OUTGOING Arts and Letters Student Council (ABSC)

President Leandro Santos II emerged victorious in the Central

Student Council (CSC) presidential race after garnering almost
double of his opponent’s votes. Santos gathered a whopping
15,886 votes, overwhelming rival Juan Paolo Perlada’s
8,784 votes. The Commission on Elections (COMELEC)
showed that 62.03% of the UST voting populace
preferred Santos to be their next President.
Artlet, page 2 

Ready, Set, Doy!

A SINCERE will to
serve is what the Thoma-
sians need.
“It was accidental; our
school needed a delegate and
my friend recommended me
for that position,” Central
Student Council (CSC) presi-
dent elect Leandro “Doy”
Santos II told Insignia as he
‘QUADRI’ OFFICERS SWEAR TO BE OF SERVICE reminisced his first experi-
NEWLY elected Central and Local Student Council ence in politics.
officers were sworn into office last March 10 in a mass oath
From Muntinlupa’s
taking presided by Vice-Rector Rev. Fr. Pablo Tiong, OP.
Little Mayor, he is now UST’s
The affair was preceded by a thanksgiving mass con-
CSC president.
celebrated by the Vice-Rector and other Thomasian priests.
Doy, page 12
Quadri page 11
2
AB holds Alumni Homecoming for 46th Foundation
A GRAND alumni
homecoming of the
Faculty of Arts and
Letters was held
Saturday, February 13,
2:00 p.m. at the UST
quadricentennial park. were the testimonials
The annual event
was to commemorate
the 46th founding
anniversary of the college,
spearheaded by the UST
Arts and Letters Alumni
Association (USTAAA)
and hosted by Batch
‘85, this year’s silver
Artlet From page 1
In only its second time
conducting the automated
elections, the COMELEC was
able to have the ballots count-
ed in less than 24 hours.
Santos and other
independent candidates swept
the Alyansa ng Kristyanong
Lakas (AKLAS) ticket as Edrem
Eula, Kristine Urbi, Franz
Geronimo, Joan Lim, John
Sze won as Vice-President,
Secretary, Treasurer, Auditor,
and Public Relations Officer
(P.R.O.), respectively.
Quadri Year
Dubbed as the
“Quadricentennial President,”
Santos, with the rest of
the elected CSC officers
are to spearhead multiple
activities in the forthcoming
quadricentennial year.
“Our main challenge is
jubilarians, together with
Batches ‘65 (Sapphire),
‘70 (Ruby), ‘75 (Pearl),
and ‘80 (Coral).
Among the
highlights of the program
for mentors and the
turn-over of Batch ‘85’s
endowment fund to the
college.
The organizing
committee for this year’s
alumni homecoming
prepared a program that
brought back memories
getting the students involved
and letting them feel our
projects as these are especially
catered for them. We want
them to feel that the CSC is
part of the quadricentennial
celebration,” the incoming
legal management senior said.
Santos divulged his
plan on having UST jackets
in Adidas stores claiming
that it would be marketable
especially during the
quadricentennial celebration. that would be reused for
Another proposal is to
have a yellow Krispy Kreme
Donut named “unending
glaze” to commemorate the
University’s 400th year.
Visible projects
The newly proclaimed
president stressed that visible
projects are those that would
help students.
Speaking in English
and Tagalog, Santos said that
the CSC office should be more
of yesteryears; a Holy
Mass concelebrated
by AB Regent, Rev. Fr.
Joseto N. Bernadas,
Jr., O.P. with Rev. Fr.
Victorino Cueto, Philo ‘85.
Entertainment numbers
from Bo Cerrudo (CA ‘85)
and Lou Bonnevie (CA
‘85) harmonized with the
surprise numbers from
different majors on the
motto “From all Corners
of the Globe, we Reunite.”
Homecoming, page 8
open for the students and this
can be achieved by having
the office renovated so that
it would be more cozy and
welcoming.
“The CSC is for the
students; whatever their
problem might be, we will
always be there to back them
up,” he added.
He also plans on
having a large garbage can
exclusively for plastic bottles
environmental projects.
Santos’ term in AB
would be terminated as soon
as the semester ends.
“Though there were
certain reservations, I believe I
have done my part here in AB.
Being a student you can only
do so much; I had a capable set
of officers, and we were able to
push our projects through,” he
said. By Don Joseph Dejaresco

Action Man’s
First Act
By ANNE JAMNAGUE and ALINA
GALAGARAN
AFTER years of con-
stant clamor, the AB student
body’s plea for a “uniform
change” may be granted this
time.
Arts and Letters Su-
preme Council (ABSC) pres-
ident-elect Vincent “Action
Man” Cifra made clear that the
Faculty’s “uniform change”
is a top priority in the forth-
coming academic year, UST’s
quadricentennial year. Cifra
continues to push the appeal
until Dean Michael Anthony
Vasco can finally take the mat-
ter into deliberation.
“Even what tradition
you preserve, whatever mean-
ing you put in the uniform,
if the person is not encour-
aged to study because he has
no social distinction because
he is ashamed of what he is
wearing, he won’t be able to
attain the primary goal of any
education institution which is
knowledge and wisdom” the
incoming president said.
The newly appointed
dean has given Cifra the green
light to take preliminary ac-
tions on the project but added
that to get full approval the
clamor had to come from the
students not the officers.
All systems go
The issue on whether
the Change is really what the
President elect Cifra defends his proposed uniform change at the
Miting the Avance. DAN ALLAN DUPALE
majority wants would hardly
impede the project as many
have already suggested it
even before it was formally
proposed. Many are for the
project as seen on the freedom
board in St. Raymund’s lobby.
Cifra plans on estab-
lishing a commission to head
the documentation papers and
development that would focus
on the project processing this
summer 2010.
”Hindi ito matutupad
this summer kaya dapat matu-
pad yan within this year para
ma-apply sa 400th year (This
will not be implemented dur-
ing the summer but it has to
happen during the year for it
to be in accordance with the
400th year),” Cifra said.
After the approval of
the administration, they are to
conform to the requirements
needed for this project which
includes the design for the
new uniform.
“Three professional
fashion designers that are not
3
current AB students, are the
suggested people to sketch the
reformed uniform,” he said.
With the right fabric, a new de-
sign while preserving the bar-
ong style for men and incorpo-
rating a suitable meaning from
the experts, we could own our
identity as “Artlets.”
He also mentioned that
it is the tradition of change
that is needed to be preserved;
not the uniform.
New projects
Cifra, who has yet to
be sworn into office, unfurled
other proposed projects for
the next academic year includ-
ing the institution of a “pool of
staff” and the appointment of
committee heads.
The committee heads
will be tasked to get a number
of students to participate in
the council’s projects to come
to preclude being ‘short-hand-
ed.’
Action, page 11
4

