PASKUHAN ISSUE · DECEMBER 19, 2025 · THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS · Manila, Philippines
ON SOCIAL MEDIA
facebook/varsitarian
twitter@varsitarianust
youtube/TheVarsitarianUST
instagram varsitarian.ust
BREAKING NEWS & REAL-TIME UPDATES AT www.varsitarian.net
2
THE VARSITARIAN • DECEMBER 19, 2025
NEWS
EDITOR: CARLO JOSE H. RUGA
► The University holds the annual lightning ceremony in UST Manila
on Nov. 28. —PHOTO BY JAMES MICHAEL M. MAGBOO
Paskuhan 2025:
The meaning behind the theme, ‘Light Among Us, Hope Through Us’ By Czeantal Naomi P. Delos Santos
THOMASIANS are called to reflect Christ’s light and serve as bearers of hope amid today’s pressing societal issues—an invitation captured in this year’s Paskuhan 2025 theme, “Light Among Us, Hope Through Us.” UST Secretary General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P. said the University’s vision for the festivities is to “recenter Thomasians on Christ as the true source of light and hope,” despite the “social, moral, and global challenges” that the world faces. “Noong ang Panginoon ay isinilang, full of challenges, even darkness and also full of corruption, just like our days today. However, nung dumating ang Panginoon, mayroong light and hope na dumating,” Coronel said
during the Paskuhan information session on Nov. 27. “We are celebrating Paskuhan inviting everyone to receive hope, and not only to receive that hope, but to be bearers of hope. Kahit maraming mangyayari, we need to be hopeful every time,” he added. Coronel said the words of the theme “light among us” and “hope through us,” primarily took inspiration from a passage from Luke 2:10, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news…” The phrase “light among us” was based on the celebration of the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, when the Nicene Creed affirmed Christ as “God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God.” “Hope through us” echoes the celebration of the Jubilee Year of Hope. “Every Thomasian is called to be
Varsitarian’s annual ‘Inkblots’ to tackle campus press‘ role in demanding public accountability THE VARSITARIAN, the 97-year-old official student publication of the University of Santo Tomas, will hold the 27th Inkblots, its annual fellowship for campus journalists and journalism practitioners, on Jan. 13 and 14, 2026. This year’s conference, themed “The Campus Press and the Fight for Accountability,” will take place at the auditorium of the Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, O.P. Building at UST Manila. The two-day fellowship will bring together some of the country’s leading journalists for lectures and workshops highlighting the vital role of the campus press in promoting transparency and strengthening public accountability. The full speaker lineup will be announced soon through the Varsi tarian’s social media pages and the
official Inkblots website. The early bird registration fee is P2,000 per participant, inclusive of lunch and snacks for both days, dinner during the fellowship night, and an official conference kit. Slots will be filled on a firstcome, first-served basis. A confirmation email will be sent upon receipt of payment. Only online payments via credit/debit card, GCash, or Maya will be accepted. The event is open to all students, school paper advisers, and journalism educators. Interested attendees may register at https://www.ust.edu.ph/inkblots/. For inquiries, contact Marielle Pesa at 0961 855 3442, Reya Vincent Misa at 0917 173 2171, or through inkblots@varsitarian.net.
‘‘
We are celebrating Paskuhan — inviting everyone to receive hope, and not only to receive that hope, but to be bearers of hope.
Kahit maraming mangyayari, we need to be hopeful every time. Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P. UST SECRETARY GENERAL
a channel of hope to others, through kindness, integrity, generosity, and concern for those who are in need,” Coronel said. In an earlier circular from the Office of the Secretary General, the University told Thomasians that Christmas is a reminder that God’s light continues to shine amid ongoing issues on corruption. “The birth of Christ is both consolation—for He remains with us in our struggles—and challenge— for His light calls us to stand for truth, justice, and integrity.” the circular read. “As Thomasians, we are called not only to receive this Light but to radiate it, transforming our Church, our nation, and the world,” it added. On Nov. 28, UST kicked off the Paskuhan festivities with the opening of campus lights and decorations at the Manila and General Santos campuses,
along with the Tunog Tomasino, the annual battle of the bands. Beyond the spiritual character of Paskuhan festivities, Coronel said the activities lined up would be “anchored on faith and prayer.” “At the heart of our celebration is the Paskuhan Mass, which reminds us that the Eucharist is the true center of our celebration,” he said. The Paskuhan Mass was celebrated on Dec. 17 at 5 p.m., followed by the Agape, the Thomasian Christmas feast, at 6:30 p.m., and the Agape Concert at 7 p.m. Simbang Gabi or novena Masses at UST started on Dec. 15 until Dec. 24, with services at 8 p.m. at Santisimo Rosario Parish Church and at 4:30 a.m. at Plaza Mayor. The much-awaited grand Paskuhan concert is set on Dec. 19 at 3 p.m. at the UST Open Field.
UST lights up a ‘Wondrous Garden’ campus ahead of Paskuhan festivities By Louisse Raye Shara C. Santos and Sydney Venice V. Berba
THE UNIVERSITY marked the beginning of the annual Paskuhan festivities with the lighting of the Manila campus on Friday, Nov. 28. Decorations and elements from last year’s Paskuhan and the UAAP opening ceremony in September, such as lighted gift boxes and entranceways, were repurposed to turn the campus into a “Wondrous Garden.” The lighting ceremony opened with a liturgy, followed by a light show at the Main Building, which lasted for 2 minutes and 30 seconds. It was followed by performances from the UST Galvanize Dance Troupe, The Liturgikon Vocal Ensemble and Coro Tomasino. Four Thomasians biked from Plaza Mayor to light the Christmas tree at the UST Field. The bikers, who were dubbed “Bringers of Light,” were Fr. Dexter
► Christmas lights and decorations are installed at UST to mark the
beginning of the annual Paskuhan festivities on Friday, Nov. 28. — PHOTO BY DJENHARD YRENEO RAPHAEL Y. SAPANHILA
Austria, O.P., director of the Facilities Management Office, Central Student Council President Annie Agon, UST Tiger TV talent Kody Huang, and Chrisna Granil, special projects head of Tiger Media Network. The Paskuhan 2025 Station ID,
titled “Ang Presensiya Niyo Ang Pinakamagandang Regalo,” premiered at the end of the ceremony. Enrique Duero, co-director for marketing and sponsorship of the Thomasian Media Circle and TalWONDROUS GARDEN PAGE 3
►
THE VARSITARIAN • DECEMBER 19, 2025
3
NEWS
By Amador Denzel M. Teston
By Micah G. Pascua
THIS YEAR’S Paskuhan pyro musical show will center on the symbolism of light, color, and Christian hope, a theme that reflects UST’s call to become “prisms” of Christ’s light amid challenges.
THE UNIVERSITY’S broadcasting arm has released its Paskuhan 2025 Station ID, which encourages Thomasians to immerse themselves in Christmas moments with their loved ones rather than being consumed by technology. Premiered during the lighting ceremony of the UST Manila campus, the featured song, titled “Ang Presensiya Niyo Ang Pinakamagandang Regalo,” captures society’s need for physical interaction. The song was produced by UST Tiger TV volunteers from the Faculty of Arts and Letters. “Through any material things, through all the things here in this world, presensiya pa rin ang pinakamagandang regalo. And it transcends boundaries,” said communication junior Abigail Belza, the composer. “Ano ba ‘yong problem dito sa state ng ating society ngayon? It really is that hindi na tayo nakakapag-connect with one another,” said creative writing senior Earl Quintana, who served as the director of the Paskuhan 2025 Station ID. Composers included communication freshman Ma. Loise Orcino and philosophy sophomore Jaco Florencio from the Faculty of Arts and Letters. Thomasians from various colleges joined the ensemble as singers, making the production a “full University-wide effort.” Belza said the songwriters wanted to emphasize how Christmas is different for Thomasians. “The ‘hug culture,’ [as mentioned] in the song, bawat ngiti, tawa, higpit ng mga yakap niyo, ‘yon ang tatak ng mga Tomasino,” said Belza. She said the station ID also wanted to bring back Christmas from a childlike perspective, by “healing the inner child” of Thomasians. “Hindi naman tayo naglalaro lang mag-isa ng mga palarong Pinoy,” Quintana said. Quintana said the song also seeks to comfort students staying in dormitories and their families who are miles away from each other. “When we choose to connect with other people, it really brings a sense of warmth within us. And through that, we can feel the presence of one another,” he said. The station ID was produced by UST Tiger TV in collaboration with the UST Education High School Glee Club.
