Dear Senators

During the advocacy program, representatives from various sectors–such as farmers, the urban poor, and Church organizations–called on each senator who has either confirmed support or has not yet publicly revealed his/her stance on the death penalty to denounce the re-imposition and instead focus on more vital and prosperity-related legislation. Among the urgent priorities were support for agriculture, quality education, housing, and job generation.

Like-minded legislators

During the program, three senators publicly declared their opposition to the bill: Senators Risa Hontiveros, Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, and Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes. Meanwhile, detained Senator Leila de Lima conveyed a message to the community through her brother.

Using the Bible

In his homily, Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick S. Pabillo, D.D. warned against those who use the Bible as defense for the re-imposition of death penalty, saying that they may not have correctly understood its teachings. “Jesus Christ’ love is our standard, and the Bible is very clear about that,” said Bishop Pabillo.

The Mass, officiated by Most Rev. Pablo David, D.D., Bishop of Kalookan, gathered the faithful from different parts of the country, most notably those who began the Lakbay Buhay journey in Cagayan de Oro.

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Literature as Key to Unity

National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose said the Filipino’s art and being were highly westernized. As a people, according to him, the Filipinos had not yet become a nation due to their divisive quality. “Ethnic groups, prominent families, warlords fighting one another, seeking not only prestige but vast territories [are among the reasons] we are soldered and easily colonized by foreigners,” Sionil said. “We must realize that we belong to this part of the world, in Asia, and it is our duty not so much to detach ourselves from our Western roots but to know more about our own region: its politics and powers that are contesting today.”

The national artist discouraged the teachers to follow the examples of American academe as well as workshops: “You cannot teach imagination, creativity, and intuition,” Sionil said. “These are the things that the writers that must learn themselves. Teach them the craft. They must know grammar and [particularly] words so that they can make the leap from craftsman to artist.”

According to Sionil, the literature teachers must read the text very carefully and also provide the context. “[Teachers] must nurture students and teach them the context in which they write […] One must also look at the period because today, there are so many so-called anthropologist who go to literature to understand different periods of civilization itself,” he said.

“Literature is important not because it entertains but it helps unite us as a people,” Sionil said. “All of us have certain ideals and dreams pursued. For me it is a creation of a just society.”

Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Philippines Jaroslav Olsa Jr. also highlighted that literature had significant powers and it should be used to make a big difference in favor of the country, “The writers are the keepers of the past and they are also giving many ideas on what to do today and what to do in the future,” Olsa said. “Literature [books] is something which remains.”

Ambassador of Hungary to the  Philippines Dr. Josef Bencze said diplomacy was a good chance to connect with people across the world.

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Silent majority educating the young

In his welcome remarks, the Prefect of Libraries, Rev. Fr. Angel A. Aparicio, O.P., paid homage to librarians, who are custodians of the silent majority of the population tasked to educate. Fr. Aparicio underscored that libraries are our key to the past and guide to the future, and he said that the collaborative project with UnionBank is a step toward ensuring that this heritage will not be lost in time.

In his remarks, Fr. Aparicio said that the University’s collections include priceless volumes dating back to the 16th century, including a volume written by Copernicus regarding celestial bodies. These volumes, he said, are being preserved not just in their printed form, but more importantly being made accessible to the world via digitization and publication in the cyberspace.

Avoiding ignorance of history

������Ƶ’s Rector, the Very Rev. Fr. Herminio V. Dagohoy, O.P., PhD, reminded the audience that loving the country requires knowing its past. The Rector congratulated the Library and Archives for keeping with the times and ensuring that the collections do not gather dust in shelves, but rather be made available to a wider audience, utilizing the latest technologies to make such goal a reality. He likewise thanked the UnionBank of the Philippines for its commitment to the partnership with UST, which began in April 2011, and continues to the present.

Six volumes

The new volumes complete the Miguel de Benavides Library’s Catalogues of Rare Books and introduces the first two catalogues of the University Archives. The catalogues are complete with bibliographic information about the collections, photographs, and annotations about their contents.

Also shown during the event was the University’s Digital Library, which showcases the digitized materials from the rare books collection, as well as existing University periodicals.

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Disposition of Journalism in the Age of Social Media

Former President of Foreign Correspondents’ Association of the Philippines Manuel Mogato said virtual reality posed a threat to traditional journalism. “Journalism now is losing [its] influence,” Mogato said. “Newspapers are losing their money and the trust level of the people in the traditional media is at its lowest level because of fake news, trolls, and [citizen journalism].” However, he said the millenials can adapt to these changes.

