FACE-TO-FACE graduation ceremonies and Baccalaure ate Masses will be held at the Sampaloc campus in June for the first time since 2019, the Office of the Secretary General has announced. In a media briefing, UST Sec retary General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P. said the University Crisis Management Committee headed by UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. had approved the conduct of the face-to-face (F2F) rites.
IT’S OFFICIAL:
Each student will be allowed to have two guests during the Cardinal Advincula leads 2022 Total Awards recipients UST PAID tribute to exceptional graduates at The Outstanding Thomasian Alumni (Total) Awards on May 14, with UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. calling the theing“luminaries”awardeesand“livtreasures”ofUniversity. partially opens St. John Paul II building
UST MARKS 75TH YEAR AS ‘THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES’
The in-person rites will be held for all graduates of batches 2020 to 2022 on the tertiary, post-Baccalaureate and graduate levels.For the senior high school, only Batch 2022 will have F2F rites as Coronel said earlier batches already had virtual ceremonies.TwoBaccalaureate Masses will be held: one on Friday, June 3, at 4 p.m., for Batch 2022, and one on Saturday, June 4, at 4 p.m. for Batch 2020 and Batch 2021. Solemn investiture rites will be held from June 6 to 30. The send-off will include the traditional exit through the Arch of the Centuries, a custom that was conducted virtually via UST Minecraft last year.
THE UNIVERSITY on April 30 marked its 75th anniversary as “The Catholic University of the Philippines,” a title given to it by Pope Pius XII in 1947. The conferment was made known to the archbishop of Manila, Msgr. Michael J O’Doherty, through a letter signed by Joseph Cardinal Pizzardo of the Sacred Congregation of Seminaries and Univer sity “InStudies.theaudience that I had with the Holy Father on the 27th of April, I asked and obtained from His Holiness (Pope Pius XII) the title of The Catholic University of the Philippine Islands, for your University,” Pizzardo said in the 1947“Iletter.pray and wish that the Catholic University may be glory for the Holy Church and an object of pride for you,” he continued.Thetitlewas “in recognition of the work that the University has been doing for the education of the youth, its outstanding accomplishments in vari ous fields of learning, and its constant efforts to forge ahead in the all-import ant task of giving adequate Catholic education to the country’s youth,” UST Secretary General Fr. Louie R. Coronel, O.P. said in a circular last March 14, quoting the September 1956 issue of The VarsitarianCoronelmagazine.notedthat during the cele bration of the 350th anniversary of UST in 1961, Pope St. John XXIII called UST “the most resplendent light of Christian Wisdom.”Also,Zenon Cardinal Grocholewski, papal envoy to the UST Quadricentenni al celebration, underscored in 2011 the qualities of a Catholic University as “a continued reflection in the light of the Catholic Faith, fidelity to the Christian message, and institutional commit ment,” he said.
NEWS ► PAGE 2 Hospital
THE ST. John Paul II building, the UST Hospital’s (USTH) 11-story extension, was partially opened to the public on the University’s Christmas Concert, “From Trials to Triumphs, SCREENSHOTS
April EDITORIAL30. ► PAGE 4 How polldubiousabettedComelecMarcosvictory PAGE 10► ► Front page of the June 27, 1947 issue of The Varsitarian ► UST musical groups perform during
FROM THE BROADCAST 75TH YEAR PAGE 2 ► GRADUATION PAGE 9 ► GRADUATION 2022 ► PAGE 2 Everything to know about this MassesBaccalaureateyear’s
The University will not stage a fireworks display, Coronel said. “[T]he Baccalaureate Masses are planned to be as solemn and as austere as possible,” he said.
In-person graduation season set in June
“The title of ‘The Catholic Universi ty’ bestowed upon UST is not just a very special privilege granted by the Pope, but also a responsibility to fulfill the mission of preaching the Good News of Our Lord,” Coronel said. “For more than four centuries now, Thomasians have been known, not only for their competence but also in their commitment and compassion in serving the Church and the country. We have produced not only heroes and presidents for the nation and leaders for the various professions and industries, but also generation upon generation of good Christians, among them seventeen
► Front page of the June 27, 1947 issue of The Varsitarian.issueJunePageVarsitarian.issueJunepageVarsitarian.ofthe27,1947ofTheofthe27,1947ofThe SCREENSHOTS FROM THE BROADCAST Medicine, English language, literature programs land in QS world subject rankings
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ACTING NEWS EDITOR: JACQUELINE B. MARTINEZNEWS2 THE VARSITARIANMAY 15, 2022
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THE UNIVERSITY was the fifthbest among law schools with more than 100 first-time examinees in the 2020/21 Bar examinations.
Of the 216 Thomasians who took the examinations for the first time, 201 passed, or a 93.06-per cent passing rate. Former Varsitarian editor in chief Lord Bien Lelay and sports writer Mary Athena de Paz were among those who made it to the roster of new lawyers.
Master of the Order of Preachers Fr. Gerard Timoner III, O.P. led the Eucharistic celebration for the inau guration of the new building. In his homily, Timoner said hos pitals are part of evangelical work and institutions for preaching the gospel since taking care of the sick is both a corporal and spiritual work of mercy. “By our care for the bodies of those who are sick, we are also taking care of their souls so that they may be affirmed that their bodies are sacred, that their bodies are holy,” said Timoner.USTHospital CEO Fr. Julius Paul Factora, O.P. said that with the open ing of the extension building, UST Hospital wanted to “bridge the gaps” in the country’s healthcare system. “The building itself will not be our legacy, but through this newest build ing, we plan to have a legacy that will improve not just our patient services but to emphasize, once again, that we are the premier teaching hospital in the Asian region, a legacy that invests and capitalizes on the expertise of our medical staff,” he said in his opening message.Theconstruction of the St. John Paul II building was approved by the University’s Board of Trustees in 2011 and broke ground in 2013. It was originally set to open in 2020 but was delayed for several rea sons, including the pandemic.
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THE UNIVERSITY’S medicine and English language and literature programs secured spots in the 2022 Quacquarelli-Symonds (QS) world subject rankings. UST’s medicine program appeared in the rankings for the fourth consecutive year. It slipped from the 601-650 bracket last year to the 651-670 class this year. The University of the Philippines (UP) remained in the 301-350 bracket. UP still has the most programs in the rankings among Philippine schools with 21, an increase from last year’s 15. The University’s English language and literature programs ranked for the first time in the 301-320 bracket, the fourth best in the AteneoPhilippines.deManila University, De La Salle University, and UP were the top schools for English language and literature subjects in the Philippines, all ranking in the 151-200 range. Ateneo placed in four other areas: modern languages (201250), arts and humanities (327), social sciences and management (393), and business and management studies (401-450). La Salle was ranked 201250 in linguistics, 301-330 in
THE ST. John Paul II building, the UST Hospital’s (USTH) 11-story extension, was partially opened to the public on April 30.
UST has the third high est number of COEs among Philippine universities, trailing the University of the Philip pines with 27 programs and De La Salle University with 14 programs.According to the commis sion’s website, programs recog nized as COEs are those within higher education institutions that record excellent perfor mance in instruction, research and publication, extension and linkages, and institutional qualifications.