Austria also noted that the campus decorations, which feature gemlike structures, crystal shards, and various polygons, reflected the Paskuhan theme as a “celebration of light” and symbolized the light that would guide people on “how to do things right.” “Amid the darkness we are experiencing, we have these lights to guide us also. And this light is coming from Christ, and we are participating in that light to be the light of
the world,” he said. The pyromusical show will last for seven to nine minutes and will feature soundtracks from the two shows, Austria said. The campus lighting ceremony on Nov. 28, which kicked off the Paskuhan festivities in the University, also featured songs from “Encantadia” like “Bagong Tadhana” and “KPop Demon Hunters” such as “Golden” and “Soda Pop.” “Encantadia” recently gained
traction after its spinoff “Encantadia Chronicles: Sang’gre” premiered this year. “KPop Demon Hunters” began streaming in June 2025 and became the most-watched original title in Netflix history. A light show display will be integrated with the Agape community dinner on Dec. 17. The grand Paskuhan concert will begin at 3 p.m. on Dec. 19, featuring Thomasian acts and guest artists.
ART BY ALLANA ELAINE J. LIBUNAO
In an interview with the Varsi tarian, Facilities Management Office Director Fr. Dexter Austria, O.P. said that the nine-minute pyromusical show was inspired by the local fantasy drama “Encantadia” and Netflix hit show “KPop Demon Hunters.” The shows, according to Austria, were selected because of their “colorful” motifs, emphasis on camaraderie, and relevance to this year’s Paskuhan overarching theme, “Light Among Us, Hope Through Us.” “‘Yong theme kasi, they are full of colors. It’s a celebration of colors, celebration of light, and celebration of togetherness, celebration of camaraderie [and] celebration of belongingness to each other. Because without the others, they cannot form a group and they cannot fulfill their mission,” he told the Varsitarian. “We are looking at the theme of having colors. Colors, meaning Christ is the one light. It’s the source of light. It’s like we are the prism of Christ. Christ is the true light and shines through this prism and spreads all the colors towards the people to benefit all people, he added.
ART BY RICH HARRY A. MARBELLA
‘Encantadia,’ ‘KPop Demon Hunters’-themed pyromusical, to cap Paskuhan Concert
UST Christmas station ID calls for ‘togetherness beyond the digital’
► Students visit a product stall at the Paskuhan pop-up village on Dec. 1. — PHOTO BY PRECIOUS KAE A. ANDAYA
CHEd names UST PH’s most ranked university for fourth year in a row
Tiger Radio’s pop-up village opens at Quadricentennial Park
By Amador Denzel M. Teston
By Amador Denzel M. Teston
FOR THE fourth consecutive year, UST has been recognized as the leading Philippine institution in international rankings by the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd). CHEd’s International Affairs Service gave the “Internationalization Champions of Nation-Building and Sustainability” (ICONS) award to UST on Dec. 10. UST obtained the most placements in CHEd-accredited international ranking bodies, which include Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), Times Higher Education (THE), and the World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI).
THE PASKUHAN Pop-up Village, one of the openers of UST’s long-awaited Paskuhan season, returned for the third straight year on Wednesday, Dec. 1. Carrying the theme “Taste of Paskuhan,” the event opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by UST Secretary General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P., together with Communications Bureau director Philippe Hernandez, Tiger Media Network business manager Gessie Krishnan, Public Affairs Director Michaella Lagniton. The opening ceremony
MOST RANKED PAGE 5
►
featured performances by artists Jarea, Job Centeno, CASA Footworks, and the UST Yellow Jackets. Brianna Valdez, programming head at UST Tiger Radio, said the theme was meant to remind the Thomasians what the Paskuhan season, and Christmas as a whole, meant to the UST community. “Taste of Paskuhan siya kasi, ‘di ba, every year naman nating ginagawa ang Paskuhan. And gusto lang nating i-continue ‘yong tradition na mayroon ang UST,” Valdez told the Varsitarian. “Thomasian identity na ‘yong pag-celebrate
natin ng Paskuhan. For us, kapag Pasko dito sa UST, masaya.” Valdez said the pop-up village sought to highlight this year’s Paskuhan theme “Light Among Us, Hope Through Us,” by highlighting how the Christmas season gives light and hope to many despite adversity. The Christmas marketplace had five themed zones: “Paskong Panlasa” (Taste of Paskuhan), “Pamaskong Handog” (Gift Corner), “Saya sa Nayon” (Festive Playground), “Tinig ng Pasko” (Entertainment Zone), and “Nayon ng Pagbibigay” (Village of Giving). WITH REPORTS FROM ALEXANDRA S. DEMAISIP
Wondrous garden ► FROM PAGE 2
ents (TOMCAT), said the event drew an estimated 10,000 Thomasians. “Tunog Tomasino,” an annual battle of the bands hosted by TOMCAT, coincided with the lighting ceremony. Academic units celebrating milestone years were commemorated in the ceremony: Education High School (75 years), Conservatory of Music and College of Nursing (80 years), College of Architecture (95 years), and the College of Education and the College of Science (100 years). UST General Santos likewise lighted its campus decorations and Christmas tree on Nov. 28, in rites led by Fr. Edmund Nantes, O.P., associate vice rector for administration and finance. The UST Paskuhan Mass and Agape Concert were set on Dec. 17. The Grand Paskuhan Concert will be on Dec. 19. WITH REPORTS FROM ALEXANDRA S. DEMAISIP
4
THE VARSITARIAN • DECEMBER 19, 2025
EDITORIAL EDITORIAL
Light among us, hope through us THE YEAR 2025 is a year of reckoning – a year when the world seemed trapped in an unending tunnel of darkness, with no clear sign of where the path would finally open. The massive flood-control scandal in the country laid bare the scale of systemic plunder: audits revealing over P100 billion funneled into ghost projects and P350 billion worth of substandard infrastructure. What cracked open was not just another case of corruption, but the grim truth of how deeply the nation has been robbed of the safety, dignity, and quality of life its people deserve. Every calamity that struck reminded Filipinos of this loss. Cebu reeled from the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that claimed dozens of lives, only to be deluged weeks later by the floods of Typhoon Tino, which displaced thousands and overwhelmed already-strained infrastructure-fragility made visible in real time. On Sept. 21, thousands marched across the country in what became known as the Baha sa Luneta rally, part of the broader Trillion Peso March. All these were participated by the youth, the older generations, and the Church. As the scandal deepened – with flood-control and infrastructure contracts exposed as riddled with irregularities – the pressure mounted. On Nov. 30, thousands returned to the streets to pro-
test demanding that President Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara step down from their positions. Beyond our borders, darkness loomed in the rising war threats over Taiwan as China intensified military incursions and hybrid warfare tactics. Meanwhile, the war in Gaza raged with devastating force with Israeli striking since March
stirred when former Rodrigo Duterte was arrested in March 2025 on an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant – an extraordinary step toward long-denied accountability. In this season of darkness, Filipinos are called to look forward to the spirit of Christmas – not as a fleeting distraction, but as a reminder
In this season of darkness, Filipinos are called to look forward to the spirit of Christmas – not as a fleeting distraction, but as a reminder that hope is born in community. 2025 killing hundreds – mostly civilians – amid a blockade of aid and widespread destruction condemned internationally as war crimes. This is the tableau of our time: insecurity, fragility, grief. And yet – hope is not lost. For families shattered by the drug war, hope
that hope is born in community. This Jubilee Year of Hope, Pope Leo XIV urges the youth to ground their courage in God’s love and in one another. In a world heavy with uncertainty, he tells us that we are seen as bearers of promise. “I’d like to say that you are the promise of hope for so many of us. The world looks to you
as you look around yourselves and say: we need you, we want you to come together to share with us in this common mission, as Church and in society, of announcing a message of true hope and of promoting peace, promoting harmony, among all peoples,” the pope said. Indeed, this year’s Paskuhan theme, “Light Among Us, Hope Through Us,” is not just another slogan but a reminder of what becomes possible when we act together. Every protest that demands accountability, every youth that mobilizes for justice, every student who refuses silence – all these form a constellation bright enough to pierce even the darkest. They become living proof that God’s love moves through the world. That hope, then, is not abstract; it is embodied. It is sacred and resilient. It is rooted in our willingness to stand with one another. Hope requires faith not only in God, but in each other – and in ourselves. We must resist the pull of nihilism, the temptation of apathy, the comfort of detachment. We must trust that our collective actions – no matter how small – are capable of shaping a more just and merciful world. Because even in uncertainty, light is among us, hope is through us, and we carry both into the world.
