Concept Paper of the Second Philippine Conference on New Evangelization

PHILIPPINE CONFERENCE ON NEW EVANGELIZATION II
January 15-17, 2015
UST Quadricentennial Pavilion
Theme: “Blessed are you…”
(Matthew 5:1-12)

INTRODUCTION

“Behold, God makes all things new.” (Rev. 21:5) This was the vision that ignited the flame of the First Philippine Conference on New Evangelization (PCNE I). As a response to the XIII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (2012) which focused on The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith, PCNE I set out to initiate a renewed experience of faith and a new fervor to proclaim the gospel in the local and Asian context. During the three days of the conference, the participants marvelled at the manifold ways by which Jesus could be encountered in the richness of the catholic faith from the scriptures to popular religiosity. They were treated to a feast of the abundance of God’s presence in the creative and imaginative prayer sessions, in the dialogue of life between the clergy and the laity, between Christians and other traditions, in the edifying liturgies, in the culture and devotions of ordinary people, in the young and in the poor. Their experiences of grace evoked by the pathways to the lived unity of the Church in its diverse components and gifts impelled a desire to respond concretely to the call to become a missionary church.

In his message for the conference, Pope Francis said, “Don’t get tired of bringing the mercy of the Father to the poor, the sick, the abandoned, the young people, and family. Let Jesus be known in the world of politics, business, arts, science, technology, and social media. Let the Holy Spirit renew the creation and bring forth justice and peace in the Philippines and in the great continent of Asia that is close to my heart.” The challenge of the Holy Father resonated with the desiderata and dreams of the participants for the church. They asked that we must take steps to foster a more active and leading role of the laity in the transformation of the church and the society. They called for the promotion of small Christian communities and other faith communities as means of evangelization and to focus on the family as both subject and object of evangelization. They felt the urgent need for a systematic and comprehensive evangelization program and creative involvement of the youth in the life of the church. They wanted to grow in their understanding and appreciation of other religious traditions and reach out with humility to those who have turned to them.

Most of all, they earnestly desired that we become evangelically poor: for the church to be more sensitive to the plight of the poor, live simple and austere lifestyles, and act in solidarity with the poor. Simplicity of lifestyle is what they expect from their pastors and leaders more than creating projects for the poor. They long for a deeper dialogue of life between the clergy and the poor, a lifestyle that witnesses to poverty in the manner of the poor Christ. This clamor to be a church of the poor sadly reminds us that not much has changed since the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP II) which firmly proposed it almost twenty-four years ago.

Nevertheless, the Second Philippine Conference on New Evangelization (PCNE II) aspires to respond to the challenges posed by PCNE I. Taking the cue once again from the voice of Pope Francis, PCNE II seeks to reflect on The Beatitudes of Matthew 5 and the radical revolution it demands. Pope Francis chose the same theme for the celebration of the World Youth Days beginning this year to 2016 in Krakow. In line with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ declaration of 2014 as the Year of the Laity and 2015 as the Year of the Poor, PCNE II seeks to deepen our appreciation of the beatitudes in relation to our struggles with inequality and poverty. The apostolic visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines this January with the theme of “mercy and compassion” all the more highlights the need to understand these cherished ideals of Jesus.

DAY ONE: The Portrait of Blessedness

Jesus proclaims eight times what blessedness, full happiness or perfect joy consists in. He begins his evangelizing ministry by announcing blessedness in God’s Kingdom. Blessedness is a fruit of God’s action that Jesus affirms and promises. People possessing some identified qualities and engaging in specified acts are declared blessed because they are assured of an action of God in and for them. Infinite joy would permeate these persons because God’s reign, providential action and benevolence would be theirs. Belonging to God’s reign is a good summary of God’s other actions that make us blessed: God will console, will satiate, will be merciful, will give land, will manifest God’s face, and will call them children. To be blessed is to see, hear, touch and experience God ruling one’s life.

No one exemplifies these to us than Jesus himself. He is the portrait of a truly happy and blessed person. Jesus could testify to blessedness because of His experience of the Father’s unbounded love that became His sustenance in the face of opposition, failure, forgiveness, betrayal and death. Christ’s words and works chronicle the surprising ways by which God blesses those who trust in Him. In his message to the youth for the Twenty-Ninth World Youth Day (2014), Pope Francis said, “Throughout his life, from his birth in the stable in Bethlehem until his death on the cross and his resurrection, Jesus embodied the Beatitudes. All the promises of God’s Kingdom were fulfilled in him.”