UST also has 13 Centers of Development (CODs), or pro grams that demonstrate the po tential to become COEs in the future. These are civil engineer ing, communication, computer science, electrical engineering, electronics engineering, indus trial engineering, information technology, information sys tems, journalism, library and information science, literature, mechanical engineering, and physicalProgramstherapy.with COE and COD designations may be prioritized in selecting As of 2022, the following program areas of UST are classified as COEs: Biologypage of the June 27, 1947 issue of The Varsitarian. page of the June 27, 1947 issue of The Varsitarian. Page of the June 27, 1947 issue of The Varsi tarian.
Hospital partially opens St. John Paul II building
“Isang mahabang prusisyon at isang napaka-habang proseso ang pagtatayo ng building na ito na sin imulan pa noong quadricentennial. Mahigit isang dekada, samu’t saring mga dahilan ang matutukoy natin kung bakit inabot ng matagal kasama na ang disyenso at ang pagdating ng pandemya. Anuman ang mga dahilan, nagpapasalamat tayo sa araw na ito sa araw ng pagbubukas ng ilang UST among top schools in 2020/21 Bar exams
Ateneo de Manila University ranked first among law schools that fielded more than 100 exam inees after posting a 99.64-percent passing rate, or 279 out of 280 examinees.Theexemplary and excellent lists replaced the traditional top 10 for this year’s Bar exam inations, which were conducted digitally for the first time. A total of 761 examinees recorded scores of 85 to 90 percent and made it to the exemplary list. According to the UST Civil Law Student Council, among the exemplary passers were 26 Thomasians.Fourteen examinees were included in the excellent list, for examinees who scored more than 90 percent in the examinations. The University of the Phil ippines Diliman had the most examinees in the two lists, with 147 exemplary passers and four excellent passers.
-----------EngineeringChemicalChemistryHotelandRestaurantManagementMedicalTechnologyMedicineMusicNursingPharmacyPhilosophyPsychologyTeacherEducationTourism ► Front
ALEXANDRA L. MANGASAR
UST CHEdAward’Excellence‘Qualityreceivesfrom
THE UNIVERSITY has re ceived the “Quality Excellence Award” from the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) for having 13 of its program areas classified as Centers of Excellence (COEs) in the Philippines.These13 COEs have “valu able contributions in uplifting and sustaining quality and ex cellence in higher education in their respective programs, dis ciplines, and areas of responsi bility,” CHEd executive director Cinderella Benitez-Jaro told UST Chancellor Fr. Gerard Timoner III, O.P. in a letter.
The national passing rate rose to a 20-year record high 72.28 per cent (8,241 of 11,402) from 2019’s 27.36 percent (2,103 of 7,685). The examinations were held on Feb. 4 and 6 at local testing sitesAnnationwide.undisclosed number of examinees were disqualified from the examinations for violating the exam policies set by the Office of the Bar Chairperson and the honor code.
THE UNIVERSITY reaped 28 awards in the 9th Philippine Student Quill Awards, which recognizes sterling communication-related works by students from all over the country.
A GROUP of senior accountancy students placed third in the Exceed 2022 Accounting Challenge: Quiz Bee hosted by the Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants – De La Salle University (JPIA-DLSU) on May 21 via Zoom. The team of Rovi Vitug, Ephraim Salvador and Matthew Obligacion competed against 73 other teams from 42 schools from all over the “Unexpectedcountry.[‘yung panalo] kasi may mga topics pa rin na hindi naman namin natackle sa mga courses namin. Sa dami ng teams na very competent, talagang mababa lang ang chance na makapasok kami,” Salvador told the Varsitarian.Accountancy students Charles Mina, Joseph Ogrimen, Rainier Balistoy, James Martin, Raena Pan ganiban, and Marc Caperlac also joined the quiz competition. Students from the University of the Philippines Visayas Taclo ban College bagged the quiz bee championship, while Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila’s represen tatives finished second. The champion team received a cash prize of P9,000, while the second-and third-placers received P6,000 and P3,000, respectively.
CHRISTINE JOYCE A. PARAS
JOANNE CHRISTINE P. RAMOS
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(17) beatified and canonized saints. Let us continue to fulfill our mission to love,” he added. Former UST Secretary General Fr. Jesus Miranda, O.P. said the title serves as a “reminder of the com mitment of the University to embed Catholic values even in its civil pro grams and the degrees it offers [and] observe the practices of the Catholic liturgical and sacramental life.” “A Catholic school needs to be instrumental in the serious and con scious discernment of its members concerning what they can contribute to the intellectual and ecumenical tradition of the Church,” Miranda wrote in his April 24 column for The Manila“TheTimes.privilege of having the title ‘Catholic’ is truly something to be held in high esteem but this honor should be matched with diligence, prudence and fidelity,” he added.
Graduationyear
‘The Marcos project to revise history has just begun’
The Varsitarian, UST’s 94-yearold official student publication, won four awards, including one under the digital communication category for its website.Three Varsitarian stories bagged awards in the writing category, namely: “After 15 years, gates of Heaven’s Touch to close,” “Breaking down fees for UST’s enriched virtual mode” and “UST, UP scientists call on gov’t to consult with scientists on development projects.” Eleven entries from the Tiger Media Network and four each from TomasinoWeb and TOMCAT collected awards.
UST wins 28 awards in 9th Student Quill; ‘V’ reaps 4 awards
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Accountancy seniors place 3rd in nat’l quiz bee
De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, which won 37 awards, was the school with the most awards. Trailing Benilde and UST were Far Eastern University with 19 awards and De La Salle University – Dasmariñas, Lyceum of the Philippines University – Batangas, and Holy Angel University with two awards each. The Philippine Student Quill is the junior division of the prestigious Philippine Quill Awards, an annual awards program for business commu nication.Organized by the Philippine chap ter of the International Association of Business Communicators, the Student Quill follows a rigid seven-point scor ing system set by the International Gold Quill Awards, which are given to top corporations across the globe. The awarding ceremony will be held virtually in July 2022.
► Journalism and communications scholar Crispin Maslog delivers his speech during the 2022 The Outstanding Thomasian Alumni (Total) Awards. SCREENSHOT FROM THE EVENT’S LIVESTREAM► Journalism and communications scholar Crispin Maslog delivers his speech during the 2022 The Outstand ing Thomasian Alumni (Total) Awards. SCREENSHOT FROM THE EVENT’S LIVESTREAM-
The Exceed Accounting Chal lenge: Quiz Bee is a quiz contest hosted by the JPIA-DLSU during the annual DLSU accounting convention for business leaders.