FOUNDED JANUARY 16, 1928 Chalssea Kate C. Echegoyen Editor in Chief Karis M. Tsang Managing Editor Sofiah Shelimae J. Aldovino Associate Editor Carlo Jose H. Ruga News Editor Amador Denzel M. Teston Acting Assistant News Editor Rob Andrew L. Dongiapon Sports Editor Ralent M. Penilla Special Reports Editor Vince Alfred M. Pillagara Witness Editor Billy Andrei P. Ramos Features Editor Frenchshield Shayne G. Delovieres Patnugot sa Filipino Marielle F. Pesa Science and Technology Editor Aidan Raphael F. Caluyo Art Editor Regina Louise DLC. Sanota Assistant Art Editor James Michael M. Magboo Photo Editor Jed William V. Gocatek Layout Editor Amanda Luella A. Rivera Social Media Editor
News Sydney Venice V. Berba, Alexandra S. Demaisip, Czeantal Naomi P. Delos Santos, Micah G. Pascua, Louisse Raye Shara C. Santos, Ella Mae A. Sison Sports Joaquin Edgardo A. Cortez, Miguel Angelo B. Marco, Kurt Russel Vincent I. Miranda, Venerando P. Pagaduan VII, Lilah Mikaela S. Paredes, Clyde Leanne M. Salamatin Special Reports Alexandra S. Demaisip, Fritz Nathan A. Diaz, Luis Angelo N. Palma, Justin Jacob S. Urag Features Ashley Valkyrie E. Bueno, Rev E. Dela Cruz, David Nigel C. Cortes Elihoenai Hazael B. Cortez Witness Alexandra Gabrielle C. Mansineros, Reya Vincent P. Misa, Yuvshenka Andrea R. Osea Filipino Ma. Irish F. Fery, Jamiebeth Pereyra Ortega, Sofia Gabrielle G. Rosario Science and Technology Nyl R. Dadiz, Regis Avalo Jophiel L. Lim, Mary Dawn S. Santos Circle Kirsten Therese C. Barrameda, John Kobe S. Balod, David Nigel C. Cortes, Inah Denise A. Manansala Literary John Kobe S. Balod, Charlize Ann D. Lavastida
Art Kathryn Grace S. Enriquez, Aisha Sofia M. Fortes, Allana Elaine J. Libunao, Rich Harry A. Marbella, Mhyzell Dayne J. Oblepias, Jinmarson Chester V. Pua, Denisse Amber N. Reyes, Antoinette Lindsey G. Solis, Arlene F. Turla Photography Precious Kae A. Andaya, Danielle D. Atienza, Maximilian Hans R. Briones, Nadine T. Felismino, Ethan Joshua Nikholai F. Guisama, Chloe Elysse B. Ibañez, Divina Eloisa P. Meguines, Djenhard Yreneo Raphael Y. Sapanhila, Joachim Nigel Z. Tanglao, Vio Neiro M. Villaescusa Editorial Assistant Reyza Bianca B. Ferranco
Felipe F. Salvosa II Assistant Publications Adviser
Joselito B. Zulueta Publications Adviser
THE VARSITARIAN • DECEMBER 19, 2025
5
OPINION DTI’s blanket budget for noche buena an insult to Filipinos Updraft FRENCHSHIELD SHAYNE G. DELOVIERES
NOCHE BUENA is more than a meal; it is a ritual of warmth, reunion, and the one night in December when families try to forget how difficult the rest of the year has been. For generations, Filipinos have saved for it, planned around it, and taken pride in preparing something a little more festive than the everyday fare. The holiday table—whether it holds ham, fruit salad, or simply a beloved family dish— has always carried emotional weight. This is what made the Department of Trade and Industry’s remark last Nov. 28 so jarring and insulting to Filipinos. When Trade Secretary Maria Cristina Roque suggested that a family could prepare noche buena for P500, she did not just underestimate current food prices; she made a mockery of Christmas and Filipinos seeking to celebrate it joyously and authentically – with family and friends. To call the suggestion unrealistic is too gentle. For workers earning minimum wage or households juggling bills and debt, it felt dismissive. A celebration built on generosity and togetherness
cannot simply be compressed into a spending limit that barely covers a kilo of meat, much less a meal meant to feed an entire family on Christmas Eve. Reducing noche buena to a mathematical challenge strips away the very joy it represents. It turns a cherished practice of festivity into a little more than a grim budgeting exercise. Some say Christmas is not about food. Perhaps—but try telling that to parents who already trim grocery lists each week, or to families who regard noche buena as the one indulgence they allow themselves after a year of sacrifice. The government should recognize this reality instead of prescribing “blanket budgets” that ignore market conditions and the lived experiences of ordinary people. Despite the financial pressures that came with it, the holiday season serves as an emotional reward for a year of hard work—and that reward has always been inseparable from food. A one-size-fitsall spending for a meal meant to feed an entire family on Christmas Eve cannot even cover basic necessities, let alone capture the spirit of the holiday. A more realistic approach would acknowledge that the economic pressure is weighing down families. Thus, the government should focus on managing rising costs or supporting households through discounts, instead of prescribing blanket budget recommendations.
Most ranked
Noche buena, no matter how much we hope to make it affordable, cannot be compressed into a fantasy of a trade and industry official who seems detached from how much everyday life now costs. The tone-deafness becomes even more jarring when placed alongside media reports of public officials linked to multi-billion corruption scandals but enjoying expensive junkets and luxury shopping. Ordinary Filipinos are told to stretch P500 for a holiday meal while public officials get away with corruption and flaunting their luxurious trips and lifestyles at the expense of taxpayers. The disconnect is insulting. Corrupt politicians should be put behind bars and compelled to return the public funds they’ve plundered so that it’s not ordinary Filipinos who keep tightening their belts to survive an inequality they never created. The real issue is not the cost of noche buena but the inequality behind it – who is expected to make do, and who never has to. A government that asks families to cut back should first show that it has done the same. Until then, a P500 noche buena will remain not just impractical, but emblematic of how far our leaders stand from the tables of the people they claim to serve.
Pido deserves an extension Baseline ROB ANDREW L. DONGIAPON
“‘IYONG PATAY, binuhay namin. Hindi ba?” Even after back-to-back exits in the Final Four, Pido Jarencio was justified in saying he revived the UST Growling Tigers program from the grave. His best opportunity to win a championship in the three years of his now-expiring contract, since coming back to guide the team he led to the 2006 title that still stands as UST’s last, ended with the Growling Tigers’ 82-81 loss to the UP Fighting Maroons on Wednesday. It was a gritty finish with senior players from both sides trading heavy shots and UST coming up short, but Pido never sat still for a second. He reacted to every crucial sequence against UP, jumping, shouting, and pacing the sideline like each possession hit him in the chest. He was fired up. He was tense. And he showed every bit of it openly. Coinciding with the close of Season 88 and the looming end of Pido Jarencio’s tenure is another unanswered question hanging over España. San Miguel Corporation’s three-year partnership with UST has quietly run its course, with no extension announced as of this writing. Through sports director and former UST standout Alfrancis Chua, San Miguel has been nothing but
generous, pouring resources into a program that needed saving when it arrived. The Tigers rose, stabilized, and competed again under that backing. Criticism of Pido’s coaching has long been loud, with claims that he is “too old school,” often from people who cannot even explain what old-school basketball is, along with takes that his in-game choices have cost UST wins, including the toughest losses. Few bother to recognize how he and his staff — under the San Miguel Corp. management — breathed life into what had become a stagnant UST basketball program. Or how, in only one rebuilding season, he turned a bottom-tier team into a genuine Final Four threat. Before Pido’s return, UST managed only four wins in Seasons 84 and 85. Outside their two-win stumble in Season 86, the Tigers produced 15 victories in Seasons 87 and 88, which propelled them to back-toback Final Four appearances. Without Pido leading UST, recruits such as Forthsky Padrigao, Kyle Paranada, Amiel Acido, Leland Estacio, and Season 88 Rookie of the Year Collins Akowe would not have been as confident committing to España. Many also forget that Pido’s reassurance kept Cabañero from transferring when he had every reason to leave. Pido did more than build a lineup. He raised the level of players such as Gelo Crisostomo and Mark Llemit and kept premier prospects such as Koji Buenaflor, Charles Bucsit, and Carl Manding loyal to UST. Manding even returned from Ateneo
after deciding his growth belonged under Pido’s mentorship. Pido also rebuilt UST’s recruitment pipeline with purpose. He brought in Kris Porter after a strong rookie season at Ateneo, secured Michael Mara, Kurt Laput, and James Jumao-as, and landed former Gilas Pilipinas Youth standout Mur Alao, who credited Pido’s family ties as his reason for choosing UST. No coach matches Pido’s devotion to UST, and that may be the most overlooked fact. A story recently surfaced on Facebook from Nowhere To Go But UP Foundation founder Renan B. Dalisay about Pido turning down the UP head coaching job in 2015 out of loyalty to UST. When Dalisay discussed the opening with him, saying he was being considered, Pido “simply smiled” and said, “‘Wag na ako. Magagalit ang UST community. Tulong na lang ako makahanap kayo ng coach (Count me out. The UST community will get angry. I’ll just help you find a coach instead).” For those who have known Pido since his first stint as UST head coach, he has always carried black, gold, and white pride, even during the years he worked in the PBA. Releasing Pido would not only end a chapter. It would dismantle the recruiting system he built, the collaborative coaching culture he established, and the fierce school spirit he embedded in every Tiger who played for him. At a time when loyalty is disappearing across the BASELINE PAGE 12
