Tips for UST Freshies! [2017]
Note: This post was originally published on my Wordpress page, but I decided to deactivate it & stick with Tumblr instead!
I remember the week before our batch freshmen week, hanap ako ng hanap ng Tips for UST freshies. Syempre diba new environment, new people, kaya kailangan mag-adjust. Sabi nga, wag sumugod sa gera kung wala kang armas. At least know the basics. Ngayon na incoming third year na ko, I decided to give you guys a few tips for your first year in UST.
1. REGISTRATION FORM
You’ll get this paper on the day of your enrollment. Consider this the most important paper in your life when you enter UST. Since wala pa kayong I.D., this piece of paper will serve as your identification card for the mean time. Take note: never ever lose this paper! You can’t get inside the library without this, you need this to claim your PE uniforms, and your professors will ask you for this. They’ll check the course code on the paper to ensure that you’re officially enrolled in their class. Bawal mag-pass ng photocopy! Original lang itatanggap.
2. RAIN & HEAT ESSENTIALS
Maarte ako pagdating sa gamit kaya lagi akong may dalang emergency kit if ever may sudden rain fall. We all know UST being a “waterproof university” kuno.
Kaya make sure to always bring your umbrella, and in case bumaha eh magprepare na rin kayo ng extra foot socks. Syempre, di rin naman safe ang UST sa napaka-init na tirik ng araw. Please, please, please lang maawa kayo sa balat niyo. Isa ako sa mga nabiktima at nangitim ng sobra sa di paggamit ng payong pag mainit. Di ‘to joke, literal na may tan line na ko after my first year in UST.
3. PUNCTUALITY & TRAFFIC AROUND UST
Face it. Manila traffic is a nightmare, lalo na pag may test ka sa first subject mo. If gusto niyo ng clean record or if maaga si prof pumasok lagi, make sure to arrive the school at least 30 minutes before the class starts (lalo na if 1st subject or kung sa malayo ka nakatira). Hindi joke ang traffic sa Espanya, Dapitan, Lacson, PNoval. Saan ka man dumaan eh traffic kaya mas mabuti na maaga ka na pumasok. Usually, professors give 15 minutes grace time lalo na pag 7am class mo. Pero if late morning or afternoon naman na, if after 5-10 minutes at wala ka eh late ka na. 15-30 minutes after, absent.
4. YELLOW PAD
Friendly tip: use yellow pad to take down notes in class, then transfer to your notebook para mas maayos. Minsan kasi may mga prof na sobrang bilis magsalita/maglipat ng slides. Minsan din, may profs na hindi nagbibigay ng powerpoints para maaral mo sa bahay. Ang pinakamalala, may mga profs na hindi pwede sa class nila yung pipicturan mo yung board for notes.
Mas okay na yung sa yellow pad na muna kesa magulo yung notes mo. Better-looking notes = easier to review. Pero syempre, nasa tao yun. Bahala ka.
P.S. marami pa rin parasite sa college. Di yan mawawala.
5. QUADRIPARK PERKS
Quadricentennial Park — “Dance Central” daw ng UST. Dito kasi usually nagpapractice lahat ng dance troupes ng university. It’s between the Main Building and the Miguel de Benavides Library. Bukod sa makakakita ka ng mga super galing na dancers, libreng charge din sa phone mong lowbat! May saksakan sa light posts, pero selected lang. You can use it to charge your devices for free.
6. SHOWER ROOMS
Gumulong ka ba sa field habang PE? Tapos hanggang 7pm pa class mo?
You can use the shower rooms behind the Grandstand for free! Don’t risk going to class smelling like you haven’t showered in weeks. Malaki naman siya and usually onti lang gumagamit (depende sa oras) + malinis siya.
7. SUPPLIES
Nagpapadala ng dissecting kit / 1×1 picture / scical si prof tapos nakalimutan mo sa bahay? Don’t worry, the 4 roads surrounding UST got you covered. Sa PNoval usually mga art supplies ang binibenta (Joli’s). If mga gamit naman for laboratory classes, marami sa Dapitan, specifically in Asturias. Isang hilera sila dun, mamili ka na lang. Pero my blockmates & I usually go to Miranda’s kasi mura & complete sila dun.
Kung mahirap hanapin sa Dapitan yung hinahanap niyong lab tools, maraming medical equipment na binibenta sa Bambang! You can ride a tricycle, pero pag sinipag ka pwede naman lakarin. Doon usually nagpupunta mga Nursing/CRS/Med students if mag-oorder kami ng equipment (lalo na if bulk orders, mapapamura kayo).
8. COLLEGE WEEK & UAAP SEASON
Every college has their own college week. Dito maglalabasan creativity ng college niyo when it comes to planning the activities for the whole week. Sa college namin (CRS), it’s always a blast. Sa amin, buong week kaming walang klase and puro activities lang. I think it depends on your college.
Share:
CRS Week 2015 - The most fun moment was the basaan part (wow conyo) sa educ playground + Agape night on the last day. Grabe yung basaan, walang pinatawad. Di mo alam kung watercolor, recycled water, or juice ba yung tumama sayo. May nagkalat pa ng powder nun. Yung agape night naman, we had a buffet-like dinner sa lovers lane + may nagpperform sa mini-stage sa harap. It was a great way to end the week.
CRS Week 2016 - For me the highlight was the colorbomb part! Parang akala mo nasa music festival ka, ganon. Also, Up Dharma Down was the band that was invited! So much feeeeeels.
