Tag: February 18, 2010

THE CATHOLIC Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has urged Catholics not to vote for candidates in favor of the Reproductive Health (RH) bill, saying it would “not be morally permissible” to vote for “anti-life” leaders.

In guidelines on the May 10 elections released last December 27, CBCP Office of the Mass Media Director Msgr. Pedro Quitorio III said those who vote pro-RH bill candidates could be considered “accomplices to moral evil.”

The guidelines titled “A Catechism on Family and Life for the 2010 Elections” was drafted to “help Catholics form their consciences in accordance with God’s truth about family, life and responsible parenthood.”

LOVERS, leave the trees alone.

A University official is irked by vandalism on trees at the newly renovated “Lovers’ Lane,” and has threatened to close the park to the public.

Fr. Roberto Pinto, O.P., director of the Facilities Management Office, has ordered two 30-foot Dita trees (Alstonia scholaris) at the Lovers’ Lane leading to the Plaza Mayor cordoned off to prevent further vandalism.

Names “Jane,” “Wei yi,” “Gecca,” “Cara,” “Xie,” “Jo,” “Gerry,” “Josh,” “Den,” “JM,” “Kyle,” and “Ishie” were engraved on the trees’ barks, which are ingredients for malaria fever medicines.

PRIVATE carpark operator Selegna Holdings Corp. has obtained a court order barring the University from taking over the building, escalating the dispute over the carpark’s financial obligations.

This was confirmed to the Varsitarian by UST legal counsel Alvin Dysangco in a chance interview after a court hearing on UST’s appeal to reconsider the preliminary injunction.

The injunction from Branch 45 of the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) means UST and Selegna Holdings must observe “status quo” until the court comes up with a decision on the case or until the order is lifted.

“Yes, na-grant na siya (injunction) late December [last year],” Dysangco said.

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THE UNBEARABLE days of waiting finally ended for his family. But nothing else could ease his family’s grief than the thought of losing a son and a brother in a noble mission for peace.

Thomasian and United Nations (UN) staff Jerome Yap was among the Filipinos who died in the magnitude-seven earthquake that hit Haiti last January 12.

He was found lifeless under the ruins of the collapsed Christopher Hotel , which served as the headquarters of the UN Stabilization

Mission in Haiti

The University gave the 43-year-old Yap a posthumous award last January 27 during the St. Thomas Aquinas Mass, in recognition of his service “characterized by competence, compassion and commitment.”

UNIVERSITY-WIDE surveys conducted separately by the Research Cluster for Culture, Education and Social Issues and the Varsitarian showed nearly identical results, with Liberal Party standard bearer Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and Manuel “Mar” Roxas II emerging as Thomasians’ top choices for president and vice president, respectively.

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, meanwhile, was the top choice for senator.

Aquino got 34.7 percent in the second Political Opinion of the Youth Survey by the research cluster and 36.4 percent in the Varsitarian survey. Administration bet Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro placed second in both surveys with 33.5 percent and 31.4 percent, respectively.

BLAME the party poppers.

Unlike routine polls of previous years, this year’s student council election has been marred by disqualification cases – election officials have denied accreditation to the ruling party, which then attempted to have the presidential bet of the rival party disqualified.

In the first day of the official campaign period last February 3, the Central Judiciary Board and the Central Comelec announced that the ruling Lakas Tomasino Coalition is no longer accredited. Its candidates were automatically deemed independents.

UST GARNERED perfect marks in the recent Physical Therapist and Occupational Therapist licensure examinations, while the College of Architecture was hailed the “best school” by the Board of Architecture for acing the government exams.

Physical therapy and occupational therapy programs both scored 100-percent passing rates, after seven physical therapy and four occupational therapy Thomasian examinees passed last month.

Topnotcher Selene Estavillo was the lone Thomasian in the top 10, leading 212 new physical therapists with a passing rate of 82.10 percent. Chatlynne Audrey Aguila (80.20 percent), Jessica Nepomuceno (78.20 percent), and Hyacinth Mae Tenorio (77.80 percent) placed second, fourth and fifth, respectively in the Occupational Therapy test.

THE HERO can be the person beside you.

Cable News Network (CNN) Hero of the Year Efren Peñaflorida encouraged some 100 Thomasian student leaders to share their lives to others by being a hero in their own simple ways at the fourth Thomasian Leaders’ Congress last February 5.

Peñaflorida stressed the need for “compassion in action,” and challenged student leaders to use their God-given talents and skills to help others.

“There is no need to go outside. No need to go to another place. You can be a hero to the person beside you,” said Peñaflorida, who leads the Dynamic Teen Co., the team that pioneered the “kariton klasrum” project that brings education to streetchildren in Cavite. The project won him the title “Hero of the Year” from CNN last year.

UST’S electronics and communications engineering (ECE) program has “lost” its center of excellence status (COE), while chemical engineering and physical therapy were hailed centers of development (COD), following evaluation by the Commission on Higher Education (Ched).

Engineering Dean Josefin de Alban Jr. said ECE’s downgrade to a COD was not exactly a demotion. This was because Ched had decided to revise the rules for COEs and CODs amid lack of funds, and has yet to release the rules for COEs. In the meantime, Engineering applied for and was granted COD status.