1- Trip to UST

        Bonjour! It is French, just like my header (the Michelle, ma belle thingy).  Anyway, let’s go back to the gist of this post. I’ll share my experience when I was in UST last September 2014.

    

       “How do I get there?”  I said to my aunt who knows the in and outs of Manila. And she said that I should take the LRT, then go down to this station and take another ride and that’s it! I thought it will be that easy, but I was wrong. When I was in the jeep, I remember what my aunt told me last time that I might be surrounded by Mapuan students, then this girl with a 'Mapua Institute of Technology ' lace caught my eye, and I said to myself “ I think I’ll just follow her.”

         When I arrived at the LRT station, I followed her. Then, I noticed that she is heading to the rest room, instead of following her I proceed to the ticketing booth and pay for a single journey ticket. And the waiting game begins, when I enter the train I saw so many students from different universities like, FEU, MIT, Letran etc. And TADA! After few minutes we reached the Central Station!

    

        And then I walk for about 10 minutes to reach SM Manila, because my aunt said that most of the jeepneys that are passing to UST are there, then I asked this barker if this jeep will pass through Espana and he said yes. I saw these two students who are wearing a commerce uniform and they are obviously from UST, and I decided to follow them. While I was inside the jeep I kept on looking at their uniform and imagining myself wearing that and spending my college years in UST. After that mini day dreaming, I said to myself “Shoot! I think they’re not going to UST, they’re going somewhere else! ” cause I’ve noticed that the buildings aren't familiar (because, we went to Espana before). And the jeepney driver unloads us somewhere in Recto, and I have no choice but to get off. I looked like a lost kid in the crowd, but in the brighter side, I saw a tricycle lane and I ask this tricycle driver if he can take me to Espana and YAY! He can take me there! 

        *Drum rolls* I want to shout Go USTe! My heart is pounding and my hands are very cold, though the weather is hot. I don’t know what to feel! I’M SO HAPPY AND I JUST CAN’T HIDE IT! Yes, you’re right. I’m a frustrated Thomasian, I want to study there so bad even though it’s very far from our home. UST is my dream school, and always will. Okay, enough with the drama.

         When I enter the campus, I feel like a Thomasian. I’m just walking like a normal student. Then, when I saw this ‘University of Santo Tomas’ thingy, I take a picture of it.  I also took a photo of the famous ‘Arch of the Centuries’, you can see it below.

           All the incoming students will experience the Thomasian Welcome Walk as their initiation rite, and they will pass through under the arch (it is also my dream to pass through that arch). There is a superstition that if you are studying here, you should not pass under the arch until you graduate (except the welcome walk). But, if you’re hard-headed and pass through this arch while you’re staying here in the university you might get debarred.

                Another picture! The Main Building! They say that this building is earthquake-proof. Just, disregard the two guys on the left, the chairs in front, and the lifting machinery on the left side. There goes the statue of Miguel de Benavides.

                 University of Santo Tomas Field! You know the movie One More Chance? They shoot one of their scenes here.

              Okay, let’s go back! My real agenda today is to pass my application form at the Tan Yan Kee Building (Teriyaki!). And I was lost again; I don’t know where to go. Fortunately, I saw this CFAD student and I asked her where the Tan Yan Kee Building is located, and then she said she can lead me there. She also asked me if what course I am applying for and I said “My first choice is marketing and the second one is Pharmacy.”  And FINALLY! We reached the TYK Building and this CFAD girl said “Good luck!” before she departed.

               Inside the TYK Building, I was like “Is there a gathering or something?” And I was surprised; teenagers are escorted by their parents. And I’m sitting there alone. I submitted my application form and other requirements and TADAAAA!! I’m done!

              

               Before I leave, I visited their parish. I stayed there for awhile and enjoy the beauty of it. And I bought a little yellow rosary.

              When I finally exited from the university, I said to myself “One day.....”