Photo by RAINIEL ANGELYN FIGUEROA/THE FLAME
PLAZA MAYOR bid farewell to its resident tiger statue as the University revealed a new and fiercer version of its animal symbol as part of the welcome walk festivities for freshmen.
The tiger, made from UV resin, stood eight feet beside a two-meter high GI Sheet block letters in the University’s official font.
“The statue depicts the University’s zeal and passion, and its continuous engagement with the mission (of) bringing the light through quality in Catholic education both in Mindanao and CALABARZON region,” Secretary-General Fr. Louie Coronel O.P said.
The University has extended its campus in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Its most recent expansion is in General Santos City in Mindanao.
With a performance from Salinggawi Dance Troupe came the big reveal of the tiger statue and block lettering spelled ‘UST.’
“The time is ripe; the time is now. Hear us growl, hear us roar. Thomasians, look beyond the seeing, and together let us leap toward the future,” Facilities Management Office Director Fr. Dexter Austria O.P said as he presented the new tiger statue and block letters.
UST Men’s Basketball team new head coach Bal David promised to give the University a “good” position in the coming Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) season during his appearance at the ceremony.
The UST Growling Tigers ended the 84th UAAP Season in seventh place with a dismal 3-11 win-loss record.
“We will put time and extreme effort into helping Tigers, and of course, we need all the support,” David, who was part of the UST men’s basketball team that bagged back-to-back UAAP titles in 1993 and 1994, said.
Enhancing an artist’s vision
Sculpted by former College of Fine Arts and Design (CFAD) professor Tony Zamora in collaboration with the University’s Facility Management Office, the tiger is said to be accurate in the scale to a Bengal tiger.
“We aimed to enhance the sculpture while respecting the previous artist’s vision.“ Zamora said, adding that a former fine arts professor conceptualized and helped create the sculpture from scratch in his studio.
Thomasians cheered as the new tiger statue in the Plaza Mayor was unveiled, with some of them linking the “grand unboxing” to a renewed vigor in the face of adversities.
“I feel like the new tiger would reflect the strength of the Thomasian community,” second-year College of Rehabilitation Sciences student Alexandre Taguba said.
The old tiger statue and UST block letters are now in the Quadricentennial Square. F – Lila Reyes with reports from Kat De Leon
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