UST Rector Fr. Tamerlane Lana, O.P., warned 5,675 Thomasian graduates this year against taking “shortcuts to success” that may compromise Christian values during the Baccalaureate Mass last March 18 at the UST Grandstand.
“Because of wanting to get things easily, there are disvalues that often bring us trouble: lagay, lakad, lusot,” Fr. Lana said. “When instant money, power and fame are sought in the pursuit of our ambitions, we forever change those ambitions.”
“What matters in this transitory and mortal life is the effort and struggle and not necessarily the ‘top’,” the Rector said.
The University Registrar reported the following number of graduates from each college: Faculties of Ecclesiastical Studies (84); Civil Law (113); Medicine and Surgery (407); Pharmacy (502); Arts and Letters (524); and Engineering (542); and the Colleges of Education (517); Science (335); Architecture (186); Commerce and Accountancy (787); Graduate School (201); Nursing (400); Rehabilitation Sciences (73); Fine Arts and Design (274); and Conservatory of Music (22).
One of the Communication Arts graduates, Ancel Abrenica, admitted that jobs don’t come by easily, but she believes that her education in UST can help her land one.
“I am confident that I will find a job because of what I learned in UST,” Abrenica said. “If I can’t get a job then it’s because I am lazy.”
Meanwhile, University officials have reaffirmed the versatility of this school year’s Thomasian graduates in the work field, due to their “adaptable attitudes” and Catholic values.
“Success has many factors, and education is only one of them,” said Dr. Armando de Jesus, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs. “When companies hire people, they are not only looking at the education. They also look at the personal qualities of the applicant.”
Human Resource Department director Atty. Manuel Beaniza agreed.
“One thing that (companies) like about Thomasian graduates, is (their) attitude—one of the most critical factors in the acceptance of (applicants),” he said.
Companies favor Christian values including humility, adaptability, and willingness to learn, Beaniza said.
As of last March, data culled from the National Statistics Office show that only about eight million of 35 million currently employed Filipinos are college-level graduates, and that the unemployment rate in the country is 11.3 per cent. Further, the youth comprises 48.7 per cent of the unemployed in the country, statistics show.
