Thomasian Welcome Walk, at last
Rose Marie G. Barroga and Rhenn Anthony S. Taguiam
The Journalese
"Don't be insecure. You do not need make up to cover up. Being the way that you are is enough. Everybody else can see it, baby you light up the world like nobody else. If only you see what God can see, right now. He is looking at you and He is saying, "you are so beautiful."
Sounds familiar?
This is British boy band One Direction’s hit single which none other than University of Santo Tomas Rector Rev. Father Herminio V. Dagohoy, to conclude his welcome remarks during the Thomasian Welcome Walk.
Three months into the semester, freshmen are now “certified” Tomasino after passing through the historical Arch of the Centuries last September 24.
The Welcome Walk, now on its tenth year, has been an important ritual in formally receiving Thomasian freshmen, to remember their great predecessors and to take pride in sharing the University’s immense heritage.
But Fr. Dagohoy, who led the Eucharistic celebration, reminded the fresh faces of UST that the Walk alone does not make a Thomasian.
"You will now be part of a university that has produced great men, presidents, justices, heroes, and saints…This Thomasian Welcome Walk does not make you a complete and full-pledged Thomasian. Being a Thomasian is a project and that project has just begun,” he stressed.
"The Walk had been slated for June 29 but was postponed thrice due to unfavorable weather. So far, this has been the most delayed since last year it was moved only twice", said Joanna Loise Culianan, treasurer of University of Santo Tomas - Central Student Council.
Many students were disheartened with the delay.
“Muntik nang dumating sa point na hindi na ako nae-excite,” said Jaen Manegdeg, a Journalism freshie.
Some freshmen were still overjoyed and pleased with the event. “Sobrang saya. Nung nag-walk, feel na feel ko talaga sumigaw ng ‘Aba! USTe na ako’”, Manegdeg from 1JRN3, exclaimed. “At nung pumasok ako dun sa Arch, parang nag-gain ako ng knowledge!” he said jokingly.
“Masaya ako kasi masasabi ko na certified Tomasino’ na ako,” said Alexander Rosillo, an Information Systems major from the Faculty of Engineering.
This academic year 2012-2013, 10,000 applicants passed the USTET out of 46,352. "My dear students… Hindi ba’t ang gagaling naman ninyo? Hindi niyo pinapasok ang tatlumpung libo,” Dagohoy teasingly told them.
"Nakatikim na kayo ng ice cream ni Mang Tomas. Marami na rin sa inyo ang nakatikim ng mga sweets ni Ate Yema. Nabasa na rin kayo ng ulan, nakalusob na rin kayo sa baha, at marami sa inyo ang nakatulog na sa eskwelahan kahit malapit naman ang inyong tirahan," he said, eliciting cheers or shall we say, growls, from the new batch of Tigers.
Excited Thomasians then rushed through the Plaza Mayor after the mass to celebrate the much-awaited Welcome Party.
Never The Strangers, 6 Cyclemind, Calla Lily, and Banda ni Kleggy were among the bands which rocked the concert. Celebrity Thomasian Alec Dungo of PBB Teen Edition 4, The UST Yellow Jackets, and The UST Growling Tigers also participated in the event. Students were kept entertained with mini-games and prizes in between performances.
Unlike before, the Walk was divided into two batches, one in the morning and another in the afternoon. “We don't want to risk the weather dahil baka umulan ulit,” Culianan said and added, “The problem is hindi kasya ‘yung buong first year batch kaya ginawang dalawang batch.”
From 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. the Faculty of Arts and Letters, Commerce, Engineering, Music, Science, and Tourism and Hospitality Management had their Walk.
The next batch, set to pass through the Arch from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., were the Education High School, the UST High School, the Ecclesiastical Faculties, the Graduate School, the Faculty of Civil Law, Medicine and Surgery, College of Accountancy, Education, Fine Arts and Design, Architecture, Nursing, Pharmacy, Rehabilitation Sciences, and Physical Education and Athletics.
Students paraded with their self-made class banners and uniquely designed college props.
Jessica Sanchez, an Accountancy major, said, “Hindi lang ako Tomasino. Super proud na Tomasino pa.”
“Na-realize ko rin na dito sa UST, hindi lang puro aral. Binibigyan din tayo ng oras para magsaya at makapagpahinga sa studies. At dahil sa Thomasian Welcome Walk at Thomasian Welcome Party, nage-expect pa ako ng mas masasaya pang mga activities.” she added.
