In his homily, he likened wisdom to light and urged Thomasians to be a light for the world: “May the intercession of St. Thomas Aquinas whom we are all devoted… make us discreet like the light, discreet like Christ.”

orm and color of the world to appear. It allows each thing to be itself, distinguished from everything else. The light desires things to be and to reveal their beauty,” explained the Archbishop, who emphasized that “The starting point of all theology is friendship with Christ and love for his brothers, his sisters, his world. This world is dramatic, magnificent, full of suffering and moving beauty. Be Light! Place in the light the things that join us and those that tell us apart. Those things that divide are darkness. Theology has, therefore, such beauty and such injustice to bring to the light, to bring to Christ.”

The Archbishop also highlighted the importance of common sense, which is at the core of wisdom, saying “Common sense is the concrete intuition of a familiarity between the desire to do and the things that make up the world. The sensation of such a practical affinity encourages one to action, granting enthusiasm in the beginning, and confidence in success.”
Most Rev. Pagazzi arrived in the Philippines for the 25th anniversary of the Loyola School of Theology (LST). He was accompanied by Fr. Hruday Pudhota, SCJ, official of the University Section of the Dicastery, and several officials of the LST, led by then-President Fr. Enrico Eusebio, SJ.
Before the Mass, Most Rev. Pagazzi also paid a courtesy call to the UST Rector Very Rev. Fr. Richard G. Ang, O.P., Ph.D., at the Main Building, and was welcomed to the UST Central Seminary by the Acting Rector Rev. Fr. Clarence Marquez, O.P., S.Th.D.
A Triduum was also held in honor of the solemnity of the Feast Day of St. Thomas from January 22 to 24 and 27, 2025. The theme, “St. Thomas Aquinas: Illumined by Truth, Anchored in Hope,” emphasizes the Angelic Doctor’s dedication to divine wisdom and truth, which inspires and strengthens Christian hope. It also expresses solidarity with Pope Francis’ declaration of 2025 as the Jubilee Year of Hope.
His Excellency Most Rev. Napoleon B. Sipalay, Jr., O.P., D.D., Bishop of Alaminos, presided over the Institutional Holy Mass and Closing of the St. Thomas Aquinas Double Jubilee Celebration on January 27, while the Triduum Masses were presided by Rev. Fr. Jayson R. Gonzales, O.P., Rev. Fr. Felix F. Delos Reyes, O.P., and Rev. Fr. Manoj Rasanjana Angodage Don, O.P., respectively.

The post Vatican prelate Most Rev. Pagazzi celebrates St. Thomas Feast Day Mass at UST appeared first on University of Santo Tomas.

With its overall score of 26.8-32.3, UST is in the 601-800 bracket out of 1,150 higher education institutions (HEIs) from 102 countries and territories around the world. Medicine and Health rankings evaluated medicine, dentistry, nursing, and other disciplines in healthcare.

The rankings, according to THE’s website, were carefully analyzed through the following major pillars of criteria separated into : Research Quality (citation impact, research strength, excellence, and influence), Industry (industry income, patents), International Outlook (international students, staff, and co-authorship, studying abroad), Research Environment (research reputation, income, and productivity), and Teaching (teaching reputation, student:staff ratio, doctorate:bachelor and :staff ratio, institutional income), with UST scoring 44.4, 22.4, 68.2, 8.2, and 13.8 respectively.

These measurements can help universities gauge their standings and understand the various points which they may improve upon for future endeavors.

The post UST places second among PH Schools for 2025 Times Higher Education World Rankings by Subject appeared first on University of Santo Tomas.

Endorsed by the Faculty Council of the Faculty of Theology and approved by the Rector of the University to hold the title of Professor Emeritus were:

Rev. Fr. Rodel E. Aligan, O.P., S.Th.D., who has dedicated over four decades to the pursuit of theological excellence and moral guidance. He has demonstrated commitment to academic and pastoral growth as Dean of the Faculty of Sacred Theology for a total of nine years (2008-2011; 2011-2014; 2016-2023), as Vice Rector for Religious Affairs (2008-2011), Secretary-General (1995-2001), Regent of the Faculty of Arts and Letters (1991-1995; 2015-2021); and Conventual Prior of Priory of St. Thomas Aquinas (2001-2008; 2018-2021; 2024-present). Fr. Aligan also has over 20 published works in various publications;