►
Mercy should be based on justice and accountability Eunoia MARIELLE F. PESA
WHEN the first candle of Advent is lit, and the air becomes pleasantly nippy, Filipinos become even more excited about Christmas and start to feel a great sense of social harmony, so that they inevitably relax into a forgiving mood. Filipinos believe that the magic of Christmas can fantastically resolve the structural injustices they face as a nation. However, it’s high time people realize that forgiveness can be a great gift, but it should not be used as an excuse to cover up unresolved issues and abandon the call for accountability, all for the sake of having a joyous holiday. Filipinos have a habit of forgiving and eventually forgetting. It has been ingrained in our culture that we should always be able to live in harmony with our kapuwa. As time passed, it has repeatedly been proven that Filipinos have been too forgiving. During the Christmas season, everyone suddenly deserves
forgiveness to make way for the festive energy to thrive. But this instinct, harmless as it may seem in personal relationships, becomes dangerous in the political sphere. Our national habit of “forgiving and forgetting” has long been exploited by leaders who rely on the short memory and soft heart of the Filipino people. Flood-control anomalies, mismanaged disaster funds, and tone-deaf statements from public officials – like insisting families can prepare noche buena with P500—may dominate the news for a moment, then dissolve into holiday distractions. The betrayal gets forgiven. The betrayal gets forgotten. And the cycle repeats. This is not because Filipinos are naïve. It is because they have been conditioned to equate forgiveness with peace, and forgetting with strength. “Pasko na, magpatawad ka na” becomes a moral command, as if refusing to forgive corrupt officials makes one un-Christian. The issue of flood control is an example of how fast people can forget. Up until now, no politician has been jailed for involvement in these anomalies, and as the holiday season approaches, Filipinos may slowly learn to forgive them and forget what corrupt lawmakers and officials had done, essentially giving them the benefit
of the doubt despite the plethora of evidence filed that can be against them. True forgiveness is not seasonal, nor is it automatic. It is never a substitute for justice. When those in power squander funds, neglect the people, or lie to their constituents, asking citizens to simply “move on” in the spirit of Christmas is not diplomacy—it is erasure. Worse, to be forgiving allows leaders to evade accountability. Corruptionists in and out of government know Filipinos value harmony. They know ordinary Filipinos try to avoid conflict. They know the latter’s patience borders on martyrdom. And they benefit from a public that has been taught to make peace before demanding answers. This Christmas season, instead of carefully wrapping and hiding our problems in colorful designs and backhanded compliments, let us take the time to truly reflect on what needs to be done to bring about significant change in our lives. May we always remember that the moment forgiveness is imposed instead of being genuinely given, it defeats its purpose. Our country needs to refocus and set a unified goal that will improve our lives, because the power of a united nation will always outweigh that of a divided one.
► FROM PAGE 3
The commission recognized UST’s rankings this year, as follows: QS World Rankings 2026 851-900 bracket QS Asia Rankings 2026 No. 184 THE World Rankings 2026 1,501+ bracket THE Asia Rankings 2025 601+ bracket THE Impact Rankings 2025 601-800 bracket WUR for Innovation 2025 No. 196
Asst. Prof. Nestor Ong, director of UST’s QS/THE Rankings office, said the award was a recognition by CHEd of UST’s “consistent excellence and leadership” among local universities. Ong cited UST’s “commitment to academic excellence,” which, he said, included improved research outputs and international partnerships. “To improve our rankings in the next cycle, we will focus on strengthening strategic international partnerships, boosting research impact, enhancing student mobility, and integrating emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence to support innovation and global competitiveness,” he said. UST kept most of its rankings, save for a dip in the QS Asia Rankings from 181st to 184th place. The University broke into the top 200 of the WURI this year at No. 196 from the last cycle’s No. 217.
‘‘
To improve our rankings in the next cycle, we will focus on strengthening strategic international partnerships, boosting research impact, enhancing student mobility, and integrating emerging technologies. Asst. Prof. Nestor Ong
UST QS/THE RANKINGS OFFICE DIRECTOR
UST has consistently recorded the most number of rankings among Philippine universities since 2022. It also figured in other ranking systems this year, such as the AppliedHE Private University Ranking: All Asia 2026 (No. 56), and the Webometrics 2025 global ranking (No. 2,406). The ICONS trophy and certificate were accepted by Ong, along with ranking specialist Rodablas Nicolas and Asst. Prof. Charmaine Ponay, executive assistant to the vice rector for academic affairs, during ceremonies at the Philippine International Convention Center.
6
THE VARSITARIAN • DECEMBER 19, 2025
FEATURES
EDITOR: BILLY ANDREI P. RAMOS
► UST lights up the Christmas tree at the Open Field on Friday,
Nov. 28. — PHOTO BY VIO NEIRO M. VILLAESCUSA
Christmas décor lights up campus and beyond, casts Christ as beacon of hope amid national unrest By David Nigel C. Cortes and Elihoenai Hazael B. Cortez
MONTHS BEFORE the campus decor and Christmas tree illuminated the UST grounds, officials were envisioning a Paskuhan anchored on one central theme: Christ’s light transforming into colors of hope. By August, the Facilities Management Office (FMO) had begun preparations. Guided by UST’s theme “Light Among Us, Hope Through Us,” FMO Director Fr. Dexter Austria, O.P., and his team turned to faith, student life, and modern media influences to shape this year’s Christmas display.
The concept is built around a prism, through which a singular divine light refracts into multiple colors, offering hope to Thomasians amid protests against corruption and calls for accountability in government. For Austria, the lights stand as a constant emblem of hope, showing the community how one white light can break into many hues. “We need to see through, meaning Christ is the light shining through us with all the colors that we see around the campus,” Austria told the Varsitarian. The “Wondrous Garden” theme, seen across the campus and showcased by the 70-foot Christmas tree
on the open field, is rooted in the idea of Christ as “the light of all nations” and “the hope of today’s generation.” This concept was executed by an in-house architectural group working alongside the FMO. Since August, the FMO has handled concept and design development and the installation of Christmas lights and decors. “As one whole team, we are one in conceptualizing. From conceptualization to execution. We are participating and spreading this light toward other people, so that these colors would symbolize that we have this hope in Christ,” Austria said. The concept also speaks to the realities Thomasians experience. The FMO considered the coun-
‘‘
We need to see through, meaning Christ is the light shining through us with all the colors that we see around the campus. Fr. Dexter Austria, O.P.
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT OFFICE DIRECTOR
try’s political climate and youth-driven trends that allow students, alumni, and families to connect with the visuals, Austria said. Some visual components took cues from shows like “KPop Demon Hunters” and “Encantadia” “ and the Netflix streaming service, but Austria said the “wondrous” quality of this year’s decorations grew out of the themes of resilience and imagination found in these shows. “Well, as a Catholic University, we always take into consideration our Catholic identity,” he said. “But we need to be sensitive to the struggles of the Thomasian community BEACON OF HOPE PAGE 11
►
EJK kin, UST partner communities receive ‘Ningning’ gift packages By Rev E. Dela Cruz
BELIEVING THAT a P500 budget is hardly enough for a family noche buena meal, UST students assembled Christmas packages for families of victims of extrajudicial killings, campus staff, and partner communities through “Ningning 2025.” During the 1991 Paskuhan festivities, the annual UST gift-giving program utilized the 14-foot Christmas tree in the open field as a designated dropoff point for donations. Central Student Council (CSC) Secretary Nashville Mauricio said the modern version of the gift-giving initiative began to take shape in 2023, when student leaders revisited earlier Paskuhan projects to develop a cohesive plan.
