong ito ay nakatanggap ako ng liham mula sa opisina ni Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin na nakasaad na ang akin pong courtesy resignation ay tinanggap ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. at nakasaad po doon na ako ay pinapalitan na ni Marites Barrios-Taran,” paliwanag ni Casanova.
Nakasaad din umano sa appointment paper na si Taran ay itinalagang komisyoner ng Tagalog kapalit ni Casanova.
“Ngayon ang question [ko] bakit
po nagtalaga ng komisyoner para sa wikang Tagalog gayong ako naman ay hindi nagbitiw o nag-resign bilang komisyoner na kumakatawan sa wikang Tagalog?” wika ni Casanova.
Giit ni Casanova, hindi maaaring ituring na bakante ang posisyon dahil ang kanyang pagbibitiw ay tumutukoy lamang sa pagiging tagapangulo ng KWF at hindi sa pagiging kinatawan ng wikang Tagalog, kung saan nakatakdang matapos ang kanyang termino sa 2027.
Bukod dito, binigyang-diin niyang hindi dumaan sa tamang proseso ang pagkakatalaga kay Taran.
“Ang pagiging full-time commissioner po na kakatawan sa isang wika at ang pagiging tagapangulo o chairman ng Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino ay may mga requisitos o requirements na nakasaad sa ating Republic Act 7104,” wika ni Casanova.
Nakasaad sa Republic Act 7104 na ang pagtatalaga ng mga komisyoner ay dapat nagmumula sa rekomendasyon ng mga organisasyon o institusyong pangwika.
“[Si] Atty. Marites Barrios-Taran ay isang CPA lawyer at sa pagkakabatid ng marami wala talaga siyang tiyak na background sa larangan ng wika [at] panitikan,” dagdag pa ni Casanova.
Si Casanova, na pinarangalan bilang Metrobank Outstanding Teacher, ay nagsilbi ring kawaksing propesor sa Departamento ng Filipino ng Unibersidad. Nagpahayag din ng pagkabahala ang dating opisyal ng KWF na si Aurora Batnag, na nagsabing matagal nang “nasasagasaan” ang wika sa mga maling polisiya at proseso ng pamahalaan.
Kaugnay nito, inilabas ng grupong Tanggol Wika ang isang bukas na liham na nananawagan sa pangulo na bawiin ang appointment ni Barrios-Taran.
Ayon kay David Michael San Juan, isa sa mga tagapagtatag ng organisasyon, mahigit 250 katao na ang lumagda sa liham na planong ipadala sa Office of the Executive Secretary, Commission on Appointments, House Committee on Basic Education and Culture, at Senate Committee on Culture and the Arts.
Ang forum na may temang “Media Forum ng mga Stakeholder Hinggil sa Isyu ng Bagong Komisyoner ng Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino,” ay dinaluhan ng mga kinatawan ng mga samahang pangwika, akademiko, lingguwista, at iskolar. JAMIEBETH P. ORTEGA
Pagsupil sa wika, banta sa malayang pamamahayag — propesor
Ni Sofia Gabrielle G. Rosario
NAGBABALA ANG isang propesor mula sa University of Hawaii na anumang anyo ng censorship, lalo na sa sariling wika, ay banta sa malayang pamamahayag.
Iginiit ni Aurelio Agcaoili, tagapangulo ng Department of Indo-Pacific Languages and Literatures sa University of Hawaii, hindi matatawag na tunay na malaya ang pamamahayag kung ang mismong wika ng mamamayan ay pinatatahimik.
“Kapag pinipipi, halimbawa, ang gustong magpahayag — ‘yong institusyon, ‘yong ahensya, ‘yong produksyon at ‘yong tinatawag nating pagpahayag mismo ay hindi malaya, nasaan ‘yong tinatawag nating malayang pamamahayag?” wika ni Agcaoili sa isang webinar
ng Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino. Inihalintulad niya ang ganitong uri ng censorship sa panahon ng diktadura, kung saan kinontrol ang publiko sa pamamagitan ng pagbabawal ng ilang salita.
Paglagas ng wika, banta sa kultura at pagkakakilanlan
NAGBABALA ANG mga eksperto na ang pagkawala ng wika ay nagbubura hindi lamang ng salita kundi ng kaalaman, tradisyon, at identidad ng isang bayan. “It is not only words that vanish. It is the entire worldview, a way of being, a piece of our identity, that is silenced forever,” pahayag ni Laelani Arocha, guro sa Humanities and Social Sciences ng UST Senior High School, sa “Wikaakuhan 2025” na idinaos noong Ika-22 ng Agosto sa Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building. Ibinahagi ni Arocha na nagsimula ang kaniyang adbokasiya para katutubong wika bilang pamanang kultural matapos makipamuhay sa mga T’boli ng Lake Sebu.
Nasaksihan niya ang kahinaan ng mga katutubong pamayanan sa harap ng globalisasyon at kolonyal na impluwensiya.
Aniya, ang wika ang pintig ng kultura at taglay nito ang mga alaala ng isang bayan, mula sa karunungan hanggang sa pakikibaka.
Ayon kay Arocha, higit 3,000 sa mahigit 7,000 wika sa buong daigdig ang nanganganib mawala, na karamihan ay katutubo.
Sa Pilipinas, 59 sa 175 wika ang kabilang sa mga itinuturing na endangered. Tinukoy rin niya ang apat na pangunahing salik sa pagkalusaw ng wika: kasaysayan, lipunan, institusyon, at henerasyon.
Sa kasaysayan, pinakamalalim umano ang sugat ng kolonyal na mentalidad. Binanggit niya ang pahayag ng dating NCCA chair Felipe de Leon Jr.: “Anything indigenous became a source of embarrassment and uneasiness. We would hide whatever is native sounding or native in origin.”
Sa panlipunang antas, itinuro ni Arocha ang migrasyon, globalisasyon, at modernisasyon bilang dahilan ng paglayo ng kabataan sa sariling wika.
‘‘
When a language dies, the chain of inheritance is already broken. Language defines our identity.
Felipe de Leon Jr. DATING NCCA CHAIR
Dagdag pa niya, lumalaganap ang tinatawag na “language suicide,” kung saan ang mga magulang ang pumipiling huwag ipamana ang sariling wika sa kanilang mga anak.
“When a language dies, the chain of inheritance is already broken. Language defines our identity,” giit niya.
Samantala, tinalakay ng abogadong si Jose Dela Rama Jr. ng UST Graduate School of Law ang kahalagahan ng wikang Filipino sa sistemang panghukuman.
Aniya, ang paggamit ng sariling wika sa paglilitis ay magbibigay ng “mas maliwanag na katarungan” para sa mga mamamayang hindi pamilyar sa komplikadong legal na jargon.
