Eris Santos, political science freshman
Interview by Ma. Irish Fery
“I can embody the spirit of being an AB student by being more outgoing”
What are you most looking forward to in today’s festivities?
“For today, I am really looking forward to meeting new people and having friends, especially since I am already in a big university [which] is […] one of the prestigious universities here [in the Philippines].”
What is the most memorable encounter you have had so far?
“Seeing the seniors making an effort [and] connecting with us kasi it really shows how supportive they are for our upcoming journey here.”
As a new Artlet, how can you embody the spirit of being an AB student?
“As an artlet, I think I can embody the spirit of being an AB student by being more outgoing. I admit that I am kind of shy, that’s why I want to go out of my comfort zone, try new things, [and] explore opportunities.”
As you start a new chapter of your life, is there any message you’d like to convey to your future self?
“To my future self, I hope that I can make you proud by starting a new journey that you will never forget.”
In your own way, how can you show the ‘Thomasian’ spirit?
“Honestly, right now I really don’t know but I will do my best to be supportive and active in this organization.”
Miguel Lu, history freshman
Interview by Katrizha Caye de Leon
“Whatever doubt you may have, just throw it out the way”
What are you most looking forward to in today’s festivities?
“Although hindi ako [makakasama], I heard na may concert and I was kind [of] curious, but other than that, meeting my blockmates, since first time namin magkikita and we’re gonna last for four years.”
What is the most memorable encounter you have had so far?
“The most memorable for sure hands down was pumasok ako nang 5AM tapos nasuspend.”
As a new Artlet, how can you embody the spirit of being an AB student?
“Mainly as a History student, I can promote […] my course and also do my best in my academics.”
As you start a new chapter of your life, is there any message you’d like to convey to your future self?
“Whatever you think you are about to do, whatever doubt you may have, just throw it out the way. That’s gonna be our downfall, man.”
In your own way, how can you show the ‘Thomasian’ spirit?
“Well, kasi sa history […] parang si kuya Caloy may headband with the bunny and I took the fox and pwedeng ano […] I could cosplay as a tiger, the furry one.”
Nicole Quinto, sociology freshman
Interview by Ma. Irish Fery
“Masasabi ko sa present self ko ngayon ay goodluck and after four years, congrats”
What are you most looking forward to in today’s festivities?
“‘Yung pag cross namin sa arch kasi isa ‘yun sa mga factors na […] like ‘yung activity na nag e-embark as a Thomasian. Iconic siya na activity for a thomasian.
What is the most memorable encounter you have had so far?
“Actually, kanina lang kasi nagpapa Q&A ‘yung interim president namin then parang ‘yung mga question […] tinatanong niya kung ano ‘yung singular or plural ng mga words, then mali mali ‘yung mga sagot namin. Imbis na parang ipahiya, pinagtatawanan na lang namin. I am sure this school year will be fun […] magkakaclose na kami ng mga blockmates ko kahit hindi pa nag start classes namin.
As a new Artlet, how can you embody the spirit of being an AB student?
“Siguro hindi naman namin pipiliin ‘yung Arts and Letters […] kung hindi namin […] passion kasi passion na rin namin ‘yung pinag uusapan dito. Ayon ‘yung kalakasan namin as a student, pag gagawa ng essays kasi more on ayon ‘yung ginagawa once an Artlet student ka.”
As you start a new chapter of your life, is there any message you’d like to convey to your future self?
“Siguro masasabi ko sa present self ko ngayon [ay] goodluck and after four years, congrats. Kasi four years din ‘yon and in that span of time, for sure marami akong matututunan as a thomasian.”
In your own way, how can you show the ‘Thomasian’ spirit?
“Pagiging clout-chaser kasi isa siya sa mga […] personality as a thomasian.”
Anna Esperanza Aquino, political science professor
Interview by Ma. Irish Fery
“College life is really a different ride”
What is your message to all new Thomasians this year?
“You need to enjoy it because college life is really a different ride. You need to have your peers na mapupuntahan everytime na hindi maganda ang araw ninyo. Just enjoy [and] wag kayong mapadala sa peer pressure because peer pressure is really part of it. Enjoy AB, Enjoy UST, and I hope to see you in your graduation four years after.”
