The Varsitarian

Priests need prayers, too.

The solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus witnessed the Week of Prayer and Gratitude for Priests, a week-long prayer vigil for the clergy last June 14-18 at the Central Seminary chapel.

Priests who had “gone astray” were given prayers and in Hour of Reflection and Discernment, a seminar for aspiring priests that followed after the prayer vigil of the different colleges and faculties in the University.  read more »

When I was in high school, I projected an image of aloofness. It was a defense mechanism to hide my poor self-esteem. While most of my batchmates found me a self-confident snob, my intimidating aura actually spoke of my inferiority complex.  read more »

GROWING up in a conservative middle-class family and studying in Catholic schools had insulated young Ronald Llamas from the country’s social problems. Now, as a political activist and the president of Akbayan Citizen’s Action Party, he has chosen to be part of the solution.  read more »

Being in the forefront of radical movements in the 70’s and 80’s, has the University of Santo Tomas’ become less than activist-inclined nowadays?

“It certainly has not,” said Dr. Ernesto Gonzales, director of the UST Social Research Center (SRC). “We are very much involved,” he said.  read more »

Mixing the right dosage of fate and faith was all he needed to reach success.

Starting from a pharmaceutical-based business, one of the leading perfumeries, Prescripto (Latin term for Prescription) managed to invade the sense of smell of the local market in a span of six years. However, it is neither owned by a prominent celebrity nor by an established businessman. Instead, Thomasian pharmacist Marnie Alcantara transformed his business from its humble beginnings into a multi-million company.  read more »

YOU SEE them hanging around Tinoko Park every Tuesdays and Fridays. You think they’re there for the same reasons you would have—catching up with friends, studying, relaxing, or killing time—so you never give them much thought until they gather round and start singing and praying. For someone unfamiliar, they may look odd and naïve. But any Tinoko Park regular would tell you the Youth for Christ (YFC) are just having another prayer meeting.  read more »

“WHAT won the general championship for us was not skill but heart.”

It was how athletic moderator Felix Michael Silbor described the University’s championship run in UAAP season 66.

This year, UST’s campaign for a 32nd UAAP title is faced with tough opposition from perennial title contenders University of the Philippines (UP) and De La Salle University (DLSU). Both schools were tied at second place last season registering 258 points, while UST garnered 284 points.  read more »

UPANG mas mapalawak ang serbisyo-publiko ng Unibersidad sa larangan ng medisina, pinangunahan ng UST ang pagpapatayo at pagkakaroon ng School for Midwives sa bansa dahil sa kukulangan ng mga bihasang kumadrona noong ika-18 siglo.

Sa bisa ng utos mula sa España, inaprubahan ang pagpapatayo nito noong Pebrero 20, 1879 na sinang-ayunan naman ng Santo Papa matapos ang tatlong taon.  read more »

WHOEVER thought that Wimbledon, perhaps the most elite international lawn tennis tournament, is an impenetrable territory to Filipino athletes is sorely mistaken. A Filipino reached the exclusive Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships 24 years ago the second to do so since Johnny Jose. And he was a Thomasian.  read more »

TEN YEARS of high-octane dragon boat rowing.

For an international sports squad to survive this long even without the luxury of having a regular team sponsor or even a school to represent, it is correct to say that the Aqua Fortis Dragon Boat Rowing Team (AFDBRT) is truly a product of pure passion. In its 10 years of existence, this Thomasian-laden team has gone to restless bodies of water to pocket strings of medals and place the country’s name in the international dragon boat racing circuit.  read more »