“Mayroong pagkiling sa pagpulis ng mga salita, mga termino na p’wedeng gamitin, at ‘yong pagbabawal ng mga salitang hin-
“Ang ating mga batas ay dapat nakasulat sa wikang naiintindihan ng bawat Pilipino,” ani Dela Rama, na dekano rin sa Tarlac State University. May temang “Paglinang sa Filipino at Katutubong Wika: Makasaysayan sa Pagkakaisa ng Bansa,” ang Wikaakuhan 2025, na inorganisa ng Departamento ng Filipino ng Kolehiyo ng Edukasyon at ng UST Graduate School of Law bilang pakikiisa sa Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa. JAMIEBETH P. ORTEGA
► Mula kaliwa: Arthur Casanova, dating tagapangulo ng Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) at ang bagong talagang pinuno ng ahensya na si Marites Barrios-Taran. — DIBUHO NI DENISSE AMBER N. REYES
EDITOR: MARIELLE F. PESA
ChatGPT as therapist?
Psychologist flags dangers for youth
TRIGGER WARNING: This story contains mentions of suicide.
THE GROWING trend of using ChatGPT as a substitute for therapy has sparked concern.
In California, the parents of a 16-year-old filed a lawsuit claiming the platform gave their son detailed, stepby-step guidance on how to take his own life.
ChatGPT now counts about 700 million weekly users, and its growing use as a source of emotional support is something Asst. Prof. Jade Ibhar Cuambot, a Thomasian psychologist, called it “very alarming” among psychologists, who caution that the chatbot’s lack of empathy and accountability could put vulnerable youth at greater risk.
Cases abroad, including lawsuits over AI’s role in teen suicides, have underscored the dangers of unregulated chatbot counseling. In August, The New York Times reported the story of a mother who found her late daughter’s final messages to ChatGPT, which failed to deal with her suicidal thoughts.
“It’s very alarming that there are so many people who, instead of seeking help from a professional, choose to seek help from an inanimate object, more so, artificial intelligence,” he told the Varsitarian Cuambot said accessibility, high costs, and the stigma surrounding mental health drive young people toward AI.
In the Philippines, therapy typically costs between P1,500 and P2,500 an hour, with some sessions priced as high as P5,000 — a rate that remains out of reach for many families.
For today’s digital natives, turning to AI for emotional support may be viewed as a natural step.
“The use of technology is already
Pagsupil FROM PAGE 10 ►
di p’wedeng gamitin sapagkat nasasaktan ‘yong mga nasa puder,” ani Agcaoili. Nilinaw ni Agcaoili na ang malayang pamamahayag ay hindi simpleng “lisensya” para magsalita nang walang pananagutan, kundi may kaakibat na obligasyong etikal at moral.
Tinukoy din niya ang epekto ng makabagong teknolohiya at artipisyal na intelihensiya sa pamamahayag, na nagdudulot ng instant na impormasyon ngunit kulang
normalized in this generation,” he said. “Kaya for me, parang normalized na din sa kanila to even seek help from AI, regardless of whatever their problem is.”
A national assessment revealed low levels of mental health literacy among Filipinos: only 27% said they would recommend professional help for depression, while just 21% suggested it when asked what they would do if a friend confessed to suicidal thoughts. According to Cuambot, those figures reflect how stigma continues to block access to proper treatment.
‘‘
It’s
very alarming that there are so many people who, instead of seeking help from a professional, choose to seek help from an inanimate object, more so, artificial intelligence
Still, he stressed that AI, while convenient, cannot replace the healing bond formed in human interaction.
“Humans are social beings, and talking about your problems to someone else — that itself is already therapeutic. I find it so difficult to achieve that kind of therapeutic level if a person talks to an AI.”
Cuambot warned that AI-driven self-treatment is even more dangerous than self-diagnosis, comparing it to “opening a can of worms” without anyone accountable if the situation escalates.
He also warned of dependency, saying chatbots can foster reliance since they often validate users rather than challenge them, unlike therapy, which empowers clients to take ownership of their choices.
“Hindi kami ‘yong nagdidikta sa buhay ng kliyente; ang ginagawa namin is empowering the client, without telling the client what to do, so that at the end of the day, hindi siya maging dependent sa akin na therapist,” Cuambot said.
While AI-based apps abroad are being designed to provide psychological first aid, Cuambot argued that they still fall short of genuine counseling.
“The AI-driven empathy or consolation might be there, but the guidance on how to properly execute them is missing. Laging may kulang,” he said.
Eliminating stigma is crucial to preventing harmful overreliance on AI, he said.
“That’s one thing that we need to exert effort on – to educate not only the people who are seeking help from AI, but also to educate the people around them,” he said. “We need to start within the home at the end of the day.”
In UST, the Thomasian Mental Health Responders offer free psychological first aid and support on campus, while the UST Counseling and Career Center provides guidance counseling for student life and career planning. MARY DAWN S. SANTOS WITH REPORTS FROM MARIELLE F. PESA
sa kritikal na pagninilay at pag-unawa. Bagama’t mabilis na nakukuha ang datos, nawawala umano ang kritikal na pagninilay at proseso ng pag-unawa. “Kailangang tanungin kung tunay pa bang malaya ang talakayan kung ang ipinapahayag na impormasyon ay hindi na pinaghirapan o sinuri nang kritikal,” aniya.
Ibinahagi rin ng propesor ang konsepto ng simetriya mula sa kritikal na hermeneutika, na nangangahulugang pantay na posisyon ng lahat ng kalahok sa talakayan. Aniya, kapag may nangingibabaw na
kapangyarihan na pumipigil sa tinig ng iba, nawawala ang balanse at nasasapawan ang boses ng mga nasa laylayan.
Binigyang-diin pa niya ang pangangailangan ng interlingguwal na komunikasyon at ang patuloy na pagtuturo ng mga wikang katutubo sa kani-kanilang komunidad upang matiyak ang kanilang presensya sa diskursong pampubliko.
“Ang malayang pagpapahayag ay hindi magiging ganap kung walang pantay na pagkakataon ang lahat na magsalita gamit ang sariling wika,” wika ni Agcaoili.
Quick weight-loss diets may do more harm than good — UST expert
FOUND A trendy diet online that claims to shed pounds fast? Such regimens can pose serious health dangers and lasting complications, a Thomasian nutritionist-dietitian said.
These so-called fad diets — popular but usually short-term eating schemes that promise rapid weight loss or dramatic health gains through restrictive or unconventional rules — have surged on social media. Plans such as the keto diet, intermittent fasting, and juice detoxes lure Filipinos with promises of “miracle” results and quick transformations.