“Even a small contribution, from our own pockets or baon, can help someone celebrate Christmas a little better. This tradition is innately Thomasian, and even as Filipinos. Giving back during Christmas is part of who we are,” Mauricio told the Varsitarian. Recipients include campus and outsourced maintenance personnel, barangay officials in the España area, and police officers and firefighters stationed near UST. “This initiative we’re trying to continue is a reminder that Christmas will always be about giving, and it will always revolve around Jesus Christ,” Mauricio said. The project unites academic units, student councils, and the UST Simbahayan Community Development Of-
fice, with all University offices expected to donate packages. “Not all Filipino families are able to have a special kind of salo-salo tuwing Christmas,” said Trixie Ann Bautista, community development committee head of the Civil Law Student Council. “Kahit may isang family lang tayong mapasaya, that’s something na magiging proud din tayo.” Each food pack contains pasta, sauce, canned meats, coffee, sugar, creamer and milk. School kits contain writing supplies, paper pads, envelopes, crayons and scissors. Bautista noted that rising costs had made it harder for families to prepare even a modest noche buena, or the ‘NINGNING’ PAGE 11
►
► The UST Simbahayan Community Development Office turns over
donations to partner community members as part of “Ningning: A Season of Light, A Gift of Hope” at the Tan Yan Kee Student Center on Friday, Nov. 28. — PHOTO BY DJENHARD YRENEO RAPHAEL Y. SAPANHILA
L E N S P E A K
Christmaseum 2025 The UST Museum stages the two-day Christmaseum Concert 2025 featuring performances from the Junior High School Glee Club and Conservatory of Music Brass Quintet. PHOTOS BY ETHAN JOSHUA NIKHOLAI F. GUISAMA AND CHLOE ELYSSE B. IBANEZ
► The Junior High School Glee Club stages a performance
at the Christmaseum 2025 at the UST Museum.
► The Conservatory of Music Brass Quintet
performs alongside Junior High School Glee Club.
L E N S
Opening of Pa
Thousands of Thomasians flock to the University for the opening o
PHOTOS BY CHLOE ELYSSE B. IBAÑEZ, JAMES MICHAEL M. MAG
► The UST Galvanize Dance Troupe showcases a ballet-themed performance during the lighting ceremony.
P E A K
askuhan 2025
of the annual, long-awaited Paskuhan festivities on Friday, Nov. 28.
GBOO, VIO NEIRO M. VILLAESCUSA AND JUSTIN JACOB S. URAG
► Thomasians bike from Plaza Mayor to light the Christmas tree at the UST Field.
► Students enjoy the “wondrous-garden”-themed
decorations displayed on campus.
A L B U M
Tunog Tomasino
Six Thomasian bands compete in this year’s Tunog Tomasino, an annual battle of the bands organized by TOMCAT-UST, on Nov. 28. PHOTOS BY CHLOE ELYSSE B. IBAÑEZ ► Thomasian indie band “The Great Pretenders”
serenades the crowd with a performance of “RomCom” by Rob Deniel.
► Precious Serna of “Csig,” first runner-up of
Tunog Tomasino 2025.
► Aaron Perez of “Golf and Sunsets,” grand
champion of Tunog Tomasino 2025.
► Thomasians enjoy the performances lined up
during the annual battle of the bands.
► OPM artist mrld perform at the Tunog Tomasino
stage.
ART BY AISHA SOFIA M. FORTES, MHYZELL DAYNE J. OBLEPIAS, DENISSE AMBER N. REYES, ANTOINETTE LINDSEY G. SOLIS AND ARLENE F. TURLA
10 THE VARSITARIAN • DECEMBER 19, 2025
LIMELIGHT ART EDITOR: AIDAN RAPHAEL F. CALUYO
THE VARSITARIAN • DECEMBER 19, 2025
11
SCI-TECH
EDITOR: MARIELLE F. PESA
Beacon of hope ► FROM PAGE 6
and the whole nation.” “With the challenges and the protests, we took into consideration being the light and hope of the nation, especially for Thomasians, as we voice our concerns in society,” Austria said. Budget limitations also shaped this year’s preparations. After the grand UAAP opening in August, the FMO had to maximize existing resources and materials to deliver something “unique, relevant, and better” than in past years, Austria said. The Paskuhan festivities began with the lighting ceremony on Nov. 28, marking the start of the monthlong celebration just before the first Sunday of Advent. The kickoff included the Main Building light show, the lighting of the Christmas tree, and performances by the University’s various performing groups. Tiger Media Network unveiled the Christmas station ID. TOMCAT mounted Tunog Tomasino, the annual battle of the bands. Austria said the theme ties together the entire Paskuhan season — from the lighting and Advent observance to the Agape and the Grand Paskuhan Concert — into a cohesive celebration centered on hope. “Paskuhan is always geared up towards that unity for us Thomasians, [it] is one of those activities that unites the Tomasian community. I think it’s the Paskuhan that not only excites people but unites all the Thomasian family,” Austria said. The Paskuhan 2025 festivities continued with the Agape on Dec. 18 and culminates with the Grand Paskuhan Concert on Dec. 19.
‘Holiday blues’:
How stress hormones hijack the season of joy CHRISTMAS is widely celebrated as a season of joy, but for some, rising pressures turn the season heavy, leaving them weighed down by expectations they can’t meet. Psychologists say this emotional dip is far more common than many realize. When holiday expectations and social pressure rise, the brain’s stress-response system kicks in, releasing cortisol that makes people more vulnerable to loneliness, anxiety, and fatigue. According to Instructor Alvin Joseph Mapoy of the UST Department of Psychology, these emotional shifts are part of what is known as the “holiday blues” – a temporary mood disturbance that typically emerges between November and January. It involves loneliness and anxiety but differs from clinical conditions such as major depressive disorder and seasonal affective disorder, which require formal diagnosis and persist beyond the season. Mapoy explained that holiday blues activate the body’s hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, a network of brain structures responsible for regulating how people react to stress. When an individual experiences holiday-related pressure — including academic demands, social expectations, or financial strain — the HPA axis signals the body to release cortisol, the primary stress hormone. While cortisol helps the body manage short-term stress, consistently elevated levels can intensify sadness, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion. “The arrival of the season may automatically trigger the condi-
tioned response of sadness or anxiety, creating a cyclical pattern of distress year after year,” Mapoy told the Varsitarian. Symptoms of holiday blues include changes in appetite and sleep, irritability, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and reduced interest in daily activities. For some Thomasians, these patterns surface in gatherings and social routines that feel more draining than uplifting. For psychology sophomore Will Clado, gatherings that are meant to be joyful often feel obligatory. “It’s almost like a responsibility that I have to show up for these events. But I don’t really interact with the people there when I go,” Clado told the Varsitarian. “I always feel this guilt that I’m not really as immersed as everyone else when it comes to Christmas, and that indifference of mine has always led to me feeling a bit pained and a bit alone.” Citing data from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Mapoy noted that 64% of individuals with existing mental health conditions report that the holidays worsened their symptoms. Nursing sophomore Isabel Delos Reyes said academic pressure dampens her ability to look forward to the season. “I sometimes don’t feel like the holidays are coming due to the workload I have and responsibilities I need to attend to,” she said. “These experiences affect me because instead of feeling that holiday spirit, I feel like I’m in a battle with my grades.” From a biopsychological standpoint, Mapoy said disruptions in the circadian rhythm — common in countries with reduced sunlight
‘‘
From a cognitive standpoint, it is important to reframe our thoughts when it comes to holidays.
Understanding that ‘this will be good enough’ for this year, reduces the pressure gap. Alvin Joseph Mapoy
UST DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
during winter — can also affect people’s mood during the holidays. He added that the commodification of the holidays, such as the pressure to give gifts or host picture-perfect celebrations, shapes how people judge their own experiences. “Knowing that they lack material things associated with holidays further affects their mood,” he said, adding that personal experiences can intensify the emotional strain. Financial pressure weighs on students who feel expected to participate in festive traditions. “Growing up, hindi ko naman kasi talagang nakikita pa talaga ‘yung problem ng pera pero ngayon, parang nagsi-sink in na sa akin na problema pala talaga pera,” psychology sophomore Nathaniel Tapang said. Mapoy pointed to cognitive dissonance, a psychological state
in which a person’s true emotions conflict with how they believe they should feel. During the holidays, this conflict becomes sharper, deepening distress when individuals cannot match external expectations of happiness. Although holiday blues are usually temporary, Mapoy warned that they can escalate. If symptoms last for more than two weeks after the season, the individual may meet the criteria for major depressive disorder and should seek professional help.
‘Ningning’ ► FROM PAGE 6
Coping and reclaiming the season
Mapoy said reframing expectations is a key coping strategy. “From a cognitive standpoint, it is important to reframe our thoughts when it comes to holidays,” he said. “Understanding that ‘this will be good enough’ for this year, reduces the pressure gap.” He encouraged staying connected, even through virtual interactions, as well as engaging in meaningful activities such as volunteering or hobbies instead of withdrawing. For individuals who associate old traditions with grief, Mapoy suggested creating new ones to “reclaim the season” and build a renewed sense of identity and continuity. As stress accumulates, Mapoy reminds students that emotional honesty is essential. “Acknowledge that it is okay to not feel happy during holidays,” he said. “Prioritize self-care, seek connection [during] the holidays, and seek professional help if you feel that you need to because the holiday blues already affect your daily functioning.”
