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Written By Carl Tristan Gile Photos Courtesy of Fr. Dexter Austria The University of Santo Tomas (UST) institutes another step on widening the reach of Thomasian Education through the Dr. Tony Tan Caktiong Innovation Center which will be built at the UST Sta. Rosa, Laguna campus. The Innovation Center is a three-storey structure named after the UST Chemical Engineering alumnus and founder of the fast-food chain Jollibee, Dr. Tony Tan Caktiong. This structure will be a home for new inventions and discoveries of the said campus’ future Thomasians. Its groundbreaking ceremony was conducted by the UST administration last December 21, 2020. In a message from Dr. Caktiong, he said that innovation plays a critical role in economic growth - ought to be “smart, inclusive, and sustainable.” For him, the innovation center recognizes these. Vice-Rector Fr. Isaias D. Tiongco, O.P., JCD said in his opening remarks during the groundbreaking ceremony that the center will help the university to face the challenges from the “changing tides in education.” He also highlighted that the university should go beyond the parameters to level, if not more advanced, with the new models. The Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation Academician Maribel G. Nonato, PhD also said in her remarks in the ceremony that this is to bring research back to society. She believes that this will be a good step for the UST Sta. Rosa to be an “innovation-driven campus” – as its outputs can greatly contribute for the benefit of the society. The Casas+ Architects designed the structure that paid homage to UST’s timelessness. The building’s features will be adaptable and sustainable using state-of-the-art technology and materials. It is expected to be operational by the year 2022. A smaller version of the said innovation center was built in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) last 2019 – called the DOST-TomasINNO, a Technology Business Incubator (TBI).

Opinion by EEA Cartoon by Kore Almost a hundred million cases later, several drugmakers around the world buoyed hopes for an end to the pandemic as COVID-19 vaccines are now within reach. Several months after the first case was identified, a handful of vaccines are now authorized, while some remain in early development and phase trials. Developed countries like the United States, Canada, and Europe have already started rolling out vaccines. However, in the setting of developing countries like the Philippines, getting vaccines into the hands of people is a different story. As early as April 2020, President Rodrigo Duterte repeatedly touted the need for vaccines to put an end to this health crisis, turning a blind eye to the other factors that could possibly save the country from being left behind. Unfortunately, relying on vaccines has immensely cost the country as there are other factors that were overlooked to end this suffering. Realistically, vaccine development is broken into several stages with a highly variable timeline. According to Dr. Seema Yasmin, director of Stanford Health Communication Initiative, the fastest vaccine development took four years, while the rest typically takes 10 to 15 years. However, due to the rising demand and urgency, the development of COVID-19 vaccines has been considered a game changer by experts. The vast amount spent by developed countries made its fast development possible. Additionally, drugmakers have completely changed the game by ditching the time-consuming traditional approach as most of the manufacturers such as AstraZeneca and Pfizer use mRNA vaccine platform technology, which according to Imperial College London, has been in development for over two decades. Nonetheless, aside from the stages that a vaccine has to go through, the real lag in this race is the gap between developing and developed countries. Vaccines acquired by countries around the world vary, depending on the speed of approvals, the deals the governments have made to buy supplies, and how much the vaccines cost. These structural inequalities among countries resulted in unequal allocations of vaccines thus, causing delays in developing countries like the Philippines. According to Dr. Andrea Taylor of Duke Global Health Innovation Center, developed countries have invested a huge amount of public money to develop vaccines which allowed its game-changing speed of development. With this, they were able to clear the shelves, making middle to low-income countries wait until the restock in late 2021 or 2022. Although Southeast Asian countries are expected to struggle with procuring vaccines, the Philippines’ neighboring countries were able to secure enough doses and some even have already started vaccinating. Unfortunately, the case is not the same for us. Looking back, Duterte has repeatedly promised the public of inoculating the entire population for free. However, recent reports show that the country is struggling to secure doses of the promised vaccines until December 2020. In reports shown by Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, it can be seen that it took the government four to five months to sign a confidentiality data agreement (CDA) with Pfizer which could have given the country ten million doses of vaccines by this month. Despite the allegations of “dropping the ball”, vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. reiterated that signing the papers does not really guarantee such. He also added that there was never a “ball” and that their