May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
May the rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand
– an Irish blessing
THIS is my first and last time to write a column in this venerable page of the Varsitarian. Granted this right, I want to express what I have observed inside University for the past school year. I have noticed that UST has become more pro-active in responding to socio-political issues. During the opening of classes last June, the Fr. Rector Tamerlane Lana,O.P. called on Thomasians to become “advocates of hope.” During the coup crisis, University officials condemned the coup attempt as reported in the Varsitarian. UST rallied behind Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr. to stop his impeachment. Before the May elections, UST even created a voters education initiative to enlighten the people in choosing their candidate.
In science and technology, UST has improved and put greater efforts in research development. With the Thomas Aquinas Research Complex, which houses state-of-the-art laboratory facilities for the pure and applied sciences, UST has advanced in the frontier of research.
According to Dr. Fortunato Sevilla, dean of the College of Science, international linkages in research are also growing. This shows that there is already an established “culture” of research inside the University.
***
Every closure is solemn. Somewhere in solitude, I pondered on this thought. A door being closed and the lingering silence it brings after the closing. A graduation ceremony. Or the ringing down of the curtains in a stage. What is it with endings?
I do not want to sound too sentimental. But I can’t help it, the Varsitarian has been my home and support for the last two years of my stay here in UST. I met here the best people who became my friends and stayed there during my ups and downs.
First, I would like to offer my gratitude to God. Thank you, Lord, for loving and guiding me always.
To Sir Lito, our publications adviser, I can’t thank you enough, Sir, for all the kindness and trust you have given me. Without your help, I would not be where I am now.
To the El gimikero juniors, Dx and Alder, you already know how thankful I am to you. May the hinges of our friendship never go rusty.
To Natasha, wherever the wind may bring us, you will always be an inspiration and my best friend. Glad you are now a Harry Potter fan.
To my fellow outgoing Varsi staffers, Jo, Geoff, Melvs, Jules, Nat, Dx, Alder, Cherrie, Djinn, RJ, Billy, Abbie, and Stephan, good luck on our careers.
To the Varsi staffers left behind, goodluck.
To my sister in the Sci-Tech section, Cherrie, I am grateful you went to the Sci-Tech. Without you, our readers may not have known a lot of health issues.
To the new members of the Sci-Tech family, Nick, Reagan, and Jeff, do your best. Remember, our section is extraordinary. The Varsitarian is the only college paper in the country that has a Sci-Tech section.
And to Mhay, you are still the one that makes me happy. But as you have said, some things in this world are not meant to be. Until we meet again.
And when this column ends, there will be the period, just a mere period to end what I have written. It would be an ending, but for me, it would be a new beginning.
