Tunay na Kaibigan

Ni Jia Arianne Phi

Sa una’y mapagpanggap at akala mo’y kasundo
Ngunit ang tunay na katauhan sadyang itinatago.
Ilalarawan ko sa iyo itong kaibigan na kaaway mo.
Kapag kaibigan siyang maituturi’y,
Pagbibigyan ka kahit minsa’y mapanuri.
Sa bawat galaw siya ay nakabantay
habang ang kaba mo ay walang humpay.
Umaapaw ang takot mo ‘pag nagkamali
Subalit ang sagot lang naman niya ay ngiti.
Hindi kaagad-agad magagalit.
Mahaba-haba ang pasensyang nakakubli.
May pagkakataong siya naman ay kaaway.
Sa tunog ng bawat yapak niya, ikaw ay nangingisay.
Takot sa mga tanong niyang ‘di mo masagutan
Piniga mo na ang iyong utak ‘di pa rin matuklasan
Minsan ay malulusutan
Datapwat madalas ay nag-aabang ng iyong katapusan.
Matanong, mabusisi at minsa’y makulit,
Madalas pa nga’y masungit.
Sumama man ang araw mo sa kanya
At ika’y nanliliit sa kanyang pagkutya.
Isipin mo na lang ang pagod niya
Sa pag-aaruga at pagpapaalaala
Upang ika’y ‘di magkamali sa harap ng iba.

Read more...

WANTED: BAYANI

ni Elmer C. Hibek

Lagi at laging nangangailangan ng
bagong bayani ang aming kawawang
bayan. Sa bawat yugto ng aming
masalimuot na kasaysayan, tinutuldukan
ang bawat kabanata sa pagtatampok ng
mga bayaning ang kabayanihan ay ipinagdiriwang
sa peryahan. Sapat ng kabayaran sa mga
bayani ng aming bayan ang sila’y maitala
sa pahina ng aklat ng kasaysayan, sauluhin
ang kanilang mga pangalan upang ipangsagot
sa mga tanong sa pagsusulit sa paaralan.
Sapat ng ipagpatayo sila ng mga estatwang
nababalot sa lumot at namamalimos
ng konting pagtingin. Sapat ng alalahanin
sila sa mga espesyal na araw gaya ng
kaarawan o kamatayan kasabay ng pag-aalay
ng mga mumurahing bulaklak. Sapat ng banggitin
ang kanilang mga pangalan at ilang piling mga
salita sa panahon ng pakikibaka. Sa isang bayang
gaya ng sa amin na walang gunita, walang laman
ang mga salita, walang pakialam sa pagdaralita,
at walang alam gawin kundi pagpuputa, isang
bayani ang hinahanap namin upang pansamantalang
magpakita ng kakaiba’t kakatwang kabayanihang
pag-uusapan ng ilang sandali at saka ibabaon
ng walang kabaong. Sa nakalipas na panahon,
ang mga pangalang Lapulapu, Dagohoy, Silang,
Rizal, Bonifacio’t Aguinaldo’y mga alingawngaw
na lamang sa karimlan. Sa kasalukuyan, laksa-laksa
ang nominado sa pagkabayani ng aming bayan.
Pambansang libangan na sa amin ang pagluluklok
ng mga bayaning mainam na palamuti sa pera, museo’t
liwasang bayan.

Read more...

Hallucination

Nicco Valenzuela

Drenched in the darkness of a well-lit room
with the stench of wakeful substance abuse
Jazz music playing as background irony
A harmonious scene ruined by the existence of me

Rust squeaks as motion near the hinges
The darkness slowly overcomed by blindness
"Is it her? Could it really be?"
The split-second scene enables me not to see

The blinding light, the outside breeze
I clear my throat as I seem to freeze
Choking with anticipation, dying with fear
Again I ask, “Is she really here?”

As pupils constrict, and the heart beats faster
The long brown hair and her eyes grow clear
A pleasant sight of relief and anger
"Nope. Not her. She ain’t gonna be here"

Read more...

Here

By: Mari Begonia A. Cinco

I sit here looking for truth
Among the vast pages of men
The time that told of many things
That held truth without having to show facts
Though some facts indeed lay here
It is the truth I am after
And looking among the words of men
How much harder it is to find truth than the mere facts

Read more...