Asst. Prof. Kathleen Cruzada, chair of UST’s Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, said many of these diets were originally developed with therapeutic purposes in mind.
The ketogenic diet, for example, was introduced in the 1920s to manage epilepsy by shifting the body’s fuel source from carbohydrates to fats, before it became a popular weightloss trend.
“If you follow it for the wrong use, it will harm you more than benefit you,” Cruzada told the Varsitarian Intermittent fasting, or IF, another widely practiced regimen, involves alternating between eating and fasting periods.
One of the most common approaches, the “16:8” method, prescribes 16 hours of fasting followed by an 8-hour eating window.
While often touted as a way to improve metabolism, Cruzada warned that IF can be risky for individuals with conditions like diabetes if done without proper medical supervision.
Juice detoxes claim to “cleanse” the body but strip it of essential nutrients such as protein and fiber. Similarly, high-protein and low-carb diets create the false impression that eliminating one food group guarantees weight loss.
“Nagkakaroon ng thinking ‘yong iba na kapag you eat protein, and you lessen your carbohydrates, you lose weight. But actually, carbs, protein, and fats, they are all sources of energy,” Cruzada said.
Cruzada said social media fuels these misconceptions, with influencers glamorizing unrealistic body standards.
In 2018, the National Nutrition Council issued a resolution against fad diets, warning of risks including nutrient deficiencies, slowed metabolism, binge eating, and the “yo-yo effect” — rapid weight loss followed by quick regain.
Cruzada explained that
these harmful cycles often begin with seemingly harmless restrictions that later turn into rigid food rules.
“There’s no such thing as perfect food. It can be bad because of the amount — too much food that you take, or too little, or a diet that’s too restrictive,” she said.
The pursuit of a “perfect” body, often magnified by social media, may eventually overshadow the goal of genuine health, she said.
This can result in physical illness, mental strain, low self-esteem, and, in extreme cases, eating disorders.
Warning signs of disordered eating include fixations on specific food groups, avoiding social gatherings involving meals, frequent weight fluctuations, and constant comparison with peers or online personalities.
Cruzada recommends healthier alternatives, such as the MOVABA principle — moderation, variety, and balance — paired with an active lifestyle.
“You don’t have to actually restrict yourself when it comes to food, kasi the more you restrict yourself, the more you will crave eventually,” she said.
Cruzada underscored the importance of early nutrition education, beginning at the kindergarten level, to instill healthy habits from a young age.
“Whatever knowledge they have on nutrition and health, that’s what they will follow when they have their family,” she said. “And a healthy family, of course, will lead to [a] healthy community.”
There’s no such thing as perfect food. It can be bad because of the amount — too much food that you take, or too little, or a diet that’s too restrictive
The College of Education’s Department of Nutrition and Dietetics runs a free nutrition clinic for Thomasians, offering consultations and personalized guidance on healthier eating. MARY DAWN S.
Fine arts alumni hold exhibit at Escolta’s Art Gallery District
By Frenchshield Shayne G. Delovieres
UST COLLEGE of Fine Arts alumni opened an exhibit highlighting collaboration and dialogue in September at the Art Gallery District in
Manila.
Ces Eugenio, one of the organizers of the event, titled “+,” said the exhibit served as a venue to discuss the state of Philippine art and a crossroads with fellow UST artists.
“This event is also a good chance to start conversations about the state of art today [and] also serves as a collection of contemporary artists of our time,” Eugenio told the Varsitarian
The 36 works featured in “+” ranged from sculptures to paintings and photography.
Eugenio’s “Growing Around the Absence,” a 25×19-in. hand-molded epoxy piece, is inspired by the idea of death not as an end but as a reset that allows new beginnings to take root.
“‘Yong death para sa akin, hindi siya agad [katapusan], parang simula siya ng panibagong buhay or reset,” Eugenio said.
Jaime Pacena II, a UST advertising arts alumnus and renowned filmmaker, was also featured in the exhibit and served as its curator.
Pacena’s work, “Monochrome,” a 36×24-in. acrylic on canvas, is composed of folded papers and layered fragments arranged into box-like structures that symbolize preserved memories.
He said the concept was drawn from a filmmaking experience where actors revisit personal memories to fuel their performances, but are then taught to mentally store those memories somewhere to avoid being overwhelmed.
“My mentor was talking about this idea [that] you can actually put [memories] in a box or put it somewhere, keep it somewhere inside you,”
Pacena told the Varsitarian
“Actually kaya siya box, made up of folded paper, tagpi-tagping mga memory or ideas na gusto kong balikan or gusto kong isipin,” he added.
Also among the artists was Wesley Valenzuela, an alumnus of the old UST College of Architecture and Fine Arts. The college split into two 25 years ago.
Valenzuela’s “Horoscope,” a 36×24-in. acrylic and serigraph on canvas, drew from his observations of urban Manila.
“Ang nag-inspire sa’kin diyan, mga bagay-bagay na nakikita ko around Manila. ‘Yong mga nasa Quiapo, ‘yong mga manghuhula, ‘yong mga nagbebenta ng anting-anting. [‘Yong nasa] Recto, ‘yong mga tattoos, ‘yong mga [graffiti] shirt… pinaghalo-halo ko sa artwork,” he said.
Another featured fine arts alumnus was Nolan Fabular with his single-channel video titled, “Loop,” where he combines motifs of Spanish, American, and Japanese colonial influence to reflect on how Filipinos engage with their past.
In “Loop,” the game of rock-pa-
per-scissors is arranged in a deliberate cycle, where frames on the right signify wins, those on the left losses, and the top and bottom, draws.
“[I]t kind of represents a cycle, that’s why I called my piece ‘Loop,’” Fabular said.
Tracy Santuyo’s work, “Quiet Unbinding,” a 36×24-in. acrylic on canvas, depicts liberation restrained by tradition, represented by a bound red ribbon against grayscale imagery.
“‘Yong dove symbolizes freedom. There’s this freedom that you feel you have inside you, but then again, there’s something restraining you,” Santuyo said.
Citing her Catholic upbringing, she described the work as a “subtle rebellion.”
Donna Grimm’s work, “Dandelion,” an 18×24-in. oil on canvas, captures the life cycle of the flower as a metaphor for human influence and legacy.
Grimm said “Dandelion” compares the life cycle of the flower to human development, from early growth to death.
For her, it reflects how individuals can leave a lasting impact during their lifetime.
“If you were a dandelion, how are you gonna influence others?” Grimm said.
The group exhibition marked the second year of the initiative, following its 2024 debut at Kalawakan Spacetime in Quezon City.
