A TOTAL of 7,845 Thomasian graduates already registered for an alumni card as of Dec. 1, approaching last year’s total of 8,059 applicants, the UST Office of Alumni Relations (OAR) said.
Of the figure, 5,302 alumni cards have been released from Jan. 1 to Dec. 1, while some remain unclaimed at the alumni office.
OAR Director Asst. Prof. Joreen Rocamora said the application period usually starts around October, just in time for the preparation of UST’s traditional Christmas festivities, including the much-anticipated Paskuhan concert.
“As the Paskuhan concert draws near, we also receive an influx of not only alumni card applications but also inquiries regarding the entry requirements for alumni during the Paskuhan concert,” Rocamora told The Flame.
“We usually have an influx of alumni card applications starting October since the application period for batch 2024 also begins in October,” she added.
The concert to be held on Dec. 20 will remain limited to Thomasians and alumni, the third consecutive year outsiders are not allowed to join the year-end celebration.
Aside from access to exclusive campus-wide activities like Paskuhan, alumni are also drawn to benefits offered upon availing of the card, such as discounts and privileges from alumni card partners, the OAR director said.
The graduate applicants will be admitted through Gate 11 in Dapitan after presenting their alumni card and pre-registration form.
Applications for the alumni card may be completed through the Thomasian alumni portal, with options for delivery or self-pickup. Claimants must present a valid ID and a claiming stub sent via email once the card is ready for release.
The processing of alumni cards takes seven to 21 business days to complete, Rocamora said.
According to Campus Safety and Security Office Director Assoc. Prof. Juliano Parena, alumni attendees are encouraged to be on campus by 8 p.m. for the Paskuhan concert as the closing of gates would depend on the crowd density.
In November, the OAR released its first magazine titled “Sixteen-Eleven,” which contains alumni-related activities and events. It had the theme “Cultivating Thomasian Culture Through Volunteerism and Philanthropy.”
According to the UST Alumni Associations website, there are 29 alumni organizations in the University. F