ALUMNI HONORED IN AB GANTIMPALA

PHOTO BY DAN DUPALE

TWENTY-THREE in their line of expertise, Also in attendance

outstanding bona fide
graduates of the Faculty
of Arts and Letters were
invited to receive awards
at the first ever UST
AB Gantimpala Awards
last March 13 the Rizal
Conference Hall, St.
Raymund’s building.
The awards
were divided into two
categories: the AB
Gantimpala or the Major
Award, of whom sixteen
of the candidates are
included, and remaining
eleven who are to receive
the Gawad AB or the
Special Recognition
Award.
The program
commenced with the
introduction of the
awardees who were
distinguished for their
impeccable performances
and great achievements
which incontrovertibly
contributed to the
augmentation of the
scholar merits of the
university as well as
the amelioration of the
country.
According UST
Arts and Letters Alumni
Association (USTAAA)
Chairman, Teddy
Pereña, the sixteen major
awards and 11 special
recognitions will be given
at the special night and
that it was either an
“Amazing Coincidence”
or the doing of the
“Divine Providence”
that when the numbers
16 and 11 were put
together the year 1611
will be the result that
in which the Pontifical
and Royal University of
Santo Tomas was first
established.
was Vice Rector Fr. Pablo
Tiong, OP who came in
lieu of the Rector, Fr.
Rolando dela Rosa,OP to
read the rector’s message
expressing his love for
the university in which
he hoped to impart to the
Thomasian community.
The AB Gantimpala
awards were finally
conferred to the
outstanding individuals
who lived in the paragon
of Thomasian values:
God loving, upright
citizen, with sterling
moral values, integrity,
honesty in his dealings
with others and keeps
an exemplary personal
life befitting a graduate
of the oldest Roman
Catholic University in
the country.
Furthermore, they
exhibited competence

and excellence in pursuit
of their dreams. the Gawad Alab award.
The awardees
are the following along
with their respective
category: Judge Oscar C.
Herrra, Jr., Government
Service, Mayor Ramon
Ilagan, Government
Service, Jose A. Garcia,
Advocacy/Apostolate,
Jose B. Javier, Nation-
Building, Rev. Fr. Jose
Antonio E. Aureada, O.P.,
Teaching/Philosophy,
Jesus Carlos “Charlie”
P. Villaseñor, Industry/
Management, Glenda
M. Gloria, Industry/
Management, Herman C.
Salvador, Entertainment,
Emelinda “Emmie” G.
Velarde, Media, Ruben V.
Nepales, Media, Juanito
“Lito” A. Tacujan,
Journalism, Sandra L.
Aguinaldo, Journalism,
Lucien C. Dy Tioco,
Advertising/Marketing,
Atty. Nilo T. Divina, Law,
Osias g. Barroso, Arts
(dance), and Cesar Y.
Apolinario, Arts (film).
The eleven Special
Awards, Gawad AB
were given to Artlets
who tried their best
in their endeavors.
They were Edwin
Dela
“Pennie”
Cruz, Josefina
Azarcon-Dela
Cruz, Andrea and Emil
Karlo all received the
Gawad Angkan award.
Meanwhile, Atty. M.
Liza Lopez- Rosario and
Ammanuel “Noel” A.
5
Albano were both given (Thomas Aquinas Research
Center), acquainting the stu-
Butch Francisco attained dents with the different mem-
the Gawad Adhika, while ber publications that participat-
mother and son, Loida ed during the event.
Flores and Cezar Viriña CMAP is a non-profit
received the Gawad organization committed in
Bigkis. Luisa Mendez- promoting mutual coopera-
Marshall obtained the tion and camaraderie among
its members. Started in 1988, it
Gawad Bigkis award
was established for the welfare
and Gawad Binhi for
and interest of newspapers and
Khristine B. Gabriel.
magazines in the country.
The Gawad Alagad The CMAP also pro-
awardees are Imelda motes responsible information
“Emi” Calixto-Rubiano, dissemination to better serve
Dante E. Santiago, Ma. publishers, member publica-
Victoria J. Alcantara tions, writers, news dealers,
and Justice Esperanza newsvendors and the public.
Fabon-Victorino. Brainchild of the Jour-
The affair which nalism Society, the CMAP sym-
was made possible by the posium aims to familiarize the
USTAAA in collaboration students with the major and
with AB Working minor publishers in the Phil-
Committee headed by ippines. Representatives from
Prof. Nenet Galang- the participating publications
Pereña. presented to the students an
AB Dean Michael overview of sales and public de-
Anthony Vasco mand statistics in order to give
meanwhile gave his them an idea on what to expect
closing remarks. “Come in the newsroom. Some took a
different approach and gave
and see what the
words of wisdom and encour-
marvels God has done
agement. The pu-
for us awardees.” he
pils were also given the chance
said, wholeheartedly. By to converse with the publication
Christine Ma. F. Santos representatives during the open
and Ma. Christina F. forum to clarify topics and raise
Santos concerns.
SEASONED PUB-
Mostly attended by
Journalism majors, the outcome
LISHERS IN CMAP of the symposium came as a
warm surprise to Journalism
By ALYOSHA ROBILLOS Society President Joyce Reaño
TUESDAY, MARCH 9, as the students participated
2010—the annual Circulation actively, especially during the
Management Association of open forum.
the Philippines (CMAP) Sym-
posium was held at the TARC Seasoned, page 7
6
ARTLETS WIN INTERNATIONAL DEBATE
By BUENA RILYNE C. BERNAL
THREE students of the
Faculty of Arts and Letters
were awarded as quarterfinal-
ists in the recently concluded
2nd Malaysia Debate Open
held in Multimedia Univer-
sity, Malaysia last March 4-9,
2010.
The students were
members of the Thomasian
Debaters Council (TDC), the
official debate varsity of the
University of Santo Tomas. gone for quite some time in
They were Kayleen
Mae A. Ortiz (4th year, AB
Communication Arts), Buena
Rilyne C. Bernal (3rd year, AB
Journalism), and Paula Beatriz
L. Azurin (3rd year, AB Legal
Management). They came in at
11th place in the preliminary
debate rounds of the tourna-
ment and eventually reached
quarterfinals in the finals se-
ries.
The 2nd Malaysia De-
bate Open was participated
by seventy-four teams from
top universities across Asia.
It was the official comeback of
the University of Santo Tomas
in the international debating
scene as it is first international
tournament of UST since the
Australasian Debating Cham-
pionship last July 2008.
Despite having been
the international debating
scene, the said team received
favorable feedbacks from ad-
judicators across Asia.
Two of the aforemen-
tioned debaters ranked high in
terms of speaker scores. Out of
the two hundred and nineteen series of seminars and forums
speakers who participated in
this international tournament,
Buena Rilyne C. Bernal and
Kayleen Mae A. Ortiz landed
at twelfth and thirteenth place
respectively.
Also, Kim Apple S.
Carvajal (2nd year, AB Legal
Management) was able to ad-
judicate in the finals series and
reach quarterfinals as an adju-
dicator. She is the official com-
peting adjudicator of UST for
this tournament.
None of this could have been
possible without the support
from the university.
As the United Asian
Debating Championship 2010
in Thailand is fast approach-
ing, the team is looking for-
ward to fight for the name of
the University and to uphold
its goal of creating a condu-
cive atmosphere for the free
exchange of ideas and critical
thinking among the members
of the Thomasian community.
I
POLITICAL SCIENCE
FORUM HOSTS
VOTER’S ED
The Political Science
Forum with the Central Stu-
dent Council (CSC), Student
Organization Coordinating
Council (SOCC) and the Fac-
ulty of Arts and Letters Stu-
dent Council (ABSC), held a
last February 23-26 at the Tan
Yan Kee Student’s Center
Multipurpose hall.
The forum’s aim is to
inform the Thomasians with
social issues regarding the up-
coming May 2010 elections.
A particular leg of the
seminar, entitled as Voting as
Power, discussed the dynam-
ics of the party system in the
Philippines and how political
parties adjust policies in re-
sponse to past election results.
Another is Opportunities for
Everyone which explains how
the politicians climb the politi-
cal ladder from local to nation-
al government.
The coordinator of the
Political Science Prof. Zenia
Rodriguez gave the opening
remarks. “The students should

