Nicole Villasper, history graduate
Interview by Ann Jenireene Gomez
“I am most proud of my ability to show up when needed”
What nicknames have you earned in your college life? From where/whom did you get these?
“I am most known for being the “Block President” or “Pressy” kasi during our last year, ako yung nag-lead sa block namin.”
What remained the same throughout your four years of residence in the University?
“‘Yung bond and ‘yung friendship that we’ve formed. It remained the same but at the same time, it also strengthened since I’ve gotten to know my blockmates better. Parang kahit nagka-pandemic, pagbalik namin ng face-to-face, gano’n pa rin yung samahan namin.”
What spots in the University did you experience your most cherished memories?
“‘Yung damuhan sa lover’s lane, kasi during our first year, gabi na nage-end ‘yung classes namin. Parang when everything’s so stressful and mabigat, doon kami tumatambay tapos kakain at magchichikahan kami doon and that’s a core memory for all of us.”
What achievements are you most proud of since the beginning of your college years?
“As a leader, I’d say I am most proud of my ability to show up when needed and I think, as someone who’s a part of student organizations and as the block president, I think that’s something that I was able to fortify as a student leader here in UST.”
Joan Santiago, parent of economics graduate Kiana Verdon
Interview by Cali Asajar
“I’m giving her the freedom to choose for herself”
What is your advice to your daughter since she is about to face a new chapter of adulthood?
“ Well, ang lagi kong sinasabi sa daughter ko, kay Kiana, since very masunurin siya sa’min, minsan, as a parent, syempre ako ito yung gusto ko, ito ang dapat mong gawin. Pero ang lagi kong sinasabi sa kanya, minsan darating ka sa point ng buhay mo na you have to decide on your own. So kahit na gusto niya kaming sundin pero kung tingin niya dito siya sasaya, ito ‘yung babagay sa kanya, she has to make that decision for herself.”
What is the most rewarding part of being her parent?
“Siguro ‘yung napalaki ko siya talaga na, alam mo ‘yun, no questions asked. Pag may gusto kami, kahit na alam kong masama ‘yung loob niya, susundin niya. Ngayon na ga-graduate na siya, parang nabigay niya na sa’min all her life ‘yung pagsunod. So parang ngayon I’m giving her the freedom to choose for herself na.”
What is the most memorable experience you’ve had with your daughter as they pursue their desired program here in UST?
“ ‘Yun nga ‘yung laging tinatanong ko sa kanya kung ano yung experience niya rito. So far, sabi niya talagang na-enjoy niya. Unang una, ‘yung mga classmates niya […] sabi ko nga sa kanya, while pursuing your dreams, ine-enjoy mo rin, balance lang. Hindi ako nag e-expect ng kahit ano, gusto ko lang yung makatapos siya nang maayos. And natuwa naman ako kasi very tahimik and ‘di siya pala-labas ng bahay. Nagkaroon siya ng friends because nandito ako [by her side].”
What do you wish for your daughter as they now face the world outside UST?
“All parents naman isa lang naman ang wish. Ako personally, sabi ko nga sa kanya kung saan siya sasaya dun siya, at ‘yun lang ang gusto kong gawin niya, [to] enjoy life.”
Anton Heinrich Rennesland, Philosophy professor
Interview by Cali Asajar
“I hope they become more humane individuals”
What is your message to this year’s graduates?
“Normally, we think of graduation as the end of our academic program, which it rightfully is. However, I would rather say that they should take graduation as the start of how they’re able to enact or to live out what they’ve learned in a classroom. […] It’s a celebration of the grades we’ve received […] but at the end of the day, education is not about that. It’s about how we’re able to apply our learnings, so now is the start of how they’re able to apply that, be it in their own jobs or grad schools.”
What are the challenges that they have to prepare for and how can they overcome them?