main goal is to acquire safe and effective vaccines for all Filipinos regardless of brand or country of origin. Furthermore, contributing to the disadvantage of being a developing country, Duterte was also not proactive about reserving vaccines from Western manufacturers, whom he called “profiteers”. Even though Pfizer’s vaccine has shown 95% efficacy, he still preferred China’s Sinovac, which according to the results of late-stage trials in Brazil, has shown only 50.38% efficacy. Despite its low efficacy, the Philippines has secured 25 million doses of China’s controversial Sinovac which are expected to arrive by February. The government is said to prioritize 50,000 frontline health workers in high-risk areas such as Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Cebu City, and Davao City. A deal with Serum Institute of India was also recently signed for 30 million doses of the Covovax COVID-19 vaccine, which will be available by the third quarter of this year. In addition, 30 million doses of AstraZeneca’s vaccine and 25 million doses of Sputnik V from Russia are set to be acquired as well. According to Galvez, a term sheet between the country and Pfizer may be signed by next week. He also added that the country is on the verge of securing 80 million doses from Western developers such as Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. Although it is fair to say that the country has been facing corruption and has been suffering from a poor healthcare system for decades, it is still hard to understate how the current administration mishandles the situation. And while it is true that developing countries like the Philippines are hindered by structural inequalities in global access to vaccines, it cannot be denied that the administration’s poor decision making has compounded the problem. What seems to be the cause of delay is deeply rooted in the leaders that are supposed to handle the crisis to benefit the people and not prolong it. Asleep at the wheel, lack of proactiveness, poor management, and over-relying on vaccines developed by other countries only extended the crisis which has greatly affected the country’s economy. After all, the solution to this pandemic goes beyond vaccination. Millions of cases later, a safe and effective vaccine is one crucial answer, but there is more to it. Beyond vaccine development, this pandemic has unraveled the underlying issues that the country needs to focus on⏤investments in healthcare systems, research and development, education, and most importantly, good governance. Without a doubt, the continuous race for COVID-19 vaccines gives us hope of possibly putting an end to this crisis. However, if poor governance remains and chronic mismanagement continues, then hoping to return to a semblance of normalcy might still be out of reach and will remain as hopes for a long while.

Written by Allen Atienza Visuals by Jayvee Fulgencio Short Message Service (SMS) messages are supposedly one of the most old of the common ways of communication. It is a text message limited to 160 characters. Even though the advancement of technologies seem to undermine the minimalistic design of the SMS, it never seemed to phase out in the Philippines. Why? What made it so important that it becomes a key component of Filipino history? The answer to both these questions are safety and culture. The accessibility of SMS messages requires only a cellular signal and a cellphone with batteries and mobile load, as opposed to WiFi-based internet broadbands which require electricity to connect to a modem or router. Although there is an exception of mobile data (internet that uses load on SIM cards), there are moments that a wide enough power outage can disable nearby cellular towers. This handicaps mobile data since it is forced to try to get data from farther cellular towers (thus decreasing reception). However, SMS messages do not need a lot of reception in order to send one message. According to Bryce Norwood, a Board Administrator of Now.sms, as long as the characters used in the text messages are included in the standards of Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), SMS use only up to 140 bytes worth of data (maximum). What this means is that it does not need that much data to send one message. Compared to other messaging mediums such as Facebook Messenger, Viber, Skype, etc. SMS messages were one of the systems that we could actually rely on during disasters. Due to the Republic Act No. 10639, or the Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Act, we get alerts from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) through text messages. This requires the NDRRMC and telecommunications companies such as Globe and Smart to send free mobile text alerts before disasters happen. NDRRMC alerts sent through our phones were one of the most significant factors that helped us during recent typhoons such as Rolly and Ulysses. Although there are systems in place such as the Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Act, damage and loss are still to be expected. Information on possible dangers does not give us complete immunity or even evasion to the disaster itself. We can expect a storm to come, but it does not make us invincible. This is where response and recovery comes in. Both of these are crucial processes in the aftermath of a disaster or even an emergency. In modern times, we are familiar with “donation drives” whereas they are a collection of clothes, relief goods, money, etc. sent to those who need it most during the