NEWLY MINTED Thomasians should treat the University as a community that would mold them into solution-makers, a Dominican priest said.
In his homily during the afternoon Mass of the welcome rites attended by incoming first-year students, Fr. Art Pangan, O.P. said UST would give freshmen an outlook of reality, similar to how they were raised by their own families.
“Like all families, UST may not be perfect. It does not give you an illusion of a perfect world; it gives you a foretaste and a preparatory experience of the real life beyond its walls,” he said on Wednesday, Aug. 6.
“UST will not feed you with illusions because UST is forming you to be the solution,” he said before some 5,000 freshies at the Quadricentennial Pavilion.
Pangan said the new breed of Thomasians should not fear making mistakes in their second home, UST, as the institution is a place where they can improve.
“If you commit mistakes, if you have missteps, do not hesitate to seek help immediately,” he said.
Pangan also reminded the students to remain grounded in the values taught by their households.
“I hope coming to UST does not uproot you [from] your families. May you remain ever rooted in them. Your families are important in your Thomasian journey,” he said.
“Pumunta kayo sa UST na bitbit ang mga pabaon ng pamilya, ng mga kinilala niyong pamilya, at ang magandang pasalubong sa kanila sa bawat pag-uwi ay ang inyong Thomasian identity,” he said.
The University has so far enrolled 10,381 freshmen to its Manila campus in Academic Year 2025-2026.
The “ROARientation” and Welcome Mass were followed by the traditional Welcome Walk, in which the freshmen passed through the Arch of the Centuries.
The historic arch is the portal of the original UST campus in Intramuros that was moved to Sampaloc after World War 2.
The Welcome Party for freshmen will take place on Aug. 7 at the Quadricentennial Pavilion.
