nstp 2

A Christian Call and the Thomasian Response

Welcome to Chapter 2! How was your experience reading and doing activities of Module 1? I hope you were able to understand and have a clear grasp of the different concepts regarding the NSTP History and Good Citizenship Values. In this chapter, you will encounter two lessons: First part will lead you to a deeper understanding and appreciation of human dignity with a keen sensitivity to the needs of others especially those who suffer in poverty and crisis in life. The second part emphasizes the Thomasian core values and response to the Christian call which is further explained as you go along the chapter. At the end of this chapter you are expected to value human dignity through practicing the teachings of the Catholic Church and the Thomasian core values and ideals in everyday life.

Let‟s now go to Lesson 1.

Lesson 1: Advocacy to Christianity At the end of the lesson, you will be able to: 1. Evaluate one‘s own point of view regarding human dignity 2. Demonstrate identifiable characteristics of being a Filipino Catholic

I. Man: Image and Likeness of God So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him;  male and female he created them.  And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply  and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea  and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves  on the earth .”  (Gen. 1:27-28)

and The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed  into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. (Gen. 2:7) CHAPTER 2: A CHRISTIAN CALL AND THE THOMASIAN RESPONSE

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Humanity is the pinnacle of creation. Being made in God‘s image, humanity has intrinsic worth. Human beings alone, among all of God‘s creation, have the breadth of  God blown into their nostrils

Human dignity  is the intrinsic worth that is inherent in every human being. From the Catholic perspective (among other Christian perspectives), the source of human dignity is rooted in the concept of Imago Dei  (Latin for "image of God "), in Christ‘s redemption and in our ultimate destiny of union with God.

Human dignity therefore transcends any social order as the basis for rights and is neither granted by society nor can it be legitimately violated by society. In this way, human dignity is the conceptual basis for human rights. While providing the foundation for many normative claims, one direct normative implication of human dignity is that every human being should be acknowledged as an inherently valuable member of the human community and as a unique expression of life, with an integrated bodily and spiritual nature. In Catholic moral thought, because there is a social or communal dimension to human dignity itself, persons must be conceived of, not in overly-individualistic terms, but as being inherently connected to the rest of society. Because the tradition emphasizes the integral nature of our body and spirit, the human body takes on greater significance and value than in the prevailing dualistic conception of the person. a. Man: Soul, Intellect and Will Man‘s dignity comes from having a soul . The soul is his principle of life. It is what gives him a spiritual nature. It is what makes him like God for it enables him to think and to want. The power which enables man to reason out things is called his intellect. The power which allows man to decide and to carry out that decision is called his will.

Because man has a soul, he can be called a person . A person is a being with a rational nature. Man is called the image of his Maker precisely because he is rational. He shares something in common with God and angels: his intellect and will. Man can have a sense of humor. Only men can find two things that are absurd or unrelated to each other amusing. Only man can joke or laugh; not even the hyena can equal man in finding wit in contradictory situations. Man can do so because he has a mind. With an intellect , man can search for the truth. As a consequence, he studies the world around him in order to better understand and do things accordingly. With this knowledge he can work for the good of others by producing or making things. He searches for what is real until things are revealed to him CHAPTER 2: A CHRISTIAN CALL AND THE THOMASIAN RESPONSE

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with the aid of his sense. But always something will be missing from the entire puzzle for his mind is not as encompassing as h is Maker‘s. But it will still be a light in the dark, enough for him to live in peace. With his will , man can choose the good. But then not all good things are of the same quality, there are good things that are higher than others. It is up to man to identify the higher good so he can choose it. b. Man‟s Goals

As a person, we have two goals: the temporal  and the ultimate . Our temporal goal is to be able to develop ourselves and take an active role in the society. Our ultimate goal is to be in union with our Creator. Our intellect enables us to acquire the necessary knowledge about the meaning of life. Through it, we are able to discern whether our action is right or wrong. On the other hand, our human will enables us to act on our discernment. As persons, we are able to lift our thoughts to the ideals and are able to make judgments. While we all share in the image and likeness of God, we are not all the same. Each and every one of us is unique. As Christians, do you realize these valuable intrinsic capacities that God has  endowed us? That of being in the image and likeness of God?  In the previous readings, you learned about the person created in the image and likeness of God. Now, the second half of the first module will make you discover the persons‘ communitarian nature, your responsibility and realization of one‘s worth.