The exhibit “+” runs from Sept. 13 to Oct. 11. WITH REPORTS FROM SOFIA GABRIELLE G. ROSARIO
Architecture alumnus revives cardboard robots with new toybook edition
By Marielle F. Pesa
THOMASIAN ARCHITECT
and illustrator Jomike Tejido launched a new edition of “Foldabots” on Aug. 30 at the National Book Store in Trinoma Mall, Quezon City.
“Foldabots” are do-it-yourself cardboard robots that can be cut out from book pages and first appeared in May 2006 through the now-defunct K-Zone magazine.
In the 2025 edition, “Foldabots” are presented alongside a storyline that features Buhawi, a Philippine eagle-inspired robot, which leads a crew of hero-robots in saving the world from pollution propagated by evil robots seeking to destroy their world.
Tejido created Foldabots in the hope of helping kids like him, who do not enjoy reading much, develop a reading habit.
“I feel that Foldabots is a step into reading, so that kids can be interested in books in general, because they get to follow instructions and use art as a stepping stone [and] as an interest to become future readers,” he said.
In the Foldabots toy book series, the first book contains all the heroes, while the second one contains all the villains.
The new version of the Foldabots toy book one also includes remastered editions of his original releases from 2006.
“The collectors can be assured that I’ve polished every
robot, updated their write-ups, and procedures for building, so they can be further enjoyed by today’s collectors.”
He also produced assembly guides on how to build the robots, which can be accessed by scanning the QR code, redirecting the reader to a YouTube video.
Tejido said some comics were already in the works, but added that he wanted to focus on re-establishing the idea of Foldabots into the new generation of kids.
“I think that would be a good foundation for kids to start playing with the toys, then the stories come next,” he said. “People can watch out for that, because we’re definitely reviving the comic as well.”
Tejido said the idea of Foldabots was rooted in his childhood craft of making paper robots for himself as a form of entertainment.
“It started in the early 90s when I used cardboard or folders that were all from school. I would make my own toys, [so] I won’t have to ask my parents to buy all the robots that I wanted,” he said.
Foldabots was last released in 2016, a year before K-Zone shut down publication in 2017.
Tejido signed Foldabots copies on Sept. 13 during the five-day 2025 Manila International Book Fair. WITH REPORTS FROM DAVID NIGEL C. CORTES AND DJENHARD YRENEO RAPHAEL Y. SAPANHILA
► Thomasian architect and illustrator Jomike Tejido launches “Foldabots.”
“This is not only a moral duty but a collective task that requires concerted activity within our campus,” the statement read.
“Let the Thomasian community show that integrity, justice, and truth remain at the heart of our mission.”
In a separate statement, the Organisasyon ng Nagkakaisang Empleyado ng UST (ONE-UST), the coalition of labor unions in the UST, also condemned largescale corruption in flood control projects, branding the General Appropriations Act of 2025 as the “most corrupt” national budget.
“Bawat mambabatas, opisyal, at kontratistang kasabwat sa raket na ito ay dapat managot, walang ligtas, walang palusot,” ONE-UST said in its statement, also released on Sept. 13.
“Lahat ng may bahid at lamat ng korapsyon, mapa-dilaw, pula, pink, berde, kung magnanakaw, ay dapat mapanagot. Walang kulay ang korapsyon, isa lamang ang kanilang kinikilala at ito ay ang kulay ng kwarta.”
Echoing ALFA’s call, the labor coalition urged Filipinos, students, and other sectors of the society to stand against corruption and demand accountability.
“Nananawagan kami sa kapwa Pilipino, mga estudyante, manggagawa, propesyonal, lider-simbahan, lipunang sibil, at bawat taong may konsensya, na tumindig at maningil ng transparency, pananagutan, at katarungan,” it said.
The Dominican Family for Justice, Peace and Care for Creation – Philippines on Sept. 14 called for accountability over alleged “systemic and trillion-peso-scale corruption” in flood-control projects and urged Filipinos to join the “Trillion Peso March” at EDSA Shrine on Sept. 21.
“Ang pananatiling tahimik sa gitna ng mga kawalang-hustisya sa ating lipunan ang siyang nagbibigay-lakas sa mga tiwaling lider ng bayan upang magpatuloy sa pang-aabuso sa kanilang kapangyarihan,” the group said.
Artlets FROM PAGE 3 ► Baha sa Luneta FROM PAGE 8 ► ing for accountability.
It also urged Congress to pursue hearings and hold officials, contractors, and other parties involved in the anomalous projects accountable.
The Catholic Education Association of the Philippines, the largest network of Catholic schools in the Philippines, has also released a statement denouncing the corruption in the government infrastructure projects.
On Sept. 8 the Discayas named several lawmakers and public works officials involved in the scheme of siphoning off taxpayers’ money after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. disclosed the top 15 contractors in the country responsible for the projects.
rin,” Suyat said in an interview with the Varsitarian For Faculty of Civil Law lecturer and lawyer Antonio La Viña, the call for change and accountability rests in the youth’s hands.
“[The protest] is led by the youth, and I trust the youth that they will bring this to a good conclusion, planning for change in our country,” La Viña said.
Keziah Landicho, a junior creative writing student, said she and her fellow students would build on the momentum of the protests to demand change.
“If there’s no change, then we’ll just continue protesting. It
will only stop once everyone is satisfied,” Landicho said. Earlier on Sept. 13, some Thomasians joined a protest denouncing flood control corruption organized by Kalayaan Kontra Korapsyon at the EDSA People Power Monument.
Misha Lao, Senior High School Student Council president, said the government must remember who really holds power.
“Kaya din natin silang patumbahin kung tayo ay magtutulong-tulong. Hindi lang sa kanila ang kapangyarihan. Dapat sila ang nagsisilbi sa atin,” Lao said.
The nationwide protests coincided with the 53rd anniversary of Marcos Sr.’s declaration of martial law on Sept. 21, 1972.
Escolta,
► UST Fine Arts alumni mount an exhibit in Escolta, Manila. PHOTO BY PRECIOUS KAE A. ANDAYA
ART BY REGINA LOUISE DLC. SANOTA
TA-MEOW NA ANTOINETTE LINDSEY SOLIS
government offices.
was arranged by Bulacan provincial engineer Henry Alcantara and allegedly delivered to Villanueva’s residence.
Villanueva strongly denied the accusations, calling the allegations a “demolition job,” and said he would present “receipts” to prove his innocence.
Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co
Co earned a master’s degree in business administration in 1998 from Aquinas University, now known as the University of Santo Tomas-Legazpi.
His political career started in 2019 as a representative of the Ako Bicol partylist. He became chair of the House Committee on Appropriations in 2025, prior to May 2025 midterm elections.