have a sense of duty and re-
sponsibility for the nearing
elections,” Rodriguez said.
Translating Elections
to Good Governance is a semi-
nar regarding the importance
of voting, how one govern-
ment delivers goods and ser-
vices for the people, efficiency
of the people working in the
government, change in the
political system that we have
now and, what is the individu-
ality they consider in choosing
the person who will speak and
lead the country for them.
Empowering Public
Trust, a forum on how public
accountability influences the
result of elections, how to em-
power public trust, responsi-
bilities of a public official, and
ethics of accountability.
The chain of forums
ended with such high level of
hope urging Thomasians to
stand for their rights and be
not swayed with the majority.
By Pamela Cabrera and
Rachelaine Tubera
Seasoned From page 5
Impressed by the students’
ability to apply what they’ve
learned in the classroom, the
member publications also mar-
veled at how the pupils’ per-
spectives have changed through
time.
The CMAP symposium
serves as a reminder for the stu-
dents to pursue their passion
for writing without compromis-
ing morals or quality. I
ROSETTE ADEL
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
LONG LIVE THE AB VIBE
“ONCE AN ARTLET
ALWAYS AN ARTLET,” a
friend once said. True too that.
It saddened me one day when
I checked the calendar, it was
February 25, 2010, a Thursday.
A Thursday?
Yes, the day I started
missing Team AB’s Pautakan
trainings. We used to have
Tuesdays and Thursdays as
our training day. And because
the much-awaited Pautakan
Competition is finally over,
there would be no more train-
ing. No more late dismissals,
no more brain squeezing ques-
tion and answer portions, no
more slacking off at the SWDB
Office, no more chitchatting on
lunch and merienda breaks and
most of all, I now have a lim-
ited time to mingle with these
amazing people, the AB tribe of
Pautakan. From those realiza-
tions that day I knew that even
for a short time of joining the
trainings, it will still be missed.
It all started when my
friend asked me if I’d like to ask
a question for that day’s train-
ing, and because I was bored
that day, I joined in the train-
ing. Ever since that day I’ve
been training with my Com-
mArts friends and eventually
we were dubbed as the “Unof-
ficial Honorary Members” of
the AB Pautakan Team. It was
good to be part of trainings
because not only do we learn
7
and enjoy, but we also help the
team on the process.
We were serious about
trainings even though there
are times that we goof around
because we know how AB’s
pressured on winning since
they have been the defending
champions. And because we’re
really determined to help the
team win especially that my
friend Racine Castro was a
team member.
It was a rewarding feel-
ing to train actually, because
one, you get to meet genius
people who share the same in-
terests as yours, getting com-
pliments from adviser Rhodora
Lynn Lintag is also another.
Krissy, Dorothy, Joseph, Ra-
cine, David, Kuya Zaldy, Ate
Karla, all seven of them really
are great people at their own
rights. They are probably the
reasons why I enjoyed training
and why I’ll miss it in the long
run.
How can I forget that
the Pautakan competition day
was epic? February 24, we cre-
ated a heartwarming scene
when we cried for David Na-
dora Jr.’s victory and for the
team’s defeat and triumph.
It was epic because al-
though we may not know each
other for a long time, I feel for
them much as I will if I was re-
ally part of the team.
Long Live, page 23
8
MITING DE AVANCE CONCLUDES CAMPAIGN SEASON
By ERIKA DIZON
CANDIDATES gun-
ning for posts in the AB Stu-
dent council endured the
scorching heat of the sun to
impart their platforms to the
AB student body in the “Mit-
ing de Avance” held at Plaza
Mayor last February 15.
Party standard bear-
ers commenced the Miting de
Avance with guns blazing,
drawing cheers from support-
ers and spectators, “Everyone
here is without a doubt ca-
pable in their respective po-
sitions” Dr. Carlos Manapat
one of the event panelists said
after the candidates wittily an-
swered the economics profes-
sor’s questions.
Mostly debated upon
was the issue on “uniform
change” which time and again
is bolstered by the artlets.
Vince Cifra, a presidential as-
pirant from DEKADA, in jest,
said he was once mistaken for
an attendant at a bookstore
Homecoming From page 2
The Homecoming
Steering Committee
Chair, Atty. Nilo Divina
(Bes ‘85), Dean of UST’s
Faculty of Civil Law,
in behalf of Batch ‘85,
handed over a generous
check as a donation
to the Simbahayanan
Housing Project, a fulfill the aspirations
UST quadricentennial
program which
was undertaken in
cooperation with Gawad
Kalinga.
while wearing his AB uniform.
Rex Remitio of Grand Alliance
for Progress (GAP) also cited a
similar situation.
Mrs. Florence Ledes-
ma, another panelist, also
complimented on how the can-
didates remained unruffled af-
ter a battery of questions were
raised by the panel composed
of selected professors and stu-
dents.
A student panelist
posed an issue for the two in-
cumbent officers, Cifra and
Remitio, regarding their un-
performed plans during their
stay in the office. “Division is
the reason,” said Remitio. “We
can make this centralized even
if we’re not the majority,” he
added, agreeing with Cifra’s
former statement that central-
ization is the key to reaching
goals in an administration.
“By being a role mod-
el,” SDP presidential bet Mon
Gualvez replied to the ques-
tion on how they could moti-
As a fitting tribute to
batch ‘85’s former Dean,
the organizing committee
also formally launched
the Dean Magdalena
Alonso-Villaba – AB
Batch ‘85 Scholarship
Endowment Fund. This
pet project hopes to
of poor but deserving
students who dream of
obtaining a degree from
the prestigious liberal
arts college of UST.
vate AB to be socially active.
“Everyone should know social
issues and everyone should
know the stand of the leader.”
Things got steamy to-
wards the end of the forum
that left the listeners in an even
louder uproar as AB professor
Dr. Flordeliz Altez brought up
a matter about violating uni-
form rules.
“Leaders are supposed
to be law abiders,” she said
and alleged, “some are not
following the prescribed cut
of the uniform” without pin-
pointing names but making
an apparent reference to a few
candidates.
Clad in her altered
blue skirt, SDP vice president
internal candidate Charmaine
Burdette stood up and gave
her statement about the issue.
“This represents my
stand for changing the uni-
form,” she said and added,
“This represents that I am for
the change.” I
Other members
of the steering committee
were AB Faculty
Secretary Lino Baron,
Renato Cuisia, Noel
Lansang, Ramon Ilagan,
Nicky Salandanan, Teng
Reyes-Castillo, Jocyline
Almeda – Obispo, Nerissa
Revilla, Ellen Mondez
– Cruz, Arne Queenie
Encisa – Madrilejos
and Christer James
Ray Gaudiano. Pauline
Manlusoc
9
10
A FINE BALANCE
By ALYOSHA ROBILLOS
AGE 19: Bachelor
of Arts in Philosophy “Cum
Laude”; Age 21: Master of Arts
in Philosophy “Benemeritus”;
Age 26: Ph.D. in Philosophy
“Summa Cum Laude”; Age
37: Dean of Faculty of Arts and
Letters. The list will surely go
on because these days in AB,
there is only one way to spell
impressive… V-A-S-C-O.
Promotion at a young age
The credentials of rela-
tively new Prof. Dr. Michael
Anthony C. Vasco explain his
promotion at an early age.
At 37, he is already
a veteran of administrative
work.
Before being placed
in AB, he had been the Fac-
ulty Secretary of the College
of Nursing and the Graduate
School. Although a mainstay
in the administrative scene, he
did not expect to become dean
so soon.
At one point, Dean
Vasco, decided to take some
sort of sabbatical from admin-
istrative work to fully enjoy
his professorial rank in UST.
After only one semes-
ter of teaching, he was sum-
moned to become the next
dean of the Faculty of Arts and
Letters.
“I would look at it as
a promotion. I’ve been an ad-
ministrator for 14 years, per-
haps they noticed my perfor-
mance,” he told Insignia.
Having been the coor-
dinator for the Commission
on Higher Education (CHED)
Faculty Development Pro-
gram from 2002-2009, he has
devoted himself to the revi-
sion of the AB curriculum.
This year, he initiated
the review of the current cur-
riculum so that the product
could be effective by 2011 or
2012.
“I think it is timely be-
cause our present curriculum
has been used for 7 years now
and it is high time that we re-
view it properly so that by DR. MICHAEL ANTHONY C. VASCO
2011 or 2012, we can already
implement the new curricu-
lum for all courses and reduce
“The job of
the number of units of the pro-
gram,” he said.
the dean does
Homecoming
not begin or
It turns out that this end in the
promotion was actually more
of a homecoming than a new office...”
job assignment.
In fact, he showed love
A graduate of AB Phi-
for his roots when he became
losophy, Dean Vasco used to
one of the major proponents
walk the corridors of St. Ray-
for making the University a
mund’s building during his
center of excellence for Philos-
collegiate years.
ophy in 1999 and eventually
Absolutely no culture
became Public Relations Offi-
shock was experienced as he
cer of the Philosophical Asso-
rose to the occasion.
ciation of the Philippines from
“It’s not a problem for
2001-2003.
me because I was a student of
Most students see him
the Arts and Letters so I know
as “pro-student”, as he al-
the nature and character of all
lowed the AB Student Coun-
students here. I was here and
cil to submit the proposal for
I used the same rooms that
uniform change as long as
you are now using so I know
the clamor came from the stu-
the temperament and exuber-
dents, and not only from the
ance of liberal arts students,”
student leaders.
he said referring to the Artlet
He has to keep track of
populace.
work on the various plans and