II. Distinctive Characteristics of a Filipino Catholic We, Filipino Catholics, in particular are people who have experienced in one or another that our Filipino identity, meaning , suffering , commitment  and world-view  are all tied to Jesus Christ . Like a diamond with a thousand faces, Christ is able to reveal to every person and nation, their own unity, truth and value. (de la Cruz Jr., O.P., 1997. p. 18)

Thus we Filipino Catholics are those who:  As baptized into discipleship of Jesus Christ, discover our identity  as adopted children of our Father and as members of Christ‘s Body, the Church, inspired by Mary our Mother; In the breaking of bread around the table of the Lord, find meaning  in sharing ecclesial fellowship with one another and with Christ, their Priest and Eucharist; In meeting the Crucified Savior, are sustained in the sufferings  and hardships of life, and receive forgiveness for their sins through his Sacraments; CHAPTER 2: A CHRISTIAN CALL AND THE THOMASIAN RESPONSE

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Commit  ourselves to our Risen Lord and his mission through the gift of Faith , celebrated in great Hope in the Sacraments, and lived out in Love and service of their fellow-men; From our world-vision  led by the Spirit of the Risen Christ, are experienced in the Christian community, the Church, which sustains us in our pilgrimage of lifein-Christ; Approach and live out this Christian life within the powerful inspiring presence of Mary , our Mother and Model.

“When we deal with each other, we should do so with the sense of awe that arises in the presence of something  holy and sacred. For that is what human beings are: we  are created in the image of God ”  ( Economic Justice for All Pastoral Letter on Catholic Social  Teaching and the U.S. Economy U.S. Catholic Bishops, 1986. #28)

a. God‟s Two Greatest Commandments One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing  that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the  commandments, which is the most important?”  Love the Lord your God with all  your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your  strength.” The second is this: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no commandment greater than these. (Mark 12:28-31) Read the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) in the Bible or visit the link  below to know more about this story:  http://www.jesuswalk.com/lessons/10_25-37.htm

Did you like the story? Have you had any experience before wherein in an  instance you feel like the „Good Samaritan‟? Na rrate your story and share it in our  discussion forum.

This story is a classic example of ‗pagmamahal‘ to other people, the ‗pagpapahalaga‘ concept, which will be explained in the next lesson.

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III. The Concept of „Pagmamahal‟ and „Pagmumura‟ Franciscan venerable Juan de Oliver wrote his Tagalog “Declaracion de los Mandamientos de la Ley de Dios”  between 1585 and 1590. The First Commandment he rendered as ―Ybiguin mo ang Dios, Lalo sa Lahat .‖ The reasonable man, one who has discernment, distinguishes within his heart what is good and what is evil; he esteems the precious, and the worthless. Would a man be considered right if he treats equally everything, both the good and the evil as if they were the same, and if he regards as equal both that which is precious and that which is worthless, or that is which is worthless with that which is precious? Would not the person be blind if he treats that which is black as if it were white, and that which is white as if were black? Is it correct to treat the cheap and the costly as if they were equal? The devil and the God? If God is greater and most precious of all, why do you not esteem and love and cherish Him above all? The devil, the anito , if the most worthless, ugly, evil-minded, a murmurer against his God, why is he not treated as the most worthless of all, why not shown cruelty, why not forgotten as worth nothing? Pagmamahal , is a disposition of one being towards another being, by which a degree of value is expressed or symbolized. Conversely, pagmumura  is the inclination to behave toward another who has been considered as valueless or cheap. Thus, when Fray Oliver tells the Tagalogs in Balayan, ― Anot minomora ninyo ang Dios?‖, he is speaking specifically not of blasphemous speech uttered against God, but of actions that bespoke the lack of recognition of the true worth of the Creator to His creatures (Hornedo, 1997).