What advice can you give to all freshies in order to survive college?
“Just read. You need to read and comprehend everything because if you don’t read I don’t think that you will really survive college because reading is really important lalong-lalo na sa AB.”
Louie Benedict Ignacio, political science department chair
Interview by Ma. Irish Fery
“It will be a fun journey and make it worthwhile”
What is your message to all new Thomasians this year?
“First of all, welcome to UST. It would be a privilege to have you as part of the Thomasian community. Enjoy your stay, definitely it will be a fun journey and make it worthwhile.”
What advice can you give to all freshies in order to survive college?
“Well it is difficult to say all freshies […] baka siguro for AB especially for social science programs [like] Political Science, Sociology, Economics, History, you have to really love the discipline and loving the discipline comes with knowing how to effectively read, effectively write, and being able to send your message across. Hone those skills because it will be very helpful until the end.”
Albert Chavez, maintenance staff
Interview by Ma. Irish Fery
“Pagbutihin ang pag-aaral”
In your years of service, how many times have you witnessed the Welcome Walk?
“Marami na kasi mag ten years na ako rito, bale two years ang pandemic diba [kaya] wala so mga seven years na.”
What new things must the freshmen anticipate this year?
“Sa tingin ko ‘yung ano […] kasi face-to-face na parang mas maganda ‘yon para nakikita nila ‘yung mga classmate nila tapos nakakakain sila sa labas. Maganda yon kapag face-to-face [kaysa] online.”
What tip would you give to everyone who will study here in UST?
“Syempre pagbutihin ang pag-aaral. [Maging] masaya lang ba habang nag aaral.”
Athena Cajucom, behavioral science freshman
Interview by Giannah Erin Ochoa
“As a freshie in UST, I’m gonna develop my skills”
What do you think is the most exciting part of this year’s Roarientation?
“Ang makapag-cheer ng ‘Go USTe!’”
What are you most looking forward to?
“Seeing my friends from other blocks, colleges, and faculties po.”
What has been the most memorable encounter you’ve had so far?
“Sinendan na po ako ng friend ko sa [economics] ng link ng GCs po, tapos dun ko po nameet yung friends ko po ngayon.”
As an Artlet, how can you embody the spirit of being an AB student?
“As an AB student, we’re known to be very outspoken; so I guess as a freshie in UST, I’m gonna develop my skills in critical thinking especially in writing po and understanding people po since I’m from BES (Behavioral Science).”
As you begin a new chapter in your life, is there any message you want to convey to your future self?
“Don’t give up, tawanan lang lahat ng problema kasi lilipas rin ‘yan.
How are you feeling right now that you can call yourself a ‘legit’ Thomasian?
“It’s unreal. It’s been a childhood dream since my sister is from LegMa (Legal Management) po.”
Nini, Artlets Student Council volunteer
Interview by Giannah Erin Ochoa
“I want to give back”
What has been the most thrilling experience during your preparations?
“I guess it’s working for ABSC and all the behind-the-scenes stuff kasi it’s actually my first time to volunteer so ayun, it’s been fun and may rewarding feeling kasi dati naglalakad lang tayo sa Arch ‘tas ngayon, tayo na yung tumutulong sa kanila.”
What motivated you to help in this year’s onboarding activities?
“Actually, I wanted to help; kasi unang-una, ang typical answer is ‘for the clout,’ pero most importantly, I want to give back kahit papaano. Like, mag-give nang mas maayos yung experience sa freshies kasi ‘di ba, doon sa batch natin may lapses [and] miscommunication. Right now, I’m helping para mas maayos yung process.”
Mark David Marababon, Sophia Althea Perez, and Alexa Torralba, journalism freshmen
Interview by Giannah Erin Ochoa
“We’re proud to be Thomasians”
What do you think is the most exciting part of this year’s Roarientation?
Mark: “I think the most exciting part of this year’s Roarientation is I get to meet a lot of people, like, kasi I saw a lot of posts in Twitter and Reddit na Thomasian community is actually good so I’m looking forward to it.”