Imitations

By: Mari Begonia A. Cinco

What is it in those who inspire
That all I want to do is follow
And decide to march their march
And fight that right they talk about?
What is it in those who influence
That I dare step forward and say aye
That I go just like that with them
Along with other men in the shadows
Fighting either for what is foolish or what is wise?

Read more...

In My Place of Dreams

By Mari Begonia A. Cinco

I once had golden lands of blossoms sweet
An array of castles with kings and queens
With crystal waters right nearby each hill
In my Place of Dreams

I once had fairies fly in spring
The ugly badger in winter sleep
Had toys come to life and decide to dance
In my Place of Dreams

Those many treasures I would find
And keep collected with gold in mines
The ships I sailed and conquered so much
In my Place of Dreams

And there were nights of endless flights
To English Towns and French streams
I had storks deliver baby cubs in trains
In my Place of Dreams

The dolls were there, always babbling
About their tasteless creams
When I served them tea in Cairo, Egypt
In my Place of Dreams

Then came those many evil things
That wanted to bite and scratch
But my tin soldiers would not allow that
In my Place of Dreams

There were the set of glass wings
That I used to fly all over passed
The many worlds I could see
In my Place of Dreams before

I dove into the depths of seas
With mermaids, corals, moray eels
And sang along with guppy fish
In my Place of Dreams


Then by daylight all would stop
For breakfast, Mother called me
And scold me if I stayed up too late
In my Place of Dreams

The many wonders I could see
Among the nights of mystery
Adventures I dared to take on
In my Place of Dreams

Perhaps I have grown old enough
To keep all this inside a box
But now and then I peak inside
To see my Place of Dreams.

Read more...

Radiance

By: Alec Joshua R. Uy (III-10)

Could I find you on Orion's shoulder?
Or does the Aurora Borealis blind my eye?
Could I find you amidst Cancer
or when Betelgeuse shines bright in the midnight sky?

Could you be one of our closest neighbors,
Across the vast vacuum breadth?
One of the twenty-six astral favors,
In which the light finds its strength?

Please, if you may, show me your radiance,
Your beauty, your love, your warmth and your grace,
Please, if you may, give me this chance,
To see a glimpse of your heavenly face

No matter how searing or scorching
However extraordinary or bizarre,
I would bear your emissions a-burning
If you would fall for me, my radiant star

If you would just fall for me... My radiant star.

Read more...

Rising

By: Mari Begonia A. Cinco

When the bird sings in the fresh morning
Just as the sun rises awake
And the blossoms shake away the dew of their face
I feel it is a must to sing with that bird
That bird which makes the dawn such a sweeter thing

Read more...

Seasons

By: Alec Joshua R. Uy (III-10)

My love for you revolves into changing seasons
Summer, autumn, winter, spring
Each season emanates the reasons why I love you
Although no metaphor can flawlessly explain why I do.

As the radiant summer sun shows its splendor,
So will I radiate my love and affection.
The sun shines to make the sparkling diamond sea
The sun shines upon our sincerity.

As the leaves of autumn fall before our eyes
So does my heart fall for you, over and over again.
Back and forth, the leaves fall apart
Back and forth, like the falling of my heart.

As the cold winter breeze whispers a faint melody
So does my soul murmur a love song for you.
A love song eternal, a love song undying
A love song to fill our hearts until our death’s dawning.

As the flowers start to bloom in tranquil spring,
So do I grow ever fond of you in my heart.
Flowers bloom to face the glorious day
Flowers bloom like how our love may

And as the cycle repeats itself
Our skin would grow weaker, our hair would turn paler
Our hearts come closer,
And our love grow stronger.

Because as time passes by
You and I will never part.

Read more...

UST CON Reawakens Thomasian Nursing Spirit with International Conference

By Ma. Kristel M. Nadlang

The University of Santo Tomas College of Nursing (UST CON), in cooperation with the UST Nursing Alumni Association, Inc. (USTNAAI), continued its Quadricentennial celebrations with the 4th Thomasian International Nursing Conference last January 21 and 22 at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel.

The two-day intellectual affair was participated in by the senior students, alumni and faculty members of the college as well as guests from other institutions.