Thomasians pass the Arch twice at the most in their UST life, first in this welcome walk, and next as candidates for graduation during their Baccalaureate Mass. J
The Journalese
"Don't be insecure. You do not need make up to cover up. Being the way that you are is enough. Everybody else can see it, baby you light up the world like nobody else. If only you see what God can see, right now. He is looking at you and He is saying, "you are so beautiful."
Sounds familiar?
This is British boy band One Direction’s hit single which none other than University of Santo Tomas Rector Rev. Father Herminio V. Dagohoy, to conclude his welcome remarks during the Thomasian Welcome Walk.
Three months into the semester, freshmen are now “certified” Tomasino after passing through the historical Arch of the Centuries last September 24.
The Welcome Walk, now on its tenth year, has been an important ritual in formally receiving Thomasian freshmen, to remember their great predecessors and to take pride in sharing the University’s immense heritage.
But Fr. Dagohoy, who led the Eucharistic celebration, reminded the fresh faces of UST that the Walk alone does not make a Thomasian.
"You will now be part of a university that has produced great men, presidents, justices, heroes, and saints…This Thomasian Welcome Walk does not make you a complete and full-pledged Thomasian. Being a Thomasian is a project and that project has just begun,” he stressed.
"The Walk had been slated for June 29 but was postponed thrice due to unfavorable weather. So far, this has been the most delayed since last year it was moved only twice", said Joanna Loise Culianan, treasurer of University of Santo Tomas - Central Student Council.
Many students were disheartened with the delay.
“Muntik nang dumating sa point na hindi na ako nae-excite,” said Jaen Manegdeg, a Journalism freshie.
Some freshmen were still overjoyed and pleased with the event. “Sobrang saya. Nung nag-walk, feel na feel ko talaga sumigaw ng ‘Aba! USTe na ako’”, Manegdeg from 1JRN3, exclaimed. “At nung pumasok ako dun sa Arch, parang nag-gain ako ng knowledge!” he said jokingly.
“Masaya ako kasi masasabi ko na certified Tomasino’ na ako,” said Alexander Rosillo, an Information Systems major from the Faculty of Engineering.
This academic year 2012-2013, 10,000 applicants passed the USTET out of 46,352. "My dear students… Hindi ba’t ang gagaling naman ninyo? Hindi niyo pinapasok ang tatlumpung libo,” Dagohoy teasingly told them.
"Nakatikim na kayo ng ice cream ni Mang Tomas. Marami na rin sa inyo ang nakatikim ng mga sweets ni Ate Yema. Nabasa na rin kayo ng ulan, nakalusob na rin kayo sa baha, at marami sa inyo ang nakatulog na sa eskwelahan kahit malapit naman ang inyong tirahan," he said, eliciting cheers or shall we say, growls, from the new batch of Tigers.
Excited Thomasians then rushed through the Plaza Mayor after the mass to celebrate the much-awaited Welcome Party.
Never The Strangers, 6 Cyclemind, Calla Lily, and Banda ni Kleggy were among the bands which rocked the concert. Celebrity Thomasian Alec Dungo of PBB Teen Edition 4, The UST Yellow Jackets, and The UST Growling Tigers also participated in the event. Students were kept entertained with mini-games and prizes in between performances.
Unlike before, the Walk was divided into two batches, one in the morning and another in the afternoon. “We don't want to risk the weather dahil baka umulan ulit,” Culianan said and added, “The problem is hindi kasya ‘yung buong first year batch kaya ginawang dalawang batch.”
From 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. the Faculty of Arts and Letters, Commerce, Engineering, Music, Science, and Tourism and Hospitality Management had their Walk.
The next batch, set to pass through the Arch from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., were the Education High School, the UST High School, the Ecclesiastical Faculties, the Graduate School, the Faculty of Civil Law, Medicine and Surgery, College of Accountancy, Education, Fine Arts and Design, Architecture, Nursing, Pharmacy, Rehabilitation Sciences, and Physical Education and Athletics.
Students paraded with their self-made class banners and uniquely designed college props.
Jessica Sanchez, an Accountancy major, said, “Hindi lang ako Tomasino. Super proud na Tomasino pa.”
“Na-realize ko rin na dito sa UST, hindi lang puro aral. Binibigyan din tayo ng oras para magsaya at makapagpahinga sa studies. At dahil sa Thomasian Welcome Walk at Thomasian Welcome Party, nage-expect pa ako ng mas masasaya pang mga activities.” she added.
Thomasians pass the Arch twice at the most in their UST life, first in this welcome walk, and next as candidates for graduation during their Baccalaureate Mass. J