Sophia: “What I’m excited naman about po is yung environment mismo ng UST. And nung pagdating ko po dito, I can feel po na nawe-welcome po ako. I can say, they (Thomasians) are not really exclusive. They’re very welcoming sa mga students o sa mga freshies.”
Alexa: “Yung mga Thomasian friends ko kasi, they talk about the welcoming community here in UST. And so far, parang nafu-fulfill naman ‘yun on my part.”
What are you most looking forward to?
Mark: “I’ve heard a lot of chika online. Yung pinaka-hinihintay ko is to [be] immersed with the Thomasian [crowd] kasi there’s a lot of people, cultures, and other stuff. And that’s the thing I’m looking forward to.”
Sophia: “I’m looking forward naman [sa] Welcome concert [as well as the] Welcome Walk. Most of my Thomasian friends kasi sinasabi nila na sa ‘kin na it’s very well-prepared.”
Alexa: “Aside sa activities, I’m look forward to making new friends.”
As an Artlet, how can you embody the spirit of being an AB student?
Sophia: “By empowering and uplifting more people, lalo na when you’re talking about [the Faculty of] Arts and Letters or AB. Parang mostly or stereotypically, magaling sila with words and magaling sila with voicing out concerns.”
As you begin a new chapter in your life, is there any message you want to convey to your future self?
Mark: “Dear future me, always stand for the truth. ‘Yun lang.”
Sophia: “All I can say is, ‘Kaya mo na ‘yan. Malaki ka na.’ Not in a joking way pero very serious ‘yan.”
Alexa: “Since yung career namin requires responsibility; I’m just going to say, be responsible sa mga ginagawa mo kasi lahat ng mga tao sa Pilipinas nakikinig sa’yo [at] nababasa ang mga ginagawa mo.”
How are you feeling right now that you can call yourself a ‘legit’ Thomasian?
Mark: “It’s actually fulfilling and nakakataas siya ng pride; to be honest, especially being a part of the Big Four, not to be a clout chaser. But to be honest, Thomasian community is actually good and Thomasian education … Well, I cannot lie na sometimes it gets hard, but it’s part of the journey na mate-train ka. ‘Yun talaga.”
Sophia: “Honestly I’m very proud to say na I’m a fully pledged Thomasian ‘cause I’ve been waiting for so long to know what school I’m gonna get into. So when UST accepted me, dun na-reassure na I deserve this kind of quality education. So, I’m very proud and very happy.”
Alexa: “I was very happy kasi nag-apply ako dito for senior high and hindi ako natanggap, so getting into college dito sa UST is one of my biggest achievements sa buhay ko, I would say.”
John Manuel Kliatchko, Faculty of Arts and Letters secretary
Interview by Giannah Erin Ochoa
“Make the most out of the next four years”
What is your message to all new Thomasians this year?
“Since they’re entering a new phase in their lives, it’s always a good chance for them to try to, as much as they can, make the most out of the next four years, that’s number one. And then there will be a lot of opportunities they will encounter in many aspects of their student lives. Basta anuman ‘yun, challenge or difficulty man ‘yun, it’s something to be enjoyed, it’s something they can enjoy. Think of that perspective of making the most out of every opportunity whether it’s academic, co-curricular, whether it’s spending good ties of one another. Make the most out of it, siyempre, with a lot of responsibility for themselves rin.”
What advice can you give to all freshies in order to survive college?
“They have to be receptive to information; I think ‘yung generation naman natin ngayon very information-ready sila. Pero yung maganda is lagi they look at the [perspective] na, ‘There’s always something I have to know’. When there changes; when there are things na ina-announce— I’m talking mainly of things na ina-announce kasi dun natin nararanasan yung difficulties or nahihirapan tayo kasi hindi tayo aware. So I think that’s number one; keep themselves always aware. Number two, magpaplano sila ng, you know, what they are going to do. Of course, they all have individual plans for themselves, pero, always i-aalign nila sa plans also of the college for them para at least ma-maximize nila nang mabuti kung ano ‘yung maging developments in their lives. These next four years will be very challenging, but at the same time, sana, growth opportunity ‘yun for all.”
