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Written by: Kim V. Dator Photo Courtesy of Engr. Madecheen S. Pangaliman, MSc UST Department of Electronics Engineering (ECE) student, Jacob Ebilane, presented their research paper entitled, “Evaluation of Handwritten Answers using Optical Character Recognition” at the 2022 Annual PAASE Meeting and Symposium (42nd APAMS) last October 13, 2022, via Zoom. Among the 15 research expertise clusters (REC), their study classified into REC 10: Computer Science, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence. In an interview, Ebilane said that the study was about a program that reads and checks handwritten answer keys to physics-based questions and then grades the entire paper of a user. He highlighted that in engineering computations, the usage of the International System of Units and Prefix (SI) is usually involved. As such, precision is measured, which led the researchers to come up with this idea. “Ang thought process namin do’n is something that would be relevant or usable with the current pandemic and even afterwards…Kung gagawa kami ng research, dapat hindi lang s’ya one-time purpose lang. Kailangan in the future, madali siyang ma-develop or pwede pa rin siyang gamitin ng ibang tao,” he mentioned. Following this, he acknowledged the assistance of his teammates throughout the preparations and their thesis advisor's encouragement where his courage to present the paper at the conference came from. Moreover, he stated that their presentation could also serve as an inspiration for the Thomasian community to do the same as him and immerse themselves in research development. The other student researchers were Ericko Louise P. Glodove and Michael Jeffrey D. Carlos; and were supervised by Engr. Ma. Madecheen S. Pangaliman, M. SC. The annual conference with the theme “Engaging Next Generation Science and Engineering,” is an active platform for Filipino scientists and engineers to share their experiences and studies in various science and engineering fields in hopes to develop the research community. The conference is organized by the Philippine-American Academy of Science and Engineering (PAASE) and was sponsored by the University.

Written by: Axel Adame Layout by: Dana Vea Plando To fearlessly start the UAAP season 85, the players and coaches from different sports categories unleashed their tigers inside as they heightened their excitement and spirit for the Thomasian community. Ejiya “Eya” Laure, from the women’s volleyball team, and Paul Matthew Manalang, from the men’s basketball team, recalibrated themselves as they are eyeing a good competition and hoping to perform better this season. Coach Bal David, head coach of the Growling Tigers, reformulated the team as they faced big adjustments that happened in the offseason, before the upcoming season of the UAAP. Eya Laure, with her team, joined Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Preseason Tournament to gain further experience and help them prepare for the upcoming UAAP season 85. “For the preparations for the Shakey’s, talagang original na maglalaro do’n is ‘yung puro mga younger generations, I mean younger teammates ko which is ‘yung mga hindi pa nakakapag-UAAP,” UST golden tigresses star and outside hitter said, as they faced the Adamson University for their first game last Saturday, September 24. “Meron lang unfortunate na nangyari na kaya ako naglaro last game, pero originally hindi talaga dapat ako maglalaro [roon], pero nasa reserved list kasi ako kaya nireplace ko ‘yung player na ‘yon,” she added. When asked about the UAAP, Laure said that it is not yet their focus now, but she is looking forward to performing better compared to last season as she thinks that their team is more prepared this coming UAAP season. Bouncing back and reaching finals this season would be possible with the help of their rookies and seniors. “I think with the younger teammates ko kasi, parang very willing sila and eager to learn, ‘yun ‘yung talagang nakita ko sa kanila, and hindi talaga sila nagsesettle for less. They work hard and prepare for the league lalo na dito sa Shakey’s,” she said. As Eya Laure is still committed to the university for season 85, she hopes for the continued support of the Thomasian community in every game in different sports in this UAAP and in volleyball this coming second term. Consequently, Growling Tigers revamped their team as they faced big adjustments in the preparation for this coming season 85. Paul Matthew Manalang gained experience as they joined the preseason league. “Syempre experience dahil ‘yung mga nakalaban namin sa offseason lalo na sa [PBA] D-League may mga experience na,” UST growling tigers point guard Paul Manalang said for his takeaway the last offseason. Preparations for the upcoming season are the part wherein players dedicate their time to various adjustments. The usual training and preparations as well as the wisdom of Coach Bal are what Manalang and his teammates are trying to cope with and adapt to fully equipped themselves this season. “‘Yung season ngayon pantay-pantay lahat ng team eh so syempre it will be a good competition for us sa lahat ng team… bibigay na namin lahat ng best namin. For the Thomasian community, thank you for always supporting us and please keep on supporting us sa simula - sa start ng season hanggang dulo,” he added. Head coach of the Growling Tigers, Coach Bal David, upon coming back, there was no mindset yet, “Nung pagtawag sa’kin ni Fr. actually nagulat ako eh, but syempre, mindset is wala pa that time, but along the way syempre first is to win. Everybody is want to win, so ‘yun lang mindset namin, to win our first game para makakuha ng more arduous at tumaas ‘yung confidence ng mga bata.” As the new head coach, Coach Bal made many adjustments for the team as they lost players probably a week before the offseason, he hopes as well that the coaching staff can adjust smoothly and help their players to step up their game this coming season. As Coach Bal said, their concern is to bring back the confidence of the players when he came back for the calling, according to him, there are so many bad habits of the players, thus, they want to turn them into good habits. When asked about his expectations, Coach Bal said that he has no expectations for the team since they have lost players this off-season. What they want is for the players to play all out, put everything on the floor, and let their love and passion for the game be seen together with the coaching staff. With the words from the student-athletes and coach, they are now ready to kick off and show the Thomasian spirit they have embedded for the upcoming UAAP Season 85 which tips off on Saturday, October 1.

