Tag: December 15, 2010

JUST LIKE stores selling cigarettes within the vicinity of the campus, a number of bars serving alcohol to students have sprouted just a few steps away from the University. This is despite a law and a city ordinance seeking to prohibit the sale of liquor to students by establishments near schools.

Last November 25, GMA Network public affairs show “Imbestigador”, together with Manila City Hall officials, conducted simultaneous raids at  Sabrozo Bar on Padre Noval Street and Balay Student Lounge on Lacson Street corner España Boulevard, catching bar personnel serving alcoholic beverages to students, including Thomasians.

FOLLOWING the global buzz over Pope Benedict XVI’s latest remarks on condom use, Church leaders rushed to explain what the Pontiff really meant, saying Reproductive Health (RH) bill supporters took Benedict’s statements in the “wrong context.”

In the new book, Light of the World: The Pope, the Church, and the Sign of the Times, the Pope clearly pointed out that “[The Church] does not regard [the use of condoms] as a real or moral solution.”

THE POPE, the vicar of Christ and the visible head of the Church, is also a human being.

This facet of the papal personal shows in the book-length interview, titled Light of the World: The Pope, the Church and the Sign of the Times, between Pope Benedict XVI and German journalist Peter Seewald. It tackles sensitive issues facing the Church like the crisis of faith, abuse scandals, contraception, same-sex relationships, and celibacy.

In the book published by Ignatius Press of San Francisco, Seewald tries to penetrate Joseph Ratzinger, in his role as God’s representative on earth.

‘The sign of the times’

Seewald gets to meet the man behind the vestibules of faith in this first part of the book.

CHANGES are expected in the Mass as the Vatican has approved a new English translation of the Roman Missal, making it closer to the Latin version of the rite adopted by the Church following the Second Vatican Council.

The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has given its nod to the third edition of missal, the ritual text that contains prayers and instructions for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. It will be used first by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) on November 27 next year, on the First Sunday of Advent.

THE EIGHTH edition of the UST Christmas Concert last December 1 and 2 at the UST Chapel billed itself as a musical prelude to the grand Quadricentennial celebration next year. The concert lived up to its claim as members of high society and the rest of the audience were awed as the night was filled with a symphony of musical pieces that celebrated the yuletide season, somewhat of a herald to UST turning 400 next year.

The UST Brass Ensemble opened the show with Christmas Fanfare, a symphony of brasswind instruments woven into a medley of classic Christmas carols such as “Come all Ye Faithful” and “Joy to the World.”

BILANG pagkilala sa mga natatanging ambag sa panitikan ng tinaguriang “Ina ng mga Tomasinong Manunulat,” ipinangalan kay Ophelia Alcantara Dimalanta ang gantimpalang Poet of the Year sa ika-26 Gawad Ustetika, ang taunang parangal pampanitikan ng Unibersidad, na ginanap noong ika-27 ng Nobyembre sa Plaza Mayor.

Saksi ang malalapit na kaibigan sa pagtanggap ng anak ni Dimalanta na si Al, propesor sa Faculty of Arts and Letters, sa commemorative front page ng Varsitarian, kung saan nakaguhit ang mukha ng kaniyang yumaong ina.

Sa kaniyang talumpati, sinabi ni nakababatang Dimalanta na ang pinakamagandang pagkilalang maibibigay ng mga nagmamahal sa kaniyang ina ay ang muling pagkabuhay ng UST Center for Creative Writing.

BILANG tugon sa pangangailangan ng lipunan sa mga matapat at maka-Kristiyanong paraan ng pamamahayag, itinatag noong 1969 ang kauna-unahang lupon ng mga mamamahayag sa Unibersidad.

Tinawag na Thomasian Press Association (TPA) ang naturang samahan, na pinamunuan ng noo’y punong patnugot ng Varsitarian na si Hernando Gonzalez II. Siya rin ang nagsilbing tagapangulo sa kauna-unahang pagpupulong ng TPA noong ika-14 ng Disyembre, 1969 upang aprubahan ang kontitusyong magsisilbing gabay ng mga kasapi nito.

Ilan sa mga layunin ng samahan ay ang protektahan ang mga student journalist, paigtingin ang kaalaman ng mga ito, at magkaroon ng malayang palitan ng ideya at opinyon ang mga kasapi mula sa iba’t ibang pampaaralang publikasyon.