With the theme, Thomasian Nurse: Building the Church, the Nation and the Family: Our Birthright and Destiny, the conference sought to create the perfect venue for exploring the portals of the nursing profession—practice, education, leadership and research. Furthermore, the aforementioned event underpinned the trends, challenges and issues affecting nurses in the present and the key role they play towards the country’s development.

Renowned personalities in the nursing profession graced the conference as they delivered their speech in the plenary sessions outlined for the two-day event. Among the speakers was the former dean of UST CON, Sor Paz T. Marfori, who delineated the very essence of the Thomasian nurse in her talk entitled, The Professional Nurse according to Mind and Heart of St. Thomas Aquinas.

Highlighting UST-CoN’s culture of excellence was the college’s very own Dr. Divina Sanchez-Grossman, Vice President for Engagement of the Florida International University who shared how the institution helped her in her professional career abroad.

Also present in the event was Ms. Kathleen Fritsch, the Nursing adviser of the World Health Organization (WHO), who delved deeper into the status of global health care in the region including the Philippines in her talk, Global Health Care: Impact on Nursing Employment and Professional Demands and Initiatives.
Another known personality in the event was Dr. Jude Guiang who is a faculty member of the UST CON. He delivered a lecture-discussion in one of the concurrent sessions that transpired in the conference. In his talk, Smoking: To Quit or Not to Quit....That is the question, Dr. Guiang stressed the health hazards brought about by smoking and the withdrawal symptoms to be experienced by people who would like to quit the habit.
Out of all the sessions, the prime highlight was the Kapihang Tomasino Nars wherein a panel of notable Nursing personalities imparted their thoughts and opinions on the theme, BEYOND 2011: The Challenges to Thomasian Nursing Leadership and Excellence. The highly distinguished panel was composed of the following speakers: Sor Paz Marfori, former dean of the UST-CoN; Dr. Teresita Barcelo, Philippine Nurses’ Association (PNA) President; Dr. Amelia B. Rosales, member of the Professional Regulation Commission Board of Nursing (PRC-BON); Dean Glenda Vargas, dean of the UST CON; Mr. Pete Reuben Calixto, executive director of the Philippine Nurses’ Association of America (PNAA) Foundation; Mr. Ferdie Luyun, UST Nurses Association of America (USTNAA) President and Mrs. Inocencia Ida S. Tionko, USTNAAI President.

“The 4th International Nursing Conference was one of the most educational and interactive conferences that I have attended as the speakers were able to tackle the current trends and issues in the field of Nursing and even discussed them in a manner that was understandable to all, especially to us students,” beamed Nursing Central Board of Students (NCBS) President Royce Jasper Ong.

Mr. Ong also commended the outstanding attendance of the alumni from all over the world who participated in the conference. He said, “But what made the conference memorable were the alumni of our college who attended the conference. Their reception and excitement were the cherries on top on what was a successful conference.”

Read more...

Keeping the Fire Burning: UST Nursing Education to Go Global

By: Michelle Angelique O. Parreňas

The University of Santo Tomas College of Nursing (UST CON) welcomed its 65th year of existence with its annual Benavides Lecture held last January 24 at the Medicine Auditorium.

With the theme, Nursing at 65: Calibrating the Standards of Excellence, the symposium centered on the advancement of the student nurses’ learning experiences throughout the years. Spearheaded and hosted by UST CON Secretary Ma. Cherry G. Tanodra, the event started with an invocation led by Julius Alvendia (II-1) followed by the singing of the national anthem by the Nursing Chorale. Rev. Fr. Julius Paul C. Factora, college regent, then delivered his opening remarks after which the guest speaker was introduced. For this year’s Benavides Lecture, Dr. Divina Gracia Sanchez-Grossman flew all the way from the United States to speak before the junior and seniors students of the college. Dr. Grossman, a proud alumna of the UST-CoN, works as the Vice President for Engagement at Florida International University (FIU) in the present.
Being a graduate of the college, Dr. Grossman knew by heart the culture of excellence upheld by the UST CON with its solid curriculum. “With its strong grounding in humanities and sciences and with its distinctive, rigorous and challenging curriculum, UST Nursing is a good place in inculcating the seed of excellence, allowing it to germinate and flourishes it into becoming a full blown tree,” she acclaimed.

Furthermore, she tackled the importance of student advocacy, activism and leadership in solving the country’s top health problems. She took time to emphasize that these health problems could be prevented through the nurses’ efforts in the community.

