UAAP Season 75: UAAP Volleyball Schedule

It's volleyball season again in the UAAP and I know most of you are excited just like me to see the ball rolling and players diving in and out of the court. Last season was phenomenal [mostly for the Women's Tournament] as DLSU Lady Spikers swept the elimination and took their 2nd consecutive title and while FEU Tamaraws stopped the building tradition of being a bridesmaid, in effect, put an end to the 4th consecutive CHAMPION titles of UST Tigers Spikers. 

Many rookies will arise and veteran players will play their hearts out. Who will prevail in this year's season? Ten days TO GO!!! For the Men's Division, FEU and DLSU might be the strongest team with UST's key players already graduated. As it is not fully televised [only the Semi and Finals] we cannot know for sure. In the Women's League, DLSU and ADMU are the most anticipated teams [they also the final contenders last season] but not to take away anything from UST Tigresses who also came strong last year despite their losses and injuries. 

Opening day on December 1, 2012 at SM Mall of Asia, THE ARENA. Games will start at 9:00AM for Men's and 2:00PM for Women's. The Women's Volleyball Tournament will be simultaneously aired in ABS-CBN Sports Channel - Studio 23. 

FROM THE LEMONS AND COWARDS

Since the post of the EDITORIAL-OPINION section of The Varsitarian - RH bill, Ateneo, and La Salle: Of lemons and cowards, emotional reaction and comments from everywhere - particularly from ADMU, DLSU, and UST - yes, even from the university itself, filled the comment box of every social media, news portal, and every online medium thereof. 

The controversial editorial from the UST's official student publication, THE VARSITARIAN has been responded well and wisely by THE GUIDON, ADMU official student paper and ANG PAHAYAGANG PLARIDEL & THE LASALLIAN, DLSU official Filipino and English [respectively] student publication. 

Many of the netizens praised the two articles as it pointed out not the slander and defamatory remarks of the Varsitarian but the responsibility of the media, individual and sectors of society on intelligent and informative writing. 

Full articles may be found on the links below:

THE GUIDON: http://www.theguidon.com/1112/main/2012/10/our-duties-as-student-journalists/

THE PLARIDEL: http://plaridel.ph/?p=257

THE LASALLIAN: http://thelasallian.com/2012/10/09/with-all-due-respect/

I have to completely agree with these editorials because despite our freedom for speech and express our opinions, we also have responsibility to others, to our community, and to ourselves. We couldn't pick one and take away another. While we can say that Varsitarian only exercised their rights to state their opinions, they have failed to do it responsibly. 

Freedom of speech and opinion is not absolute. Freedom always comes with great responsibility. And every rights have its own boundaries. The editorial section of the Varsitarian is clearly a one sided argument steered away from the main topic by throwing defamatory remarks to the other two universities without stating objective opinions. Rather than informative, it is an unintelligent opinion that tarnished the well-respected publication due to lack of sensitivity and objective. 

For a publication that represent a community of well-educated students and a well-dignified institution, a responsible writing should be in place. It is okay to affirm their stand on the issue but never its been good to defame others just to make you look great, that the Varsitarian did unfortunately. This is why libel/defamation has been introduced in our laws because freedom is not limitless and you cannot always put in defense that 'Hey, I have the freedom to say anything and everything as I am only exercising my right". We are not infants anymore to even put that into thinking. 

On the other hand, UST washed their hands on the controversy made by THE VARSITARIAN but reiterate that " "While it is one with the Varsitarian in this light, the University does not impose its will nor exercise prior restraint on the opinions of the school paper's writers nor the manner by which they are expressed."

UST VARSITARIAN: In the light of Catholicism and public

Varsitarian just made their way in the limelight, way out of the UST perimeters - sadly, it is on the negative note.

The official publication of the University of Sto. Tomas published a editorial write-up with an implied unified view on the ongoing and popular debate bill - the Reproductive Health Bill. However, on the sad note, the editorial doesn't justify anything. 

Read full article here:
http://varsitarian.net/editorial_opinion/editorial/20120930/rh_bill_ateneo_and_la_salle_of_lemons_and_cowards

On my perspective, the editorial doesn't reflect the opinion of the UST community at all but only depicts the view of the unknown writer; proven by the angry and/or irritated feedback of the UST students, alumni, and other members of the Catholic University.

We always respect views of others as we have freedom to do so....but as the write-up said, it is not ABSOLUTE. UST have their own right to choose their stand over the hot topic -RH Bill. It is okay to clearly state the stand - if this is the unified perception of the university of the school and proclaim your high ground on being a "PONTIFICAL INSTITUTION" but wrongful to insult and not clearly state the facts among other Catholic schools - mostly for ADMU and DLSU. 

The Varsitarian Editorial just bragged about the university and trying to put it on top while doing damage to other two - that's all. A narcissist who just want to won the argument at the expense of other. The published opinion is nonetheless but a bias write-up which doesn't show the true light of the pros and cons of both the school and the bill - which by the way, a good journalist should do. CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY. From the word itself, UST, together with DLSU and ADMU are both a Catholic and an educational institution that adheres to educational excellence and enlightenment of its students, faculty, and other members with the light of Catholic teachings. With regards to Varsitarian opinion, you only favored Catholic teachings without regards to high education. If that is the case, then, you should not be an institution for knowledge but better be a center of Catholicism which shapes a person according to HIS teachings. Likewise, if the Catholic stand of both school should be reviewed, University of Sto. Tomas educational competence to mold its students intelligence without any hindrances and hone their given talents without any bias should be put in question.