The Varsitarian

FOR THE first time since the filing of their candidacies, seven presidential hopefuls trooped to UST along with their supporters to face each other in a forum last December 2.

Former defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro, senators Benigno Aquino III and Richard Gordon, former president Joseph Estrada, Olongapo councilor John Carlos de los Reyes, environmentalist Nicanor Perlas, and evangelical preacher Eddie Villanueva answered questions from students and personalities in “Harapan,” the presidential forum organized by the ABS-CBN News Channel, UST, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, and the Commission on Elections.

Nacionalista Party standard-bearer Manuel Villar backed out at the last minute, according to news anchor Ted Failon. read more »

COMMERCIAL law professor Nilo Divina is the new dean of the Faculty of Civil Law, starting his tenure as the youngest dean of the oldest law school in the country in the second semester.

Divina, 44, took over officer in charge Augusto Aligada, who replaced former dean Roberto Abad who was appointed to the Supreme Court last August 10.

Divina said his objective is to put UST in the top three law schools of the country during his three-year term.

“I know it’s a gargantuan task, but it can be done,” he said.

To do this, Divina has set a three-point agenda. “[These are]: improving the roster of faculty members, improving the Civil Law facilities, and recruiting the best students not just from UST, but also the best from all over the country,” he said. read more »

A TOTAL of 45 personnel of the UST Hospital have availed themselves of an “early retirement package” offered by the hospital administration as part of cost-cutting measures.

Fr. Arthur Dingel O.P., Office for Planning and Quality Management director, said the hospital is undergoing “rationalization” to reduce the number of its employees.

“There are too many employees for a small number of patients. If we only need 10, why get 20?” Dingel said.

Dingel denied reports that about 800 employees at the hospital’s charity ward would be retrenched.

Ferdinand Magkasi, director of the hospital’s human resource department agreed. “We tried to rationalize our manpower so we hired only who we needed,” he said.

The early retirement package offer, which was not exclusive to charity ward employees, was good from July to October 31 and consisted of a 150-percent pay that was double the original early retirement package.  read more »

MY LAST column titled “Are You a Good Writer?” has been the subject of criticisms on the Internet. Some people may have misinterpreted it.

Much of it could be attributed to what I said in the second paragraph, which told of a conversation I had with a friend from the University of the Philippines-Diliman to the effect that in the State University, an applicant to a writers’ club would be asked, “Do you know how to write?” -- as contrasted in UST where an applicant would be asked, “Are you a good writer?”

The paragraph– and the title itself -- should not be taken literally. It was merely an anecdote to portray how some UST writers could be arrogant. It should not be regarded as a discouragement for Thomasians wishing to join a writing organization. read more »

THE THOMASIAN social networking site www.uste.tv is no longer affiliated with the University after the Office for Alumni Relations and the website developer did not agree on financial matters.

The alumni office pulled out from uste.tv last November 24, more than nine months since the social-networking site was created to reach out to Thomasian alumni all over the world.

Alumni Relations Director Evelyn Songco said her office and the Master List Builders information technology outfit owned by Thomasian Joel Remandaban, the webmaster, parted ways after the company demanded sponsorship from the University.

Songco did not disclose any amount, but said the sponsorship would “cost a sum.”

“We did not want the Alumni Relations Office to serve as solicitor for sponsors to support uste.tv,” Songco said. read more »

THE GOOD news is that the Philippines is once again on top. The bad news is that it’s for all the wrong reasons.

Our country has just been ranked by the United Nations (UN) as “the most dangerous place” for journalists, beating Somalia, Iraq and Pakistan.

What gave the Philippines the unwanted top spot was the heinous Maguindanao massacre which resulted in the deaths of 57 civilians, 27 of whom were journalists. This just adds to the growing number of journalists killed during the administration of President Macapagal-Arroyo, which an Inquirer report has pegged at around 74 since she came into power.

It is ironic that for a democratic country, the Philippines holds a deplorable reputation of being the most fatal for journalists? We claim to be a democracy, respecting suffrage and other rights, yet women on their way to file certificates of candidacy and members of the media who are covering them are mowed down by gunfire? read more »

SA LIKOD ng mga magagarang palamuti, libreng pagkain at ng makinang na fireworks display, ang taunang pagdiriwang ng Paskuhan sa UST ay nakaugat sa diwa ng pagbibigayan.

Taong 1993 nang simulang tawaging “Paskuhan” ang pagdiriwang ng mga Tomasino sa tuwing sasapit ang kapaskuhan. Noon, isang simpleng pagsasama-sama lamang ang naganap sa pangunguna ng noo’y UST treasurer na si P. Tereso Campillo, O.P. read more »

A STUDY by former Arts and Letters dean Armando de Jesus shows the Catholic Church losing her hold on the young. With one out of three Thomasians surveyed saying that “there is nothing wrong with using birth control pills” and that “euthanasia is justifiable if the person has a disease that cannot be cured,” the Church has become much like a cassette tape on repeat mode, playing the “pro-life” manta over and over, but getting no hearing— not even in the so-called “Pontifical” University of Santo Tomas, “the Catholic University of the Philippines.” read more »

UST ATHLETES often show a tough facade when it comes to fighting for their cause in the sporting arena.

But come Christmas time, these black-gold-white warriors are no different from any other individual, hoping to have their wishes fulfilled

In line with the holiday spirit, the Varsitarian asked what Thomasian athletes wanted to receive this christmas, apart from bringing pride and glory to their school.

“I wish my team will be complete in time for UAAP this coming February.” -Luville Dato-on, Female Tracksters team captain

“To play together with teamwork.” -Janine Ong, Tigresses

“I want to be with my family in Rizal.” -Ana Paghubasan, Softbelles Season 71 Rookie of the Year read more »

EVERYTHING seems to be in place for the UST Quadricentennial.

On December 18, during the traditional Paskuhan, Rector Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, O.P. will officially start the countdown to 2011, when Asia’s oldest University turns 400.

The countdown is titled ‘400 Days to 400 Years.”

Also during the Paskuhan, the theme song of the UST Quadricentennial will be sung, “Ako’s Isang Tomasino,” by industrial engineering alumnus Gerardo de Leon, who won the grand prize in the Q song writing contest.

On the same night, the quadricentennial prayer, flag, and mascot will be unveiled.

De la Rosa presented the long list of activities for the 2011 celebration during a press conference last December 11. read more »