Written by: Axel Adame and Kim Dator Photo by: Laurence Gabriel Arellano and Doroteo Prudenciano II The Thomasian community growled in synergy as the University of Santo Tomas (UST) conducted “Tiger Resurgence: UAAP Kickoff Party 2022,” organized by Tiger Media Network (TMN) and the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (UST-IPEA), at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion last September 28. The kickoff party aimed to send off the student-athletes and fire up their spirits for the upcoming season 85 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). The hosts, Joanne Villanueva and Kobe Dayao of the UST Tiger TV Sports, opened the event by featuring six rookies of this season’s roster in interview segments. Following this was an intermission number by the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe accompanied by the UST Yellow Jackets. A pre-recorded video performance showcasing the famous spots in the university was also featured. Afterward, the various sports teams of the university, along with their coaches, were introduced while doing the university’s signature “Go USTe!” chant across the arena. Director of UST-IPEA, Rev. Fr. Rodel S. Cansancio, officially marked the pep rally with his welcome remarks focused on UST’s goal of winning in the 85th season of UAAP. “UST will rise as one,” Rev. Fr. Cansancio pronounced as he ended his welcome remarks. To establish athlete participation, El Legaspi of UST Tiger TV hosted a game called “Tomasino Name It” which featured the sports culture in the university. The sports teams showcased their special performances subsequently. An exhibition game between the UST Alumni team and the current UST Men's basketball team also took place at the kickoff party which ended with a score of 112-93, resulting in the victory of the current line-up of the UST Growling Tigers. Along with the kickoff party, the yellow day celebration, a Thomasian tradition, was also brought back on the same day in support of the Thomasian athletes set to participate in the upcoming season of UAAP. Furthermore, some of the student-athletes from the UST Faculty of Engineering (FoE) who are set to participate in the 85th season of UAAP shared their goals and expectations for their upcoming games. Civil engineering student-athlete Marvin Joseph Trillana who will play for the university’s men’s baseball team, UST Golden Sox, mentioned that the general championship of UST and the victory of their team are his expectations for the coming season. From the UST Tiger Fencers, electronics engineering student-athlete Joseph Den Amores shared that the passion behind his fence was rooted because of his asthma and inclination in exercising. He expects a better performance of their team and their championship, together with the overall championship of UST. For Jana Elizabeth Torres, a student-athlete from Mechanical Engineering Department, the Thomasian community was the reason why she ended up playing for UST. Torres will play for the university’s women’s volleyball team, UST Growling Tigresses, this season of UAAP. Miguel Pangilinan, a civil engineering student-athlete and the UST Growling Tigers shooting guard said that the team is working on their improvement and will surely do their best for the upcoming season. “We will do our best and learn from our mistakes,” Pangilinan added. The men’s and women’s basketball teams, UST Growling Tigers and UST Golden Tigresses, will tip off on Saturday, October 1, against Adamson University at the Mall of Asia Arena. The Thomasian community will roar as they unleash the tigers bringing the phrase “UST will rise as one.”

Written by: Kateleen A . Vicente Photo by: Ray Baltazar Alunen, and Dana Arcilla The UST Tiger Media Network (TMN), alongside the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (UST-IPEA), is set to commence the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 Kickoff Party 2022 on-site on September 28 to commemorate the fifth straight general championship of the university, and all its past championships. The main celebration of the event will take place in the university’s Quadricentennial Pavilion (QPav), featuring festivities such as the Yellow Day Celebration, and the Annual Kickoff Party, where students and faculty members send off the UST varsity teams for UAAP Season 85. Before the main event begins at 1 PM, a Eucharistic Celebration in the Santissimo Rosario Parish will be held at 10 AM to open the occasion. Afterward, the Thomasian community will be introduced to the university’s current and new athletes, as well as their coaches, in the competing teams for UAAP. Moreover, the highly-anticipated UST Alumni Basketball Exhibition Game will also be carried out in the QPav Arena, three years after their last game in 2019. Thomasians will also witness the relaunch and comeback of the UST Tiger TV’s Premiere Sports Show, “The Frontrunners," which will serve as the official sports outlet of TMN for all future seasons of the UAAP, including Season 85. Meanwhile, TMN started the preseason with a series of campaigns, featuring the hashtags #TigerResurgence, #UAAPKickoffParty2022, and #UAAPSeason85 on their social media accounts, along with posters featuring Thomasian Athletes. The UAAP Season 85 Kickoff Party 2022 will be broadcasted on UST Tiger TV’s Facebook Page for those who cannot attend on-site. Kobe Dayao and Joanne Villanueva will serve as the event's main hosts while Joseph Atabay and Tatyana Austria as its field hosts.

Written by: Gerald Araco and Szarina Dela Paz Photo Courtesy of Anos Research Manufacturing and Lester Garcia More often than not, national security comes down to the quality of equipment just as much as the brave soldiers that operate them on the front lines. In the case of military transport vehicles, Anos Research Manufacturing (ARM) has become a recent game-changer in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program, having recently unveiled its brand new Squad Vehicle Charlie in Camp Aguinaldo. While Anos Research Manufacturing has predominantly been a leading figure in the firefighting industry, where they manufactured and sold over 540 of its own trucks and apparatus since 1976, it has recently ventured into designing and supplying various classes of military transport vehicles, with the Squad Vehicle Charlie set to take center stage as the first among National Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)-standard military vehicles produced entirely in the Philippines. The Squad Vehicle Charlie (SVC) is ARM’s proprietary design of an Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV). It is a high-speed, all-terrain, light utility vehicle intended for a variety of applications such as troop transport, ambulance, firetruck, and as a weapon-mountable armored vehicle. The initial SVC project started off as a design by ARM to develop a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicle to deploy against local insurgencies but soon evolved when the company discovered a far greater demand for general-purpose military vehicles similar to our previous military jeeps and our allies’ squad vehicles like the Polaris Dagor and the General Motors Defense ISV. With a six-speed manual transmission, all-wheel drive, a 3.0 Liter Turbo Diesel Engine, and a weight of 2,800 kg, the Squad Vehicle Charlie has provisions for equipment such as radio antennas, gun turret, and mobile rocket launcher, depending on its intended mission objectives. Its modular design (removable doors, panels, and components) allows it to be converted into a full armored vehicle (and many other variations) in just a matter of minutes. Putting itself ahead of domestic competitors' vehicles in the same category is its nearly 50% lower market cost without any compromise in its operational capabilities, along with the fact that all aftermarket (replacement) parts are readily available on the global market. In short, the SVC is in a class of its own. ARM’s goal is to be in partnership with the government similar to other countries’ programs with their own defense industry, much like how the US Department of Defense conducts business with the likes of Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics. ARM is promoting the revival of the Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP) program through manufacturing, distributing, and exporting our own military vehicles, starting with the “Charlie” Squad Vehicle Platform with schematics and developments for larger armored vehicles already underway. This initiative will strengthen our local defense industry, generate local employment, open more opportunities, and ensure a sustainable defense industry that will benefit all Filipinos. Of course, behind great innovations are equally great minds that toil relentlessly to bring them to life. UST beams with pride as the alma mater of ARM’s latest addition to the SVC development team; Lester Garcia. A graduate from UST Mechanical Engineering (ME) Batch 2022, Lester Garcia was instrumental in strategizing SVC’s location deployment by determining what roles and functions would be best suited to the vehicle for AFP military objectives. Garcia, along with his father, Opet, was invited to be a part of the SVC project. Having owned an owner-type jeep, the elder Garcia, through his connections in their hometown, Malabon, Bulacan, was approached by ARM. At this point, Garcia was still a 4th-year ME student, totally unaware of the buzzing opportunity of a lifetime that would follow. But, as the powers that be would have it, his knowledge and passion for vehicles would allow him to make tremendous contributions to some major needs of the SVC project; a truly remarkable accomplishment made at such a young age. As a ME graduate, Garcia noted that his collegiate program found direct bearing and applications in the development of the SVC. “This project was [built] at the exact time I took Automotive Engineering as my elective course and as we progressed on building the SVC, the elective course guided me,” stated Garcia in an interview with Thomasian Engineer representatives. To UST’s credit again, Garcia is not the only Thomasian graduate involved in the project. The SVC’s designer, John Martin Anos Garcia, is a graduate of UST Architecture while his younger brother, Stephen Anthony Anos Garcia, took up a Bachelor of Science in Commerce Major in Entrepreneurship at UST as well. “Representing the Philippines is a big honor, combined with my passion and love for cars, [is] a dream come true. I would love to continue working and fulfill the goal to show the Filipino skills to the world,” Garcia said. As for future opportunities, he added that “a lot of opportunities may come but this, today, my dreams are in line with ARM’s focus and goals.” ARM’s development of the Squad Vehicle Charlie sets a new precedent in the Philippines' ability to independently produce world-class military vehicles and equipment, leaving behind its history of outsourcing second-rate equipment from other countries. Although the SVC’s operational capabilities are yet to be put to the test, one cannot help but look on in awe at the groundbreaking strides made by ARM and its proud Thomasian members in overhauling and improving the AFP’s military assets to better uphold national defense, peace, and order in the Philippines.