Thus, a parent who loves his children not only sees to it that they do not come to harm, but also actively promotes their growth into mature people. He feeds them and educates them. He chooses their schools and helps them decide on the careers that they will take. While there are parents who would manipulate their children to suit their personal convenience, the nagmamahal , or caring, parent appreciates and enhances the value the children by every means possible (Hornedo, 1997). There are numerous examples wherein we can attest to this concept of pagmamahal; one is by means of studying well in school since if a student puts value to studying then he/she knows the importance of education as well as his/her parents‘ hardships or efforts in trying their best to provide their child with good education. Let us cite another example, a student who addresses his/her teacher in a proper manner, i.e., Ma‘am, Sir, Ms. or Mr. is deemed respectful to a person in authority. CHAPTER 2: A CHRISTIAN CALL AND THE THOMASIAN RESPONSE

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Can you now give other examples  like we‟ve mentioned? Discuss these with your classmates in our Discussion Forum. The totality of those acts by which valuing is expressed are known in Tagalog as pagpapahalaga  (to appreciate value), and pagmamahal  (to love). A thing is mahal  (high-priced, dearly loved) because it is mahalaga  (valuable). Pagmamahal , therefore, is intimately and essentially bound up with halaga . And to love, therefore, is both to recognize worth or value and to act in a manner consistent with the preservation and enhancement of the value of the minamahal  (one considered of great value). And even today, pagmumura sa kapwa  (speaking to another in demeaning language) is, in fact, a verbal expression of how little a person values another. In times past when pedigree was consi dered material to a person‘s social worth, Filipinos demeaned other by calling ― anak ng puta ‖ (offspring of a whore). In cultures where pagpapakatao  (behaving as a human being) is regarded as valuable, they demean others by calling them ― hayop ‖ or ― animal ‖. Thus, pagmumura  is the demeaning of someone, whether by language or by deed, as there is slander by word and slander by deed (Hornedo, 1997). But pagmumura  is the demeaning of someone not only by language but also by deed. When a man sees to it with great care to educate his children, he is expressing in deed his value for the children. But when he acts towards the servants who might be as old as his children with abuse and desecration, he is in effect devaluing their worth and stunting their personal growth. By the premises we have set above, this parent shows pagmamahal  toward his children but pagmumura  towards the servants. Here is where the judgment of universal pagmamahal lies (Hornedo, 1997). Time has really gone through some visible changes, changes in traditions and values particularly. Gone are the days when Filipino children used to exercise the Filipino tradition of „pagmamano‟  to elderly people when meeting them on the streets as sign of respect, when young adults have strict curfews, and are not allowed to go on dates except in social gatherings together with their families or with a chaperon. We see many ‗deformities‘ and decay in our moral values today, t he ‗pagmumura‘ concept as explained by Dr. Florentino Hornedo is true in these modern era, when youngsters engage into drugs, premarital sex and abortion. We can also cite simple examples that relate to the concept of ‗pagmumura‘, one example is when on e person tries to make his way on a queue bypassing other people who are hours waiting patiently on their line. I bet if anyone of us experiences this kind of rude and ill-mannered person, we will surely crack our heads in anger. Or in a bus or LRT station, on your way to school, you suddenly see a very old lady, standing and adjacent to the very old lady is a robust, young man sitting comfortably in his seat, you suddenly wonder, if that man will ever offer the poor old lady his seat. CHAPTER 2: A CHRISTIAN CALL AND THE THOMASIAN RESPONSE

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Have you ever been that rude, ill-mannered person who makes his way in a queue? Or that insensitive young person who never offered a seat to the poor lady in a bus? We can cite many examples in our day-to-day dealings with other people wherein we c an say that there is valuing of one‘s worth and dignity. As a student, do you genuinely greet your professors when meeting them outside the classroom as a sign of respect? Or when a classmate of yours asks for your help since you are more knowledgeable of one of your subjects, would you offer him/her your time? When you do tediously your assigned tasks at home, e.g. you are asked by your parents to regularly wash the dishes every after dinner, do you accomplish the work wholeheartedly or you complain first? As a student, give concrete examples on how you can show  “Pagmamahal” in simple actions. Give at least 5 examples. Share your answers in our Discussion Forum.

