THOMASIANS dedicated a week to honoring Lolo Garfield, one of the University’s most recognizable campus cats, who died on Aug. 19.
The orange tabby, named after the famous comic-strip character, died due to multiple illnesses. Considered one of the oldest and most familiar cats on campus, Garfield had been a fixture at UST since before the pandemic, endearing himself to students and staff.
He was often seen lounging near the San Martin de Porres Building or wandering at the Dapitan Street side of the campus, from the Thomas Aquinas Research Center to the Tan Yan Kee Building, St. Raymund de Peñafort Building, the Botanical Garden, and even UST Hospital.
Garfield was a companion and a symbol of resilience to many, said Simonette Balajadia, a retired staff member of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery (FMS), who looked after him.
With few people on campus during the pandemic, Balajadia became Garfield’s primary caretaker and developed a deep fondness for the feline.
“He would always come running to me when he heard the rattling of the food container I always brought with me,” Balajadia recalled. “He would follow me around until I gave him food.”
As the campus cat population grew in recent years, Garfield remained one of the most beloved strays, drawing care from both students and staff.
FMS staff member Katrina Melad, also a cat lover, joined Balajadia in caring for Garfield, saying feeding the cats at their building quickly became part of her routine. She remembered how Garfield brightened her long workdays.
“Sometimes, just a mere call to our cats and letting us pet them uplifts us and [takes] our stresses away,” Melad said.
Caretakers described Garfield as “aloof but affectionate,” a senior cat who, in his later years, would sometimes rest on the laps of those who petted him.
Garfield had long battled colds but always recovered. His health worsened after successive typhoons — “Crising,” “Dante,” and “Emong” — along with strong monsoon rains that left him frail and unable to eat.
He was diagnosed with severe dehydration, respiratory illness, and a parasite (Giardia lamblia) that caused intestinal disease. Tests also revealed multiple viral infections, including feline coronavirus and panleukopenia, or feline distemper, and kidney infection.
Garfield was admitted to a veterinary clinic on July 29, and received supplements and antibiotics. After some improvement, the cat eventually succumbed to illnesses.
Despite financial challenges, his caretakers ensured Garfield received a proper funeral — a final gesture of how deeply the cat was cherished by the Thomasian community.
Balajadia and Melad, together with the UST Cats and Animal Welfare Act group, organized memorials for Garfield at the San Martin De Porres Building and at the Quadricentennial Park on Aug. 29 and Sept. 3-4.
Memorial displays featured images of Garfield with Thomasians, as well as mementos dedicated to the beloved cat.