Written by: G.A. Illustrated by: Obat and Kidlat In overseeing the return of face-to-face instruction, the University of Santo Tomas has found itself stymied at every turn. With the exception of the Faculty of Medicine and a handful of other colleges which currently operate comprehensive on-campus classes, the mechanics of implementation of the "limited face-to-face" agenda for other colleges remain ambiguous and limited, as the term suggests. To the university's credit, it has pledged to progressively expand on-site classes to supplement the advancements made thus far; however, reservations about the likelihood of its implementation continue to snowball behind the consensus that the university has erred too closely on the side of caution. As the first semester of A.Y. 2022-2023 has already begun in earnest and some face-to-face classes have since been conducted with great success, the contentious debate between public health and repetitive demands for more on-site instruction has shed light on the university's adamance against readmitting students back into the inner stretches of the campus on a regular basis. The jury is still out on UST’s future in fully transitioning itself out of the mostly online setup in the months to follow, but there is no doubting the scale of students clamoring for more. But, here is the unsavory truth. Behind the high attendance numbers for this semester’s inaugural Welcome & Homecoming Walks and the successful start to the limited on-site classes is a university whose doors remain mostly shut. While pandemic restrictions become steadily more lenient and other universities have been accommodating on-site classes in vastly greater capacities than before, our prestigious higher-education institution continues to stay in limbo. The Office of the Vice-Rector of Academic Affairs (OVRAA) declared early this year that the “Enriched Virtual Mode of instruction (EVM) shall remain the default mode. Instruction directed towards learning outcomes or competencies achievable through online learning shall be delivered using UST Cloud Campus,” in a memorandum dated April 29, 2022. Admittedly, the limiting circumstance of the present, that is the pandemic, validates the university’s decision to adhere to calculated vigilance. When entrusted with the tremendous responsibility for the health and safety of thousands of students, the university reserves the right to proceed with caution. When questioned on his view regarding the faculty’s stance on the limited face-to-face course offerings, a leading faculty member in UST’s Faculty of Engineering, highlighted the meticulous process of getting the green-light for on-site classes. An excerpt from his response reads “We based the courses to be offered on the CHED Memorandum stating what courses are needed to be offered for limited face-to-face classes (CHED CMO No. 19 series of 2021). Together with that, consultative meetings through town hall meetings with students and parents were done in each department to also know the concerns and insights of the stakeholders, and for them to be considered. All aspects were considered by the administration of the Faculty of Engineering in terms of preparation. Every part has been crafted carefully, including the safety considerations during the F2F classes.” From this, all students can be assured that each college in the university has done its best to accommodate as many face-to-face classes as possible while still adhering to the mandates of very strict health protocols. However, over-fastidiousness with caution has become the predominant reason for the university’s underwhelming compromise of a “plan” to deliver proper face-to-face instruction. As of this writing, the OVRAA stipulates that students may have the option to avail themselves of the EVM Hybrid Mode, which requires only the necessary number of on-site sessions/hours for competencies or intended learning outcomes in a given subject, and its alternative, the EVM Hyflex Mode, which will provide students with the option to participate in (more rigorous) face-to-face sessions or continue to participate online. While the latter appears to be some form of reprieve from purely online classes, this has not materialized as well as expected. For instance, the vast majority of available face-to-face course offerings in the Industrial, Chemical, Mechanical, and Civil Engineering departments of the Faculty of Engineering (FOE) are configured only in the EVM Hybrid Mode. Specifically, in-person instruction has been prescribed as a requirement for only the most essential modules of laboratory classes. As the rest of the laboratory modules are currently being carried out online as before, engineering students would be fortunate to tally anything close to five on-campus sessions this entire semester. The current face-to-face course offerings touted to be the first of many positive changes in the university’s means of pedagogy, leave a lot to be desired. Having established that it would be a disservice to Thomasians to maintain the Enriched Virtual Mode (EVM) as the default means of instruction, the probing question to ask is this: Why is it in our best interest to have more face-to-face classes? On paper, it appears that all the fundamentals of lecture-based courses have found adequate substitutes in the online system, thus, providing a compelling case to maintain this doctrine. The focal point of this argument is that because students have been supplied with collaborative work platforms (i.e., Google Workspace), sophisticated video conferencing applications, and a highly-organized online course site, it would not be difficult to replicate the conditions of a real-life classroom setting. If the mechanics of conducting lectures, administering tests, and providing consultations remain largely unaltered, then it trivializes the urgency for face-to-face classes. It is also easy to argue in broad strokes that online classes furnish students with practical advantages such as safety from COVID-19 woes, flexibility in schedule due to asynchronous classes, and the “supposed” conducive work setting of one's home, which is completely untrue. In reality, a survey conducted by Baticulon et.al. (2021) on the ability of Philippine medical students to proceed with online classes determined that only 41% deemed themselves fully capable of doing so with the vast majority citing the lack of ergonomically-optimized work areas, frequent exposure to distractions and family conflicts, and the increment in household responsibilities as the main barriers to successful online education. However, even if these obstacles and the logistical roadblocks (e.g. internet connectivity, gadget availability, etc.) that students face were disregarded, we must shed light on the three main pitfalls of having a mostly virtual mode of education. Firstly, online classes treat students as automatons. Mastery of highly technical fields of expertise such as engineering, architecture, information systems, etc. does not come as easily to students as the general education subjects taught in secondary school (which, ironically, will proceed with full F2F classes ahead of UST). Lecture course subjects like Mechanics, Strength of Materials, and Materials Science, none of which have F2F offerings, demand rigorous consultative exercises to ensure the proper refinement of students’ proficiency and comprehension before proceeding towards subjects