The appropriations committee oversees the management of the national budget and allocates funds to
The lawmaker was mentioned in the sworn statement of the Discayas, who claimed Co demanded a 25% kickback for the approval of projects.
Navotas Rep. Tobias Tiangco also accused Co of proposing P13.8 billion in insertions in the 2025 national budget, with most of the funds allegedly allocated for flood control projects.
Co is said to be an incorporator of the construction firm Sunwest Inc., which allegedly received P10.14 billion from 79 flood control projects.
Several congressional districts, including Abra, Bukidnon, Sarangani and Oriental Mindoro, received unusually large budget increases, some earmarked for flood control projects, despite local officials saying they never requested such funds.
Co denied the allegations of kickbacks and budget insertions, stressing
Desaparecidos
And this is where the profession risks imploding from within. When credibility erodes, journalism loses not just prestige, but relevance. Viewers begin to see no difference between news and sponsored content, between watchdogs and lapdogs.
Indeed, the line between journalism and content creation has blurred. Influencers are paid to promote products and personalities—it’s part of their trade. But when journalists with long-established reputations trade credibility for access, perks, or cash, they drag the entire industry down with them.
The Discaya episode is not just about one mayor’s allegation. It is about the larger question of trust. Can the public still trust the media to tell the truth when too many examples suggest otherwise?
Journalism has always been under siege—from political pressure, economic hardship, and digital disruption. But its survival ultimately depends on its integrity. Without trust, journalism is nothing more than noise competing with every other piece of content online.
Sotto’s expose has done the profession a favor by forcing a reckoning. The industry needs to confront weak spots, its compromises and sellouts. Journalism does not only need better paychecks and safer working conditions—it needs soul-searching.
that the budget required approval from the House, Senate and the president. As of press time, Co is seeking medical treatment in the United States, sidestepping invitations from the House to attend hearings.
Henry Alcantara
Alcantara graduated from the UST Faculty of Engineering in 1994 and entered the Department of Public Works and Highways in 1996, rising through the ranks to become district engineer for the first district of Bulacan in 2019.
On Sept. 4, Alcantara was dismissed from office amid investigations into overpriced and ghost projects in the province, which recorded the highest number of flood control projects, according to the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” website.
The dismissal also carried perpetual disqualification from holding public office and forfeiture of retire-
In December 1975, his family was informed that he had died in Lucena, Quezon, alongside three unidentified companions.
The remains of both Armando and Alfredo were never recovered.
Reynante Andal
Political science student Reynante Andal co-founded the Kilusang Kristiyanong Kabataang Pilipino (KKKP), a Christian nationalist group in UST, and also helped form the multisectoral Kapulungan ng Sandigan ng Pilipinas.
He was likewise active in the Samahang Demokratiko ng Kabataan. In 1971, Andal organized pre-Martial Law strikes through the Samahan ng mga Kabataan sa Ikauunlad ng mga Tsuper. By mid-1972, he dropped out of school to pursue activism full-time.
Two years later, Andal and colleagues went to Pinamalayan, Mindoro.
Soldiers tracked them down and strafed the hut where they were hiding.
Andal was killed at just 21 years old.
Alfredo Cezar
A Pangasinan native and Faculty of Canon Law alumnus, Alfredo Cezar became politically active during his final years at UST and joined the KKKP.
Ordained as a deacon at the start of Martial Law, Cezar orga-
nized resistance networks, supported church initiatives, and sheltered activists.
By 1974, he was teaching in Ilocos Sur and aiding tobacco farmers abused by military forces. Soon after, he joined the armed movement under the alias “Ka Darwin.”
Cezar was killed in a dawn raid in 1982 at the age of 34.
Witness accounts say he fought off soldiers to buy time for his fleeing comrades.
Manuel Ontong
UST fine arts graduate Manuel Ontong was an artist-illustrator who wielded his craft against the Marcos regime.
After finishing his degree in the U.S. in 1967, he applied for a scholarship in Australia in 1969. Denied, he attributed it to injustice, which fueled his radicalization.
He worked for the National Museum for two years under a director who grew openly critical of Marcos Sr. ‘s administration.
In 1971, Ontong was detained for a week following the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus because of his activism.
Fulfilling his mother’s wish, he continued producing politically charged art while working as an illustrator at an agricultural research center in Los Baños, Laguna.
In November 1975, Ontong’s family received an anonymous tip that men in civilian clothing had abducted him near the Philippine General Hospital on Taft Avenue,
ment benefits.
Alcantara admitted to signing a certificate of completion for a ₱55-million flood control project in Barangay Piel, Baliwag, Bulacan, which later turned out to be a ghost project — a project that was paid for but never completed nor existed.
Anomalous projects were also found in Calumpit worth ₱99.6 million, awarded to the Discaya-controlled St. Timothy Construction Corp.
Some lawmakers and legal experts noted that with at least ₱55 million involved in a single project, Alcantara could face a plunder charge.
Alcantara denied being the “kingpin” of the alleged ghost flood control projects and said he would contest all accusations.
He maintained his innocence and vowed to cooperate with the investigations. LUIS ANGELO N. PALMA
taking him away in a military jeep. Ontong was never found.
Remembering Martial Law amid deliberate ‘distortion’
More than half a decade since the declaration of Martial Law, De Viana warned that facts have become vulnerable to distortion — meaning, he said, “distorting history based on matters that are not actually the truth.”
He cautioned that distortion today is “more subtle,” spread through propaganda and social media, and urged Thomasians to remain vigilant in defending historical truth.
“Bilang mga historian o ordinaryong tao, ‘wag na ‘wag natin bastang tanggapin kung ano ang naririnig sa social media. Dapat tignan mo ang source,” he said.
De Viana called on the Thomasian community to “never forget,” underscoring the need for stronger history curricula, better learning resources, and active student involvement.
“Teachers cannot just do it alone. Dapat may participation din d’yan ng mga estudyante,” he said. “[Remembering] is a very gargantuan task, and mukhang pinapahina ng mga powers-that-be ang history.”
According to global human rights organization Amnesty International, 70,000 were imprisoned, 34,000 were tortured and 3,240 were killed from 1972 to 1981 under the Marcos Sr. regime. ASHLEY VALKYRIE E. BUENO, DAVID NIGEL C. CORTES, ELIHOENAI HAZAEL B. CORTEZ
orated yearly on their death anniversaries: Frassati’s feast will be marked on July 4 while Acutis’s feast is on Oct. 12.
Frassati, a Turin, Italy-native university student and member of the Third Order of St. Dominic, was known for his active life of prayer, social advocacy, and service to the poor.
“Even today, Pier Giorgio’s life is a beacon for lay spirituality,” Pope Leo said. “Faith for him was not private, but lived out through service, friendship, and joy.”
