THOMASIAN ENGINEER Volume VIII, Issue No. 1 • AUGUST to DECEMBER 2022
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS
LITERARY
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Winter Solstice EDITORIAL
MARTYRS FOR DEVELOPMENT PAGE 5
FEATURES
ANNUAL UST PASKUHAN FESTIVITIES
RELIT ESPAÑA F
WRITTEN BY : Szarina dela Paz, Doroteo D. Prudenciano II, Aliah Nicole C. Brillante, and Carl Christian Calderon
or the first time since the dawn of the COVID-19 pandemic, UST Paskuhan Festivities were held in an in-person setup, with the theme, “Pananabik, Pagbabalik, at Panunumbalik,” launched with the Panunuluyan at Plaza Mayor last December 1, 2022. The opening mass, Panunuluyan, was followed by Agape, a Greek word for the “highest form of charity and love” and is also known as the traditional Thomasian Christmas Feast, held the following day. Before the Agape’s program proper, students claimed the food packs provided using the food stubs distributed by the University from November 26 to December 1, 2022. Each student was provided one food stub throughout that time period. UST Rector Very Rev. Fr. Richard G. Ang, O.P. presided over a bestowment of blessings, which commenced the tree-lighting event. Assistant to the Rector for UST General Santos, Academician Prof. Maribel G. Nonato, PhD, and Assistant to the Rector for UST Sta. Rosa, Prof. Philipina Marcelo, PhD, led the ceremonial lighting of the Christmas tree. Following this were the performances of Original Pilipino Music (OPM) by the UST Symphony Orchestra, UST Singers, Liturgikon Vocal Ensemble, Coro Tomasino, conductor Micheal Jacinto, and musicians from the Conservatory of Music. The UST Rector then officially declared the formal opening of the Paskuhan Festivities 2022. lights, parols, and the University’s Christmas tree were lit followed by a majestic display of fireworks. Thereafter, a traditional siren located at the top of the UST Main Building was rung as a call to Thomasians from around the world. Very Rev. Fr. Ang pondered on the essence of this year’s
Paskuhan in his speech to the Thomasian community, serving both as a reflection of the year passed and a reminder for the year ahead. “Mayroong pananabik [sa ating] pagbabalik sa Unibersidad [at] panunumbalik, which is the act of restoration,” Fr. Ang emphasized in his message. On December 7, the University-wide Advent Recollection was conducted via Zoom and was preceded by the Paskuhan Mass and the start of Simbang Gabi on December 16. Being the most-anticipated festivity this Paskuhan season, about 51,000 Thomasians were in attendance for the Paskuhan Concert last December 19 which was kick-started with an exhibition performance by the UST Yellow Jackets (YJ) in front of the UST Main Building. “This is our reward for our finals week and hopefully we all did well. This is different kasi it’s a Monday, different from our previous Paskuhans, we had Thursdays and Fridays. So hope [that] we could all enjoy this as a reward after the exam,” UST Chemical Engineering Society (ChES) Adviser Engr. Aldrin Lorrenz Chan, MSc, said. Meanwhile, UST Civil Engineering (CE) Department Chair Engr. Rajiv Eldon Abdullah, MEng., mentioned, “I think this Paskuhan is a redemption and is also a part of hope din kasi we’re transitioning back to more on-site classes. It’s nice to see happy faces ngayon and sana okay lahat ng grades nila for final exams.” Guest performer Earl Generao set the stage for the concert as the first act. This was followed by other guest performances from Dotty’s World, Kenaniah, and Soapdish. UST Faculty of Engineering’s (FoE) band Illumina also graced the stage, together with fellow Thomasian bands Lucy and
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“HOME” AWAY FROM HOME
LAYOUT BY : Jefferson Ortiz and Reinehard Aytona PHOTOS BY : Laurence Arellano, Jeremy Edera, Aldea Mendoza, and Khristel Penoliar
Sean Archer. This lineup emerged as winners from the “Tunog Tomasino: Stellaris Bound” battle of the bands held earlier this month. “Wala kami masabi, iba kasi yung experience, matagal na naming pinangarap ‘to, ito na yun. Sana maenjoy niyo ‘yung Paskuhan niyo this year lalo na at kababalik lang natin,” Illumina said after their performance. College-based and university-wide dance troupes, including UST Salinggawi, who bagged the 3rd place in the recently concluded UAAP Cheerdance Competition, and Engineering DT jived with the crowd with their dance performances. The concert welcomed three guest performers to the stage. Solo artist Adie serenaded the crowd with his heart-melting song, “Tahanan,” among others. Returning for their third Paskuhan guesting, Lola Amour energized the crowd with their hits “Pwede Ba” and “Fallen.” To end the night, prominent OPM band Mayonnaise hyped the Thomasian crowd with their hit songs “Tayo na lang Dalawa,” “Bakit Pt.2,” and their famous “Jopay.” The Paskuhan celebration was concluded with the much-awaited eight-minute pyro-musical fireworks display with the Paskuhan theme and the singing of the UST hymn. CE sophomore Timothy Sagun said, “Singing along with the crowd and witnessing the eight-minute-long fireworks display really made my first face-to-face Paskuhan a memorable one.” University officials announced that both face-to-face festivities were held exclusively for Thomasian students and alumni. In anticipation of the large volume of attendees, the University declared the Thomasian-exclusive festivities a carless day. Long entrance queues were also present due to heightened security measures amid the pandemic.
THOMASIAN WELCOMING TRADITIONS RETURN AFTER TWO-YEAR HALT WRITTEN BY : Szarina dela Paz, Doroteo Prudenciano II, Aliah Nicole Brillante, and Mary Andrew Dalogdog
PHOTO BY : Khristel Penoliar
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fter a two-year halt, the University of Santo Tomas’ Thomasian Welcome Walk made its comeback for newly admitted freshmen students while a Homecoming Walk was held for sophomore and junior Thomasians, last August 9 and 23, 2022, respectively. The two batches of Thomasians were not able to experience the traditional face-to-face Rite of Passage due to the COVID-19 outbreak last 2020. This paved way for the “Unearthing the Treasure” themed returning walk. This was also the first Thomasian tradition event the two batches experienced on-site, signifying their homecoming. Almost 10,000 freshmen, including 1,286 freshmen from the UST Faculty of Engineering (FoE), entered the Arch of the Centuries. The new UST block letters and tiger statue were also unboxed in the University’s Plaza Mayor later that day.
UST Vice Rector, Fr. Isaias Tiongco, O.P., presided over the Welcome Mass in the Quadricentennial Pavilion (QPav), where he reminded the first-year students to remain authentic as they embark on a new chapter of their lives. Performances from the University’s pride, UST Yellow Jackets (UST-YJ), Conservatory of Music Singers, Ba Duancen, UST Prime, UST Ronins, UST Galvanize, Sinag Ballroom Dance Company, Symphony Orchestra, UST Singers, and UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe (UST-SDT), were showcased in the ROARientation. “Nakakatuwa siya dahil maeexperience na namin ‘yung buhay ng isang Thomasian at nakakatuwa na nakita rin namin for the first time yung mga friends namin [in person] rather than online,” Johann Sebastien M. Vizconde, Industrial Engineering (IE) freshman, said in an interview. ing Dance Troupe, followed by a Thomasian life-inspired play by Teatro Tomasino. Illumina, a band from the UST-FoE, culminated the ROARientation with their live performance. In celebration of the school spirit, the UST-YJ led the iconic Thomasian chants.
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