Kasandra Mendoza, communication freshman
Interview by Giannah Erin Ochoa
“I hope na ma-fulfill lahat ng dreams mo simula nung pagkabata”
How are you feeling right now that you can call yourself a ‘legit’ Thomasian?
“Sobrang saya po kasi dream school ko po ito eh, talagang pinaghirapan [ko] po lahat. Punong-puno ng manifesting prayers.”
What do you think is the most exciting part of this year’s Roarientation?
“Meeting new friends and new environment po dito sa new school.”
What are you most looking forward to?
“Looking forward to po ako dito sa mga new organizations dito sa UST kasi nalaman ko na maraming organization na mostly wala sa ibang school.”
As a new Artlet, how can you embody the spirit of being an AB student?
“Being full of spirit ng isang pagiging communication student.”
As you start a new chapter of your life, is there any message you’d like to convey to your future self?
“I hope na ma-fulfill lahat ng dreams mo simula nung pagkabata which is yung maging news anchor.”
Patricia Bantugan, Leunammé Thiosday, Red Cross volunteers
Interview by Giannah Erin Ochoa
“It is our passion to help”
What has been the most thrilling experience during your preparations for the Welcome Walk?
Patricia:“Thrilling experience siguro is ‘yung thought pa lang na mami-meet namin ‘yung freshmen this year which is very surreal, knowing kami yung ganito dati. Also preparing all the flyers and freebies for the freshmen is our way to introduce Red Cross to them and to welcome them in UST.”
Leunammé: “Ang thing ko naman kasi ay ‘yun nga, sabi ni ate Pat na excited kami na ma-meet yung freshies kasi gusto ko makakahanap sila ng communities, yes, pero this is a way to help them find their communities faster. Kasi siyempre, ako, medyo wayward ako eh, kung saan-saan lang. […] Kasi ito, the first step to joining a community is knowing about it; yung talagang pagpapalaganap is a big thing already. Yung ‘ah, pwede ako sumali dun.’ So , it’s very important sa ‘kin.”
What motivated you to help in the onboarding preparations for the freshmen?
Patricia: “So, as a Red Cross volunteer or as Red Cross organization, I think it’s really a passion, […] we advocate for humanitarian service so I think it’s not that hard to be motivated to help kasi as Red Cross, we really do whatever it takes to help, to get all the chances we can take to help the people, lalo na ‘yung mga Thomasians. Hindi siya [pag-volunteer] mahirap, hindi na namin kinailangan ng motivation. I think it’s really our passion as an organization, also as a volunteer to help other people.
Leunammé: “Knowing na meron kang lalapitan [at] knowing na may tutulong sa’yo; malaking tulong ‘yun kung overthinker ka like me. And kung meron kang emergency which is sana hindi nga nangyayari, meron kang matatakbuhan na willing na tumulong sa’yo [at] bibigay ‘yung help na kailangan mo. “
Sofia Castañares, literature freshman
Interview by Ma. Irish Fery
“It is a new adventure and journey for me”
On a scale of 1-10, how is your experience of the Welcoming festivities? Why?
“Since bagong experience ‘to for me, syempre solid 10 out of 10.”
What were the highlights for you during the Roarientation?
“‘Syempre ang highlight po is ang infamous Welcome Walk sa Arch pag pasok and especially ‘yung ‘Go USTe’ na chant.”
What was the first thought that entered your mind after passing through the Arch of Centuries?
“So pag pasok ko ‘syempre kinakabahan po ako. It is a new adventure and journey for me so iniisip ko po kung kaya ko po ba or ganyan, pero at the same time I am excited to reveal this journey as I go along.”
Vonn Roman, communication freshman
Interview by Ma. Irish Fery
“Finally, Thomasian na ‘ko”
On a scale of 1-10, how is your experience of the Welcoming festivities? Why?
“I would rate it 10 kasi matagal nang inaantay ‘to since nasuspend nga [ang event] and here it is nangyari na so it’s so fun.”
What were the highlights for you during the Roarientation?
“Of course, the passing through the Arch since it is a culture for UST and nagmark ‘yun as you’re really a Thomasian.”
What was the first thought that entered your mind after passing through the Arch of Centuries?
