Tag: November 27

IT IS appalling that while Thomasians have been generally scarce on social media on such pressing concerns as corruption in government, the future of Philippine democracy, the persecution and even massacre of Christians in the Middle East, and the removal of crosses in China by communist Beijing, they’ve suddenly become overzealous netizens over the very petty subject of the good-grooming policy of UST. It is likewise appalling that the UST administration, which is otherwise mum on the same urgent issues affecting the Church and society, is fanatically pressing on the same. Now UST is the butt of ridicule on social media for preoccupying itself with the most trifling of matters.

The matter is not even about overall grooming but about hair of all things!

WITH the rise of online news and the social media, print journalists have learned how to adjust to fast-changing times.

Most newspapers now have their online sites where they could easily post breaking news and thus cater to the fast-growing population of netizens.

Undoubtedly, the Internet has been a great help for journalists to become more effective.

And with the widening presence of the social media, news reports whether on print or online may be better disseminated. To be sure, they can easily gain attention through the dynamics of the social media—contributing to public information, shaping public opinion and fostering healthy public debates on national and international concerns.

THE BRUTAL killings of Lumad leaders allegedly by the paramilitary Magahat-Bagani as well as by the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in Mindanao seem not to have generated any public outrage, much less firm government response to check them and prevent similar incidents from happening.

In an article published by the Varsitarian last Nov. 7, Dulphing Ogan, secretary general of the Kusog sa Katauhang Lumad sa Mindanao, said the killings started when the Lumad, as the indigenous cultural communities are collectively known, resisted mining operations and expansions of agricultural plantations in the northeast area of Mindanao.

I BELIEVE our family is extra-special.

At first blush, we are just an ordinary family. Both of my parents go to work. A brother and I are in college.

But what sets us apart from other families is my youngest brother: He’s a “special child.”

His name is Emilio and he has Down Syndrome (DS). Of course, we did not know what to do when we first learned about his condition. To be honest, I felt sad about what was about to come and how to adjust to the situation, but there was nothing we could do but to accept it—whole-heartedly.

A NEW coffee-table book on Philippine art by former Varsitarian artist and photographer documents through beautiful photography and informative text the ateliers or work studios of 75 of the country’s foremost artists, what critics have described as a very helpful “archival” project to record the creative process that goes into masterpieces of the visual arts.

“Filipino Artists in their Studios” is published by the Manila Bulletin and conceptualized and photographed by visual artist-photojournalist Jose Vinluan “Pinggot” Zulueta, a BS Fine Arts in Advertising Arts graduate of the old UST College of Architecture and Fine Arts.

Matapang kong nilakad ang kalye ng Dapitan.

Hindi na alam ng baga ano ang pagkakaiba

ng usok na nakasasakal sa hingang pagal.

Iisa na rin ang sigaw ng busina ng mga sasakyan

sa tawag ng mga nangangailangan ng tulong

paganahin ang kanilang kompyuter.

At ang basa sa karatula ng mga dyip?

Hindi na “LRT Tayuman” kundi “LRT Tayuan.”

Umilaw ng pula ang stop light.

Nalimutan ko na kung paano iangat

ang kaliwang binti upang maglakad.

Natakot na rin yata ang kanang binti

sa nakaambang panunuot ng mga ugat

pagkasakay sa LRT.

Nagpaalon na lang ako sa daluyong ng taong patawid