Tag: January 30

FRIARS or brethren of the Order of Preachers, or the Dominicans, have much to be thankful for their order having reached its eighth centenary.

Their father, St. Dominic de Guzman, would be proud of the achievements of his sons, especially since the reform and renewal of the Church since the medieval ages have always been associated with the mendicant friar orders of which the Dominicans, along with the Franciscans, Carmelites, and Augustinians, are at the forefront.

His pride should extend to the whole Dominican family—not only friars, but sisters and nuns as well as the Third Order and lay confraternities.

DESPITE strong opposition from UST officials, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is pushing through with the plan to build a flyover along Lacson Avenue.

Alex Bote, DPWH project manager of the Lacson flyover since 2014, said the start of the construction period was moved to late 2016 due to revisions in the design.

The four-lane flyover, aimed at easing traffic woes in the area, was originally designed to start at Alcantara Street and end near Dapitan Street. The endpoint has been extended three blocks further to Aragon Street.

INCUMBENT and former lawmakers dominated the top senatorial picks of Thomasians for the 2016 national elections, a survey conducted by the Varsitarian showed.

Former senator Richard “Dick” Gordon, chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross, emerged as the top contender, with 61 percent of Thomasians saying they would vote for him if the elections were held on the day they were polled. He was followed by former justice secretary Leila de Lima with 57 percent.

Gordon, a former mayor of Olongapo, served as senator from 2004 to 2010. He ran for president in 2010 and senator in 2013, but lost in both elections.

ANXIETY is common among Thomasians, according to the UST Counseling and Career Center (CCC).

Results of the “depression scale report” of the CCC for Academic Year 2013-2014, the most recent data, yielded an average score of 57.21, which suggested that Thomasians, mostly sophomores, were feeling lethargic, sad and disinterested but that the score was “not enough to warrant a diagnosis for depression.”

The report added that none of the respondent groups got an average score of 60-69, the significant value indicating if depression was present or not.

The American Psychological Association defines anxiety as “an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes like increased blood pressure.”

LIKE how lightsabers ignited the battle scenes in Star Wars, Rodelio Gonzalez treats his canvas, paint and brush as his weapons in carving his name in the art industry.

Gonzalez, who studied in the former College of Architecture and Fine Arts in 1976 to 1978, had the exclusive opportunity to be the lone Filipino to paint interpretative pieces for Star Wars when he was invited by Acme Archives Ltd., the exclusive publisher of Star Wars, to be a part of their team last 2013.

FOR THIS Thomasian pre-school teacher, self-study pays off.

After obtaining degree in Psychology from the University in 2011, Paola Jane Esteron opted to make a name in typography after two months of watching instructional videos uploaded in Youtube.

It was in 2013 thay she started teaching herself how to create artworks using nib pens while working on her master’s studies in Early Childhood, which she eventually finished in St. Joseph’s College in 2014.

The 25-year-old preschool teacher from Lourdes School in Quezon City, however, diverted from nib pen to brushes because it was more convenient.

FROM black and white city walls, a Thomasian can turn grays into vibrant colors.

After graduating with a degree in Advertising from the College of Fine Arts and Design in 2012, Ana Korina “Kookoo” Ramos immediately found her heart drawn to plastering portions of Metro Manila with murals, which she considers as a calling beckoned upon her.

She has done live art for Globe Telecom at the Bonifacio Global City, The Sweet Spot Pasig, and for Jack TV’s Kimbra Concert last 2014. She also painted commissioned graffiti murals in Tuscany McKinley Hill, Lift Hard Philippines, Melody Restaurant, and SM Fairview, as well as personal paintings in Ortigas and Quezon City.

PASADO alas nuebe na nang makahiga si Ernesto at tanging ang bukas na telepono na lamang niya ang nagbibigay liwanag sa kaniyang kulob na silid.

Dahan-dahan niyang itinataas-baba ng kaniyang kanang hintuturo sa screen upang masulyapan ang laman ng kaniyang Facebook: mga bidyo ng makukulit na Corgi, mga meme nila Bill at Juan at mga galit na reklamo tungkol sa mga drayber ng taksi.

“Paulit-ulit na lang,” ani Ernesto sa sarili.

Nakaramdam na siya ng pagbigat ng kaniyang mga mata at dahan-dahang naglaho sa kaniyang paningin ang liwanag ng limang pulgadang screen ng kaniyang telepono.

IGINALA ni Aida ang mata sa langit

na kanlong ang mga talang noon nakakubli

sa hamog ng makukulay na baga.

Umihip, umihip,

ang batang nakasilip.

Bumulong nang marahan

at sandaling lumangitngit,

Sumumpa sa tala

na sa taong sasapit,

mag-iipon, mag-aaral, magpapakabuti.

Umihip, umihip.

Nakaalpas sa torotot ang tunog na impit

kagaya ng pangakong inusal na rin dati.

Tinangay ng hangi’t samyo ng pulbura

ang hinahapong hininga,

at bulong sa mga tala.

Bernadette A. Pamintuan

AN ALMOST forgotten Palanca award-winning fictionist was last year’s Parangal Hagbong honoree in the Varsitarian-sponsored 17th Ustetika Annual Literary Awards last Dec. 15 at the Thomas Aquinas Research Complex Auditorium.

The Ustetika recognized Lilia Pablo Amansec for her valuable contributions to Philippine literature. Some of her most memorable literary worksinclude her Palanca award-winning pieces “Lilies of Yesterday” (2nd place, 1957), “Dream Tiger” (2nd place, 1963), and “Loverboy” (1st place, 1964).