UST Paskuhan

UST Paskuhan
Status Active
Frequency Annual
Years active 24
Inaugurated 19 December 1991
Most recent 11 December 2014
Previous event 20 December 2013
Attendance 50,000-100,000

The Paskuhan is the culmination of the university wide Christmas activities of the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines. The annual tradition started in 1991.[1] The programs of Paskuhan were held during the last week or last day before the Christmas break of the university. In 2014, however, because of the change in the academic calendar of the university, it was scheduled in the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, 2014.[2] It was later rescheduled to December 11, 2014 because of Typhoon Ruby.[3]

Event

One of the highlights of the celebration is the Panunuluyan or the re-enactment of the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph's search for a place for Mary to give birth to Jesus Christ. The Paskuhan Mass comes shortly after and is usually presided by the university rector. Current students and university employees are also treated in the Agape or the campus-wide banquet.[4] The Agape in Paskuhan started in 2011, following the Agape of the Quadricentennial Celebration.[3]

In some editions of the Paskuhan, the celebration started with a festive parade from the different faculties and colleges.

History

Beginnings

The first Christmas celebration in the university was held on December 19, 1991 with the theme, “Paskong Tomasino, Paskong Filipino ’91.” It featured a Holy Mass, held in the UST Grandstand, the Panunuluyan, which was participated by the different faculties and colleges, and an inter-collegiate lantern-making contest. A 14-foot Christmas tree was also erected at the UST Grandstand where students placed their donations for the victims of the Mount Pinatubo eruption and Tropical Storm Uring (International name: Thelma) in Ormoc City.[1][5]

It was in 1993 that the celebration was formally named as Paskuhan. The celebration was a simple gathering spearheaded by the then UST Treasurer Fr. Tereso Campillo, O.P.[6]

A more festive Paskuhan was held in 1994 to celebrate the upcoming World Youth Day on January 1995. It featured for the first time the 80-foot Christmas tree, which was first designed by UST College of Architecture and Fine Arts professor Rey Mañago.[6]

Present day (2009-present)

The Paskuhan Mass in 2012 was celebrated by the Very Rev. Bruno Cadoré, O.P., the Master of the Order of Preachers and chancellor of the university. Rev. Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P., the university rector, served as the homilist.[7]

In 2014, the Paskuhan festivities were moved from December 8 to December 11 because of Typhoon Ruby (International name: Hagupit).[8] The forthcoming visit of Pope Francis to the university in January 2015 became the main theme of the celebration.[3]

Themes

Titles and crowd attendance
Date Title Estimated crowd Ref.
December 19, 1991 Paskong Tomasino: Paskong Filipino ’91 [1]
December 16, 2004 [5]
December 20, 2006 Pride, Puso, Pasasalamat!
December 15–19, 2008 Kwentong Pasko, Kwentong Tomasino! [9]
December 18, 2009 4 horas, 4 dias, 400 days, 400 taon 50,000 [10]
December 15–17, 2010 Pasasalamat sa 400 Taong Biyaya 75,000 [11][12]
December 15–16, 2011 Pagsalubong para sa ika-5 Siglo 100,000 [11]
December 18 and 21, 2012 Pagdiriwang sa Pananampalataya 70,000 [13]
December 20, 2013 Pasko sa Puso ko 60,000 [4]
December 11, 2014 Pagdiriwang ng Pagmamalasakit:
Tomasino Kaisa ni Papa Francisco at ng Simbahan sa Pasko.
Paskuhan Full Blast		 70,000

Firework display

Pyrotechnic display has always culminated the celebration. Since 2011, pyromusical has become part of the program.

Pyromusical display at Paskuhan
Date Location and music Ref.
December 16, 2011
  • UST Grandstand
  • Santisimo Rosario Parish
 [11]

Theme: Party Rock

  1. LMFAO - "Party Rock Anthem"
  2. Chris Brown - "Yeah 3x"
  3. Yolanda Be Cool & DCUP - "We No Speak Americano"
  4. Lady Gaga - "Just Dance"
  5. Adele - "Rolling in the Deep"
  6. Maroon 5 - "Moves Like Jagger"
  7. Martin Solveig ft. Dragonette - "Hello"
  8. The Rembrandts - "Friends Theme"
December 21, 2012
  • UST Grandstand
 [13]

Duration: 6:13

  1. "Somebody That I Used to Know"
  2. Rihanna - "We Found Love"
  3. PSY - "Gangnam Style"
  4. David Guetta - "Titanium"
  5. Maroon 5 - "Payphone"
December 11, 2014
  • UST Grandstand
 [14]

Duration: 6:11

  1. The Treblemakers - "Don't Stop the Music"
  2. Clean Bandit - "Rather Be"
  3. Anna Kendrick - "Cups"
  4. Naughty Boy - "La La La"
  5. Disclosure - "Latch"
  6. The Barden Bellas - "Bellas Finals"
  7. Daft Punk - "One More Time/Get Lucky"

Recent celebration with no firework display

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Ang Paskong Tomasino The Varsitarian. December 17, 2012.
  2. ↑ UST moves college opening to July site, ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs, retrieved December 26, 2014
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 #InquirerSeven UST Paskuhan 2014: Yea or nay?, Lifestyle, Philippine Daily Inquirer. December 14, 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Paskuhan 2013 draws crowd of 60,000 The Varsitarian. Accessed December 21, 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Christmas in our hearts The Varsitarian Vol. LXXVI, No. 8 • December 16, 2004. Accessed December 26, 2014.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Ang tradisyon ng pagbibigayan sa Paskuhan The Varsitarian. Accessed December 27, 2014.
  7. ↑ UST celebrates centuries of Christian faith with Paskuhan 2012 www.gmanetwork.com. Accessed December 21, 2014.
  8. ↑ UST's Paskuhan Postponed due to Typhoon Ruby, Lifestyle, Philippine Daily Inquirer. December 6, 2014.
  9. ↑ UST Holds Paskuhan 2008 UST.edu.ph Accessed December 17, 2011
  10. ↑ Paskuhan draws crowd of 50,000 The Varsitarian. December 19, 2009.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Breaking News - Paskuhan looks forward to UST's fifth century The Varsitarian. December 17, 2011.
  12. ↑ UST holds Paskuhan 2010 as a Celebration of Thanksgiving UST.edu.ph Accessed December 17, 2011
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 UST Paskuhan draws crowd of 70,000 The Varsitarian. Accessed December 28, 2012.
  14. ↑ Starburst: Fireworks at 2014 UST Paskuhan, UP Lantern Parade, Lifestyle, Philippine Daily Inquirer. December 18, 2014.