of greater complexity. In fact, a survey conducted by the Statista Research Department (2021) on the perceived effectiveness of online learning in Philippine universities determined that 30% of respondents (students) rated its effectiveness between 20-50%, and 29% of students rated it below 20%, and only a mere 14% felt as though it was up to par with on-site classes at 80-100% effectiveness. The problem with a purely virtual mode of education is the attendant presumption that students can sustain a clockwork-pace in acquiring sufficient knowledge over the provided course materials. The convenience of assigning tasks to students (sometimes outside class hours) has prompted instructors to gradually lose their grip on realistic expectations. As a matter of fact, it has become increasingly common to allocate draconian deadlines to already burdensome workloads. Naturally, the pervasive effects on students’ well-being begin to show through almost immediately. Frequent burnouts, low self-esteem, fatigue, and compromised quality of academic performance have become the universal symptoms of a student in the thick of virtual education. Face-to-face instruction ensures that the pace and conditions of both professors and students are homogeneous, which minimizes the discrepancy in perspectives on what is too much or just right. Secondly, online classes project innate characteristics. The enriched virtual mode of delivery is a double-edged sword that, when wielded, can reap untold consequences. For the disciplined and precocious Thomasian, the flexibility of its schedule serves as an exercise in a habit to which they are already accustomed. For those less so, the lack of supervision and regimentation will cause them to fall into a slew of bad habits. Excessive cellphone usage, laziness, truancy, and academic dishonesty are just the first in a long line of negative traits that, by many students’ own admission, have been worsened as a consequence of online learning. Without the guiding hand of well-meaning professors, and the (positive) influence of peers to police their moves and uphold their accountability, students become manipulated by the stimulants of comfort and distractions found in virtually every corner of their homes. In a face-to-face academic setting, these distractions are curtailed by virtue of the conducive work setting that the campus provides. These help to reinforce good practices and habits that are representative of grounded Thomasians. Even if problem sets, tests, and study materials were released en masse, the existence of a culture of collective support between blockmates helps to reduce their difficulty in a manner that students who would otherwise confront them alone in an online setup cannot possibly manage. By the same token, the online system augments the polarity between confident and introverted students. The former is likely to engage in class even more intensively, while the latter would be happy to oblige their courtesy of silence, sometimes a little too well. Although a survey conducted on 529 universities in the Philippines (Baloran et. al, 2021) confirms that low student engagement in online classes may be remedied by improving lesson delivery, communication, and feedback systems, and providing ample online resources for students’ online learning needs, there is simply no way to evaluate and address such arbitrary parameters to meet these quality standards in such a short span of time. The ubiquitous burden of achieving the main course objectives in the online setup does little to give rise to the demands for improvement if adequacy itself is already difficult enough to attain. Face-to-face instruction has the unique ability to bridge the gap between these social characteristics by providing opportunities for engagement that online communication platforms cannot fulfill. Library group study sessions, group meetings, and even lunch dates with friends all contain the intrinsic features of human interaction that a Zoom or Discord Call could never hope to recreate. Its massive technological leaps notwithstanding, online correspondence will remain a subpar alternative for real-life communication. Thirdly, online classes disregard the value of organizational culture. While this point is driven more by rhetoric than pragmatics, the dispute on transitioning to full face-to-face classes does not just present the usual binary of risk versus safety. Rather, it details a more serious projection of what will become of UST students in the future should they carry on with the enriched virtual mode of classes. By virtue of their prestige, Thomasians may be better placed than students from lesser-known universities, but this advantage is neutralized by the constraints of the online system. Harking back to the point of positive influences, a shared culture of holistic values and practices can only be imprinted sincerely on the hearts and minds of students when they are personally immersed in the engagements that allow such (values and practices) to be seen and experienced. Unfortunately, the online education system divorces itself from the element of humanity. An interactive user interface on a communications platform cannot supplant the friendships and experiences that allow one to develop their capacity for socialization. As much as it is a place of work and daily toil, many people find the soothing atmosphere of the campus and the endearing company of familiar faces a much-deserved break from life. Technical mastery of one’s academic program may be imperative, and in the same vein, somewhat attainable in the virtual setup, but it is not the only thing that propels one to reach out and triumph in their aspirations. If UST is committed to rearing students to a particular standard of proficiency, values, and work ethic, then it would need to espouse the importance of organizational culture. The university is not in the wrong for taking precautions against the harm of the pandemic, but its good deed will not go unpunished. Its overreaching regard for the safety of students has compromised its role in developing in them the fortitude and qualities befitting a Thomasian. By condensing the university experience to a revolving door of lecture videos, assignments, tests, and projects without any respite found in the splendor of good company, the university is setting itself up for one too many problems to deal with in the future. After all, graduates are more than just a product of the system of academic instruction. They are also extensions of the social climate at their university. If their source of guidance has shown cold feet when standing at a crossroads, then they will take after this misguided temperament for life. Having sporadic on-site appointments on the campus is not remedy enough for the poor experience of online classes. If anything, it is worth risking the gamble to welcome students in greater numbers and frequency if it means revitalizing their morale and gusto for school. UST is still, in every respect, a revered institution. However, the more it trudges backward on this path of conservatism in the name of safety, the more it will levy on itself the cost of compromising the standard to which its students are held. It should be the university’s foremost goal now to lay out a clear roadmap to reinstate face-to-face instruction on a more rigorous, if not, full scale, because frankly, we’re all the better for it.

