Friday, August 29, 2014

Announcement of the Decree Placing the University of Santo Tomas under the Jurisdiction of the Dominican Province of the Philippines



07 August 2014 
University Mass in Honor of St. Dominic de Guzman, 
Founder of the Order of Preachers
University of Santo Tomas Chapel 



ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DECREE PLACING 
THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS 
UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF 
THE DOMINICAN PROVINCE OF THE PHILIPPINES


On this auspicious moment, as we honor our Holy Father Saint Dominic, we announce a news of historic importance for the University. In the four-hundredth and third (403rd) year of the University of Santo Tomas, we have received a communiqué from the Congregation for Catholic Education of the Holy See, with a date stamp of the 31st of May 2014, stating the Decree of Approval of the Revised General Statutes of the University.

The Revised General Statutes now reflect the fulfillment of the wishes of paragraph number 120 of the Acts of the General Chapter of the Order of Friars Preachers held in Caleruega, Spain in 1995, and paragraph number 219 of the Acts of the General Chapter of the Order of Friars Preachers celebrated in Rome in 2010, on the transfer of the University of Santo Tomas Manila to the jurisdiction of the Dominican Province of the Philippines.

Furthermore, the Master of the Order of Preachers, currently, Very Reverend Fr. Bruno Cadoré, by virtue of his office, is the Chancellor of the University, and serves as the liaison between the Holy See and the University of Santo Tomas. His primary responsibility is “to maintain and promote the Catholic identity and the Dominican mission of the University” (GS Art. 8, Par. 1). The Provincial of the Dominican Province of the Philippines, who currently is Very Reverend Fr. Gerard Francisco P. Timoner III, represents the Chancellor in our institution. He is, by virtue of his office, the Vice-Chancellor of the University (GS Art. 9, Par. 1).

We continue, therefore, to pray for our beloved University, the worldwide Order of Preachers, the Dominican Province of the Philippines, the brothers of the Holy Rosary Province, the Dominicans of UST, and the Dominican Family in the Philippines, that our Holy Father Dominic may continue to lead and inspire them to be true heralds of the Gospel.

Finally, we are truly grateful to our Vice-Chancellor, Very Reverend Fr. Gerard Francisco P. Timoner III, OP, for presiding over the Holy Mass and preaching to us the Gospel of Christ in this Solemnity of Our Holy Father Saint Dominic de Guzman.

Benedicamus Domino. Deo gratias.

[signed]

fr. Winston F. Cabading OP
Secretary-General

CBCP President on the 2013 Version of the Vision Statement of the Department of Education

The Department of Education recently re-worded its Vision Statement. In the past, the department tasked with the formation of our children once envisioned “functionally literate and God-fearing Filipinos”. Unfortunately, in its 2013 version, there is no more mention of God, nor of the salutary fear of Him that, Scripture tells us, is the beginning of all wisdom.

A vision statement is not an empty platitude. It guides the articulation of policy. It orientates plans of action. While maka-Diyos remains one of the Department’s core-values, we maintain that the formation of God-fearing pupils and students is a vision that cannot be surrendered.

“This Sacred Synod likewise declares that children and young people have a right to be motivated to appraise moral values with a right conscience, to embrace them with a personal adherence, together with a deeper knowledge and love of God.” This is what Vatican II teaches in “Gravissimum Educationis”.

The right of a child to recognize God, to love him and to hope in him cannot be harmful to anyone else, believer or not. Our pluralistic society indeed accords respect for the option of some to believe and for others not to. This respect for pluralism does not compel civil society to expunge the name of God from public life, especially when the majority of Filipinos continue to acknowledge God’s sovereignty and to trust in Divine Providence. Furthermore, the attitude of our laws in the Philippines towards religion is characterized as ‘benevolent neutrality’: the accommodation of religion whenever such accommodation does not offend law or public policy.

We exhort our Catholic laity in public elementary and high schools to be zealous in the apostolate of forming pupils and students. Do not get tired of teaching that God is the beginning and the end of all things, that he is the Father who wishes all to have life, and to have it to the full!