PRESUMPTIVE PRESIDENT Ferdi nand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s ploy to rebrand his family’s image has just begun, journalism and communica tions scholar Crispin Maslog warned on May 14. In his speech during the 2022 The Outstanding Thomasian Alumni (Total) Awards, Maslog, the first Filipino journalist to obtain a doctorate degree in mass commu nication, said Marcos Jr.’s election victory was a product of his “army” of trolls.TheMarcoses, he noted, tapped the political data company Cam bridge Analytica to rebrand the Marcos family image in social media as early as 2014, citing former Cam bridge Analytica director turned whistleblower Brittany Kaiser. This year marks the 36th year since millions of Filipinos gathered on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) to oust the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and restore democracy in the Philippines. “I must say that it pains me to see another Marcos as the next pres ident of the Philippines. It seems like only yesterday in 1986 when my wife and I, with our two young children, rallied at EDSA and kicked the older Marcos out of the country,” said“ThereMaslog.are lessons to be learned, certainly. Some say that we did not treasure the lessons of EDSA enough and that EDSA was a failure,” he added. Maslog said the Marcos trolls and their huge social media reach have led to the erasure of the coun try’s dark experience during Martial Law and the exaggeration of the late dictator’sMarcosachievements.andhisrunning mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duter te-Carpio, led the partial and unoffi cial tally of votes in the presidential and vice-presidential races. Both of them obtained over 31 million votes. Trailing them were Vice Pres ident Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo with 14.8 million votes and her running mate, Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, with 9.2 million votes. ‘Magnificent VP Leni rallies’ In his speech, Maslog acknowl edged the volunteerism that arose during Robredo’s campaign rallies. “It was a volunteer-driven campaign that brought hundreds of thousands of pink-clad supporters,” Maslog said. The scholar also mentioned the parallelisms between the time of former president Corazon Aquino in 1986.“Both women were widows, both were running against a Marcos and both inspired volunteerism. Unfortunately, the parallelism ends there. Corazon Aquino won, and Leni did not,” said Maslog. “Is it true that the impressive rallies did not cascade enough votes to sweep VP Leni to power? We’re left in shock askingMaslogwhy.”is one of the 10 recip ients of the Total Award this year. He was cited under the media and entertainment category. The Total Award is the highest honor bestowed by the University upon its alumni in recognition of their “significant and exemplary contribution” to society and the Church.Maslog obtained his journalism degree from the University in 1956 and is a former Varsitarian news editor. He earned his doctorate from the University of Minnesota in the United States in 1967. Maslog worked in several publications including the Agence France-Press, Negros Express, the Philippines Herald, the Manila Times, the Philippine Free Press, and the Philippine Graphic. He founded Silliman Universi ty’s journalism school and became senior vice president and dean of the graduate school of the Asian Institute of Journalism and Com munication.Healsobecame a professor at the University of the Philippines Los Baños and taught journalism and development communication. Maslog is the chairman of the Asian Media Information and Communication Centre.
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Several entries from the Univer sity’s journalism and communica tion arts students were also named winners.USTAngelicum bagged seven awards for its 4th Media Congress, “Tanglaw sa Dilim,” “Litratotoo: Ang Pinakamahabang Lockdown sa Mun do,” “Unmasked: Pandemic spoken word poetries,” “Kapoy Na,” “Ang Daan at si Tatay Alan” and “Angel in Disguise.”
NEWS 3 THE VARSITARIAN MAY 15, 2022
The title “Catholic” was the third title bestowed to UST after King Charles III of Spain conferred upon it the “Royal” title in 1785 and Pope Leo XIII the “Pontifical” title in 1902.
EDUELLE JAN T. MACABABBAD graduation rites. All attendees are required to be at least fully vaccinat ed (two shots of two-dose vaccines or one Janssen shot). Coronel said local graduation committees of each academic unit would conduct their respective virtu al orientations among the partici pants of the F2F rites. Should a surge prompt the government to prohibit schools from mounting in-person graduation cer emonies, Coronel said the University would reschedule the rites. “Just in case magkaroon ng surge […] we will reschedule to the best pos sible schedule after that. So ngayon, buong June siya, baka maging July or kahit mag-opening na tayo ng [class es by] August, pwede pa naman n’un,” CoronelMetrosaid.Manila is under Alert Level 1 until May 30. The University is preparing for the attendance of the 4,722 graduates of Batch 2020, 2,553 graduates of Batch 2021, and those from the pool of 10,480 students who can complete their requirements for graduation to join Batch 2022. The default uniform requirement for students in the Baccalaureate Mass attendees will be their Type A uniforms. Graduates will also be asked to provide their measurements for their togas. FROM 1► 75th
FOUNDED JANUARY 16, 1928 Joselito B. Zulueta Publications Adviser
EDITORIAL EDITORIAL PAGE 10 ►
4 THE VARSITARIANMAY 15, 2022 EDITORIAL Felipe F. Salvosa II, Christian V. Esguerra Assistant Publications Advisers John Ezekiel J. Hirro Editor in Chief Miguel Louis M. Galang Associate Editor Laurd Menhard B. Salen Managing Editor Jacqueline B. Martinez Acting News Editor Rommel Bong R. Fuertes Jr. Sports Editor Ahmed Khan H. Cayongcat Special Reports and Science & Technology Editor Jiselle Anne C. Casucian Features Editor Mariel Celine L. Serquiña Witness Editor Samantha Nichole G. Magbuhat Patnugot sa Filipino Nolene Beatrice H. Crucillo Circle Editor Renzelle Shayne V. Picar Chief Photographer Jan Kristopher T. Esguerra Art Director News Jamilah Mae B. Angco, Justin Benedict T. Lim, Christine Joyce A. Paras Faith Yuen Wei N. Ragasa, Joanne Christine P. Ramos Sports Anna Clarissa M. Barlam, Nicole Anne D.G. Bugauisan, James Paul R. Gomez, Jose Ama Alberto B. Rosario, Mark Ernest V. Villeza Special Reports Eduelle Jan T. Macababbad, John Aaron C. Pangilinan Features Judd Ericka Marie F. Crescini, Nina Angela Mikaela Cruz, Faith Nicole S. Gelacio, Jade Veronique V. Yap Literary Samantha Fatima C. Creencia, Alexandra L. Mangasar Witness Ma. Alena O. Castillo, Allyssa Mae C. Cruz Filipino Caitlin Dayne A. Contreras, Matthew G. Gabriel Science and Technology Louise Marie Therese B. Padillo, Adrian L. Parungao Circle Allaine Nicole C. Cruz, Charm Ryanne C. Magpali, Larissa Mae C. Tan Art Karl Joshua L. Aron, Zymon M. Gailo, Athea Monique Z. Gala, Gwyneth Fiona N. Luga, Jerome Carlo D. Macanaya, Christine Angelie P. Orines
How Comelec abetted dubious Marcos poll victory
Camille Abiel H. Torre, Marvin John F. Uy, Arianne Maye D.G. Viri Editorial Assistant Jessica C. Asprer
Photography Francia Denise M. Arizabal, Joselle Marie B. Reyes, Gillian Kin Q. Robles
THE 2022 national elections were marred by vote-buying complaints and malfunctioning vote-counting machines thanks to an incompetent Commission on Elections (Comelec). Because of the large number of votes that poured in for Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., there have been suspicions of voter fraud, especially since on the day of the election there were dozens of reports of vote-counting ma chines breaking down due to faulty SD cards and voters not being able to cast their votes despite showing up at the polling precinct at the crack of dawn. The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsi ble Voting (PPCRV), however, has so far found no irregularities in the presidential race count based on its manual audit and verification of election returns. Six years is ample time for the poll body to prepare for what has been called the “most crucial election” in recent Philippine history. Truly this one is for the history books as we will remember the Comelec’s gross incompetence which has caused the great ire and distress of many in the exercise of their constitutional right. We will also remember the greatest offense the Comelec committed against the Filipino people: when it chose to side with the plunder ers of the land and allowed another Marcos to run for president. The Comelec dismissed the disqualifica tion cases against Marcos Jr. for his conviction for failure to file his income tax returns, which is a crime of moral turpitude. The Comelec likewise refused to purge the presidential candidates’ list of nuisance candidates, among them Norberto Gonzales, Defense secretary of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the woman behind the “Uniteam” of Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte. The Comelec allowed a generous yet confusing choice for the presidential and vice-presidential races (confusing for the electorate) all in the name of democracy, but treated Marcos Jr. and Madam Duterte with kid gloves when they refused to participate in its ownOtherdebates.thanthe election itself, the debates were the real and direct practice of democracy and the chief vehicle for educating the voters so that they could vote wisely on May 9; but the Comelec in true pushover fashion (or is it in true Marcos-partisan fashion?) accepted the “Uniteam’s” notice of regrets, and did not do anything to compel them to debate. In 2016, Marcos Jr. was ahead in surveys of the vice-presidential race. but after the debates, he lost out to Robredo. This year, he not only refused to debate but he also turned down interviews by the independent news media, local and foreign. He gave access only to social media and so-called “influencers.” The debates and independent news media interviews would have challenged and exposed as fiction his claims of the “Marcos golden era,” his Oxford education, his legislative record, and political accomplishments. But he refused lest the corrupt tyrant’s scion be exposed as without clothes. The Marcoses’ campaign to reclaim Mala cañang Palace didn’t even begin last year when Marcos Jr. filed his certificate of candidacy, but rather it was a devious scheme 31 years in the making, beginning with the family’s return to the Philippines after their exile, to their come back to power in their bulwark in the north before finally settling in Congress. And the trump card that ultimately changed the game in favor of the Marcoses? Social media disinformation. When Marcos Jr. announced his candidacy for the presidency, the false narrative sur rounding the country’s so-called “golden age” under his father’s regime, which was already festering in the realms of social media, gained even more momentum as diehard supporters continuously distorted and erased the facts of that dark period in Philippine history across different social media platforms. Marcos Jr.’s resounding message throughout his campaign was “unity.” Indeed, we need to unite as Filipinos to safeguard our democracy. We need to unite in the fight against disinformation. We need to unite to preserve our history so that we will remember, and the generations after, the name that stole, killed and destroyed thousands of lives.