activities beyond the office
walls such as academic link-
ages and benchmarking activi-
ties, student exchanges, semi-
nar organization, and local
and international conferences,
to which he is no stranger to.
He has visited some
of the most prestigious insti-
tutions in the world and has
joined many international
lectures, seminars and confer-
ences. He assures the Faculty
of Arts and Letters that their
activities and concerns have
been placed in able hands.
He has attended nu-
merous series of conferences
in Europe (2005), cultural and
educational visits to Paris
and France (2005), a student
program at the Yokohama
National University in Japan
(2006), and lectures at the Ma-
cao Economic Services (2007).
Despite the weight of
his work, he still maintains the
drive to do more.
“The job of the dean
does not begin or end in the
office; I have to do other ac-
tivities that will put the name
of the college in the academic
word bank,” he explained.
“You have to balance
everything,” he quips when
asked about how he deals with
being dean while preserving
his personal life.
For so long, AB’s live-
ly disposition has often been
misunderstood as fits of delin-
quency or cries for attention.
Now, it looks like the Faculty
of Arts and Letters has finally
found in Dean Vasco the fine
balance it needs. I
Quadri From page 1
Fr. Tiong referred to
the elected official’s tenure in
office as “different” as it would
be during the University’s
quadricentennial year.
Consequently, the officers
were clad in semi-formal
attires which was not done in
previous oath takings.
“Everything must be
new so that every year is like
our first anniversary”, the
Vice Rector said in his homily.
He expects that the newly
elected officers will not only
be of service to the Thomasian
community but to God as well,
which was the essence of the
Gospel.
We see in you the hope
of this University and the hope
of this country” Tiong added.
Central COMELEC
(Commission on Elections)
Chairperson Yanna Diorella
Umali formally presented the
newly elected council officers
to the Vice Rector before the
ceremony commenced. After
the oath taking, Assistant
Professor Anita P. Garcia,
COMELEC Adviser, presented
the sworn officers to make a
sign of reverence before the
whole assemblage.
Newly appointed AB
Dean Anthony Vasco and
deans from other colleges
were in attendance.
The event’s final words
came from the Director of
the Office for Student Affairs
Professor Evelyn A. Songco.
She congratulated the
“quadri officers” and said that
winning their respective posts
11
and getting the trust of their
fellow thomasians was merely
the first leg of the race.
Now, they are in the
second leg of the race the
race of serving the thomasian
community and performing
their duties well as council
officers.
Professor Songco also
commended the parents of
the officers who were present
in the celebration “for their
fervor in supporting their
children throughout the race”.
Alyssa Ashley Cruz
Action From page 3
“Centralization of
government ang tawag ko
dyan”, he said.
Another new concept
is the ‘little plan’ of doubling
the single ABSC bulletin board
to keep the students updated.
Two bulletin boards: one
board is made for the complete
list of officers, chairpersons,
committee heads and members
with their contact details for
students to keep in touch; the
other is for announcements,
activities and updates for the
AB community.
Though the new
council has a ‘blurred
majority’, as other elected
candidates are mostly from
different parties he said that
through the ‘basis of faith’,
he would do all the best to
serve his AB community for
7 months and that, “it takes
an Action Man to work very
seriously in a short period of
time, let us dream together!
Walang Iwanan sa AB!” I
12
MARGINAL BLISS: AN INTERVIEW WITH CARLOMAR ARCANGEL DAOANA
By: PERSIA PLAZA AND NOELYN TOLENTINO
BORN on the 1st of
February 1979, Carlomar Ar-
cangel Daoana, a young poet,
traveler, a pride of the Fac-
ulty of Arts and Letters and
a proud Thomasian proudly
says that he was just an ordi-
Doy From page 1
A woman behind everything
His mother saw his
potential to become a leader.
“She encouraged me to
run for student office because
it became our bonding time,”
he said. The moments he spent
with his mother played a
crucial part in his future plans
to run for student office.
His mother was the
“heart” of every speech he
made.
“ W h a t e v e r
accomplishments we
have, it is not our personal
accomplishments but it is
an accomplishment of our
parents,” he said.
A 19 year-old Legal
Management student and a
Santo Tomas scholar, he still
manages to be in the Dean’s
List.
Being a responsible
student, he earned back the
student body’s trust when he
was the AB Student Council’s
(ABSC) treasurer thereby
winning the presidency for the
next academic year.
It is for this reason
that when he was the ABSC
treasurer he noticed that
officers are not that intact; he
nary student in college.
A graduate of Bach-
elor’s Degree in Literature
(2004), 31 year-old Daoana
was a young achiever having
been the sole winner for poet-
ry on the 13th Ustetika Annual
feels that he has to make the
officers work to produce good
results.
Despite his busy
schedule he sees to it that he
accomplishes every task.
“It is important that we
know our responsibilities,” he
added.
From the Faculty of
Arts and Letters political
ring, Doy’s political career
took a new turn as he won
the CSC presidency bringing
his experience as the ABSC
president.
Lakas Tomasino, his
political party, aided his
campaign and sealed his
victory despite of the party’s
suspension due to a faulty
financial report.
His edge over his
opponents would be his love
for communication.
“I think we are equal.
All I can say is that I really
like to communicate with
are people who are willing
to help them. I find joy in
communicating with people,”
he says.
As the
Quadricentennial CSC
president, he has to meet up the
student body’s expectations.
“It is going to be very
Awards for Literature, a for-
mer UST Center for Creative
Writing and Studies Junior
Associate for poetry, and an
Associate Editor of the Varsi-
tarian, the official publication
of UST.
hard; because it is not only a
faculty that he will be handling
but the whole University,” he
admitted.
Looking ahead
The original plan
is to strengthen university
organizations, which will
bring CSC closer to the
students.
He wants students to
“feel that whatever problems
they may have, CSC is always
there for them.”
He wants committees
that will concentrate on
student issues; another
projected vision. He needs
the Thomasian’s support
and cooperation for
upcoming projects that the
CSC will be offering for the
Quadricentennial.
As CSC president, he
promises that the projects
proposed will be feasible.
No wonder why he
is often seen on ABS-CBN’s
election awareness campaign;
he deserves to be recognized
as a leader.
Leandro “Doy” Santos
II surely is AB’s pride. By
Milenette Sarah Uy