This, our dear public school teachers, is your particular mission in the life of the Church, the dignity of your calling as evangelizers within the world and its concerns. It is a challenge of particular urgency in this, the Year of the Laity. Stand up for God. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

August 29, 2014, Martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist

+ SOCRATES VILLEGAS
Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan
President, CBCP

Thursday, August 28, 2014

CBCP President on the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

THE ‘ice-bucket challenge’ seems to be the most recent rave with national personalities joining in. Throughout the world, and now, even in the Philippines, people recognize the nobility of the cause: research on the dreaded Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), more popularly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
The anchor Matt Lauer participated in the "ice bucket challenge".

Act of Compassion not a Fad

Mitch Albom poignantly chronicled the deterioration of one stricken with the disease in his very popular book “Tuesdays with Morrie”. Those from older generations may recall how Lou Gehrig bade the world of baseball — and the world — a moving farewell after having been diagnosed with the disease. It is therefore disturbing, to say the least, that some have trivialized the ‘ice-bucket challenge’ by making of the act of dousing oneself with iced water a fad, rather than a gesture of solidarity with all who suffer from the disease and with those who do research on its alleviation.

Embryonic Stem Cell Research?

There have been disturbing reports, however, that ALS research involves the use of stem-cells, and this is not surprising. ALS is a degenerative disorder and stem-cells apparently hold out the promise of reversing the death and degeneration of brain cells, in particular. Stem-cells however are most readily harvested from embryos, and it is in this regard that this type of research is ethically problematic.

On February 22, 1987, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued an “Instruction on Respect for Human Life in Its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation.” In respect to experimentation on embryos, the Instruction teaches: “No objective, even though noble in itself such as a foreseeable advantage to science, to other human beings, or to society, can in any way justify experimentation on living human embryos or fetuses…To use human embryos or fetuses as the object or instrument of experimentation constitutes a crime against their dignity as human beings having a right to the same respect that is due to the child already born and to every human person.”

It is therefore even more condemnable when embryos are destroyed so that their pluripotent stem cells may be harvested for research for even therapeutic purposes.

It is no better when embryos are the result of ‘in vitro’ fertilization, developed purposely as a source of stem cells. The same Instruction reiterates Catholic teaching in bioethics: “Human embryos obtained in vitro are human beings and subjects with rights. Their dignity and right to life must be respected from the first moment of their existence. It is immoral to produce human embryos destined to be exploited as disposable ‘biological material’”.

ALS Association and Stem Cell Research


A statement issued by the ALS Association on stem cell research contains this declaration: “Most stem-cell research in ALS is currently focused on iPS cells, which are not burdened with ethical issues.” We are told that iPS cells are “induced pluripotent stem cells”, stem cells created from skin cells. Such cells would indeed be pluripotent, but would not be embryonic cells. As such, the ethical objection to the use of embryonic cells, whether harvested from embryos, or obtained through in vitro fertilization, would not arise. What is troubling, however, is that the very same ALS statement, in admitting that iPS cells are used in “most stem-cell research” leaves open the possibility that stem cells from objectionable sources are still used!

We are not prepared to say that the ALS Association, that has promoted the ice-bucket challenge, and all those involved in ALS research are engaged in the unethical practice of using embryonic cells. The importance of ALS research cannot be overstated. Research must proceed, for so many suffer. Human intelligence and skill must conquer this dreadful malady, because it is for this purpose that we have been given dominion over the earth as its stewards. But we must also guide the Catholic faithful, and all who heed the ethical teaching of the Church.


Pastoral Ethical Guideline

As a pastoral guideline, we therefore urge those participating in the ice-bucket challenge and making donations to ALS research to make a clear and unequivocal declaration that their donation is made on condition that none of it is to be applied to research that involves the use of embryonic stem cells, in vivo or in vitro.

Catholics who participate in the challenge and who make donations to this research must also demand of fund-raisers and organizers an assurance that none of the donations made will be applied to researches that are ethically reproved.

As long as research on ALS as well as other debilitating conditions such as Parkinson’s Diseases and Alzheimer’s keep within the confines of the ethical demands of human dignity, they will be encouraged by the Church, and our Catholic faithful will be urged to support them with generosity and with charity for all who suffer.

August 27, 2014, Feast of Saint Monica

+ SOCRATES VILLEGAS
Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan
President, CBCP

Friday, August 22, 2014

How do I know I love UST?

How do I know I love UST?

By Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, O.P.
Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, O.P.The University of Santo Tomas will soon celebrate its 400th anniversary of foundation. I want to believe that it lasted this long, not only because of the thousands of students, faculty, and employees who inhabit it today, but because of the love and concern that smolders within the heart of Thomasians everywhere. I myself am an avid lover of UST. How do I know that it is so? Let me count the ways.
First, I know I love UST because everytime I behold the majestic Main Building, I feel very proud of being a Thomasian. Nowhere in the country can you see such majestic work of genius. Declared as a National Cultural Treasure by the government, the main building has become sort of a sacrament – it makes present what it signifies: the classic character of the University. Classic, in the sense of timeless and forever timely.
The main building has become the face of UST, and I cannot stop admiring the foresight of this building, the eminent engineer Fr. Roque Ruano, O.P. He designed its façade in such a way that anyone who looks at it cannot see but the cross, the clock and the three statues that dominate it.
The cross symbolizes our redemption, the clock symbolizes history. The two taken together means salvation history. Three statues at the façade are collectively known in Latin as tria haec (“these three”) a phrase derived from |Corinthians 13:13 where St. Paul declares: “These three things last forever: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” The tria haec seem to tell us that the history of UST is a history that is impelled by faith, propelled by hope, and compelled by love. What other university can claim such a sublime past?
Secondly, I love UST because whenever I pass through the Arch of the Centuries I feel a strong assurance that the University of Santo Tomas is a blessed educational institution. The fact that it had survived several centuries of colonial battles for supremacy, two World Wars, countless calamities and disasters, economic and political upheavals in the country, is a clear proof that UST is an institution imbued with unending grace. The Arch of the Centuries is not just the “ruins” of the original main building of UST in Intramuros. It reminds us of the stubborn will of UST to survive, to be relevant, to impress its mark on every student that enters its portal. Thomasians everywhere who have the Arch of the Centuries in their heart will never lose hope even in their darkest hours. Why should they? They possess a symbol of God’s abiding love.
I know I love UST because I feel immensely relaxed every time I stroll on its venerable grounds, with its magnificent gardens, the Plaza Mayor, the Quadricentennial Square, the parade grounds that have witnessed extraordinary events like three Papal visits, the Paskuhan, Baccalaureate Mass, Freshmen Walk, and many other unforgettable occasions. I feel and exhilarating sense of relief for a while all of Sampaloc area is cramped by houses shanties, high rise buildings, condominiums, and commercial establishments, and strangled by narrow streets teeming with cars and jeepneys, UST is an oasis teeming with trees, a haven for plant lovers, where one can breathe freely, jog, run, or simply stand and allow oneself to dissolve in the swirling, throbbing, never-ending motion around him.
I also know that I love UST because when I pass by the walkways and see the bulletin boards and the LED monitors displaying grandiosely outstanding Thomasians: Board topnotchers, UAAP champions, winners in national and international competitions, eminent public servants, professionals, and civic leaders. I vicariously share their triumphs and bask in their glory. I cannot stop to relish the thought that the University has produced not only excellent leaders, entrepreneurs, academicians, and pioneering professionals, but also heroes and saints. Which university in the Philippines has alumni who can boast of such exalted pedigree?
I know I love UST because I feel elated rather than angry everytime a traffic jam forms in all streets surrounding UST during the scheduled entrance test. This means that many young Filipinos consider UST as their priority school during enrolment. And I don’t wonder why. While UST has maintained its non-elitist status, it continues to defy standards of excellence in almost all the professions. No, it does not follow standards. It sets standards.
I know I love UST because I can feel happy when I see alumni coming home and asking: How can I give back? How will I help? Although, I am filled with sadness when, after telling them how they can give back, they draw away and no longer come back. I feel sad that with so many architects and engineers that UST has produced, not one would volunteer his services free of charge to help in the infrastructure development of the University. I wonder why not one alumnus or alumna who has become successful in their profession would volunteer to finance a building in his or her honor. In the campus, all the building are constructed at the expense of the University. The only structure that is not financed by UST is the Tan Yan Kee building, courtesy of Lucio Tan who did not even graduate from the university.
So far, in the hundreds of alumni reunions held, when talk about helping the University begins, what ensues is almost a deafening silence. The only alumni group that really showed enthusiasm in constructing a building in the campus as their legacy is the UST I know I love UST because I can feel happy when I see alumni coming home and asking: How can I give back? How will I help? Although, I am filled with sadness when, after telling them how they can give back, they draw away and no longer come back. I feel sad that with so many architects and engineers that UST has produced, not one would volunteer his services free of charge to help in the infrastructure development of the university. I wonder why not one alumnus or alumna who has become successful in their profession would volunteer to finance a building in his or her honor. In the campus, all the building are constructed at the expense of the University. The only structure that is not financed by UST is the Tan Yan Kee building, courtesy of Lucio Tan who did not even graduate from the university.
So far, in the hundreds of alumni reunions held, when talk about helping the University begins, what ensues is almost a deafening silence. The only alumni group that really showed enthusiasm in constructing a building in the campus as their legacy is the UST Medical Alumni Association of America. It is ironic that those who are geographically distant from the University are the ones who feel the burning desire to help her continue her mission and vision.
Finally, I know I love UST because wherever I find myself, I consciously tell myself that I am a Thomasian. UST is my alma mater, my spiritual home. Home is the place that you can never really leave behind. Therefore I bring UST wherever I go. It has become a part of the fabric of my life.
As I count the remaining days before its Quadricentennial, I see myself, not as a flickering candle, but as a torch, inflaming my fellow Thomasians to pursue greatness: greatness in purpose and achievement – for the self, the country and God. 
*Father De la Rosa graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the Dominican House of Studies in 1977. He served as rector and president of the University of Santo Tomas for eight years, from 1990-1998 and re-elected in 2008. He was the Witness Editor of the Varsitarian from 1978-1979.