Written by: JF Nichols Cortez Art by: Waldy Hans De Castro As I opened my eyes, which were heavier than usual, the first thing I reached for was my buzzing phone. It was my alarm, which said it was three o’clock in the morning. My body, tired and weary, pushed itself off the bed—a mechanism I have mastered in order to get ahead of my brain before it decides to sleep again. It was not effective. Nor were the five succeeding alarms, each just five minutes apart, that I had set in anticipation of my feeble ability to stay awake. But who could blame me? The excitement and suspense prevented me from sleeping continuously, like a child unable to keep his act together the night before a field trip. In my case, however, it was the upcoming and long-overdue journey of a lifetime. At the sixth alarm, I finally had enough mental strength to get out of bed. It was about quarter to five o’clock when I finished my breakfast, took a bath, and put on my assigned navy-blue shirt. At that time, I chatted with my friends to check on them. To no surprise, some were already in a jeepney that early in the morning, while others were closing in on UST grounds. I was not shaken up by their proximity because the dorm I was staying in was just five minutes away. This might have been my closest experience to living the dorm life again. More than two years have passed since I stayed in a residence near UST, yet without fail, it seemed I would still arrive in the designated building much later than those in farther cities. Complacency is the death of dormers. Knowing that UST is just five to ten minutes away makes one believe that sprinting one side, street to street, in under two minutes is possible, preferable even. I gleefully messaged a friend—who told me he was near—to go to my dorm’s lobby before proceeding to UST so that we could walk together. He indulged my request. And there it was, a fleeting feeling I have not felt for so long. I checked my essentials—my facemask, I.D., keys, and ThOMedSS—before hurrying to the elevator. Despite my clear enthusiasm, it wasn’t out of eagerness to see him for the first time. In fact, we already did. This meeting happened less than a month ago when my friends and I decided it was high time we all had the pleasure of meeting in person. Two years of nothing but a virtual presence and, finally, there they were standing…all of them with facemasks on—a comedic coincidence had it been a different time. As we told stories, said jokes, ate together, and bonded, it felt normal. It felt right and deserving to be with friends after all we’ve been through. My only regret is that I was deprived of this bliss for more than two years. So, the enthusiasm I was exhibiting was nothing but the thrill of meeting a friend. After joining him in the lobby, we made our way to UST. But, as soon as I was no longer under the building’s entrance, I felt a familiar sensation—it was the drizzle of rain. At that moment, I realized I had forgotten a crucial item—the friend of every Thomasian—the mighty umbrella. What kind of Thomasian does not bring an umbrella during this season? A true Thomasian is always ready for rain. After rushing back for my umbrella, my friend and I continued our trip, but now against a more pronounced pour of rain. Before allowing us to enter, the UST guard glanced over our shoes up to our heads—most likely to ensure appropriate attire and the presence of an I.D.; he then requested that we present our accomplished ThOMedSS. When everything was set, he let us in. From our location, we had to walk a tad more because the Ruaño Building was still at the other end. However, I considered this serendipitous because one could enjoy the serene and cozy atmosphere of the campus, complemented by the rhythmic rain, in the early morning. It had a very Thomasian ambiance. Continuing our journey, we got a glimpse of the grandstand and a beautiful view of the wide green field. Keeping true to the serendipitous theme of the morning, we got a prelude to the main event as we walked past the Arch of the Centuries. I could not help but smile at what was in store for us. When we finally reached the Roque Ruaño Building, I parted ways with my friend as another dear friend messaged me to assist her. She was actually the reason why I woke up much earlier than what could be expected of a dormer, but nothing beats listlessness better than the request of a friend. As I hastily strolled towards her dormitory along Lacson St., it felt different. I had already walked the streets of Manila before. The atmosphere then was bleak due to the constant fear of imminent danger. But this time, the street was brimming with hope, emanating from the horde of students. It was viral, not the virus, but the festivity brought by these buoyant learners with their balloon clappers, head gear, light sticks, banners, and more. It was exhilarating to see how normal it felt—how I pray every day to be the same. It was already past the call time when I met with my dear friend, who explained that it was the excitement that became her undoing. We hurried back to Ruaño and upon entering the building, we were met with a challenge locating our assigned rooms. It was a hectic journey despite the seemingly simple route designs in Ruaño. Regardless, I got to see plenty of should-have-beens like the classrooms, the laboratories, the open area, the faculty rooms, and others whose functionalities have all been reduced to a mere screen these past two years. It was weird how nostalgic it felt, even if I didn’t spend my college life in this building. After finding our sections, we were finally on our way to QPAV. Inside the multi-purpose gymnasium, my friends and I sat on the “Ruaño” side as we watched more and more students fill the seats. We first hid our festive materials, as the next part would be the Homecoming Mass. It is always so serene to attend Mass with friends. It was delightful to see the student body in harmonious unity for such a celebration. The homily was about honoring the treasures we have in life and remembering to be grateful to all who have helped us unearth them. Those words spoke to me because it is the friends I have surrounded myself with, who have given me the strength to find joy amidst the cruel pandemic—they are my true treasures. Once the mass had ended and as the stage was being prepared for the much-awaited ROARientation, the student body, just like myself, could no longer contain our elation, so we all began to cheer our hearts out. The closer it was to getting started, the louder the uproar was. As the lights dimmed and the hosts said their intensifying greeting, the roar of the students peaked. This festival was nothing compared to what I or any of us have experienced these past years. One would be in a state of euphoria as they were swept by the sea of flickering lightsticks and reverberating shouts of everyone. We were connected not just by our joys but more strongly by our shared desire to finally belong to something greater than ourselves again—the Thomasian community. The ROARientation continued with its program. It was filled with exhilarating games, events, and moments. My mind is filled with memories of laughing and bonding with my friends, and of swimming in exuberance throughout the program. Adding to my jubilant condition was the fact that we were getting closer and closer to the final act—the Homecoming Walk. It was almost noon when the ROARientation ended, and preparations for the walk started. As we waited, we saw on the large screens the conditions outside—the rain was vigorous. Unlike most, I was not gloomy about the fact that it was raining. Compared to the uncertainties of waiting for this moment for the past two years, the strong downpour of the heavens was just a mere setback—a surprise ingredient to what would still be a delicious meal for the heart. After about thirty minutes, we were guided to the entrance of QPAV, where we began walking towards the arch. The rain had not weakened my spirit. With our opened umbrellas and wet shoes, we first circled back in front of Roque Ruaño, back to QPAV, and towards the Arch. It was amusing to see others and ourselves try our best to avoid puddles of water in our path. I thought to myself, “what could be a greater Thomasian experience than having strong rain and a Homecoming walk on the same day?” As I got a glimpse of the fountain beside the arch and heard clearly the thunderous beats of the drums, I began to prepare my heart and spirit. Getting nearer the Arch was nerve-wracking because pressure sets in the body as you try to think of how to act and behave to make the experience count. Is there something more I should be doing? A prayer? A song? A dance? Moments before entering the Arch, we decided to let out one last cheer to mark this Thomasian milestone. The act of passing through was not what made it magical. It was that, despite the two-year halt, it was finally happening and that we were with cherished friends. The path to the Arch did not merely begin at the entrance of QPAV, nor at the entrance of Roque Ruaño, nor at our beds this morning. Instead, the journey began more than two years ago—it was a long, tiring walk filled with dreadful challenges that pushed our physical, mental, and social selves to the limit. But amidst all the sorrows, tears, doubts, and constant rain, the arch was finally reached, and it was nothing but beguiling. The arch is not only a symbol of new beginnings but also of the tribulations that we once championed, igniting a spark of a more hopeful vision of the future. It was not passing through the arch that brought us growth, but the path we had to take to get there. Let what we unearth from this experience also kindle our appreciation for ourselves, the pain we endured, and the strength we exhibited to reach this moment.

