2
NEWS
The Varsitarian
EDITOR: JOHN EZEKIEL J. HIRRO
SEPTEMBER 7, 2019
Students can now borrow up to 15 books from UST library THE UST Miguel de Benavides Library has relaxed its circulation policy, allowing students to check out as many as 15 books at a time starting Aug. 16. Ma. Cecilia Lobo, chief librarian, said the new policy was in response to clamor from students and faculty members. “We decided based on the demand…of the faculty members who were asking why only six or 10 [books] were allowed to be borrowed at once. The students were asking as well, so [we decided to have the new policy] so we can also utilize the resources of the library,” she told the Varsitarian. Administrative officials, members of the Dominican community and faculty members are now allowed to borrow a maximum of five newly acquired books for a week, which can be renewed for an additional week. They can also borrow up to 20 circulation books for a week, which can be renewed for a threeweek period if the items have not yet been reserved. Graduate School, Civil Law and Medicine students are allowed to borrow five new acquisitions for three days, with a three-day extension, and 15 circulation books for a week that can be renewed for a three-week period. Undergraduate and high school students are allowed to borrow three
newly acquired books for three days, which can be renewed for an additional three days, and a maximum of 10 circulation books for five days, which can be renewed for a 15-day period. Support staff can borrow up to three newly acquired books for a period of two days, which can be renewed for another two days, and a maximum of 10 circulation books for two days, which can be renewed for another six days. Statistics from the library showed a decrease in the total number of books borrowed, from 84,520 books in Academic Year 2017-2018, to 71,856 books in Academic Year 20182019. The Faculty of Arts and Letters had the most number of books borrowed last academic year, at 14,954 books, followed by the Senior High School and the Graduate School with 6,342 and 6,039 books, respectively. Lobo said the library received good feedback from faculty members because of the new policy, and was expecting the same from students. “The faculty members and students who are doing research will most likely benefit from the new policy since they can now borrow more books,” she said. CHARM RYANNE C. MAGPALI AND RAIMEE ROSE L. ARUGAY WITH REPORTS FROM AHMED KHAN CAYONGCAT
Dominican leads new batch of ‘V’ editors THE VARSITARIAN, the official student publication of the University, will be led by its first-ever Dominican editor on its 91st year. Eugene Dominic Aboy, OP, from the Ecclesiastical Faculties, will take the helm as the publication’s editor in chief. Former circle writer Katrina Gonzales is the new associate editor, while Information Technology sophomore John Ezekiel Hirro was appointed concurrent News and Online editor. Second-year Journalism student Faith Yuen Wei Ragasa was named new Sports Editor. Jiselle Anne Casucian, a communication arts sophomore, will handle the Features and Circle sections as editor. Joselle Czarina de la Cruz from the UST Graduate School remains editor of the Filipino section. She was also named editor of the Witness (religion) section. Advertising seniors Mary Jazmin Tabuena and Jury Salaya were appointed chief photographer and art director, respectively. The News section is composed of Medical technology sophomore Ahmed Khan Cayongcat and second-year journalism students Charm Magpali and Camille Abiel Torres. Faculty of Arts and Letters sophomores Malic Cotongan (history) and Rommel Bong Fuertes (journalism) were named Sports writers. Second-year political science student Klyra Orbien will write for the Special Reports section. Ma. Jasmine Trisha Nepomuceno, a music theater major, and Asian Studies sophomore Neil Joshua Servallos are this year’s writers for the Features section. Economics sophomore Leigh Anne Dispo will write for the Literary section. Second-year journalism students Ma. Alena Castillo and Mariel Celine Serquiña are this year’s Witness writers.
Jade Veronique Yap, another journalism sophomore, will write for the Science and Technology section. Nolene Beatrice Crucillo of the College of Tourism and Hospitality Management and journalism major Neil Paolo Gonzales will write for the Circle section. This year’s artists are Mariane Jane Cadiz from Commerce; Alisa Joy del Mundo, Catherine Paulene Umali and Edward Jefferson Uy from the College of Fine Arts and Design; and Gwyneth Fiona Luga from Artlets. Sophomores Nadine Anne Deang (communication arts), Jean Gilbert Go (food technology), Renzelle Shayne Picar (advertising arts), Bianca Jolene Redondo (marketing management), Arianne Maye Viri (medical technology), and Torres, along with civil engineering freshman Marvin John Uy comprise the Photography section. Journalism sophomore Jessica Asprer was named editorial assistant. Joselito Zulueta, Philippine Daily Inquirer Arts and Books editor, and Journalism program head Felipe Salvosa II remain the V’s adviser and assistant publications adviser, respectively. To qualify for the Varsitarian, the staff underwent a three-level selection process consisting of two examinations, a panel interview and other activities. Lawyer Eldric Paul Peredo, former Varsitarian editor in chief, led this year’s selection committee. Members of the committee included former Varsitarian editor in chief Christian Esguerra of the UST journalism program and ABS-CBN, Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies Director Cristina Pantoja-Hidalgo, Palanca awardee Carlomar Arcangel Daoana, former Varsitarian associate editor, and Prof. Joyce Arriola, Director of the UST Research Center for Culture, Arts and Humanities. JOHN EZEKIEL HIRRO
The 22-storey tall Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, O.P. Building stands along España boulevard. PHOTO BY M.J.F. UY
New building welcomes 5,531 SHS students By Charm Ryanne C. Magpali THE UNIVERSITY officially opened the doors of the new Senior High School (SHS) building to 3,531 Grade 11 students at the start of Academic Year 2019-2020.
The Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, O.P. Building, named after the patron of the UST Senior High School, stands 22 storeys tall — the highest among UST buildings. “The learning environment, the faculty, pedagogical innovations and Thomasian culture [all in the new building will] contribute not [only] to the enrollment numbers but [also] to the meaningful stay of students in UST,” Asst. Prof. Mary Erika Bolaños, SHS principal, told the Varsitarian. The building, which cost an estimated P2 billion according to UST Rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P., has a lobby, a cafeteria on the 5th floor, and classrooms on the 10th to 14th floors. The 10th to 14th floors each contain at least 16 smart classrooms as well as an organization room, a thesis or consultation room and a guidance counselors’ office. The SHS has introduced the “Wipe Out Waste” or WOW Project to promote a zero-waste environment
through the reduction of the use of plastics and containers. Other facilities like a two-storey library, chapel, gym, auditorium, science (biology, chemistry, physics and physiology-anatomy) and computer laboratories are still under construction. A footbridge that will link the Frassati building to the main campus is also in the works. The Blessed Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building, which housed Grade 11 students, is now occupied by the Grade 12 students who were previously dispersed to different college buildings. Growing pains Maxine Rose Gonzales, a student from the Accountancy and Business Management (ABM) strand, said her experience in the building so far had been “fun yet a little bit exhausting.” “In the classroom, the atmosphere is different from the ones I’ve stayed in before, [and] since the chairs and tables are colorful [and] can be rearranged to make a circle, group activities [are made] easier and more collaborative,” she said. Gonzales said the exhausting part was the long queues at the elevators in the morning and during breaks. Alexandra Alcazar, a Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) stu-
dent, said it was very difficult to go to the building as the overpass that would connect the Frassati building to the main campus was still under construction. The ongoing constructions on the Frassati building are another concern. “[N]asa taas lang namin ‘yung construction kaya nawawala po kami sa focus and pati yung mga [professors] nahihirapan magdiscuss,” Lyana Salazar, a Grade 11 student from the Health Allied strand, told the Varsitarian. However, a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics student told the Varsitarian that despite the new building being situated outside the walls of the University and still undergoing construction, she feels safe within it. “[N]apakaraming guards inside and outside the building, and [they are also] strict sa pagsuot ng I.D. at sa paglabas ng [students sa] building,” Melody Castro said. The Frassati building is the first UST building to be erected outside the walls of the Manila campus since the end of World War 2. The building’s construction began on October 2017. It is expected to be completed in December this year or early 2020.
Thomasians land in top 4 of eng’g boards A THOMASIAN placed third in the August-September licensure examinations for electrical engineers, while the University was third among the top-performing schools. Derrick Munar Ramos led the new batch of Thomasian electrical engineers with a 91.85-percent score. UST recorded a 97.92-percent passing rate with 94 of 96 examinees making the cut. Last year, UST was the top-performing school with all 73 takers acing the test. Mikhael Glen Lataza of University of San Carlos topped this year’s exams with a 92.60-percent score. Meanwhile, another Thomasian placed fourth in the August 2019 licensure exams for mechanical engineers, while the University kept the fourth spot among top-performing schools. Caryl Patrick Rivera led the newest batch of Thomasian mechanical engineers with a 93.55-percent score. UST got a 94.29-percent passing rate with 132 of out of 140 Thomasian examinees making the cut. Last year, 102 out of 117 examinees passed. Batangas State University in Alangilan was named top-performing school this year after posting a 100-per-
Ramos
Rivera
cent passing rate. All 81 of its examinees made the cut. Lester Toledo of the Cebu Institute of Technology-University emerged as the topnotcher, with a 94.65-percent score. The national passing rate rose to 70.65 percent or 3,928 out of 5,560 examinees, from last year’s 60.81 percent or 3,092 out of 5,084. NEIL JOSHUA N. SERVALLOS AND CHARM RYANNE C. MAGPALI