UST is featured in QS News2WOWU [embedded bulletin]

The University of Santo Tomas is featured in the August-October 2014 (no. 14) issue of QS News2WOWU [<--click this or see below], a quarterly newsletter of Universities by QS Asia. Please check out UST’s ad and our article entitled “University of Santo Tomas passes audits in succession” on pages 30 and 41, respectively. 
Click here to see UST's Profile in QS. 

WHAT IS QS ASIA? Click here.

UST is featured in QS News2WOWU

The University of Santo Tomas is featured in the August-October 2014 (no. 14) issue of QS News2WOWU [<--click this], a quarterly newsletter of Universities by QS Asia. Please check out UST’s ad and our article entitled “University of Santo Tomas passes audits in succession” on pages 30 and 41, respectively. 
Click here to see UST's Profile in QS. 

WHAT IS QS ASIA?
Located in Singapore, QS Asia is the regional subsidiary of QS (Quacquarelli Symonds), the world's leading network for top careers and education based in London.

Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) is a British company specializing in education and study abroad. The company was founded in 1990 by Nunzio Quacquarelli. Today, QS has over 200 employees and operates globally from offices in London (head office in Hampstead, North London); New York, Boston, and Washington, D.C., United States; Paris, France; Singapore; Stuttgart, Germany; Sydney, Australia; Shanghai, China; Johannesburg, South Africa; and Alicante, Spain. QS provides services for undergraduates, graduates, Masters, Ph.D., MBA, and Executive MBA candidates. It offers publications and events to broaden the scope of study abroad. QS runs events and produces guides for postgraduates across 35 countries.

QS’s mission is to enable motivated people to fulfill their potential by fostering educational achievement, career development and international mobility.

Incorporating all of QS’s central values, QS Asia's own vision is focused on helping Asian, Middle East and African higher education institutions and students to compete on the world stage.

As an operation, it has a dual role: 

1. To engage Asian, Middle East and African universities with QS’s extensive portfolio of global student recruitment services and professional solutions - see www.qs.com


2. To create and run regionally focused business tools that support the particular challenges and opportunities of higher education.
 
Click here and find out our Rank:

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

UAAP Season 77 Schedule of Games

POEM: A Thomasian’s Quest

by Gino C. Gonzalez
(Inspired by the UST Hymn)


Prologue:
I will take on challenges they dare throw me
Conquer the stresses they present
Eight long years of trials and tribulations.
I will be worthy to be with you forever.

...

I'll raise your flag, and wave it proud
The anchors raised and masts all set
The wind blows my golden sails strong
My mighty galleons depart from thy ports

My cannons armed and lit by thy flames.
My vessels filled by fountains of thee.
My seat majestic and enduring the storms.
My dream, far beyond my seeing.