disaster. As such, we create systems in order to keep track and organize donations. Normally, donation drives were completely hands-on, but the recent lockdowns have limited volunteer based work (such as physical labour/services). Fortunately, SMS messaging is a system that we could rely on not only on rescue response but also on disaster recovery. We were able to organize the donation drives and create groups that were focused on helping our more unfortunate countrymen. University of Santo Tomas (UST) Engineering organizations, such as the Engineering Student Council (ESC), was able to create donation drives by sending a text brigade, a wave of text messages sent to students whose towns and cities were heavily affected. By sorting out and responding to the response and feedback of the text messages, UST-ESC was able to successfully execute their donation drives. As much as we use it mostly for urgency,, SMS, as its core, has already become a part of our lives. It has made its way to Filipino culture and our daily lives. We could spend a peso at most for sending one message, or even 30 pesos for unlimited texts for five days. Truly, it is a “sulit tipid” way to connect to our friends and loved ones. SMS messaging is a service that is heavily utilized during emergencies. Filipinos use it as a source of casual communication, we cannot deny its reliability in disaster preparation, response, and recovery. Will it ever phase out? It doesn’t seem possible in the near, or even far future. References: Ellsworth, J. (2020, April 30). Why Text Message Alerts Are More Important Than Ever (And Not Just for Millennials). Retrieved December 12, 2020, from https://blastpoint.co/blog/why-text-message-alerts-are-more-important-than-ever-and-not-just-for-millennials/ Tomacruz, S. (2018, July 24). How NDRRMC issues its emergency mobile warnings. Retrieved December 12, 2020, from https://www.rappler.com/moveph/how-ndrrmc-issues-emergency-warnings-mobile-alerts What is the actual size for a sms? (2012, October). Retrieved January 23, 2021, from https://support.nowsms.com/discus/messages/1/5249.html

Written by Jhoana Ezekielle Fidel Visuals by Jayvee Fulgencio December 09, 2020 - Faculty of Engineering Dean Philipina A. Marcelo, Ph. D. was elected as Public Relations Officer of the Philippine Association of Engineering Schools, Inc. (PAES) Board of Directors in a virtual 2020 General Membership Meeting (GMM) held last December 4, 2020. Tied in the top spot were the University of Santo Tomas and Mapua University after receiving most of the votes from official representatives and school members. Ever since her first term as faculty dean in November 2012, Prof. Marcelo served in the PAES BOD. She also served as its president from October 2016 to October 2018. Dean Marcelo will be serving as the Public Relations Officer of PAES this year. The GMM was held together with the 2020 International Conference on Engineering Education – Philippines (ICEE-Phil 2020).

Written by Lance Kasel Lasam Visuals by John Patrick Villa Are you working with a tidy desk or a messy one? Many prefer a messy workplace when working on projects. Others though stick to, and also advise everyone else, to have an organized place to finish their assessments. Or maybe, your desk is somewhere in between, like the main table is clean, but the surrounding shelves are disorganized. What are the benefits that come from having a neat study table? Can something good come up out of the chaos in front of you whenever you work? Is it okay to prefer one over the other? PRIM AND PROPER A clean desk is kind of like the standard of a workspace. It looks nice and inviting, and you often feel refreshed and clear to work. Clutter is the one thing you should avoid. Solution papers, pens, and textbooks are placed in specific locations. Your gadget is positioned right in front of you, leaving a nice open space for you to do your work. A neat workplace leads to less stress since you won’t have to deal with the mess within your area. It can also have a positive influence on your psyche - a clean desk represents a clean spirit. PRIM AND DULL The main problem to a tidy desk, however, is that it does not really permit the development of new ideas for projects. Sometimes, while rummaging through stacks of papers hidden on your shelf, you find a hidden piece that you need to complete something. These moments do not really happen when everything is in its place. Yes, a clean table is nice to look at, but it also lacks life and individuality. Sometimes, the best ideas come from dealing with the clutter. Even hunting for a pen or notebook can lead to a “eureka” moment. AMIDST THE CHAOS A messy desk, on the other hand, has its own benefits. A clean desk can promote good and healthy behavior, but a study shows that an untidy one can promote creative thinking and help a person develop new ideas. A person who has this kind of desk tends to be more extroverted and creative in doing things. They also tend to be busy with their stuff, and don’t really have a problem with how their desk looks. There is nothing wrong with a little chaos. Some even say that it helps the brain to find simple solutions to complex problems. IT CONSUMES ME The problem here, though, is relatively simpler. You get less work done. It is much easier to locate information in an organized shelf than one that is not. Having a messy desk can lead to lost information and documents that you may need at that time. It can also lead to more stress, since you often have to deal with going through