For the first time since 2019, the University will open its gates—and the Arch of the Centuries—exclusively to incoming college freshmen for the Thomasian Welcome Walk on Aug. 9.
The Office of the Secretary General on Wednesday released a circular stating that the traditional Welcome Walk, along with the Welcome Mass and ROARientation for college freshmen, would be held onsite.
UST Secretary General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P. told the Varsitarian that only incoming freshmen would participate in the Welcome Walk. There will be no separate Welcome Walk for incoming second-year and third-year students, he said.
There will be two batches for the freshman rites: one that will start at 8 a.m. and another that will start at 2 p.m.
The morning batch will have their Welcome Mass at 8 a.m., ROARientation at 9 a.m., and Welcome Walk at 11 a.m.
The afternoon batch will have their Welcome Mass at 2 p.m., ROARientation at 3 p.m., and Welcome Walk at 5 p.m.
At 6 p.m. on Aug. 9, the new tiger statue and UST block letters at the Plaza Mayor will also be unveiled in an “unboxing”-style manner, Coronel said.
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Incoming high school freshmen will have their in-person “ALAB 2022” orientation on Aug. 10. As of July 13, it has yet to be determined whether high school and senior high school (SHS) students will have a rite of passage through the Arch of the Centuries, UST SHS Student Council president-elect Kenshin Mamuad told the Varsitarian.*
The University’s “onboarding season” for Academic Year 2022 to 2023 will commence on Aug. 3 with the first of the triduum Masses in honor of St. Dominic de Guzman.
The Misa and Discurso de Apertura will be on Aug. 4 at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., respectively.
The orientation for the University’s library, counseling, student welfare and development, educational technology, facilities management and health services will be held virtually on Aug. 5 from 8 a.m. to 12 nn. A procession at 3:30 p.m. will precede the final triduum and University Mass in honor of St. Dominic, which will be held at 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively.
There will be no classes on Aug. 8.
Regular classes will commence on Aug. 9.
*Editor’s note: Details in the story regarding the orientation activities for high school and senior high school freshmen have been edited for accuracy and clarity at 9:24 p.m.
