Colegio de Sto. Tomas-Recoletos

Story By Georgene Quilaton-Tambiga

Photos By Rachel Mae De Gracia, CVPro

At least 1,500 Thomasians in the College and Basic Education Departments attended the Mass of the Holy Spirit for the Academic Year 2024-2025 last August 5, 2024 at the Colegio de Sto. Tomas-Recoletos Quadrangle.

Rev. Msgr. Jing B. Baldo, Episcopal Vicar of the Diocese of San Carlos, was the main celebrant and homilist.

In his homily, Msgr. Baldo told the Thomasians that the purpose of celebrating the Mass of the Holy Spirit at the start of an academic year is that “we need to ask for the guidance [of] this wonderful power [of the Holy Spirit] to usher us into the new year.”

The episcopal vicar also reminded the Thomasians of the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. He encouraged the members of the community to also “feel the presence of Jesus by bringing peace” as students and teachers who spend time in the classroom.

Before the end of the Holy Mass, the religious administrators, namely Rev. Fr. Cristopher C. Maspara, OAR (president), Rev. Fr. Joel Dequilla, OAR (vice-president for administration and finance), Rev. Fr. Monday Benjamine Edobor, OAR (vice-president for identity, formation and mission) and Rev. Fr. Excel Saycon, OAR (CEDO director), blessed the Thomasians.

Meanwhile, Thomasian teachers renewed their Teacher’s Pledge for this academic year and all new Thomasians—seventh and eleventh graders, transferees and first year college students—made the Thomasian’s Pledge as a gesture of adhering to their duties and responsibilities.

Unveiling 84

Thomasians also witnessed the unveiling of the 84th Year Theme and Logo.

“The Thomasians at 84: Pioneers, Paragons, Pilgrims” is this year’s theme taken from the “Dream Big, Start Small” theme of the Red Educativa Internacional Agustina Recoleta (EDUCAR) and the recently launched Jubilee Year 2025 – Pilgrims of Hope.

Ziff Calvin Marabillo, of CST-R Batch 2004, is this year’s logo artist. The logo features waves of the school’s brand colors and colors that represent the Marian and Augustinian Recollect identities.

The use of the ship’s steering wheel signifies that the Thomasians are always on a journey, especially towards the school’s centennial celebration, and its handles represent the Thomasians as pioneers, paragons and pilgrims of faith.

**The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit.** Grade 7 Thomasians in their green shirts try to recall the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit using their fingers as guide as instructed by Rev. Msgr. Jing B. Baldo, Episcopal Vicar of the Diocese of San Carlos.

**Hold Each Other’s Hands.** New BS in Entrepreneurship students hold each other’s hand as a pact of doing pilgrimage in education together this academic year.

**A Pledge of Augustinian Pedagogy.** Thomasian teachers renew their Pledge during the Mass of the Holy Spirit for Academic Year 2024 – 2025.

**The Episcopal Vicar.** Rev. Msgr. Jing B. Baldo gives an interactive yet insightful homily on the importance of calling on the Holy Spirit for guidance and enlightenment as the Thomasian community begins a new academic year.

**New Thomasian Criminologists.** BS in Criminology first year students make their Pledge with the setting sun as dramatic back drop.

**The Augustinian Recollect Administrators.** L-R Rev. Fr. Monday Benjamine Edobor, OAR (vice-president for identity, formation and mission), Rev. Fr. Cristopher C. Maspara, OAR (president), Rev. Fr. Joel Dequilla, OAR (vice-president for administration and finance) and Rev. Fr. Excel Saycon, OAR (CEDO director) pose for photos right after the launching of the 84th Year Theme and Logo.

**Blessing the Thomasians.** Fr. Maspara blesses the new college Thomasians.

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Thomasians Celebrate Mass of the Holy Spirit with Msgr. Baldo, Launch New Theme and Logo