every corner of the table just to find the important stuff. Having order while working can lessen much of the hassle. Plus, it feels much more relaxing and energizing to work on a clean desk. WHAT DO YOU PREFER? The desk reflects who you are, what you do, and how you work on something. If you prefer a disorganized one, maybe you want ideas to come to you. If you like to have a clean desk, that can mean you are more organized and want a nice place to work on. If you have a desk that is both tidy and messy, then it’s still fine - you still get the benefits of both of them. Whatever the state of your workplace is right now, it doesn’t really matter how your desk looks, as long as you get the job done. It is still imperative, however, to at least be responsible with your things. Too much of either preference does not bode well to your work ethic. References: Alton, L. (2017). The Negative Relationship Between a Messy Desk and Productivity. Retrieved from https://www.inc.com/larry-alton/waning-productivity-could-a-messy-desk-be-to-blame.html Association for Psychological Science. (2013). Tidy desk or messy desk? Each has its benefits. ScienceDaily. Retrieved from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130806091817.htm Bene. (n.d.). Pro and Contra. Clean Desk Policy?. Retrieved from https://bene.com/en/office-magazine/pro-and-contra-clean-desk-policy/ Business News Daily Editor. (2020). What a Messy (or Neat) Desk Reveals About You. Retrieved from https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/4882-messy-desk-personality.html Grasshopper Team. (2014). Clean vs. Messy Desks: What Does Your Style Say About You?. Retrieved from https://grasshopper.com/blog/clean-vs-messy-desks-what-does-your-style-say-about-you/ Richmond, M. (2017). Clean vs. Chaos: What Does Your Desk Say About You?. Retrieved from https://maevesmethod.com/clean-vs-chaos-desk-say/#:~:text=Similarly%2C%20a%20busy%20cluttered%20desk,known%20for%20his%20cluttered%20desk. Timestead. (n.d.). 5 Benefits of Keeping a Clean and Tidy Workspace. Retrieved from https://www.timestead.com/blog/5-benefits-of-keeping-a-clean-and-tidy-workspace/

Written by Aundrea Joy Levanza Art by Jayvee Fulgencio Disney UK presents a simple but heartwarming short animation of a Lola and her granddaughter for their Christmas advert. It starts with a scene of Lola at a young age in 1940, capturing the unique tradition of pagmamano. Captured in the first scenes is her father returning and handing her a classic Mickey Mouse stuffed toy as a pasalubong. A few years have passed to 2005, and the animation presents Lola having a granddaughter. They shared the fascination of handcrafting parols every Christmas. Lola has also passed down the Mickey Mouse stuffed toy to her granddaughter. A montage is shown as the granddaughter grows up to become a young adult. She has slowly lost interest in their bond of making parols to light up their home. Her Lola is disheartened. She leaves the living room cold and undecorated. The young woman comes home to a deserted house. She notices the worn out Mickey Mouse plush. The camera pans to pictures of her Lola through the years, and there is a sudden realization that her Lola was there throughout all she's been through. The way the granddaughter resolves this conflict is touching. As usual, Disney crafts a stirring and magical ending that hits too close to home. The symbolism is quite obvious, too, as it will be revealed that the Mickey Mouse stuffed toy represents the close and familial bond between the granddaughter and Lola. It reminds us that the times may change and people grow up, but a bond between family members will always hold a special place in our hearts. It’s a reminder to go back to our roots and to show our loved ones appreciation. What made this animation catch so much attention on the internet is the touching story behind a non-dialog animation. The story had a narrative that was simple but well-presented; it had the universal appeal. A lot of families have already lost an elderly family member, especially during the time of a pandemic. People can’t immediately go back home and reunite with families due to the lack of transportation either. It reminded themselves of their own Lolas and Lolos back home. The animation was timely, in that way, as it made the viewers resonate with the story. It also suggested cultural diversity as it presented the little details such as the kayumanggi-colored skin of the characters, pagmamano, parol-making, and the craft materials kept inside a tin can. These were the small details that made it so Filipino in its own ways. The advert was so keen to the details that they didn’t just simply present a tear-jerking Christmas story; it also showcased how different family traditions are innate in Filipino Christmas culture. The advert itself is a tribute well-thought of to the rich Filipino heritage. ‘This is the first time I’ve felt so represented,’ Filipinos remarked on Twitter. Cultural representation and diversity have always been one of the strong points in any form of media, and Disney pulled it off exceptionally. If there was a word to associate with this ad, it would be ‘nostalgia’ as it reminded a lot of people of their close relations with their Lolas back home. Disney really made it clear what the ad was all about as it reminded the viewers of the importance of family togetherness, close relations, and keeping traditions which is especially needed in the time of a pandemic. If you haven’t seen the advert, you can check it out here.