Acutis, a London-born Italian teenager and computer enthusiast, created an online catalog of Eucharistic miracles and used digital tools to evangelize.
“Carlo used to say, ‘In front of the sun, you get a tan; in front of the Eucharist, you become a saint,’” the pontiff said.
Pope Leo said both saints showed their love for God through simple acts that are available to everyone: “daily Mass, prayer, and especially Eucharistic adoration.”
Their peace in suffering and unwavering hope, the Pope said, showed that holiness is not found in extraordinary deeds, but in the consistent offering of daily life to God.
“This is the simple but winning formula of their holiness. It is also the type of witness we are called to follow, in order to enjoy life to the full and meet the Lord in the feast of heaven,” the Pope said.
Frassati was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1990 and was dubbed the “Man of the Eight Beatitudes.”
He was a political and social activist, and dedicated himself to the service of the poor and the sick by joining the St. Vincent de Paul Society at the age of 17.
Frassati died in 1925 at the age of 24 due to polio, which he contracted from his service to the sick.
He is the patron saint of the youth and athletes.
Acutis, being efficient with computers, developed a website dedicated to spreading the devotion to the Eucharist by cataloging Eucharistic miracles worldwide.
He died of leukemia in 2006, at the age of 15.
Acutis is the patron saint of the internet and the first millennial saint.
The canonizations of the two new saints were the first of Pope Leo’s pontificate.
BUWAYA AISHA SOFIA M. FORTES
Isko
Moreno slams P39.9M duplicate street signs under Lacuna
MANILA MAYOR Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso questioned the installation of duplicate street signs in Manila following a viral post exposing the project allegedly approved under former mayor Honey Lacuna.
“Ang tawag po diyan ay paggasta ng resources ng gobyerno na walang kapararakan, ibig sabihin walang malasakit. Ang malungkot niyan, tinayuan ng bago (street signs) pero hindi inalis ‘yong luma. Hindi ba, inutil?” Domagoso said in his weekly broadcast on Sept. 5.
The Manila Public Information Office (PIO) posted documents and contracts on the same day, which revealed that Lacuna signed and approved the project on Dec. 23 last year.
A day after the broadcast, the local government of Manila removed the old street signs and retained the new ones.
The Manila PIO said the street signs were allocated a budget of P39.9 million, under a contract given to ALE Builders Construction & Development Corp.
“Ayoko po magturo. But that (project documents) speaks for itself. Gusto ko sana ipaliwanag pero baka maging politikal. Kayo na lang po manghusga,” he added.
The documents showed that 82.6% of the project was accomplished, leaving 17.4% of the signs unfinished.
The Varsitarian reached out to former mayor Honey Lacuna for a statement but her camp has yet to respond as of posting time.
Domagoso said he would let the Commission on Audit investigate whether the double street sign project was “unnecessary and superfluous.”
ALEXANDRA S. DEMAISIP
UST mounts ‘Paskuhan-like’ UAAP opening; logs more than 36,000 attendees
IN A GRAND “Paskuhan-like” ceremony, the University marked the beginning of the UAAP Season 88 on Friday, Sept. 19.
The opening festivities drew over 36,629 guests from UAAP member-schools and the Thomasian community, according to the final count of the Campus Safety and Security Office.
The opening festivities began with the symbolic cauldron lighting led by two-time Olympian and Thomasian pole vaulter EJ Obiena, while former Golden Tigresses captain Sisi Rondina, Season 70 senior’s basketball MVP Jervy Cruz, and former Tiger Judoka athlete Sydney Sy served as torchbearers.
Athletes from UAAP member-schools crossed the Arch of the Centuries as a drone show formed each university’s logo.
Thomasian artists performed during the league’s opening ceremonies.
Music alumnus and OPM singer-songwriter Kean Cipriano sang the UAAP Season 88 theme song, “Strength in Motion, Hope in Action,” sharing the grandstand with the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe.
Popstar royalty and Education High School alumna Sarah Geronimo made a surprise appearance during the concert, performing her hit songs such as “Tala,” “Ikotikot,” and “Kilometro.”
“Parang panloloko sa bansa natin, pinaikot-ikot lang tayo,” Geronimo said, alluding to the growing controversy over anomalous flood-control projects, which has ensnared at least three UST system alumni in government.
UST, which last hosted the UAAP a decade ago during Season 79, staged the official kick-off of the annual tournament with an Olympic-themed spectacle that also drew inspiration from the Jubilee Year of Hope.
“Tonight, we gather for the highly anticipated UAAP Season 88 Opening Ceremonies, where, as host, we are ready to set the stage for an epic season filled with strong competition and unforgettable moments, showcasing sportsmanship and camaraderie,” UAAP Season 88 Chairman and UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P., said.
Ang marked the beginning of the year-long sports competition with the “Flame of Hope.”
“This flame defines the dreams and aspirations of all the athletes this season and unites them in the spirit of sportsmanship and hope. I now declare the UAAP Season 88 officially open,” Ang said.
The ceremony ended with an eight-minute pyromusical, which illuminated the UST grounds with fireworks symbolizing all eight schools’ UAAP cheers and university colors.
The “Hope Concert,” the finale of the opening ceremony, was headlined by OPM artists Rob Deniel, Earl Agustin, and Filipino rock band Lola Amour.
UAAP spirit
Students from varying UAAP schools showed support for their athletes and described the opening rites as a “Paskuhan-like” festivity.
“Actually masaya siya kasi
for me it’s my first time na makakita ng ibang schools na nag-eenjoy here sa UST, pinaramdam niya kung paano ‘yung feels natin every Paskuhan and every time na mayroon tayong events,” said Mary Guillen, a Faculty of Arts and Letters student.
“Sobrang heartwarming no’ng pagdating namin dito, parang iba ‘yong pag-welcome sa amin ng mga taga-UST,” University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman athlete Raydric Abinales told the Varsitarian
After UST announced that all entry points would be closed at 5:30 p.m. in preparation for the event, some students and other guests were left queuing outside campus gates and expressed disappointment with the sudden closure.
“At first, it was very stressful. I was one of the people who got stopped outside because of the early closing of the gates. After I entered, it was really fun. After the rain, I could feel the Thomasian spirit and the UAAP spirit,” said UP Diliman student KC Relampagos.
universities hindi magpapatalo and I’m excited to see each and every university’s fighting spirit,” said Arbolado.
Far Eastern University student Ivan Arbolado expressed excitement for the UAAP games.