Regarding UAAP, make sure you have at least 1-2 shirts for yellow day. Yellow day is done to show our support to the Tiger athletes. Nung 2015, may isang week kaming naka-yellow kasi umabot sa finals ang UST Men’s Basketball Team. If you don’t have classes/free-time/free-cut at gusto niyo manuod ng live game, punta lang kayo sa Araneta/MOA Arena kasi dun usually ang games especially if basketball yung event. If Volleyball naman (usually 2nd sem), sa Filoil Arena/Araneta/San Juan Arena yung games. Minsan naman, yung mga TV na nasa buildings eh pinapalabas yung game. Nung UAAP Basketball Finals (2015), nagpapanood sila sa loob ng QPav.
Pero masaya manood ng live, as in! Kikilabutan kayo hanggang bone marrow. Pero maglaan ng pasensya lalo na kung finals dahil maraming nagttrash talk. Given na yun. Plus, gawa rin kayo ng banners na witty, malay niyo ma-flash kayo sa TV.
Parang eto: “Thomasians sila Popoy at Basha! MAY SECOND CHANCE!” (Game 2 finals, USTvsFEU)
Know your cheers! Usually tinuturo naman yan kapag ROARientation. Hindi lang po GoUSTe! ang cheer natin. Meron tayong Black Gold, Black White + We are the tigers the mighty mighty tigers! + OH! Defensa! + Eeeeyo-eh-eh-eeeeyo (DI KO ALAM SORRY HAHA basta pag basketball season to usually). Mas masaya manood ng live lalo na pag nakakasabay ka sa cheers and sa pagbeat ng drums ng UST Yellow Jackets!
9. KNOW YOUR WAY IN & OUT OF UST
If you are facing Espanya, then:
your left is Lacson
your right is P. Noval
your back is Dapitan
Knowing the four streets around UST will help you know where to eat during your breaks, especially if you’re trying to save money. It’s nice that we have our own fast food chains along the carpark, pero be adventurous! May Thai, Korean, Japanese restaurants, pati sandamakmak na mga karinderya around UST. Wag lagi sa carpark. Maraming tao, mabubutas pa bulsa mo.
[I plan on making a post about cheap-but-satisfying restaurants and karinderyas around UST! Stay tuned hehe]
You need to familiarize yourself with the buildings inside too. Lahat ng building na madadaanan niyo sa loob ng UST eh may pangalan, kaya it’s better if alam niyo agad kung saan yung particular building na yun. Hindi kasi lahat ng GenEd profs niyo ay galing sa sarili niyong college. Some professors kasi are based sa other colleges, and sometimes requirements are needed to be delivered in their own faculty room.
Here’s a quick guide for the buildings inside UST:
10. PASKUHAN FESTIVITIES
Last but not the least! This is a must-see event. Tradition na ‘to ng buong Thomasian community. Andun yung napaka-laking Christmas tree sa field na pinapalitan yung design annually, may mga food trucks sa loob ng campus, and may parang concert pa kasi nag-iinvite tayo ng mga banda during Paskuhan. Marami nga lang tao kahit may 1 Thomasian – 1 outsider rule (kasi di naman nasusunod). Masarap tumambay sa field habang hinihintay yung program kaya dala kayo ng mats. And for the first time (2015), UST held a 3D Mapping Projection sa Main Building. ANG GANDA. Kahit umuulan at siksikan lahat ng tao. Amazeballs.
Photo credit: Inquirer
Watch UST Main Building 3D Mapping Projection (Paskuhan 215)! Click this link.
Also! Make sure to agree with your friends kung saan meet-up spot niyo. WALANG SIGNAL SA UST PAG PASKUHAN. For safety purposes, pati na rin marami kasing tao. Mukha lang may signal yung phone mo, pero niloloko ka lang niyan.
”Uy friend text ka nalang pag asa UST ka na & kung asan ka namin hahanapin!” Good luck. Di mo na sila uli makikita.
Syempre ang pinaka-highlight ng Paskuhan, ang famous UST Fireworks Display + Pyromusical. Taray diba, puma-pyromusical. 2 years na ko sa UST, at 2 years na ring umuulan habang iddisplay na yung fireworks. Pero syempre, tinuloy parin & everyone still enjoyed. In Paskuhan 2015, the song was “A Sky Full of Stars” by Coldplay. Nung Paskuhan 2016, nakalimutan ko yung kanta pero sure ako na Coldplay uli yun. We have a thing for Coldplay, you see.
Photo credit: Inquirer
Super ganda ng fireworks display, promise. Ang masasabi mo nalang, “Uy friend… ang ganda ng tuition ko.” Joke 1/2. Pero seryoso, never miss the fireworks display & pyromusical! UST is known for it’s wonderful fireworks show during Paskuhan & Baccalaureate Mass.
Usually pagkatapos ng Paskuhan, may “After Paskuhan” Party. Pero di na ‘to handle ng school. It’s held sa streets ng Dapitan and may bayad. 18+ only!
So far, yan palang naman mga kailangan niyong malaman. Di ko ibibigay lahat, you have to be adventurous too. Ikot ka lang, di mo mamamalayan ikaw na pala magbibigay ng next Tips for UST Freshies. Explore & have fun during your stay in UST! Di lahat nakakatuntong sa university na ‘to, at isa ka sa mga maswerteng makakaaral dito. Welcome to the Royal, Pontifical, and Catholic University! Go USTe!
Hi! I’ll be posting Tips for UST-CRS (College of Rehabilitation Sciences) Freshies soon! Thanks for reading x