“Walang forever.”
UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. on Friday reminded the 8,926 graduating students of Batch 2022 that all things would come to an end, as he pushed them to not be afraid of seeking new beginnings.
“Mabilis tumakbo ang panahon. Maikli lang ang apat o limang taon. Your time is almost up and very soon, it will be time for you to go,” Ang said in his homily during the Baccalaureate Mass for Batch 2022 at the UST Grandstand and Open Field.
“After this Baccalaureate Mass, you will have your respective commencement exercises. Slowly, it will dawn on you that your life as a student in your academic unit is finished, and is completed. Consummatum est (It is finished),” Ang added.
But according to the Rector, endings should not be looked at with a wistful eye but with a hopeful view.
“Oo, totoong sinasabi ko na walang forever. Lahat may katapusan, pati ang inyong pag-aaral. Kaya lang, ang inyong pagtatapos ay hindi nangangahulugang pagtigil,” Ang said.
“Ang pagtatapos ay bagong pagsisimula. Ang pagtatapos ay pagbubukas ng maraming pinto na magbibigay ng pagkakataon at oportunidad para sa inyo para maabot ninyo ang tugatog ng tagumpay,” he added.
The Baccalaureate Mass for Batch 2022 kicked off the University’s June-wide graduation season and was the first massive in-person UST event since the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Baccalaureate Mass was followed by send-off rites, namely the Ceremony of Light and the exit through the Arch of the Centuries.
Batch 2022 consisted mostly of the first students to finish the K-12 program in 2018.
Another Baccalaureate Mass for batches 2020 and 2021 will be held on June 4 at 4 p.m.
Face-to-face solemn investures for all academic units of Batch 2022 are scheduled for June 6 to 30.
Graduates from batches 2020 and 2021, except those from the Senior High School, are also set to have their solemn investitures in June.