The highlight of the talk was Dr. Grossman’s proposal of developing a partnership between UST CON and FIU wherein student nurses of both institutions could discuss various cultural issues and learning experiences through the use of technology.

To sum it all up, here are Dr. Grossman’s key plans for the future:

1. Assemble and align the resources of UST, in collaboration with the UST Alumni and the World Health Organization (WHO), to the health and well-being of underserved community
2. Build a news program of communication engagement and health education through a three-way partnership
3. Collaborate in developing a doctorate program in philosophy (PhD) integrated triad
4. Incorporate curricular context and public policy

Refreshing the crowd were Philip Lorena (III-6) and Maricris Elopre (III-4) who rendered a song medley.

Thereafter, the panel of reactors composed of Dean Imelda Javier from the University of Perpetual Help in Las Pinas, Asst. Prof Mila Llanes and NCBS Vice President Nielson Dane Gustilo shared some reactions and insights from Dr. Grossman’s speech. The floor was also opened to entertain questions and comments from the audience.

With the torch passed to the next generation of nurses, she ended the event with the statement, “Together, let us help change the world by beginning with the end in mind and by making small steps to success.

Read more...

UST Nursing Chorale Stages Comeback in Himig Tomasino

By: Hazel Vera Tan

After three years of being away from the limelight, the UST Nursing Chorale (UST-NC) participated in this year’s Himig Tomasino, an annual intercollegiate competition organized by the Student Organization Coordinating Council's (SOCC), held last February 19 at the Medicine Auditorium.

Though they still had some conflicts with their schedules in lecture classes and duties, they were able to resolve the problems and challenges that they previously met. “In every organization, there are problems and challenges,” UST-NC President Charlene Tabora said, “I guess some of the reasons why we only joined now was due to financial constraints and lack of preparation because as nursing students, it really is very difficult to budget our time and balance extracurricular activities with the curricular ones.”

But with much perseverance and lessons learned from the previous year, the Nursing Chorale has staged its much-awaited comeback. “Once the team for Himig Tomasino was already formed, we already started with our practices,” she said. Also vital to their participation was the support and encouragement received from their adviser, Ms. Estelle Rose M. Lerma, RN, MAN and their new conductress, Ms. Victoria Ro. M. Katigbak.

Though their efforts were valiant, the Nursing Chorale fell short and the UST High School Glee Club emerged as the champions followed by the runners-up, UST Chorus of arts and Letters, and the UST One Voice Engineering Chorale.

Although, UST-NC was not fortunate enough to place in this year’s competition, their spirits were not dampened and they had smiles fixated all over their faces as friends, families and fellow students greeted them in the holding room after the show.

“We aimed to place in the 2011 Himig Tomasino and each of us gave our best very best. In the end, we just lifted everything to God. We’re all thankful and proud that we were able to compete again and represent our organization, alumni, and most especially out college in front of our families, supporters and opponents.”
True enough, although they did not bring home the bacon, they fought well. Good job UST-NC!

Read more...

Senior student Shines in Nursing Idol Valentine’s Day Edition

By: Diannesa April F. Golosinda

In line with the 65th anniversary celebration of the University of Santo Tomas College of Nursing (UST CON), the Nursing Central Board of Students sought to unleash the singing prowess of the Thomasian student nurses in this year’s special edition of the Nursing Idol last February 14 at the Medicine Auditorium.
Hosted by Dane Gustilo, NCBS Vice President and Raiza Wan-Wan Chua, NCBS Assistant Secretary, the competition had eight contenders from different levels who gave their best rendition of different love songs.

Six respected personalities formed the panel of judges in this year’s competition: Ms. Sundee-Pearl Arroco and Ms. Estelle Rose Lerma, UST-CoN faculty members; Mr. Paulo Azul, member of the UST Singers; Mr. Ken Lizardo, member of Coro Tomasino and a three-time judge of the contest; Ms. Armarie Cruz, one of the top 12 finalists in the Philippine Idol and Mr. Danny Javier, a member of the music icon Apo Hiking Society, who graced the stage once again after the group’s retirement on May 29 last year and performed the songs Awit ng Barkada and ‘Di Na Natuto.