► Former Varsitarian editor in chief Bro. Eugene Dominic Aboy, O.P. profess es his vows to Fr. Filemon de la Cruz, O.P., head of the Filipino Dominicans, ng rites at the Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City on May 24 which coincided with the Memorial of the Translation of St. Dominic.
Pope Francis: Listen with the ears and the heart
“This mystery is also the source of great joy since I have my community with me, and of course, I am assured that Jesus is at my side on this road that he has called me to tread,” he added. During the solemn pro fession of vows, the brothers pledged to “dedicate [them selves] totally to God” and strive to perfect charity. The Dominican Province of the Philippines marked its gold en anniversary on Dec. 11, 2021. It was established on Dec. 8, 1971 as the 41st province of the Order of Preachers with Fr. Rogelio Alar con, O.P. as its first provincial.
► Journalism and communications scholar Crispin Maslog delivers his speech during the 2022 The Outstanding Thomasian Alumni (Total) Awards. SCREENSHOT FROM THE EVENT’S LIVESTREAM-
POPE FRANCIS reminded Catholics and media practitioners that listening is an essential element of dialogue and good communication in his homily for Ascension Sunday on May 29, which coincided with the 56th World Communications Day at St. Peter’s Square.
► Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Vi legas delivers his message for the Ambag 500 University-wide retreat on Wednesday.
By Miguel Louis M. Galang
LINGAYEN-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Ville gas urged Thomasians to allow the Lord to lead them when voting in the 2022 national polls, in his message for the Ambag 500 University-wide retreat on Wednesday. “My request to all of you is to take the Lord with you when you vote,” Villegas said. “The Lord wants to vote through you. Take the Lord with you when you decide. Look for Him among the candidates.”Villegassaid Thomasians should listen to their conscience because “your conscience is the voice of God that tells you [what] is right and wrong.”“When you vote, prove to everyone that the Lord has possessed you,” he said. “[I]t is not just that the Lord has taken you, but allow the Lord to rule over your life.” He told Thomasians to analyze this year’s THOMASIANS TOLD: ‘Look for the Lord among candidates’2022
5 THE VARSITARIAN MAY 15, 2022 WITNESSEDITOR: MARIEL CELINE L. SERQUIÑA
By Ma. Alena O. Castillo
“Listening to several voices, lis tening to each other, even in the Church, among brothers and sisters, allows us to exercise the art of dis cernment,” he added. After the Regina Coeli, the Pope invited the faithful to join him in praying the “Rosary for Peace” in Ukraine and around the world on May 31, during which he will pray the rosary before the statue of Mary Regina Pacis at the Basilica of St. Mary Major. “I invite the faithful, families, and communities to join this invo cation to obtain from God—through the intercession of the Queen of Peace—the gift which the world awaits,” he Evangelizationsaid. through digital mediaBishop Broderick Pabillo, apos tolic vicar of Taytay, Palawan, urged Catholics to make use of social me dia and mass media as a means of evangelization and to combat the spread of “Ngayondisinformation.nakikita natin na ginagamit ang social communica tion sa pagpalaganap ng katiwalian at kasinungalingan, [h]uwag tayong tatahimik,” Pabillo said in his hom ily at the Manila Cathedral. “Gamitin natin ang mga pama maraan ng panahon upang mabuk san ang puso at isip ng mga tao tung kol sa Diyos at tungkol sa kanyang pagkilos sa ating buhay,” he added. World Communications Day is celebrated annually on the Sunday before Pentecost. On Dec. 4, 1963, Inter Mirifica, the decree on social communi cation, was promulgated by Pope Paul VI during the Second Vatican Council, with the aim of addressing the concerns and problems of social communication.PopePaulVI established the cel ebration of World Communications Day in 1967 to recognize the impor tance of social communication in proclaiming the gospel. Ex-‘V’ EIC, 4 Indonesians among newly professed Dominican brothers
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By Mariel Celine L. Serquiña FORMER VARSITARIAN editor in chief Bro. Eugene Dominic Aboy, O.P. and six Dominican brothers professed to the Order of Preachers during rites at the Santo Domingo Church in Que zon City on May 24 which coin cided with the Memorial of the Translation of St. Dominic. In his homily, Fr. Filemon de la Cruz, O.P., head of the Filipi no Dominicans, urged the newly professed Dominican brothers to “embrace the life of Holiness” of St. Dominic, the founder of the Order. “I really pray and encourage you, wherever you go, even just in the community, living our day-to-day life, do not lose sight of the life that Dominic lived, [his] pursuit of holiness,” de la CruzAsidesaid. from Aboy, brothers Nico Paolo Moron, O.P., Domini co Xaverio Budoyo Satiawan, O.P., Tommy Riezky Tiyanto, O.P., Robertus Silveriano Raditya Dearbantolo, O.P., Gian Linardo Mari Estrella, O.P., and Diego Ardianto Halim, O.P. made their solemn profession to the order. The newly professed Domin ican brothers were told to “ex pect bigger “[T]here’sresponsibilities.”somuchfaith and hope in you, because we have the courage to move forward, to dream, to go perhaps to other places because we have you,” de la Cruz“Wesaid.are placing the life and mission, and the future of the Order on the hands of our younger brothers,” he added. Aboy served as editor of the Varsitarian from 2019 to 2020. “[I]t can be very daunting to make a lifelong commitment, [but] at the same time, this un certainty also gives a sense of mystery,” Aboy said.