Catholic Teaching on the Life and Dignity of the Human Person:  “Every human  person is created in the image and likeness of God. Therefore, each person‟s life and dignity  must be respected, whether that person is an innocent u nborn child in a mother‟s womb… or  even whether that person is a convicted criminal on death row. We believe that every human life  is sacred from conception to natural death, that people are more important than things, and that  the measure of every institution is whether it protects and respects the life and dignity of the  human person.”  (USCCB Administrative Committee, Faithful Citizenship: A Catholic  Call to Political Responsibility , p. 13)

Human dignity has faced numerous challenges that awaken the Catholic Church therefore; previous Popes came up with various encyclicals that address these issues. To learn more about these encyclicals, visit the link below: http://www.papalencyclicals.net/  I bet you have learned a lot from the first part of this module, you have gained insights as regards the topic on human dignity. As students of this prestigious Catholic University, you should be aware of how the Catholic Church in particular views human dignity and how the Church defines and explains the moral thought of human dignity. You as Thomasian students should live your life with dignity. Sometimes, we give more emphasis on the physical aspect of our body rather than the more important spiritual aspect of our humanness. Other than our physical body, we have our soul which gives life to our earthly body. Our intellect and free will shapes our moral fibers, no matter what choice we make in our lives, good or bad has a resounding effect or impact in our soul.

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We often neglect that being one true Filipino Catholic entails a lot of valuing our traditions and practices which include celebration of feast day of patron saints, baptism, first communion, confirmation, ordination of priests, etc. We Catholics usually attend but do we really imbibe the very essence of going to Sunday masses? Or do we just attend the mass for the sake of mere ‗attendance‘ since we oftentimes observe people attending mass but engaging into gossiping inside the Church, sleeping during the Homily, texting while inside the chapel, or even group of friends making use of the sacred place as their venue for meeting, wearing improper dresses or clothes while attending the mass, attending only a portion of the mass, e.g. during Homily or during the offertory? We have also learned that the true concept of ―Pagmamahal‖ is respecting and honoring one‘s worth. Attention and value is given to a person if he is important to you. You treasure his value, meaning you honor his dignity as a person. ―Pagmumura‖ on the other hand is demeaning one‘s worth. If the person is not important to you, you don‘t put any value or he is worthless to you. Every human being is entitled to be valued and his importance should be acknowledged. Just like you and me, the other people are also created by God therefore, whether you know the person or not, you should value him and respect his dignity as a person. As a Thomasian student, you are therefore challenged to be the modern-day ―Good Samaritan‖, to value other human persons.

Lesson 2 will help you understand how we as  Thomasians can respond to this call... Lesson 2: Thomasian Identity and Response Thomasian greetings! Now that you have learned the value of man and his dignity and have discovered who you are and your abilities as an individual, let us now situate ourselves in a Catholic institution. As it enters its 400 years of existence, the Royal and Pontifical University of Santo Tomas will mold and direct us as we journey in the challenges in our life, our studies and be of service to the community as a Thomasian. Objectives: At the end of the lesson, you will be able to: 1. Familiarize the Thomasian Code of Honor and Responsibilities 2. Practice one‘s roles and responsibilities as a Thomasian through works and services.

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I. Introduction: Thomasian Code of Honor and Responsibility Do you still remember when you passed the USTET, and decided to be a member of the Thomasian family? Being accepted in this university out of the thousands who took their chances makes you stand out. As you become a member of the Thomasian community, you have to know and learn by heart the Thomasian code of honor—a code that will reflect our duty and responsibility as a Thomasians. Thomasian Code of Honor I am a Thomasian. On my honor, I shall strive always to uphold truth and  justice, to make conduct accord with the highest ideals of the University as a Catholic and Dominican institution. I shall be honest. I shall not lie, I shall not cheat, I shall not steal. Nor shall I tolerate the acts of those who do. I shall be true to the Thomasian values of competence, commitment and compassion. My goal is nothing less than to incarnate the truth of Christ in m y life. These I profess in faith, I hold firm in hope, I bear witness to in love, by God’s unending grace.

