Little Voice to Musical Hum

by Charlene Cunanan

In July of 2007, a Little Voice humming a Love Song was tuned to create a musical fusion.

It takes melody—whether slow or upbeat, genre—whether pop or rock, and especially lyrics—whether mushy or bitter, to make a song “Last Song Syndromic”. But in this age of music, that humming little voice is started to be heard.

Multi-talented singer-songwriter-pianist Sara Bareilles, offers a new and phenomenal sound that will surely answer this generation’s hearing pleasure with a string of beats and harmony and melody and power of her own musical spirit. 
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Name That Street!

by: Candice Tijam and Karchelle Francisco

Main building? Carpark? Quadricentennial Park? Who doesn’t know these landmarks inside UST? 

Yes, Thomasians have probably already familiarized themselves with the 15 statues on top of the grayish building somewhere in the middle of the campus or which among Benavides’ fingers is pointing to the sky. But who knows about Araullo drive? What about Osmeña drive?

 Would you believe that there are over ten street signs inside the campus? If you are a keen observant, you will notice that posts of these are everywhere.

• Ruaño Drive –which is near the entrance gate along A.H. Lacson Avenue, leads you to the streets along the Roque Ruaño building which houses the Engineering Faculty and Albertus Magnus building which houses the Education College.

• Araullo Drive – is occupied by the Engineering complex and the small field beside it.

• L. Ma. Guerrero Drive –is where the UST Hospital stands parallel to the Carpark and UST “Mall” all the way to the Antonio M. Velayo (AMV) building.

• Quezon Drive –directs you from España gate to the Dapitan gate wherein the Catwalk, UST Health Service, Tenoco Park and the St. Raymund’s building that shelters the Faculty of Arts and Letters and the College of Commerce, are positioned.

• L. Guerrero Drive and Singian Drive –points you to the Medicine building and the back entrance of the Pharmacy section of the UST Hospital.

• Albert Drive –displays the Tan Yan Kee Student Center, and Miguel de Benavides Library

• Villamor Drive –where the TARC building is located and the narrow passage leading to the Buildings and Ground

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Featurize Me: Nestor Cuartero

 by: Chienalee Garcia

Journalism juniors now have a reason to look forward to every Monday afternoon: their Feature Writing class taught by prominent writer, Nestor Cuartero.

A graduate of the University of Santo Tomas with a degree in Journalism, Cuartero also works for the Panorama Magazine. From his funny expressions to his helpful writing tips in class, Sir Cuartero is hard to miss. His valuable lessons prove to be of much help to his students especially now that they are struggling with schoolwork.

As a Journalism major, Cuartero was also a writer for The Varsitarian, which was weekly paper during his time. He says that presswork spelled fun time because despite the strict deadlines and stern editors, he enjoyed his work at the University’s student publication.

“I started out as a reporter when I was in first year, then became the Circle Editor when I was in third year, then eventually rose to being the Managing Editor come senior year,” he shares. “It was fun because my work at the Varsi complimented my schoolwork as well.”

Asked if he has noticed any similarities or differences between the Journalism majors he now teaches and his fellow students back in his time, Cuartero says that student journalists during his time were much more vigorous in writing. “Students nowadays lack that kind of vigor in writing. Although you seem to enjoy and benefit a lot more from these gadgets nowadays, writers of today exhibit less dynamism in their articles.”

Beautifully Haunting

by: Angelique Parungao

 Sophomore jinx doesn’t seem to haunt Christopher Nolan as his second take on the Batman series catapulted on the top of the box- office on the day of its release, making a new world record. Too much hype did not dishearten Batman fans and spectators alike when The Dark Knight, the most haunting of all the series was shown.

In this installment, we see Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale), the playboy billionaire by day and a caped crusader by night in the middle of making decision on whether or not to quit his responsibilities as Gotham city’s crime fighter. Adding the resurgence of his arch- enemy Joker (played by the late Heath Ledger) and the emergence of the “White Knight,” Harvey Dent a.k.a. Two Faced (Aaron Eckhart). With few twists and turns, including an end to Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and Wayne’s relationship, mobsters in Hong Kong, and the city’s failed destruction, we know that Batman won’t be retiring anytime soon. As typical as your usual super hero torn in between normal life and his duties, what actually makes The Dark Knight different from them is that it has the ability to make you sit on the edge of your seat, for several reasons.
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Clothed Meatballs

by: Monica Palad

Did you know that in China, Siomai or dumpling has different kinds?

In China, Siomai is served with the Chinese set of dimsums usually with a tea, but in the Philippines, Siomai takes a solo distinction with its typical sauce:  Chili flakes, soy sauce and juice of calamansi.

Fried, steamed, and served with rice are some of the ways to serve a Siomai in the Philippines. It is quite familiar in the Philippines that it became a part of the Pinoy street foods. One can order Siomai in different stuffing but the traditional base is always pork. Chicken, shrimp, and beef are introduced in the Philippines as one of the alternatives for the Siomai stuffing.

Cooked in aluminum or bamboo steamer, Siomai is popular among students and people on-the-go because it is easy to be consumed.

BrainYou looked for the most popular siomai stalls surrounding Manila’s largest university, the University of Santo Tomas.

Lopez Siomai

P.Noval street 

As prepared in the Lopez Cuisine, its standard filling is only seasoned ground pork wrapped in a thin yellow sheet of Dimsum wrapper. Displayed in a metal steamer, this siomai has a taste similar to traditional chinese dimsums. It is very meaty and juicy in taste, your money is worth the price.

Price: P30.00 for 6 pieces

Chambayan Siomai

P. Noval and Dapitan Street

The Siomai that tastes like a hotdog. Its standard filling is a mixture of ingredients, consisting primarily of seasoned finely grinded pork and small bits of carrots. Chambayan mixes vegetable meat and lard to the siomai mixture as to achieve the “hotdog” taste. The siomai wrapper comes in the traditional dimsum wrapper but also has a taste similar to pork skin when eaten alone. It is larger in size than the other siomai stalls around the university. It’s quick claim to fame? Chambayan has 12 siomai stalls positioned in the most populous areas around the university belt.

Price: P20.00 for 5 pieces
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Church held rally against artificial birth control

by: Dharel Placido

Firm in its decision to denounce the passing of the bill that will legalize abortion, prescribe artificial birth control methods, and promote sex education among children, the church held “Rally for Life” at the University of Santo Tomas last July 25. The event was also in celebration of the 40^th year of Pope Paul VI’s encyclical Humanae Vitae which was released at the onset of the proliferation of contraceptions during the 60’s.

Present in the event were Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President Archbishop Angel Lagdameo and Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales along with priests and religious from different dioceses and archdioceses and students from catholic schools all over the country.

The event was held at the height of the issue concerning the Consolidated Reproductive Health Bill whose principal author was Representative Edcel Lagman of Albay along with 40 other representatives. The church believes that the bill will create the “dream machine for the culture of death.
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