by AUBREY SHANE LIM
Photo by Rainiel Angelyn Figueroa/ THE FLAME
UST RECTOR Rev. Fr. Richard Ang O.P encouraged freshmen to balance social activities with academic pursuits, saying some important lessons are learned outside the classroom.
“I do not want you to become nerds. You are entitled to a social life and experience parties as well as parades just like today,” Ang said in his homily during the Thomasian Welcome Mass on Tuesday.
“You also get to learn a lot of significant things in community service or supporting advocacies of the organizations you choose to join,” Ang added.
The rector cited the importance of both emotional quotient (EQ) and intelligence quotient (IQ) in achieving a balanced and fulfilled life.
He said he does not expect Thomasians to be “intellectual eggheads.”
“Thomasians are brainy—and while we all have brains, we also have heart,” Ang said.
The rector, who finished his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy at the UST Faculty of Arts and Letters in 1990, added that freshmen could look forward to receiving an education that fosters a “holistic formation of the heart and mind.”
Ang ended his homily by welcoming the new Thomasians, saying that they are in the University to pursue their dreams.
“We believe in you, in your dream. Go for it. You can do it!” the rector said.
Meanwhile, Vice-rector Fr. Isaias Tiongco, O.P. called the freshmen the “chosen ones” during the Thomasian Welcome Mass for the afternoon batch of first-years.
“You were all chosen. I think God has a beautiful plan for you that you will receive, and you will realize that beautiful plan by studying at the University of Santo Tomas,” the vice-rector said.
The University celebrated its first in-person Thomasian Welcome Mass in three years as a part of the ROARientation festivities. F