As Thomasians, we must know our responsibilities, not just as a student in the University and as a member of your family but also as part of our community and beloved country. Remember that responsibility is not just as one word. According to Stephen R. Covey of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, responsibility is but two words combined together “response” and “ability”— the ability to choose your response. Highly proactive people recognize responsibility. They do not blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice, based on values, rather than a product of their conditions or based on feelings.

"You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the  seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself."  — Jim Rohn (A Joseph Campbell Companion  )

The University sets and lays down the ideals and values in which the Thomasian must acquire and develop. One example is RESPONSIBILITY: Responsibility to discover oneself and be at his/her best, responsibility to serve and reconnect with our brothers and sisters who are victims of natural disasters, hunger, homeless, illiteracy, abuse, poor in the heart and soul, losing hope, astray and hurt. This is the time to start our mission as God wanted us to be in one of His commandment: Love thy neighbor  as I have loved you. CHAPTER 2: A CHRISTIAN CALL AND THE THOMASIAN RESPONSE

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II. Thomasian Ideals and Inspiration Now, let us first look at the people who have provided us with the Thomasian ideals and inspirations, and from where these have originated and developed. They are St. Dominic, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Martin De Porres, some Thomasian alumni and honorary. This is the time to know them and be inspired by their actions:

A. St. Dominic de Guzman and the Dominican Ideals Do you ever wonder why we don‟t have classes every August 8 in the University? It  is because we celebrate the feast day of Saint Dominic. He is the founder of the  Dominican Order (O.P.) and is one of the patron saints of the University.

St. Dominic was born to a family of nobility in Caleruega, Spain. He grew up in a family of saints. Despite of his nobility, the young Dominic always had a heart for  the poor. The following are the ideals which inspires the Dominican Order and the Thomasian community. FIDELITY . St. Dominic‘s fid elity to the Catholic Church inspired the Dominican ideals of seeking the truth through contemplation and sharing the fruits of one‘s contemplation with others. STUDY. In order to find the truth that one seeks, one has to study not   just for a day, or a year or four years, but continuously. When St. Dominic founded the Order, among the first things he did was to draw up a program of study. While it‘s not the purpose of the Order, study was a necessary means through which the order can achieve its mission of preaching and saving souls. It was his means to find the truth. It was his means to fight the enemies of the truth. PRAYER. St. Dominic knew this very well. To be holy, one has to be in constant communion with God. Through prayers, ones faith is nurtured and becomes steadfast in what he/she is doing. ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT. One truly shares the fruits of his/her contemplation not in room but among people. Dominicans choose to actively interact with the people; preaching to them the truth of the faith. They needed to study. They are committed to the cause of saving souls and this means being with the people. St. Dominic himself went from one place to another preaching on foot carrying in his heart the Dominican motto VERITAS (TRUTH)

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SIMPLICITY and EVANGELICAL POVERTY. The Dominicans of the 13th Century were mendicant friars. They lived in simplicity. St. Dominic himself had to sell his books so as to be able to help alleviate the condition of the poor (books are important possession back then). Such detachment from material things made it even easier for the Dominicans to live a life of holiness. The life of St. Dominic was one of tireless effort in the service of God. This athlete of Christ always conquered himself before attempting the reformation of others. While he journeyed from place to place, he prayed and preached almost uninterruptedly. His penances were of such a nature as to cause the brethren, who accidentally discovered them, to fear the effect upon his life. While Dominic's charity was boundless, he never permitted it to interfere with the stern sense of duty that guided every action of his life. If he abominated heresy and labored untiringly for its end, it was because he loved truth and loved the souls of those for whom he labored. He never failed to distinguish between sin and the sinner. (St. Dominic. http://www.3op.org/stdominic.php)

Now that we have identified St. Dominic‟s ideals, do you think you share the same values? Knowing how St. Dominic lived a life of principle, what can you do  to live a life similar to his? Share your thoughts in our discussion forum.