Key Question (Ponder in your heart): How have we experienced the joy that God gives, in contrast to that offered by the world?

DAY TWO: The Pathways to Blessedness

It is clear that blessedness is a grace, a gift and action of God. But not all human dispositions and actions orient us to receive the grace. Jesus also indicates the path that leads us to God’s blessedness. Poverty of spirit speaks of one’s need for and dependence on God, as against self-sufficiency. Mourning is crying with others, as against hardness of heart and egoism. Meekness allows others to grow and live, as against dominating them. Thirst for justice seeks right relationships with others, as against indifference and manipulation. Mercy makes one stop to help a needy neighbor and to forgive, as against blindness and pride. Peacemaking is taking steps for love to triumph, as against sowing seeds of hatred. Blessedness involves serious human tasks, responsibilities and conversion. Jesus does not constrict or restrict but liberates us into genuine joy. The path to blessedness is that of freedom to love and serve especially the least. True blessedness is the freedom promised to God’s children and those who allow God to reign in them.

Pope Francis says that the beatitudes are the path to true happiness, the path that God indicates as an answer to the desire of happiness inherent in man (Wednesday General Audience, August 6, 2014). The pattern and the signposts to blessedness have been clearly laid down by Jesus. They, however, require a human response and a communal commitment.

Key Question (Ponder in your heart): How have the paths to blessedness liberated me to love, to serve and form community?

DAY THREE: The Program of Blessedness
Our community’s identity and mission is to discover the reign of God in our helplessness and vulnerabilities. We are constantly called to think of pastoral, ministerial and missionary approaches that do not only respond to actual needs but would afford experiences of being blessed in God’s eyes. The church is not an ordinary social welfare organization. She is a mother who keeps the memory of God’s love alive in her children. Christians are not mere social activists. We are bearers of the hope and the fulfillment of the kingdom of God. We are proclaimers of the joy of the Gospel in our insatiable and desperate world.

The first words of the Holy Father in his apostolic exhortation serve as our inspiration, “The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ, joy is constantly born anew. In this Exhortation, I wish to encourage the Christian faithful to embark upon a new chapter of evangelization marked by this joy, while pointing out new paths for the Church’s journey in years to come.” (EG, 1) PCNE II is our local response to this new chapter of evangelization. And we are looking at the path of the beatitudes as the new paths for the new evangelizers in the third millennium and our fundamental pastoral missionary project as a church.

Key Question (Ponder in your heart): How can we restore the joy/blessedness of being evangelizers or messengers of the Gospel of God’s reign?

CONCLUSION

In light of the PCNE I experience, the Year of the Laity (2014) and the Year of the Poor (2015), and the Apostolic Visit of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, to the Philippines, the following objectives are offered for the Second Philippine Conference on New Evangelization (PCNE II): 

--- to help the participants understand the true meaning of blessedness as modelled by Jesus (Encounter with Jesus) 

--- to explore avenues and pathways that lead to a blessed life (Experience of Church) 

--- to offer opportunities for individual and communal living out of the beatitudes (Witnessing to Blessedness)

With Mary, the Mother and Star of New Evangelization, we entrust to the Lord the Second Philippine Conference on New Evangelization (PCNE II) as we continue to discover the paths that lead to the authentic and eternal happiness of the Kingdom of heaven.

Circular Letter on PCNE 2

John Paul II, We Love You

“JOHN PAUL II, WE LOVE YOU!”

(Some Personal Notes on Blessed John Paul II)

Rev. Fr. Fausto Gomez, OP

 

On February 25, 2011 I had a chance to visit again the tomb of Pope John Paul II. I was told by my friends in Rome that his tomb was the most visited by pilgrims. (From now on, it will be much easier to visit the place where his coffin will be placed: in the Basilica of St. Peter itself, near the Pieta of Michel Angelo) Although it was still early morning, dozens upon dozens of people were visiting and praying before his simple tomb in the crypt of the Vatican: some were standing, others were kneeling and many others were just passing slowly by the tomb – all were silent, some were crying. I lingered for a while there and remembered how lucky I was for having had the privilege of meeting John Paul II seven times. Nothing personal, I was just lucky! Truly lucky! In these light notes, I shall touch and comment mainly on my personal encounters with John Paul II.