Donna Mae Sison (IV-9) brought home the bacon as she serenaded the crowd with her own adaptation of Shania Twain’s You’re Still the One. The second and third places were bagged by Julius Alvendia (II-1) with his version of Erik Santos’ I’ll Never Go and Jacob Solis (II-9) who sang Bryan Adam’s Heaven, respectively.

Read more...

NASA Grabs Second Place in Pautakan 2Q11: The Quadricentennial Battle

By: Michelle Parreñas

With fifteen colleges of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) vying for the championship title, the Nursing Association of Student Achievers (NASA) emerged victorious and landed second in the team category of the Pautakan 2Q11: The Quadricentennial Battle held at the Medicine Auditorium on February 28.

The College of Nursing’s winning team was composed of Team Captain Jose Antonio Daite (IV-3) and members, Mark Deneb Armenia (IV-1), Lisha Alyanna Reyes (IV-8), Cernan Oliveros (III-8), Jailene Faye Rojas (III-9), Angelica Pineda (II-8) and NASA President Maryland Estigoy (IV-4) who also represented the college in the individual category. They were guided and supervised by NASA adviser, Ms. Kristine Gail Iglesia together with their coaches Ms. Melanie Turingan and Mr. Loen Andrei Soriano. The seven-man team ended up as a runner-up to Team Engineering and the Team Arts and Letters.

The group’s expertise and experiences in joining different intercollegiate academic competitions made them climb to the top.

“Landing on the second place is already quite an honor because there are fifteen colleges that are competing. It just goes to show that our team has the ability to win it; we just have to continue what we have already started,” Estigoy said.
With their hard work and aspiration to make a name for the College of Nursing, they studied diligently while having some fun during their training every Sunday.

“I guess we need to study and prepare even harder. The team would need to put additional focus on the areas which we deem as our waterloos such as Humanities and Math. We need to try even harder to study on our strengths such as Science, UST history and General Information. But amidst the air of competition, we must not forget to just have fun and give all our best,” beamed Estigoy.

With the support of the Nursing community, they were able to obtain what they deserved.

“In behalf of NASA, we are really very thankful that a lot of people have shown their support for our team on this year's Pautakan. We hope that the college will continue their support because in every competition that NASA joins in, it's not just for the welfare of the organization but for the whole College of Nursing as well,” she concluded.

Read more...

Animal Lovers Show off their Pets in this Year’s Pet-sonality

By: Ana Katrina Pagkalinawan

The Search for the Ideal Thomasian Nursing Pet-sonality 2011 kicked-off the University of Santo Tomas College of Nursing’s (UST CON) 65th year celebrations last February 14 in the Dean’s Garden.

The program, hosted by Michelle Lim (II-6) and Khayla Ignacio (II-5) featured eight pets competing for this year’s crown. These four-legged contenders pulled off adorable tricks which left the spectators in awe.

Winners were announced in the Medicine Auditorium right after the Nursing Idol. Shamu, a Chihuahua owned by Marivi Grace Mercado (IV-7) emerged as the winner of this year’s Petsonality while Martin Bondoc’s (II-2) Truffles, also a Chihuahua was declared the Petshionitsa.

“I really did not expect Shamu, my pet Chihuahua, to win. In fact, she does not have any special talent that I know [of]. She just eats, sleeps, plays with mojo or her bone most of the time and that’s it. I just joined the contest for fun. Being a pet lover or “mother” to my dogs, I just want to see what they are like on stage, nothing more. Nevertheless, I’m happy that Shamu won and I feel like a proud parent,” exclaimed Ms. Mercado after her win.

UST CON Faculty members Mr. Rene Tadle and Dr. Rodolfo Angeles also participated in the contest with their very own beagles in tow.

Read more...

‘Team Nursing’ Cops Second Place in Social Science Quiz Bee

By: Michelle Parreñas

The Nursing Association of Student Achievers (NASA) settled for a second-place finish in the team category of the 5th Social Science Quiz Bee held on February 10 at the Medicine Auditorium.

With the guidance of their adviser, Ms. Kristine Gail Iglesia and team coach Ms. Melanie Turingan, the participants pushed hard and tried to outsmart the pool of representatives from the other colleges. Team Captain Ma. Aristhea Resurreccion (IV-8) headed the four-member delegation together with Christine Bernadette Manalo (IV-6), Drazen Junio (III-5) and Marvin Hitosis (I-4) in the team category. Nursing beat the Education and was fighting for the first place alongside the Pharmacy but trailed behind the latter by a 10-point margin.