B. St. Thomas Aquinas The life and works of St. Thomas, the patron Saint of the University have been a source of inspiration to every Thomasian. His faithful observance of the ideals set by the Dominican Order made him a great student, teacher and a saint. Besides, being holy and humble with which he lived his life, his other characteristics that are worth emulating are the following: INTELLIGENCE. When St. Thomas was five years old, his family placed him under the care of the Benedictines of Monte Casino. His teachers were surprised at the progress he made, for he surpassed all his fellow pupils in learning as well as in the practice of virtue. PERSEVERANCE and CHASTITY. When he became of age to choose his state of life, St. Thomas renounced the things of this world and resolved to enter the Order of St. Dominic in spite of the opposition of his family. In 1243, at the age of seventeen, he joined the Dominicans of Naples. Some members of his family resorted to all means over a two year period to break his constancy. They even went so far as to send an impure woman to tempt him. But all their efforts were in vain and St. Thomas persevered in his vocation. As a reward for his fidelity, God conferred upon him the gift of perfect chastity, which has merited for him the title of the " Angelic Doctor".

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MEEKNESS. After making his profession at Naples, he studied at Cologne under the celebrated St. Albert the Great. Here he was nicknamed the "dumb ox" because of his silent ways and huge size, but he was really a brilliant student. At the age of twenty-two, he was appointed to teach in the same city and began to publish his first works. After four years he was sent to Paris. The saint was then a priest. At the age of thirty-one, he received his doctorate. PASSION and GREATNESS. St. Thomas not only wrote (his writings filled twenty hefty tomes characterized by brilliance of thought and lucidity of language), but he preached often and with greatest fruit. He left the great monument of his learning, the " Summa Theologica", unfinished, for on his way to the second Council of Lyons, ordered there by Gregory X, he fell sick and died at the Cistercian monastery of Fossa Nuova in 1274. St. Thomas was one of the greatest and most influential theologians of all time. He was canonized in 1323 and declared Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius V. (source: http://www.catholic.org)

TRUTH. St. Thomas never grew tired of seeking the truth and preaching about it. Not everyone agreed with him but he continued to persevere. His commitment to search for the truth did not decrease nor waver.

St. Thomas lived a life following the ideals set by the Dominican Order and in constant search for the truth. He never stopped studying and doing great works in honor of God. As a Thomasian, what do you do in order to exhibit the values  of our Patron Saint that you have acquired in your second year of study at our  university? Share your thoughts in our discussion forum.

C. St. Martin De Lima (St. Martin De Porres) St. Martin De Porres a Dominican priest was declared "Blessed" by Pope Gregory XVI and he was canonized by Pope John XXIII on May 6th, 1962 before a crowd of 40,000 people. St. Martin de Porres continues to be greatly revered, especially in the Americas, for his commitment to racial and social justice. St. Martin de Porres became the patron saint of African-Americans, barbers, hairdressers, race relations, and social justice, those with mixed race heritage, poor people, nurses and health care assistants shown in the following virtues manifested in his life. EQUALITY. St. Martin often challenged his brothers on their racial attitudes.

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"Compassion, my dear Brothers, is preferable to cleanliness. Reflect that  with a little soap I can easily clean my bed covers, but even with a torrent  of tears I would never wash from my soul the stain that my harshness  toward the unfortunate would create. ” - St. Martin De Porres, spoken to his  Dominican brothers when admonished for bringing an elderly, dirty beggar  off the streets and allowing him to take the saint's own bed while he cared  for the sick man . Equally legendary was his love of animals. He would feed and heal all animals that came into his vicinity and they understood and obeyed him. (St. Martin De Porres. http://www.aquinasandmore.com/catholic-articles/St.-Martin-de-Porres-the-Saint-of-the-Broom/article/181)

CHARITY and HUMILITY. St. Martin de Porres' charity made him the patron saint of social justice. Martin fed, sheltered and doctored hundreds of families. He also provided the requisite dowry of 4,000 pesos to enable at least 27 poor young women to marry. Last, but not least, he established the Orphanage and School of the Holy Cross which took in boys and girls of all classes and taught them trades or homemaking skills. Over much criticism, he insisted that the school staff be well-paid so that they would give their best service. He also extended his healing gifts -- going to the servants' quarters and treating their ailments. DISCIPLINE. St. Martin's spiritual practices were legendary. He would often fast for extensive periods of time on bread and water. He loved all-night vigils, frequently praying by lying down as if crucified, sometimes kneeling but, miraculously, a foot or more off the floor. He would "take the discipline", scourging himself with chains, three times a day: for the souls in Purgatory, for unrepentant sinners, and, finally, for his own soul.