“Unemployment! That’s the very first challenge.[…] As a student, you have [an] allowance from your parents, everything’s so easy, you could approach your teachers for help. But life outside [of school] is not like that. […] Be willing to get a low-paying job because that’s how everybody starts and don’t immediately ask for something great, and be realistic with what the world can offer, that’s one of the failures of our education. We tend to think that life is so easy, especially if we come from a good university. Ultimately, life is not like that. However, I hope they don’t become resentful at the end of the day. Kumbaga, harapin ‘yung mahirap pero mag-pursigi.”
What do you wish for the graduates to achieve?
“I really wish all of them to be successful, especially my advisees. Now is the chance for them to shine. […] Even if you don’t have a Latin honor, I hope you’d be able to excel and be a better person. […] I hope they become more humane individuals because we have a society full of lawyers, accountants, scientists. We’re very smart, bright, and superb, however, very inhumane to certain extents. So easy to corrupt and gain the upperhand. In the Humanities, what we’re learning here is to be part of the vanguard and the bastion of morals and wisdom.”
What makes Batch 2023 unforgettable?
“What makes them unforgettable is the fact that they’re in the middle of the transition from pandemic to post-pandemic. In the beginning, it was difficult to know them because everyone didn’t want to turn their cameras on, […] they didn’t want to voice out their questions, comments, and things like that. However, eventually, especially once we’ve started to have face-to-face classes, it was nice to slowly see their individual characters because you only get to know those things inside a classroom. […] because sometimes if we’re in front of a computer screen, we aren’t able to fully express ourselves. […] It’s nice to end on that note, because it’s more of the fond memories, the actual face-to-face encounters, all the laughter and stories that we were able to share.”
Teresita Lalicon Pangan, grandparent of journalism graduate Joanne Ramos
Interview by Cali Asajar
“Nagagalak at naluluha ako sa saya kasi napanood ko siyang lumaki bilang isang [mabuting] dalaga”
What is the most gratifying part as a grandparent now that you’re about to see your granddaughter on stage?
“Syempre masaya ako at nakapagtapos ang apo ko. Pang apat na apo ko siyang naka-graduate na. Nagagalak at naluluha ako sa saya kasi napanood ko siyang lumaki bilang isang [mabuting] dalaga.”
What was the most memorable experience you’ve had while supporting your granddaughter as they pursue their desired program here in UST?
“Mula nung kinder siya lagi siyang may award. [Ngayon naman] Cum Laude na siya. Kaya masaya ako dahil hindi siya nagbabago. Ginagawa niya lagi yung best niya para maging proud [ang pamilya niya].”
Joan Fatima Evangelista, sociology graduate
Interview by Cali Asajar
“Makabalik sa UST na meron na akong dala-dalang bigger achievement”
What spots in the University did you experience your most cherished memories?
“For me, P. Noval, kasi P. Noval is like my second home na. First year pa lang dun na ako naka-dorm. Hanggang ngayong fourth year, bumalik ako after pandemic because dun ko pinaka na-feel yung university life. Ang daming students, food, and for me, safest place siya around UST.”
How did you prepare for today’s graduation ceremony?
“3 a.m. pa lang pinapapunta na ‘ko ng makeup artist, gumising ako ng 2:30 [pa lang]. Pero before that syempre yung preparation natin ‘yung paghahanap ng damit. Ang hirap because may criteria dito sa AB, like yung knee-length [dress] and 3-inch heels. Kaya as much as possible, sumunod tayo sa rules na binigay ng AB.”
What achievements are you most proud of since the beginning of your college years?
“Siguro ‘yung nakapunta kami sa San Juan, Laur na field school because dun na talaga namin na-apply kung ano yung natutuhan [namin] sa Sociology […] ‘yung natapos namin yung one week dun, natulungan namin yung mga tao, nakapag-interview kami, na-apply namin yung learnings. I think that’s my best achievement here in UST.”
What is one thing you’re hoping for in the future?
“Makabalik sa UST na meron na akong dala-dalang bigger achievement. Because dito ako nanggaling, gusto ko ako, bilang anak ng UST, merong fruit yung pag-stay ko dito ng apat na taon.”
