Tag: May 20, 2009

THE TEMPTATION to give in to life’s pleasures and even the need to carry on with day-to-day tasks are the toughest hurdles in humanity’s bid to sustain the planet, a Varsitarian staffer wrote in an essay that won second place in a national writing contest.

Varsitarian Special Reports writer Andrewly Agaton’s entry titled “Break the Limitations” bested participants from all over the country in the essay-writing competition sponsored by the Manila Times and Manila Jaycees last April 16.

Agaton said the youth has a particular role to play in helping society rescue the “degrading planet.”

Agaton emphasized energy conservation by cutting the use of fossil fuels and plastics. To slow down the effects of climate change because of “heavy metropolitan pollution,” Agaton suggested carpooling and the use of commuter trains. Bicycles are also a “cheaper and healthier” means of transport.

ISANG dating katuwang na patnugot ng Varsitarian ang muling kinilala bilang Makata ng Taon ng Talaang Ginto: Gawad Surian sa Tula-Gantimpalang Tamayo noong ika-2 ng Abril sa Philippine International Convention Center.

Pinarangalan si Louie Jon Sanchez ng Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino para sa kanyang tulang “Ang Galit na Kristo” na base sa miyural na “Angry Christ” ni Alfonso Ossorio sa Chapel of St. Joseph the Worker sa Victorias Milling Corp., Negros Occidental. Ipinapakita sa naturang miyural ang imahe ni Kristo na animo’y nakatitig sa mga sumasamba, at pinalilibutan ng tila patak ng apoy.

Iginagawad ang nasabing parangal sa sinumang magkakamit ng unang gantimpala sa naturang timpalak sa pagsulat ng tula, kasabay ng pagdiriwang ng araw ni Francisco Balagtas. Kabilang sa mga Tomasinong makata na nakatanggap na ng naturang parangal sina Teo Antonio (1976), Victor Emmanuel Carmelo Nadera, Jr. (1985), at Cirilo Bautista (1993).

UST’S OCCUPATIONAL Therapy (OT) program is one step closer to achieving accreditation from the association of occupational therapists in the country, after the latter conducted ocular inspections last March 16 and April 17.

Sally Uy, head of the Occupational Therapy department of the College of Rehabilitation Sciences, said the college is awaiting the results of the inspection conducted by the Occupational Therapy Association of the Philippines (Otap).

“We cannot really say when the Otap will release the results. It is up to them,” Uy said, adding that other universities “waited for months, (even) years” for the inspection results.

Uy said the results would determine if the program still lacks the requirements for accreditation. But she was confident “we (would be) able meet the standards.”

BETTER driveways will welcome Thomasians next school year with the completion of the University’s road concreting project last May 15.

Fr. Roberto Pinto, O.P., director of the Facilities Management Office, said the project, which started last March 25, was part of the University’s preparations for the quadricentennial anniversary in 2011.

“I thought of the repair just last year when the office was asked to repair the road in front of the Engineering (building),” Pinto told the Varsitarian.

But it extended beyond Ruaño Drive because “the University roads are already dilapidated,” Pinto said.

Four driveways were cemented: Ruaño Drive; Tamayo Drive, where the UST gym is located; Gonzales Drive near the Botanical Garden; and Leon Ma. Guererro Drive leading to St. Martin de Porres Building.

Instead of asphalt, cement was used to pave the roads “since it is sturdier come rainy season,” Pinto said.

STUDENTS of the College of Commerce and Business Administration will sport a more “business-like” look this coming school year with new sets of uniforms.

“Students requested for the change in uniform. They want to look more presentable, especially when they have to go to big companies,” Dean Helena Cabrera told the Varsitarian.

In a referendum last January, the Commerce Student Council asked freshmen, sophomores and juniors to choose from two sets of uniform designs for both male and female students. Of the 2,536 students who participated, 1,697 (66.92 percent) voted for Set A of the new male and female uniform designs over Set B, which got only 839 votes.