“‘Yong mga bakbakan ng mga universities, alam ko ‘yong mga
Dominicans call for spiritual vigilance vs corruption
By Frenchshield Shayne G. Delovieres
LACK OF respect for human dignity is at the root of corruption allegations flooding the government, Fr. Reynor Munsayac, O.P., executive vice president of Colegio de San Juan de Letran Bataan, said during Mass for the UST contingent to the “Trillion Peso March” on Sept. 21. Munsayac, promoter of the Dominican Family for Justice, Peace, and Care for Creation advocacy, stressed that acknowledging humanity in every person is a fundamental principle of faith.
“Kapag hindi tayo tinatrato bilang mga tao, napakadali lang magnakaw.
Ayos lang na maghirap tayo. Ayos lang na wala tayong makain. Ayos lang na malubog tayo sa baha,” Munsayac said in his homily.
“Kaya madali sa atin ang magnakaw. Madali sa atin ang magsinungaling. Madali sa atin ang manakit ng ibang tao dahil hindi natin kinikilala ang sarili nating dignidad,” he said.
Munsayac drew a parallel between rallies against the flood-control corruption controversy and the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution.
He recalled his experience as a seven-year-old witness to how Filipinos stood up, with his parents explaining the significance of the uprising.
“Sabi ng akin ng mga magulang ko, kasi hindi na [nila] tinitignan bilang mga tao ang mga Pilipino. The government does not recognize the Filipinos as human beings—and that is a very important principle sa atin,” he said.
Fr. Filemon Dela Cruz, Jr., O.P., prior provincial of the Dominican Province of the Philippines, also shared his reflections.
He urged participants not to underestimate the presence of evil in society, noting that the complexity of governance differs from the conditions that led to the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, when the goal was to oust the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
Kaya madali sa atin ang magnakaw. Madali sa atin ang magsinungaling. Madali sa atin ang manakit ng ibang tao dahil hindi natin kinikilala ang sarili nating dignidad
The men’s basketball tournament will kick off the new season on Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Quadricentennial Pavilion. CZEANTAL
NAOMI P. DELOS SANTOS AND MICAH G. PASCUA
“This is not just a political thing, this is a spiritual battle. And each one of us can be afflicted, and the whole system has been afflicted,” Dela Cruz said.
He referred to the protests being held on Sept. 21 as the start of a long battle against corruption.
“It will be a long battle. I hope it will not be a bloody one. But I hope that we will reach what we ask and pray for,” Dela Cruz said.
The UST Simbahayan Community Development Office, in collaboration with the Dominican Family for Justice, Peace, and Care for Creation, and the UST Faculty Union, organized the march toward the EDSA People Power Monument.
The Mass was held at the Saint Pedro Poveda College in Ortigas. WITH REPORTS FROM ASHLEY VALKYRIE E. BUENO
► PHOTO BY DJENHARD YRENEO RAPHAEL Y. SAPANHILLA
► Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso ART BY JINMARSON CHESTER V. PUA
► Popstar royalty Sara Geronimo
— PHOTO BY CHLOE ELYSSE B. IBAÑEZ
► Music alumnus and OPM singer-songwriter Kean Cipriano performs the UAAP Season 88 theme song, “Strength in Motion, Hope in Action.” — PHOTO BY CHLOE ELYSSE B. IBAÑEZ
► The UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe — PHOTO BY CHLOE ELYSSE B. IBAÑEZ
Tigers end decade-long skid versus DLSU in thrilling rally
By Miguel Angelo B. Marco
THE UST Growling Tigers broke a decade-long drought against the DLSU Green Archers with a 93-84 win on Saturday, improving to 2-0 in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament on Sept. 27 at the Araneta Coliseum.
The win halted a 17-game losing skid against La Salle, with UST’s last victory dating back to Oct. 11, 2015, in Season 78.
UST now sits atop the standings with a 2-0 record, while La Salle fell to 1-1.
Nic Cabañero spearheaded UST’s attack with 27 points and six rebounds on 11-of-20 shooting, while Collins Akowe powered inside with 20 points and 19 rebounds, helping the Tigers come back from down 12 to secure the win.
“The darkest part of the game was when we were down by 10, but as you saw, the UST last year was different from the UST this year,” UST assistant coach Peter Martin said. “Medyo mas confident na kami dito sa laro na ito.”
After UST grabbed a slim 9-8 lead early, La Salle responded behind Jacob Cortez, who sparked a 14-5 burst to give the Archers a 22-14 cushion in the first quarter.
Trailing 37-27, Cabañero erupted with seven straight points to trim the gap to 37-34. Though the Tigers kept pace for the rest of the frame, La Salle maintained its four-point halftime edge, 4945, after a Gian Gomez jumper.
The Archers stretched their lead to 68-56 early in the third, but UST stormed back with a 16-6 rally fueled by Amiel Acido, Akowe, and Cabañero, slicing the deficit to a single possession, 74-72, entering the fourth.
With 8:14 left, Kyle Paranada drained a free throw to seize UST’s first lead since the opening minutes, 79-78.
From there, the Tigers seized control, launching a 14-3 closing run to shut the door on La Salle’s final push and secure the breakthrough win.
Cortez led La Salle with 17 points, while Earl Abadam chipped in 11.
For UST, Acido added 13 points on three triples, while Forthsky Padrigao notched 12 points in his season debut after serving a one-game suspension in the opener against UP.
The Tigers missed rookie Koji Buenaflor due to a viral infection.
UST greats Obiena, Rondina lead opening lighting ceremony of UAAP Season 88
By Joaquin Edgardo A. Cortez
THOMASIAN SPORTS legends from different eras, including two-time Olympian EJ Obiena and volleyball great Sisi Rondina, made their return to their alma mater as they led the UAAP Season 88 torch relay and cauldron lighting on Friday, Sept. 19, during the opening ceremonies at the UST Grandstand.
Joining them were Jervy Cruz, a cornerstone of the Growling Tigers’ 2006 championship squad, and “Sambo Queen” Sydney Sy. Obiena, alongside UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P., spearheaded the declaration of the Season 88 opening and lit the ceremonial cauldron.
It was Obiena’s first time back at UST since the Olympic-themed Paskuhan in 2024, where he ignited the torch in front of the University’s historic Main Building.
UAAP President Fr. Rodel Cansancio, O.P. said the ceremony drew
inspiration from the Olympic tradition, with the torch relay and cauldron serving as emblems of both hope and athletic spirit.
“The torch lighting symbolizes the spark of hope and guidance that ignites the opening of the UAAP games,” Cansancio told the Varsitarian. “It serves as a potent symbol of inspiration, motivation, and a call to action for our athletes and participants.”
“[EJ Obiena’s appearance] was well-received by the Thomasian community. That’s why we brought him again here.”
Obiena will next compete in the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge at the Ayala Triangle in Makati on Sept. 21.
