THIS YEAR’S grand Paskuhan concert on Dec. 21 will still be exclusive to the Thomasian community, according to UST Secretary-General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P.
“[T]he members of the Thomasian community are invited (to the Christmas concert). However, for other activities such [as] Simbang Gabi [and] [e]xhibits…it is open for all,” Coronel told The Flame.
Non-Thomasians have not experienced the concert in person for four years because of UST’s precautionary measures against the COVID-19 pandemic. Paskuhan only resumed onsite in 2022 after a two-year online celebration.
This year’s Paskuhan will carry the theme, “Witnessing the Joy of Christmas.”
In a circular dated Nov. 11, the Office of the Secretary-General said the theme was inspired by the joyous experience of the shepherds who encountered the newborn Jesus in the manger.
“May the Thomasian community be inspired by the shepherds’ story. May we all experience the transformative power of encountering Christ and commit ourselves to sharing the joyful message of Christ’s love to the world,” it read.
The month-long celebration will start with the traditional lighting of Christmas decorations in the campus on Dec. 1. Agape, or the Thomasian Christmas feast, will be on Dec. 5, while the grand Paskuhan concert and raffle will take place on Dec. 21.
Exhibits dedicated to the Belen and the Christmaseum will be available for public viewing from Nov. 15 and Nov. 20, respectively, to Jan. 10, 2024. However, they will be closed during the Christmas break.
The concert’s technical dress rehearsals will be held on Nov. 30, followed by the UST Christmas concert gala on Dec. 1. The Christmaseum concert will be on Dec. 6 to 7.
The institutional Advent recollection and the vigil mass in honor of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary will take place on Dec. 7, followed by the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on Dec. 8, a special non-working holiday.
The University will also hold Simbang Gabi or dawn masses from Dec. 15 to 24. Other festivities include the Paskuhan pop up village, which will be held on Dec. 1 to 4 and 6 to 7.
More circulars will be released to provide details on the specific activities for Paskuhan, Coronel said.
Meanwhile, the Christmas break will start on Dec. 22. Regular classes for the second term of the academic year will begin on Jan. 15. F
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