Velada Tomasina... recapturing the beauty of 'Old Manila'.
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by Philipina A. Marcelo
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| Lovely Thomasian ladies, waiting to participate in the reenactment of the La Naval Procession in Intramuros at the turn of the 19th century. |
A couple of weeks ago, my 400-year old University ushered in the new century of its being a frontier of excellent education in the country by looking back to the turn of the 19th century. The whole campus became a very different world - a living tableau of 'Old Manila', where the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas was among its most precious and most celebrated centerpieces.
It felt all surreal...
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| The Benavides Park... encapsulated in a scene of "old" beauty. |
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| The "Illustrados" gallivanting in the campus. |
...and the surroundings, so incredibly lovely.
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| Students enjoying the allure of the occasion... once in a while slipping to the 21st century with their iPhones and digital cameras! |
I had a trio of very willing 'models' who helped me capture the moment with souvenir photos.
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| My 19th century model wannabes. :) |
They gamely posed in various spots in the campus. In the park...
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| They would've looked 19th century "Maria Clara-ish"... if they weren't smiling so enthusiastically like most camera-addicts of the 21st century. Oh well... :) |
...in the old buildings...
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| Our maria Clara wannabes joining the 'alta de ciudad' crowd at the Facultad de Derecho Civil. |
...and at the Plaza Mayor with some of our students.
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| And the smiles persisted! Oh, well... I guess it was, indeed, a happy occasion! |
Of course, our Chemical Engineering family also posed for a number of souvenir photos, before...
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| We just can't wipe those smiles off our faces... |
...during...
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| It was an occasion of savoring friendship, too. :) |
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| Reenacting the habit of the "manangs" of the olds days... siesta under a tree... while being very, very politically incorrect! Haha... |
...and after the event.
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| Until the very end, smiling, even when "outlawed"... was simply a hard habit to break! |
It was truly a unique way of celebrating four centuries of wonderful traditions and excellence in Philippine education, gloriously entwined with the grandiose and wealth of our cultural heritage... and a fun way of welcoming yet another wonderful century of excellent education, hinged on the rich history of our beloved University.
And so, with 21st century smiles, we welcome the Neo-centennial of the University of Santo Tomas!
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| Bring on Neo-centennial! Go, USTe! |
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