Tag: March 7, 2015

UST IS now one step closer to fulfilling its dream of digitally preserving the Philippines’ rich plant biodiversity.

Grecebio Jonathan Alejandro, director of the Graduate Studies, and his team is about to release an online database documenting various plant species found in the country this year.

The project, named the “DNA Barcoding for Authentication of Philippine Medicinal Plants,” is a four-year project that aims to create an online database and a medicinal guidebook for flora found in the Philippines with the help of DNA barcoding.

BECAUSE evolution requires “the creation of things that evolve,” its nature is consistent with the notion of creation, the Supreme Pontiff last October said in the gathering of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences in Vatican.

In his second book, “The Science of God: Convergence of Scientific and Biblical Wisdom,” physicist Gerald Lawrence Schroeder attempts to reconcile the age of the universe and the Bible’s Book of Genesis, which earned the fascination of some and the ire of others.

The second in the author's series of books that reinterprets the Bible, The Science of God attempts to link the “six days” of Creation in Genesis with our 14 billion-year-old universe using various scientific and religious principles.

LUST, REVENGE, and struggle for power are an explosive combination in Tanghalang Pilipino’s 28th season closer “Juego De Peligro,” staged at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Feb. 20 to March 8.

The play is a Filipino stage adaptation of French writer Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ novel “Les Liaisons Dangereuses” and its 1988 film adaptation, “Dangerous Liasons,” directed by Stephen Frears and starring Glenn Close and John Malkovich.

Written by UST Journalism alumnus Elmer Gatchalian, “Juego de Peligro” is set in 19th century Intramuros, in contrast with the original novel that is set in pre-revolution France.

BRINGING art mavens and enthusiasts in an unconventional space, the third Art Fair Philippines showcased some of Philippine contemporary art’s finest last Feb. 5 to 8 by transforming The Link’s parking lot at Ayala Center in Makati into an art mecca.

More than 30 galleries from here and abroad participated.

An Advertising Arts graduate of the College of Fine Arts and Design (CFAD), Derek Tumala was The Drawing Room’s main feature as it displayed his “Sacred Geometry,” a video-mapping installation on sculpture.

Sacred geometry is a concept that goes back to 16th century Europe when scientists believed that nature followed geometric patterns.

THE LIBERATION of Manila 70 years ago was relived and immortalized through art during the UST annual inter-school on-the-spot painting competition last Feb. 7.

The Battle of Manila that led to the city’s emancipation amid World War II took place from Feb. 3 to March 3, 1945, and left around 100,000 civilian casualties. The University served as an internment camp of the Japanese at that time.

A total of 219 delegates from 15 universities and colleges in Metro Manila participated in this year’s contest themed “Memories of Valor, Dreams of Peace: The 70th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Philippines” held at the Benavides Garden. UST partnered with the United States Embassy and Metrobank Foundation to sponsor the event.

ISANG PATUNAY ang pagiging patok ng online writing community na Wattpad sa patuloy na paghahanap ng paraan ng mga makabagong manunulat na makipag-ugnayan sa mga mambabasa at mailahad ang kanilang kaalaman.

Noong 2011, kinilala ang Wattpad bilang “Hottest Digital Media Company” sa Canadian Innovation Exchange, isang kumpanya na naglilista ng mga patok na website, dahil sa patuloy na paglawak at paglaki ng sakop ng mga nagsusulat at nagbabasa rito.

‘Di kalaunan, nakarating ang kasikatan ng Wattpad sa mga Filipinong mambabasa na nagdulot ng paglilimbag at pagsasapelikula ng mga akda rito tulad ng “Diary ng Panget,” “She’s Dating the Gangster” at “Talk Back and You’re Dead.”

ANG PAGTATAPOS sa pag-aaral ay pagtungtong sa panibagong yugto ng buhay, kaya naman likas na sa mga Tomasino ang pagsasagawa ng iba’t-ibang rituwal ng pagtatapos na tumatak sa puso ng bawat mag-aaral at kasaysayan ng Unibersidad.

Bago pa man ang kasalukuyang ritwal na paglabas sa Arch of the Centuries sa tuwing Baccalaureate Mass, nagsimula na noon pa lamang ika-17 siglo ang mga tradisyon ng kakaibang paraan ng paggawad ng karangalan sa mga nagsisipagtapos.

Isa na rito ang paggawad pagpaparada sa mga gagawaran ng doctorate degree na tinawag na paseo de los doctores.

THE CENTRAL Student Council (CSC) and the Central Board of students have rejected the administration’s proposed five- to eight-percent tuition increase during a consultation last Feb. 20.

Civil Law Student Council President and Central Board Speaker Victor Villanueva vowed to prevent the implementation of the proposed tuition increase, which he said was unjustifiable.

“Our objections will not end today. If the administration pushes through with the proposed increases, which we think are largely unjustified, we will continue to assert our objections,” he said.

THE UST Museum launched a month-long exhibit on Feb. 12 to commemorate Pope Francis’ visit to the University last Jan.18.

The exhibit, titled “@UST: Lolo Kiko Brings Christ to the Youth,” features memorabilia of the Pontiff’s visit to the only Pontifical university in Asia.

These include photographs, hand-written letters, newspaper clippings, various types of merchandise such as shirts and caps, and personal items used by the Pontiff himself.

THE UNIVERSITY again dominated recent licensure examinations for physicians, architects, physical and occupational therapists, and certification examinations for industrial engineers, with Thomasians landing the top 10 lists.

UST recorded a 95-percent passing rate in the February 2015 off-season physician licensure examinations, and saw two Thomasians entering the top 10.

Out of 20 examinees, 19 Thomasians passed. The passing rate was higher than last year’s 83.33-percent or 15 passers out of 18 examinees.

Alrick Anthony Gonzalez headed the new batch of Thomasian physicians after placing seventh with a score of 86 percent, while Angela Pauline Calimag-Loyola grabbed the eighth spot with a score of 85.75 percent.