NEWS

It's been a year and seven months since the UST College of Commerce Alumni Foundation, Inc. (UST COCAFI) got together to celebrate the milestones of its members. With the world getting dependent on online meetings, UST COCAFI turn this setback into an opportunity and organized a virtual grand alumni homecoming last September 25, 2021 via Zoom.

"If the idea of homecoming is literally to come home, where is the essence of coming home when it is done virtually?" asked Commerce Regent Rev. Fr. Senen R. Ecleo, O.P. during his inspirational message. "There is something this pandemic has taught me, it is home is where the heart is..."

True enough, over 200 Commerce alumni from all over the world mainly consisting of the jubilarians attended the said event called "Zoomwhere Back in Time 2021". The program started with a Thanksgiving Mass presided by Rev. Fr. Pablo Tiong streamed via the Santisimo Rosario Parish-UST Facebook page.

Present also in the virtual celebration was the Commerce Dean Assoc. Prof. Leonardo M. Canoy, Jr., Ph.D., current faculty members of the college, and OAR Director Asst. Prof. Fredeswindo R. Medina, MACHs. The event was graced by the presence of Senator Joel Villanueva, a silver jubilarian this year, who reminisced his fond memories with his classmates during their stay at the university and how these experiences shaped him to be the public servant he is today.

The nostalgia continued when video presentations prepared by the jubilarian batches were played for everyone to see. Each decade starting from the 60s to the 90s was introduced by the hosts with a little rundown of the era's highlights in fashion, music, movies, etc. Photos and clips from years ago emerged revealing the alumni's past selves as young and carefree students. The Zoom chatroom became lively as the alumni typed in comments reliving their days on each presentation.

The happiness and excitement radiated way past the participants' phone and computer screens at their own homes bridging the physical distance between them. Each of their presence in the virtual room became their present to one another and to the association's scholars who are thankful to meet their benefactors who helped fund their studies for many years.

Going back to Rev. Fr. Senen's message to his dear alumni, "As long as we keep our loved ones in our hearts, they are never far away." He reiterated that UST will always be waiting for them and wished them to keep their memories of their alma mater. He ended his message by saying, "As long as you keep the Thomasian spirit alive in you, you are definitely home."