He also bagged a couple of
awards both here and abroad.
On being an Artlet
Despite his credentials,
Daoana shared that he is just
an ordinary student back in
AB, “Basically, there is noth-
ing special about me; I’m just
one of those students wearing
the typical polo barong,” he
told Insignia.
He described his life as
an Artlet as ‘not quite event-
ful.’ He even flunked a couple
of subjects before being able to
graduate with his course.
Being a person who
loves writing, the highlight
of his college life was being
a part of the Varsitarian. He
expresses sincere gratitude
for the University because it
helped him a lot in exploring
his full potential.
“My teachers back then,
I’m not saying that they
are the most devoted, but
they really are living for
the written word,” Daoa-
na said referring to Oph-
elia Dimalanta, UST’s
only writer-in-residence
and preeminent poet
who helped him wake
up the ‘inner poet within
him.’
He describes UST as
“an institution where
there is really this culture
of writers like Jose Rizal.”
He shares that ‘if it
hadn’t been for the rig-
orous training he experi-
enced in AB, he will not
be able to achieve what
he has right now.’
“The perfect expres-
sion of my craft is being able to
publish a book,” he quipped.
He has published two
books, Marginal Bliss which is
a collection of his own poems
and The Fashionista’s Book
of Enlightenment, a book that
tackles about the technicalities
in the world of Fashion. He
is the current editor of Search
Engine Optimization.
Ordinariness of life
“My inspiration is the
ordinariness of life, that I have
to create something form this
ordinariness.”
He captures his inspi-
ration with the prevalence of
human life itself, thus he con-
siders this as art, the way he
points out the different places,
the usual places where people
live life to the fullest and try-
ing to converse with it.
13
The challenge for him
is to create purpose out of the
terrible chaos people traverse
with their everyday existence.
He considers Baguio
City as ‘his ultimate inspira-
tion.’
“My inspiration is
the ordinariness of
life, that I have to
create something
form this ordinari-
ness.”
In his first book, ten po-
ems are about Baguio City. He
also finds inspiration whenev-
er he sees a blank white page
of the Microsoft word; he feels
the need to write.
Message for thomasians and
future writers
“If you really don’t like
what you are doing then quit,”
he says.
He wants to tell his
fellow Thomasians that with
the 400 years of UST with the
solid uninterrupted division
that we are lucky to be a part
of this community.
“Let us always consid-
er that other schools may look
hip but they don’t have 400
years. They don’t have that
set of alumni, archives and
books”
The life and experienc-
es of Carlomar Daoana are eye
openers for us Thomasians to
work hard and be the best that
we can. I
14
LOCAL LORENZOS
By CHARISSE NUEVA ESPANA AND BETTINA PANGALANGAN
STUDENTS go to
school to learn, but isn’t it
more fun if we learn and work
at the same time?
For years, the Univer-
sity of Santo Tomas has pro-
vided a way for bright stu-
dents who find the amount of
the tuition daunting to their
financial backbone to get into
UST and thus get an excellent
education.
Making the cut
Scholarships like the
San Martin de Porres and San
Lorenzo Ruiz open the way
for students such as Jennifer
Ferrer, an 18 year old Journal-
ism student currently working
in the Office for Student Af-
fairs (OSA).
She is a full time work-
ing scholar who needs to
maintain a grade of 2.5 with
no failed subjects to retain her
position.
“We were financially
challenged,” Jennifer told In-
signia.
A little luck and a leap
of faith was what she need-
ed, but mostly perseverance
sprinkled with a good turn of
faith.
Anne Jeanette Priela,
a sophomore Journalism stu-
dent currently working in the
Office or Community Devel-
opment (OCD) says her family
is very supportive with regard
to her scholarship.
There’s an apparent
happiness etched on her face
at the mention of her family. manage her time properly.
“Whenever I get home
from work, obviously I am
irritated; to see your mom
preparing your food, telling
you to eat and asking how
your day was, that stress goes
away,” she says.
Dealing with pressure
When faced with pres-
sure, Marie Angeline Pagu-
layan, a working student from
Journalism, said that no one
should think about pressure.
“When doing activi-
ties, one should not let pres-
sure best them; in the end the
quality of their work suffers,”
Pagulayan said.
“You should just do
your best and try not to be
stressed out,” she added.
While it is a big task
to juggle work and studies si-
multaneously, Pagulayan is a
consistent Dean’s Lister. She
takes pride in her ability to
In the workplace, there is a
sense of friendship that they
cultivate within their col-
leagues while working side by
side giving them the advan-
tage of expanding their social
network.
Scholars develop an
almost too good to be true
sense of camaraderie, patience
and responsibility as they con-
stantly work with people from
different colleges and year lev-
els.
They have taken an ex-
tra step of helping themselves
and their family by serving
fellow Thomasians. They have
secured themselves a place in
the demanding world outside
by getting first class educa-
tion, ready for what the world
has in store for them.
Let’s give them a warm
round of applause, shall we? I

ANDREWLY AGATON: DISTRESSING 101
By ALEXIS LAGMAN AND BIANCA OSORIO
STRESSFUL – this is
how Andrewly Agaton de-
scribes his life as a regular em-
ployee at McDonald’s.
Aside from working
part-time in McDonald’s, An-
drewly Agaton is a graduat-
ing student majoring in Jour-
nalism and a Special Reports
writer of the Varsitarian, the
University’s official publica-
tion.
Working and writing
Agaton used to be an-
other ordinary person, effort-
less – laidback.
His daily routine in-
cluded attending class and go-
ing home afterwards. When he
was still a freshman, he want-
ed to make the most of his free
time by being participating in
extra-curricular activities.
He tried joining an
organization but he failed
to meet the deadline for the
submission of required docu-
ments.
After a year of having
no other activity besides his
classes, he joined Earth UST.
This was the first university-
wide organization he joined.
As expected, he be-
came active and joined the
trips promoted by the society.
When he joined Thomasian
Cable Televesion (TomCAT),
he became more serious about
journalism.
Not everybody is
blessed with financial security.
His mother wanted him to
transfer to the Polytechnic
University of the Philippines
in order to prioritize his sib-
ling’s needs. But because of
his determination to finish his
studies here in UST, he decid-
ed to make a bold move and
took the risk of working so
that he can help his parents in
financing his education.
Before applying at
McDonald’s, he tried apply-
ing in two call center agencies
which later on phoned him for
the job. Unfortunately, he was
seventeen then and he needed
to be eighteen to be employed
so he turned to the fast food
chain and worked there as
part of the crew.
“It was very hard,” he
told Insignia referring to his
first job experiences.
The following academ-
ic year was stressful and filled
with activities.
He had to go to school,
work at McDonald’s and write
for the Varsitarian and com-
press these all in a day’s time.
He only has Fridays to rest.
When asked about
conflicts in schedule, he said
that if two events are happen-
ing simultaneously, he would
absent himself from his work
at McDonald’s just to go to the
other activity.
According to him, his
managers were very kind. “I
can always give up McDo for
my acads,” Agaton answered
diligently.
Going home to Cavite
15
every day was very hard for
him.
Despite the availability
of student residences, it was
too costly for him. His salary
is just enough for his daily ex-
penses.
As for his social life, to
him it means going out with
his friends at night and sing-
ing in videokes. He can only
go out at night because of his
work but he treats himself at
times since he works hard for
the things he is enjoying. With
regards to his love life he says
that he is not pursuing anyone
right now.
“Life is not scripted;
we plan our life but in reality,
we don’t follow it,” he quips.
A day in the life of Andrewly
Agaton maybe stressful but
just like a real professional, he
manages it well, putting up an
attitude of an Artlet along with
perseverance to succeed. I
16
ALBY HUNGRY NO MORE!
By BIANCA BERNARDO
GATEWAY has Dairy
Queen, SM San Lazaro has Po-
tato Corner, and now, AB has
Alby’s named after its owner,
invading students by storm
with its quick meals available
for Artlets.
Before, students need to
battle the heat and dodge cars
to purchase food since the AB
building does not have any can-
teen, now filling up their empty
stomachs is just few steps away.
Indeed, it is difficult
for the students to have classes
while they can feel their stom-
achs grumbling. They can’t di-
gest their lessons properly be-
cause they are worrying about
how they can buy food.
Due to insistent student
demand, a food stall was placed
inside St. Raymund’s building
made the students’ comfortable
with their schedules.
Artlets eating heartily
inside the building became a
fixture ever since the food stall
opened.
Located at the left wing
of St. Raymund’s Building is
Alby Gandamna’s food stall.
The business started last No-
vember 12 and since then, buy-
ing and accessing food became
quite simple and easy for the
AB students. The prices are a
little high compared to other
stalls but AB students still pre-
fer Alby’s food stall since it is
the most available.
Grace under pressure
Christie Avelin, the
store keeper is perhaps known
by almost everybody in the
building. If you don’t know
her, you probably haven’t been
at the food stall.
“I feel pressured espe-
cially when there are too many
students buying at the same
time, I don’t know who to serve
first because all of them are in a
rush,” she told Insignia. Con-
ceivably, the perfect description
for her; grace under pressure.
She gives a smile with
every purchase sending posi-
tive vibes.
“It is easy to get along
with them; they are really so-
ciable,” she says when asked
about the attitude of AB stu-
dents towards her.
During the student’s
free time, some students hang
out in the stall while talking
and laughing with Ate Christie.
Given that there are
students who start their class
at 7am and need to travel for
hours; they tend to go to school
without having their breakfast.
The food stall became a
big help to those students who
have jam-packed schedule. Jus-
tinne Garcia, a Literature soph-
omore is one of those students
who purchase food from the
stall.
“The food stall is ben-
eficial; we now have an outlet
to regain our energy. Buying is
also hassle-free since we don’t
need to go outside the building.
I like the food; it’s yummy and
easy to eat,” Justinne says.
Alby’s stall has a wide
variety of food selections.
Ranging from beverages, sand-
wiches, pasta and doughnuts,
every AB student will surely be
full.
Growling tigers? Still
present. Growling stomachs?
No more! I