Written by Aliah Nicole Brillante Visuals by Jayvee Fulgencio As the country was struck by consecutive strong typhoons Rolly and Ulysses in the past month, UST student organizations initiated donation drives to help residents of affected areas. The Engineering Student Council (ESC), together with the UST Engineering Alumni Association Inc., launched “Food Trip: Donation Drive for the Affected Eng’g Community,” wherein in-kind donations were gathered. Collected donations will be packed and distributed by ESC and UST Engineering student volunteers to Marikina, Sta. Mesa, Caloocan, Navotas, Pasay, Quezon City, Antipolo City, Bulacan, and Rizal on November 22, 2020. Alumni from the Faculty of Engineering also conducted a monetary donation drive, with a collection amounting to 21, 201 pesos as of November 19, 2020. From this amount, 50 percent will be allocated for food and water, 20 percent for monetary assistance for affected students in Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Nueva Ecija, Tuguegarao, Aparri, and Infanta, and 30 percent for the parishioners of St. John the Baptist Parish, Bato, Catanduanes. The UST Central Student Council (CSC) and the Student Organizations Coordinating Council (SOCC) are currently conducting an in-kind donation directive, which will last until November 21, 2020. Donations, such as food, medicine kits and hygiene kits, can be dropped off at the ground floor of the Tan Yan Kee Building, UST, Espana Blvd., Sampaloc, Manila. A Tulong Tomasino acknowledgement receipt, which can be downloaded through the link https://bit.ly/3eZyX3U, must be filled out prior to donating. As of November 18, 2020, CSC and SOCC have collected a total of 145, 222.06 pesos. Below are the contact persons for the donation drives of the mentioned organizations. Thomasian students, alumni, and other organizations in the faculty, such as the Industrial Engineering Circle (IEC), Association of Civil Engineering Students (ACES), and Mechanical Engineering Club (MEC), have also volunteered to help fellow students, faculty, and staff greatly affected by the said typhoons by giving away relief packs and financial assistance.