Makati and Pasay from above. The section on the left is mostly in Pasay, but it also covers Barangay Bangkal, Palanan, San Isidro, and Magallanes Village in Makati near the Quirino Highway. | Google Earth Images Written by: Justine Queenie C. Bacani "Let's go party at BGC, bro!" We often hear party-goers talk about the famous and rich ‘The Fort’. The city is named "A piece of Japan at the heart of metropolitan development in Manila" by the Manila Bulletin due to its palatable, fairly-spaced infrastructures and transparent roads. Unfortunately, this seemed to be not the case outside Taguig and Makati. This is apparent in the famous image found on Google Earth by Isola Tong, an architect and visual artist, where the division of cities is visible. Dr. Mojgan Sami, who works at the intersection of urban planning, public health, and sustainability, stressed that urban planning in the Philippines hasn't changed since the colonial period. With foreign lands and sky-high structures and regulations separating colonial settlers from local populations, Manila is making the same error as the United States did 100 years ago. TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM Although Manila is home to spectacular and elevated skyscrapers as evidence of the city’s progress, it has the 4th worst traffic congestion in the world according to the Amsterdam-based TomTom International B.V. last year. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, the traffic congestion in Metro Manila dropped by 25%. It is certainly a good news for commuters, but then, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) promulgated the 'no vaccination, no ride' policy last January, which was considered too restrictive and discriminatory against commuters by the Human Rights Commission. Furthermore, Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Rep. France Castro pointed out that public transportation is a utility for the public; therefore, no one should be denied the right to use it. She also added that vaccination cards shouldn’t be used as an additional mandatory requirement for education, employment, and government transaction purposes according to Section 12 of the Republic Act 11525, or the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act. While it limits the use of public transportation, the chances are that private vehicles will be more prominent on the roadways due to the inability of some to commute. As a result, traffic congestion will still persist. The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) said it would submit proposals made by experts. During PCCI's General Membership Meeting (GMM), experts and stakeholders stated that the best way to relieve traffic congestion in the densely crowded metropolitan metropolis of Metro Manila is to enhance mass transit. Additionally, there is a need for more public transit and fewer automobiles on the road, according to Rene Santiago, a transportation expert and consultant. TRANSITION OF LEARNING MODE President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced last November that they are targeting to implement a full face-to-face learning mode. This immediately caught the attention of The Passenger Forum (TPF), stating that the government must be mindful of the increased demand on our already overstretched public transportation infrastructure. TPF Convener Primo Morillo stated that before returning to a fully face-to-face program, the government must first fix the road infrastructures. He also added that the government should at least provide immediate relief for commuters. The DOTr proposed to open additional routes and revive pre-pandemic city buses in order to ensure efficient transport. However, doing this will not make any difference because traffic congestion has always been an issue even before the pandemic. Not to mention, additional vehicles lead to heavier traffic. The transparent division of cities indicates there's a lot to improve in urban planning in the Philippines. Even Taguig, a first-class city, has its imperfections. You will see the lives of middle-class to lower-class Filipinos in Manila after you leave the cityscape. The division of lives is not only apparent between Taguig and the outside of it, but it is also between the working class and the rich as well. The government should provide a long-term solution because we have been facing these issues for a long time, yet they kept on proposing band-aid solutions such as fixing road infrastructures and reviving pre-pandemic buses. These will only make traffic congestion worse than it is. Indeed, we are tired of these. References: Atienza, K. (2022, July 10). Metro Manila public transport system not ready for return to in-person classes — commuter network. Business World. https://www.bworldonline.com/the-nation/2022/07/10/460337/metro-manila-public-transport-system-not-ready-for-return-to-in-person-classes-commuter-network/ Balinbin, A. (2021, January 14). Traffic congestion in Manila is 4th worst in the world despite lockdown. Business Wold. https://www.bworldonline.com/editors-picks/2021/01/14/338785/traffic-congestion-in-manila-is-4th-worst-in-the-world-despite-lockdown/ Business Mirror. (2022, May 19). Manila Traffic: How to Decongest the Metro. https://businessmirror.com.ph/2022/05/19/analyzing-metro-manilas-traffic-problem/ Cabuenas, J.V. (2022, July 10). Passenger Forum: Fix public transport before resuming face-to-face classes. GMA News Online. https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/837697/passenger-forum-fix-public-transport-before-resuming-face-to-face-classes/story/ Calderon, J. (2015, September 15). Manila’s Tale Of Two Cities: Where Rich And Poor Coexist. Investvine. https://investvine.com/manilas-tale-of-two-cities-where-rich-and-poor-coexist/ Commoner. (2020, June 23). The Divide in Our Cities. https://mediacommoner.medium.com/the-divide-in-our-cities-bff743e1584 Dela Cruz, R. (2022, July 15). DOTr, MMDA bare plans for resumption of F2F classes. Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1179048 Desiderio, L. (2022, May 11). Government urged to resolve road, port congestion. The Philippine Star. https://www.philstar.com/business/2022/05/11/2180132/government-urged-resolve-road-port-congestion Interaksyon. (2018, April 2). Philippines’ great divide captured in one Twitter photo. https://interaksyon.philstar.com/breaking-news/2018/04/02/123653/philippines-great-divide-captured-in-one-twitter-photo/ Javellana, G. (2022, July 13). How is the Transportation System Like in Taguig City Today. Crown Asia. https://www.crownasia.com.ph/news-and-blogs/lifestyle-blogs/selected/how-is-the-transportation-system-like-in-taguig-city-today Malasig, J. (2021, November 5). BGC releases ‘quiet zone’ advisory amid reports of vehicular noise. Interaksyon. https://interaksyon.philstar.com/trends-spotlights/2021/11/05/203892/bgc-releases-quiet-zone-advisory-amid-reports-of-vehicular-noise/ Primer. (2016, February 23). Pros and Cons of Living in the City: Bonifacio Global City. https://primer.com.ph/tips-guides/2016/02/23/pros-and-cons-of-living-in-the-city-bonifacio-global-city/ Rey, A. (2022, January 12). DOTr bars unvaccinated from public transport in Metro Manila. Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/nation/department-transportation-bars-unvaccinated-people-covid-19-public-transport/ Roome, J. (2016, June 29). Dealing with disasters – from Japan to the Philippines and back and around. World Bank. https://blogs.worldbank.org/climatechange/dealing-disasters-japan-philippines-and-back-and-around Sami, M. (2015, October 5). Create healthy cities, decolonize urban planning. Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/voices/imho/108169-create-healthy-cities-decolonize-urban-planning/ Sarao, Z. (2022, August 10). Abra earthquake damage now over P1.8B; agriculture damage over P56M. Inquirer. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1644422/abra-earthquake-damage-now-over-p1-8b-agriculture-damage-over-p56m The Philippine Star. (2022, June 23). Traffic council deploying 'mystery riders' to protect student commuters ahead of face-to-face classes. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/06/23/2190400/traffic-council-deploying-mystery-riders-protect-student-commuters-ahead-face-face-classes Zipmatch. (2014, February 6). What Is Wrong with Urban Planning in Metro Manila? https://www.zipmatch.com/blog/urban-planning-in-metro-manila/