“Knowing how to listen, besides being the first gesture of charity, is also the first indispensable ingre dient of dialogue and of good com munication: knowing how to listen, to let others say everything, not to cut them off halfway, knowing how to listen with the ears and with the heart,” the Pope said in his homily. “I hope that everyone may grow in this capacity to listen with the heart,” he added. In his message for this year’s World Communications Day re leased on Jan. 24, Pope Francis told media practitioners that “there is no good journalism without the ability to listen.”“Torecount an event or describe an experience in news reporting, it is essential to know how to listen, to be ready to change one’s mind, to modify one’s initial assumptions,” the Pope said.
GRADUATION 20226-7 MAY 15, 2022 SCHEDULE OF IN-PERSON BACCALAUREATE AND SOLEMN INVESTITURE BACCALAUREATE,4p.m.,UST , 4 p.m., UST
THE VARSITARIAN BACCALAUREATE MASSES INVESTITURE RITES BACCALAUREATE MASS UST Grandstand, for Batch 2022 Grandstand, for Batch 2020 and 2021
The Mass for batch 2022, the in coming graduating batch, will be pre sided by UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. on June 3, at 4 p.m., while the Mass for batches 2020 and 2021 will be led by UST Vice Chancellor Fr. Filemon de la Cruz, O.P. on June 4, at 4 p.m. All attendees must be at least ful ly vaccinated (two shots of two-dose vaccines or one Janssen/Sputnik Light shot).For the pre-Mass program, stu dents are advised to assemble inside their respective buildings by 3 p.m. and proceed to the processional walk to the UST Grandstand by 4:30 p.m. The processional walk will be fol lowed by the introduction of academic units, the entrance of the Philippine flag, UST flag, and the singing of the Philippine National Anthem.
► Former Varsitarian editor in chief Bro. Eugene Dominic Aboy, O.P. professes his vows to Fr. Filemon de la Cruz, O.P., head of the Filipino Dominicans, ng rites at the Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City on May 24 which coincided with the Memorial of the Translation of St. Dominic.
University is preparing for the attendance of the 4,722 graduates of Batch 2020, 2,553 graduates of Batch 2021, and those from the pool of 10,480 students who can complete their re quirements for graduation to join Batch 2022.
By Jamilah B. Angco FOR THE first time in three years, the University will hold face-to-face (F2F) graduation rites, including two Baccalaureate Masses for batches 2020, 2021, and 2022 at the UST Grandstand and Open Field.
The Mass proper will begin at 6 p.m.Post-mass programs, including the recognition of academic units, a video presentation, a graduation message, the blessing and imposition of the Thomasian mission cross, the declara tion of the Thomasian pledge of loyal ty, the ceremony of light, the singing of the UST hymn, and the recessional pa rade or the traditional passage through the Arch of the Centuries, will begin at 7:15 Thep.m.ceremony of light will replace the traditional fireworks display. “In solidarity with our sisters and brothers who have been greatly affect ed by the pandemic, our celebrations will be solemnly and meaningfully staged without the traditional fire works,” UST Secretary General Fr. Lou ie Coronel, O.P. Participatingsaid.students are required to wear “clean and proper official Type A uniform[s].”Duetolimited parking space on the campus, the University also re quires students to be “dropped off and fetched.”UST safety and security personnel will screen the participants by requir ing them to wear face masks, present their vaccination cards and health declaration via the StaySafe.PH app or ThoMedSS, and undergo thermal screening and inspection. Students are encouraged to bring umbrellas, light snacks and drinking water in their personal tumblers (dis posable bottles are discouraged).
Everything to know about this year’s Baccalaureate Masses
GRADUATION 20228 THE VARSITARIANMAY 15, 2022 EXPLAINER:
Each academic unit is encouraged to come up with “gimmicks” during the processional and recessional parade by using masks, hand-held props and oth er similar materials “to add color and happy mood” to the ceremony. Representatives from academic units must claim the Thomasian Mis sion Crosses for the Imposition Cere mony, the candle and holders for the Ceremony of the Light, and the Thoma sian Pledge bookmarks from the Office of the Secretary General on Thursday, June 2. It is up to each academic unit to determine the distribution system of theThematerials.following are not allowed during the processional and recession al parade: fireworks/firecrackers, sky lanterns, candle balloons, helium bal loons, floating balloons, confetti, foam sprays, paint sprays, colored powder, party poppers (blizzards), glitters, an imals, camera drones (except the offi cial photography drones), ac-powered gadgets/props.Solemninvestiture rites for batch es 2020 to 2022 will be held from June 6 to The30.
► Former Varsitarian editor in chief Bro. Eugene Dominic Aboy, O.P. professes his vows to Fr. Filemon de la Cruz, O.P., head of the Filipino Dominicans, ng rites at the Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City on May 24 which coincided with the Memorial of the Translation of St. Dominic.
► Former Varsitarian editor in chief Bro. Eugene Dominic Aboy, O.P. professes his vows to Fr. Filemon de la Cruz, O.P., head of the Filipino Dominicans, ng rites at the Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City on May 24 which coincided with the Memorial of the Translation of St. Dominic.
“I most look forward to hear ing the comments of my former professors and my fellows,” she said in an interview with the Varsitarian. “Their comments will surely help me improve.”
THOMASIAN doctor Maria Sheilah “Honey” Honrado Lacuna-Pangan is set to become the first-ever female mayor of Manila City. Lacuna, who has served two terms as vice mayor, won by a majority, garnering 538,595 votes against Manila Rep. Manny Lopez (1st District), the son of former Manila mayor Mel Lo pez, who received 166,908 votes. In an interview with the Varsitar ian, the UST biology alumna said that Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko More no” Domagoso’s bid for the presidency in the 2022 elections pushed her to run for the mayoralty. “Wala na ibang pwedeng ma pag-iwanan si Mayor Isko Moreno other than me because I have been his partner for two and a half years,” she said. “I know all the projects and pro grams of the city of Manila by heart.” She vows to continue Domagoso’s infrastructure, housing, and health care programs while also concen trating on social services such as providing assistance to senior citizens andAsstudents.adoctor, she plans to strength en the health services of the Ospital ng Maynila to be on par with those of the private Holdinghospitals.facilities for juvenile de linquents will also be renovated and rehabilitated, she added. Asked about her post-pandemic plans for Manila, Lacuna said that she aims to win back more businesses and open more jobs in the city. Education is another priority for the mayor-elect and said that she will establish more technolog ically-equipped schools to provide students with more avenues for schooling in the new normal.
FAITH YUEN WEI N. RAGASA candidates before drawing conclu sions and to use their God-given gifts of intelligence and reason together with their faith. “Analyze [candidates] then come to fitting conclusions,” he said. “Don’t just say ‘basta.’ Don’t just say ‘respect my opinion.’ Don’t just say ‘this is my choice,’” he said.“God has given you the gift of intelligence, reason and logic,” he added. “Use your reason to prove that you have taken the Lord, not only into your heart but even to yourVillegasmind.” has been vocal about the upcoming national elections. He has called on priests to vote for candidates who do not misuse their power, and reminded them to always side with the truth as servants of God in his homilies. Earlier this month, Villegas blessed and prayed over Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, a presidential candidate, during her Dagupan sortie. The Lingayen bishop has also condemned the alleged graphic video of Robredo’s daughter, Aika, that circulated on social media over Holy Week and advised her to not be “Letdisturbed.notthelies disturb you. The truth of your life of decency and humility and service and intel ligence is known by all of us. Only liars will believe their own kind,” he said in a Facebook post.
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institutional partners for CHEd development projects, graduate scholarships for faculty members, and research subsidies.
