The Varsitarian recaps its top stories as the year 2019 nears its end.
The Rizza Divine saga
THE FATHER of a UST legal management freshman comes out in the open in an effort to reach his daughter, who went missing in December after a supposed immersion with farmers in Quezon Province.
READ: Father says Rizza Divine is ‘back home,’ but mother says otherwise
USTH dispute
UST HOSPITAL (USTH) nurses complain of poor working conditions and vow to strike if their complaints are not addressed under a new collective bargaining deal.
Closure of street food stalls
Street food stalls around the University are forced to shut down following the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s 60-day deadline for the closure of illegal structures on public roads.
Iconic Tapsi barred from selling liquor
“WALWAL” days are over as UST’s iconic Tapsi restobar will no longer sell alcoholic drinks as part of a city-wide crackdown under new Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno.
Frassati building opens
THE UNIVERSITY officially opens the doors of the new Senior High School (SHS) building in front of the campus on España Street to 3,531 Grade 11 students at the start of Academic Year 2019-2020. The Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, O.P. Building, named after the patron saint of UST Senior High School, stands 22 storeys tall — the highest among UST buildings.
Thomasian chief justice
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte appoints Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta, a UST Faculty of Civil Law alumnus, as the new chief justice of the Philippines. Peralta, who graduated from the University in 1979, will succeed Lucas Bersamin, a former UST law professor, who retired on Oct. 18 after serving the judiciary for 33 years.
UST perfects nursing boards anew
THE UNIVERSITY records a 100-percent passing rate in the nursing board exams for the fifth straight year. It also ranks first among top-performing schools for the fifth consecutive year, results of the November 2019 nursing licensure examinations showed.
Abando stays
UST COACH Aldin Ayo confirms that Rhenz Abando got offers from rival schools, but says his high-flying rookie will stay with the Growling Tigers.
The Ateneo curse
THE ATENEO de Manila University Lady Eagles reclaim the UAAP women’s volleyball title in dominant fashion, sweeping an error-plagued UST Golden Tigresses, 25-17, 25-22, 25-22, in Game 3 of the Season 81 finals at the Mall of Asia Arena.
READ: Ateneo takes down Tigresses for UAAP volleyball crown
The Ateneo Blue Eagles claim their third consecutive UAAP championship, overcoming the UST Growling Tigers, 86-79, in Game 2 of the finalsat the Mall of Asia Arena.
READ: Ateneo sweeps Tigers for 3rd straight UAAP title
Rondina’s final season
IT WAS not the ending she had hoped for, but Most Valuable Player (MVP) Cherry Ann Rondina has only gratitude for UST’s runner-up finish in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament this year. The 5’6” Cebuana, known for her grit and vicious spikes, caps off her five-year stint in the Golden Tigresses as the league’s Athlete of the Year for the team sports category.
Biggest Paskuhan to date
MORE THAN 105,000 Thomasians and guests attend the concert and pyromusical display of this year’s Harry Potter-themed Paskuhan at the UST open field on Dec. 20. The total number of attendees surpassed last year’s estimated 100,000.