Written by: Aryzza Antonette Aperocho and Kateleen Vicente Visuals by: Micah Polintan Every year, more than 700,000 people worldwide die due to suicide, while 77% of these global suicides transpire in low and middle-income countries where there is a scarcity of resources and services for people who need them, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This corresponds to one death occurring every 40 seconds. Suicide has also been reported to be the fourth leading cause of death globally among teenagers aged 15 to 19 in 2019, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only worsened its risk factors. With this, suicide has been a significant mental health issue that has often been neglected due to myths, taboos, and stigma enfolding it. It remains a global challenge to reduce suicide mortality; but with timely strategies, appropriate interventions, and sufficient cooperation from each one, it can be overcome. “Every death is a tragedy for family, friends, and colleagues. Yet suicides are preventable. We call on all countries to incorporate proven suicide prevention strategies into national health and education programmes in a sustainable way,” said WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. To raise awareness of suicide and to encourage inhibitory measures that would reduce global cases of both suicide and suicide attempts, the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), in collaboration with the World Health Organization, established the World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) in 2003. WSPD is a platform utilized to elucidate the role of each individual in suicide prevention as well as accentuate suicide prevention efforts implemented globally, nationally, and regionally. This helps place the needed attention on suicide and raise awareness among the government, organizations, and people regarding suicide prevention. WHO’s LIVE LIFE approach summarizes the bases of a comprehensive multisectoral suicide prevention strategy, incorporating four core interventions, which include limiting access to the means of suicide, interacting with the media for responsible reporting of suicide, fostering socio-emotional life skills in adolescents, and early identification, assessment, management, and following up on anyone who is affected by suicidal behaviors. Following this, IASP also suggests three ways that individuals can carry out in their lives to prevent suicide for WSPD 2022. The first is to reach out and listen to those who are struggling to create hope. The second is to encourage understanding and awareness to create a comfortable space for those in need. The final way is to share personal stories of recovery from suicide attempts; how they learned to continue life, and how families and friends came to live with the loss of a loved one through suicide. “Compassion, trust, and empathy go a long way in supporting someone who’s thinking of suicide,” says Professor Rory O'Connor, current IASP President, in his message for the WSPD. Suicide has always been a pressing mental health issue, damaging the lives of many people across the globe. While suicide has unfortunately been neglected due to negative connotations and stigma surrounding it, global organizations are taking steps to raise awareness, and World Suicide Prevention Day is one crucial step towards this. If you are having these thoughts, or know someone who is going through a similar situation, you can reach out and contact these hotlines: National Center for Mental Health Crisis Hotline: 0966-351-4518 Luzon-wide landline toll-free: 1553 Globe/TM Subscribers: 0966-351-4518 / 0917-899-8727 SMART/SUN/TNT Subscribers: 0908-639-2672 Philippine Red Cross: 804HOPE(4673) Globe/TM: 0917 558 4673 and 2919 Manila Lifeline Centre: (02) 896-9191 / 0917 854-9191

Written by: Mark Rafael Santos Photo by: Camille Grace Bulli Visuals by: Micah Polintan Amidst the ongoing pandemic, the University of Santo Tomas Entrance Test (USTET) has officially made its comeback for Academic Year 2023-2024 senior high school and college admissions. The All Set for USTET launched by the UST Office for Admissions last September 6, 2022 gave essential information regarding the entrance examination and also provided guidelines for the University's aspirants, emphasizing the University’s preparedness in conducting on-site examinations. The entrance examinations will run from October 1, 2022, until January 22, 2023, which will kick off at the provincial testing centers and conclude at UST-Manila Campus. Details regarding the results are still yet to be released. For updates, the UST Office of Admissions website may be visited at https://ofad.ust.edu.ph. Asst. Director of Office for Admissions, Dr. Ryan Francis Cayubit, shared the must-knows for the entrance examination; he enumerated its components—namely, English, Math, Science, and Mental Ability, with some faculties/colleges having additional assessments to be taken. Cayubit also discussed the application period for the College and Senior High aspirants, which will last from September 5, 2022, until January 6, 2023, with Learning Enhanced Program for Medicine (LEAPMed) applicants having a shorter duration, as it will end on November 18, 2022. Furthermore, he also mentioned the different testing dates and sites that will accommodate the applicants, which will be in UST Manila Campus, provincial testing centers, and international testing centers. The simplified USTET application requirements will also be effectuated, consisting only of the 2x2 ID picture, the PSA/NSO birth certificate or valid passport, and the USTET application grades form found on the USTET page. More information on the additional requirements and the testing fee based on the applicant's category can be found on the website of the UST Office of Admission. A question-and-answer forum headed by selected university staff and administrators addressed the inquiries regarding USTET requirements, health protocols, and scholarship grants provided by the university. Dr. Imelda Dakis, Director of Office for Admissions, responded to an inquiry about the effect of current grades on their passing chance in the university; she said that the average grades in English, Math, and Science are in consideration for both college and senior high applicants. The Flame, the official student publication of the UST Faculty of Arts and Letters, asked about the University's plan on the examination schedule in case the COVID-19 cases surge. In response, De Leon stated that the University depends on the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) and the national government's implementation of health protocols. The Varsitarian, the official student publication of UST, asked if unvaccinated examinees are allowed to take the test and if there will be additional protocols. Dakis relays that unvaccinated individuals are permitted to take the test, while vaccinated individuals must upload proof of their vaccination to the USTET portal. As for the scholarship grants offered by the university, Arriero mentioned that all of the available scholarship programs, Academic Scholarship, Equity Scholarship, Scholarship for the Gifted, and Student Assistance Scholarship, are to be maintained. Further, students can only avail of one scholarship type. As for the requirements for renewal: The Academic Scholarship requires a maintaining grade of 1.75 for tertiary level, with no grade lower than 3.0 or no failing grade, and an average of 89 with no grade no lower than 80 for Senior High The Scholarship for the Gifted requires active participation in all scholars’ activities and satisfactory performances in their field. The Equity Scholarship requires compliance to the agreement of external benefactors and for the scholar to only have the benefit of one scholarship in all terms. An average grade of 2.50 with no more than (1) grade of 3.0 or lower and active participation in their activities must be obtained by the student to maintain the Student Assistance Scholarship.