Opinion by al Photo by Christian Mungcal It has been quite a long journey for the Engineering students as they face yet again another hectic school year that’s completely being done online. With this new kind of learning, it can be said that the students of the Faculty of Engineering really deserved this break from meeting the demands of requirements and academics because everyone is overwhelmed, tired, and just plain unmotivated. Before a pause was heeded by the Faculty Office, there has always been a continuous struggle on the students and professors’ physical, emotional, and mental health. These are some of the unavoidable challenges that the institution has faced in conducting online classes. There will always be uncontrollable factors that can cause anyone to spiral down to burnout and anxiety in this kind of set-up. This is why the academic break was greatly needed. There have been numerous studies about the importance of breaks, and it is in these moments of rebooting and unwinding that productivity and excellence can be met without compromising anyone’s well-being. First of all, online classes can really cause detrimental health effects. This was affirmed by the Department of Health as they warned the public that students’ increased time spent on their digital devices can cause alarming health issues such as headaches, back pains, eye strains, and fatigue. Additionally, the National Sleep Foundation also confirms that the light being emitted by these devices suppresses the body’s sleep-inducing hormone, melatonin. Hence, working on additional requirements in the evening can result in a reduced time of sleep, also leading sometimes to sleep deprivation. Online classes have also been the major cause of emotional exhaustion among students. There may be recurring feelings of isolation as they completely lack the usual interactions with their support system and other classmates. A study conducted from the Behavioral Research Therapy from the National Library of Medicine also found that students having social anxiety tend to have underlying fears and embarrassment towards their voice and appearance in their virtual meetings. There will be days where it may feel unmotivating for students to work and push through because their sense of normalcy is completely gone. Lastly, online classes have also taken their toll on every student’s mental health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an individual’s emotions are deeply influenced by their immediate social surroundings. So as they lose some part of these interactions, they become more at risk to mental health issues such as increased levels of stress and anxiety. Additionally, everyone has individual burdens at home that they’re expected to face aside from that of academics. It can be due to these personal burdens that one causes to spiral into unproductivity and irresponsibility. The long periods of self-isolation and the uncertainty that the pandemic has caused have led students to believe that things won’t be back to their normal any time soon. These physical, mental, and emotional struggles are not limited to that of the experiences of the students, but to everyone who is part of the educational institution including professors and educators. One thing is for sure, distance learning will always be a challenge to execute especially as educators and students will always be used to face-to-face classes. Hence, the academic break was one way of actually addressing both the challenges of the educators and the students. It was through the announcement of the academic break that the Faculty of Engineering have shown their support and concern with the institution’s physical, mental, and emotional health. The possibility of an invigorated learning community in the Faculty of Engineering is hard to attain especially in the context of a pandemic. But it is possible, as long as the teaching staff and the students meet halfway in the learning process. Then again, having academic pauses is a good step in achieving a much more purposeful learning experience. It will still always boil down to the collaborative effort between students, professors, and the admin. Everyone must do their best to be at the top of their game as they venture into the new normal of education. It is vital in these times to acknowledge each others’ struggles so that everyone in the educational institution can achieve excellence. Breakdowns can be the beginning of breakthroughs. Let the academic pause be a reminder for everyone to take breaks and to take care of themselves. May this be the start of a renewed and more promising learning experience for the UST Faculty of Engineering.

Opinion by j.b9 Visuals by OrKid It’s true. Manila Bay’s dolomite white sand is more picturesque than a Coca-Cola bottle swimming in its waters. But we cannot bury in the sand the health hazard and marine ecosystem disruption that it could induce. This beautification project is merely aesthetic, a non-sustainable rehabilitation of the polluted stretch of Manila Bay. The project fell short of an engineering cornerstone. Ambitious project as such requires engineering intervention to make sure that material is suitable, the sand is well-maintained, and the project itself is sustainable. Hence, this is just another deceptive stunt that captures the attention of the masses with the outer beauty. But underneath the sand are stinking negligence and poor assessment. And yet, there are those who are thrilled to take pictures with the pristine white sand without being aware of the underlying issues. To start, this so-called “beach nourishment” project has adverse health effects. Prolonged exposure to dolomite may pose a threat to the respiratory system. The