Tag: February 28, 2014

THE UST Faculty Union (USTFU) filed a notice of strike with the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) last Feb. 27 after negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the University administration ended in deadlock on Valentine’s Day.

The union, which represents 1,600 faculty members, accused the administration of negotiating in bad faith and failing to provide complete and audited financial statements needed during collective bargaining talks, despite repeated requests. The strike notice, signed by Dr. George Lim, USTFU president, also cited as basis the administration’s refusal to accept the union’s final proposal.

UST’S fund drive for victims of typhoon “Yolanda” raised P5 million in cash and in-kind donations, officials said.

Cash donations totalling P1,321,499 and an estimated P3,450,000 worth of goods were received by the Tulong Tomasino Para sa Visayas program under the Simbahayan Community Development Office.

The donations came from the Thomasian community, Dominican priests and laity, and other partner institutions. Donations were brought to the towns of Coron, Palawan; Palo, Leyte; Bantayan, Cebu; and Guiuan, Eastern Samar; and to the provinces of Capiz, Aklan, Iloilo, and Antique.

THE USTv Awards ushered in its first decade last Feb. 21 evening at the Plaza Mayor by recognizing television programs and personalities that encourage the youth to become responsible viewers.

With the theme "Makabuluhang Telebisyong Hinubog ng Kabataan Ngayon," USTv's 10th edition reduced its categories to 22 from last year's 33 for a more filtered selection and more careful deliberation.

“Maaring maging mabisang batayan ng kanilang paniniwala, pagpapasya at pag-uugali ang telebisyon, kaya’t maging mapagmatyag sa mga mensahe sa likod ng mga programang binibigay nito,” said Vice Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. in his opening remarks.

THREE German professors arrested at the Thomas Aquinas Research Complex last Feb. 15 after being found without work visas have been released on bail pending deportation proceedings, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said.

BI spokesperson Ma. Angelica Pedro said the Germans were released to their lawyer in recognizance in exchange for the bail bond.

Before the Germans were granted probationary release last Feb. 17, they were detained at the BI Warden Facility in Bicutan, which is standard operating procedure for foreigners with a pending review for summary deportation.

“As soon as they are deported, they will be put in the blacklist, unless they file for a lifting,” Pedro told the Varsitarian in a phone interview.

THE ALFREDO M. Velayo–College of Accountancy ended the Faculty of Engineering’s three-year winning streak in the team category of Pautakan: The 37th UST inter-collegiate quiz contest last Feb. 24 at the Medicine Auditorium.

The math geniuses emerged as the new Pautakan champions after garnering a score of 200 points in the final round, more than enough to beat other teams. Engineering, last year's defending champion and the winningest Pautakan team, finished first runner-up with 135 points, while the Faculty of Arts and Letters settled for third place with 95 points.

THE PHILIPPINE Association of Law Schools (PALS) elected UST Faculty of Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina as president, late last year in their annual meeting at Waterfront Insular Hotel, Davao City.

In his four years as the University's representative to the official organization of law schools in the Philippines, Divina held the positions vice president for Metro Manila in 2010-2011 and secretary general in 2011-2012.

In the recent election, Divina was unanimously selected to preside over the 128-member association consisting of deans of law schools in the country.

THE SUPREME Court has ruled on the constitutionality of the controversial Cybercrime Law, upholding certain provisions, striking down some. Significant to note is that the Court has sustained the provision punishing “online libel.”

To recall, the Cybercrime Law drew flak when it was enacted in 2012 for its alleged infringement on the consitutional right to free expression. Thus, the Court immediately stopped the government from implementing the law.

“THE DAYS of the secret laws and the unpublished decrees are over. This is once again an open society, with all the acts of the government subject to public scrutiny and available always to public cognizance. This has to be so if our country is to remain democratic, with sovereignty residing in the people and all government authority emanating from them.”

The Supreme Court proclaimed this in the celebrated case of Tañada vs. Tuvera, ending the concealment of laws and decrees during the Martial Law.

Our right to access to information is also enshrined in the Constitution, ensuring our collective right to official records, documents, and even government research data.

GILAS Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes flew to Barcelona, Spain last Feb. 1 for the draw of the FIBA World Cup slated Aug. 30 to Sept. 14 in Seville. Three days later, the Philippines landed a slot in Group B, along with Croatia, Senegal, Greece, Puerto Rico and Argentina—most of them formidable teams.

With team manager Aboy Castro, Reyes was there every step of the way—from that day they finally beat South Korea in FIBA Asia to book the World Cup ticket to that day they were fated to be in Group B. He battled every adversity with the national team, had to pool together professional basketball players who were tied to their respective teams’ schedules.

SABI NILA, ang pagmamahal ay isang desisyong kailangan panindigan. Hindi ito basta na lamang bibitawan o tatalikuran kung ayaw mo na o sa tingin mo wala nang patutunguhan ang lahat. Kaya nga naman sa mga sinusuyo, mag-isip muna bago ibigay ang matamis niyong “oo,” kung hindi ay baka pagsisihan ito sa huli.