Written by: Aldous Dale Caballero Photo by: Dana Arcilla The University has released new guidelines on the suspension of classes during inclement weather, and the vaccination of students, faculty, and non-teaching staff. According to the Office of the Secretary-General (OSG), national or local announcements regarding the suspension of classes are to be followed by the university which means that no suspension will occur for classes, online assessments, and examinations for all levels under Signal No. 1. Under Signal No. 2, face-to-face (F2F) class suspension for the tertiary level is “discretionary on the part of the University," according to the OSG. Further, online assessments and examinations are to be suspended for the tertiary level and online sessions are to be conducted asynchronously. Classes for all levels whether F2F, synchronous, or asynchronous are to be suspended under Signal No. 3, as well as online assessments and examinations. UST Secretary General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P. said that classes are to proceed accordingly with the absence of announcement of class suspension as “guided by the principles of dialogue, flexibility, and accessibility" which are defined as follows: Dialogue: Students and academic staff are expected to communicate with their academic officials if they are placed in extraordinary situations that prevent them from participating in classes whether online or F2F. Flexibility: Academic officials shall evaluate the requests of students and academic staff to determine valid reasons that may be granted consideration and flexibility given individual contexts and concerns. Accessibility: Online synchronous sessions and hy-flex sessions shall be recorded and uploaded to the UST Cloud Campus; thus, providing the students access to the recordings as supplemental material for study. Moreover, non-vaccinated students, faculty, and non-teaching staff are now permitted to participate in limited F2F classes. Along with this, the requirement of medical insurance has been revoked as well as the “zoning policy." Although this is the case, UST Secretary-General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P. still highly urges Thomasians to be fully vaccinated and to continue availing insurance coverage for themselves. Other health protocols are maintained such as the use of face masks and hand sanitizers, physical distancing, and the daily health declaration form through the Thomasian Online Medical Support and Services (ThOMedSS). Only those with scheduled F2F classes for that specific day are allowed to enter a building by presenting their identification card (ID) or other documents such as registration forms, appointment papers, vaccination cards, and accomplished ThOMedSS health declaration form.

Written by: Aliah Nicole Brillante and Mary Andrew Dalogdog Photo by: Tori Lopez, Dana Arcilla, Niña Eblamo, and Laurence Arellano Following the recent comeback of the on-site freshmen Welcome Walk, the university has also given sophomore and junior students the opportunity to experience a face-to-face traditional Rite of Passage through the Thomasian Homecoming Activities held yesterday, August 23, 2022. The three-part activities kicked off with the annual Welcome Mass at the Quadricentennial Pavilion (QPav) presided over by Rev. Fr. Roberto L. Luanzon, Jr., O.P., SThD, DL, Vice-Rector for Finance. "Dear sophomores and juniors, we are welcoming you and thanking you also for staying kahit na two or three years na online tayo [despite two or three years of online classes]," Rev. Fr. Luanzon addressed the attendees in his homily. The students were then welcomed by the Thomasian community through the Thomasian Welcome Rites. Shortly after the mass, the ROARientation followed with an opening act from the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe, UST Prime, Arki Dance Troupe, and Engineering Dance Troupe. The following games were prepared in appreciation of the culture and traditions of the university: “Streak”, “Tomasino, Name It!”, and “Thomasian Challenge Pera o Bota.” Following this, Teatro Tomasino graced the event with a Thomasian life-inspired play, featuring the university’s top food spots and college cheers. Illumina, a representative band of the Faculty of Engineering (FoE), culminated the ROARientation with their live performance. In celebration of the school spirit, the UST Yellow Jackets led the iconic Thomasian chants—the highlight of the annual event. To top off the Homecoming Activities, the second-year and third-year students prepared to experience the Thomasian Homecoming Walk through the Arch of the Centuries. Common sentiments of excitement and nervousness were felt by the students on their return to the university to experience the said annual tradition. “Masaya po kasi parang worth it yung mga binabayad at mas nafefeel yung Thomasian Spirit 'pag face-to-face unlike online na may screen barrier,” Ray Baltazar Alunen, an Industrial Engineering sophomore, said in an interview. “Excited pero siyempre kinakabahan din po kasi ngayon lang makikita mga kaklase and other batchmates,” Kareign Lim, a Civil Engineering junior, shared the same thoughts in an interview. John Allen Aguas, a Civil Engineering sophomore, also took the chance to show his appreciation for the commitment of people working behind the scenes. “I'm happy na nagkaroon tayo ng ganitong opportunity hindi lamang para makapag-enjoy sa event, para rin magkaroon ng motivation or inspiration para maging [mas] better,” he added. The Faculty of Engineering joined the College of Architecture, College of Fine Arts and Design (CFAD), College of Rehabilitation Sciences (CRS), Faculty of Pharmacy (FoP), and Conservatory of Music for the morning batch.