Ateneo, La Salle team up in battle against COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines -- After figuring in numerous wars in the UAAP, archrivals Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University are teaming up to fight a common enemy in the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Society of Jesus and the De La Salle Brothers have joined forces to raise funds for the vulnerable communities affected by the enhanced community quarantine in a campaign called "Let's Work Together To Fight COVID-19."

Even before this collaborative effort, Ateneo and La Salle have done their part in helping the country during the crisis.

La Salle, together with the Arnold Janssen Kalinga Center, opened the doors of the Razon Sports Complex and the De La Salle-College of St. Benilde's covered courts to the homeless of Manila, providing them with shelter and food.

Ateneo, meanwhile, opened its dormitories to medical frontliners.

"I appreciated the shelters, so the first thing that crossed my mind was to help," said Philippine Jesuit Provincial Fr. Jun Viray, SJ. "The Ateneo alumni, those in business, said they'd like to help."

"I told them, 'Let's raise money together with our friends -- which means also La Salle friends'," he added.

"A little conversation between myself and Father Jun created a spark that is more explosive than UAAP that allowed us to say, maybe this is the time to work together rather than compete," said DLSU president Bro. Armin Luistro, FSC.

As of April 15, their initiative has raised P10,000,000 that will feed almost 500 homeless individuals and 6,000 urban poor families.

To join the cause, one can send their donations to the following accounts:

For Ateneo*:

METROBANK
Account name: Tanging Yaman Foundation, Inc.
Metrobank Peso Checking Account Number: 448-7-44800988-9

BPI
Account name: Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan
BPI Peso Checking Account Number: 3081-1111-61

*For proper acknowledgement, kindly send photo of the deposit slip to slb@affiliate.ateneo.edu

For La Salle**:

RCBC
Account name: De La Salle Brothers, Inc.
Account number: 7590-569081

Security Bank:
Account name: De La Salle Brothers, Inc.
Account number: 0000014366500

BPI:
Account name: De La Salle Brothers, Inc.
Account number: 3103-3749-86

**GCash and PayMaya donations may also be transferred online to any of the above bank accounts

news.abs-cbn.com

Meet Ateneo's rising star Tyler Tio

MANILA, Philippines – Forced to wait a season and a game before making his UAAP debut, Ateneo de Manila University guard Tyler Tio showed exactly why he was such a highly recruited prospect out of Xavier School.

In his very first game for the Blue Eagles, Tio converted all six of his shots, including two booming three-pointers in the fourth quarter that allowed Ateneo to pull away completely from University of the Philippines (UP) on Wednesday afternoon.

He finished with 14 points and two assists in Ateneo's 92-71 win in the Battle of Katipunan, after missing their Season 80 opener against Adamson University last Saturday due to an ankle sprain.

"It was a lot of fun for me," the 19-year-old rookie said afterward. "Thankfully, okay ang performance ko."

This performance was a long time coming for Tio. He was technically a part of the 2016 recruiting class, but had to sit out UAAP Season 79 due to citizenship issues: Tio only formally became a Filipino citizen earlier this year.

He was solid in Ateneo's preseason tournaments, but then sat out their first game due to injury. Tio could have been forgiven had he played with a touch of 'gigil' against the Fighting Maroons, but instead, the young guard was in control throughout his 11-minute stint.

"Of course, I was very excited to play," said Tio. "But I wasn't thinking coming into the game that I had to score this amount of points."

"I just wanted to make sure that I played correctly, and followed Coach Tab (Baldwin's) system," he added. "Thankfully, okay naman ang nangyari."

He did not play like it, but Tio admits he did feel some jitters. "I just tried my best to fight it," he said.

Mostly, Tio is simply thankful to have finally gotten the first game out of the way.

"It's been a long wait, that's for sure," says Tio. "I just used the time to get better and prepare."

Nevertheless, Tio wouldn't promise that his future performances will be as explosive as his debut. After all, he is still only in his first season, and is still working his way back from injury.

"I don't wanna say anything," he said. "I just want to try my best, and God will take care of the rest."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Ateneo's Apacible suspended for rest of UAAP second round

MANILA, Philippines –  Ateneo forward John Apacible has been suspended for the rest of the UAAP Season 78 second round following his involvement in a drunk driving incident early Sunday morning that has since gone viral around social media.