From May 1, 2011, the Church has a new blessed in the person of Pope John Paul II. Millions of Catholics and men and women of good who were touched by John Paul II rejoiced! In spite of the criticism by some theologians and liberals within the Church, and with due respect, I believe history will also consider him not just a most popular and approachable Pope but a great one.

The first time I met Pope John Paul II was on September 5, 1980 in Castel Gandolfo. Together with twenty eight priests and eight bishops, I had the great honor to concelebrate at the Eucharist presided by the Holy Father. What impressed me most then was the contemplative attitude of the Holy Father through the Mass: totally absorbed, following carefully the rhythm of the Mass, pronouncing each word (in Latin) slowly and distinctly, making strategic pauses of silence. Throughout his 26 years as successor of Saint Peter, John Paul II showed the primary place of prayer in his life. Some authors today consider him a modern mystic. It has been said that he made decisions on his knees. Monsignor Slawomir, the postulator of the Pontiff’s cause of beatification, was asked: What aspect of the Pope’s life particularly struck you? He answered: He was certainly a mystic, “a mystic in the sense that he was a man who lived in the presence of God, who let himself guided by the Holy Spirit, who was in constant dialogue with the Lord, who built his whole life around the question (asked by Jesus to Peter), ‘Do you love me’.” A close collaborator said on April 30, 2011: “To see him pray was to see a person who was in conversation with God.”

I remember with special fondness the third time I met him personally. (The second time I met him took place during his first visit to the University of Santo Tomas, Manila in February 1981; in this visit, he beatified Lorenzo Ruiz and Companions Martyrs – now saints – at the Luneta Park, Manila) It was during the World Youth Day in Manila (January 1995), where the Holy Father had the greatest audience ever: more than four million people attended the Pope’s final Mass. (One Hong Kong newspaper wrote that then the multitude became a megatude). He celebrated Mass in the University of Santo Tomas for the youth delegates – 245 from all over the world – to the 5th International Youth Forum. This time after the Mass he greeted one by one the students and some others who had the great luck of attending the Mass. While the Holy Father greeted the youth he embraced them – and also some others not so young including me. While he embraced me I could hardly tell him, “Holy Father I have read your lovely book Crossing the Threshold of Hope.” He looked at me intensely and kindly, and told me “Bene, bene.” I was deeply touched and really moved – almost to tears! I remember the words of TIME when the magazine named the Pope Man of the Year (1994): “He generates electricity unmatched by anyone else in the world.”
 

The last time I met the John Paul II was on February 21, 2004 at the Sala Clementina in the Vatican (like my three previous encounters with him) in the company of about a hundred and fifty people, most of us members of the Pontifical Academy for Life. By that time, he was already sickly and with his Parkinson’s developing slowly. (Parenthetically, the miracle worked by Pope John Paul II that led partly to his fast-track beatification was the healing from Parkinson’s of French Sister Marie Simon-Pierre right after she asked John Paul II to cure her) He could not walk anymore and it was hard to understand his speech. But still then, and against the advice of some of his assistants, he greeted us – about 130 people – one by one: we knelt before him and kissed his ring; he blessed us and smiled. Many writers on John Paul II underline this characteristic of the late Pope: he was concerned with the person, with each person, each one creature and image of God. This is one of the reason he touched the hearts of so many people throughout the world: the young, the children, the old, men from other religions and cultures… In his first encyclical Redemptor Hominis (1979), issued a few months after his election, the Pope explained that man is the road of the Church and Christ is the road of man: Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Son Mary (the Pope was a faithful servant of Mary: totus tuus!), the primordial foundation of Christian morality, the Way, the Truth and the Life. John Paul II was missionary of the world: he visited about 130 countries during his papacy. He was from Poland but, indeed, the world was his parish. The well-known Catholic convert André Fossard once said: “This is not a Pope from Poland, but a Pope from Galilee.” John Paul II knew, loved and followed Jesus to the end.