ART BY ARLENE F. TURLA
By Mary Dawn S. Santos
Christmas Eve feast. “We know na may recent controversy na kumakalat na P500 [is enough] for noche buena. And for the council, we thought that in real life, P500 is not enough,” Bautista said. For Mauricio, Ningning brings Paskuhan back to its roots: supporting those who help shape the Thomasian community and reflecting the University’s core values and Dominican tradition of service. “This is a good opportunity to continue the tradition,” he said. “Kasi innately Thomasian ang pagbibigay during Christmas.” The donation period ran from Nov. 17 to Nov. 27. Distribution was scheduled from Nov. 26 to Dec. 29. Other gift-giving efforts were also carried out under Ningning. Led by the Institute of Religion, “Simbahaginan” provides Christmas packages to maintenance and security staff, including janitors, haulers, carpenters, and guards. “AKaP” (Agape para sa mga Kamanlalakbay ngayong Pasko), organized by UST Simbahayan in partnership with the CSC, Facilities Management Office, the Liturgical Society of UST and others, reaches out to partner communities and campus housekeeping personnel. Spearheaded by the Santísimo Rosario Parish, “Kaparokya” extends assistance to parish workers and parishioners. “[Ningning] is like agape,” Mauricio said. “This is our way of extending the spirit of agape to our partner communities and to our personnel inside the campus.”
12
THE VARSITARIAN • DECEMBER 19, 2025
WITNESS
EDITOR: VINCE ALFRED M. PILLAGARA
Red Wednesday 2025:
Living out ‘Hope amid suffering’ in solidarity with persecuted Christians By Vince Alfred M. Pillagara
THE ANNUAL Church comme moration of persecuted Christians, or Red Wednesday, was commemorated on Nov. 26, bearing the theme “Living Hope Amid Suffering.” Catholics from around the world gathered in various celebrations to honor Christians who were persecuted and martyred because of their faith. Fr. Reynaldo Romero, the ecclesiastical assistant of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) Philippines, the local arm of the pontifical foundation dedicated to supporting persecuted Christians, said this year’s celebration aimed at uniting the Church in solidarity with its oppressed members. “They are suffering in silence, kaya itong campaign is meant to raise our voices and be the voice of these suffering Christians. Parang tayo na rin ang magsasalita para sa kanila,” Romero, a Central Seminary
alumnus, said in an interview with the Varsitarian. ACN’s 2025 Religious Freedom Report noted that Christian persecution around the world was on the rise. According to the document published in October, nearly 5.4 billion people, or 64.7 percent of the world’s population, live in countries with “serious or very serious violations of religious freedom.” The report examined 196 countries and covered the period from Jan. 1, 2023, to Dec. 31, 2024. Romero urged Catholics to be aware of the plight of other Christians as they exercise their faith through the commemoration. “They (Christians) are suffering in silence. They cannot complain; they cannot speak out because they are minorities. Hirap na hirap sila. Ino-oppress sila, hina-harrass sila. Pinapatay sila pero hindi sila makapagreklamo,” the priest said.
‘‘
They are suffering in silence, kaya itong campaign is meant to raise our voices and be the voice of these suffering Christians.
Parang tayo na rin ang magsasalita para sa kanila. Fr. Reynaldo Romero
ECCLESIASTICAL ASSISTANT OF AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED PHILIPPINES
campaigns and projects revolve around the “three pillars,” guiding the organization in its efforts to help persecuted Christians. He said prayer is vital, and Catholics must continue praying for oppressed Christians and for their oppressors as well. He said information campaigns on persecution must be boosted to make Catholics more aware of the situation. “Maraming Kristiyano sa buong mundo, hindi nila alam na [on] going pa rin ang persecution at mas grabe pa. [Kaya] ipinaaalam sa kanila ang pinagdaraanan ng mga kapatid nating Kristiyano para maantig ang puso [nila] at gumawa din ng paraan para makatulong,” he added. ACN Philippines pursues projects that raise funds to support persecuted Christians in other countries, through ACN International based in Germany. Local celebrations
Prayer, information, action
In a circular released on Nov. 12, the Archdiocese of Manila in-
Romero said ACN Philippines’s
Ivory statue of St. Thomas gifted by Dominicans to Pope Leo XIII auctioned off
► Ivory statue of St. Thomas — PHOTO FROM LEON GALLERY
AN IVORY statue of St. Thomas Aquinas, gifted by Spanish Dominican friars to Pope Leo XIII, was sold at a Filipino art auction house in Makati on Dec. 6. The ivory statue was the centerpiece of Leon Gallery’s Christmas sale at the “Kingly Treasures Auction.” Sculpted by Espiridion Arevalo, the image of the University’s patron saint was commissioned by the Dominican Province of the Most Holy Rosary of the Philippines, as a gift to Pope Leo XIII for his 50th ordination anniversary as a priest in April 1888. The statue features the great medieval theologian wearing the Dominican habit, seated on a chair, wearing a robe and holding a feathered quill in his right hand and a scroll in his left, to symbolize his monumental works, notably the Summa Theologiae, wrote Leon Gallery consultant Lisa Guerrero Nakpil in the auction catalogue. The image is surrounded by four
Baseline ► FROM PAGE 5
medallions, with the first, reading “Ratio Ad Humanum Fastigium Thomae Pennis Evecta, Jam Pere Nequit Sublimus Assurgere Aetern Patr,” or “Human reasoning borne on the wings of Thomas Aquinas could scarcely rise higher.” The quote was an excerpt from Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical Aeterni Patris, which extolled Aquinas’s philosophical and theological system as the basis for all Catholic education. Another inscription on the ivory carving honors Pope Leo’s proclamation of St. Thomas Aquinas as the patron of all Catholic schools in 1880. Pope Leo XIII granted the “Pontifical University” title to the University of Santo Tomas on Sept. 17, 1902, formalizing the special relationship between the University and the Holy See. UST is the second institution in the world to be bestowed this title, IVORY STATUE PAGE 14
structed churches to hold votive Masses for persecuted Christians on Wednesday. It also requested churches, schools, and other participating institutions to illuminate or decorate their façades in red. The laity were encouraged to wear red as a symbol of martyrdom to commemorate the persecuted and martyred. There was also a second collection dedicated to the projects of ACN Philippines during Red Wednesday Masses. The University commemorated the event with a Mass at the Santisimo Rosario Parish Church, followed by the tolling of bells in front of the Church. The Main Building, the Thomasian Martyrs’ Monument, the Arch of the Centuries, and the façade of the Santísimo Rosario Parish were also illuminated in red. A Red Wednesday forum was also held at the Tan Yan Kee Auditorium.
►
UAAP, UST has a coach whose heart has stayed with the University. A coach who stuck through turmoil, revived the school’s heartbeat, and pulled the Tigers back into relevance. His mantra, “Puso, pride, palaban,” has become a mindset for every player. If that is not worth keeping, what is? Additionally, there has been no clear signal that San Miguel will stay, even as Season 88 ends and Jarencio’s contract expires. Its three-year backing, instrumental in UST’s revival, has quietly lapsed. Other potential backers are already hovering, including Strong Group Athletics, which now supports UST’s women’s and juniors basketball teams and its volleyball programs. If change is coming, it may already be waiting in the wings. Could Pido have performed better? Absolutely. But the program is breathing again because of him and the San Miguel group. Pido does not just deserve his flowers. He deserves another chance. He deserves the opportunity to build the next version of the Tigers.
THE VARSITARIAN • DECEMBER 19, 2025
13
CIRCLE
Museum exhibit of folk ‘parol’ conveys message of hope By Ashley Valkyrie E. Bueno
THE UST Museum unveiled this year’s “Christmaseum” exhibit, mounted in collaboration with the College of Fine Arts and Design (CFAD), on Nov. 27. The exhibit featured handmade parol or star-shaped Christmas lanterns made by CFAD students, using the star imagery to reflect the “enduring spirit and values of the Filipino people.” The theme was also in line with the Jubilee-inspired Pasku-
han 2025 theme, “Light Among Us, Hope Through Us.” Mary Ann Joy Lampano, chair of the Department of Interior Design, said this year’s Christmaseum theme drew inspiration from the Pampanga residents who continued to celebrate the province’s annual Parol Festival despite being calamity victims of the 1991 Mt. Pinatubo eruption. “[The parol] stands as a beacon of courage and faith … [It] embodies the very foundation of [the] Filipino heart, the unwavering belief that light will always overcome
darkness,” Lampano said during her opening remarks. Lampano said the designs of the parol radiate the message and symbolism of hope shining brightest in times of hardship, which was very “timely” amid corruption issues hounding the government. CFAD students, mostly from the Department of Interior Design, started handcrafting the lanterns in mid-November, giving them two weeks to finish their pieces. The UST museum also held a Concert on Dec. 4 and 5, featuring
the UST Junior High School Glee Club and the UST Conservatory of Music Brass Quintet. Christmaseum’s roots can be traced to the UST Museum’s Christmas design contest “At the Threshold of the Millennium, the Philippine Christmas Decor” in 1999. The contest was the museum’s first partnership with the Department of Interior Design under the now-defunct College of Architecture and Fine Arts. The exhibition ran from Nov. 27 to Dec.19.