Mary Jane Perone & Eraño Perone, parents of creative writing graduate Ellah Perone
Interview by Kimberly Anne Ojeda
“You must try”
What is your message for the graduates this year?
Mary Jane: [Mag]tiyaga [sila]. Kailangan maging matiyaga kasi hindi madali ang buhay.
What is your advice to your daughter since she is about to face a new chapter of her adulthood?
Mary Jane: Be steady and just pray.
Eraño: Oo, be steadfast kasi, especially sa mga young graduates ngayon, ‘yung perseverance — lalo ‘yung paghahanap ng panibagong career. Gaya ng sa daughter namin, nag-iisip na siya kung magta-trabaho siya samin or magta-trabaho siya sa labas (kasi meron kaming family business). Kaso nagde-demand siya agad ng malaking salary kaya sabi ko sa kanya hindi pwedeng ganon. ‘You must try,’ sabi namin sa kanya, try to look for a better job na nandito sa Manila. Advice namin eh — hindi naman lahat ng bagay nakukuha nang madali.
What is the most gratifying part as a parent now that you’re about to see your daughter on stage?
Mary Jane: Ay, tapos na ang gastusan.
Eraño: [We are] very proud. We look forward to her better future. […] Actually, hindi namin hinahanap ‘yung maging Magna Cum Laude siya. Sabi namin sa kanya, hindi naman mahalaga yon basta makatapos siya. Pero okay naman dahil maganda naman naging outcome, nag-excel siya.
What do you wish for your daughter as they now face the world outside UST?
Eraño: We wish her good luck sa future. Wala namang parents na nagwi-wish ng worse para sa anak nila, for the better talaga. Okay na kami basta mapaganda niya buhay niya.
Mary Jane: Maging masaya lang [siya] sa tatahakin niyang buhay.
Jose Andrew Cuevas, political science graduate
Interview by Kimberly Anne Ojeda
“Parang ang bilis ng mga pangyayari pero at the same time kasi buo pa rin yung mga pagkakaibigan”
How were the relationships you’ve built throughout your stay in UST?
“Very unexpected, spontaneous and sobrang saya lang kasi over a short period of time, compared to highschool, parang ang bilis ng mga pangyayari pero at the same time kasi buo pa rin yung mga pagkakaibigan namin.”
What spots in the University have you had your most cherished memories?
“There was this one bench in front of the Main Building, [Nung] October 22, 2019— that was the day na umamin sakin yung crush ko na crush rin niya ko. ‘Yun din ‘yung araw na nagbago yung tawag namin sa lover’s lane. Kasi we used to call it the friendship lane, but we changed it back to lover’s lane.”
Now that you are here, what has been the highlight of this chapter in your life?
“Siguro ‘yung mga recitations na hindi ko in-expect na masasagot ko nang tama, […] basically [taas-baba] ang expectations — either fail [which is] expected na talaga siya. Pero other than that, I was just doing my best talaga.”
What is one thing that you are hoping for in the future?
“Looking back to this day, my future self would tell me, siguro mga 4-6 years from now na, ‘Attorney ka na’.”
Irish Nicole Chua, sociology graduate
Interview by Ma. Irish Fery
“The highlight is all the research we’ve done”
What remained the same throughout your four years of residence in the University?
“I think [what] remained the same is my work ethic, remained the same in the sense na I was stable with how I do my projects, my works. At the same time, it also improved at the same rate, at the same pace.”
What spots in the University did you experience your most cherished memories?
“I think for me it’s the [St.] Raymund’s Building. My friends are there, the whole batch of Sociology are there. Since nagkaroon ng pandemic, ang pinaka-fond memory was during the first year, during the classes na nagte-take kami ng Sociology na, especially with ma’am Pepil. All her classes were very memorable.”
Now that you are here, what has been the highlight of this chapter in your life?
“As a sociology graduate, I think, although, it has been hard, the highlight is all the research we’ve done because we learned a lot. Not only in writing, but as well as talking to people [and] communicating with people. We learned about them and the community.”