More than my personal encounters with John Paul II I remember – with his holy life of dedication to Christ, Mary and the Church – some of his fundamental teachings. In particular his teachings on human life found especially in his encyclical (he wrote fourteen encyclicals) Evangelium Vitae,” or The Gospel of Life (1995), the first encyclical on bioethics, where he repeats one of his constant mottos: “Human life must be defended from the moment of conception (against abortion) to natural death (against euthanasia and the death penalty).” I also treasure his radical and creative social teachings found in his three social encyclicals and many addresses and exhortations. It is worth noting here that John Paul II, a remarkable worker since he was a youth, was beatified on May 1, the day of labor; moreover, he wrote an important encyclical, Laborem Exercens 1981, on human work: “Capital is for labor; work is for man.” From the social teachings, I consider this point (from his Novo Millennio Ineunte, 2001) most innovative: heretic is not only the believer who does not accept or distorts an article of the Creed but one who does not share something with the poor and weak of the world. Also I love to underline his substantial teachings on freedom and truth (in his basic encyclical Veritatis Splendor, 1994): “freedom is not freedom from the truth but freedom in the truth”; on justice and love: “love is the soul of justice”; on peace and democracy: as it is well known, the late Pope contributed immensely to the collapse of European communism in 1989. Just before the war of Iraq he shouted from the famous papal balcony in the Vatican: “No to war. War doesn’t resolve anything. I have seen war. I know what war is.” The Pope words on justice ring frequently in my ears: “No peace without justice, no justice without forgiveness.” As a religious man, I appreciate John Paul II Vita Consecrata (1996), his important apostolic exhortation in which he invites religious men and women to be holy, that is prayerful and compassionate: to go up to the mountain of prayer and to come down to the market places of the world and witness their passion for God and compassion for humanity.

(Parenthetically, let me mention here that the main criticism these days against the Pope is focused on his apparent silence regarding the terrible sexual scandal of priests and their victimizing of innocent children. Knowing John Paul II, a really wise and holy man, I think I can truly say that he was not really aware!)

I remember once, somewhere in 2004, discussing with a friend the possibility that John Paul II might resign as Pope. Later on I read somewhere: a person asked John Paul II if he would resign. The Pope answered: “I cannot, because Jesus did not go down from the cross.” On February 21-23, 2005, the members of the Pontifical Academy for Life could not have an audience with the Holy Father. By then John Paul II was gravely ill. He would die one month and a half later, on April 2, 2005, after giving his most moving and last speech to the world: his patient, compassionate, dignified, exemplary way of dying and facing death. Before dying, when thousands of young people were camping near the Vatican and praying for the Pope, he said to his assistants: “Tell the young, I love them.” We are told that his last words – almost inaudible – were: “Let me go… Let me go to the house of the Father.” I remember the Pope had said at the beginning of his pontificate, then with his booming voice: “Our life is a pilgrimage to the house of the Father.” His beatification means he is in the house of the father! I am sure he will remember us singing in Manila, in New York, in London, in Rome: “John Paul II, we love you!” and telling him now: “Blessed John Paul II, pray for us!” (F. Gomez Berlana, OP: Macau, May 2, 2011)

A “Stand” for Honesty

A “Stand” for Honesty

“Ang taong honest may patutunguhan, ang Tomasinong honest, may matutulungan.”  This is the tagline of the BUTIL Honesty Kiosk which it continually live up to until now.

 

Bonded University Towards Imbued Learning (BUTIL) is a scholarship program that extends financial assistance to underprivileged but deserving high school students from the four partner communities of the University. It is participated by different university-wide and college-based organizations, student councils and individuals that are willing enough to be sponsors of these beneficiaries. BUTIL is composed of sub-projects that aspire to develop the holistic growth of the scholars, and raise funds for the unending necessities of the project.

Started in December 2013, the BUTIL Honesty Kiosk, a sub-project of the BUTIL Scholarship Program, has gone a long way, being in operation for another academic year and which other organizations take as an inspiration for their fund-raising projects.

It is strategically located in one of the most student-flocked buildings in the University of Santo Tomas, the Tan Yan Kee (TYK) Student Center which may be the reason for its success in terms of earnings.

Of course every project an organization in the University undertakes has its objectives that will be beneficial to the Thomasians specifically, and to its partner communities in general. The BUTIL Honesty Kiosk, more than its aim of offering tasty snacks for growling stomachs and gaining profit, endeavors to instill the values of honesty and integrity to Thomasians by starting out with something as small as placing the right amount of payment for whatever goods bought in the coin slot. Since the honesty kiosk’s profit’s main purpose is to aid in the different expenses incurred in the BUTIL Scholarship Program, its objectives also include inculcating the importance of education to each student of the University, which also explains its tagline.