Ateneo team manager Epok Quimpo confirmed that Apacible will not play in the Blue Eagles' remaining games in the second round of the tournament.



A video posted by Top Gear Philippines on Sunday evening showed a visibly drunk Apacible bragging about a "councilor" vanity plate while cursing and shouting along Timog Avenue in Quezon City.

Ateneo's University Athletics Office on Monday evening called Apacible's behavior "reprehensible" and "unacceptable," and said both the team and the school will deal with the incident.

Quimpo, in a message to Ateneo's The Guidon on Monday evening, also said that Apacible will not be allowed to practice with the team as he is set to face "disciplinary actions."

According to Quimpo, Apacible has apologized to the whole Ateneo team, including the coaching staff and management, and the rest of the Blue Eagles "will be supporting him through this trying time."

The incident drew the ire of many on social media, with netizens believing that Apacible should face greater punishment for his actions.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Ateneo player linked to drunk driving incident

MANILA, Philippines -- The Ateneo de Manila University on Monday vowed to take action after a member of the Blue Eagles was linked to a drunk driving incident that occurred early Sunday morning.

Reserve forward John Apacible was identified as the "very drunk driver" whose car bore a "councilor" vanity plate and caused a commotion along Timog Avenue in Quezon City.

A video of the incident was posted by Top Gear Philippines.



In its website, Top Gear later cited a source who claimed that the driver was a player of a UAAP basketball team.

Ateneo's University Athletics Office confirmed on Monday evening that it was indeed Apacible who was caught in the video.

"It has come to our attention that John Apacible, a member of the Ateneo Blue Eagles, behaved in an unacceptable manner during an early Sunday morning encounter," Ateneo athletics director Emmanuel Fernandez said in a memo.

"John deeply regrets his reprehensible behavior and sincerely apologizes to all parties concerned," he added.

Fernandez said that the Blue Eagles' team management as well as the Loyola Schools "will deal with this regrettable incident appropriately and swiftly."

Apacible is averaging 2.2 points and 1.3 rebounds in seven minutes of playing time per game for Ateneo in Season 78.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Bar topnotcher cites factors for success

MANILA - San Beda Law graduate Irene Mae Alcobilla attributed her topping the 2014 Bar Exams to miracle and hard work.

In an interview on the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC), Alcobilla – who currently works with the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) – said: “I feel that it’s a miracle. Maybe I’m just dreaming. I can’t define what I am feeling right now.”

Alcobilla said she did not stop reading her law books after graduation and even after preparing for the Bar exams back in October.

“It was hard. I almost did not sleep during the Bar exams. It was all plain reading,” she said of her success.

She said she did not expect to top the Bar. She registered a score of 85.5%, edging out second placer Christian Drilon of Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) who got 84.45%.

On her Facebook yesterday, Alcobilla only said: “I declare that tomorrow my dream will come true in Jesus name. Amen. 3.26.15.”

“What I only wanted was to become a Bedan lawyer, to pass the Bar. But while I was reviewing, I said to myself I needed to set standards for myself.”

Alcobilla said she broke the news to her parents via a simple text message: “Top 1”

Alcobilla is one of the 1,126 who passed the 2014 Bar Examinations. This represents 18.82% of the total 5,984 examinees.

The oathtaking of the successful Bar candidates will be on April 24, 2015 at 3:00 PM at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), according to the SC.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Korina goes on leave from radio show

MANILA - Veteran broadcaster Korina Sanchez has taken a leave of absence from her daily morning show "Rated K" on DZMM to allow her more time to finish pending tasks.

In a statement, Sanchez said she is currently back in school, finishing her Master's Degree at the Ateneo de Manila University.

"Muntik na akong ibagsak ng dalawa kong propesor dahil sa absence at late submissions kaya talagang hindi ko mapagsabay," Sanchez said, adding that a post-graduate degree has been on her bucket list.

Last June, Sanchez said she asked permission from ABS-CBN management to allow her to take a leave from her top-rating radio program.

"Ang trabaho naman nariyan lang at ang sabi naman sa akin ng mga boss, kapag ayos na lahat ay makakabalik naman ako. Gusto ko na talaga itong iraos," she said.

Amy Perez and Marc Logan will take over Sanchez's timeslot in their new program called "Sakto," which will focus on stories mainly about family, but will also tackle current issues.

