Tag: August 22, 2015

AS A FRESHMAN, I despised commuting. Probably because I disliked being with strangers, commuting felt like I was wasting hours of valuable time.

My commute would take two hours from my home to UST. The first hour of travel was bearable. Sure, it could take a while to find a ride with a vacant seat, and traffic on Ortigas could be irritating. But I still looked forward to school because of friends. On the second hour of travel, all of my enthusiasm would turn to aggravation. By then, I would already in Manila where pollution was the worst.

I also hated how I often got lost. I was an inexperienced freshman who was poor with directions. At times, I mistakenly took the wrong jeepney that would take me to the wrong places.

MAHIRAP maligaw kung wala ka naman talagang patutunguhan. Iyong naglalakad ka lang, nagpapalipas ng oras hanggang marating ang destinasyon na hindi mo naman alam kung saan o kung posible man lang bang matagpuan. Iyong naglalakad ka lang, nagpapalipas ng oras hanggang magkaroon ng kasagutan ang mga tanong na matagal nang bumabagabag sa isipan.

Mula pagkabata, palagi na akong naliligaw. Palaging akong nasa maling lugar, maling oras, maling panahon at maling pagkakataon. Palagi akong naliligaw sa paghahanap ng patutunguhan. Palagi akong naliligaw sa paghahanap ng mga sagot sa kung bakit ba ako naririto sa mundong ito, kung ano ba talaga ang silbi ko at kung mayroon ba talaga ako nito.

A FEW months back, I learned of the Korean term “jung.”

“It is the connection between two people that cannot be severed, even when love turns to hate. You still have those old feelings for them; you cannot ever completely shake them loose of you. You will always have tenderness in your heart for them.” —P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han.

The Varsitarian is my jung.

They say joining the ‘V’ is like having a boyfriend or a girlfriend—for it is demanding and attention-seeking.

The ‘V’ demands full time and attention from its staffers, much like a lover who would seek undivided commitment and would nag you and demand your attention.

IN THE early days politicians presented themselves to voters possessing the right credentials and a long experience in public service. Recent elections however have seen various personalities more than willing to throw their hats into the political arena even without the necessary preparation.

Jose Torres, a history professor at De La Salle University, considers many of the 2016 candidates as “neophytes” trying to conceal their novice status with a celebrity image.

The image of politicians, Torres argued, has been reduced to a dispenser of various favors, leading the public to root for a candidate with a “Messiah complex.”

HIGIT PA sa tinatamasang mga benepisyo mula sa UST alumni card ngayon ang nalasap ng mga nagsipagtapos sa Unibersidad noon.

Taong 1898, binuksan sa mga alumno na mga doktorado at mga lisensyadong propesyunal ng Unibersidad ang Claustro Universitario o University Cloister, ang pinakamataas na lupong nangangasiwa sa Unibersidad.

Binubuo ito ng rektor mga Dominikanong propesor, mga lektore, mga pari, rehente at punong estudyante. Itinatag ang claustro noong 1649, apat na taon makalipas maiangat ng gobyerno ng Espanya sa antas na Unibersidad ang Colegio de Santo Tomas. Isa lamang ito sa maraming bagay na itinatag alinsunod sa mga Kastilang unibersidad sa Mehiko at Espanya.

POLITICAL advertisements are already being aired on radio and television even before the official campaign period for the 2016 national and local elections. But politicians spending big money on such ads cannot be penalized for “premature campaigning” because of a legal loophole.

Election laws and Supreme Court rulings do not prohibit these advertisements as the personalities being promoted are not yet official candidates, according to the head of the University’s political science department.

FORMER College of Science dean Fortunato Sevilla III was conferred the title, "National Academician," by the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) during its 37th Scientific Meeting at the Manila Hotel last July 10.

Three other Science faculty members also got recognitions. Allan Patrick Macabeo was named Outstanding Young Scientist. Grecebio Jonathan Alejandro and Mary Beth Maningas were recognized for their Outstanding Scientific Papers. (See related story below.)

“Colleagues from the University of the Philippines (UP) who are already in the academy say it’s high time na may UST dito, that we get to see a different face,” Sevilla said, referring to the UP-dominated academy.

“Reminders, please fasten your seatbelts, and switch off all electronic devices as we are about to land in a few minutes.”

Ang init.

Ito ang mga unang katagang pumasok sa isipan ni Kirsten nang lumapag ang eroplanong kanilang sinasakyan pa-Pilipinas. Sabi ng mga magulang niya, minsan na daw silang nanatili dito. Ngunit tila hindi naman niya matandaan kung kailan ‘yon.

“Tinay! Iha, ikaw na ba ‘yan? Ang laki mo na at ang ganda pa! Mestisahin ka talaga noon pa man.”

“Hi, Tita, Tito.”

FOUR Thomasian scientists are leading in their respective fields, with researches on chemical and biological sensors, gene silencing, taxonomy and plant barcoding now making leaps in the scientific community.

The Chemical Sensor and Biosensor group of the Research Center of Natural and Applied Sciences (RCNAS) established by Fortunato Sevilla III has published at least 85 papers in international journals, which led to several international partnerships, and brought a number of recognitions to the University.

“We [UST] pioneered chemical sensor research in the Philippines,” Sevilla told the Varsitarian.

WORLD-RENOWNED UST Singers reigned supreme in the 4th Florence International Choir Festival, bagging the overall best choir award and bringing home the grand prix, the Golden David Trophy.

The 32-member chorale bested 14 ensembles from various countries such as Armenia, Bulgaria, China, England, Estonia, Hong Kong and Italy in the competition held last July 22 to 25 in Florence, Italy.

The UST Singers emerged as first-prize winners in the Mixed Choirs Adult Category, Pop, Folk, Gospel and Barbershop Ensembles Category, Sacred Music Category, and Modern and Contemporary Music Category.

Roberto Tagalog, group's baritone specialist and College of Science alumnus, won as Best Male Soloist for his part in “Gabag-an” by Ruben Federizon.