Today, St. Martin de Porres is commemorated by a school building that houses the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, College of Nursing and College of Rehabilitation Science of the University of Santo Tomas A disciplined life coupled with charity and humility is what St. Martin De Porres have showed the world during his lifetime. Now, the difficulty in our world is so much the same as when it was his time. In our everyday life we see the same problem of social injustices and inequality. As a NSTP student, how can you help to lessen the problems of social injustices and inequality? Share your thoughts in our discussion forum. There are also other Dominican saints who are known for their pastoral  works, faith and helping the poor in which can be our source of inspiration in our  day to day living such as St. Catherine of Siena- named as Doctor of the Church, St. Antoninus of Florence- a social reformer, Bartolome de Casas- defender of  human rights etc.

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D. Some Thomasian Alumni and Honorary Mother Theresa is one of the honorary of the University of Santo Tomas. She devoted herself and life into working among the poorest of the poor in the slums of Calcutta. Although she had no funds, she depended on Divine Providence, and started an open-air school for slum children. UST is also a home of famous heroes such as Dr. Jose Rizal, Apolinario Mabini, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Antonio Luna and others. Philippine presidents like Manuel L. Quezon, Diosdado Macapagal and others are also alumni of the University. It makes us feel proud and privileged to know that there are great men and women who have walked the same path, hallways and corridors like you in this university. As Prof. Evelyn A. Songco, Ph. D puts it, ―UST is a university of heroes and saints‖ and it made her wonder how the University will bring forth other Thomasians who will serve as inspirations to others. Do you know other Thomasians worth emulating? What qualities do they  possess that makes them worthy Thomasians? Share your thoughts in our  discussion forum.

E. The University of Santo Tomas as Catholic Educational Institution The University as an educational institution molds the student‘s Thomasian identity. To know more about the long history of the Royal and Pontifical Catholic of the University of Santo Tomas you can visit this link: www. ust.edu.ph 

These are the following achievements of the University (2010-2011) 

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UST College of Nursing posts an impressive performance for garnering 99.34% (451 passers out of 454 takers) against the national passing rate of 41.4%. With 14 new Thomasian Nurses who made it to the top 10. The examinations were given on June 3 and 4, 2010, and then results were released on August 27, 2010. New Thomasian Chemists Make It to Top 10. From the Chemistry Department of the UST College of Science for placing 7th and 8th respectively at the September 2010 in the Chemist Licensure Exams.

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Thomasians in the top ten of September 2010 Medical Technologist Licensure Examination UST Choir grabs the title ―Choir of the World‖ .

For more UST achievements, go to  http://alumni.ust.edu.ph  or the Links at the  left side panel  Go USTE!  Proud to Be Thomasian! 

III: THE THOMASIAN THREE CORE VALUES The Three (3) Core Values are morals that must be developed in very Thomasian. These values distinguish us from other universities and provide a distinction that marks us as we strive for globalization. These are the three core values: Competence, Compassion and Commitment. A. COMPETENCE Every Thomasian should manifest competence. Our life and work should always be an example of adherence to truth and intellectual creativity. We are all expected to be specialist in our chosen field in discipline. This means that as a student, you are expected to study well in preparation for the kind of life you wish to lead in the future. And since your future starts now, you have to strive to become a competent student. Being a competent student means doing one‘s best. Are you sati sfied with just doing the least because it is the easiest? Being the best that you can be does not mean competing with each other, it means competing with yourself.

You are a Thomasian! Be the best that you can be! 