Mogato foresaw journalism as paired to advertising in the coming years, citing Rappler and Thomson Reuters as examples of media outlets occasionally producing campaign stories for its sponsoring companies and non-government organizations. “When marketing and advertising take control of your editorial policies, the question next is: Is the media still independent?”

When a story is developing, Business Mirror Associate Editor Jennifer Ng said she prohibited her reporters to share their coverages on social media. “Essentially, we use [Facebook] and Twitter to enhance [Business Mirror’s] brand to attract more readers.” she said. “Information is what our media organization is selling. Why give it away for free?” Ng said. Moreover, Ng also discouraged her reporters to attack government officials and personalities on social media but, rather, use the time to focus on writing the story itself and turn it into an excellent piece.

Ng recalled her publisher’s proposition of migrating from print to online to assuage the rising cost of paper, but it was scrapped for still finding for the “formula” to earn and to approximate what they will earn if they went online. “We are toying with the idea of having a pay wall,” she said. “But we have yet to determine whether Filipino readers who are used to get free information would be willing to part with their cash for our stories.”

Asst. Prof. Christian Esguerra, ABS-CBN multimedia reporter, said the biggest challenge confronting Filipino journalists were the hostile online trolls supporting the current administration.

In one of his press conferences in Davao, President Rodrigo Duterte not only called the mainstream media a corrupt industry but he also cursed at the reporters; Esguerra was one of them. Esguerra then posed the question: “How should we react? Should we be professional,  just stick to the issue, and ask questions? Or should we rise as a person being insulted by [the president] who was voted by 16.6 million Filipinos?”

“But I do not think he had a license to do that.” he followed.

Despite, the seasoned reporter affirmed that a large part of the president’s remark toward mainstream media being corrupt was true.

As an educator in the Faculty of Arts and Letters, Esguerra said it is a dilemma on their part in discussing the nature of media. “[The young, idealistic, journalism students] fail to see the balance between what media is for and what media is not.” Esguerra told the aspiring journalism students not to be discouraged.

On Behaviors and Business Models

Business Mirror Editor-at-Large Dennis Estopace highlighted that good journalism rests its place in the basics. “If we [write] good stories and work on good stories, many people will realize, even if offline or online, that we are doing good journalism, they would call it great journalism; the ability to go back the basics,”Estopace said. “Building credibility, building good reputation, and building public trust is a cross-generational, socially accepted behavior that most journalist would really have.”

“A good story beats anything,” Estopace said.

President of Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) Prof. Ramon Tuazon said the media still had almost total dependence on advertising as its main revenue source. “Advertising dominates revenue source, defined as the life and blood of the commercial media.” According to Tuazon, commercial media have to diversify their revenue streams for several reasons: 1) To improve profit 2) To sustain operations and survive 3) rent dues losses for hemorrhage.

Citing studies that showed people were inclined to entertainment, regardless of media platform, Tuazon said there is no market for journalism. “While you have 47 million active internet users, less than 14% use in the internet for news.” Tuazon said.

According to Alwyn Alburo, Program Manager of GMA 7, the local media outlets were patterned from the American model and were problematic in terms of ownership: “Corporate media is largely owned by those who are in power and those who have business interests, and those who want to control the tools of information. Most of these are aligned with those in political power.”

Alburo encouraged the students to do good and ethical journalism. “Who else can save us except ourselves? We are still the hope of our profession, provided you just do good or even great journalism,” he said. “The basics are still the best. It is therefore reasons that mustered and propelled names from the past and those currently practicing as well into greatness because they are doing old fashioned, basic, honest, and truthful journalism.”

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������Ƶ finally brought back to the Tigers’ den the UAAP General Championship, both in the Seniors and Juniors divisions—the 41st and the 17th overall, scoring 312 and 171 points, respectively.

Recognized athletes

The following is the list of the awarded athletes in the UAAP Season 79:
UAAP Athlete-Scholar Awardees (Juniors)
1. Jay Ancheta (Adamson University)
2. Philip Santos (Ateneo de Manila University)
3. Sacho Ilustre (De La Salle University)
4. Marvin Miciano (Far Eastern University)
5. Faith Nisperos (National University)
6. Samantha Catantan (University of the East)
7. Zoe Hilario (University of the Philippines)
8. Ronalyn Lalimo (University of Santo Tomas)

UAAP Athlete-Scholar Awardees (Seniors)
1. Rhia Gaite (Adamson University)
2. Patricia Sarmiento (Ateneo de Manila University)
3. Michael del Prado (De La Salle University)
4. Janelle Frayna (Far Eastern University)
5. Michael Minuluan (National University)
6. Nathaniel Perez (University of the East)
7. Jose San Juan (University of the Philippines)
8. Noelito Jose, Jr. (University of Santo Tomas)

