Sunday, January 24, 2010

UST landmarks to be declared national cultural treasures

(Reposted from The Manila Bulletin, Jan. 24, 2010)

By FRANCIS T. WAKEFIELD
January 23, 2010, 1:17pm

The University of Santo Tomas (UST), which will celebrate its 400th anniversary in 2011, will etch another milestone in its history with the formal declaration of the UST Main Building, the Central Seminary, the Arch of the Centuries and the University’s Open Spaces as National Cultural Treasures by the National Museum, Monday, Jan. 25.

Associate Professor Giovanna V. Fontanilla, director of the UST Public Affairs Office, says the declaration ceremonies will be held at the UST Main Building Lobby, 3 p.m., and will be attended by high-ranking school officials led by Fr. Rolando dela Rosa O.P., the university rector.

Fontanilla said the declaration ceremonies will be held following the unveiling of “The Foundation of the University of Santo Tomas by Archbishop Benavidez” oil canvas painting dated 1911 and restored through the UST Museum’s Heritage Conservation Fund.

Section 3 of the Cultural Properties Preservation and Protection Act states that a “Natural Cultural Treasure is a unique object found locally, possessing outstanding historical, cultural, artistic and/or scientific value which is significant and important to this country and nation.”

The recognition marks the first ever inclusion of an educational institution among the ranks of National Cultural Treasures, with the majority of structures being churches and the rest being terrestrial landmarks, intangible cultural property and movable objects.”

Fontanila said the declaration, considered a milestone for UST, is the culmination of efforts which began in 2004. She added that this coincides with the various activities for UST’s Quadricentennial celebration next year.

Friday, January 22, 2010

PGMA: DECLARE 2010 AS “YEAR OF THE THOMASIAN

The following is the letter I sent today (by fax and e-mail) to the "Letters to the Editor" section of the top broadsheets:


PGMA: DECLARE 2010 AS “YEAR OF THE THOMASIAN”

Ten years ago on February 8, 2000 then-President Joseph Estrada signed Presidential Proclamation No. 243 declaring 2000 as “The Year of OFWs”. It was the result of a yearlong campaign that I – a former OFW in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – initiated in 1999. The aim was to focus more attention on OFWs and recognize overseas Filipinos’ immense contribution to the general good of our country, with the hope that it would jumpstart renewed efforts in promoting their welfare and well-being. (Incidentally I was also one of the earliest advocates of the Absentee Voting and Dual Citizenship Bills which were eventually passed into law)

On July 1, 2009 I faxed and emailed a letter to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo proposing another declaration – 2010 as “Year of the Thomasian” (http://ust400. blogspot.com/2009/06/ 2010-as-year-of-thomasian.html) – which I believe would be a very good way of ending the first decade of the 21st century and the perfect prelude to the global celebration of UST’s Quadricentennial in 2011. January is almost over and it seems no action has been taken to effect the declaration except for the referral made by Dir. Celso Cainglet of the President’s Correspondence Office to the Head of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office, Mr. Joaquin Lagonera, on August 6, 2009 for appropriate action. It is, however, not yet late to push for the declaration.

So why 2010 as Year of the Thomasian?

UST’s distinction as the oldest university in Asia and the largest Catholic university in the world (in terms of student population in one campus) and the fact that it counts among its alumni four Philippine presidents, six Supreme Court justices, and hundreds – perhaps thousands even – of prominent and outstanding men and women in various fields of endeavor, plus UST’s role in Philippine history, should make the university’s 400th anniversary not only a celebration for the Thomasian community but for the entire country as well. In fact, we as a people should be thankful if only for the fact that such an event of great historical importance is happening during our lifetime.

As an alumnus I, therefore, believe that it is only fitting that a tribute be made to Thomasians. But lest this sound as a bid by present-day Thomasians themselves for self aggrandizement, this is just one UST alumnus’ idea of honoring the academic community that he was once, is still, and will always proudly be a part of – the Thomasian family.

