Tag: May 23, 2014

THE PHILIPPINES and China have hardened their positions in their raging territorial dispute, with the former invoking international law and the latter raising historical claims.

China and the Philippines have been fighting over various islands and reefs including the Spratly Islands and the Scarborough, Panatag and Ayungin Shoals.

The islands are located in an area that is traditionallyknown South China Sea but which Manila now calls the West Philippine Sea.

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Spokesperson Charles Jose told the Varsitarian that the Philippines is entitled to a 370-kilometer Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in disputed sea as mandated by the United Nations Convention of Law of the Sea (UNCLOS.)

THE MANILA Cathedral reopened its doors last April 9 after two years of renovation.

Also known as the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the cathedral now has a stronger foundation and more polished facade and interior.

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle led the Eucharistic celebration for the reopening of the cathedral, which was attended by President Aquino III and Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada.

Ambassador Henrietta de Villa, vice chair of the Manila Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica Foundation Inc. Board of Trustees, explained how the unstable situation of the Cathedral became a concern for both Manila residents and the church officials.

WHO SAYS you can’t take a vacation during the Holy Week? Not the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

CBCP Secretary General Rev. Fr. Marvin Mejia said the Church also encourages recreation and family time, but Holy Week obligations must not take a back seat.

“Go to the beach and enjoy, but more than that pray and participate in the liturgical celebration,” Mejia said in an interview.

But fulfilling Church obligations alone does not ensure a “job well done,” said Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, chairman of the CBCP Permanent Commission on Public Affairs. Catholics should refrain from merely “squeezing” the Holy Week traditions into their vacations, he said. It should be the other way around, he added.

The chaplain of the San Pedro Calungsod Chapel in SM Aura Taguig said the second Filipino saint continues to serve as an inspiration to Catholics.

“San Pedro Calungsod is not just a story from the past. He continues to inspire,” Samaniego said in his homily last April 2, feast of Calungsod.

Samaniego said Calungsod’s martyrdom should inspire the laity for selfless service.

“Let us continue loving Him so that we can also share His love to our brothers and sisters,” he said. “Through the examples of San Pedro, let us open our eyes not to be selfless.”

Talking about the “trials and tests of faith” of the nation, Samaniego said Calungsod was a reminder to Filipino Catholics to place their full trust in God.

THE FUTURE in alternative methods.

Potential plant remedies, analysis of management problems, new sources of energy and finding remedies to the country’s ailing aquaculture were the focus of this year’s best undergraduate scientific theses around the University.

Bleeding is a vascular disease said as one of the top ten causes of morbidity in the country and in addressing such problem, bleeding has to be controlled in a vital process involved in wound healing called hemostasis.

HOW DO you make life better for terminally ill patients?

Two senators have filed separate bills providing mechanisms for palliative care, a medical approach that provides pain and symptom relief, as well as spiritual and psychosocial support to terminally ill patients and their families.

Aside from providing palliative care and end-of-life care services to all patients facing serious diseases, the bills filed by Senators Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada will also put up a Palliative Trust Fund that will provide financial assistance to patients. 

Holistic approach

FEMALE Thomasians from the Faculty of Engineering proved there’s more to them than dealing with numbers.

Jodilly Pendre, a 20-year-old Information Systems graduate of UST, bagged first runner-up honors in the recently concluded Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 2.

Though Pendre did not take home the crown, she inspired three other Thomasian beauties, Patricia De Jesus, Arriane Marasigan and Christine Rodriguez, to try their luck in the modeling industry.

“Female engineering students usually have this strong personality. Maybe it's because of the male-dominated atmosphere that we become strong and learn to cope with somehow twice the effort as the usual female student would do,” Rodriguez said.

Veteran queen

A prestigious organization of highly trained nurses in the United States has feted a Thomasian graduate for her work in running a 200-member nursing staff at a New York medical facility.

She is Jocelyn Perez, the American Psychiatric Nurses of Association's Nurse of the Year in 2013.

William Wang, her co-worker at the Metropolitan Hospital and among those who nominated her for the award, says she "has demonstrated unique leadership qualities, has a genuine love for her work, and she strives for nothing short of excellence in patient care and teaching and supporting her staff,” according to the APNA website.

Perez has been the hospital's nursing director in behavioral health for six years.

RELICS of St. John Paul II have been touring the country for solemn veneration in connection with the recent canonization of the Polish pope.

Organized by the Office for the Vice Postulator for the Cause for Canonization of Blessed Ivan Merz, “Totus Tuus,” derived from John Paul II’s apostolic motto which means “Totally yours,” is a two-month tour highlighting the sacred relics of the late pontiff.

The tour featured first-class relics of St. John Paul II consisting of his remains such as hair strands and blood stains from his 1981 attempted assassination.

THE FAITHFUL found an alternative form of meditation during the Lenten season at the ninth installment of Kristo Manila as it included cultural immersion.

Held at the Art Center of Megamall in Mandaluyong City last April 16 to 29, this year’s exhibit celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ with the theme “A Heritage of Art in Faith.” Delan Robillos, Artery Manila, a literary arts and visual group based in Malate, was organizer and curator.

Among the 107 artists who participated in the exhibit were UST alumni—artists Wilfredo Offemaria, Jr., Salvador Ching, Thomas Daquioag, Pinggot Zulueta, Manuel Baldemor, and Maria Magdamit, journalist-editor Volt Contreras, physician Dr. Dante Lerma, and London-based artist Yveese Belen.