UAAP Season 79 Athlete of the Year-Individual (Juniors)
1. Nicole Pamintuan (De La Salle Zobel) (Swimming)

UAAP Season 79 Athlete of the Year-Team (Juniors)
1. Lawrence Cruz (National University) (Volleyball)

UAAP Season 79 Athlete of the Year-Team (Seniors)
1. Angeli Ursabia, Softball (Adamson University) (Softball)

UAAP Season 79 Athlete of the Year-Individual (Seniors)
1. Alberto Batungbakal (Ateneo de Manila University) (Swimming)

Changing of the guards

During the Closing Ceremonies, the new UAAP Board of Trustees took over, composed of the eight presidents / rectors of the member-universities. The re-organization took affect after the approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission was received. With this, the Board of Trustees will be comprised of the university presidents, while their representatives will be part of the executive committees.

UST Rector Very Rev. Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, OP, handed the UAAP Flag to the Far Eastern University, formally naming the Morayta-based Tamaraws as the host for the UAAP Season 80. In return, the Far Eastern University cheerdance crew performed to cap the night off.

The last bout

Prior to the ceremonies, the last competition of the season was held: the Street Dance Contest, now on its sixth year.

De La Salle University was adjudged as the Champion, while the University of the Philippines clinched the 1st Runner-Up spot, and the University of Santo Tomas settled at the 2nd Runner-up spot.

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One last assignment

In his homily, the Rector, the Very Rev. Fr. Herminio V. Dagohoy, O.P., PhD, challenged the attendees to peer at the tip of their noses. Recognizing that this feat is difficult, the Rector emphasized that while vision may not afford such sight, touch allows us to realize that it is there. “We cannot see it because it is too close to our vision, just like how we cannot appreciate the forest when we are too close to the trees.”

Recognizing the nostalgia associated with the event, the Rector reminded the community that “every moment of separation manifests what we are made of. It is the time when our anxieties appear, when our fears emerge, and our needs become more pronounced–moments when tears stream down our faces for losing something we can no longer replace, but it is the feeling of loss that is also the moment of discovery.”

Fatima @ 100

The Baccalaureate Mass featured a special addition this year: the veneration to Our Lady of Fatima, whose image was adorned with flowers from college representatives, while the community sang “Immaculate Mother.” This activity was yet another way of UST to commemorate the centennial, beginning with the May 12, 2017 Mass at the Plaza Mayor.

The traditional exit through the Arch

Just as they entered through the Arch of the Centuries as freshmen, the graduates were led out of the Arch of the Centuries by the Father Rector, signaling their successful completion of their undergraduate / graduate studies in the University. The solemn investitures for degree graduates began last May 20, 2017 (Saturday), with the Ecclesiastical Faculties of Sacred Theology, Philosophy, and Canon Law.

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This continues UST and Mahidol’s annual student exchange program. Mahidol University is also assisting the University in the implementation of the first-ever Doctor of Philosophy, major in Medical Technology program offered at the Graduate School.

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Libaton will travel to the United States of America to receive her medal and certificate of recognition, courtesy of Insights Financial Review. Libaton is also a graduate of the UST Education High School, Batch 2011.

#ThomasianExcellence

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John Edward Mendoza, a junior HRM student (Class 3H3) won the SILVER medal on the same category Under 25 Individual Lamb. His Duo of Herb Crusted Lamb and Lamb Croquette in Blueberry Balsamic Sauce impressed the judges. His knife skills and being organized in the kitchen was noticeable as well earning him a silver medal in the said category.

Kamille Cate, senior HRM student (Class 4H5) won the BRONZE medal in the Under 25 Individual Lamb category. Cate prepared a Duo of Lamb Rack and Lamb Ragout in Potato Soufflé and Lamb Jus.

Under the supervision of their faculty Mr. Nathaniel A. Siao, this is the college’s second time joining the prestigious culinary competition in Hong Kong.

Tremendously grown in the past decade, Hong Kong International Culinary Classic (HKICC) proudly returns to HOFEX 2017. Endorsed by WACS – World Association of Chefs Societies and co-organised by the Hong Kong Chefs Associations (HKCA), HKICC 2017 aims at promoting culinary excellence, skills and abilities of Chefs, Cooks, Pastry Chefs / Cooks and Apprentices from close and far.

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Dacanay was feted as the Most Outstanding Pharmacist in the Academe. She is currently the President of the Philippine Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.

Apostol, 2017 National Research Council of the Philippines Achievement Awardee for Pharmacy Research, was recognized for his contributions in the field of pharmaceutical research.

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