material at the center of the controversy is a naturally occurring and a common rock-forming mineral. According to Dr. Evelyn Laurito, a retired professor from the UST Chemical Engineering Department and an expert on environmental engineering, the mineral itself is non-toxic, but the dust from the mining process, if inhaled, can cause respiratory damage. Dolomite sand, depending on the size, may be blown by the wind and become dust (2.5 to 10 microns are the regulated size by DENR). These dust particulates may enter the lungs and cause respiratory disease. Not to mention that it may also contain silica, which causes scarring in the lungs, and traces of metals like lead and iron. And just when it sounded bad already, dolomite sand, like other sand or dust particles, has also the ability to adsorb sulfur oxides (SOx) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) or even microorganisms like viruses on its surface. Dr. Laurito warned that these aerosols can aggravate respiratory diseases. For example, SOx and NOx can react with water present in the lungs to form sulfuric and nitric acids. As much as the people taking selfies with it admire it, our folks under the sea won't definitely enjoy it. Although the crushed dolomite can lower the acidity level of polluted streams like Manila bay, it can increase the concentration of suspended sediments in the water. Consequently, it leads to siltation or sediment pollution which takes a heavy toll on fish breeding areas, such as the case of Lake Baringo as reported by Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute. In the country, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) stated in a report that corals within a 500-meter area of a certain town’s waters were destroyed by the dolomite extraction in Alcoy, Cebu, the source of artificial sand in Manila Bay. This was also due to heavy siltation caused by crushed dolomite leaking into the sea. Hence, it could disrupt the marine ecosystem in the area. This project is a complete waste of resources, since it’s only a matter of time before the dolomite sand will be washed away. Every shoreline is subject to erosion brought about by waves and currents. Engineering groundwork must be done to ensure that the dolomite sand overlay will be preserved. However, knowing that more than 20 typhoons visit us each year and Manila Bay experiences storm surge at times, the dumped crushed dolomite in the area will soon be carried away by strong waves. If that happens, Dr. Laurito said that it will settle in an ecosystem and interact with the organisms in it. And of course, since it is non-endemic, meaning not natural in the place, it will have implications on the deposition area. Sooner or later, the constant beating of the wind and waves will wipe the sand clean and become invasive to aquatic life. Instead of funding a white sand beach that will soon be worn away, the government should have appropriated the P389-million budget in the sustainable rehabilitation of Manila Bay and the esteros nearby, which are the source of polluted water in the first place. Coastal clean-ups are just band-aid solutions to the problem. We cannot clean the downstream water bodies without cutting off the source like drainage systems and neglectful business establishments. More so, they are doing this cosmetic procedure at a time of great need. We are in the middle of a global health crisis. Our debt is breaching trillions of pesos. It’s not like the white sand can magically heal the COVID-19 patients. It’s great that tourists will enjoy the sandy coast and awe-inspiring sunset. Meanwhile, the bustling cities and towns nearby will enjoy the revenue out of it. Many people are all thumbs-up to this very expensive, little art project of the government. Be that as it may, they are flaunting the dolomite white sand project at the expense of human health, environmental disruption, and waste of resources in a long term perspective. The beauty of engineering is that we look beneath the surface and see beyond what’s visible. Without proper engineering intervention, the dolomite white sand strewn across a small bay area is just a mere ornament to a water nearly devoid of life.

Written by Lance Lasam Visuals by Jayvee Fulgencio Because we spend more time on our screens nowadays, our eyes are more at risk of getting strained. Research has found that whenever we use our devices, we blink less than 7-10 times a minute, which is not enough to keep our eyes from getting dry and irritated. However, since when these are first observed, there are things that we can do to protect our sight from the elements, and it usually involves when and what we see on our screens. THE TIME WE SPEND According to the Mayo Clinic, we spend an average of 7-10 hours on our screens. The recommended screen time, on the other hand, is two hours a day for teens and adults, one hour for children, and none at all for toddlers. Although older students are able to focus on doing assessments for longer stretches of time, it is still advised to set limits on our screen time. However, it does not mean that we should do everything on our computers and phones for two hours straight. Breaks are also necessary to prevent eye strain. One such method is the 20/20/20 principle, where it states that after 20 minutes of screen time, you should take a 20 second break and look at some object that is 20 feet (around 6 meters) away from you – something that is not another screen. Another way is taking a longer break of 15 minutes after 2 hours of screen time. Remember though that these principles are not absolute. If you feel that your eyes cannot handle the exposure, then take a break. Your assignments and projects can wait for a few minutes. THE