“I think the journey to getting [this fellowship] was really about will and grit,” he told the Varsi tarian. “I hope to refine my craft, I hope to find new ways to see my old writing.”USTlaw student Cindel Ong was named a fellow under the poetry category.
ad viser Joselito Zulueta is this year’s workshop director. UST CCWLS resident fellow Dawn Marfil Bur ris is the workshop coordinator. Aside from Zulueta and Burris, the teaching panel from CCWLS includes Director Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo, Asst. Director Ralph Semino Galán, and resident fellows Augusto Antonio Aguila, Ma. Ailil Alvarez, Mark Angeles, Paul Castillo, Joselito Delos Reyes, Nerisa del Carmen Guevara, Jose Mojica, Jenny Ortuoste, Ned Par fan, Chuckberry Pascual, and John JackThisWigley.year’s senior guest pan elists are literary critic Gémino Abad, author Luna Sicat Cleto, poet-writer Jerry Gracio, and poet VimForNadera.thethird straight year, the UST National Writers’ Workshop will be held virtually via Zoom.
JUDD ERICKA MARIE F. CRESCINI ► Lacuña PHOTO FROM BLAH BLAH ► Journalism and communication SCREENSHOT FROM Excellence Award FROM PAGE 2► Candidates FROM PAGE 5►STUDENT COUNCIL PAGE 10 ► art by jan kristopher esguerra
By Samantha Fatima C. Creencia TWO THOMASIANS are among the sixteen fellows of the UST National Writers’ Workshop to be held on June 13 to 22 via Zoom. Hezekiah Zaraspe, a masters in creative writing student, was chosen as a fellow for creative nonfiction. Zaraspe said that he had been trying out for national writing workshops for five years.
The UST National Writers’ Workshop is spearheaded by the Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies (CCWLS) and is open to Thomasians and non-Thomasians.Varsitarianpublications
Thomasian doctor is first female Manila mayor
“We thank the Lord for the unending graces that guided the synergy among students, Universi ty staff, parents, alumni and other partner institutions toward the continued journey of achieving and sustaining excellence in vari ous fields,” UST Secretary General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P. said in a circular on May 18. UST received the award during CHEd’s five-day cele bration of the second National Higher Education Day and the commemoration of the commis sion’s 28th founding anniversary from May 16 to 20.
FEATURES 9 THE VARSITARIAN MAY 15, 2022 EDITOR: JISELLE ANNE C. CASUCIAN
Thomasians named fellows of UST National Writers’ Workshop
Nathan Agustin of Civil Law is new CSC president By Eduelle Jan T. Macababbad CIVIL Law Student Council president Nathan Agustin will lead the Central Student Council (CSC) in Academic YearAgustin,2022-2023.the lone presidential can didate, was proclaimed president-elect on Friday, April 8. He won 27,809 votes cast online. Non-votes for president totaled 3,115. “As part of the Central Board last year, we have already planted the seeds towards more grassroots-level governance in CSC, and I intend to fully integrate these systems [into] the whole CSC for the whole academic year,” Agustin said in an interview with the Varsitarian.Thelawsophomore vowed to attend to the needs of Thomasians and enact the Students’ Code. “We will have an active voice in pro-student policy-making and ensure that we will constantly remind the ad ministration to respect our rights and listen to our needs, with the long-term goal of the approval of the Student’s Code and institutionalized representa tion,” he Earlier,said.Agustin told the Varsitarian that he was at risk of disqualification after failing to submit his temporary transcript of records. He later said that a copy of his transcript had been already printed and sent to the Office of theFranciscoRegistrar.Mayuyu, a nutrition and dietetics sophomore, was elected sec retary with 27,434 votes. Unanswered ballots totaled Accountancy3,490.junior Benjamin Am per IV was proclaimed treasurer after getting 26,890 votes. A total of 4,034 Thomasians did not vote for treasurer. Dale Marollano, a philosophy soph omore, was elected auditor with 27,020 votes. Non-votes totaled 3,904. Music education senior Rhojen Sianda was proclaimed public rela tions officer with 26,881 votes. A total of 4,043 ballots were unanswered.
Personal touch Throughout her campaign, Lacuna has said that there won’t be much change in her leadership style and that she will lead the capital city with a “heart of a mother” and “compassion of a Whiledoctor.”the comparisons between her and Domagoso prove a challenge, she said that her past work with the incumbent Manila mayor as well as her sense of familiarity and experi ence living in the city will guide her as she prepares for the mayoral seat. “If there’s one person who could continue [the mayoralty], it’s me,” La cuna said. “Ako talaga ay pinanganak, lumaki, at patuloy na naninirahan sa Maynila so siguro ‘yun ang edge ko at alam ko ang puso ko ay para sa bawat batang Maynila.”
SAMANTHA FATIMA C. CREENCIA modern languages, 323 in arts and humanities, 351-400 in business and management studies and chemical engineering, 377 in social sciences and management, and 501-520 in economics and econometrics.Fourcomponents were used to rank the Philippine universities by subject: academic reputation, employer reputation, research citations per paper, and the h-index, which measures the productivity and impact of each published scientist or scholar at a university.
CHRISTINE JOYCE A. PARAS
The 10 Total awardees for this year were the following: Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula (Service to Church), Crispin Maslog, PhD (Media and Entertainment), Department of Trade and Industry Sec. Ramon Lopez (Management), Prof. Maria Minerva Calimag, MD, Ph.D. (Medicine), Saturnino Javier, MD (Health Allied), Edgar Lerma, MD (Science and Technology), Wilcon Depot Founder William Belo (Business), Jeffrey Tarayao (Service to Humanity), Nemesio Miranda, Jr. (Music, Arts, Literature, and Design), Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina (Law and Justice).TheTotal Award is the highest honor bestowed by the University and the UST Alumni Association, Inc. upon alumni in recognition of their “significant and exemplary contribu tion to the society and the Church.”
During the awarding ceremony, the University also conferred the Thomasian Family Award to a family whose members are all UST alumni and all exemplify UST’s core values in their fields of expertise. The special award was given to the Calimag family, a family of Thom asian doctors.
SUMMER CLASS ZYMON M. GAILO LATIN HONORS JEROME CARLO D. MACANAYA MGA KAIBIGAN
All candidates ran inde pendently and unopposed for this year’s student polls. No student sought the vice presidency.TheVarsitarian reached out to the UST Central Com mission on Elections for the voter turnout this year, but it has yet to receive a response as ofTheposting.newCentral Board of Students, composed of the newly elected local student council presidents, was also proclaimed. It will serve as the legislative arm of the CSC. The elected local student council presidents this year are Shanelle Ann Ching (Accountancy), Lord Danly Mafe (Architecture), Peter Angelo Estalilla (Education), Kaleena Aaryanna Tongco (Fine Arts and Design), Audrey Marie NicoleBautista(Nursing),Charles(RehabilitationNarcellesSciences),HezekiahImportanteAngelaJustine(Science),KristineRamos(Tourismand Hospitality Management), Kim Czaccei Dacanay (Arts and Letters), Harris Abu Bakar (Pharmacy), Eugene Dominic Aboy (Sacred Theology), Jazmine Esusan (Physical Education and Athletics), Claui Channelle Calimquium (JHS), Van Kenshin Mamuad (SHS), and Jonathan Pakiwen (Philosophy).Nocandidate ran for president in the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery and Ed ucation High School student councils.TheCollege of Commerce and Business Administration, College of Information and Computing Sciences, Conser vatory of Music, and Faculty of Engineering will hold special elections next academic year as no student filed for candi dacy this year, their Comelec unitsTheannounced.Facultyof Civil Law will hold special elections in MayThe2022.winners were pro claimed on Facebook live.