"Sabi ko kina Amy at Marc, basta sana i plug pa rin nila ang Tsinelas Campaign namin para sa mga bata. Cute ang show nila," said Sanchez, who has been giving away rubber slippers to poor children for several years.

"Sakto" will air Mondays to Fridays from 10 to 11 a.m. on DZMM Radyo Patrol 630 and DZMM Teleradyo.

Sanchez is scheduled to renew her contract with the Kapamilya network. She will continue her top-rating Sunday magazine show Rated K and co-anchor TV Patrol with 'Kabayan' Noli de Castro and Ted Failon.

The award-winning broadcaster earlier addressed speculations about her alleged suspension after being absent on TV Patrol. She said she had to work on a scheduled special on typhoon-hit areas for her TV show.

Meanwhile, Sanchez said 2013 has been a fruitful year for her after she got several awards including the Anak TV Award for Rated K, and Best Female TV Newscaster during the 3rd Makatao Awards for Media Excellence given by the People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP).

"New Year's wish ko na sana walang dumapo na kahit anong trahedya sa Pilipinas. At tuloy-tuloy na ang paghilom ng Kabisayaan. Sana matapos ko itong pag-aaral ko nang magagandang grades, ang hirap eh. May mga malalapit akong kamag anak na may sakit na sana gumaling na. Sana mabayaran ko lahat ng obligasyon ko. Maliban doon, puro pagpapasalamat na. I can't ask for anything more, sobra ang blessings ko na sana Ituloy lang ng Panginoon ngayong taon," she said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Ateneo student kidnapped inside campus

MANILA – A kidnapping incident took place inside the campus of the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City last month, a university official confirmed.

In a statement dated November 29, ADMU Vice Presdent for Administration Fr. Nemesio Que, SJ said a student of the Loyola Schools was abducted inside the north car park of the campus between 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. last November 21, Thursday.

The university did not release any more information about the student, but assured that the latter is now in safe condition after being released.

"We wish to assure the University community that the student was released, unharmed, and that no ransom was paid. By God's grace, our student has returned to the campus and now attends classes," Que said.

Que said that in the wake of the incident, the university is putting in place immediate and short-term measures while studying more long-term policies.

He added the university has decided to install additional lighting and deploy more roving guards in the parking areas.

Likewise, stricter rules will also be enforced in the entry and exit of people and vehicles on campus. Some alternate entry points will also be closed.

"For this reason, we earnestly request the full cooperation of each member of the Ateneo community as we implement additional measures. Let us all remember that as a community, it is incumbent upon us to do our part," Que said.

Que appealed to everyone to "report any suspicious characters or behavior to the university's Security Office at 426-6001 loc 4111; mobile 0999-992-5715; or the ADSA Hotline 0920-914-2372. May I also remind all students, faculty and employees to wear their ID cards at all times."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Bar topnotcher mixes law and football

MANILA - Ignatius Michael "Mickey" D. Ingles was a member of the Ateneo de Manila University’s Football Team, the three-peat champs from 2004 to 2006. Today, he is a hotshot lawyer, topping even the Bar exams that saw only 17.76% of the examinees pass.

Ingles is proof that brains and brawn go well together.

In an interview with ANC, Ingles said his was a story of “balance and sacrifice.” It was only when he went to law school that he had to focus more on his studies.

He said playing football at his spare time was only to show a “semblance of what [I was before].”

Football may have become a breather of sorts, especially since the 2012 Bar exam is supposedly one of the hardest of all Bar exams in history. Nine hundred forty nine (949) examinees out of a total of 5,343 bar takers passed, constituting 17% of the total examinees. An original 5,686 were admitted to take the Bar but only 5,343 completed the four-Sunday examinations.

In 2011, 31.95% passed. The previous year, only 20.26% passed.

Deputy Clerk of Court and Bar Confidant Atty. Ma. Cristina B. Layusa earlier said that each exam for 2012 consisted of a Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) portion and an essay portion.

The MCQ portion had a weight of 60%, while the essay exam part had a weight of 40%. There was also a performance test (trial memorandum) in the afternoon of the last Sunday of the exams.

Ingles said of the 2012 Bar exam: “It was hard. It wasn’t only the MCQ that we had to deal with. We also have 40% essay. It was like we were taking two exams in a span of three to four hours.”

