Dec. 16, 4:40 p.m. – This Christmas, think about others rather than yourself.
Reminding Thomasians of what Christmas should be about, the Rector spoke about two things: forming good habits and reaching out to others.
In his homily at the annual Paskuhan Mass Thursday night, Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, O.P., Rector of UST, said good habits translate to good character, which is the hallmark of a happy and successful person.
“Christmas, like anything else, will not make us happy, peaceful, and joyful; Christmas is what we make of it,” De la Rosa said. “Kaya malungkot ang Pasko sa iba ay sapagkat iniisip lamang nila ay ang kanilang sariling kasiyahan o kaligayahan. Subalit kung ang bawat isa sa atin ay mag-iisip ng kapakanan ng iba, marahil magiging masaya at makahulugan at masagana ang ating Pasko.”
“If you start doing today what you planned to do a long time ago, our Lord Jesus Christ tells us that you are like a person who builds his future on a firm foundation,” he added.
The traditional “Panunuluyan” – depicting St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary’s search for an inn in Bethlehem – was held before the Mass at Plaza Mayor. Ideal Thomasian Personalities first runners-up Michael Cruz and Sharmaine Reyes portrayed St. Joseph and Mary, respectively.
The Mass offerings will be given to the Dominican Order’s mission in the Calayan and Camiguin de Babuyanes Islands. Meanwhile, an estimated P300,000 from the Human Resource Department and the Colleges of Education, Tourism and Hospitality Management, and Commerce and Business Administration was donated to the University’s Quadricentennial centerpiece project “Simbahayan.”
The Eucharistic Celebration was followed by a festive agape with food stations scattered in the University. “[The agape] is a way of promoting camaraderie and unity among students,” said Student Organizations Coordinating Council President Rolando Vittorio Gatmaitan, Jr.
Only students with valid UST ID’s and food containers were given food like lechong manok, lechong baboy, and lechong baka.
Performances from Kamikazee, Parokya Ni Edgar, and dance troupes from different colleges were staged this year for the first time after the Mass. The mini-concert, which ended at 10 p.m., was exclusive to the UST community.
Today’s Paskuhan proper is expected to draw 150,000. The theme is “Paskuhan 2011: Pagsalubong sa Ikalimang Siglo.” Rafael L. Antonio and Reden D. Madrid