I'll explore the seas, strong against the tides.
I'll defend your name and tarnish it not.
I'll spread the light in gloom and darkness.
I'll foster them thy unending grace.

One day my sails will trace the horizon
Nearing towards thy peering eye.
My ship afloat, beckoning to thy ports.
This captain has indeed returned.

Battle-scarred yet full of valor
I'll stand up straight, my chest out proud
Like orphicleides my voice shall proclaim:
In beauty. In truth. In virtue.

And to thee, gifts from oceans across:
Wisdom from sages, torches of freedom,
Golden lilies, and flames of yearning.
All these for you my love. All for you.

Lock me in thy impassioned embrace.
Share with me valiant tales from yore.
Celebrate a banquet in this castle imperious.
God, I longed for this. This day that I'm home.

Monday, August 18, 2014

ANECDOTES: Takbo pa!

by ArchiFreshie Mga 12:00nn na noong pumunta kami sa library para mag-research for our homeworks. Sa sobrang busy namin sa pagre-research, 12:45pm na pala at di namin namalayan. 1:00pm ang next classes namin. At sa 'Beato' pa kami! So noong nasa library pa kami, pa-chill chill pa kami. Pagtingin namin sa orasan, 12:50pm na! Tinakbo namin from the Library to Beato. Kahingal. Tinakbo namin in 5 mins (parang si Flash? hahahaha). So, ayun hingal na hingal kami. Nakarating naman kami sa 'Beato'. Eh, ang haba ng pila sa elevator. Stairs kami. So, exactly 12:57pm kami nakarating sa room namin. So ayun... Theology class na. Kaso may Bad News.....
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Absent Prof namin

____________________
If you want to share your own #ustanecdotes , kindly send an email to ustofficial@yahoo.com. Salamat, kapatid na tomasino.

Source: The UST Files

Robredo: Living Humbly For a Cause

UST High School student is finalist in the 2014 Ramon Magsaysay Youth Essay Competition

The Ramon Magsaysay Youth Essay Competition, launched in March 2014, is part of the Ramon Magsaysay Foundation’s effort of inspiring the youth with living Asian heroes of change and to encourage them to demonstrate the same kind of servant leadership manifested by President Ramon Magsaysay and the Magsaysay awardees. The theme of this year’s competition is “My Favorite Ramon Magsaysay Awardee: Servant Leadership Qualities that Inspire Me.

Among the more than 400 Filipinos aged 15 to 24 who participated in category A, Anthony Alexis Santos Laigo, senior student of UST High School emerged as one of the finalists in Category A of the essay writing competition.

Another RMYEC People’s Choice Award is ongoing through facebook. The essays of the finalists are uploaded with a photo-quote. The photo-quote with the most “likes” per category will win the People’s Choice Award. Voting is open to the public until August 20, 2014.

All Thomasians are requested to log in to (https://www.facebook.com/rmafoundation/photos/pb.119794208060798.-2207520000.1408349738./793306590709553/?type=1&theater) and vote for Anthony Alexis Laigo’s photo-quote for the late Jesse Robredo:

LET THIS BE A CHALLENGE NOT ONLY FOR ME BUT FOR ALL OF US: TO LEAD NOT FOR POWER OR GAIN, BUT FOR SELFLESSNESS AND PROGRESS; AND TO DIE NOT NOBLY FOR A CAUSE, BUT TO LIVE HUMBLY FOR ONE.

The full text can be read through http://www.rmaf.org.ph/rmyec/pca/213.pdf

The awarding ceremony for the said competition is set on Monday, September 1, 2014 at the Ramons Magsaysay Hall, G/F, Ramon Magsaysay Center, Roxas Boulevard, Manila.

 _______________________________________

RMYEC Category A Finalist 1 

Robredo: Living Humbly For a Cause
by: Anthony Alexis Santos Laigo 

“The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of a mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one.” Ramon Del Fierro Magsaysay, a revered man, lived true to these words, and his sudden death, though never met by today’s generation, was the living proof of this. Nevertheless, his greatest legacy, servant leadership, never dwindled; and through the annual Ramon Magsaysay awards, Monching’s legacy continues to be upheld by outstanding individuals who sought for good leadership and progress. Of all the recipients of this prestigious award, one man proved to be the modern legacy of Monching. His name is Jesse M. Robredo. 

