UST VICE Rector for Research and Innovation Fr. Jannel Abogado, O.P. advised Thomasians to nurture the gifts and talents they possess by actively involving themselves in their education and extracurricular activities.
In his homily during the third and final Mass for the “homecoming” rites for sophomores and juniors at the Quadricentennial Pavilion, Abogado said students could lose “treasures” by neglecting their academic opportunities.
“If you do not cultivate your gifts and talents to the opportunities that you have, then it is likely that you will not be able to give birth to a [better version of yourself],” Abogado said.
“Labor here means the need for you to be actively involved in your education. It requires studying hard for your academics, participating in extracurricular activities to cultivate your social and emotional life, and also taking part in religious activities to improve your religious experience and deepen your relationship with God,” he added.
Abogado said UST would do its best to assist students in their efforts to nurture their talents and gifts and develop the core values of competence, compassion and commitment (3Cs) by letting them “grow with experience.”
“You do not just go through the experience, or you do not go with the experience, but you need to grow with the experience,” Abogado said.
“You need to be like a sponge; learn to absorb as much learning as possible to grow to your full potential while you are here in the University. You are like pearls, pearls of great price, similar to what the Gospel reading tells us, and the University will assist you to form yourself with your God-given talents and character to elevate your value,” he added.
The last batch of the Homecoming Walk was suspended right after the “ROArientation” that followed the Mass due to Severe Tropical Storm “Florita.”
Sophomores and juniors from the College of Accountancy, Ecclesiastical Faculties, College of Commerce and Business Administration, Graduate School and Graduate School of Law, and the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery were not able to walk through the Arch of the Centuries as a result.
Classes in all levels and office work in UST are suspended tomorrow due to “Florita.”
The “homecoming” rites for the basic education cluster tomorrow were also rescheduled to a later date.
