Tag: March 23, 2007

REMEMBER what the catechism teaches us—Jesus’ blood from his wounds on the cross was offered as oblation for mankind? This Lenten season, the Varsitarian takes a scientific look into the human blood itself, the so-called “fluid of life”.

As we all know, blood is composed of living cells: red blood cells that distribute oxygen for the life of tissues; white blood cells that compose the immune system; and platelets responsible for blood coagulation.

WITHOUT enough time to study, students usually turn to energy drinks when rushing reviews for an examination. Although energy drinks are said to boost one’s mind and body, most people are unaware of their long-term effects – longer than their supposed energizing kick, and some of the effects may be harmful.

Tomas, understand:

it has become my habit

to make the sign of the cross

when passing by any tower

with a crucifix on top. Who would have thought

that not all cross-bearing edifices

are God’s sanctuaries? Ripples of giggles

swelled in my ears and flowed through my skin,

slowly becoming as pink as a pomelo.

You should have told me about it, Tomas,

just like how you have warned me

of rivers and seas and waterfalls

Tomas, understand:

it has become my habit

to make the sign of the cross

when passing by any tower

with a crucifix on top. Who would have thought

that not all cross-bearing edifices

are God’s sanctuaries? Ripples of giggles

swelled in my ears and flowed through my skin,

slowly becoming as pink as a pomelo.

You should have told me about it, Tomas,

just like how you have warned me

of rivers and seas and waterfalls

FRANK, vulgar, and in-your-face poetry.

These are the fit descriptions for Filipino-American Fulbright scholar R. Zamora Linmark’s first poetry collection Primetime Apparitions (Hanging Loose Press, 2005), with topics ranging from hilarious English grammar and martial law musings to queer adventures and movie allusions. His poetry is a portal into the mind of a Filipino raised in a foreign country, only to go back to his original hometown and find out that nothing much has changed.

TAUN-TAON, higit na dumarami ang mga Tomasinong nagsisipagtapos sa kolehiyo; ngunit kasabay din nito ang pangambang hindi sila makakahanap ng trabaho. Kung makakuha man sila agad ng trabaho, hindi naman ito akma sa kursong kanilang natapos at sa kanilang kakayahan.

WORDS, colors, and chords harmonize for an evening of creative expression and artistic fellowship.

For the third installment of “Brushes with Words and Chords,” the UST Center for Creative Writing and Studies (CCWS) gathered three musicians, six poets, and 11 visual artists from UST at the UST Museum of Arts and Sciences last Feb. 24.

MADALI para sa atin ang tumuligsa sa mga maling gawain kapag hindi tayo ang nasasangkot sa isang mahirap na suliranin. Subalit tulad ng hunyango na nagpapalit ng kulay ng balat kapag nalalagay sa panganib, naghuhunos tayo ng ating mga panininidigan sa oras ng matinding pagsubok.

Sa paksang ito umiikot ang kuwento ng nobelang Hunyango sa Bato (UST Publishing House, 2004) ng nobelista at inhinyerong si Abdon Balde Jr. Ginagalugad nito ang iba’t ibang mga pagbabalat-kayong ginagawa ng mga inhinyero at kontraktor sa kanilang mga proyekto.

KINILALA ng mga batikang manunulat ang kontribusyon ng Tomasinong si Alejandro Abadilla bilang “Ama ng Modernistang Panulaang Filipino” sa talakayang ginanap sa sentenaryong pagdiriwang ng kaniyang kapanganakan noong Marso 10 sa UST Miguel de Benavides Library Conference Hall.

A TIME of transition and change—this is what academic year 2006-2007 has been. Despite starting the year without a rector, the University somehow managed to ricochet its way to a very colorful and eventful year. Capping off with a number of triumphs—and a fair share of controversies, the school year proved to be an ordinary year turned extraordinary.

New administration, new colleges