B. COMPASSION Every Thomasian lives not only for himself/herself, but also for the people in his/her family, community and country. This means that you and I should also look into the concerns of others. Compassion is passion that is directed towards people in need. It enables us to focus on others and not on ourselves —giving our time, talent and treasure and if necessary, to self  – sacrifice. Competence, coupled with CHRISTIAN COMPASSION ensures the reign of God‘s love and mercy. You and I are called to serve our less fortunate brothers and

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sisters with competence and compassionate hearts. As a student, you can do this by being involved in community service programs in your parish, school or locality. C. COMMITMENT Every Thomasian is expected to exercise his/her work, profession, or mission in life with deep COMMITMENT. You and I are called to give ourselves fully to the ideals that we, Thomasians, hold dear as we make our presence felt in the world of work. By the examples of our lives we should serve as courageous Christian witnesses, together making God‘s creative, redeeming and renewing presence felt anywhere we are. Following the example of our Patron Saint, Thomas Aquinas, we should commit ourselves to search for the truth unceasingly. In this day and age when truth can be distorted using information technology, every Thomasian should commit to the pursuit of truth always. Competence, Compassion and Commitment are the values we should all strive to live up as hallmarks of our identity. These are values we can use as we take our first steps into the world —knowing that we are Thomasians, that name comes with the responsibility of constant striving to carry out works of greatness in honor of our God. Do you think you already possess these values? Among these values, what  would you like to develop more in yourself now? Share your thoughts in our discussion  forum.

Thomasian and NSTP Tired of waking up early in the morning every weekend, preparing all things needed for community service, having long travels, feeling nervous and scared? These are the reactions and emotions felt by some NSTP Thomasian students when meeting and helping different kinds of people through different kinds of community services including teaching in the different partner communities of the University. Although for a very short span of time, these mixed feelings will fade away when it ‘s time to say goodbye. For every volunteer, there is a realization that will be left in their hearts and minds. It is the reality that we need each other and we are blessings to one another. As you enrolled in the UST NSTP Community Service Training Program (CWTS) or Literacy Training Program (LTS) you have already engaged yourself in volunteerism. Looking forward to do service that will suit your ability to serve others while studying, not minding what grade you will be receiving in this two courses, but having the thought of sharing what you have and showing what you can do with compassion, competence,

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and commitment for the sake of others, not asking for anything in return, that is selfsacrifice and volunteering. To conclude, we are all created in the image and likeness of God. As His children, He bestowed on each one of us a mission- a mission that we are all responsible to be of service to our ―least‖ brothers and sisters and be stewards of all the things He created. As Thomasians we are always in search for truth in this challenging and complicated world: a Thomasian who lives and is guided by the inspiration of St. Thomas our patron saint, and by the preaching‘s of St. Dominic and the long history of our University. We have our own identity as a Thomasian, we are compassionate, competent and committed.

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REFERENCES

Books De la Cruz Jr. Filemon, I., OP. Catechism for Filipino Catholics Catholic Bishop‟s Conference of the Philippines . Intramuros, Manila, ECCE and Word & Life Publications: 1997. pp. 18 Hornedo, Florentino H. Ph.D. Pagmamahal and Pagmumura: Essays Quezon City, Office of Research and Publications: 1997. pp. 148-153 De Oliver, Juan. “Declaracion de los Mandamientos de la Ley de Dios ‖: 15851590

Websites Church Encyclicals. http://www.papalencyclicals.net Economic Justice for All  Pastoral Letter on Catholic Social Teaching and the U.S. Economy U.S. Catholic Bishops, 1986. #28. http://www.osjspm.org/economic_justice_for_all.aspx 

Parable of Good Samaritan.http://www.jesuswalk.com/lessons/10 25-37.htm St. Dominic. http://www.3op.org/stdominic.php St. Dominic, St. Thomas and St. Martin De Porres. http://www.catholic.org St. Martin De Porres... http://www.aquinasandmore.com USCCB Administrative Committee, Faithful Citizenship: A Catholic Call to Political  Responsibility , p. 13. http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/catholicteachingprinciples.shtml UST Achievements.http://alumni.ust.edu.ph

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