HEAVY rains marked the start of the Habagat season and spoiled the Baccalaureate Mass for the Class of 2025, prompting its postponement for Saturday, May 31, at the Quadricentennial Pavilion (QPav).
Tomorrow’s Baccalaureate Mass will be the first to be held indoors in nine years, as the annual sendoff event had been traditionally held at the UST Open Field. Two separate Masses will be held, as the 7,094 graduates exceed the 5,000-seat capacity of QPav.
Graduates from the following academic units will have their Baccalaureate Mass from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.:
- UST-Alfredo M. Velayo College of Accountancy
- Faculty of Arts and Letters
- College of Fine Arts and Design
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery
- College of Information and Computing Sciences
- Conservatory of Music
- College of Nursing
- Faculty of Pharmacy
- College of Rehabilitation Sciences
Meanwhile, the session from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. will include graduates from:
- College of Architecture
- Faculty of Civil Law
- Ecclesiastical Faculties
- College of Education
- Faculty of Engineering
- College of Commerce and Business Administration
- College of Tourism and Hospitality Management
- Graduate School
- Graduate School of Law
- Institute of Physical Education and Athletics
- College of Science
UST Secretary General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P. said the fireworks display would depend on weather conditions tomorrow, as Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) officially declared the start of the southwest monsoon season on Friday.
If the weather permits, the fireworks display will still be mounted at the UST Grandstand and Open Field after graduating students from the first and second sessions exit the Arch of the Centuries.
Because of the adjustments, Secretary General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P. and Vice Rector for Finance Fr. Roberto Luanzon Jr., O.P. will be the new Mass presiders for the first and second sessions, respectively. Filipino Dominican Prior Provincial Fr. Filemon Dela Cruz Jr., O.P. was initially set to celebrate the Mass on May 30.
Coronel told the Varsitarian that if the weather won’t disrupt tomorrow’s ceremonies again, the Class of 2025 will proceed to the UST Open Field after the second session for the Lumina Pandit rite — where they will sing the UST Hymn while gazing at the Main Building — and the pyromusical show.
The Baccalaureate Mass was first moved indoors at the Quadricentennial Pavilion in 2016 as a precaution due to expected rains, which split the Masses into two.
Postponement ‘frustrating’ but ‘good call’
The postponement of the Baccalaureate Mass was announced when students had already filled up the seats arranged at the UST Open Field, a decision that drew flak from some graduates from the Class of 2025.
“Sa pila pa lang, on the way to Grandstand, sobrang lakas na ng ulan pero pinag-proceed pa kami to our seats,” Hanne Tinio, an accountancy senior said.
By 5:17 p.m., after the processional march, students were advised by their respective departments to return to their holding rooms after persistent rains drenched the graduates.
Kevin Escosar, president of the College of Science Student Council, said the delayed suspension was “frustrating.”
“Honestly, it’s frustrating and I believe it could have been handled better since the rain started to fall already yet we still had to proceed and walk to our seats,” Escosar said.
Meanwhile, Sean Valeza, a graduating student from the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, expressed “relief” regarding the suspension.
“I’m kind of disappointed pero at the same time I was relieved na postponed na siya due to heavy rain kasi for the safety of everyone given the risks-and-benefits ratio, the risks are greater,” Valeza said.
Political science senior Mildred Jumarang said the postponement was disappointing, since exiting the Arch of the Centuries was a long-awaited experience for graduating Thomasians.
“Sayang lang dahil we have been waiting and expecting for this day. Excited kaming dumaan sa Arch and meet with our friends from different programs and colleges,” Jumarang said. Micah G. Pascua with reports from Sydney Venice V. Berba, Ella Mae A. Sison, and Amador Denzel M. Teston