Editorial FROM PAGE 6► QS ranking FROM PAGE 2► JP II Building FROM PAGE 2► Total Awards FROM PAGE 1► Student council FROM PAGE 9►
COMICS10 THE VARSITARIAN ART DIRECTOR: JAN KRISTOPHER T. ESGUERRA MAY 15, 2022
NI RAYA S. MUNDO GWYNETH FIONA N. LUGA
bahagi ng gusali,” Ang said in his message during the inauguration.Timonerled the unveiling of the commemorative mark er of the building alongside Ang, UST Vice Chancellor Fr. Filemon de la Cruz, Jr., O.P., andOnFactora.thesame day, Timoner, Factora and Pastoral director Fr. Arturo Prestin, O.P. led the blessing and ribbon-cutting ceremony of the bridge from UST Hospital’s San Vicente Ferrer Ward to the newly opened building. It was followed by the opening of the building’s dermatology center, business office, clinical pathology and drug testing, blood bank and transfusion services for respi ratory medicine, and the San JoseTheWard.extension building will be fully operational by July 2022, Factora told the Varsitarian.
Despite the news media’s best efforts to debunk and fact-check these false claims, there are still those who stubborn ly reject the truth presented to them and instead resort to undermining the credi bility of journalists. For them, “real news” comes from their trusted vloggers and a certain television network backed by an FBI-wanted, sex-trafficking pastor. Meanwhile, the master of spin Marcos Jr. puts on a swaggering show, declin ing invitations to election forums and debates, decrying “fake news” against his ill-gotten wealth and estate tax cases, and denying reports by foreign media of him orchestrating a web of online disinforma tion despite strong evidence that suggests otherwise.Earlier this year, Twitter suspended hundreds of accounts that were traced back to his supporters for violating the social media platform’s rules on manipu lation and spam. And President Rodrigo Duterte, in vetoing the social media regis tration bill, which would mandate anyone creating a social media account to register their real name and phone number as well as penalize those using fictitious identities, only abetted further Marcos Jr.’s campaign of lies and deception. So, now we find ourselves in a de bauched déjà vu as another Marcos is set to inhabit Malacañang. A day after the elections, the Comelec en banc dismissed all disqualification cases against the junior Marcos. Not only is it a grave insult to the victims of Martial Law, but it is also a bastardization of our history as they turned a blind eye once more to the atroc ities the Marcoses have committed to our nation and its people. One cannot help but wonder what the country will look like under another Mar cos administration. If the early reports of a children’s publishing house being redtagged and the takedown of the Presiden tial Library and Museum website, which contains archival documents of Martial Law history, are any indicators then we must prepare for when the worst comes. Marcos Jr.’s resounding message throughout his campaign was “unity.” In deed, we need to unite as Filipinos to safe guard our democracy. We need to unite in the fight against disinformation. We need to unite to preserve our history so that we will remember, and the generations after, the name that stole, killed and destroyed thousands of lives. Filipino novelist and labor organizer Carlos Bulosan said: “We must look for the mainspring of democracy, but we must also destroy false ideals… We must inter pret history in terms of liberty. We must advocate democratic ideas.” Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty and so we remain vigilant. Never again to the tyranny, corrup tion, and depredation of the Marcoses.
“They are indeed living treasures of the University and living examples of what the University stands for— Veritas in Caritate (Truth in Charity),” Ang said in his speech. “They attract goodness and inspire greatness among our younger breed of students and“Theiralumni.”arduous journey to excel lence is a beautiful story all Thoma sians can emulate,” he added.
JUSTIN BENEDICT T. LIM
Salinggawi places 4th for 3rd straight time in UAAP cheerdance COMPETITION FINAL RESULTS
UAAP makes official Season 84’s final events
THE UAAP will stage four more sport ing events—men’s beach volleyball, poomsae, 3×3 basketball and chess— in the second half of Season 84, the league has announced. UST will participate in all these events with the Tiger Sands set to defend their championship in Season 84’s men’s volleyball tournament from May 27 to 29 and June 3 to 5 at the SM Sands By the Bay in Pasay City. The UST Jins will look to return to the podium in the poomsae event scheduled for May 31 at Mall of Asia Arena.The UAAP 3×3 competition will be held in Calatagan, Batangas on June 2 andIn3.Season 81, UST’s men’s team bagged the silver medal, while its women’s team clinched bronze. Season 84’s chess event is sched uled for June 1 to 5 at the Far Eastern University campus in Manila. The UST Woodpushers bagged bronze in the male category in Season 82, while their women counterparts secured bronze. Season 84, the first UAAP season in the Covid-19 era, has completed its men’s basketball and cheerdance events. The women’s volleyball tour nament will begin its second round tomorrow, May 26. UAAP Season 85 is expected to be staged in the last week of September or the first week of October this year, with Adamson University as the host.
The UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe placed fourth for the third straight time, extending its UAAP Cheerdance Competition (CDC) championship drought to 16 years.
LIVESTREAM-FROMSCREENSHOTTHEEVENT’S
2022 UAAP CHEERDANCE
► Former Varsitarian editor in chief Bro. Eugene Dominic Aboy, O.P. professes his vows to Fr. Filemon de la Cruz, O.P., head of the Filipino Dominicans, ng rites at the Santo Domin
Salinggawi was the third-best team in the dance category, garnering 341 points, only behind FEU (361.5 points) and Adamson (353 points).
The last time Salinggawi had a po dium finish was in 2017, when it placed second. Its last championship was in 2006, when it completed a UAAP CDC five-peat dating back to 2002.
The UST dance troupe placed fourth in the tosses category with 75 points, fourth in the tumbling category with 63 points, fifth in the stunts category with 76 points, and fifth in the pyramids category with 72 points. FEU was the No. 1 team in all categories.TheCDC was the third event the UAAP has held for Season 84, following the men’s basketball tournament that ended on May 13 and the women’s volleyball tournament that will start its second round on May 26. M.E.V. VILLEZA
Performing a Latin DanceSport performance, the Salinggawi Dance Troupe scored 618 points and commit ted nine penalties during the UAAP Season 84’s contest held at the Mall of Asia Arena on May 22. The FEU Cheering Squad took home the gold, ending its own 11-year championship drought, performing a Queen-themed performance. FEU scored 727.5 points without errors. Adamson Pep Squad placed second with a Wild West-themed performance, while the defending CDC champion NU Pep Squad fell to third with a 90s-themed performance. Adamson and NU scored 688.5 and 681 points,Therespectively.BritneySpears-themed UE Pep Squad (592.5), Psy-themed UP Pep Squad (582.5), Lady Gaga-themed DLSU Animo Squad (567.5), and the Abba-themed Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion (488.5) placed fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth respectively.