Seeing that it has become a hit to the Thomasian community, the Becarios de Santo Tomas, with the guidance of the Office for Student Affairs, continuously seek more ways to improve the BUTIL Honesty Kiosk so as to cater to the different needs of students. As of now, the available items in the honesty kiosk are snacks and school supplies.

PACUCOA Accreditation visit 2014 (UST-AMV College of Accountancy)

October 7 and 8, 2014 proved to be an exhillirating two day PACUCOA Accreditation visit for the UST-AMV College of Accountancy. Not only has the experience been one of learning but of positive revelation. After months of arduous hardwork and preparation, the administrators, faculty and staff shared a meal and a heavy sigh of relief. In the interim, they offer the results to God's good will

 

 

UST CTHM in Seoul

UST College of Tourism and Hospitality Management

The Tour and Travel Operations and Management Class of 3H1 to 3H5 are scheduled to have an International Tour in Seoul, South Korea entitled, “Be SEOULtisfied: Explore, Experience, Embrace KOREA” on October 20 to 24, 2014. The undertaking has the following objectives:

1.To present a significant information about the destination to the Third year Hotel and Restaurant Management students regarding the destination;

2.To provide learning experience to the participants about the culture and tradition of Seoul, Korea;

3.To explore the different travel components that are essential in tourism product development; and

4.To depict the importance of an international tour by means of interactive and vivid expositions that would constitute both learning and enjoyment.

The said tour will be participated by 144 Third year Hotel and Restaurant Management students.

The group will be accompanied by Assoc. Prof. Evangeline Timbang (HRM chairperson), Ms. Jane Devanadera (Course facilitator), Asst. Prof. Pio Castillo and Mr. Nathaniel Siao.

 

Some of the sites and attractions that will be visited include: Nami Island, Wind Village, Everland, The Blue House, National Folklore Museum, Geongbok Palace and N Seoul Tower. They will also see the famous Nanta show, have Taekwondo exposure and experience Kimchi making and Hanbok wearing.

UST HS launches REACH Program

UST High School launches REACH Program, intensifies anti-bullying campaign

In response to the DepEd Order No. 40, s. 2012 (Child Protection Policy), the UST High School launched its REACH Program on Monday, September 29, 2014. The program, coined by the School Principal, was premised on the context of “raising a child through the effort of a whole village” and envisions a positive approach to stop bullying in school environment through a collaborative community-wide effort among the students, faculty members, staff, administrators, and parents. The program emphasizes that Respect, Empathy, Acceptance, and Compassion bring Harmony (REACH).

Prior to the launching day, the School Principal called for a meeting with the class presidents and discussed about bullying in school. The Assistant Principal met with the Head Teachers and the President of the Student Council. The latter, in turn, encouraged the student body to reconstruct bullying based on their experiences and/or observations of bullying in school, through the activities facilitated by the Guidance Counselors and supervised by the class advisers, of which outputs were captured in the form of a slogan, photo-caption, statement shirt, and poster. These outputs were showcased in an exhibit, which was highlighted by a balloon-waving ceremony. Through the ceremony, students were made aware that the school has put measures to stop incidences of bullying by encouraging students to report to the school authorities or accomplishing a form that could be placed inside a well-secured anti-bullying box.

The launching of the REACH Program is a follow-up of a Student Council-initiated campaign on anti-bullying that encourages students to “Take a stand, lend a hand.” Witnessed by the class and club presidents, the Student Council Officers, Guidance Counselors, Head Teachers, non-advisers, and administrators, it was marked by the inspirational messages of invited speakers. These include Mr. Donald Castro, UST High School alumnus and TV reporter; Richard Javier, current PRO of the Student Council; Mrs. Arlene Magaoay, Grade 7 Head Teacher and parent of UST High School, and Dra. Minerva P. Calimag, representative of the UST High School Parents Association, Inc., whose message was read by her daughter, Paloma Calimag. The messages of the speakers were simultaneously broadcast to all the classrooms and offices in the Benavides building.

Part of the exhibit is the presentation of available forms for reporting anti-bullying incidences that are to be voluntarily accomplished by students and to be placed inside a bully-box.

Students’ outputs such as statement shirts, posters, poems, photo-captions.



Grade 9 class simultaneously participating in the launching ceremony while inside the classroom.



Student Council Officers and Advisers with the UST High School administrators.




