VOLUME XCIV / NO. 2 & 3 · NOVEMBER 1, 2022 · THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS · Manila, Philippines
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THOUSANDS TROOP TO UST FOR IN-PERSON ENTRANCE EXAM THE UNIVERSITY conducted the first USTET at the Sampaloc campus amid the Covid-19 pandemic on Oct. 23, two years after replacing it with the UST Admission Rating (USTAR). Over 2,800 applicants took the on-site UST Entrance Test (USTET) for college, senior high school, and Learning-Enhanced Accelerated Program for
Medicine (LEAPMed), the Office for Admissions (OFAD) said. OFAD Director Assoc. Prof. Imelda Dakis told the Varsitarian that these
applicants took their exams in rooms that had been retrofitted and cleared for use by academic units and the Facilities Management Office. Only 20 examinees were accommodated per room to ensure that health protocols were followed during the exams. The number was half of the
number of examinees per room in the pre-pandemic USTET setup. The testing sites at the Sampaloc campus were the Main Building, Roque Ruaño Building, Albertus Magnus Building, Benavides Building, ENTRANCE EXAM PAGE 8
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NEWS ► PAGE 2
Students’ test scores drop ‘significantly’ in F2F exams – UST professors SEVERAL UST faculty members have noticed a decline in students’ test scores after conducting preliminary examinations face-to-face (F2F) for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic.
EDITORIAL ► PAGE 2
AMV valedictorian tops October 2022 CPA board exam
LENSPEAK ► PAGE 5
Todos Los Santos 2022
► A mother waves goodbye to her daughter who is about to take the UST Entrance Test (USTET) on Sunday, Oct. 23.—PHOTO BY MARVIN JOHN F. UY
Paskuhan to be held on campus
Special Report
Inflation worsens Thomasians’ financial woes during limited F2F classes Rapid inflation is putting additional burden on Thomasians already struggling financially as UST has begun limited face-to-face classes, students told the Varsitarian. Inflation hit 6.9 percent in September 2022, the highest in nearly four years, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. National Statistician Dennis Mapa said the acceleration was due to food and non-alcoholic beverages, which rose by 7.4 percent from the previous month.
Jemae Joy Camba, a student with irregular schedule (SWIS) from the College of Education, said despite lifestyle changes, her monthly allowance is not enough for her needs. “Noong senior high ako, naka-dorm din ako, allowance ko 20,000, pero napapagkasya ko a month. Ngayon, hindi umaabot ng isang buwan,” she said. Camba rents in a SPECIAL REPORT PAGE 10
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THE UNIVERSITY will host on-site celebrations of the Paskuhan season this year, UST Secretary General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P. has announced. The festivities will start with the Panunuluyan, the re-enactment of Joseph and Mary’s search for lodging before the birth of Jesus, at the Plaza Mayor on Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. On Dec. 2, the traditional Agape will be held at 5 p.m., followed by the lighting of the Christmas lights and decors on campus and the UST Christmas Gala Concert to be led by the Conservatory of Music at 6 p.m. The University-wide advent recollection will be held on Dec. 7, while the Paskuhan Mass will be celebrated on Dec. 16. The Paskuhan celebration will close with the grand concert on Dec. 19. Coronel said that to limit on-campus participation, only Thomasians (alumni included) would be allowed to enter the University during the Pasku-
► Thomasians sit at the Grandstand as the Paskuhan tree at the at the UST Field is being assembled on Nov. 19. —PHOTO BY MARVIN JOHN F. UY
han concert. Attendees of Paskuhan events will be required to wear face masks and follow other minimum health protocols. UST students must accomplish the health declaration form through the Thomasian Online Medical Support and Services (ThOMedSS) before enter-
ing the campus. Alumni must present QR codes from the StaySafe application upon entering the University. This year’s Paskuhan will have the theme, “UST Paskuhan 2022: Pananabik, Pagbabalik, Panunumbalik.” N.B. BAUTISTA