Tag: No. 11

FORMER College of Science dean Fortunato Sevilla III was conferred the title, "National Academician," by the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) during its 37th Scientific Meeting at the Manila Hotel last July 10.

Three other Science faculty members also got recognitions. Allan Patrick Macabeo was named Outstanding Young Scientist. Grecebio Jonathan Alejandro and Mary Beth Maningas were recognized for their Outstanding Scientific Papers. (See related story below.)

“Colleagues from the University of the Philippines (UP) who are already in the academy say it’s high time na may UST dito, that we get to see a different face,” Sevilla said, referring to the UP-dominated academy.

“Reminders, please fasten your seatbelts, and switch off all electronic devices as we are about to land in a few minutes.”

Ang init.

Ito ang mga unang katagang pumasok sa isipan ni Kirsten nang lumapag ang eroplanong kanilang sinasakyan pa-Pilipinas. Sabi ng mga magulang niya, minsan na daw silang nanatili dito. Ngunit tila hindi naman niya matandaan kung kailan ‘yon.

“Tinay! Iha, ikaw na ba ‘yan? Ang laki mo na at ang ganda pa! Mestisahin ka talaga noon pa man.”

“Hi, Tita, Tito.”

FOUR Thomasian scientists are leading in their respective fields, with researches on chemical and biological sensors, gene silencing, taxonomy and plant barcoding now making leaps in the scientific community.

The Chemical Sensor and Biosensor group of the Research Center of Natural and Applied Sciences (RCNAS) established by Fortunato Sevilla III has published at least 85 papers in international journals, which led to several international partnerships, and brought a number of recognitions to the University.

“We [UST] pioneered chemical sensor research in the Philippines,” Sevilla told the Varsitarian.

WORLD-RENOWNED UST Singers reigned supreme in the 4th Florence International Choir Festival, bagging the overall best choir award and bringing home the grand prix, the Golden David Trophy.

The 32-member chorale bested 14 ensembles from various countries such as Armenia, Bulgaria, China, England, Estonia, Hong Kong and Italy in the competition held last July 22 to 25 in Florence, Italy.

The UST Singers emerged as first-prize winners in the Mixed Choirs Adult Category, Pop, Folk, Gospel and Barbershop Ensembles Category, Sacred Music Category, and Modern and Contemporary Music Category.

Roberto Tagalog, group's baritone specialist and College of Science alumnus, won as Best Male Soloist for his part in “Gabag-an” by Ruben Federizon.

TACKLING the aftermath of super-typhoon “Yolanda/ Haiyan” in Tacloban City, Cannes best director and UST fine arts alumnus Brillante Mendoza has come up with a poignant semi-documentary fictional tale of survival and recovery in “Taklub,” which opened the 11th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival at the Cultural Center of the Philippines on Aug. 6.

WITH his wit and attitude, multi-awarded filmmaker Rommel “Milo” Tolentino, who released his most recent short film titled “Nenok” in this year’s Cinemalaya Festival, never ceases to fascinate his audience.

Tolentino, an independent filmmaker, hopes that viewers would be more aware and appreciative of the eye-awakening experience the local film industry offers.

“The fact that Filipino filmmakers get to make films that they want to do is already a winning predicament to the Philippine cinema. We should celebrate Filipino filmmakers and their films,” Tolentino said in an e-mail interview with the Varsitarian.

A Thomasian, Tolentino says UST has played an important role in the formation of his success.

Saksi ang puso

sa paghulma ng pagkatao ng bawat isa

sa kani-kaniyang kuwento

Pag-asa—

sa paandap-andap na sulo

na bitbit sa malayong paglalakbay,

munting liwanag na nagbibigay lakas para magpatuloy.

Pagkabigo,

sa tuluyang pagkapundi ng kapirasong

ilaw, pagbagsak sa kawalan

panlulumo, pagkalugmok

Poot,

sa mga alaala ng pagkabigong nagbabalik,

nambabagabag, nanggugulo,

siyang tumutubong buto ng pagngangalit at pait

Sa huli’y maglalaho ang lahat ng damdamin

sabay ng pagkawalang saysay

ng buhay na minsang nangarap

MEET Malaysia-based Thomasian architect Emmanuel “Manny” Canlas.

Manny was one of the architects who designed the iconic Petronas Twin Towers of Malaysia. His works also include parts of the Platinum Park in Kuala Lumpur, Queen’s Bay Complex in Penang and The Istana NurulIman in Brunei Darussalam.

Manny said joining the industry was not a piece of cake.

“Being a Thomasian architect always makes me feel I have the edge. I cannot explain that in technical details, but just the feeling of it,” he said.

“I’m very proud to be a Thomasian as I know, there was something special about being one.”

Looking back

Manny grew up in an artistically-inclined family. Painting was his first love, he said.

DISNEY Pixar’s newest crowd-puller, Inside Out, tells the story of an 11-year-old girl named Riley, who is coping with the changes brought by moving to a new city.

Her emotions come to life quite literally as Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust, and Anger, who alternately take charge of her subconscious via control consoles.

Thanks to a UST graduate, we, and the rest of the world, now enjoy young Riley's journey on screen.

Ronaldo “Ronnie” Del Carmen, a UST Fine Arts graduate, made his own name in the animation industry as part of the story team on a number of Pixar Animation Studios film, such as the Finding Nemo, Ratatouille, Up and now the Inside Out, which he co-directed.

TWO UST academicians are flying to Europe for prestigious scholarship grants.

After years of hard work and dedication in the field of research and education, Peter Emmanuel A. Mara, a faculty member at the Department of Philosophy, and Daniel D. Vicario, an assistant professor at the Department of Mathematics and Physics, are the only Southeast Asians to receive the prestigious Master Erasmus Mundus Europhilosophie and Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate Program for Experimental Physics by the European Union, respectively.

Deeply humbled by this scholarship grant, they believe that the program will not only guarantee the acquirement of higher degree, but would also pave the way in strengthening academic linkages between European universities and UST.