Ms. Imelda Paula S. Rosales, Rev. Fr. Jannel N. Abogado, O.P., Mr. Doland Castro as Guest Speaker during the launching ceremony, Assoc. Prof. Marishirl P. Tropicales, and Mr. Emmanuel M. Batulan



Balloon-waving ceremony for the REACH Program (the anti-bullying program of UST High School)

Roundtable Discussion on Philippine Contemporary Theater

UST CREATIVE WRITING CENTER TO HOLD 

ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ON PHILIPPINE CONTEMPORARY THEATER

The UST Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies (UST CCWLS), in cooperation with the UST Publishing House, will be holding a round-table discussion on the state of contemporary Philippine theater and will be launching a new book by S Anril Pineda Tiatco. Both events will be held at the Tanghalang Teresita Quirino, G/F Benavides Bldg., University of Santo Tomas, España Blvd., Sampaloc, Manila.

USTingan is a regular informal gathering of writers, teachers, students and lovers of literature, at which certain topics of contemporary interest — involving writing, publishing, and popular culture — are discussed. The title of this USTingan is “Ang Teatro sa Pilipinas sa Bagong Milenyo,” and it will focus on the state of Philippine theater in this new millennium, plagued as it is with all sorts of catastrophes and cataclysms.

The featured playwrights and theater practitioners are Rody Vera, Nicolas B. Pichay, Liza Magtoto and S.Anril Tiatco.

Vera is a playwright, actor, theater director, and screenwriter. He has written nearly fifty plays, both original and adaptations for the Philippine stage. He won awards in a number of competitions, notably, the Palanca Hall of Fame. His Palanca-winning works include the plays “Luna: Isang Romansang Aswang,” “Ismail at Isabel,” “Paalam, Sister Soledad,” and the film scripts “Death March” and “Lakambini.” His prize-winning film scripts include “Senyor Paciano,” (2nd Prize Philippine Centennial Literary Prize, 1998); “Niño,” (Best Film, 2011 Busan International Film Festival, South Korea, and Best Screenplay Young Critics’ Circle, 2011); and “Requieme” (Cinemalaya 2012, Best Screenplay). He is currently head of the Writer’s Bloc, and one of the key founders of the Virgin Labfest, an annual theater festival of new works for the stage.

Pichay is a talented lawyer who gained a number of awards and recognition as a playwright, poet, screenwriter and translator. He was inducted into the Palanca Hall of Fame after winning his fifth first prize for his full-length play “Tres Ataques de Corazon” in 2007. He is the author of the books “Ang Lunes na Mahirap Bunuin” (Publikasyong Sipat, 1993), “Almanac for a Revolution” (UP Press 2000), which won the First Prize in English Drama of the Philippine Centennial Literary Prize, and “Psychedelia Apocalypsis at Iba Pang Dula” (UP Press, 2007).

Magtoto is a playwright and freelance scriptwriter, an active senior member and artist-teacher of the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), a member of The Writer’s Bloc. Recent works include immensely popular “Rak of Aegis,” “Rated PG,” “Care Divas,” the TV comedy series “Camera Cafe,” and the films “Sta. Nina,” and “David F.” Her plays are published in anthologies including that of the UP Institute of Creative Writing’s “Ang Aklat Likhaan ng Dula 1997-2003” and the first volume of the Virgin Labfest anthology. Her Palanca award-winning plays include Despedida de Soltera, Agnoia, and Paigan.

Tiatco teaches at the UP Department of Speech Communication and Theatre Arts, and is currently the Director of UP Diliman Information Office. He earned his Ph.D. in Theatre Studies from the National University of Singapore. He is the author of the Palanca-prize winning full-length play “Miss Dulce Extranjera o ang Paghahanap kay Miss B” (UP Press 2011), “Entablado: Theatres and Performances in the Philippines” (UP Press, 2014), and the forthcoming “Performing Catholicism: Faith and Ambivalence in a Philippine Province” also from UP Press.

After the roundtable discussion, Tiatco’s play “Cuaresma,” the stage adaptation of Jose Rizal’s third and unfinished novel “Makamisa,” will be launched by the UST Publishing House.

The event is open to creative writers, literary enthusiasts and the general public. Call Ms. Anna Nicolas at 406-1611 local 8281 for seat reservations.