I do not wish to retell the known biography of Jesse Robredo, but I only opt to share how he, my favorite Ramon Magsaysay awardee, became an inspiration for me to do my responsibility as a student and a servant to my country. These are some of the examples of his unending legacy: 

First, his nineteen years of service as Naga City’s mayor was an era of development and sophistication. Through servant leadership, he was able to transform Naga from dull to economically thriving and being one of the “Most Improved Cities in Asia.” His leadership, moved by dedication and sincerity, gave his people and even his country inspiration to strive for incorruptible service. He believed that service must come first so the followers trust that the leader only have in mind their interests – not fame, recognition, or personal gain. 

Second, his unending capacity and initiative to serve and his embracement of innovation and change steered his appointment as DILG secretary. Despite greater pressures from many politicians and greater challenges, Jesse Robredo never changed the way he rolls but only improves and modernizes his ways as generations change. Many of our citizens believe that our government is synonymous to the saying that if one in a basket of tomatoes rots, the others will rot as well. Robredo and many others, however, prove this belief to be wrong. He was able to serve his country with both honesty and ingenuity. These two are very important traits that lack in many of our officials today because despite serving with clean conscience, they lack the will and confidence to make the country both productive and progressive. Unfortunately, the focus of the government today is cleaning itself from corrupt officials while other social issues continue to rise. 

Lastly, he never let his public duties take him away from his family. In case most of us have forgotten, the family is the smallest yet most important unit in the society. Robredo was a great example of how work and family time should be balanced, and still giving greater importance to God and the family above anything else. From his election as mayor up to his appointment as member of the cabinet, he continued to invest greatly in his family just as he devoted himself in service to his country. 

Whether coincidence or not, Jesse Robredo, who suffered the same fate as Ramon Magsaysay 57 years ago, followed almost the same path as that of Magsaysay. Through dedication, transparency, and giving priority to his family, Jesse Robredo proves to be a great example of servant leadership and a legacy of Ramon Magsaysay’s honest and authentic governance. Let this be a challenge not only for me but for all of us: to lead not for power or gain, but for selflessness and progress; and to die not nobly for a cause, but to live humbly for one.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

UST High School Updates: Level II Accreditation | TOIEC | NAT

FAAP grants UST High School Level II Re-accredited Status

On May 12, 2014, the Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines (FAAP) granted Level II Re-accredited Status to the High School Program of the University of Santo Tomas after having satisfactorily met the standards and fulfilled all the requirements of the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU). The given accreditation status is valid effective May 2009 until May 2019

The certification was officially communicated to the UST High School on July 23, 2014.



UST High School Teachers are TOEIC-certified

In partnership with Hopkins International Partners Inc., the second group of UST High School composed of faculty members, guidance counselors, and some support staff, took their Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) on August 11, 2014. The said test focused on two parts, listening and reading, designed as an assessment of proficiency in English language in the context of a global workplace, where English is the means of communication among native and non-native speakers.

The first group of test-takers, composed of administrators, academic coordinators, and head teachers, took their TOEIC during the SY 2013-2014.

Based on the results, the UST High School teachers are now TOEIC-certified with varying degrees of proficiency, ranging from Basic Working Proficiency to Advanced Professional Proficiency.



UST High School maintains rank in the 2013-2014 National Achievement Test


Based on the official results issued by the Department of Education Manila Office on August 14, 2014, the UST High School maintained its rank, being first, in the 2013-2014 National Achievement Test, under Cluster 1 of the private schools in the Division of City Schools, Manila. Cluster 1 refers to schools with five hundred or more test takers.

The NAT was administered to the seniors and it was intended as system-based assessment specifically designed to gauge the learning outcomes across target levels in identified periods of basic education.

Based on the test result, the students had almost parallel mean scores in English, Filipino, Araling Panlipunan, and Science while Mathematics remain to be a learning area with a lower mean score, consistent with the national mean average. With the second year of implementation of the spiral progression approach in Mathematics under the K to 12 Program this SY 2014-2015, the High School Mathematics Department is positive in increasing students’ mathematics achievement. 

