THE UNIVERSITY welcomed more than 12,000 freshmen for Academic Year (AY) 2024-2025 in onboarding rites on Monday, Aug 5, at the Quadricentennial Pavilion and Arch of the Centuries.
Despite torrential rains in the morning, the traditional Welcome Mass, “ROARientation,” and Welcome Walk pushed through for UST Manila’s 12,262 freshmen, who were split into the morning and afternoon batches.
UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. and Vice Rector Fr. Isaias Tiongco, O.P. led this year’s Welcome Masses. In his homily, Ang encouraged freshmen to become agents of truth, in line with the UST motto, “Veritas in Caritate.”
“Sinabi ni Santo Tomas na, ‘Ang pagsusuri sa katotohan ay nangangailangan ng matinding pagsisikap.’ Hindi hinihingi na ikaw ay henyo. Hindi kailangang henyo. Magsipag ka lang at magagawa mo ito,” he urged freshmen.
This year’s freshmen intake was almost similar to the previous AY, but may still change as Term 1 enrollment at UST Manila will be open until Aug. 20.
Based on preliminary data, the Faculty of Arts and Letters still housed the highest number of freshmen among all academic units, with 1,128 first-year students.
It was followed by the Faculty of Pharmacy and Faculty of Engineering with 973 and 906 freshmen enrollees, respectively.
The number of freshmen for the rest of the academic units is as follows:
- Conservatory of Music – 74
- College of Nursing – 232
- College of Rehabilitation Sciences – 351
- College of Fine Arts and Design – 456
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery – 569
- UST-Alfredo M. Velayo College of Accountancy – 612
- College of Information and Computing Sciences – 628
- Ecclesiastical Faculties – 134
- Institute of Physical Education and Athletics – 41
- Graduate School – 291
- Graduate School of Law – 51
- Faculty of Civil Law – 267
- College of Architecture – 431
- College of Science – 783
- College of Tourism and Hospitality Management – 544
- College of Education – 372
- College of Commerce and Business Management – 711
Freshmen at the Mindanao campus also attended their ROARientation on Tuesday, facilitated by Professor Emeritus Maribel Nonato, the assistant to the rector for UST GenSan, and Fredeswindo Medina, the acting director for student admissions and records at UST GenSan.
Entering the Arch
UST capped the welcome rites with the Welcome Walk, the symbolic start of the Thomasian journey, for freshmen at the Sampaloc campus.
For chemistry freshman Maria Vanara, passing through the Arch was the highlight of the onboarding activities as it signified more than just entering UST.
“Entering the Arch was a different feeling because now, you’re a bona fide Thomasian,” she said. “When we enter the Arch, we may still not be close with our blockmates. But once we exit, we’ll surely be friends.”
Narisha Cortez, a business economics major, said entering the Arch, or the portal of the old UST campus in Intramuros, felt “magical” as she had long dreamed of studying at UST.
A Welcome Party for UST Manila freshmen is scheduled today, Aug. 2, at the Quadricentennial Pavilion. The event will be headlined by Filipino indie-folk band Munimuni and will feature performances from Thomasians Sean Archer, Benchfly, Mimosa, and various UST dance troupes.
UST GenSan will hold its Welcome Walk on Aug. 29. with reports from Ella Mae A. Sison, Carlo Jose H. Ruga, Sydney Venice V. Berba, and Amanda Luella A. Rivera
