Why Do Thomasians Keep Hugging Each Other?
When the pandemic hit us months before the school year ended, some students barely got the chance to formally say goodbye to their classmates and friends, and seniors didn’t even experience a physical graduation. By this point, we're pretty sure if we ask these students what they miss the most about the school, the number one answer would be their friends.
With UST about to start a new academic year online, students, thanks to the University of Santo Tomas Central Student Council, started sharing their best memories of life in the university by posting using the #SaUSTLang hashtag.
from "home of the ghosters" to "hug culture" ????
— ELLE (@ElleeeOrtiz) August 9, 2020
where's the lie??? #SaUSTLang https://t.co/WFZNTgQQ7B
According to Angelica Mae Ortiz, a BS Medical Technology alumna, it's their counterpart of beso. Instead of the beso, Thomasians hug each other as a sign of greeting.
"We usually hug each other that's why they say Thomasians hug warmly. That's when we realized why friends after college were too startled whenever we hug them as greetings. It's a Thomasian thing."
PLUS YUNG HUG CULTURE PA PALA!!! GRABE ANG COMFORTING HUHU
— marie #DefendPressFreedom (@BuwangMayHika) August 9, 2020
YES GIVE US MORE HUGS, GIVE US ALL THE HUGS!!!!!!#SaUSTLang #CSCTigerJumpstart2020 https://t.co/Sv1unsp2q7
We get it, Thomasians. You love hugging.
“Some children grow up and feel ‘starved’ for touch and become social huggers that can’t greet a friend without an embrace or a touch on the shoulder,” says Suzanne Degges-White, a professor of Counseling and Counselor Education at Northern Illinois University.
But the young leaders of tomorrow have one clapback to that: no judgment. "No judgment or anything, just genuine, heartfelt hugs," says Abram Reyes, a second year Biology major at the university.
#SaUSTLang normal yung hug culture. No judgements or anything, just genuine and heartfelt hugs. https://t.co/odjuvS2OUf
— Abram (@AbramRys) August 9, 2020
This story originally appeared on Candymag.com. Edits have been made by the Esquiremag.ph editors.
