The Varsitarian

Last updated
The Varsitarian masthead.svg
Varsi1108.jpg
Frontpage of December 2008 issue of The Varsitarian
Type Student Publication
Format Broadsheet
Owner(s) University of Santo Tomas
FoundedJanuary 16, 1928 (1928-01-16)
Headquarters University of Santo Tomas, España Boulevard, Manila
Circulation 25,000 copies per issue
Website www.varsitarian.net

The Varsitarian (Varsi, The V, or V) is the official student publication of the University of Santo Tomas (UST). Founded in January 1928 by a group of students led by Jose Villa Panganiban, it is one of the first student newspapers in the Philippines. It is published fortnightly. The lampoon issue is called The Vuisitarian. Tomas U. Santos, the mascot of The Varsitarian, is a Thomasian who represents the students of the campus. He is usually seen accompanied by a talking, and quite cynical, T-square.

Contents

Aside from publishing the school paper, The Varsitarian holds the Inkblots national campus journalism fellowship, hosts the Cinevita Film Festival, and organizes the Pautakan, the longest-running campus-based quiz contest in the Philippines. It also organizes Ustetika, the country's longest-running university-based literary competition, and the Creative Writing Workshop, which celebrated its 10th year in 2014.

The Varsitarian also publishes other editorial supplements such as Montage, Tomasino, Breaktime, Amihan, and Botomasino.

History

The first issue of the Varsitarian came off the press on January 16, 1928, with Pablo Anido as the first editor in chief. However, the title of the "father of the Varsitarian" is given to Jose Villa Panganiban, who managed the day-to-day operations of the school paper. The other founders included Elizabeth C. Bowers and Olimpia Baltazar, a granddaughter of poet Francisco Baltazar. The paper cost 10 centavos, and was bought by 426 people out of a possible 2,000 students. [1]

The Varsitarian co-founded the College Editors Guild of the Philippines on July 25, 1931, along with The GUIDON of the Ateneo de Manila, The Philippine Collegian of the University of the Philippines Diliman and The National of National University (Philippines). [2]

Previously limited on publishing articles on university issues, the Varsitarian started reporting on national issues as well during the 1960s and 1970s. [1]

Through the years, the pages of The Varsitarian would be graced by the likes of: Teodoro Valencia, Joe Guevarra, Felix Bautista, Jose Bautista, Joe Burgos, Antonio Siddayao, Jess Sison, Jullie Yap-Daza, Antonio Lopez, Rina Jimenez-David, Neal Cruz, A. O. Flores, Jake Macasaet, Fred Marquez, Mario Hernando, Alfredo Saulo, Alice Colet Villadolid, and Eugenia Duran-Apostol. The titans of Philippine literature learned writing in "the Varsitarian": Bienvenido Lumbera, F. Sionil José, Celso Al Carunungan, Ophelia Alcantara-Dimalanta, Paz Latorena, Cirilo Bautista, Federico Licsi Espino, Wilfrido Nolledo, Rogelio Sicat, Cristina Pantoja-Hidalgo, Norma Miraflor, Eric Gamalinda and Vim Nadera.

In March 2001, a Varsitarian article with information obtained from whistleblower Mark Welson Chua was published, detailing alleged corruption in the university's ROTC corps. While this led to the sacking of the commandant and his staff, Chua started receiving death threats. Chua's corpse was later found in the Pasig River, with the autopsy showing that he was still alive when he was dumped into the murky waters. This led Congress to legislate that all ROTC courses be made optional. [3]

The Cultural Center of the Philippines' Encyclopedia for the Arts has an entry for The Varsitarian, the only school paper in the country to be listed. [4]

Amid the national debate on the merits of the Reproductive Health bill, the Varsitarian published in September 2012 an editorial condemning the proposed law, and calling the professors from Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University who were in favor of the measure as " intellectual pretenders and interlopers." The editorial went viral and elicited various reactions among social media users. [5] With feedback and reactions to the article turning out to be mostly negative, the paper's adviser issued an apology but added that such words were needed to deliver the message with emphasis. [6] The university disowned the portion of the editorial that called the pro-RH bill professors "intellectual pretenders and interlopers," saying that while it supports the paper's opposition to the bill, that portion of the editorial "does not bear the university's imprimatur," as the paper is accorded editorial independence. [7]

Extra-editorial activities

The Varsitarian's masthead on its 80th anniversary. Varsi.jpg
The Varsitarian's masthead on its 80th anniversary.