THE WORD Insignia
means mark or a symbol of
something. Living in a world
where it is run by technology,
where people who are lost in
their own social networks and
fast-paced lifestyles rule the
streets, how does one really
make a symbol or an insignia in
this world?
Growing up in the time
when blackouts were very com-
mon and the Philippines was
still known throughout Asia as
a tiger economy, one can’t help
but fathom and ask the ques-
tion, what happened to this
country? Do we still have to
pity ourselves with the same
problems that plagued the pre-
vious generation? NO, is what
the youth should say. is not what it really seems, with
This generation can still do
something to rise up from the
problems that keep defacing the
face of this country.
This insignia is some-
thing that this generation should
epitomize, something that this
generation will be proud of; be
it campaigns for moral and so-
cial awareness, global warm-
ing or clean politics, all of these
things make up the dreams of
every child that walk the streets
at night hungry and unclothed,
every idealistic teenager that
rally the streets for what they
believe in and the simple stu-
dent who vows to finish school
17
EDITORIAL
~INSIGNIA~
to make his/her family proud.
Each of us bears this insignia in
our hearts and minds; it is our
driving force to keep trusting in
a government that has forgotten
its real intentions of running its
people.
Cliché as this may
sound; the youth will never
stop believing in a genuine idea
of real change. The idea that
someone will still believe in the
unknown and do the impos-
sible, something that will die in
the hearts of this generation.
Ideas that the previous
generation kept within their
hearts, preserved in paper for
the next generation to read and
to utilize.
Words’ coming from a
mouth of a journalism student,
the future is not as grim com-
pared to what people are saying,
there is still something beneath
the dark clouds that shroud this
country: rays of hope and future
emanating from us. The world
all the things in mass media; our
role is to change the reality to
something worth praising.
Rizal’s poem, A La Ju-
ventud Filipina depicts the Fili-
pino youth differently from that
of the Spanish. Comparing this
to our generation, the Filipino
youth today is much different
from Rizal depicts, gone are
the days where the youth was
seen as future of this country,
now we are only seen as mere
memories of a distant past that
we fail to embody. This is where
Rizal succeeds, he still believes
that every Filipino youth can
still do something, he was not
18
wrong in plainly believing in
what we could do.
We bear the burden of
this country; corruption, moral
degradation, dirty politics, lack
of respect for the environment,
etc. Despite these problems, of
its enormity, we bear this and
leave a mark in the eyes of the
old ones. We should not stop
believing in that little spark of
hope that resides in the darkest
corners of our hearts, we should
let it flourish. The youth is the
ALEXANDRA SACLAO
CROWNING GLORY
ARE YOU THE ONE?
Ever wondered what it
feels like when you are speak-
ing in front of thousands of
people reporting about what
the coaches has to say during
dugouts and huddles? Well, I
do.
That is why now that
the hunt for the next Court-
side Reporter of the Univer-
sity Athletics Association of
the Philippines (UAAP) for the
73rd season has already be-
gun, I won’t waste any of my
time trying it out, and there’s
no way anyone’s going to stop
me.
Anybody can try their
luck on being a UAAP report-
er as long as they are 18 to 23
years old, fluent in both, Eng-
lish and Tagalog, is familiar
with the UAAP players, can
adjust to the game schedules
and of course, has the will and
spunk to do it. An interested
future of this country, encour-
age not discourage, empower,
do not belittle and trust not dis-
trust.
Technology played a
big role in shaping our genera-
tion; it has shaped what we are
right now. Despite negative
perceptions, why not harness
its potential as a medium for
change? Why not use to sway
the masses and make them real-
ize what WE can do?
The mark of this gen-
applicant may submit a Bio-
data, one close-up and one
whole body picture on or be-
fore May 30, 2010.
AB’s Communication
Arts and Journalism students
are encouraged to audition
as the experience of being the
university’s representative
will be a big help in connection
to their future careers. But for
the past three years, the task
of delivering blow-by-blow
accounts of what is happen-
ing inside the court has been
given to non-AB students, in
the likes of morena beauties,
Diane Querrer (Season 70 and
71), from the AMV-College of
Accountancy and Pach Cansa-
na (Season 72) from the Col-
lege of Architecture.
Auditioning for the
part is a no-easy task; you must
endure long lines because of
the hundreds of students from
eration lies on the power of the
mind. What ways can we do to
change this wayward country?
What new way of thinking will
empower this society? All these
questions are for us to answer
and shape; this generation’s In-
signia.
Distrust lives in the
hearts of those who fear loss of
power; let us make our stand in
this society. I
different colleges and univer-
sities all aiming to get the job,
and the possibility of being
rejected the moment you stut-
ter in front of the camera. So
those aspiring reporters out
there better practice in front
of the mirror so that when it is
your turn to show what you’ve
got, there is a little possibility
that you will struggle. Also,
one of the benefits of being
your school’s representative
is the privilege of having very
good seats when watching any
UAAP event and you also get
stuff from Nike all for FREE!
So guys, If I were you,
I won’t let this chance get past
through me without trying it.
So join me in auditioning to
be University of Santo Tomas’
Quadricentennial Courtside
Reporter!
GO USTE!
 19

Editor-in-Chief
~ INSIGNIA ~
Photography Monalisa Chuang
Ramon Royandoyan Dan Dupale Features Rome Sta. Ana
Bianca Bernardo Beatrice Hermano
Managing Editor Layout & Art Editor Milenette Uy Faye Saguiguit
Marie Angeline Pagulayan Maxine Ann Velasco Bettina Pangalangan Joanna Conde
Dennese Vzmyn Victoria Persia Plaza Daisy Jane Sande
Associate Editor Noelyn Tolentino
Marianne Dee News Bianca Osorio Sports
Ma. Christina Santos Alexis Lagman Peevi Jannsen Juan
News Editor Buena Bernal Glennie Lumahan Adrian Co
Don Joseph Dejaresco Cristine Marie Santos Bianca de Mesa Michaela Cortez
Ashley Cruz Roznelette delos Reyes
Features Editor Anne Jamnague Alyosha Robillos Art
Rosette Adel Erika Dizon Neil Carandang
Maria Alina Galagaran Literary
Sports Editor Pamela Cabrera Karlo Oropesa Photography
Alexandra Saclao Rachelaine Tubera Neriza Dicion Mikolo Cadiz
Anna Krisha Santiago
Literary Editor Ana Pascual
Isabella Mikaela Malonzo

OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE
IDENTITY CRISIS
MARIE ANGELINE PAGULAYAN

A YEAR AGO, when I
was riding a pedicab on my way
to UST, I was surprised when
the driver asked me, “Anong
year ka na sa high school, iha?”
Although it was embarrassing, I
just dismissed it as a joke.
I thought it was the first
and last time that I will be asked
with such a question. But the in-
cident of me being mistaken as
a high school student occurred
more than a couple of times.
Sometimes, I think that
my petite appetite has some-
thing to do with it – until one
day, I finally figured out why.
I was riding in a jeepney
but this time, I was on my way
home from school. A girl sitting
across me caught my attention.
She was wearing multiple-
pleated navy-blue skirt, a white
nakar blouse with white nakar
buttons and a ribbon of the
same color as her skirt was tied
around it.
At first, I thought she
was a student of the Faculty of
Arts and Letters. But a glimpse
of her I.D. revealed that she was
a student in a nearby public
school.
These incidents were
enough to make me realize that
something must change in the
style of uniform of AB.
Honestly, before it was not a big
deal for me. However, to see
an almost perfect carbon copy
of my uniform while riding a
public vehicle or walking in the
streets is getting annoying for I
feel that I am losing my identity
as an Artlet and as a Thomasian.
Moreover, to be mis-
taken as a high school student
every time I wear my uniform
is demeaning for my part. And
the only thing that sets me apart
as an Artlet is my I.D.
I thought I was the only
one bellowing these sentiments.
To my bewilderment, class-
mates and fellow Artlets feel
and experience the same things
too. There was this amusing in-
cident in which a good friend
of mine was restricted to enter
a mall in the morning because
the guard also mistaken her as
a high school student.
Last February, the
change in uniform has finally
been proposed by the Arts and
Letters Student Council (ABSC).
The placing of a freedom in the
St. Raymund’s lobby was a
good starting point. In this way,
the Artlets were able to express
their feelings through the pow-
er of a paper and pen duo.
While it is understand-
able that the Faculty Adminis-
tration wants to retain the sym-
bols that define our uniform, the
truth is that the Artlets would
forego them in exchange for a
new uniform -
Identity page 20
20
DYSFUNCTIONAL MIND
THE ARTLET’S EXILE
WALKING down the
spiral staircase, eyes burning
through my back, scarring like
heated iron on my blue skin,
I look back, pairs of eyes like
that of a tiger staring at their
twin, voiceless yet criticising,
silently pushing me further
down into the spiral stair-
case. my eyes wandering to see how
Taking another step,
not minding the darkness that
slowly hugged me, making
the colour of my skin fade, I
told myself, it isn’t that bad,
being exiled, at the bottom of
the staircase I am free, to be
myself and to do as I please,
and yet in my heart, their cruel
criticisms carved a spiral stair-
case that I knew I’ll be using
to heal my wounds, though I
knew that I had no other vic-
tim but myself.
It will cause the warm
and cold winds within me to
form a spiral of destruction,
dismantling everything in its
path, fortifying the ache on
my back, ensuring that I will
never heal. Half way down,
finally letting the darkness
devour me, I feel a numbness
that I knew would come to
anyone damned to stand at the
bottom.
A smile forms on my
lips, a sort of celebration, my
wishful thinking somehow
slipped from the dark pas-
sages of my mind to the realm
MARIANNE ANGELA DEE
of reality, the halt that would
impede my descent. Stopping,
balancing, feeling the pair of
foundations that has seem-
ingly disappeared though still
visible, like a mere vision, or a
dream, along with all these, I
hope, feeling a sudden rush of
curiosity or perhaps longing,
far I’ve come down, if they are
still watching me or not, I see
nothing but darkness, but only
for a moment, for a pair of eyes
like those from before only
of a different colour appears
before me, suddenly feeling
a force on my shoulders, in a
flash I was falling, tumbling,
my body hit every corner of
each step, like a wheel going
through rubble.
The cause of my suf-
fering playing a movie as I
broke one bone to another, as I
go down further, there would
be neither scream of pain nor
tears of sadness, for the numb-
ness has taken over my whole
body.
Reaching the bottom of
the staircase, my hip landing
the bottom step with a crack
that blurred my dream of ever
climbing up again, I looked
around, unfeeling, smiling at
the thought that I have arrived
earlier, and that now I have all
the liberties that I wanted.
Trying to sit up, I re-
alize that my body is miss-
ing, searching the cold dark
landing, a sudden burst of
laughter from all directions
alarmed my senses, straining
my eyes to see who or what it
is, I saw my torso, hands feet,
legs, hip, and arms scattered,
and has somehow grown a
mouth they’re using to laugh
hysterically, losing my mind,
I saw them grow arms and
feet, fighting each other to get
to the top first, thus hinder-
ing any progress, and in their
failure they said in unison the
words “It isn’t that bad”. I
Identity From page 20
one that would make an Artlet
distinct wherever he goes.
Like any change, Artlets
should expect that it would be
not easy.The process of decid-
ing what will be the new design,
what materials to use and ad in-
finitum.
Moreover, the willing-
ness of the student body to
spend money for a new uniform
has a huge bearing (but then of
course, money is not of the es-
sence anymore).
If change in uniform be
implemented, Artlets should
keep in mind that uniform is
not the measurement of one’s
intellect but rather serves as our
Thomasian insignia. I

