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MAD boys vs STEM boys

Soar High: A Thomasian Journey

After taking my last exam of the Finals Week at the UST Graduate School, I found myself walking towards the SHS Building (BGPOP) exhausted. It was only then that I had the chance to think about the UST Senior High School song that I was tasked to do. I wasn’t doing very well, as I had only written two words for the Lyrics: Soar and High. They weren’t even my original words, as they were a common SHS motto. Great Job, Adam.

I went up to Room 4D, where I will be reading the names of the Candidates for Graduation from my advisory class to our Strand Chair. As I waited for Ma’am Hagad-Santiago for the reading to begin, I was thinking how else I could make those two words - Soar High- be distinctly Thomasian. My head was still wringing as an aftermath of my Nuclear Medicine Exam. I had nothing. 

I stared at the names-list of my advisory class. Abad, Acosta, Aganon, Aguado, Aguilar, Aguirre… and then our Strand Chair arrived, “Ready, Sir?” she asked.

“Yes Ma’am.”

I was about to read the first name when Ma’am Hagad-Santiago halted me for she had to get something from her table. As she stood up, my eyes caught the logo of the University of Sto. Tomas on my classlist. “Pontifical and Royal University of Sto Tomas.” That’s right, I thought. Excitement swelled within.

Ma’am returned and we began the name reading. As I read the names of 12HA2 Graduates, I couldn’t help but smile because Soar High had suddenly become Thomasian in my head.. “Trinidad… Tucay…. Vendivil….” I finished reading the list and whispered at the end: Competence, Commitment and Compassion. I then remembered how Ma’am Heart Bayaton, when she asked me to write the song, mentioned those three as well. How could I forget?

Writing the song wasn’t easy though.

I got home, with only two notes in my head, each for the words Soar and High respectively (an E and an A). But a song needed more than just two notes.

A few hours on and I had virtually composed the first line of the refrain. I was doing pretty well. 

Soar High, High above the mountains. Soar High lalalalala. Soar High lalalalaa 

–When did I last write a song that this one comes in difficult?!? 

I dropped my guitar for a while and then took some rest. Maybe something new will come up in my sleep, like when Kekule discovered the structure of the Benzene Ring while napping. 

Repeat that process for four consecutive days [Write a little, sleep, Go to work/Church/friends’ hangout, Write a little, Sleep…] and Soar High came to be. I wanted to mention Commitment, Compassion and Competence without sounding cheezy in the verses and the Holy Spirit did magnificently well in guiding me. The melodies came in naturally from the chord progressions that I was doing and changing and fixing and then the final structure came one early morning when I Iiterally just sat up from bed. 

There’s a reason why Joseph was asked to sleep before the angel appeared to him. 

Hearing about the approval for the song was a great bonus. I was already very happy to be able to write a song as a sign of my love for the USTSHS, but getting the thumbs up for it was a very nice addition to the blessing. I was grateful beyond words. 

And now, with great love in my heart I present to you a song I wrote for the UST Senior High School– for the admin, the staff and all the students–from now until eternity. Soar High, UST Senior High. 

To all my students, I AM VERY PROUD OF YOU ALL.

Soar High (Words and music by Adam Domingo)

Deep within our soul there lies strong determination/ Fighting all against the odds defying every feat/ Deep within our heart there lies endless compassion/ It’s burning within

*Soar high, high above the mountains. Soar high and fly across the seas. Soar high, take your dreams with you, and be the best you can be. Soar high

As we lift our souls in praise our minds unite in freedom/ Wisdom, knowledge, endless grace, rebuild humanity/ Move across the borders of fear and doubt of mission for victory is here/ if we *

Repeat * 2x