THE PONTIFICAL University sent off a total of 8,794 graduates in this year’s Baccalaureate Mass, which was followed by a boisterous march out of the historic Arch of the Centuries.
Rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. urged the graduating batch to make their lives a “legacy” for the other Thomasians to emulate and follow.
“Do not prioritize personal ambition over genuine service and self-referential interest over the common good,” Dagohoy said in his homily on Thursday.
He said Thomasians should recognize God’s actions in their lives, which are part of their success as graduating students.
“Everything that we do would never be enough to unleash the power of our dreams unless God has touched us by his hand. [I]t is time for us to let you go. Do not lose that space where God could easily touch you when you feel that your life is no longer enough for everything. God suffices,” he said.
Graduating students were given “mission crosses” as a symbol of their lifelong mission to put their Thomasian education to good use outside UST.
The Mass ended with the “ceremony of light” to remind the graduating students of their duty to spread the light of the Christian faith.
A pyro-musical display accompanied by songs from the hit movie “The Greatest Showman” capped off the rites, followed by a recessional parade through the Arch of the Centuries signifying the end of the students’ college life.
This year's pyro-musical display is accompanied by songs from the movie "The Greatest Showman." #USTBaccMass2018 pic.twitter.com/AAUmGYy3Tt
— The Varsitarian (@varsitarianust) May 24, 2018
The Faculty of Arts and Letters has the biggest number of graduating students this academic year with 1,187, followed by the Faculty of Engineering with 777 and the Faculty of Pharmacy with 774 candidates for graduation.
The number of graduating students per faculty and college this year is as follows: Accountancy (712), Architecture (274), Canon Law (16), Civil Law (126), Commerce (711) Education (371), Faculty of Philosophy (22), Fine Arts and Design (547), Graduate School (250), Institute of Information and Computing Sciences (546), Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (143), Medicine and Surgery (479 with 20 clinical audiology graduates), Music (50), Nursing (361), Rehabilitation Sciences (248), Sacred Theology (58), Science (660) and Tourism and Hospitality Management (462).
