The University will begin freshman onboarding activities next week ahead of the opening of classes, with measures in place in case of monsoon rains.
Why this matters: For the in-person rites on Aug. 6, the University has rearranged the program order of the afternoon session for the first time, in case of bad weather, as the opening ceremonies fall right in the middle of habagat (southwest monsoon) season.
Two sessions: As the Quadricentennial Pavilion cannot accommodate all freshies at once, there will be two sessions, morning and afternoon.
- Nine faculties and colleges will join the morning session, beginning with the Thomasian Welcome Mass at 7:30 a.m., followed by the “ROARientation” at 8:45 a.m. The Thomasian Welcome Walk will start at 11:30 a.m.
- The second session will cover 11 faculties and colleges, with the Thomasian Welcome Mass at 2 p.m. and the ROARientation at 3:15 p.m.
- UST Secretary General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P. told the Varsitarian the morning and the afternoon batches of freshies will parade through the Arch of the Centuries at 11:30 a.m. and 12 noon, respectively, to avoid possible thunderstorms in the afternoon.
Historic Arch: The Arch of the Centuries served as the main portal of the original Intramuros campus, transferred stone by stone to the new Sampaloc campus after World War 2. The side facing España Street is a replica, with the statue of a seated St. Thomas Aquinas, the patron saint of UST, added in 1955.
- The Welcome Walk, which began in the early 2000s, is a rite of passage in which newly minted Thomasians partake of UST’s four centuries of history. Through the stone arch passed UST’s revered heroes and saints.
- The freshman parade and the recessional march (where graduates “exit” the arch) bookend a Thomasian’s stay in the Dominican-run institution.
Major activities: In a circular dated July 31, Coronel said virtual onboarding activities for the Manila campus will kick off the onboarding season on Aug. 4 via Google Stream.
- The Misa y Discurso de Apertura, or the Mass of the Holy Spirit and the inaugural lecture, will be held on Aug. 5 at the Santisimo Rosario Parish and will be livestreamed on the University’s Facebook page.
- The Thomasian Welcome Concert is set at 4 p.m. on Aug. 7, coinciding with the first day of classes, at the Quadricentennial Pavilion. Gates will open at 3 p.m.
- “ALAB,” or the freshman welcoming rites for UST’s basic education units, will be on Aug. 7. It will begin at 8 a.m. with the Welcome Mass, followed by the program proper at 9 a.m. and the Welcome Walk at 12 noon.
GenSan: Onboarding activities for first- and second-year students at the General Santos campus will be on Aug. 1, 4, and 6.
- A GenSan campus-wide ROARientation will happen on Aug. 20, beginning at 8 a.m., followed by the Welcome Mass at 1 p.m. and the Thomasian Welcome Walk at 2 p.m.
- The ROARientation will continue at 2:30 p.m. and will close with the Thomasian Welcome Party at 5 p.m.
CARLESS DAY: No cars allowed inside UST on Aug. 6.
The following faculties and colleges will attend the morning batch of the welcome rites in UST Manila:
- UST-Alfredo M. Velayo College Accountancy
- Faculty of Arts and Letters
- College of Fine Arts and Design
- College of Information and Computing Sciences
- Conservatory of Music
- College of Nursing
- Faculty of Pharmacy
- College of Rehabilitation Sciences
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery
The following academic units will join the afternoon session:
- College of Architecture
- Faculty of Civil Law
- College of Commerce and Business Administration
- Ecclesiastical Faculties
- College of Education
- Faculty of Engineering
- Institute of Physical Education and Athletics
- Graduate School
- Graduate School of Law
- College of Science
- College of Tourism and Hospitality Management
