Tag: June 18, 2012

THE NEW Rector has vowed to open the lines of communication to students and is optimistic the University will soon have a code of students’ rights.

Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P., who was installed as UST’s 96th Rector last June 4, said the improvement of the University’s academic profile and research output would be his priorities. Speaking to the Varsitarian on his plans for the next four years, Dagohoy also vowed to deal with pressing matters such as the long-delayed collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the faculty union.

“The only thing I have to do is to see [to it] that academics is more evident across disciplinary undertakings,” said Dagohoy.

DEMOCRACY without limits will ultimately lead to anarchy.

Lecturing before University faculty last June 11, former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad explained how Malaysia achieved economic success through a controlled democracy.

Mahathir, whose 22-year rule ushered Malaysia into prosperity, said democracy will not deliver its promises if people only think of the freedoms attached to it.

“When people think only of the freedoms of democracy and know nothing of the implied responsibilities, it will result in instability and instability will not permit development to take place,” Mahathir said after accepting the title “Honorary Professor” from the University.

THE THOMASIAN community has thrown its support behind newly installed Rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P.

His immediate predecessor, Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, O.P. cited the need to continue UST’s programs, such as “Simbahayan,” an all-encompassing project promoting unity among Thomasians, and UST’s drive for academic excellence.

“I hope he will continue what we started during the past four years,” De la Rosa said.

Newly appointed Vice Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. pledged his all-out help to Dagohoy, the 96th Rector.

“He can expect full support from me. I will give my utmost dedication to my assigned task [as vice rector] because he entrusted that to me,” Ang said.

‘Effective manager’

PANANATILIHIN ng UST High School (USTHS) ang paggamit ng numero para sa mga marka ng mga mag-aaral nito, taliwas sa probisyong nakapaloob sa K to 12 Basic Education Program ng Department of Education (DepEd) na ipinatupad ngayong akademikong taon.

Mga letrang may katumbas na kahulugan ang gagamiting marka sa report cards ng mga mag-aaral mula Grade 1 hanggang 10 alinsunod sa DepEd Order No. 31 Series of 2012.

“The student’s attainment of standards in terms of content and performance is a critical evidence of learning,” ayon sa DepEd. “Students are not just expected to understand, but they should be able to demonstrate or provide evidence of understanding.”

THE UNIVERSITY posted a slightly lower passing rate in the June licensure examination for architects despite having five Thomasians in the Top 10 list.

UST recorded a 75-percent passing rate as 201 out of 268 examinees passed the test. This was lower than last year’s 78.79 percent in which 208 out of 264 examinees made the cut.

Leading the batch of new Thomasian architects is Saul Alexander Marcelo, who placed third with a score of 83.4 percent.

Also making it to the Top 10 were Lance Andrew Olegario (82.6 percent) at sixth place, Terrence Jeffrey Wang (82.3 percent) at seventh place, Maria Adelle Elma (82 percent) at ninth place, and Dio Angelo de la Cruz (81.9 percent) at 10th place. Last year, there werethree topnotchers from UST.

THE PAPAL envoy to the Philippines urged Catholic schools to reaffirm their Catholic identity and challenged students to explore their faith as part of the intellectual voyage of higher education.

In his homily during the traditional Misa de Apertura (Opening Mass) at the Santisimo Rosario Parish Church last June 4, Apostolic Nuncio Giuseppe Pinto reminded Thomasians to be loyal to the mission and ideals of the Church.

THE NUMBER of registered guidance counselors in the University went up to 33 from just two in a span of four years, despite a shortage of licensed practitioners, an official has bared.

This was amid stringent requirements—UST requires unlicensed guidance counselors to get a master’s degree in two years and take the licensure examination afterwards.

Guidance and Counseling Department Director Lucila Bance said non-registered guidance counselors signed a contract in 2008 to comply with the new requirements.

“If you are not able to finish the degree within two years [and if you don’t get a license], you’ll be out of UST,” Bance said in an interview.

TWO JOURNALISM seniors and a Biology major will lead the Varsitarian’s 84th batch.

Former Varsitarian News reporter Rafael Antonio, a fourth-year Journalism student, is this year’s editor in chief, replacing AB Legal Management graduate Alexis Ailex Villamor, Jr. who is now UST Law freshman.

Joining Antonio in the Editorial Board are Biology senior and former Witness (Religion) editor Brylle Tabora as managing editor, and associate editor James Bryan Agustin, also a Journalism senior and a former Witness writer.

STUDENTS and professionals gathered for an international conference in UST to find ways to build a competent and professional labor force that will cater to the demands of the international tourism and hospitality industry.

The 10th annual Asia-Pacific Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education (APacCHRIE) discussed the latest theories and practices in the field, particularly on culture, hospitality, recreation, innovation, and environment.

TWO ASSOCIATE justices who have taught law in UST are among the 28 nominees to the country’s top judicial post.

Former Civil Law Dean Roberto Abad, who was appointed associate justice of the Supreme Court in 2009, was nominated by incumbent Dean Nilo Divina, while Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta got an automatic nomination due to his seniority.

“Justice Abad is a real practitioner and at the same time, a good academician,” Divina told the Varsitarian.

Abad finished law at Ateneo de Manila, while Peralta obtained his law degree from the University in 1979.

At 68, Abad has only two years left in the judiciary due to the mandatory retirement age of 70 years old.