Thomasian Throwback

Acknowledgment: http://wikimapia.org/3002449/Rosarium-Garden#/photo/1214931

I was having lunch with my kids one day, listening to Cae and Kong’s bantering and talking about UST. Butting in, I said what I miss about UST, or where I used to hang out, was Tinoko Park. That’s where 3C5/4C5 (in short, Journ majors) would usually stay, while waiting for the next class or just not wanting to go home yet. It is the park across AB (or St. Raymund’s Building). It is now known as Rosarium.

To me, Tinoko will always be a place where dreams were conceived, ideals carried on, relationships found and lost. I remember it was where most of the students’ political groups used to gather, with their streamers and stuff strewn all over. For some, it served as a rehearsal venue, with cassette recorders in tow. Some would bring their typewriters for paperwork or assignments. Some would review for their quizzes or exams. Tambayan. Kainan. Intayan. Meeting place. Lovers’ lane. Kung wala kang jowa nun, aww shet. I also remember a soft drink truck parked nearby, from where my naughty classmates “stole” a few bottles. Other favorite activities of Journ majors were people-watching, heckling, making noise, mang-okray ng mga nagdadaan, and endless chikahan. But lest you think that those were only the things we're good at, can I just say that UST AB Journalism has produced quite a lot of great graduates.

Life was so much simpler then. Hindi pa uso ang cellphone, Starbucks, gadgets. Puro hard copy ang notes, puro pa-xerox. Ang camera nun, de-film pa. There we were in Tretorn sneakers or Converse. “Walking shorts” pa ang tawag. And being a working student was an "in" thing then. If you hadn’t worked for a fast food chain during our time, you were an exception. I worked as service crew in Red Ribbon Timog when I was in 2^nd year. My work hours were 3pm-8pm (closing time) Monday-Saturday, after class; 4pm-8pm when I have PE classes. Alala ko, one time, after my table tennis class, diretso na ko sa office, still wearing my cream PE shirt, black skirt and black PE shoes. Since it was still early for my shift, using the wall, I practiced hitting the pingpong ball back and forth. I overheard someone say, “Sino yung bata?” Hahaha. Neneng-nene pa siguro nun, napagkamalan akong “bata.” The only celebrity I saw then was Regine Velasquez. When I was in 3^rd year, I worked as a part-time writer for a news agency which had an office on Scout Ybardolaza, QC. I would report every MWF in the afternoon. 

We did not have yet the carpark which houses McDonald’s, KFC, among others, now. Other popular tambayans were the UST Coop, the Main Building, Colayco Park (now the Quadricentennial Park) and eventually, The UST Miguel de Benavides Library. And of course, the Flame office in St. Raymund’s Building. Madalas din, naka-Indian seat lang sa corridors, in our long dark blue skirts. 

For me, the best “wholesome” kainans / hang-out places were Janet’s and Mike’s (the best Southern style fried chicken ever with cole slaw on the side), Malls close to UST were limited to SM City / North EDSA (1 jeepney ride away) and SM Centerpoint (1 bus ride away).

If you asked me if I had my share of flood horror stories, you bet. You will never be a real Thomasian kung wala kang experience na ganito. Ang dugong nananalaytay sa amin ay hindi lang black-white-gold, kundi tubig-baha. I was stranded many times, and I would walk home wading along the dark cold water. May ipis pa. Ewww. And yes, meron din namang HHWW sa baha memories. LOL.

And maybe the best thing that happened to me as a Thomasian was meeting my partner in life. While he was a Literature major, Alex and I had the same circle of writer-friends. Tahimik lang siya, medyo suplado. Hi Hello lang, usually. He was in love with (or getting over) another girl at that time, and I with somebody else, too. I didn’t know why I dreamed of him one night. The following morning, I saw him along Tinoko. I greeted him by saying, “Uy, napaginipan kita kagabi.” I didn’t wait for his answer, I just kept on walking. Yun pala, magiging kami later on.

One afternoon, April of 1992, there we were, Alex and I, sitting on one of the benches, watching the sunset. We were already a couple but we didn’t know it. We just needed formality. So I decided to ask. “So, anong anniversary natin? April 1 o 3?” And right then and there, we agreed that it was going to be April 3. Who said there was no forever? Was it Rita Rudner who said that "It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life."

UST will always be home. And I will always be a proud and growling Thomasian. #GoUSTE

~TheGoodGirl