“We’re just continuing to fight for ourselves, for the team, the organization and most especially for the college”, said Resurrecion.

For the individual category, Nursing representative Christopher Bryan Reyes (IV-8) fell short of a few points and failed to make it to the top allowing the Engineering to take the first place while Commerce and Arts and Letters took the second and third place, respectively.

In preparation for the competition, the participants geared up by reviewing a variety of subjects such as Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology, Economics, Taxation and Agrarian Reform (ETAR), Rizal Course, Political Science (Philippine Government and Constitution), Current Events and UST History every Sunday with the help of NASA alumnus, Robi Liabres.

“The process of training and preparing for the quiz bee has never been easy for all of us. The fact that we are all newbies in this competition and the thought that Nursing has never been out of the top three posed a huge pressure upon us but at the same time it made us believe that we would be able to make it with the thought that if the alumni were able to make it, then, certainly, we also can”, Resurrecion said.

Furthermore, she added, “We just want to thank all the professors who have supported the team in their endeavors, especially to Ma’am Iglesia, for her support and Ma’am Turingan who has always been there for us, Ma’am Medrana, Ma’am Balgomera, Sir Origenes, Sir Hibek, Ma’am Villarama and Ma’am Maravilla.”
NASA first joined the competition in 2006 and from then on, they have always landed on the top three positions.

Read more...

Griffins Pawn Titans, Grab Nursing Cup Basketball Title

By: Alfred Benedict R. Garrido

February 24, 2011, Perpetual Help Gymnasium- Led by sweet shooting from guard Philip Cyrene Fernandez, the Junior Red Griffins devoured the Senior Green Titans, 66-61, to step on champion’s podium in the basketball leg of the 2010-2011 Nursing Cup.

Fernandez fired 11 points including flares of three consecutive 3-pointers early in the third quarter to spark the cold engines of the Griffins and set up an ambush for the Titan’s trouble. Alongside Fernandez’s free-flowing three’s, the Griffins gained fuel from Ramon Henry Dickson’s superb offense and Miguel Porcuna’s defensive heroics. Dickson nailed 14 points for the Juniors while Porcuna tucked 11 points and monstrous rebounds under his belt.

The green army led by Zaphiel Capuno struck for a final push under the 4 minute mark of the last period, chasing the full speed Griffins and cutting the red-themed jerseys lead to four, 59-55. With star forward Miguel Zamora fouled out with 9 points, Fernandez, Dickson, Porcuna and the rest of the gang built the needed defensive wall making sure the Seniors won’t taste the glory of the champion’s land.
“Every shot we took, either missed or made, is dedicated to all our batch mates who gave utmost support for the team”, Fernandez said. “Each of them is the reason why we became champions.”

Read more...

VENGEANCE: Nursing Women’s Football Team Ripped Medicine for Gold

By: Alfred Benedict R. Garrido

A year and ninety full minutes are not enough for the Nursing Women’s Football team to gain vengeance and leave the ghost of the past as they buried the Faculty of Medicine Women’s Football team in a dramatic penalty shootout, 5-3, crowning themselves champions of the 2010-2011 UST Goodwill Games Football tournament

After the majestic rematch of last year’s finals transpired to a scoreless full time, the fate of the game is laid on the boots of five gladiators from each army.

Nursing’s captain Nikka Aquino, who played huge in every outing, began the charge by drilling the first goal providing the lift for Nursing, 1-0. Star midfielder Lady Anne So and freshman hard hitter Neeza Velasquez traded blows against Medicine’s pure power, scratching the scoreboard at 3-3. With the scores tied and the chip on the line, Nursing loaded its final ammo. Sophomore fever Roni Mendoza stabbed the fourth dagger for Medicine’s trouble, 4-3, before Nursing’s goal keeper Shayne Palma dove in for a heroic save denying Medicine booter Carissa Dumancas’ equalizer. Before a celebrating sideline, Defender Lani Sarmiento hammered down the last nail in the grieving Medicine’s cold coffin, 5-3.

“It’s just the will to win,” said Aquino who gains her first title in three years of play for the squad. “Even if we were all tired, in pain and out of breath, we just continued to push ourselves”.

The Road to Redemption
Last year at that very moment, silence deafened the Nursing sideline and the sound of the whistle marking full time broke the team’s hearts, knowing that the 1-0 scoreboard did not favor their side. But that did not end there. While the Faculty of Medicine grabbed the coveted crown, that whistle - that ending - without their knowledge, was Nursing’s first step to redemption.

After a painful and hard summer and being refreshed by loads of rookies, the Nursing Women’s Football team emerged from being a surprise underdog last season to a full blown contender. And, after a year of teeth gnashing, they unleashed fury to start the season this year, punishing teams like the College of Accountancy and Goodwill games giant Faculty of Engineering. It turned out, the elimination round is a piece of cake, with cherries on top.

Tangled with a streaking Commerce team, the quarterfinals was uneasy after all and took a lot of effort to victor in. The unending stoppage and blow out defense by the St. Raymund’s-based booters gave Nursing a fight to the wire. Every piece of weapon that Nursing has was equally matched by the golden-themed ladies. Commerce has courage, power, will, and spirit. Name every Nursing weapon, they have it. But the difference settled late in the second half when a goal was scored. Commerce, though filled with arms in their arsenal, didn’t have Nikka Aquino. The Nursing’s captain is the sole treasure, Nursing’s time bomb exploding to blemish the boards, 1-0, and pull the team up straight into the semifinals arena.

Right after the Faculty of Medicine cemented their place in the finals, the painful memory from last season made Nursing more desperate in doing the same. But the College of Architecture, fierce as they were had other plans as they stood tall by Nursing’s way like hungry wolves craving for flesh. The February 19 showdown against Architecture for the right to face Medicine for the championship is not so different from what Nursing took from Commerce. Solid defense, energy, powerful offense, and a dose of physicality were fired by both troops driven by their will to win. It was, again, late in the second half when Architecture knew what they were missing. Despite the tough spirit showcased by the maroon-streaked force of Beato Angelico, nothing and no one on that day can be tougher than Nikka Aquino herself. Nursing’s messiah received a cleared ball from way up the field, stopped the leather with a single touch then launched a powerful strike that sent the ball at the bottom right corner of the goal and the Architecture goalkeeper in piles of dust. That single play was the final shovel of dirt piled in the Architecture’s grave.

“It was the passion, determination, and hard work that made us go this far”, Aquino says after clearing Architecture off their road to redemption. “Like what coach (Simeon Dalisay) said, you can’t step on the field and just give half of yourself, you have to give a hundred percent and nothing less”.

With that victory, the rematch that everybody had been waiting for was set to happen. The College of Nursing, with all the hard work, the sacrifice, the hunger, and the will to win, locked horns with the Faculty of Medicine who was looking to defend their title against the same team whom they left in disaster last year. With both teams filled with fuel and fire, the fight has once again taken them to their limit, giving the name in front of their shirts pride and glory.

“We both deserve to win but I think our team will be determined enough to go the extra mile and win this,” said Nursing midfielder Lady Anne So before clashing with their nemesis. The majestic shootout did not only prove the words of So, it forced history not to repeat itself as Nursing burr holed Medicine to take full grasp of the moment that they have been fighting for and took the championship to their possession.

After all the bleeding and the sacrificing, when the smoke clears and the title fully at Nursing’s hand, three Nursing stars earned individual recognition being keys to new heights reached by the squad. With unending effort and dedication in clearing lose balls, staying in front of her opponent and chasing for breaks, sophomore Lani Sarmiento was named Best Defender of the season. Known so well by her heroic save of Medicine’s equalizer in the shootout for gold, Shayne Palma was named Best Goalkeeper. Nikka Aquino, with all the powerful strikes she took, with all the blasting goals she landed, with the unmatched leadership she had, and with all the celebrations she danced, won Most Valuable Player award for the season. “I feel honored and happy to receive it,” said Aquino, “But I would not have done it without my amazing team.”

Still, the moment belongs to the whole Nursing community who saw their warriors sacrifice, bleed, and fight for what they believe in, especially to the Nursing Women’s Football team who survived the rage of disasters by winning the ultimate prize of the Thomasian sports pinnacle and earning redemption in the perfect time and in the moment they wanted it most.

Read more...