Solon returns award despite UST alumni officers’ resignation

Tomasito S. Villarin. Photo from https://cdm.aim.edu

Akbayan Rep. Tomasito Villarin has pushed through with his plan to return the Gawad Thomasian Alumni in Government Service, even following the decision of the University of Santo Tomas Alumni Association, Inc. officers to resign and entertainer Mocha Uson to return her award.

Villarin said he returned his award on Wednesday morning and said “I salute the Thomasian community for standing up against this raging darkness foisted as a ‘new normal.’”

“With or without recognition, Thomasians will always be challenged to stand for truth and genuine charity for others. The furor and disgust over Mocha Uson’s award shows how these values have rekindled hope that amidst all the lies, vitriol and violence peddled by government officials like Mocha Uson, people will rally around the truth,” he said.

The USTAAI announced on Tuesday evening that its president Henry Tenedero had resigned and taken “fully responsibility on [sic] what has happened,” following the uproar about Uson’s recognition especially by the pontifical university’s very own student body.

However, it stood firm with its decision “not to rescind the recognition already conferred.”

Meanwhile, Uson, whom President Duterte appointed to a cushy position as assistant secretary out of “gratitude” for her support during his presidential campaign, also returned the award.

She blamed the “OA (overacting)” students of her very own alma mater and cried that her critics were “bullying” the USTAAI.

Uson’s fellow Thomasian awardees, Deputy Minority Leaders Lito Atienza and Eugene Michael de Vera, said they respect the USTAAI’s “prerogative” to recognize Uson.