Almost seven thousand graduating Thomasians joined the celebration of the Baccalaureate Mass for Academic Year 2024 to 2025. The event had initially begun on May 30, 2025 at the Open Field and Grandstand, before being interrupted by heavy rain and adjusted to an indoor, two-batch event at the Quadricentennial Pavilion on May 31, 2025.
“When you carry Christ within you, the world responds… The storm that postponed the celebration is but a symbol that there will be many storms ahead–delays, detours, disappointments–but your task is not to fear them. Your task is to carry Christ through them,” said the UST Secretary-General Rev. Fr. Louie R. Coronel, O.P., who presided over the morning batch.
Fr. Coronel explained, “Even though we have challenges in life, they are not reasons for us not to be joyful. That is our challenge: to remain in joy, in love. A Thomasian must always be in love. You are not just walking toward the Arch of the Centuries, you are walking toward a world, through the Arch, waiting for your witness, not just for your diplomas or awards, but your faith, hope, and love–your Christ-like heart.”
For the afternoon session, UST Vice Rector for Finance and Faculty of Engineering Regent Rev. Fr. Roberto Luanzon, Jr., O.P., SThD, DL, lauded the efforts of the graduating students, saying that “We celebrate and give thanks to the Lord for all your achievements. Nakikiisa kami sa inyong mga tagumpay.”
Fr. Luanzon also reminded them, |As you continue your journey, take with you the Thomasian values of competence, commitment and compassion: Competence that you truly learned the best that you can from your studies and you are ready to share them to your new workplace and to others, commitment that you are willing to give 100% to the work that will be entrusted to you, just as you did when you were still Thomasian students, and compassion that you have heart for others who will need your care and love. Congratulations to our Thomasian graduating class of 2025!”
The graduating students were each given a Thomasian Mission Cross, as a reminder of the Thomasian ideals instilled in them as students. A recitation of the Thomasian Pledge of Loyalty followed the blessing and imposition of the crosses.
Also part of the Post-Mass Program is the annual Ceremony of Light (Lumina Pandit) that represents UST’s mission of illuminating the world through the light of education and evangelization. The flame that originates from the torch of the Presider is passed on to the torches of the Deans and Regents of the academic units and is received by their respective students.
After the Post-Mass Program, the graduating students symbolically left the University in the traditional recessional parade where they exit through the historic Arch of the Centuries, signifying the completion of their student life in UST. The academic officials led the procession walking out of the Arch, which was the original gateway of the University when it was still in Intramuros. This exit completes the cycle since the same students, when they were freshmen, entered the Arch to signify the beginning of their Thomasian life.
It would be remembered that in 2022, the same batch’s Homecoming Walk was also marked by heavy rain.
The University of Santo Tomas started its graduation season beginning with the Student Awards Day held on May 23, 2025, with consecutive solemn investiture rites for each academic unit being held during the month of June. Graduation season ended on July 1, 2025, with the investiture ceremonies of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery.