Written by: Miguel Ballecer and Mary Andrew Dalogdog
Photos by: Enzo Aganon, Niña Eblamo, and Christian Mungcal
With the conclusion of another academic year, UST congratulated the Graduating Class of 2021, the second batch to exit the university online, through a virtual send-off celebration yesterday.
The university carried out the traditional baccalaureate mass, send-off proper, and exit through the Arch of the Centuries via live stream at the UST official, and UST Tiger TV Facebook page, in UST's Minecraft server.
Baccalaureate Mass
The celebration started with the baccalaureate mass presided over by Very Rev. Fr. Richard G. Ang, O.P., university rector.
In his homily, he emphasized that all the graduates are achievers, including those without honors, thus, deserve to be recognized.
Furthermore, he also stated that no matter the amount of success one achieves, gratitude and contentment must never be forgotten. "For after contentment, comes happiness," Very Rev. Fr. Ang added.
Send-Off Proper
To commence the program, Francisco De Guzman Jr.’s arrangement of Andra Day’s “Rise Up” was performed by Ruth Ezra O. Brillo, Hannie Jade Del Mundo, Anya Laurino, Carlos Romero, Ryan Tamondong, Rosette Valencia, Larian Villamarin, UST Symphony Orchestra, Coro Tomasino, and the Liturgikon Vocal Ensemble.
Clips of Thomasian students were flashed on the screen throughout the performance, showing their messages of congratulations.
After the performance, Aven Raina H. Hernandez, Rector’s Academic Awardee from the College of Tourism and Hospitality Management, delivered her graduation message. Her speech focused on looking back on their college journey, and describing how this will continue to impact them as they step into the real world.
"The struggles that we have endured in the university have shaped us to be better, to be wiser," she said.
Dr. Cheryl R. Peralta, Ph.D., vice-rector of academics, and each faculty/college dean then congratulated the batch.
Very Rev. Fr. Ang also delivered his message to the batch, wherein he encouraged them to "go fly and glide over the horizon."
Proving the Thomasian excellence, the following alumni were interviewed as to how Thomasians always leave a mark in the workplace: Michael Angelo Malicsi, HR Business Partner of Goldilocks Bakeshop, Inc.; Kane Errol Choa, VP for Corporate Communications of ABS-CBN Corp.; Zimonette Soriao, Operations Manager of Shell Philippines; and Herbert Hernandez, Founding Partner of Gigil, the Ideas Company.
Before the end of the program, Asst. Prof. Ma. Austrelegina E. Alfornon, and Ruth Ezra O. Brillo, accompanied by Ayman Linzag, performed the song "For Good" composed by Stephen Schwartz.
Br. Angelo Lorenzo Salvacion, Rector’s Academic Awardee from the Faculty of Sacred Theology, gave his message of thanks to everyone who became part of his journey in the university.
Virtual Exit through Arch of the Centuries
With the theme "Eyes on the Prize: The Batch 2021 Virtual Sendoff Party," the Thomasian tradition of exiting through the Arch of the Centuries was executed through the university’s Minecraft server.
Each college had at least one representative inside the improved server, formerly used for the welcome walk last academic year.
The number of graduates per faculty/college was specified by the hosts, with 54 graduates coming from the Faculty of Engineering.
In between the virtual exit of the graduates, performances were done.
The event was hosted by Kobe Dayao and Danielle Chingcuanco of the UST Tiger TV.
Charles Nobleza, a student from the College of Information and Computing Sciences, is the founder of the Minecraft server used for the virtual exit.
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