SANTI

Everyone was craning their necks, an excited babble rippled among the crowd then finally, a big, bright red ant emerged. He stole the spotlight as he walked and waved around the oval of the University of Antique during the opening ceremonies of Hugyaw 2019. Santi had been stealing hearts since that day.

Santi is the official mascot of University of Antique who embodies the spirit animal of the institution. He is a big, red ant dressed in a yellow shirt and black pants with big friendly eyes and a smiling mouth. He was formally introduced for the first time during the opening ceremony of HUGYAW 2019. Then, for his first island travel, he went with UA Officials and athletes to Negros Occidental to join in the Regional State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association’s (RSCUAA) sports fest and conference. He appeared for the first time in a regional event and he was the only mascot that appeared from among other state universities and colleges (SUCs) who were present, making the crowd grow wild in excitement. In the said event, Santi even danced! He performed with UA delegates during the sUbAy unity dance, adding more fuel to his sudden and growing popularity. There had been numerous selfie sessions and the presidents of other state colleges and universities had also been amazed by the big red ant.

The Birth of Santi So why and how did Santi come into being?

Santi was conceptualized after the words of CHED Chairman Prospero de Vera in his commencement address in 2018 that UAeans are like ants that possess many commendable traits. Furthermore, the province of Antique and by extension, the University of Antique, had acquired its name from Hantik, a variety of ants. And it was through the initiative of Dr. Pablo. S. Crespo Jr., the university president, that the visual representation of UA’s spirit animal was conceived in the image of Santi. Through the design of executive assistant, Mr. Jaykem Elanga, and Cocoon layout artist, Mr. Junel Sapanza, and Recreational Social and Cultural Services (RSCS) Coordinator, Mrs. Shiela Sandoy, Santi was given his physical, overall look.

As for his name, Santi has quite a unique name and for a good reason. Santi is named after Mayor Santiago Lotilla, one of UA’s founding pillars. Mayor Lotilla, along with the cooperation of the sectors of the community and municipal officials, had acquired the site in which the University of Antique Main Campus is situated today. In its humble beginnings, the site had accommodated a five-room building made of nipa and bamboo. It was in those nipa classrooms that the dream of the Antiqueño in providing its youth with quality education, had started to flourish. Mayor Lotilla is indeed worthy to be honored in the person of Santi, the charming mascot of the university.

WRITTEN BY IYEN BAUTISTA and DIANA JOY DUBRIA

PHOTO BY FRANCIS MISSION