THIS YEAR’S Paskuhan fireworks display will highlight the importance of discipline and persistence in enriching one’s journey to success, according to the director of the UST Facilities Management Office (FMO).
Fr. Dexter Austria, O.P. said the fireworks show would be accompanied by a medley of songs that tackle how failure and defeat often lead to achieving one’s goals, drawing inspiration from the Philippines’ historic Olympic performance this year.
The country won two gold and two bronze medals during the Paris Olympics, its most successful campaign to date.
“They (athletes) are not just there to be victorious, but there is also victory in defeat… Paano kapag natatalo sila (What if the athletes lose)? What are the relevant songs [stating] that if you have failed on this aspect, how will you stand up? It’s a theme that [implies] you don’t need to give up on a certain thing. ‘Tumayo ka, kaya mo pa ‘yan’ (‘Stand up, you can still do it),” Austria told The Flame.
“Even in the ordinary lives of people, when you have a thesis [and] you can’t write, what do you do to be able to write? It’s not just inspiration, but a discipline [in] yourself—that you can be hopeful,” he added.
The fireworks display would run from seven to nine minutes, Austria said.
The FMO director noted that the selection for the pyro-musical display was chosen based on the underlying message, unlike the previous Paskuhan concerts that only showcased popular songs.
“They are not just random songs. In fact, these songs are carefully curated by us because before, it was just whatever was popular. So, we are curating songs that are very relevant to our main theme which is hope and the Olympics,” he said.
Austria said while the songs would pique the interest of the younger generation, the theme is still rooted in the Christian message of unity and peace and Jesus as the source of hope.
“The theme is still anchored in a Christmas way, [and] it’s Jesus giving us this hope. So the religious aspect is still included there even if the songs are popular and relevant,” he said.
This year’s Paskuhan carries the theme “Ever Thankful, Ever Hopeful,” which was inspired by John 3:16, a passage describing how God gave His Son to redeem humanity, according to a circular from UST Secretary General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P.
“Through the aforementioned Paskuhan festivities, may we all experience the transformative power of encountering Christ and share the hopeful message of Christ’s love to the world,” Coronel said.
The University’s Paskuhan festivities began earlier than usual, with the campus-lighting ceremony held on Nov. 29 instead of the beginning of December.
The Christmas lighting was accompanied by a torch-lighting ceremony led by Thomasian Olympian pole-vaulter EJ Obiena and the lighting of decorations that resemble Olympic-related objects, such as medal, barbells, sports balls and the five Olympic ring symbols.
Other Paskuhan highlights include the Agape, or the Thomasian Christmas feast, which will be held on Dec. 13 and the Paskuhan pop-up village, which will run from Dec. 2 to 7.
The Christmas break will start on Dec. 21, while regular classes for the second term of the academic year will begin on Jan. 13. F