B AT T L E F U R Y
LET IT BE IN AB
THE FACULTY of Arts
and Letters was established
during the latter years of the
Spanish occupancy in the Phil-
ippines, the faculty’s four walls
were already there to witness
the tyranny and oppression
brought about by the Spanish
hegemony.
After more than a cen-
tury those four walls are still
amid oppression and tyranny.
Not really much has changed
since the country’s colonial pe-
riod. Though botod friars are
no longer existent, a new kind
of greedy swine-like being has
taken its place.
Politicos, they are
the modern day friars, not any-
more clad in brown robes but
in business suits and barongs,
and while the poor in shanties
suffer, they lavish themselves
with material luxuries without
any regard of how life is behind
the walls of their grandiose
mansions. I am no Conrado de
Quiros so there will be no lam-
basting of some politician or bu-
reaucrat in this column (if you
were expecting such). I merely
want to point out certain factors
on how to preclude having self-
seeking leaders.
The emergence of
this kind of leader can partly be
blamed on learning institutions,
including AB. In fact, especially
AB. Students to come from the
portals of UST’s liberal arts fac-
ulty are usually those on the
frontlines in the battle against
DON JOSEPH DEJARESCO
corruption, they are those who
would be lawyers, journalists,
mentors, and even politicians.
These are positions that have
the capability to preclude the
encroaching on civil liberties
and the abuse of power and the
Artlet must know that.
Martyrdom can-
not be imposed on anyone, but
even the slightest ounce of cour-
age and concern from each of us
would do. One does not need to
march down Mendiola to show
his patriotism, all he needs to do
is use his expertise to contribute
in changing this dysfunctional
system we call “Philippine Gov-
ernment”; the Artlet must know
that.
AB students are trained
to be experts in their crafts, but
aside from that they must be re-
minded constantly to be scruple
in whatever they do and be nur-
tured as concerned rounded cit-
izens of this country. If that has
been done, it should be done
better. These are simple things
that if put in a larger scale
would cause vast results. It’s
not only excellence that should
be sought but also nationalism,
with adequate technique and
ardor towards his country the
Filipino shall rise above what-
ever daunting circumstance.
It’s not enough to be idealists,
as ideas need to be backed by
actions and actions need to be
guided by principles. The chal-
lenge for every Artlet is not to
be a mere spectator while our
21
country is being despoiled by
botods; be part of the change, be
part of the revolution.
Let change start in AB,
let change start in an artlet, it’s
about time to deviate from what
is and start shaping what is to
come. As Edmund Burke once
said, “all that is necessary for
the triumph of evil is for good
men to do nothing.” I
DAN DUPALE
VIEW-
FINDER
MAGIC, SORT OF
A salvo of superficial
images often arrives in our very
vision nowadays and leaves
us wondering “How on God’s
green earth did that happen?”
That’s the magic of
post-processing.
Back then, when film-
based cameras were still the
medium of imaging, people,
conscious of the artistic value
of their picture, tend to con-
template thoroughly with their
camera’s settings so as not to
waste a precious frame on a 36
exposure film roll.
That was before.
What I see now are
people with large, bulky, black
pieces of plastic dangling on
their necks. It might first strike
you with the impression of awe
that Philippines do have a lot of
photographers.
Magic page 23
22
MILL OF THE ODDS
OFF WITH YOUR HEAD
If we could only trust in
ideas and not in men, I believe it
would all be better.
Yesterday was eventful;
me trying to convince an activ-
ist to participate in the coming
elections and vote. It felt a bit
weird because when I started
the thread, I thought I would be
the one empowered and more
than ready to vote. Instead,
what I got was the “you’re the
one who is idealistic and you’re
expecting nothing to come from
nothing” talk.
Well, if the problem
with me is that I am too idealis-
tic, I think that the problem with
most people is that they don’t
try to be idealistic enough. we have been there and done
Sometimes, this is how
things end up here in AB too.
During the eventful February
elections, a lot of things are
proposed; a lot of promises are
made. And then in the course
of the year, when these young
and comfort-zone promising
students start to act, the rest of
the students find out that what
they have voted for are only
student politicians and not stu-
dent leaders. They find out that
what they have bought is the
idea and not the people who
can achieve them.
The apathy starts here;
and then, when they have had
enough dissatisfaction, these
students are led to the idea of
not voting anymore because
their last attempt in giving the
elections a shot was an epic fail-
ure.
I believe that the prob-
lem here and in our country’s
issue of a lot of people not car-
ing to vote is that people trust
on people for results. We don’t
buy their capabilities and in-
stead buy the comfort zones
they are promising, hoping that
it would all be better for us if
they do win.
But it is not often that
they do accomplish everything
they promised; when our com-
fort zone isn’t realized, we
brand the whole as a hopeless
failure.
This is what we know
– what is in our heads; and we
trust them because we say that
that and yet nothing still has
changed. But why are we wait-
ing for a single event that hap-
pens once a year or every six
years to change our lives? Let us
forget about what has been re-
peating in our heads. The road
to change is not a once a year
show. We have every day to
start with and one or every six
years to empower the changes
we make everyday.
It is true that no one in-
dividual can change the whole,
but who says that the entire
government is one individual?
Even the entire government
still depends on people to be
successful in their programs.
So if they fail, what we must be
is not the judging one and the
condemning one. People fail;
there never are perfect leaders.
What we must do is to follow
the ideas behind the people;
if the people fail, other people
can come and help; and then
we would all achieve the same
thing because though there are
different people, there is only
one idea.
So voting never is an
idea too far for the pragmatist
to try. Everyone who says they
are looking for change should
try and look for all the avenues
they can find to breathe change;
and voting I believe, is one of
them.
It has never been about
what is only in our hands and
what we know with our heads.
Sometimes we need to go past
our experiences and what we
have known; to try again be-
cause we can never really tell
when and where change will
come from. All we can really do
is to start with what we can.
With this, I wish to
someday see the students of
AB voting for ideas and not for
men and the comfort zones they
promise. I wish to someday see
AB going outside of their boxes
and still in the path for change.
For when I have seen AB like
this can I say that her promises
of excellence are true and her
aroma of liberalism is not emp-
ty but progressive and is aimed
at the right direction. I
I

Magic From page 21
But whether or not they
know how to capture an image
is left to my wondering. And if
you are to take a look at their
camera’s mode wheel, you will
see the camera is in full-auto
mode.
What the heck?!
They might just as well
settle with the point-and-shoot
camera.
I see a lot of photo-
graphs, even some of it winning
awards, with phony skies, and
spurious reflections of what-
ever in the water. Honestly, I
am not astonished for I know
that some elements of the pic-
ture were sham and fabricated.
It might appeal to other dream-
ers, like them. But, it is down-
right obvious for anyone with a
keen eye for photos to discern
the altered details.
It destroys the “natural-
ity” of the picture. And, until
now, I still cannot comprehend
why they result to post-pro-
cessing when, in fact, they can
master the picture even before
they shoot. That is, by observ-
ing the factors around you,
where the light is coming from,
and formulating the right cam-
era settings. Tweaking their
camera’s mode wheel until it is
pointed at M, for Manual, looks
like a very tough job for them.
Yes, things are easier
when in full-automatic mode.
But the photographer in you is
not developed. You are becom-
ing a dependent wannabe.
Post-processing it after-
wards and adding phony lens
flares promote your rank of a
wannabe into an artificer and a
dreamer.
Where can you see
a cerulean blue, cloudless
sky above the Main Build-
ing minutes after the typhoon
drenched UST while it is still
soaking from the flood? The
picture looked as if it were ani-
mated, three dimensional and,
from a sci-fi movie.
Post-processing de-
stroys the very essence of pho-
tography. It teaches the people
the discontentment in nature,
the stubbornness in contem-
plating for the right camera set-
ting, and the desire for what is
not real. I pity them who miss
the gratification and the joy of
obtaining your well-contem-
plated upon portrait and who
rather would settle in hasty
capturing but bask in medioc-
rity.
I fear the day when ev-
erybody is on the bad side of
creativity. I
Long Live From page 7
It was a defeat and at
the same time a humungous tri-
umph since the team have lost
its title and won 2nd runner-
up after a close fight against
College of Nursing and AMV
but the AB Vibe is still within
them. these I’ve proven that there’s
Yet again, they made
the AB community proud. They
will always be the champion in
my heart and in the hearts of
our fellow Artlets.
The team may not have
regained their title but I still
consider them as the winner. A
winner for me is someone who
battles out on challenges ar-
23
mored with wit, strategy, drive
and the guidance of our God
and they are all these.
I believe they really de-
serve to win because I know
what they have been through.
I knew how intense their train-
ing was, it is just that it maybe it
is not their year. With the sup-
port of AB community, they
can make it; I know they can.
With our tears, stand-
ing ovations, energetic cheers,
applauses, exchanging of hugs
and consoling each other I’ve
come to define the AB Vibe.
The warm support and camara-
derie that I saw in my beloved
Faculty of Arts and Letters was
really comforting. It was also
that defining moment after the
Individual Category when the
Artlet audience were really
screaming and cheering hard
for David.
This is where AB ca-
maraderie manifests. Even the
Team Category rounds which
got intense due to the Artlet
crowd were an evidence of the
AB vibe some claim to have
been fading.
But I also saw alumni
supporting the AB team, even
the former members of AB
Pautakan team were present,
indeed when you’re an Artlet
you’ll always be an Artlet. With
no reason for us to revive the
AB vibe, because I’ve seen it.
Not just on this compe-
tition but also on other activi-
ties. I knew it will exist long as
students will. It will never fade
because this is already part of
our identity, history and be-
cause we are simply AB. I
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