The Varsitarian

THE UNITED States’ top diplomat vowed to respect the Philippine Constitution when it comes to military agreements between Manila and Washington, saying American troops are here only to train Filipino soldiers and not to engage in combat.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made the statement in a landmark dialogue last November 13, hosted by UST and aired on national television, which was the highlight of her maiden trip to the Philippines as chief envoy of President Barack Obama.

Dismissing critics that relations between the US and the Philippines were unequal, Clinton said: “We’ll continue to support you, our only interest is to see you prosper, as a friend.” read more »

NEW APPOINTMENTS to key administrative and academic positions welcomed the opening of the second semester.

Fr. Florentino Bolo, O.P., former UST central seminary vice rector and bursar, was named secretary general, replacing Fr. Isidro Abaño, O.P., who is now assistant to the rector for “quadricentennial activities and highlights.” Abaño will direct a planning committee for the 400th anniversary of UST in 2011.

Abaño, who served for five years as secretary general, remains director of the Museum of Arts and Sciences and Faculty of Civil Law regent.

In a letter to the Varsitarian, Bolo wants to strengthen UST’s public presence through the media.

“I cannot divulge yet other wonderful plans for 2011 but I assure you that many special events are currently in the works,” Bolo said.

There will also be a review of University policies and guidelines, he said. read more »

SOME photos are better kept in remembrance.

A digital image that showed a class at the College of Commerce and Business Administration wearing improvised “anti-cheating devices” –– cardboards on both sides of the head –– during a seatwork has drawn flak from Facebook users who condemned it as a “harsh measure.”

Edwin Suson, professor of Commerce, claimed responsibility for the anti-cheating devices, but argued the photo was “blown out of context by some Facebook users.”

“I asked my students to craft their own ‘creative anti cheating device,’ but after being advised by a colleague in the college to suspend the measure, I told [them] that the device would no longer be used,” he said.

But the students had finished making the device before Suson backtracked. “I was not even present during the time they took the picture because I had an appointment in another school,” he said. read more »

NEXT TIME there’s a storm, suspending classes in flood-prone UST is just one text away.

UST has tied up with Globe Telecom to provide exclusive subscriber identity module (SIM) cards to students and employees, allowing them to get up-to-date University announcements.

Office of Planning and Quality Management head Fr. Arthur Dingel, O.P. said 50,000 Globe SIM cards would be distributed to the Thomasian community. read more »

p>UST WAS again the top-performing school in the recent Interior Design, Education, Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Civil Engineering, and Librarian licensure examinations, but scored low in the Chemical Engineering board exams.

The University posted an 88 percent passing rate in the CPA exam and was the top-performing school in the 100 examinees and more category, as 273 of the 311 Thomasian examinees passed. Ateneo de Davao (68 percent) and University of San Carlos (58 percent) ranked second and third, respectively.

Six Thomasians made it to the top 10, led by fourth placer Francis Angel Reyes with 91 percent. Miken Padilla, Alissa Star Reyes, and Gibson Tan (90.43 percent) shared the eighth spot, while Cris Leo Villanueva (90.57 percent) and Jerlynne dela Cruz (90.29 percent) placed seventh and ninth, respectively.  read more »

STUDENTS seemed to prefer long queues at the UST Seminary Gym over the new online enrollment procedure, which drew only 870 enrollees.

Polly Blanco, Santo Tomas e-Service Providers head technician, said the low turnout of online enrollees showed the “natural tendency” of students to use enrollment days to catch up with each other after the semestral break.

Because of this, Blanco called for a stronger information campaign to allow students to become familiar with the online process.

“Personally, I think the University should exert more effort to disseminate information so the students no longer have to endure the long queues,” Blanco said.

The Faculty of Pharmacy had 159 online enrollees, the highest among 11 colleges and faculties allowed to use the system, while the Conservatory of Music had only one online applicant. read more »

ON JAN. 25, 2010, UST will unveil a century-old 1.9x3 meter painting of Miguel de Benavides, founder of the University and the third bishop of Manila.

The Museum of Arts and Sciences has decided to conserve an unsigned painting of Benavides, in preparation for the quadricentennial celebration of the institution he founded through an endowment 398 years ago.

“It was painted in 1911 and was shelved in the Museum stockroom for a long time, so I guess the best time to exhibit it is during its 100th year and the quadricentennial of UST,” said Museum assistant director Anna Marie Bautista.

Bautista said the painting titled “The Foundation of the University of Santo Tomas by Archbishop Miguel de Benavides” would be transferred to the mezzanine of the Main Building. The bust of St. Thomas Aquinas there may be moved to the UST-Tan Yan Kee Student Center, she said. read more »

MAHIGIT 1,500 na Tomasino ang lumahok sa “Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig” marathon noong Nobyembre 8 bilang suporta sa pagsasaayos ng dati’y malinis na ilog sa kalakhang Maynila.

Pinangunahan nina Fr. Florentino Bolo O.P., bagong secretary general, Fr. Angel Aparicio O.P., prefect of libraries, at ng vice rector for Finance Fr. Manuel Roux, O.P., ang mga estudyante mula sa National Service Training Program (NSTP) at Reserve Officers’ Training Corps sa pagtakbo.

Nakiisa rin ang mga empleyado ng Office of Public Affairs, Office for Community Development at Office of the Rector pati na ang kopunan ng UST Growling Tigers sa marathon. Ang lahat ng mga Tomasino ay nakasuot ng dilaw na t-shirt.

“Maganda ‘yung activity, lalo na para sa mga taga-UST kasi tumakbo yung mga Thomasians as a community,” ani Jonathan Gamalinda, estudyante ng Graduate School na lumahok sa marathon. read more »

IN THE END, it all boiled down to who had the most experience.

Bolstered by a veteran crew, the UST Lady Spikers prevailed over the Adamson University Lady Falcons, 23-25, 25-12, 27-25, 25-19, en route to clinching their fifth championship in the finals match of the sixth Shakey’s V-League, last December 1 at the San Juan Arena.

“Their performance was a little inconsistent. But the players have the experience that brought us to the championship,” coach Cesael delos Santos said. read more »

THE LADY Booters barely broke a sweat in nailing their fifth straight win in the Metro Manila Girls’ Football Association, crushing the Alumnae Football Club (AFC), 3-1, at the De La Salle-Zobel field in San Juan last November 22.

UST initially had to deal with AFC’s stone-wall defense until Mary Ignacio came through with consecutive goals in the 27th and 33rd minutes for an early 2-0 lead.

In the second half, coach Rozano Estrabon experimented on an entirely new lineup that immediately paid dividends. Defensive player Jovelyn Artillaga proved her versatility as she sank a goal off an Aprilyn Ramos pass in the 74th minute of the game to up the lead to 3-0.

The AFC would have walked home scoreless if not for a goal in the 81st minute to end the game at 3-1. read more »