National Prayer for the Papal Visit 2015


Wednesday, August 13, 2014

USTHS Students Bag Awards in the 4th National Student Leadership Assembly and Talent Fair


USTHS Students Bag Awards in the 4th National Student Leadership Assembly and Talent Fair 
by Anthony Alexis Laigo

Selected students and teachers once again represented UST High School in the annual National Student Leadership Assembly and Talent Fair organized by the Association of Philippine Private School Administrators and Mentors (APPSAM) on July 21 to 23. For the fourth time since 2011, the assembly was held at Teachers’ Camp, Baguio City, with other delegates from schools throughout the state. 



            Lectures on leadership and various contests were the focus of the gathering. The three plenary sessions highlighted on the theme, “The Challenge of Filipino Youth Leadership: Learn, Serve, and Revitalize the Nation.” Meanwhile, the competitions showcased students’ talents both in the academic and performance categories. 

Chosen sophomores, juniors and seniors of USTHS dominated the scene after participating in their respective categories, landing on ranks and bagging awards. They all gave recognition not only to the school but also to the university.


             
On the first day of the assembly, the participating schools were presented and were enjoined in making their respective cheers. USTHS caught the attention of the audience by showcasing some of the university’s cheers. The different contests were also conducted on this day, and throughout the second day. The culmination of the event, and the presentation and awarding of winners were held on the third day, in which USTHS once again won the award for the biggest delegation, with 72 participants. 

            Aside from the fun-filled and engaging three-day assembly, students also interacted with other schools, gained new friends, and valued leadership, sportsmanship, and friendly competition. The gathering was altogether memorable for both the representatives and the teachers who joined and guided the students in Baguio—Ms. Leah Ann Sarmiento, Ms. Maria Zarah Vivas, Mrs. Charmei Cardinal, Mr. Ryan Lansangan, and Mr. Dominador Ulaye.


          
  In her message to all the delegates, APPSAM President Dr. Loureli Carreon Siy mentioned: “Your positive response to our invitation to join this assembly is a clear indicator of your desire to become responsible citizens and potential leaders in the community and the country.”


Following is the list of participants and winners:

·  Selected Students of St. Dominic and St. Dominica:        Sabayang Pagbigkas – Champion
·   Selected Grade 9 Students: Verse Choir – Champion
·   Pia Cañonero: Pagsulat ng Tula – Champion
·   Christine Joy Feliciano: Pagbigkas ng Tula – 1st Runner-up
·  Anthony Alexis Laigo: General Information Quiz Bee – 1st Runner-up
· Daryll Bien Concepcion: Mathematics Quiz Bee – 1st Runner-up
·   Raina Galut: Declamation – 1st Runner-up
·   Julienne Antonette David: Poetry Writing – 1st runner-up
·  Selected 4th Year and Grade 9 Students: Hip-Hop Dance – 2nd Runner-up
·   Philip Jamilla: Extemporaneous Speaking – 2nd Runner-up; Member – Best Debate Team
·   Noreena Kalaw: Interpretative Reading – 2nd Runner –up
·   Alexandra Mora: Essay Writing – 2nd Runner-up
·   USTHS Folk Dance Team – 3rd Runner-up
·   Kinkalle Santos: Mr. APPSAM Personality – 3rd Runner-up
[Best in Uniform, Best in Filipiniana]
·  Zennia Beatrice Francisco: Ms. APPSAM Personality – Top 10 Finalist
·   Kathleen Danielle Rebosa: Spelling Bee – Finalist
·   Tyrod Douglas Sabando: Science Quiz Bee – Top 6 Finalist
·   Jeremy Petilla: Essay Writing - Participant
·   Ivan Cenon Bernardo: Essay Writing – Participant
·   Karen Regina Calumpang: Poetry Writing – Participant
·   Dasha Day Hisoler: Poetry Writing - Participant
·   Clariza Cruz: Pagsulat ng Sanaysay – Participant
·   Athena Paloma Calimag: Pagsulat ng Sanaysay – Participant
·   Reycelle Garrido: Pagsulat ng Sanaysay – Participant
·  Fern Roshan Castro and John Marco Pronto: Vocal Duet – Participants
·   Sheena Abad: Vocal Solo – Participant
·  Lady Ciarah Magaoay: Madamdaming Pagbasa – Participant
·  Zola Gem Rodriguez: Poster Making – Participant
·  Roxanne Abestilla: Biglaang Talumpatian – Participant
·  Zia Chy: Documentation