Photos By Rachel Mae De Gracia, CVPro & Georgene Quilaton-Tambiga
While the last month of the year previous went about in a blur of activities and events, the Thomasian community also engaged in different ways to give life to year-end and Christmas seasons.
All departments bonded through socio-civic events and gathering both inside and outside of campus.
Gasa ni Tomas
Gift of Thomas reached a wide variety of sectors in just two days, December 20 and 21, 2023. Thomasians were grouped based on their academic department to include more beneficiaries than before.
The College Department was divided into Gasa ni Tomas for the elderly of Barangay 5, San Carlos City, with the BS in Criminology students as benefactors, and the Gasa ni Tomas for the children under the care of the City Social Welfare & Development Office (CSWDO), with the BS in Entrepreneurship students as their benefactors and parlor game facilitators.
The Basic Education Department spread love and Christmas cheer for the persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) of the San Carlos City District Jail.
Officers of the Basic Education’s Supreme Student Council also brought a hot meal and snack packs for the 13 children in conflict with the law (CICL) under the care of the PNP Women’s & Children’s Police Department. Rev. Fr. Excel Saycon, OAR, director of the Community Extension & Development Office, attended the private gift-giving with the CICLs at the conference room of San Carlos City Police Office (SCCPO).
Thomasian faculty, staff and administration, meanwhile continued the tradition of Caritas in Action on the second day of Gasa ni Tomas for the pedicab drivers. At least 100 drivers of San Carlos City’s iconic foot-pedaled public utility vehicle received food essentials like rice, milk, biscuits, powered coffee and canned meat products.
Rev. Fr. Monday Benjamine Edobor, OAR, vice-president for Identity, Formation & Mission, and Rev. Fr. Joel Dequilla, OAR, vice-president for Finance & Administration, facilitated the outreach program and prayed over the beneficiaries of Gasa. Thomasian staff and the Recollect Educational Assistance for Deserving Students (READS) scholars were instrumental in making the activity possible.
Year-End Bonding
To cap-off 2023 and begin 2024 well-grounded, Thomasians organized a string of festive gatherings and events that began with the Christmas Lights On Ceremony that pre-empted the beginning of parties. The traditional Nativity Scene placed at the CST-R main entrance lighted up to spread cheer to passersby. Then, on December 15 revelry continued with the party and bonding for all students and their respective adviser in the Basic Education Department. The rest of the Thomasian Stronghold of faculty, staff and administrators also gathered and gave each other gifts in time with the first day of the Misa de Gallo. All college Thomasians and instructors also celebrated together at the St. Ezekiel Moreno Covered Court to accommodate the College Deparment’s growing numbers. Even the scholars and workers of the Sto. Tomas de Villanueva-Recoletos house also had their turn to feast on the joys of the season as Christmas Day approached.