He said not everyone in Ateneo Law passed the Bar. “I was hoping Ateneo would go for 100% and that more people would have passed.”

“It was very hard, it was very long.”

He said he did not expect to top the Bar. “I just wanted to do my best and prepare…so that after, I wouldn't have any regrets.”

Ingles said that this time, football will take a back seat.

“I’m set on practicing law…I will concentrate on law,” he said.

Asked for his advice for law students, he said they have to prepare as early as their first year in law school.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Ateneo keeps PCCL title hopes alive

MANILA, Philippines – UAAP champions Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) Blue Eagles kept their title hopes alive by thrashing the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras in the round robin Final Four of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) on Friday.

The Eagles took advantage of the Cobra’s troubled performance to register a trouble-free 96-78 win against the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) champions.

Greg Slaughter, who was outdueled by Karim Abdul in the Eagles’ 76-66 loss to the UST Tigers, led Ateneo with 18 points, three rebounds and one block.

“We're a little rusty right now, so I think this [win] is good for us,” the 7-foot center said in the post-game interview.

Ateneo, led by Keifer Ravena, unleashed a 14-9 run against SWU in the first quarter.

Benoit Mbalah tried to stop the bleeding for the Cobras, but the Blue Eagles eventually posted a 23-12 advantage by the end of the first period.

Nico Salva and Chris Sumalinog teamed up for Ateneo in the second quarter to further widen the gap to 50-31 at the half.

Although SWU performed better in the third quarter when it outscored Ateneo, 24-22, it continued trailing the UAAP champion, 72-55.

The Cobras tried to maintain their run in the fourth, chopping the deficit down to 14 points, 77-62.

But Slaughter took advantage of his defenders’ foul troubles, scoring 10 points in the final period before the bench took over.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Ateneo group backs 8th petition vs anti-cybercrime law

MANILA, Philippines - An 8th petition against Republic Act (RA) No. 10175, also known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act, was filed with the Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday morning by faculty members of the Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU) College of Law and, at the same time, members of the Ateneo Human Rights Center.

In a 40-page petition for certiorari, ADMU College of Law Dean Sedfrey Candelaria, and Attys. Mel Sta. Maria, Amparita Sta. Maria, Gilbert Sembrano, and Ryan Jeremiah Quan assailed Sections 4(4), 5, 6, 7 and 19 of the law for being "patently unconstitutional," and urged the high court to immediately issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) to prevent the implementation of the questioned provisions.

"All of the above provisions, taken singularly and together, are unconstitutional, as they transgress... provisions of the Bill of Rights in Art. III of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines," the petition read.

Sec. 4(4) of RA No. 10175 criminalizes libel on cyberspace; Sec. 5 lists "aiding or abetting in the commission of cybercrime" and "attempt in the commission of cybercrime" as additional offenses; Sec. 6 raises by one degree higher the penalties provided for by the Revised Penal Code for all crimes committed through and with the use of information and communications; Sec. 7 provides that, apart from prosecution under the law, any person charged for the alleged offense covered will not be spared from violations of the Revised Penal Code and other special laws; and Sec. 19 authorizes the Dept. of Justice (DOJ) to block access to computer data when such data "is prima facie found to be in violation of the provisions of this Act."

Petitioners said the questioned provisions transgress Sections 1 (on right to life, liberty, property, equal protection of laws), 2 (right against unreasonable searches and seizures), 3(1) (inviolability of the privacy of communication and correspondence), 4 (freedom of speech, of expression, of the press), and 21 (double jeopardy doctrine) of the 1987 Constitution.

"This is a case of transcendental importance, a first of its kind in our history. This will herald the entry of this Honorable Supreme Court into a world of cyber communication that is perpetually active, global and free... As the assailed law will immediately impact on the rights of every Filipino on the internet -- ourselves, our spouses, our children, our parents, our employes, our workers, our traders, our teachers and students -- there is urgency in this petition.

"At the same time, there is urgent need, as well as wisdom, to understanding how the internet is expanding and evolving our very concepts of free expression," the petition read.

For a more thorough discussion of their petition, petitioners urged the high court to set oral arguments on the case.

The other 7 petitions against RA No. 10175 were filed by Louis Biraogo, Disini, et al., ALAM party list, Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, Adonis, et al., Rep. Palatino, et al., and Bayan et al.

source: abs-cbnnews.com