What achievements are you most proud of since the beginning of your college years?
“I think being [a] consistent [candidate for] Dean’s Lister. I think that’s the greatest achievement for myself. It’s like a gift I gave to myself.”
What is one thing that you are hoping for in the future?
“For all my dreams to be successful.”
Danielle Mellesse Austria Canto, economics professor
Interview by Cali Asajar
“I hope that they will always be humble”
What challenges do the graduates have to prepare for and how can they overcome them?
“Well, there are several challenges that they will face outside the school but what they can do is to always pray so that God will guide them everyday. And of course, prepare for whatever circumstances they’ll face.”
What do you wish for them to achieve?
“I wish for them to achieve all their goals in life. In terms of their career, family, or anything else. As long as they’ve set their goals, I wish that they’ll fulfill all their dreams.”
Seeing the graduates develop into the men/women they are today, how different are they now compared to the first year you’ve started teaching them?
“Compared to their first year, they’re more matured and understanding of the things happening around. So we are glad, as their professors, to see them mature for the past few years.”
What is a thing you’ve taught them that you’d like them to remember you for?
“I taught them to always be humble. Diba nga sabi nila, success should make you humble. So I hope that they will always be humble and don’t forget to pray and talk to the Lord because that will be their tool for them to succeed.”
Jazztin Jairum Manalo, political science professor
Interview by Ma. Irish Fery
“Always do more for yourself”
What is your message to this year’s graduates?
“Well, ang una kong message for the Batch 2023 is to be responsible as we always are, and continue to find alternatives when it comes to handling certain issues and problems the way you did it in the classroom setting in the real life.”
What makes Batch 2023 unforgettable?
“In my experience in handling Political Science, this is actually the class that has transitioned from online setting to face-to-face. So, nakita ko ‘yung excitement sa kanila ulit, para silang mga first year [students]. And it’s pretty fun on getting that normal student life. So, yun ‘yung nakita ko. Hindi ko sila napansin as graduating, but more as freshmen dahil sa pagbabalik ng face-to-face.”
What is a lesson they ought to apply in the future now that it’s filled with uncertainty?
“You have to understand that life is different outside the classroom, whether this is a virtual classroom or [the] face-to-face basis. You may encounter some people na iba sa nakasanayan ninyong ugali or mga kaklase ninyo. But, that’s normal. That’s a part of life. I’m confident enough naman na makakapag-adjust kayo.”
What is your advice to the graduates who are feeling anxious about the next chapter?
“It’s normal to feel anxious, okay? ‘Wag kayo papadala sa pressure. […] It’s more on how you deal with it. Hindi kasi ako pwede makapagsabi kung paano because this may not be applicable to each and everyone of you. So kanya-kanyahan tayo dito ng means to adapt [to the] incoming pressures of life.”
Seeing the graduates develop into the men and women they are today, how different are they now compared to the first year you’ve started teaching them?
“They were able to do much more. Sabihin natin ‘yung excitement and energy. Kasi pag-first year ka pa lang, bago-bago ka palang, excited ka pa sa university life and challenges. Darating ‘yung major subjects mo. They may have different sets or bars of energy.”
What are the challenges they ought to prepare for? What do you wish for them to achieve?
“I wish them to achieve ‘well’. ‘Yun lang kasi life has so much to offer. And, you may have your ups and downs but that’s part of life. […] That’s the beauty of it— that’s the thrill, that’s the excitement.”
What is a thing you’ve taught them that you’d like them to remember you for?
“Always do more for yourself. Or, do the things because you want to. Not because you’re pressured in life or because someone wants you to, whoever that may be. Do things because it is you who wants to do it.”
Bruce Ivan De Guzman, economics professor
Interview by Giannah Erin Ochoa
“If you don’t take action, you will be anxious forever”
What is your message to this year’s graduates?
“Practically, they should prepare their documents especially if they’re going to work right away. […] It’s going to be hard for them if they’re not prepared, […] if they’re not going to work [right away], it’s alright to chill first. Ideally for the six months, you should chill first. Life is not a race, ‘wag magmadali.”
