The Varsitarian

Updated- March 7- THE UNIVERSITY paid tribute to the Ustetika, the longest-running campus literary derby in the country, for being “a true testimony to UST’s rich and robust intellectual life.”

“Many of the country’s greatest writers are products of the University of Santo Tomas,” said Vice Rector Fr. Pablo Tiong, O.P., during the 25th Ustetika Awards night last December 5 at the UST Plaza Mayor. “And a number of them started their writing career by participating in Ustetika when they were still students.”

Fr. Tiong also commended the Varsitarian for organizing Ustetika. “Your efforts have contributed to making literature alive and flourishing in the University,” he said. read more »

SA PAGMAMAHAL sa pagsulat, maski panahon ay hindi maaaring humadlang.

Iyan ang pinatunayan ng kuwentista at sanaysayistang si Nita Umali-Berthelsen at makatang si Teo Antonio, ang mga tatanggap ng Parangal Hagbong ngayong taon, na may kani-kaniyang karanasan kung paano binago ng takbo ng panahon ang kanilang mga buhay.

Nita Umali-Berthelsen

Halos nabaon man sa limot ang mga nagawa niya, hindi pa rin makakaila ang malaking kontribusyon ng kuwentista at sanaysayistang si Berthelsen sa larangan ng panitikan.

Nagtapos noong 1946 sa noo’y Faculty of Philosophy and Letters (Philets) ng UST, isa si Berthelsen sa mga piling estudyante na nakapagsimulang magturo sa Unibersidad bago pa man magtapos sa kolehiyo.

Taglay ang kaniyang hilig sa pagsusulat, sumali si Berthelsen sa Varsitarian noong dekada ’40. read more »

Contest Rules:

1. Only college (post and undergraduate) students of the University of Santo Tomas who have enrolled for school year 2009-2010 may participate.

2. Winners of national and/or international literary competitions may no longer participate in the contest.

3. The competition has two (2) divisions: English and Filipino; with the following categories: Poetry/Tula, Fiction/Katha, Essay/Sanaysay, and One-Act Play/Dulang May Isang Yugto.

4. No definite length is required. However, a poetry entry must be composed of no less than five (5) poems. A collective title for the poems is optional.

5. Participants should use pen names in their manuscripts. The real name of the writer or any identifying marks should not be found anywhere except in the accompanying entry forms.

6. Previously published entries inside and outside the University will not be accepted. read more »

It was in 1959 when the Varsitarian first recognized the Thomasian writer's passion for beauty and the creative process. With the flowering of creative consciousness, the Annual Varsitarian Literary Contest, previously known as the Rector's Literary Award, was born. It was not long before the competition's birthing produced writers who awed the literary world and made their mark in Philippine literature as the best of Thomasian creative writers. read more »