► The UST Museum launches this year’s
“Christmaseum” exhibit on Nov. 7.
— PHOTOS BYJAMES MICHAEL M. MAGBOO
A L B U M
Conservatory sings ringing anthems of hope in Santissimo Rosario church concert
The Conservatory of Music holds the “UST Christmas Concert 2025: A Season of Light and Hope” on Dec. 2 at the Santisimo Rosario Parish Church. PHOTOS BY DIVINA ELOISA P. MEGUINES AND VIO NEIRO M. VILLAESCUSA
THE CONSERVATORY of Music’s homegrown talents, students, alumni and faculty pulled together for “UST Christmas Concert 2025: A Season of Light and Hope,” at the Santisimo Rosario Parish Church on Dec. 2. Featuring 10 musical ensembles and split into 19 segments, the concert sought to evoke hope in the face of adversity. “Just as the words of Christ mark a new beginning for humanity, may the music tonight remind us of the promise of brighter days to come,” UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. said in his opening remarks. Under the baton of Conservatory of Music faculty member Daniel Bartolome, the concert kicked off with the “Hallelujah Chorus,” a section from George Handel’s famous 1741 oratorio, “The Messiah.” The piece draws lyrics from the book of Revelations and celebrates Christ’s resurrection. Among the opening performers were music groups Coro Tomasino, Liturgical Vokal Ensemble and UST Symphony Orchestra. The Parents Advocate for Visually Impaired Children’s Choir (PAVIC) and Aeta Community Youth Choir sang a ANTHEMS OF HOPE PAGE 14
►
► UST Symphony Orchestra
► Coro Tomasino
► The singing duo
‘Frates!’ perform ‘Mary’s Boy’s Child’
► Katrine Sunga per-
forms “O Holy Night”
AND JUSTIN JACOB S. URAG
14
THE VARSITARIAN • DECEMBER 19, 2025
COMICS
ASSISTANT ART EDITOR: REGINA LOUISE DLC. SANOTA
AGAPE AISHA SOFIA M. FORTES
PAWS-KUHAN ANTOINETTE LINDSEY SOLIS
LOVE, JOY, HOPE AND PATIENCE ARLENE F. TURLA
Crownless king ► FROM PAGE 15
points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.57 assists, and 1.14 steals as UST secured an 8-6 card for third place. Again, UST bowed down to UP in the Final Four, absorbing a gutting 82-81 defeat with Cabañero taking the wheel in the clutch, even if he missed two straight attempts at the death. It was the final snapshot of Cabañero in a Tigers jersey — a uniform he came to define over five years. Growth
Cabañero was recruited to UST while in Grade 12, fresh off helping the San Beda Red Cubs claim the 2019 NCAA Juniors crown under current Tiger Cubs coach Manu Iñigo. In an interview with the Varsi tarian, Iñigo said Cabañero wasn’t considered an offensive weapon in San Beda. He was mostly a defensive specialist, far from the scorer he blossomed into at UST. “Noong nakuha namin si Nic sa
Anthems of hope ► FROM PAGE 13
three-way piece of “If I Were There,” “Away in a Manger,” and “Angels We Have Heard on High,” under the arrangement of Franz Laquian. Michael Jacinto, music alumnus and Composition Department coordinator, conducted the UST Wind Orchestra in its rendition of Nigel Hess’s “Christmas Overture,” an orchestral piece interweaving traditional Christmas carols in a festive melody. Acclaimed pianist Raul Sunico made a special guest appearance, performing his own medley of Filipino Christmas songs and an adaptation of “Mary’s Boy Child” by J. Hairston.
high school dati, talagang defensive player lang siya,” Iñigo said. “Magaling lang pumressure sa defense, tapos magaling mag-slash sa opensa. Pero ‘yong shooting niya, medyo questionable pa no’ng time na ‘yun, pati free throws niya.” “Pero tinrabaho naman niya, naging all-around player siya. Pati shooting niya, na-improve niya. Proud na proud ako kay Nic, kasi nasubaybayan ko ‘yong laro niya simula noong bata siya. Talagang malaki yung na-develop niya — ’yong pagiging leader niya, ‘yong maturity niya sa laro. Talagang nakompleto niya yung mga weaknesses niya noong high school siya.” Iñigo also noted how much Cabañero matured emotionally, recalling how the once easily frustrated kid learned to steady himself with time. “Malaki talaga ang naging maturity niya,” Inigo said. “Hindi na umiinit ‘yong ulo niya, hindi rin siya nagwi-wild sa court. Kasi ‘nong bata siya, nafru-frustrate pa siya pag nakakamali siya. Pero through time, talagang natutunan niya i-control ‘yong emotions niya, which is good for his career.”
Loyalty
The duo “Fratres!” composed of Fr. Gieuseppe-Pietro Arsciwals, O.P. and Fr. Carlo Canto, O.P. performed alongside Sunico. Capping the concert was Assoc. Prof. Herminigildo Ranera’s arrangement of “Joy to the World” and “Ang Pasko ay Sumapit,” with the audience invited to sing along as the songs were performed by the UST Symphony Orchestra. “In spite of the difficulties, calamities and challenges, we still have the Lord that is the light and we still have hope for betterment,” Ranera told the Varsitarian. Other participating groups were the UST Jazz Band and Singers, UST Guitar Ensemble, UST String Orchestra, and Large Ensemble Class.
‘Gift’ to the Thomasian community
Throughout his journey, Cabañero’s loyalty was tested. During UST’s rough Season 84, he admitted to the Varsitarian that four UAAP schools approached him and made offers. “Dumating sa time na may kumausap sa akin, pero napili ko pa rin UST. Mahirap mag-decide non, actually,” he said then. Cabañero said it was his parents, the coaching staff, and the Thomasian community who helped him stay committed to UST. “Siguro mas fit ako sa UST and with the guidance of my parents, gusto rin nila ako mag-stay. … Ganda rin suporta ng UST (community).” He stayed true to his word, and after his last game in black, gold, and white, he said he hopes his UST story becomes a benchmark for loyalty in the UAAP, especially in an era of constant player movement. “Actually, hindi lang ’yong pagiging loyal ’yong gusto ko i-instill sa UST but also sa lahat ng eight schools na meron tayo sa UAAP — mahalin niyo lang lagi ’yong school
“We cannot imagine Christmas without music,” Prof. Maria Alexandra Chua, dean of the Conservatory of Music, told the Varsitarian. Anchored on the theme of light and hope, Chua said that the annual concert serves as a gift to the Thomasian community and the nation. “In remembering the coming of Christ our Savior during Christmas, it would give us hope for a better future for our country,” she added. For over two decades, faculty members, alumni and university choral groups have come together to open the month-long Paskuhan festivities with a repertoire that spreads the spirit of Christmas to the University.
niyo,” he said. To those who witnessed his rise, Cabañero is a rare gem — perhaps even once in a generation. His first UST coach, Manansala, said he was proud that Cabañero capped his college career as a Tiger. “Kung may papalit man sa ginawa ni Nic, siguro matatagalan pa bago mangyari ’yon, kasi hindi ’yan umalis ng UST kahit may mga kumukuha sa kanya. … Hindi siya takot sa pagsubok. Sana maraming pang players tulad ni Nic na maging loyal at mahalin ’yong eskwelahan.” At UST, legendary players earn the title “King Tiger.” And although Cabañero closed out his UAAP career without capturing the crown that would have cemented him as the clear successor to that honor, it was his loyalty that ultimately made him king. “Sad to say, hindi ko nabigay ’yong championship na talagang gusto ng UST community,” he said. “But naniniwala ako na maybe, soon. I’m hoping for the best — na in the future, mabalik ’yong korona sa España.”
