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Teatro Tomasino
Teatro Tomasino is the first and only university-wide theater guild of the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines. It takes pride as the premier theater organization in the University. Currently on its 31st season, Teatro Tomasino continues to produce note-worthy plays in line with the University's Mission and Vision as well as provide Thomasians with a venue to train and have actual applications so as to educate and enhance their knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the art while instilling discipline, responsibility and respect which they share, in turn, to the whole Thomasian community.

History
The group was formed by 25 students under the supervisions of Professor Myrna Hilario and Professor Piedad Guinto on September 17, 1977. March of 1977 saw the establishment of the guild's constitution which has undergone numerous amendments to cope with the changing times and a growing company.

Formal workshops started on April 2, 1977 under the watchful eyes of Maryo J. de los Reyes, Soxy Topacio, Jonee Gamboa, Nicanor Agudo, Sonia Roco, Adul de Leon, Sol Oca, Pilar de Gurman, Bernardo Bernardo and the late Lino Brocka. Afterwhich, the curtains opened for the first time with the performance of Orlando Nadres' "Ang Awit na Hindi Matapos-tapos" under the direction of Maryo J. Delos Reyes.

Since then, Teatro Tomasino has never ceased in delivering the Thomasian community with works by some of the Philippines' well-respected playwrights, classical and contemporary Filipino pieces and even translated foreign classics.

Through the last 30 years, Teatro Tomasino's population has never declined. Every year, applicants come lining up for auditions in hopes of improving their skills and enhancing their talents. Alumni support is very strong as a number of them still render assistance and actively participate in the guild's activities.

Office is located in the new UST Tan-Yankee Student Center while productions are mostly held either at the Albertus Magnus Auditorium, Albertus Magnus Building or at the Rizal Conference Hall, St. Raymund de Peñafort Building.

The Members
Members are not just trained to perform on stage. All of them are required to go through atleast one of the different theatrical aspects. It is surprising to know that a number of members prefer working behind the scenes than in front of an audience. Such endeavors include stage management, technical management, promotions and marketing. Members are strongly pushed to attend different workshops outside the guild. They consistently send participants to the summer workshops of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Philippine Educational Theater Association and Sinag Arts Foundation to name a few.

With the diversity of the members, they are distinguished through these different membership status:


 * Officers
 * Honorary Members
 * Old Members
 * New Members
 * Apprentices

Any currently-enrolled member can be elected into office. Officers are made up of the following with their respective duties and obligations as per stated on the guild's constitution: Artistic Director, Technical Director, Business Director, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Auditor, Internal Public Relations Officer, External Public Relations Officer. Though due lack of candidates, some lower positions can be dropped while still maintaining the three Directors, a Secretary and an Auditor.

Honorary Members are primarily those who were able to serve the guild for at least four years, from their freshman year until graduation. But after some ammendments on the constitution, it was extended to also cover alumni unable to complete four years of active residency and those who are no longer enrolled in the university. Most of the time, they assist the guild in the creative and artistic aspects of the production like directing, designing and even performing on stage as they are the most experienced in the guild.

Old Members are the current student members who have at least 2 years of residency. These members make the majority of the active roster. On the other hand, New Members are those who are still on their first year with the guild. These are the people who have just finished their apprenticeship program and will soon change status to Old Members as soon as there is another batch of New Members.

Old and New Members generally hold the various key positions in the organization.

Apprentices, formerly known as Successful Applicants (S.A.'s), are those who have passed the rigorous auditions but are not yet considered to be bona fide members. Certain requirements must be met in order for an apprentice to be elevated to a member such as attending workshops set by the officers, putting up their own showcase and submitting a certain number of signatures from different members approving them to be members after the program. Due to the lack of experience on both the guild's system and a college theater, they start off as staffs for different theatrical departments.

Furthermore, the guild has two Faculty Advisers and a Professional Adviser.

Auditions
Any aspiring Thomasian seeking admission to the guild must go through a two-part audition which is being conducted annually at the start of the academic year (June). Although the first half is relatively easy, it is the next half that proves to be the most crucial part of Teatro Tomasino's auditions. The panelists interview and scrutinize down to the tiniest detail the applicant to the point that almost half of them would not even make it to the apprenticeship program. This is done to test and see how these potential members will react to the pressures theater life will add to the demands of their studies and own private lives. Successful applicants then go to an apprenticeship program before they can be called New Members.

Gabi ng Parangal (Awards Night)
Teatro Tomasino holds an annual awards night, dubbed as Gabi ng Parangal (GNP). This is the culminating activity for the year wherein the different productions staged, their casts and respective creative and production teams vie for the different top organizational recognizitions. This is also where the newly-elected officers are sworn into office and officially start their term. The event is a very symbolical transition of leadership as the outgoing and incoming sets of officers spearhead the festivities.

Awards and Citations
Throughout the glorious 30 years of Teatro Tomasino, the guild has been able and continues to receive different awards and recognitions within and outside the university walls.
 * CCP Theater Venue Grantee (1990)
 * Most Unique Performance by a Group Delegate - ASEAN Arts Festival in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (1994)
 * World Youth Day Performance (1995)
 * Pope Leo XIII Award (1991 - 1995)

Beyond Theater
Teatro Tomasino for its members is not just an organization but their family in the university. Aside from workshops and productions, team-building activities are also done to further tighten the bond among the members and to let the younger members and their seniors know more of each other personally. Certain get-together events are also held like the guild's Anniversary Celebrations, Christmas Parties and the Gabi ng Parangal.

As per the members' testaments are, Teatro Tomasino gives them a home to come back to in UST.