Volume LXXXVIII, No. 2 • September 26, 2016 THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSIT Y OF SANTO TOMAS Manila, Philippines
DARE TO DREAM. Thomasians carry the flag of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines during the opening ceremonies held at the UST Plaza Mayor last Sept. 3.
ALVIN JOSEPH KASIBAN
Rector hits drug-related killings UST makes it to QS world university rankings anew
UST LANDED on the published ranking of the QuacquarelliSymonds (QS) world university rankings this year, even as it stayed in the same bracket for the fourth consecutive year. The University stayed in the 701+ bracket along with De La Salle University, behind the state-run University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila. UP jumped to the 374th place this year from the 400410 bracket last year, while Ateneo de Manila held on to its spot at the 501-550 bracket. In a statement, QS said UP rose in three metrics: academic reputation, faculty/student ratio, and international faculty ratio. Ateneo de Manila “is the only Filipino university to improve its research impact, measured using QS’s citations per faculty metric,” while La Salle “has the Philippines’ most impactful researchers, as measured using citations per faculty.” La Salle was also the only Filipino university to improve its rank for employer reputation, it said. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University and Harvard University dominated the QS world university rankings anew. QS PAGE 3
Mother Teresa declared a saint, extolled for her love of the poor and unborn MOTHER Teresa is now “Saint Teresa of Calcutta.” Dubbed by many as the “Saint of the Gutters,” Mother Teresa was canonized last Sept. 4 by Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City. Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, read a brief account of the saint’s life, including how she established her congregation, the Missionaries of Charity. “Mother Teresa was tireless, dedicating herself completely to
announcing the Gospel through various charitable and aid works to the needy, with no distinction of rank, religion or race,” Amato said. Pope Francis read the official formula for canonization, which declared Mother Teresa a saint. “We decree and define Blessed Teresa of Calcutta to be a saint, and we place her name in the catalogue of saints, decreeing that in the universal Church she is to be venerated among the saints with pious devotion,” the Pope said in Latin.
Mother Teresa’s relic, a vial of blood, was carried to the altar by two members of the Missionaries of Charity for veneration. In his homily for the Solemn Mass, the Pope urged the faithful to emulate Mother Teresa’s smile as well as her example of humility and mercy. “In this way, we will open up opportunities of joy and hope for our many brothers and sisters who are discouraged and who stand in need of understanding and Mother Teresa PAGE 13
RECTOR Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. urged President Rodrigo Duterte to focus on rehabilitating drug offenders amid the rising number of deaths of drug suspects. In a chance interview with the Varsitarian, Fr. Dagohoy said the government should focus on “the Catholic way of justice” by rehabilitating drugs offenders, instead of eliminating them. “Since we believe that life is important, [w] e have to understand that there is a thing called restorative justice. We have to provide hope and courage to change. `Yun `yung pagtingin ng Diyos sa tao,” Fr. Dagohoy said. Fr. Dagohoy also called on the government to uphold the rule of law and give suspects a chance to prove themselves innocent. “At face value, you have to question [the killings] because we have to uphold the rule of law. [T]he person is deprived of his right to defend himself, and we have a basic rule that a person is innocent until proven guilty,” he said. The University’s role is to shape Thomasians to guide people on various issues, based on Church teachings, Fr. Dagohoy added. Fr. Dagohoy urged Thomasians to be aware of Rector PAGE 12
Plan to cut trees on Forbes-Lacson is opposed DESPITE stiff opposition to the construction of a flyover on Lacson Street, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is reviving the project as a measure that will supposedly ease traffic congestion Moises Norman Garcia, environmentalist and professor at the USTAlfredo M. Velayo College of Accountancy, is seeking to stop the project, warning of environmental consequences. The removal of remaining plant life on the street, for instance, will heighten the heat index in the area, Garcia said. Tree-cutting on Lacson will have a detrimental effect in the long-run, he SAINT TERESA. Devotees offer prayers in front of the bust of Mother Teresa at the Santisimo Rosario Parish Church Garden. MARIA CHARISSE ANN G. REFUERZO
Trees PAGE 15