Tag: No. 6

THE SERIES of jubilees and other significant religious celebrations in the Filipino Catholic Church and the world at large should indicate that 2016 is a time to strengthen the faith in family and the Church.

Pope Francis has declared December 8, 2015 to November 20, 2016 as an Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, and he has reminded Catholics to practice “mercy before judgment.”

Meanwhile last November 7 last year, candles were lit for the Order of Preachers’ 800th anniversary. The Dominican family is urged to relive and rekindle its mission of “salvation of souls” and “spreading the lumen (light)” through preaching the Word of God.

FOLLOWING recent developments in climate change talks and multilateral environment agreements in Paris last December, shouldn’t the Philippine government literally look for greener pastures and consider turning their attention from fancy hotel and shopping mall construction to more ecotourism?

Three years after SM Baguio drew flak for cutting down trees to make way for a parking lot and it seems authorities are still in favor of concrete attractions over sustainable natural development.

IN A COUNTRY where education is of great value among its people, there seems to be a growing trend of making negative comments and expressions to those who have high intelligence or are critical thinkers—hence, the term “smart-shaming.”

Expressions such as “Ikaw na magaling!” or “Edi wow!” are now viewed as common responses to people who presumably share more information than what’s needed.

With the continuous increase in the number of Filipinos on social media, it has always been easy to share and disseminate information that are new to public.

Often times, though, we are also quick to react and even criticize those who have new ideas to share.

MATAGAL nang usapin ang reporma ng sistema ng buwis sa bansa.

Maging si Steve Forbes ng Forbes Media, sinabi na sa katagalan ay mananatiling malakas at matatag ang ekonomiya ng Pilipinas kung babaguhin ang sistema ng buwis at pabubutihin ang imprastruktura sa bansa.

Matatandaang tinanggihan ni Presidente Aquino ang panukalang ituwid ang income tax structure ng bansa sa kadahilanang maaari itong makaapekto at magdulot ng pagkawala ng mga benepisyong atin nang natamo sa pagpapabuti ng ating pangkalagayang pinansiyal.

Isa sa mga benepisyong tinutukoy ng Pangulo ay ang “investment grade” credit rating ng bansa.

DESPITE strong opposition from UST officials, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is pushing through with the plan to build a flyover along Lacson Avenue.

Alex Bote, DPWH project manager of the Lacson flyover since 2014, said the start of the construction period was moved to late 2016 due to revisions in the design.

The four-lane flyover, aimed at easing traffic woes in the area, was originally designed to start at Alcantara Street and end near Dapitan Street. The endpoint has been extended three blocks further to Aragon Street.

INCUMBENT and former lawmakers dominated the top senatorial picks of Thomasians for the 2016 national elections, a survey conducted by the Varsitarian showed.

Former senator Richard “Dick” Gordon, chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross, emerged as the top contender, with 61 percent of Thomasians saying they would vote for him if the elections were held on the day they were polled. He was followed by former justice secretary Leila de Lima with 57 percent.

Gordon, a former mayor of Olongapo, served as senator from 2004 to 2010. He ran for president in 2010 and senator in 2013, but lost in both elections.

WHAT do Thomasians look for in a candidate?

A Varsitarian survey has found that most UST students prefer candidates in the May 9 elections who possess moral values and educational qualifications, as well as those who will fight graft and corruption in government.

The survey, conducted in October to December 2015, asked 1,366 respondents randomly selected from the University’s different colleges and faculties to rank six qualities of a candidate based on importance.

ANXIETY is common among Thomasians, according to the UST Counseling and Career Center (CCC).

Results of the “depression scale report” of the CCC for Academic Year 2013-2014, the most recent data, yielded an average score of 57.21, which suggested that Thomasians, mostly sophomores, were feeling lethargic, sad and disinterested but that the score was “not enough to warrant a diagnosis for depression.”

The report added that none of the respondent groups got an average score of 60-69, the significant value indicating if depression was present or not.

The American Psychological Association defines anxiety as “an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes like increased blood pressure.”

LIKE how lightsabers ignited the battle scenes in Star Wars, Rodelio Gonzalez treats his canvas, paint and brush as his weapons in carving his name in the art industry.

Gonzalez, who studied in the former College of Architecture and Fine Arts in 1976 to 1978, had the exclusive opportunity to be the lone Filipino to paint interpretative pieces for Star Wars when he was invited by Acme Archives Ltd., the exclusive publisher of Star Wars, to be a part of their team last 2013.

THE HISTORY of UST Simbahayan mirrors the history of community development in the University, a fulfillment of one of the Three C’s in Thomasian core values—compassion.

This is why Simbahayan has been heading the University in helping and guiding communities and institutions that are needed to be developed for a better livelihood, not only for them but for the entire community.

“The mission of the Simbahayan is to empower communities and institutions with the Thomasian students contributing towards social transformation,” said Mark Abenir, director of the UST Simbahayan.