Let's declare 2010 as Year of the Thomasian

2010 AS YEAR OF THE THOMASIAN:
IN THE FACE OF INACTION FROM MALACANANG, LET’S DECLARE IT OURSELVES

AND THE NEED TO MAKE NOISE ABOUT UST’S QUADRICENTENNIAL

When the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) launched its historical scriptwriting contest recently in line with the year 2011 being a marker for several important events in Philippine history, it mentioned our national hero’s 150th birthday, the country’s 65th year of independence from America and the People Power Revolution’s 25th anniversary. Quite surprisingly it failed to mention the Quadricentennial of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) which, I personally believe, is the most important of those anniversaries.

I do not understand why such event of great historical significance could be overlooked by the FDCP. On second thought, however, perhaps it’s not their fault. Perhaps we – the Thomasian community – is not doing enough to let the entire Filipino nationhood know that our beloved alma mater is celebrating its 400th year, something that Filipinos of today – Thomasians or not – should be happy about and grateful for if only for the fact that it is happening during our lifetime. It’s like being alive during and being able to witness the apparition of the infamous Halley’s Comet which appears only every 75-76 years, the last of which was in February 1986 (the next one will be in July 2061).

If we are really proud of being UST alumni as we say we are, then we should do our share in promoting the 2011 event in whatever little way we can. I’m sure UST’s Quadricentennial Committee is doing its best to ensure the grandest Thomasian celebration ever, but we Thomasians in “the world out here” cannot, should not, just sit idly doing nothing.

I – a product of the university’s then-College of Architecture & Fine Arts (Fine Arts – Advertising batch ‘81) – have initiated middle of last year a move to have 2010 declared as “Year of the Thomasian”. Unfortunately, my letter to Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (whose father, Pres. Diosdado Macapagal, is one of UST’s most illustrious alumni) has not produced any result except endorsement to Malacanang’s Legislative Office. Follow-ups also proved futile.

The proposed declaration was inspired by a similar move in 1999 to have 2000 declared as “The Year of OFWs” which I likewise initiated (It was eventually realized through Presidential Proclamation No. 243). This time, with Malacanang’s inaction despite the worthiness of the proposal, perhaps it’s up to us to do the declaration ourselves.

Yes, I propose that we, present-day Thomasians, do a symbolic declaration making 2010 “Year of the Thomasian”. No, it’s not a bid for self-aggrandizement, but our tribute to fellow Thomasians of decades and centuries past – great men and women in various fields of endeavor – who have helped in shaping the future of our country and in enriching its history and culture. I don’t see any legal impediment in such a move so why don’t we do it?

We don’t need to do it in an ostentatious manner. In fact, we can do it in a very simple but nonetheless meaningful and significant way. What I have in mind is a gathering of Thomasians at the UST campus on April 28 (Wednesday), the day Archbishop Miguel de Benavides founded UST in 1611.

We can invite famous Thomasians in showbiz, media, the arts, business, government service, fashion, music, etc. for greater impact and wider media coverage. Wearing golden yellow t-shirts or tiger outfits, let’s sing the UST hymn and shout the “Go USTe” cheer as one. We can do this very early in the morning as the sun rises or if we want a finale of fireworks display we can do it instead towards sunset.

Or maybe there are better ideas out there, let’s hear it. April 28 is just barely a month away, let’s move!

And let us not forget that we’re in “The Year of the Tiger” which puts more significance – we are tigers after all – if we are to declare 2010 as “Year of the Thomasian”. The symbolic declaration would most definitely be a fitting prelude to next year’s Quadricentennial celebrations, the grandest historical event since 1998’s Philippine Centennial. It would also be the perfect way to start making noise about our alma mater’s 400th birthday.

How about it fellow Tomasinos?!

Rhoel Raymundo Mendoza
UST Fine Arts-Advertising Batch ‘81

Internet sites I’ve created in relation to UST’s Quadricentennial:
www.ust400.blogspot.com
www.uste400.multiply.com

My letter to the editor about the proposed declaration:
http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/letterstotheeditor/view/20100216-253451/Declare_2010_Year_of_the_Thomasian

My alternative proposal as featured in The Varsitarian:
http://www.varsitarian.net/news/special_news/20100326/year_of_ust_tiger_pushed

PASS THIS ON TO ALL FELLOW THOMASIANS YOU KNOW! GO USTE!