THE GESTURE of gratitude that went viral will now become a tradition.
Graduates of the UST Faculty of Arts and Letters (AB) will not be the only ones to be given a spotlight during their solemn investiture, but also the dedicated support staff who stood by them behind the scenes.
Artlets Dean Prof. Melanie Turingan said the marching of non-teaching personnel and support staff during graduation, which went viral and earned praises last year, would now be an annual ritual.
“Same [as last year], magiging tradition na natin ito (this will be our tradition),” Turingan told The Flame.
The marching of the AB support staff at the Quadricentennial Pavilion was covered by The Flame and was subsequently picked up by mainstream media.
The video of them making an entrance to the multi-purpose gymnasium garnered over 5.2 million views, 152,000 reactions, 1,900 comments and 21,000 shares on Facebook.
Faculty secretary Asst. Prof. Louie Benedict Ignacio said the gesture seeks to honor the non-teaching personnel who became part of the graduates’ academic journey.
“[N]ot only the teachers, not only the [administration], but everyone who became part of the journey… Of course, the maintenance and security, they are only representatives, but at least [who] we are highlighting is really everyone who became part of your journey,” he said.
Honoring the staff’s service and contributions reflects the value that AB holds, according to Ignacio.
“We take pride that they’re from [our faculty],” he added.
Way before AB, the College of Science has long been practicing the same tradition. Each college has its own ceremonies and rituals, but only students, faculty members and administrative officials are usually recognized during the graduation rites.
Over 7,000 Thomasians are expected to receive their college degrees this year, with AB having the second-highest number of candidates for graduation among various colleges. F
