VOLUME XCIII / NO. 7 · MAY 15, 2022 · THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS · Manila, Philippines ON SOCIAL MEDIA
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► UST musical groups perform during the University’s Christmas Concert, “From Trials to Triumphs,—SCREENSHOTS FROM THE BROADCAST
NEWS ► PAGE 2
Hospital partially opens St. John Paul II building THE ST. John Paul II building, the UST Hospital’s (USTH) 11-story extension, was partially opened to the public on April 30.
UST MARKS 75TH YEAR AS ‘THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES’ THE UNIVERSITY on April 30 marked its 75th anniversary as “The Catholic University of the Philippines,” a title given to it by Pope Pius XII in 1947.
EDITORIAL ► PAGE 4
How Comelec abetted dubious Marcos poll victory
The conferment was made known to the archbishop of Manila, Msgr. Michael J O’Doherty, through a letter signed by Joseph Cardinal Pizzardo of the Sacred Congregation of Seminaries and University Studies. “In the audience that I had with the Holy Father on the 27th of April, I asked and obtained from His Holiness (Pope Pius XII) the title of The Catholic University of the Philippine Islands, for your University,” Pizzardo said in the 1947 letter. “I pray and wish that the Catholic University may be glory for the Holy Church and an object of pride for you,” he continued. The title was “in recognition of the work that the University has been
doing for the education of the youth, its outstanding accomplishments in various fields of learning, and its constant efforts to forge ahead in the all-important task of giving adequate Catholic education to the country’s youth,” UST Secretary General Fr. Louie R. Coronel, O.P. said in a circular last March 14, quoting the September 1956 issue of The Varsitarian magazine. Coronel noted that during the celebration of the 350th anniversary of UST in 1961, Pope St. John XXIII called UST “the most resplendent light of Christian Wisdom.” Also, Zenon Cardinal Grocholewski, papal envoy to the UST Quadricentennial celebration, underscored in 2011 the qualities of a Catholic University as “a
continued reflection in the light of the Catholic Faith, fidelity to the Christian message, and institutional commitment,” he said. “The title of ‘The Catholic University’ bestowed upon UST is not just a very special privilege granted by the Pope, but also a responsibility to fulfill the mission of preaching the Good News of Our Lord,” Coronel said. “For more than four centuries now, Thomasians have been known, not only for their competence but also in their commitment and compassion in serving the Church and the country. We have produced not only heroes and presidents for the nation and leaders for the various professions and industries, but also generation upon generation of good Christians, among them seventeen 75TH YEAR PAGE 2
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► Front page of the June 27, 1947
issue of The Varsitarian
GRADUATION 2022 ► PAGE 2
Everything to know about this year’s Baccalaureate Masses
IT’S OFFICIAL:
In-person graduation season set in June FACE-TO-FACE graduation ceremonies and Baccalaureate Masses will be held at the Sampaloc campus in June for the first time since 2019, the Office of the Secretary General has announced. In a media briefing, UST Secretary General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P. said the University Crisis Management Committee headed by UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. had approved the conduct of the face-to-face (F2F) rites. The in-person rites will be
held for all graduates of batches 2020 to 2022 on the tertiary, post-Baccalaureate and graduate levels. For the senior high school, only Batch 2022 will have F2F rites as Coronel said earlier batches already had virtual ceremonies. Two Baccalaureate Masses will be held: one on Friday, June 3, at 4 p.m., for Batch 2022, and one on Saturday, June 4, at 4 p.m. for Batch 2020 and Batch 2021. Solemn investiture rites will
be held from June 6 to 30. The send-off will include the traditional exit through the Arch of the Centuries, a custom that was conducted virtually via UST Minecraft last year. The University will not stage a fireworks display, Coronel said. “[T]he Baccalaureate Masses are planned to be as solemn and as austere as possible,” he said. Each student will be allowed to have two guests during the GRADUATION PAGE 9
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Cardinal Advincula leads 2022 Total Awards recipients UST PAID tribute to exceptional graduates at The Outstanding Thomasian Alumni (Total) Awards on May 14, with UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. calling the awardees “luminaries” and “living treasures” of the University. ► PAGE 10