THINGS WE SEE Another thing that we should consider is what we see. Things such as the lights, the colors, the text can be hard for our eyes, and can therefore affect how our eyes react and gather information. The brightness on screens are not monotonous. You can change the brightness from your screen – not too light that it becomes a light source, nor too dark that it becomes dull and grey. Our workbenches can also be adjusted for proper lighting. You can reduce outside light by using curtains or using fewer lights from your room. If you work near windows, you can adjust your device so that they are to the side instead of in front or behind you. The colors that come out can also be changed. You can either go to the settings of your device, and reduce the temperature in order to reduce blue light – a color of light that is linked to a greater risk of eye strain and damage. The text and contrast can also be changed in order to increase eye comfort. A black text on a white background is the best combination for this purpose. WHAT WE SHOULD DO Considering the situation that we are nowadays, we are not really immune to the danger. But, there are tips that we should apply when we use our screens. With these, we can at least protect our eyes from being crushed by the elements coming out from our devices. References: American International School of Guangzhou. (n.d.). Online Learning: Balancing Activities with Screen Time. Retrieved from https://www.aisgz.org/news/detail/~board/featured-news/post/online-learning-balancing-activities-with-screen-time Bach, M. (2019). 5 tips for reducing screen time. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/featured-topic/5-tips-for-reducing-screen-time Burt, C. (2020). Screen time use sparks discussion over how much is too much. Retrieved from https://universitybusiness.com/screen-time-use-sparks-discussion-over-how-much-is-too-much/ Heiting, G. & Wan, L. (n.d.). Computer eye strain: 10 steps for relief. Retrieved fromhttps://www.allaboutvision.com/cvs/irritated.htm WebMD. (2019). Prevent Eyestrain From Digital Devices. Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/prevent-digital-eyestrain

Photos taken during ABET's visit to the UST Faculty of Engineering last December 2-7, 2019. Written by Blessy May Mercado Photos taken by Niña Eblamo After several months of deliberation, all of the UST Faculty of Engineering’s degree programs have been accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) earlier today, as announced in the University’s official Facebook page. The six programs offered by the Faculty are the following: Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. As part of the initial phase of evaluation, ABET visited the Faculty last December 2-7, 2019. The board, composed of highly skilled professionals from the industry, academe, and government, with expertise in the ABET disciplines, reviews a college’s program curriculum, faculty, facilities, and institutional support for qualifications for the said accreditation. At present, ABET has accredited a total of 4,144 programs at 812 colleges and universities in 32 countries. The Engineering Accreditation and Continuous Quality Improvement Program (EACQuIP), with Asst. Prof. Ma. Luisa T. Asilo, M.Eng. as the Faculty’s official coordinator, facilitated the accreditation process. The Faculty is led by the following academic officials: Prof. Philipina A. Marcelo, Ph.D., ean; Rev. Fr. Roberto Luanzon, Jr. OP, Regent and UST Acting Vice Rector for Finance; Assoc. Prof. Ricardo S. Balog, M.Eng., Assistant Dean, and; Engr. Evangeline E. Deleña, Faculty Secretary. ABET is a non-profit organization that accredits university programs in applied and natural science, computing, engineering and engineering technology. An ABET accreditation assures that the programs of a college meets the quality standards established by the profession. In addition to being ABET-accredited, all six programs of the Faculty are also accredited by the Accreditation and Certification Board for Engineering and Technology of the Philippine Technological Council (ACBET-PTC) and the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU). The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has recognized the Faculty’s Chemical Engineering program as a Center of Excellence, while the other five are Centers of Development. Moreover, the AUN-QA Network, the ASEAN quality assurance network in higher education, has certified both the Chemical Engineering and Electronics Engineering programs of the Faculty. The UST Faculty of Engineering is the oldest engineering school established in the country in 1907. From then on, it has produced notable alumni who have established their names in engineering, business, and entrepreneurship, locally and internationally.

Written by Lance Matthew Romeral Art by Alliya Joedyn Lavilla Arabejo Counting stars and wishing hours; the eyes that pierce space and time. Hopes of true comfort and desire Is it the same for you and me? Do you seek justice and fair life, even when seated comfortably at night? Do the voice of the people linger inside you or do you shut it out in plain sight? Can you not see the side to be crossed? The part where survival stood with dignity; souls filled with hope and dreams to spare but were showered with lies then bloomed despair. Will you lend some spare change? Will you lend us some light? Will you fit the same shoe up and help make things right? Not much will be asked, just a foundation to stand tall. To make roots strong – to grow. It is all that is asked, nothing more. If time catches up for what is left Do not bury the signs then leave it unsaid. This part may not matter for some but it will always live here, dust to none.