Inkblots

The Varsitarian hosts the annual Inkblots, a journalism workshop catered to campus journalism. The first Inkblots was held in 1999. In its 2011 edition, lecturers included musician and journalist Lourd de Veyra, Philippine Star columnist Quinito Henson, Manila Bulletin columnist Vim Nadera, GMA TV news reporter Cesar Apolinario, and GMANews.tv cartoonist Manix Abrera. [8] In 2009, its lecturers were Apolinario, Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist Conrado de Quiros, Tempo entertainment editor Nestor Cuartero, and University of the Philippines vice president for public affairs Cristina Pantoja-Hidalgo, among others. [9]

Cinevita

Starting from 2007, the paper hosts the Cinevita Film Festival, its annual film program. Its 2011 lineup included films Peñafrancia: Ikaw ang Pagibig by Marilou Diaz-Abaya and produced by the Dominican Order chronicling the life of Saint Dominic, Gil Portes's Two Funerals, Milo Tolentino's Andong, Blogog, Orasyon, P, Demographic Winter , the winner of the UST Quadricentennial short film contest The 13th Day: The Story of Fatima, and The Rite . [10]

Pautakan

The Varsitarian organizes the Philippines' longest-running campus-based quiz contest called Pautakan. Almost all of the universities' constituent colleges and faculties participate in the event. The hosts for the 2011 event were former UAAP court side reporter Claude Despabiladeras, actor Dino Imperial and radio personality Andi Manzano. [11]

Ustetika

Ustetika is the country's longest-running university-based literary competition, founded by Vim Nadera in 1986. It bestows UST's highest literary award for students, the Rector's Literary Award. In 1997, the 1st Parangal Hagbong was introduced during the 13th Ustetika Awards to pay tribute to two great Thomasian writers, Rolando Tinio and Rogelio Sicat.

Creative Writing Workshop

The Creative Writing Workshop, formerly the Fiction Workshop, started some time in 2004 and recently celebrated its 10th year in 2014. Its name was officially changed in its 9th year in 2013. It is an exclusive workshop facilitated by premier poets and fictionists for 12 to 16 Thomasians. Some of the panelists who graced the workshop include Mookie Katigbak-Lacuesta, Carlomar Daoana, Jun Cruz Reyes, Eros Atalia, Joselito Delos Reyes, Rebecca Añonuevo, and Vim Nadera. [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Santo Tomas</span> Private pontifical university in Manila, Philippines

The University of Santo Tomas is a private, Catholic research university in Manila, Philippines. Founded on April 28, 1611, by Spanish friar Miguel de Benavides, third Archbishop of Manila, it has the oldest extant university charter in Asia, and is one of the world's largest Catholic universities in terms of enrollment found on one campus. It is the main campus of the University of Santo Tomas System that is run by the Order of Preachers.

The Spectrum is one of the oldest student publications in the Philippines; its history dates back to 1956. Its bimonthly newspaper, magazine, and annual literary folio Scribe are published by the students of the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod.

The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Overall Championship is awarded to the school with the highest point total in the different UAAP events. It was first awarded in UAAP Season 10. Member universities currently compete in fifteen sports to vie for the overall championship, namely, badminton, baseball, basketball, beach volleyball, chess, fencing, football, judo, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, track and field, and volleyball.

The Lasallian Schools Press Conference is an annual event that convenes all student journalists from the member institutions of De La Salle Philippines for seminars and workshops on journalism with speakers from the Philippine media industry.

Louie Jon Agustin Sanchez, a poet, fiction writer, critic, and journalist, hails from Flora, Apayao, Philippines. He lives in Novaliches, Caloocan, in Metro Manila.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Arts and Letters</span> Liberal arts school of the University of Santo Tomas

The University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Arts and Letters, popularly known as "UST Artlets" or "UST AB", is the liberal arts school of the University of Santo Tomas, the oldest and the largest Catholic university in Manila, Philippines.

<i>The Guidon</i> Philippine student newspaper

The Guidon is the official student newspaper of the Ateneo de Manila University. Published monthly between August and March, The Guidon is a member of the Ateneo's Confederation of Publications and is one of the founding members of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines, along with The Varsitarian of the University of Santo Tomas, The Philippine Collegian of the University of the Philippines Diliman, and The National of National University (Philippines). As of 2022, The Guidon is in its 93rd year, with its editor-in-chief being Marina T. Mata, its associate editor being Joachim Miguel S. Melo, its managing editor being Enrique Benjamin B. Halili, and its design executive editor being Alissa Mae Evangelista.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Traditions of the University of Santo Tomas</span> Traditions of the university

The University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines marks a variety of traditions largely influenced by the Spanish and Filipino Dominican culture. Many are annual events, such as religious assemblies marking the start and end of the academic year, a "welcome walk" for new students, as well as intercollege sport competitions and talent exhibitions. Christmas is celebrated in a month-long festivities culminated by the UST Paskuhan. Many Roman Catholic feast days are also celebrated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the University of Santo Tomas</span> Aspect of history surrounding the University of Santo Tomas

The University of Santo Tomas is one of the oldest existing universities and holds the oldest extant university charter in the Philippines and in Asia. It was founded on April 28, 1611, by the third Archbishop of Manila, Miguel de Benavides, together with Frs. Domingo de Nieva and Bernardo de Santa Catalina. It was originally conceived as a school to prepare young men for the priesthood. Located Intramuros, it was first called Colegio de Nuestra Señora del Santísimo Rosario and later renamed Colegio de Santo Tomás in memory of Dominican theologian Saint Thomas Aquinas. In 1624, the Colegio was authorized to confer academic degrees in theology, philosophy and arts. On November 20, 1645 Pope Innocent X elevated the college to the rank of a university and in 1680 it was placed under royal patronage.

The Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas celebrated its 400th anniversary in 2011. The agenda before the quadricentennial in 2011 included the introduction of new academic programs, improvements in the university's infrastructure, and other projects to raise UST's national and international prominence and promote its role as a social catalyst.

This is a timeline of the history of the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, the oldest university in Asia, comprising important events of the history of the university and of the development of Philippine higher education in general. To read about the background to these events, see History of the University of Santo Tomas. See also the history of the Rector Magnificus of the University of Santo Tomas, and the Santo Tomas Internment Camp

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UST Paskuhan</span> Culmination of Christmas activities

The Paskuhan is the culmination of the university wide Christmas activities of the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines. The annual tradition started in 1991. The programs of Paskuhan were held during the last week or last day before the Christmas break of the university. In 2014, however, because of the change in the academic calendar of the university, it was scheduled in the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, 2014. It was later rescheduled to December 11, 2014, because of Typhoon Ruby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faye Martel</span>

Faye Martel Abugan is a Filipino entertainment executive, producer, director, actress, professor, and educational administrator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UP–UST rivalry</span> Rivalry between the two teams

The UP–UST rivalry is a team rivalry between the athletic teams of the University of the Philippines (UP) and the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nilo Divina</span>

Nilo Divina is a Filipino lawyer, professor, author, and educational administrator. He is the founding and managing partner of Divina Law, a law firm in the Philippines based in Makati. He is a former President of the Philippine Association of Law Schools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evelyn Songco</span>

Evelyn Ariola-Songco is a Filipino historian, professor, and educational administrator. She has been among the longest-serving deans of students in the Philippines as she held a rector's cabinet position in the University of Santo Tomas for more than two decades. She was a former president of Philippine Historical Association and the Philippine Association of Administrators of Student Affairs. She is the current President of the UST Alumni Association, Inc.

The University of Santo Tomas is a private Catholic research university in Manila, Philippines. Founded in 1611 by the Order of Preachers, it is the oldest university in the Philippines and Asia. The university gives numerous awards, honors, prizes, and recognitions to its people and the general public who have substantial accomplishments or have exemplified the ideals of UST.

The Thomasian Welcome Walk (TWW) is an annual event of the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines. Freshmen walk through the Arch of the Centuries, a monument that served as the original doorway to the first campus of the university in Intramuros.

References

  1. 1 2 Ma. Guerrero, Amadis (2007-02-12). "Saga of the campus press". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Archived from the original on 2013-07-31. Retrieved 2012-11-21.
  2. ↑ "History". College Editors Guild of the Philippines. n.d. Retrieved 2012-11-21.
  3. ↑ Pangalangan, Raul (2010-08-05). "Mandatory ROTC? Remember Mark Chua". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Archived from the original on 2013-07-31. Retrieved 2012-11-21.
  4. ↑ "Campus press history exhibit at UST Museum". Philippine Daily Inquirer . 2007-01-29. Retrieved 2012-11-21.
  5. ↑ Sauler, Erika (2012-10-09). "UST student paper calls Ateneo, La Salle lemons and cowards". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved 2012-11-21.
  6. ↑ Lapeña, Carnela (2012-10-09). "UST publications adviser apologizes for 'Varsitarian' editorial". GMA News Online. Retrieved 2012-11-21.
  7. ↑ "UST disowns Varsitarian's stance vs 'lemons, cowards'". Rappler . 2012-10-13. Retrieved 2012-11-21.
  8. ↑ "Varsitarian holds campus journalism fellowship". Manila Bulletin . 2011-10-11. Retrieved 2012-11-21.
  9. ↑ "UST's Varsitarian to hold 'Inkblots 2009'". ABS-CBNnews.com. 2009-10-06. Retrieved 2012-11-21.
  10. ↑ "UST Varsitarian holds CineVita 2011". Philippine Daily Inquirer . 2011-03-13. Archived from the original on 2013-07-31. Retrieved 2012-11-21.
  11. ↑ "Sanlo @18 enshrines statue of San Lorenzo". Manila Bulletin . 2011-02-28. Retrieved 2012-11-21.
  12. ↑ "10th Creative Writing Workshop: 'Go back to the basics'". The Varsitarian. The Varsitarian. Sep 15, 2014. Retrieved Nov 26, 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.