President Arroyo, let this be one of your last significant actions before stepping down from the presidency. But more than that, let it be your ultimate tribute to one of the greatest Thomasians who ever lived – your own father, Diosdado Pangan Macapagal.

For your father and the men and women of centuries past who have brought honor to UST by doing their share in the shaping of our nation through their professional expertise or talent in the fields of engineering, commerce, education, law, arts and letters, fine arts, nursing, medicine, pharmacy and sciences; for the UST graduates of the recent past who stood out or continue to stand out in the fields of entertainment, music, films, business, pageants and public service; for the entire Thomasian family of the past four centuries – declare 2010 as YEAR OF THE THOMASIAN! It would be a tribute and recognition well-earned and well-deserved, the perfect gift to the Thomasian community on the eve of their alma mater’s 400th year.


RHOEL RAYMUNDO MENDOZA
Fine Arts – Advertising 1981
1990 POEA Bagong Bayani awardee

Friday, January 8, 2010

Thomasians let's see this proclamation through - 2010: Year of The Thomasian



Fellow Thomasians,

Now that the countdown to our alma mater’s Quadricentennial in 2011 has begun let us do our share in preparing for the big event. Considering the illustrious role that it has played in Philippine history and the contributions of its distinguished alumni in the shaping of our nation, UST’s 400th Anniversary should be considered as our country’s grandest celebration in years. In fact, we should be very thankful that this event of great historical significance is happening during our lifetime.

It is, therefore, not only fitting and proper but also imperative to do what we can in promoting the Quadricentennial and sharing ideas or launching related projects to ensure its success.

As a loyal and proud Thomasian I have initiated a call for President Arroyo to declare “2010: YEAR OF THE THOMASIAN” as the perfect way to usher in 2011 and as a fitting tribute – not so much to the current enrollees and living alumni of UST but – to the past decades’ and centuries’ great Thomasians.

On July 1, 2009 I faxed the Office of the President about this and it was referred by the Correspondence Office to the Legislative Liaison Office on August 6. We may be well towards the second week of January but we can still lobby for the declaration. (In 1999, while still a migrant worker in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, I initiated a campaign to have the following year declared as “The Year of OFWs”. January 2000 came and still no word about the declaration. I didn’t stop barraging Malacanang with faxes, emails and even phonecalls. On February 8 then-President Joseph Estrada finally signed Presidential Proclamation No. 243 effecting the declaration.)

Fellow Tomasinos, let us get this message across to President Arroyo. Let’s do this not necessarily to seek recognition for us living Thomasians per se, but to exalt the Thomasian Family of the past four hundred years.

You can check out my letter to PGMA at http://ust400.blogspot.com/2009/06/2010-as-year-of-thomasian.html

DECLARING THIS AS YEAR OF THE THOMASIAN WOULD BE MOST APPROPRIATE BECAUSE IT IS THE EVE OF UST’S QUADRICENTENNIAL. BESIDES, IT IS ALSO THE YEAR OF THE TIGER WHICH SYMBOLIZES THOMASIANS.

What you can do to help in getting the message across to PGMA:

1. Forward this site’s link to fellow alumni or even to your friends: http://www.ust400.blogspot.com

2. If you have friends or relatives in media, forward a copy of the letter and ask them to write something about the campaign.

3. Copy the following and fax (736-1010) and/or e-mail (corres@op.gov.ph) it to PGMA:
I support the call for Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to declare 2010 as “YEAR OF THE THOMASIAN” in honor of UST’s great alumni of decades and centuries past and as a most proper and fitting way to usher in 2011, UST’s 400th Anniversary.

4. If you have celebrity friends – especially those who are also alumni of UST – who appear regularly on TV, request them to mention something about this campaign every chance they get.

5. Use all your connections in government and media to get this message across to PGMA.

Go Tomasinos! Let’s see this proclamation through! GO USTE!!!

Yours in the true Thomasian spirit,

Rhoel Raymundo Mendoza
Fine Arts-Advertising (Batch ’81)
1990 POEA Bagong Bayani awardee