Rondina, once the captain of the Golden Tigresses, remains one of the UAAP’s most decorated athletes, having collected four beach volleyball titles along with four MVP honors.
In 2019, she secured the Season 81 Indoor Volleyball MVP crown
and was hailed Athlete of the Year — the only female recipient of the award that season.
Today, Rondina plays for the Choco Mucho Flying Titans in the PVL, where she was recognized as MVP in 2023, while continuing to represent Alas Pilipinas.
Cruz, who helped power the Growling Tigers to the UAAP Season 69 championship and later won the league’s 2007 MVP award, built a 13-year career in the PBA, capturing four titles before joining the Basilan Viva Portmasters in the MPBL.
Sy, a former UST Lady Judoka, claimed Rookie of the Year in 2019 and went on to win four UAAP championships. She later shifted to sambo, where she rose to the top of the women’s +80 kg world rankings under the International Sambo Federation.
The festivities also included the athletes’ parade, a live concert, a fireworks show, and other activities.
Gilas Youth prospects from Tiger Cubs declared ineligible for UAAP this year
By Rob Andrew L. Dongiapon
THE UST Tiger Cubs roster took a hit just days before UAAP Season 88 as Raj Sidhu and Everaigne Cruz, two Gilas Pilipinas Youth prospects, were declared ineligible to play for the season.
Originally listed on the Tiger Cubs’ Season 88 roster, Sidhu, Cruz, and fellow top recruit Roi Balague were ruled ineligible by the league due to academic deficiencies after failing multiple subjects and repeating their Grade 10 year. According to head coach Noli Mejos, the team learned about the players’ ineligibility only a few days before the junior high school basketball tournament began, forcing an urgent roster adjustment.
“Nalaman lang namin noong malapit na ‘yong season,” Mejos told the Varsitarian. “Wala man tayong magawa kasi nasa papel na, may documents talaga na hindi talaga puwede makalaro.”
“Sayang kasi malaki sana ‘yong
lineup namin. Naghanap agad kami ng kapalit sa lineup pero syempre buong offseason namin sila na ‘yong inasahan namin maglaro kaya sayang talaga.”
Cruz, who participated with Gilas in the FIBA Asia Cup Under-16 tournament last month, stands 6-foot-2 and had been part of the team’s guard rotation during the offseason.
Balague, a 6-foot-5 big man, would have served as UST’s backup center behind David Regala, according to Mejos.
All three players are 16 years old.
Mejos noted that the trio will advance to the senior high squad next season under coach Manu Inigo.
This development follows the departure of Nicson Cabañero, the team’s former captain, who transferred to Cowaglegio de San Juan de Letran due to academic issues at UST.
“Supposedly, dapat sila Cruz, Sidhu, tapos Cabañero nasa starters ko. Sila ginagamit ko sa offseason. Tapos nawala si Cabañero, so nag-adjust ako. Tapos nawala ulit si Cruz at Sidhu, so
ngayon, adjust ulit sa kung sino ‘yong natira,” Mejos said. Despite losing key players, the Tiger Cubs remain among the top contenders this season, dominating their first two games against the UPIS Fighting Maroons, 114-61, and the DLSZ Junior Archers, 91-70. Since the season began, the team has relied on Miguel Jubilado, Rowie Cabañero, Hans Villacarlos, Gab Castro, and Christian Guinto as their starting five.
Tigresses add size, speed for better prospects
By Miguel Angelo B. Marco
THE UST Growling Tigresses, under head coach Haydee Ong’s system, have long been known for their small-ball schemes, but as they chase the UAAP crown in Season 88, they’re banking on a mix of added size and speed.
UST strengthened its lineup with 6-foot-4 center Oma Onianwa and 5-foot-8 Erinn McAlary, bringing height to a core that already features 5-foot-11 Chille Serrano and the Danganan sisters, Coi (5-foot-7) and Kai (5-foot-9).
“We will still run the same runand-gun game, Ong told the Varsitarian. “At the same time, mahilig tayo mag-full court press. Pero this time, may size na tayo … with the integration of Oma, Erinn, and Barby (Dajao). I think very mobile naman si Oma, and she suits that kind of system.”
Onianwa was a force in UST’s offseason stint in the inaugural Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (WMPBL), capped by a 17-point, eight-rebound performance in Game 2 of the finals against Pilipinas Aguilas. Onianwa also bagged Mythical Five honors in the Pinoyliga Global Cup Invitationals and claimed MVP in the 2025 RP League Conqueror’s Classic title game.
Meanwhile, McAlary flashed her range in the WMPBL, highlighted by an 11-point outing on three triples versus the Solar Home Suns.
Both are set to provide depth to a roster still led by Kent Pastrana and Eka Soriano, For Ong, the key is full commitment to the pace she wants for the Tigresses.
“Because I really like to shoot transition threes because that’s the very hardest thing to defend, ‘yong mga transition,” Ong said. “And we will stick to that as well this coming season; that is why we give time and importance talaga sa mga shooting practices namin.”
The Tigresses fell to the NU Lady Bulldogs in the Season 87 finals in three games, a year after claiming the championship in Season 86.
“With that loss noong last season, I think we are now more matured,” Ong said. “Especially sila Kent and Eka on their last playing year since they are guiding the younger ones na.”
Last year, the Tiger Cubs reached the junior high school basketball finals but fell to the UE Junior Warriors in a three-game series.
“Umaasa ako sa mga natitira. Kailangan ko sila pagalingin para makabalik ulit tayo sa Finals. Kailangan namin mag-practice. Kahit mag-away pa kami sa practice, okay lang, basta gumaling silang lahat,” Mejos said.
“Kailangan mas focus kami ngayon kasi
“The loss last season gave us the experience on how to bounce back, bounce forward.”
Rounding out the squad are Brigette Santos, Karylle Sierba, Nicole Danganan, Rachelle Ambos, Agatha Bron, CJ Maglupay, Ayesha Pescador, Breana Pineda, and Gin Relliquette.
“‘Yong composition ng team, wala naman for us kung rookie or senior ka na,” Ong said. “At the end of the day, kung sino ‘yong nag-work hard at sino yung magandang performance, we will give playing time to them,” Ong said.
nakatingin sa amin mga kalaban. Focus lang kami sa pagpapalakas.”
► From left to right: Sisi Rondina and EJ Obiena.
— PHOTOS BY ETHAN JOSHUA NIKHOLAI F. GUISAMA & JAN KRISTOPHER T. ESGUERRA
► Two Gilas Pilipinas Youth prospects Raj Sidhu and Everaigne Cruz.
— ART BY AIDAN RAPHAEL F.. CALUYO
► Haydee Ong — UAAP PHOTO