NAME SURNAME
FEU Cheering Squad 91.5 93 90.5 91 361.5 0 727.5 TEAM TUMBLING STUNTS TOSSES PYRAMIDS DANCE DEDUCTIONS TOTAL Adamson Pep Squad 84 85 82.5 84 353 0 688.5 NU Pep Squad 86 89 86.5 86 339.5 6 681 UST DanceSalinggawiTroupe4 63 76 75 72 341 9 618 UE Pep Squad5 57 81 64 77 317.5 4 592.5 UP Pep Squad6 52.5 69 69 67 330 5 582.5 DLSU Animo Squad7 52 67 66 53 330.5 1 567.5 Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion8 48.5 65 67 55 263 10 488.5 213 art by jan kristopher esguerra
EDITOR: THE VARSITARIAN MAY 15, 2022
► Former Varsitarian editor in chief Bro. Eugene Dominic Aboy, O.P. professes his vows to Fr. Filemon de la Cruz, O.P., head of the Filipino Dominicans, ng rites at the Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City on May 24 which coincided with the Memorial of the Translation of St. Dominic.
► Journalism Awards.AlumniingTheduringersMaslogscholarcommunicationsandCrispindelivhisspeechthe2022OutstandThomasian(Total)
The UST Growling Tigers suffered a 44-point loss, the second-largest scoring deficit in a game since 2003, in their final UAAP Season 84 game against the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 109-65. UST’s embarrassing loss came less than two weeks after its 50-point defeat against Ateneo. The struggling Tigers finished their season with a 3-11 win-loss record for the second-worst record in Season 84. The only team below them in the standings was the winless University of the East Red Warriors.Rookie Nicael Cabañero led UST in scoring in the season with 12.83 points per game (ppg). Graduating guard Joshua Fontanilla was second in scoring with 12.33 points per game, with sharpshooter Sherwin Concepcion third with 11.33 ppg. The Tigers allowed the most points by opponents this season, giving up 81.92 ppg. No. 1 team Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles only allowed 65.42 ppg. UST was also the worst defend ing team, allowing opponents to shoot 44.06 percent from the field. The rookie-laden Tigers had the least steals per game (5.58) and the most turnovers per game (10.67). No other team had at least 10 turn overs per game. UST was the second-worst team in sharing the the third-worst rebounding team, averaging 41.58 rebounds per game. The lack of interior presence also put UST second-worst in blocking with only 2.25 per game. The Tigers secured six-foot-sev en Filipino-American center Gani Stevens, a dual-sport athlete who played basketball and football as a high schooler in Minnesota, who is expected to fill a necessary role for the Tigers in Season 85.
THOMASIANS WIN MEDALS FOR PH IN 31ST SEA GAMES
► THOMASIANS DOMINATE 31ST SEA GAMES POLE VAULT. Thomasians EJ Obiena (middle) and Hokett de los Santos (left) bag gold and silver for the Philippines in the men’s pole vault event of the 31st SEA Games. Claim ing bronze is Malaysia’s Iskandar Bin Alwi (right).
► Former Varsi tarian editor in chief Bro. Eugene Dominic Aboy, O.P. professes his vows to Fr. Filemon de la Cruz, O.P., head of the Filipino Domin icans, ng rites at the Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City on May 24 which coincided with the Memorial of the Translation of St. Dominic.
PHOTO FROM RANI ANN ORTEGA’S FACEBOOK ACCOUNT
► Darius Venerable, Kobe Macario, Juvenile Crisostomo, Ernesto Guzman Jr., Nicole Labayne, Ian Corton, and Rodolfo Reyes Jr. pose with their medals at the 2022 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships in Goyang, South Korea last April 21-24.
SEVERAL Thomasians bagged medals for the Philippines in the 31st Southeast Asian Games held in Hanoi, Vietnam from May 12 to 23, 2022. Thomasians EJ Obiena and Hokett de los Santos bagged gold and silver, respectively, in the men’s pole vault Obienaevent.skipped the 4.80- and 5-meter heights and cleared 5.40 meters in his first attempt. The former UST trackster then cleared 5.46 meters, also in his first attempt, to secure the gold medal for the Philippines in record-setting fashion, eclipsing his own record he set on home soil in the 30th SEA Games (5.45 meters). The Filipino pole vaulter was given a chance to set a new Asian record at 5.94 meters but failed in three attempts.
De los Santos, in his first SEA Games appearance, placed second after clearing 4.80 meters in two attempts, then 5 meters in one attempt.The18-year-old pole vaulter qualified for the Hanoi Games after clearing 5 meters during the Milo-Patafa qualifying tournament in Baguio City, Benguet on Feb. 24, 2022.Obiena is the current holder of the Asian record at 5.93 meters he cleared during the Golden Roof Challenge in Austria on Sept. 11, 2021.UST’s Sydney Sy Tancontian and Al Llamas clinched silver and bronze medals, respectively, in kurash, a folk wrestling sport native to CentralTancontianAsia. fell short against Myanmar’s Aye Aye Aung in their finals bout in the women’s over-87 kg. division, 1-0. “This time, I’m happy pero I know na marami pa po akong kail angang ma-improve to be able to get that gold medal,” said Tanconian, who bagged bronze medals in the 2017 and 2019 SEA Games. “I’m very honored na ma-represent ulit ang Philippines.”Tancotian prevailed over Nor Izzatul Fazlia Mohamad Tahir of Malaysia in the preliminary round and Vietnam’s Thi Thanh Thuy Tran in the semifinals. Former Golden Judokas team captain Al Llamas nabbed his second-straight SEA Games bronze after bowing down to Vietnam’s Hai Le Cong Hoang in the semifinals. Two UST Jins from the Kyorugi division also contributed medals for the USTcountry.players from the Philippine taekwondo team finished with a 2-5-3 gold-silver-bronze medal tally for their 2021 SEA Games stint. Lady Jin Laila Delo captured the bronze medal in the women’s under-67kg event after bowing out against Thailand’s Silvana Lamanda who placed second, 21-12. It was Delo’s second SEA Games medal in the biennial meet, as she reaped a silver win in 2019 under the same category. In men’s play, UST’s Israel Can tos notched a bronze medal finish in the under-87kg category. Cantos was defeated by Thailand’s Athi Sar arat who claimed the gold, 32-16. The Philippine team took home 47 gold medals, 65 silvers, and 88 bronzes and placed fourth overall in the biennial meet’s medal tally.
Tigers end disastrous UAAP season with 2nd worst record
► PAGE 11 Salinggawi places 4th for 3rd straight time in UAAP cheerdance FOR REAL-TIME SPORTS UPDATES, FOLLOW: @VSportsUST
Sports The Varsitarian MAY 15, 2022
“It’s an overwhelming feeling to win the silver medal and I feel honored and thankful because I share my achievement not only with myself but with my team and the country too,” Macario told the Varsitarian.“Ifeelreally proud knowing we represented the school well and UST has always been really supportive.”USTJunior High School Jin Nicole Labayne also nabbed a silver medal in the under-17 pair category with Ian Corton. Tiger Jin Darius Venerable took home a bronze in the men’s over-17 freestyle event with 7.100 points.2019 Southeast Asian games gold medalist Rodolfo Reyes also finished third in the men’s under-30Ernestcategory.Guzman Jr. copped the country’s lone gold in the men’s under-50 event, outscoring South Korea’s Kim Hakdong, 7.81-7.70. Team Philippines ranked sixth out of 62 countries that par ticipated in the four-day tourney. South Korea dominated the medal standings with a 20-6-2 haul.
UST Jins bag medals in world poomsae tilt
FOUR UST Jins snagged medals at the 2022 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships in Goyang, South Korea last April 21 to 24. The Philippine team finished with a 1-2-2 gold-silver-bronze tally.Tiger Jin Kobe Macario and FEU’s Juvenile Crisostomo reaped silvers under the over-17 freestyle pair category with a 7.42-point performance.