Rev. Fr. Angel A. Aparicio, O.P., a pillar of the UST Library for 37 years, who has served as Prefect of Libraries since 1992 and Assistant Prefect of Ecclesiastical Libraries from 1987 to 1992. He has also been a devoted educator at the Ecclesiastical Faculties for 45 years and served as Faculty Secretary from 1980 to 1982. He has written over 40 articles including contributions to the Life Today magazine, the Library News in Print, and the Lumina Pandit. He was also the editor of over 11 books including the Honora Medicum, and translated into English the ‘Ensayo de una sintesis de los trabajos realizados por las Corporaciones religiosas Españolas’ (Essay of a synthesis of the works accomplished by the Spanish religious corporations in the Philippines by Fr. Valentin Morales Marin, O.P.);

Rev. Fr. Norberto A. Castillo, O.P., Ph.D., who displayed his dedication and expertise in his service as the 91st Rector of the University of Santo Tomas for two consecutive terms (1982-1986; 1986-1990) and as the Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy in the same university (1994-1996; 2008-2012). He has actively contributed to the advancement of philosophy, science, and theology as a Research Grantee in Philosophy of Science at the Catholic University of Leuven on 1990, and a Research Grantee in Philosophy of Science and the Classics at the Katholischer Akademischer Ausländer-Dienst (1991);

Rev. Fr. Rolando V. De La Rosa, O.P., Ph.D., who served three distinguished terms as Rector of the University of Santo Tomas (1990-1994; 1994-1998; 2008-2012) with visionary leadership and unwavering dedication, including steering the University of Santo Tomas through the celebration of the University’s Quadricentennial Anniversary in 2011. His prolific writing and scholarly achievements have been widely recognized, earning him prestigious honors such as the National Book Award in History (1992), Catholic Authors Award (1997), and Outstanding Manilan Award in Ministry and Spirituality (2010). He has also been internationally lauded with accolades like the Medal of Highest Honor from Kyung Hee University in Korea (1996) and the Outstanding CEO Award in Education (2012), while his weekly column in the broadsheet Manila Bulletin has won multiple times in the Catholic Mass Media Awards.

Fr. De La Rosa was also President of the International Council of the Universities of St. Thomas Aquinas (ICUSTA) (1996 to 1998; 2009 to 2011), Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) (2004-2005), President of the Association of Catholic Universities of the Philippines (ACUP), Vice President of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) (1997 to 1999) and founding president of the Network of Dominican Schools, Colleges, and Universities in the Philippines (DOMNET) in 1995;

Rev. Fr. Fausto B. Gomez, O.P., S.Th.D., who has been assigned to UST since 1965 and taught Fundamental Moral Theology, Grace, Virtues, Justice, Social Doctrine of the Church, and Bioethics for almost 60 years. He generously served the University in various capacities as Secretary-General (1966-1977), Director of the Office of Public Affairs (1975-1977), Dean of the Faculty of Sacred Theology (1979-1985; 1998-2004), Director of the Social Research Center (1979-1991), Regent of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery (1988-1998) and the College of Rehabilitation Sciences (1989-1994; 2004-2009), and founding chair of the Department of Bioethics (1991-2001). His many books and exemplary contributions have been recognized globally, with the conferment of the Gran cruz de Caballero de Isabela la Católica (Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic), knighthood first class in 1974 and the Outstanding Catholic Author award by the Asian Catholic Book Fair in 1989;

Rev. Fr. Javier I. González, O.P., J.C.D., who demonstrated his dedication through his service as Regent of the Faculty of Engineering (1995-2003), Faculty of Civil Law (2003-2005) and the College of Commerce (2005-2006). He has also served as Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law (1997-2006). Aside from being a long-serving professor, he imparted valuable knowledge while advancing the study of Church law and served as an editor for publications such as Philippiniana Sacra (1991-2008), Philippine Canonical Forum (1999-2009), and The CLSP Gazette, ensuring the proper dissemination of vital scholarly works. Fr. Gonzales was a Master of Students at the Convento de la Santa Cruz in San Juan, Metro Manila, as a Prior Provincial of the Province of the Holy Rosary (2009-2013), and is currently the newly-elected Prior of the Priory of Saint Dominic in Macau (2024); and

Rev. Fr. Jose Ma. B. Tinoko, O.P., J.C.D., who exhibited his steadfast dedication to academic and ecclesiastical service with his roles as Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law, Regent of the Conservatory of Music, Faculty Secretary of the Ecclesiastical Faculties (1973-1975), and Vice Rector of the University of Santo Tomas (1982-1988). He has also contributed to the study and practice of Canon Law as Editor of the Boletín Eclesiástico de Filipinas (1969-1970), and as a Member of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ Commission on Canon Law Experts.

