[bg|grand_party|5|85|random|5|#FFF|1|Grand party celebrates Quadricentennial]
January 28, 12:22 p.m. – THOMASIAN celebrities and other personalities flocked to the UST Grandstand Thursday night (January 27) for a grand celebration to welcome the University’s 400th year anniversary.
Flashy motorcycle stunts and men rappelling from the UST Main Building to the football field opened the four-hour celebration simultaneously with performances by dance groups Hotlegs and the Maneouvers.
Amadea Medina, the oldest living alumna, was then introduced to the crowd by Arts and Letters graduate Jeffrey “Mr. Fu” Espiritu as part of the Q Prayer led by 399 other students, administrators, non-teaching staff and alumni.
Medina, 103, graduated magna cum laude from the College of Education.
“UST was then a castle in a desert in my time. Look at it now. I’m so happy to be part of it,” Medina said.
UST performers traced Miguel de Benavides’ journey of fulfilling his dream of building an institution of learning through dance.
Veteran actor Albert Martinez shared his experience as a student of the Education High School and the Faculty of Engineering.
Likewise, actor and comedian Jonathan Anthony “John” Lapus recalled his childhood dream to study in UST, and the popular hangouts of Thomasians in the 1980’s.
“I’m so happy and honored to be part of this. It brought me back to one of the happiest days of my life,” Lapus said.
The crowd was treated to performances by alumni Apple Chiu, Jamie Rivera, Janine Desiderio, RJ Jimenez, Robert Seña, Aiza Seguerra and Sarah Geronimo, who sang their own renditions of “They Don’t Really Care About Us,” “Bongga Ka Day,” “I’m Yours” and many others.
The University of Santo Tomas Action Singers Alumni Ensemble, a mixed choral ensemble composed of UST Singers alumni, sang“Isang Lahi, Isang Dugo, Isang Musika” a capella.
For the final act, Jimenez, Rivera, Chiu and Desiderio sang the Quadricentennial theme song “Ako’y Isang Tomasino,” after the much-anticipated “pyromusical” fireworks display that almost lasted four minutes.
The program also featured singer Erik Santos, politician and former actress Aiko Melendez, pop-rock band Itchyworms, and performer Gary Valenciano.
Comedienne Candy Pangilinan was tapped to organize the event. Jilly Anne A. Bulauan, Kalaine Grafil, Adrienne Jesse A. Maleficio and Darenn Rodriguez
“Medina, 103, graduated magna cum laude from the College of Education.”
Based on what I watched on UST’s USTREAM page, Medina is 99 — not 103. “Hindi niyo kakayanin ito dahil sa Marso magiging 100 years old lang naman siya,” Mr. Fu said.
Mr. Fu only joked that she was already 103 and Medina answered “Pinapatanda mo naman ako.” Please check.
Mrs. Medina is already 103 yrs. old!
E bakit ang taray ng reply? Hindi niyo ba alam ang ibig sabihin ng PR?
I’ve known, revered, & loved Ms. Medina since I was born. I’ve never met anyone as nice & kind hearted as she is. I should know, I lived w/ her for more than 28 years. She reared my sister & myself, financed our education, and taught us how to read, w/o any strings attached. She was also a 2nd Mom to the rest of my brothers & sisters. She taught our Mother to sew baby clothes, which resulted in our parents opening an infants’ wear business, which resulted in a better life for my family. She’s always there whenever we need her. She had touched our lives & made a difference. We love her so.