They brought UST diplomas, transcripts to no avail

MANILA, Philippines – Told that they only needed to show proof they graduated at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) to have access to the compound, alumni brought diplomas and transcripts as their gate pass to Pope Francis. But some of them never got the chance.

UST students, alumni and volunteers waited for hours along España in Manila until the gates opened at 4 am, Sunday, January 18. The police closed the gates at 6 am, however, locking out thousands. 

“We started walking from Welcome Rotunda [in Quezon City]. We’ve been here since 3 am,” said Daisy Espiritu, 54, an alumna from Batch 1982, in Filipino. “But as soon as we reached the gate at 6 am it was already closed.”

Espiritu, together with her batch mates from all over Metro Manila, were hoping to catch a glimpse of the Argentine pontiff when he addresses the youth at 1030 am at UST.

“We’re sad and frustrated,” said a visibly exhausted Espiru. “They told us all Thomasians would be allowed inside and advised us just to bring documents to prove we are alumni. So we brought our diplomas and transcripts and we had to look for our old IDs. All these for nothing,” she added.

Police and guards manning the gates of UST had to deal with a massive crowd that camped out as early as Sunday night along the streets surrounding the university. – Rappler.com