Tag: Vol. LXXXIV

MEDICINE and the arts may seem far apart, but not for Dante Lerma, M.D. who embodies the perfect union of the arts and sciences.

The award-winning artist’s works have been showcased in many art galleries for many years, with his most recent work, “Angelus Fidei” featured in the Kristo Manila exhibit last March in Malolos, Bulacan.

With a stylized mood on surrealism and realism, Dante mostly uses an oil-on-canvas technique to create sceneries displaying Filipino culture, self-awareness and nationalism.

Dante believes his two characteristics of being an artist and a doctor explain the two aspects that comprise him as an individual.

Despite bagging six titles, UST’s streak of UAAP general championships ended at 14 as De La Salle University claimed its first overall crown since joining the league in 1986.

The Green Archers finished with 293 points with five championships, namely in women’s chess, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, and women’s volleyball. UST came in second with 278 markers on the strength of championships in men’s and women’s judo, women’s beach volleyball, men’s taekwondo, table tennis, and chess. Ateneo de Manila University settled for third place with 204 points.

Fr. Ermito De Sagon, O.P., director of the UST Institute of Physical Education and Athletics, said the loss should serve as a “wake-up call” for the school.

IT WOULD take more than the extension of residency years to completely eradicate athlete piracy in the UAAP.

But it’s a good start, according to Fr. Ermito de Sagon, O.P., director of the UST Institute of Physical Education and Athletics, who also pointed to monetary incentives that prompt athletes to move from one school to another.

“[The proposed UAAP rule] is not sufficient,” De Sagon said. “If we see that it’s not working then we have to implore other ways of curtailing piracy.”

“With the two years [of residency], I don’t think other schools would be paying for athletes who will not be playing for the two years…it is just a starting point of the problem, but we hope the rule can be still improved later,” he added.

THE CAPTAIN took his talents to a higher level.

Outgoing Growling Tigers captain Jeric Fortuna went pro as he suited up for the San Miguel Beermen in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL).

The 21-year-old point guard, who led the Tigers to a runner-up finish in UAAP Season 75 and the championship in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL), will represent not only UST, but also the Philippines.

San Miguel represents the country in the ABL, whose games are held in and out the country.

IS THE subpar performance of the UST Lady Spikers this season a temporary setback or a lasting downfall?

The UAAP Season 75 women’s volleyball tournament marked the third straight championship for De La Salle University (DLSU). But it would also be remembered as the year when UST failed to barge into the Final Four for the first time in 10 years.

Even coach Odjie Mamon gave the team a score of five in a scale of 1 to 10 for their dismal performance. The España-based volleybelles finished fifth with a dismal 8-6 win-loss tally.

“The team was well-prepared but their full potential was not met,” Mamon said. “Those whom we expected to perform did not do well.”

THE FACULTY of Engineering bagged its second title in the Thomasian Goodwill Games men’s football tournament after trouncing the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, 2-0, at the UST Football field last Feb. 28.

With a minute left at the second half, Engineering rookie Viance Villanueva delivered a sharp long kick from the left flank as his squad scored its second goal and picked up its second title since 2010.

“All our players really played well in all our games, even though the players tended to be inconsistent sometimes. They see to it that they could back up everytime they fall down,” Engineering coach John Reginald Caballero said.

HARD work does not always pay off, at least not immediately.

Robert Hainga has experienced life’s worsts, both on his everyday endeavors and in the basketball court. It was not as if he was not working hard; it’s just that he wasn’t getting the breaks.

As a sixth-grader, the 6-foot-7 center used to help his parents sell fruits, vegetables, and other sources of income in his hometown in Negros Occidental. He considers one of the most challenging experiences growing up in a family of six, him being the youngest.

“Since grade six, nag-start na ‘kong magbenta ng mga kung anu-ano sa palengke. ‘Di lang gulay, lahat sa palengke nabenta ko na ro’n sa probinsya,” the 22-year-old Hainga said.

THE UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe (SDT) failed anew to enter the top three in the third UAAP Streetdance Competition held at the Skydome last March 23.

UP Street Dance Club dethroned two-time champions La Salle Dance Company-Street, which settled for a runner-up finish, while Adamson University CAST placed third.

“We really came up short this year because we allotted only three weeks of practice for this event,” said SDT coach Joe Abuda.

“I believe that the Salinggawi is a great dance group. The talent and passion is there and the whole Thomasian community is very supportive to us,” he added.

The competition was judged based on performance (60%) and skills (40%) set by the UAAP Streetdance Board of Committee.

THE NEW UAAP rule extending to two years the residency of student-athletes transferring to another UAAP member school drew cheers and jeers from students, sports officials, and athletes.

Also known as the “Jerie Pingoy rule,” it aims to discourage “piracy” among UAAP member schools, drawing support from Adamson University, De La Salle University, Far Eastern University, University of the East, and University of Santo Tomas.

Here are some thoughts from the Thomasian community:

The UST squad produced 35 points with a 10-1-3 win-draw-loss card to overtake FEU’s 33.5 points and 8-3-3 slate.

IT WAS a victory 14 years in the making for the UST Male Woodpushers as they reclaimed the title by dethroning six-time champion Far Eastern University in the UAAP men’s chess tournament at the FEU Technology Auditorium last Feb. 17.

Trailing by two points at the end of the ninth round, the Woodpushers saw a ray of hope after the 11th round when they cut the FEU deficit to 0.5 on the twin victories of team captain Patrick Florendo and Steven James Dacanay in the 12th round.