Putting the ‘web’ in Tom

by: Sam Glysdi Sauler

For the over 250 Thomasian photographers, web designers, and writers, TomWeb! is the perfect nook.

Running less than a year now, TomWeb!, the official on-line based organization of the University of Santo Tomas, continues to give quality information for the Thomasian community. This organization made up of students from different colleges in UST has also become a spot for individuals who want to showcase their talents and render them to their alma mater.

“TomWeb! aims to contribute to education and the students’ pursuit of excellence through active involvement in electronic media particularly the World Wide Web,” said Charlene Cunanan, TomWeb! president.

Weaving the Web
TomWeb started as a dream of Jun Dolor, an UST Engineering graduate, who wanted to develop and manage a website for the students of the University of Santo Tomas. Supported by the Educational Technology Center (Ed-Tech Center), and under the supervision of the Santo Tomas E-service Providers (STEPs), TomWeb! started out as  a student-volunteer group in 2002. It was successful to establish the college culture-oriented website the heads envisioned. They were then known as the TomasinoWeb.

The website content then was a mix of light news reports like movie reviews, literary pieces, feature articles, and artworks of students. University news was hardly seen.

However, after four years of continuous service to Thomasians, TomWeb went to a halt in 2006 because some technical difficulties encountered. In 2007, webmaster Jun Dolor called for students who are willing to join the restoration of TomWeb.

In 2008, TomWeb! became an official Thomasian organization because Jun Dolor wanted to open the group to the students willing and interested to take part in the media convergence. The then 39 student volunteers from the previous year rose to 250.

According to Cunanan, “In April 2008, TomWeb officially adapted a formal name of TomWeb! Tom, symbolizes the Thomasian Community this organization serves and is part of; Web, pertains to the medium in which this organization uses to administer its own site; and the exclamation point [!] represents the organization’s dynamism.”

Quirky Webmaster
Webmaster Jun Dolor, or simply, Sir Jun, was considered the “backbone” of the organization. His efforts paid off when his dream six years ago came to fruition.

He had also held a workshop on HTML, CSS, Photoshop, and other web-building techniques last summer. He also comes up with other workshops every now and then so that the skills of his members will be honed.

Sir Jun also has other ideas, aside from the website work. He, at times, invites the members to tree-planting and other activities. He also came up with a stuffed teddy bear as an unofficial TomWeb! mascot last May. In the future, he is looking forward to making a time capsule, to serve as a present to the future Thomasians.

Truly, TomWeb bears the marks of a real Thomasian—for its dedication, persistence, and enthusiasm.