Tag: July 15, 2006

IN THE fight against abortion, firmness and compassion are complementary weapons. Lack of compassion in fact may drive people to abortion.

While unmarried pregnant students are often discouraged to study in school because of social ostracism, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago’s Senate Bill (SB) 2194, or the Pregnant Student Services Act, says that discrimination only gives pregnant teens more reasons to abort, aside from prejudicing their right to education.

IN THE event that an earthquake happens, Thomasians may be clueless on what to do and where to go.

Last month, 42,000 public and private schools nationwide simultaneously held earthquake drills but UST did not join the drill. No directive was given to the University Crisis Committee to conduct an earthquake drill, since the new rector is yet to be named.

THE FOLLOWING are the most destructive earthquakes that hit Metro Manila since the late 20th century:

August 2, 1968 — The Casiguran Earthquake

UNKNOWN to many, a seismograph that records the earth’s movement is stationed in UST.

AN INTENSITY-9 earthquake will rattle Metro Manila and neighboring towns in case dormant faults within the metropolis tremble. With no formal earthquake drills despite active earth movement in the country, will the University withstand a big quake?

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seimology (PHIVOLCS) forsees an earthquake in Metro Manila through the Marikina Fault. Located five kilometers east of Metro Manila, the fault is classified into the West Marikina Valley Fault (WVF) and the East Marikina Valley Fault.

THE BRAIN drain in this country, especially in the sciences, owes to causes beyond adequate compensation.

According to Dr. Graciano Yumul, Departmenst of Science and Technology (DOST) undersecretary for research and development, the exodus of scientists is inevitable for lack of research opportunities in the country. Holders of masters and doctorate degrees in the sciences tend to go to other countries with high-technology research facilities.

THOUSANDS of students graduate from science-related courses every year. But almost none of them will practice what they’ve learned.

According to the Department of Science and Technology, the Philippines has only 157 practicing scientists and engineers per million population, way below the 380 recommended number of scientists and engineers set by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. This statistic is a bitter pill to swallow for the many Thomasian science graduates.

FORTY-seven seniors of the College of Education listen attentively in a class as they prepare to become high school teachers soon. But only 17 of them will teach science subjects to their future students.

Out of the 238 Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSE) students in UST, only 25 are majoring in science-related subjects like Biology-Chemistry, Biology-General Science, and Math.

THEY both deserve long vacations after leading Asia’s oldest and only pontifical university through thick and thin. But former rectors Fr. Tamerlane Lana, O.P. and Fr. Rolando De la Rosa, O.P. have not exactly taken it easy after leaving the rectorship.

They have in fact embraced new and demanding commitments.

Lana, whose term as rector ended last April 31, will enter Georgetown University in Washington D.C. later this year to take up further studies in bioethics, his specialization.

PHARMACY students wishing to work in the United States will now have to take a five-year academic program meeting US standards.

The Faculty of Pharmacy will offer an optional five-year program to its freshmen consistent with the US Pharmacy’s five-year curriculum. The program will include subjects like Drug and Disease Management I and Immunology in the fourth year, and Drug and Disease Management III, Adverse Drug Reactions, Clinical Pharmacy II, Radiopharmacy, Patient Medication Assessment, and a six-month Clerkship in the fifth year.