Song Writing Contest for the Apostolic Visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines

Song Writing Contest for the Apostolic Visit of Pope Francis

to the Philippines

It is a known fact that the University of Santo Tomas (UST) is a Pontifical University, and as such, carries on a special relationship with the Pope and the Vatican. On the three occasions that two popes visited the Philippines -  in 1970 by Pope Paul VI, and in 1981 and 1995 by Pope John Paul II, UST was also visited by these two popes. Thus, in the midst of the country’s preparations for the official and apostolic visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines in 2015, UST, as a pontifical University joyfully anticipates this event, and organizes activities to honor and pay respect to the Supreme Pontiff, and at the same time serve as the institution’s contribution to the visit. One of these activities is a song-writing contest.    

The University of Santo Tomas Song Writing contest aims to come up with a banner song for the celebration of the visit of the Apostolic Visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines in 2015.

Mechanics and Guidelines:

1. The contest is open to all Thomasian alumni, faculty members, employees, students including immediate family members of the Thomasians. Members of the song writing contest Screening Committee are disqualified from joining. 

2. Entries may be individually or collaboratively authored. However, only one prize will be awarded in case of collaborative composition. 

3.     Each participant may submit as many entries as he/she can.

4.     The theme of the song is Mercy and Compassion.  

5.     The song duration must be at least two minutes but not more than three minutes.

6.     The song may be in English or Filipino.

7.     The song must be certified original by the contestant. UST shall not be held liable should complaints arise due to similarities or likeness of the song to already existing compositions. The contestant has the sole responsibility to prove its authenticity. 

8.     Submitted articles must be sung by a solo singer/artist with or without instrumental accompaniment. 

9.     Application forms may be obtained from the Office of Public Affairs or may be downloaded from the UST website: www.ust.edu.ph

10.  Contestants must submit the application form together with one recent 2”x2” colored photo to the Office of Public Affairs.  

11.  Entries must be submitted in CD format together with hard copies of the lyrics and the accomplished application form in sealed brown envelopes. Contestants may also send their entries via email provided that they indicate their name, address, and contact numbers. 

12.  Submission of entries is from October 14, 2014  to November 14,  2014  at the Office of Public Affairs or at opa@mnl.ust.edu.ph International and regional entries may be submitted through mail or courier and must be postmarked not later than  November 17, 2014. 

13.  The criteria for judging  are as follows:

Music – 70%

Lyrics – 30%

             100%

14.  The Screening Committee shall choose five finalists who will be informed through courier or email on December 1, 2014.

15.  The finalists shall choose their own interpreters, preferably professional singers. 

16.  The Grand Finals will be on  December 8, 2014 as part of the  Paskuhan program at the UST Grandstand. The winners will be announced on this date. The decision of the Board of Judges is executor, not appealable and final. The judges may also reserve the right not to declare any winner in case entries fall short of the standards.

17.  The winners shall receive certificates and cash prizes

First place:       PhP   20, 000.00

Second place:   PhP   15,000.00

Third place:     PhP   10,000.00

18.  Submitted entries shall become the property of the University of Santo Tomas. Thus, the composer waives all fees arising from royalties, publication, performances whether live or mechanical, through radio, television, internet or any other media, within or outside the campus and jurisdiction of the University. The copyright of the winning entries shall exclusively belong to the University of Santo Tomas.      

SONG WRITING CONTEST for the Apostolic Visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to the Philippines

Second Term Enrolment Schedule (AY 2014-2015)

SECOND TERM ENROLMENT SCHEDULE
It is advised that the posted schedules for enrolment, including the specific hours, be strictly complied with, for a smooth implementation of the process by Faculty/College.

Teachers' Day at UST-AMV College of Accountancy

TEACHERS' DAY AT UST-AMV ACCOUNTANCY

Last October 3, 2014, Friday, the UST-AMV College of Accountancy Student Council, with the support of the Dean's Office and the Class Presidents, offered a surprise thanksgiving lunch for the faculty.

In the one-hour program, The Accountancy Chamber Singers (TACS) serenaded the audience; the President of the Paci Rhutmos (official College Dance Troupe) performed a solo dance number; the student council president and program chair gave their speeches; and played a video of students mentioning their perceived metaphorical roles of their teachers.

The program brought the crowd to a big cheer when the Student Council officers danced with three volunteer faculty members. The Dean closed the program by saying that "not only have the teachers been called gurus but also dancers." The faculty left Sycip-Velayo Multipurpose Hall with swelling hearts filled with gratitude and bellies filled with a satisfying meal.