“This is the classical concert of the highest, high-art level. It’s not only the songs that you would usually hear on the radio, but really high art—the best music offering for our Lord and Savior,” Chua said. Pauleen Garcia, president of University-wide choral group Liturgikon, sees music as a reminder of ‘togetherness.’ “Being part of the Christmas Concert is a chance to share something meaningful with the Thomasian community, especially during a season that brings people together,” Garcia told the Varsitarian. “It’s a moment to offer music not just as performance, but as a form of service,” said Garcia. DAVID NIGEL C. CORTES AND JOHN KOBE S. BALOD
Ivory statue ► FROM PAGE 12
after the Jesuit-run Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. The University remains the only pontifical university in the Philippines and Asia. YUVSHENKA ANDREA R. OSEA
Era ends ► FROM PAGE 15
seven boards, while Rookie of the Year Collins Akowe chipped in 11 points on 4-of-12 shooting and 11 rebounds. UST struck first with an 11-0 burst in the opening quarter, capped by a Paranada triple. But UP answered behind Harold Alarcon, unleashing a 19-0 run to seize control. The Maroons kept pushing in the second frame, stretching the lead to 15 behind 3-pointers from Fortea and Gerry Abadiano, 37-22. Cabañero responded with back-toback baskets late in the quarter to trim the deficit to seven, 43-36, at the break. The Growling Tigers roared anew in the third, with Crisostomo draining a 3 to stay within range before consecutive Cabañero buckets tied it at 54-all. Both sides traded blows to knot it again at 61-all, but UP held a slight edge entering the fourth off more baskets from Alarcon, 65-62. In the final quarter, UST went ahead by as many as four after Amiel Acido converted a 4-point play, but chances at the rim slipped away in the waning minutes. Alarcon topscored for UP with 22, while Francis Nnoruka followed with 19 points and nine rebounds. Beyond the exits of Cabañero, Padrigao, Paranada, and Estacio, more uncertainty looms for UST after Season 88, as San Miguel Corp.’s support ends this year with no indication of renewal. This season also marked the final year of head coach Pido Jarencio’s contract.
THE VARSITARIAN • DECEMBER 19, 2025
15
SPORTS
EDITOR: ROB ANDREW L. DONGIAPON
► Growling Tigers team captain Nic Cabañero — PHOTO BY JAMES MICHAEL M. MAGBOO
CABAÑERO EXITS UST CROWNLESS
but his loyalty made him King By Rob Andrew L. Dongiapon
WHEN UST was still recovering from the fallout of the Sorsogon bubble fiasco, the team went all-in on recruitment, hoping to uncover diamonds in the rough, as the Growling Tigers — despite being one of the UAAP’s most decorated programs — had just lost their coach and several core pieces that brought them to the Season 82 Finals in 2019. By June 2021, the Tigers’ scouting group zeroed in on a young guard named Nicael Dominie Cabañero, a standout from San Beda High School. He had a sturdy build, and Varsitarian sources at the time described him as a “complete package.” Six UAAP schools, UST included, were in the race to land Cabañero. But in an era where recruitment often revolves around hefty allowances and other perks, it didn’t take much for him to choose UST. All it took was a visit to his home in Cebu, a scholarship, and a pair of shoes. “I really love the school, its basketball program and the UST community,” Cabañero told the Varsi tarian after committing. “Kaya sa scholarship at sapatos na nabigay, sa pagpunta ng bahay namin, ang saya ko po. Kaya gusto ko po na someday makabawi po ako sa mga coaches and especially sa school.” A year passed before Cabañero finally made his Tigers debut after UAAP lifted pandemic restrictions.
The next five years were a whirlwind, as he endured some of the roughest losing seasons — including a UST-record 19-game skid — before the Tigers rose into contenders and he collected scoring titles and Mythical Five honors along the way. It was a chaotic journey that Cabañero — who tallied 24 points, three rebounds, and three assists in his final UAAP outing for UST on Wednesday, an 82-81 loss to the UP Fighting Maroons in the Season 88 Final Four — said needed to happen for him to fully value his path. “Being a player, meron talaga tayong ups and downs,” he said. “Marami akong napagdaanan na coaches. Grateful din ako sa journey na nangyari dahil marami rin akong natutunan.”
‘‘
Sad to say, hindi ko nabigay ’yong championship na talagang gusto ng UST community.
I’m hoping for the best — na in Cabañero’s journey Cabañero entered UST’s senior high school for Grade 12, only for the the future, pandemic to keep him from competmabalik ’yong ing in UAAP high school basketball. In his rookie college year, ex- korona UST tactician Aldin Ayo’s assistant Jinino Manansala stepped in as sa España. head coach to guide a severely depleted UST roster. And it didn’t take long for the young guard to catch the staff’s attention. “As a rookie, ‘yong galing niya, although bata pa siya, unti-unting lumabas,” Manansala told the Varsi tarian. “Talagang heavy minutes na ‘yong binigay namin sa kanya, pero siyempre bata pa, nag-adjust pa siya.
Nic Cabañero
GROWLING TIGERS TEAM CAPTAIN
Pero magaling talaga ‘yong bata.” To Manansala, Cabañero embodied what a true student-athlete should be, always prioritizing academics before honing his skills on the hardwood. “‘Yong bata, talagang nag-aaral. Oras at ensayo lang yan. Wala siyang sinayang na oras para doon sa pangarap niya, which is makatapos sa UST nang may degree.” Manansala led the squad to a 3-11 finish in Season 84, with Cabañero emerging as UST’s clear star after posting 12.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per contest. Later that season, Cabañero helped lead the Tigers to the championship in the 3×3 basketball tournament. Bal David, a two-time UAAP champion with UST in 1993 and 1994, became Cabañero’s second coach in Season 85 and managed only one win. That lone victory came on opening day versus Adamson, when Cabañero exploded for a career-best 33 points. “Pagkatapos ng (Adamson) game, sinabihan ako ni Coach Bal na marked man na ako,” Cabañero told reporters after UST’s rough Season 85 campaign. “I need to be ready for that role. I hope next season, mas maging better leader ako. … Learning experience ko ’to. ’Di ko na pwedeng isiping bata lang ako.” A year later, the Tigers underwent a massive program overhaul, bringing in San Miguel Corp., led by its sports director Alfrancis Chua,
fresh from supporting Letran in the NCAA. UST then tapped Pido Jarencio, who coached UST to its last UAAP championship in 2006, to revive the team from the rubble of its disastrous seasons. His comeback year was an uphill climb, steering a roster largely composed of holdover recruits to a 2-12 record. But that tough season was expected, as the SMC-backed recruits were only set to join the next year. The squad then added Forthsky Padrigao, Kyle Paranada, and Ammiel Acido, giving Cabañero the support he had long lacked in his first three seasons. In Season 87, the Tigers earned bronze after finishing third in the eliminations with a 7-7 slate before falling again to UP in the Final Four. The success came with individual rewards for Cabañero, who notched his first Mythical Team selection after producing 16.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 0.9 steals in 30.2 minutes. That same year, Cabañero also graduated with a marketing management degree from the College of Commerce before enrolling in the Graduate School to stay eligible for another UAAP season. In his final UAAP campaign in Season 88, Cabañero again earned a Mythical Team nod, averaging 16.79 CROWNLESS KING PAGE 14
►
Explosive start but unhappy ending: Tigers fail to bring back crown to España By Clyde Leanne M. Salamatin
► Nic Cabanero and Forthsky Padrigao end their UAAP careers in defeat as
the Tigers bow to the UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball Final Four. — PHOTO BY JAMES MICHAEL M. MAGBOO
It was a bitter close to an era for the UST Growling Tigers in a season many believed — including the team itself — would finally bring the crown back to España, as they fell to the UP Fighting Maroons, 82-81, in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball Final Four on Wednesday, Dec. 3, at the Araneta Coliseum. The squad, anchored by graduating seniors Nic Cabañero and Forthsky Padrigao, went down fighting — once leading by 11, then falling behind by 15, before clawing their way back into the contest in the second half.
UST battled UP possession for possession in the final quarter, and Padrigao — whose scoring picked up late — sank a floater that nudged the Tigers ahead, 81-79. But Terrence Fortea spoiled the surge with a go-ahead 3-pointer with 45 seconds left that put UP on top, 82-81. After a UST timeout, Cabañero missed a fadeaway jumper, and with nine seconds remaining, the Fighting Maroons literally ran out the clock, slipping away from intentional fouls and sealing the victory. Despite missing the potential game-winner, Cabañero — who wit-
nessed the team’s struggles in Seasons 84 to 86 and later proved himself a winner alongside Padrigao — delivered a heroic finale, posting a game-high 24 points on 8-of-19 shooting in his last UAAP appearance for UST. Padrigao — a former Ateneo champion brought in to co-pilot the team with Cabañero — finished with six points and four assists. Also graduating for the Tigers are Kyle Paranada, who tallied 10 points, and Leland Estacio, who scored one. Gelo Crisostomo added 15 points and ERA ENDS PAGE 14
►
ART BY AIDAN RAPHAEL F. CALUYO, REGINA LOUISE DLC. SANOTA AND JINMARSON CHESTER V. PUA