“Finally, Thomasian na ‘ko and it is the start of my journey.”
Vini Bonoan, philosophy freshman
Interview by Giannah Erin Ochoa
“Naiiyak po ako, honestly”
On a scale of 1 to 10, how is your experience of the Welcoming festivities? And why?
“10 out of 10 po. Kahit nakakapagod, pero enjoy [pa rin] and it’s good kasi it’s a celebration for freshies.”
What were the highlights for you during the Roarientation?
“Probably all of them po, pero most specifically po learning the cheers and singing the hymn.”
What was the first thought after passing through the Arch?
“Naiiyak po, honestly, pero ayun po. Naiiyak.”
Ari Reyes, legal management freshman
Interview by Giannah Erin Ochoa
“Nakapasa na ako sa dream school ko”
On a scale of 1 to 10, how is your experience of the Welcoming festivities? And why?
“10. 10, for sure 10. Well-prepared lahat ‘tas maayos yung weather; hindi siya maulan, ‘di naspoil at tsaka maayos yung mga pakulo nila.”
What were the highlights for you during the Roarientation?
“Yung introduction po sa mga courses ‘siyempre, yung mga games, sa stage ‘yung mga performances and ‘siyempre yung makasama pa rin yung freshies.”
What was the first thought after passing through the Arch?
“Wala, yung nakapasa na ako sa dream school ko ‘siyempre since bata pa, gusto ko na maging Thomasian and finally, ito na.”
Gabrielle Kaisha Caparas and Vherwin Kayle Cristobal, creative writing freshmen
Interview by Giannah Erin Ochoa
“We felt the school spirit, the Thomasian community”
On a scale of 1 to 10, how is your experience of the Welcoming festivities? And why?
Kaisha: “It’s a 10 for me, probably since this is one of my first ever school functions and everything has been exciting, wonderful, and memorable… and I am looking forward to the other occasions.”
Vherwin: “On a scale of 1 to 10, I think over 10, maybe a hundred or a thousand more ‘cause I could really feel the school spirit and the support of the whole Thomasian community when I entered the Arch and the ROARientation, the seniors really prepared everything for us and I’m really thankful for the seniors, the staff, and the faculty [for] the ROARientation.”
What were the highlights for you during the Roarientation?
Kaisha: “Probably the performances prepared by the other students as well as the mini games to keep us entertained and yeah, those are it.”
Vherwin: “Same, same. The performances, the mini games, of course the whole chant and cheer things that we learned during the Roarientation.”
What was the first thought after passing through the Arch?
Kaisha: “This is it, I’m finally here.”
Vherwin: “My first thought would be, ‘Mama, Papa, Thomasian na ako!’ I’m so excited for my first year and four years to come, so I’m very hyped.”
Anton Stefano Acosta, Artlet performer
Interview by Robb Nigel Moya
“Matagal-tagal ko nang pinangarap ‘tong moment na ‘to”
How do you feel as the opening act performer for the Thomasian Welcome Party 2023?
“Sobrang solid kasi nakaka-excite lang, ‘di ako masyadong kinabahan. More on na-excite ako na for the first time mata-try ko mag-open act, lalo na [for the] freshies, magandang experience siya, so na-excite ako and na-feel ko talaga ‘yung support and ‘yung energy ng mga freshies natin na kung saan tuwing kinakamusta ko sila or pinapakanta grabe ‘yung energy na binabalik nila sa akin lagi.”
How did it feel to perform in front of such a huge crowd for the first time?
“Actually nung [first year] pa ako, ‘di ba nag-pandemic […], pangarap ko talaga sana mag-perform sa ganito kalaking stage pero siguro as time goes on, in-accept ko na wala na talaga, okay na ‘to pero sobrang solid and sobrang natuwa ako and talagang blessed by Lord na magkaroon ng opportunity ngayon na senior na ako for the last time [in] my college years. So ‘yung feeling? Sobrang saya kasi matagal-tagal ko nang pinangarap ‘tong moment na ‘to and sobrang blessed kasi ayun na-achieve pa rin siya for the last time na, [dahil] itong year na ito ga-graduate na ako.” F
