AFTER being suspended for a year, Teatro Tomasino is back on the official list among recognized University-wide student organizations, recently staging a comeback at the freshmen recruitment line.
What stemmed from an off-campus activity last year has brought a lesson to the more than three-decade-old theatre guild and other student organizations.
The suspension was triggered by non-compliance with rules set by the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) and aggravated by the suicide of a member during an activity at Fernandina Suites in Cubao, Quezon City in 2009.
This incident prompted the Office of the Secretary General to issue a circular last May 2009, banning student activities outside the campus.
Teatro Tomasino artistic director John Paul Gonzales said the group holds an off-campus activity during summer breaks after OSA’s approval. But last year, they were not able to submit the necessary documents, assuming a letter of approval was not necessary since the school year had ended.
“We pursued the activity without submitting the required papers, because we did not know that the date (March 2009) of our off-campus activity was still covered by the academic calendar,” Gonzales said.
He refused to disclose more information about the suicide incident, saying the case had been closed and that it was better not to talk about it.
He said the organization’s recruitment and training programs have been hampered because of the suspension.
“Even though our former members did not leave, their commitment declined,” he said. “Only 28 members were left and only 15 are actively participating in our production [this year]. Perhaps the incident and the suspension made the members less interested.”
Arabel Ada Arquiza, OSA office assistant for student activities, said OSA usually releases the requirements for recognition in January.
“Then from there, we will be giving them (organizations) three months to submit,” she said.
OSA declined to disclose details regarding Teatro Tomasino’s suspension, saying the case is highly confidential and had already been settled.
“Teatro [Tomasino’s] case was special. Usually, organizations become unrecognized when they fail to attend the annual leadership training, or when they fail to submit the requirements before our prescribed deadline,” Arquiza said.
Established in 1977 by Myrna Hilario, Teatro Tomasino is the first university-wide theater guild organization of UST. It has produced alumni like Star Cinema Executive Roxy Liquigan and film director Wenn Deramas, TV host John Lapus, who is also the guild’s professional adviser, and actor Piolo Pascual. Ian Carlo B. Antonio