What is a lesson they ought to apply in the future now that it’s filled with uncertainty?
“Since I teach Economics, I always tell them that they should be good at problem-solving. Solving problems is not just a classroom experience, it’s a life experience. […] Afterwards, [they should work on] their communication skills. [Once] you have solved the problem, how can you communicate very well? How can you convince other people?”
What is your advice to the graduates who are feeling anxious about the next chapter?
“It’s alright to be anxious, but at the same time, you should take action, because if you don’t take action, you will be anxious forever.”
What are the challenges they ought to prepare for?
“They should prepare for the toxic people in their working environment. […] At the same time, they should invest in themselves. They should learn and commit themselves to lifelong learning. […] In life, you learn forever, not just in school [or] university.”
Iska Lo, Teatro Tomasino alumna
Interview by Giannah Erin Ochoa
“They don’t have to be great, they just have to be a better person”
What is your advice to the graduates as they face a new chapter of their adulthood?
“Stay humble, stay teachable, never be selfish in saying ‘thank you,’ ‘I love you,’ and ‘sorry.’ And, stay grounded.”
What is the most gratifying part as their ‘nanay-nanayan’ now that you’re about to see them on stage?
“I met them in [their] second year college, I met them online. Pero syempre ngayon, I see them face-to-face. Seeing their achievements, how they have matured; ‘yung mga mababaw na away-away nila noon, they see it through. And at the same time, they have their perspective in a way na nakaka-proud. […] They know when to ask questions, they know how to admit their mistakes, [and] they know when to ask for help.
What was the most memorable experience you’ve had while supporting the graduates?
“Sometimes I see myself in them, nung bata pa ako nung andito pa ako sa UST. […] Every meetup that I see them, before [which was] online, I make time to meet them one-on-one. Ide-date ko rin sila. Those short times, every moment na ‘yon, kasi konti lang ‘yon, is very special to me. Sayang ‘di ko lang nakita [sila on stage] kasi ‘di pa pumapayag UST na mag face-to-face [productions]. Wala pa, puro recorded lang. Sayang, kasi mga theater babies [sila].”
What do you wish for them as they now face the world outside UST?
“They don’t have to be great, they just have to be a better person. Bigger person always.”
Lourbelle Arafol, history graduate
Interview by Giannah Erin Ochoa
“Ready na ako to try […] other possibilities na hindi lang related sa course ko”
What remained the same throughout your four years of residence in the University?
“I think ‘yung pinaka-permanent ko is ‘yung group of friends ko. Kasi ever since nung first year and until now, sila pa rin ‘yung kasama ko.”
What spots in the University did you experience your most cherished memories?
“Siguro favorite spot na may cherished memories is ‘yung sa Grandstand because of the Paskuhan. Usually kasi ‘di naman ako tumatambay sa school after lectures, pero during Paskuhan, doon ko na-enjoy ‘yung moment with friends. And, dun din nangyari ‘yung Bacc mass which is very memorable po.”
Now that you are here, what has been the highlight of this chapter in your life?
“Pinaka-highlight for me is surviving the school year kasi sobrang hirap talaga since sa college nga, sa program namin, need namin ipagsabay ‘yung thesis and ‘yung OJT. So surviving that is ‘yung pinaka-important na nangyari.”
Are you prepared to face the world outside UST?
“As of now, I think ready na ako to try cause gusto ko rin ng other possibilities na hindi lang related sa course ko. At the same time, may fear kasi hindi ko pa alam ‘yung exact path na tatahakin ko after college.”
What achievements are you most proud of since the beginning of your college years?
“I think ‘yung pinaka-achievement ko for [my] whole college years po is matapos ko ‘yung thesis kasi mahirap talaga siya [..] especially pinagsabay siya with OJT. I guess, for me, sobrang fulfilling noong nadefend ko ‘yung thesis ko since individual [‘yung thesis namin].” F