The post 7 Dominican priests named Professors Emeriti appeared first on University of Santo Tomas.

The competition, held on the last day of the three-day event, featured student presentations critiqued by a distinguished jury composed of prominent Asian architects, professors, and memers of the Asia United Architecture Association (AUA)–the organization that has hosted ACARA for thirteen consecutive years.
Tacbian’s impressive presentation of his work, titled “Oddities,” earned him an internship offer at Bio-architecture Formosana in Taiwan.
The event commenced with an opening ceremony on the first day, followed by a site visit that served as the focus of the student workshop in the succeeding days. The twenty competition participants from thirteen countries, including Tacbian, collaborated with select DAU students during the workshop to develop design proposals for the redevelopment of the two ends of the Trang Thi Ly Bridge crossing the Han River.
The next ACARA is scheduled to take place in China in 2025.

The post Architecture student places fourth in international competition in Vietnam appeared first on University of Santo Tomas.

The post UST joins ABS-CBN’s Halalan 2025 initiative appeared first on University of Santo Tomas.

Witnesses included the Vice Rector Rev. Fr. Isaias Tiongco, O.P. and the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Cheryl R. Peralta, DrPH from UST Manila, and the Vice President for Administration and Finance, Rev. Fr. Junel C. Pedroso, O.P., and the Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Susana C. Cabredo from the University of Santo Tomas-Legazpi.

Also present were UST Manila Vice Rector for Research and Innovation Rev. Fr. Jannel N. Abogado, O.P., UST Secretary-General Rev. Fr. Louie R. Coronel, O.P., UST Legazpi Vice President for Religious Affairs ​​Rev. Fr. Roberto S. Castellano Jr., O.P., and the Assistant to the Rector and Director of the Office of Media, Alumni, and Public Affairs Rev. Fr. Siddharta Chiong, O.P.

Research cooperation, joint academic or scientific activities, and other academic exchanges can result from this agreement.

The post UST Manila, UST Legazpi ink new academic partnership appeared first on University of Santo Tomas.

With her research titled “Phage-modified Screen-printed Carbon Electrodes for the Detection of Listeria monocytogenes in Ready-to-Eat (RTE) Meat Buffer Extracts ”, her presentation focused on using screen-printed carbon electrodes modified with a locally isolated bacteriophage to detect Listeria monocytogenes in artificially spiked salami and ham buffer extracts.

Her research, under the supervision of Prof. Jose H. Bergantin, Jr., Ph.D., and Assoc. Prof. Donna May D.C. Papa, Ph.D., aims to develop biosensors utilizing the highly specific bacterial virus, bacteriophage. Bacteriophage lv-BEATS11 is a locally isolated bacteriophage that is purified and characterized by the UST Bacteriophage Ecology, Aquaculture, Therapy and Systematics (BEATS) Research Group from chicken fecal matter obtained from a poultry farm in Bulacan.

Carreon’s thesis was part of the research findings of the DOST-PCHRD project of Bergantin and Papa titled, “Bacteriophages in Food Safety: Biosensing and Biocontrol of Food Pathogens.”
Bergantin’s research group, Bacteriophage EIS-biosensor Research Group (BERG), focuses on the development of electrochemical biosensors using bacteriophages in the detection of foodborne pathogens (i.e., Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium) for food safety applications. Papa’s BEATS Research Group spearheads bacteriophage research in the country for applications such as biocontrol and antibiotic-resistant pathogen elimination.

Carreon’s recognition was given by the event’s organizing committee and the journal Chemistry Letters. Her thesis was also previously awarded the Best Poster Award at the Philippine Chemistry Congress (38th PCC) held in Davao City last July 2024.

In the same parallel session, invited speaker Academician Fortunato Sevilla III, Ph.D., presented the research titled, “Amperometric Sensor for Iodate in Food Grade Salt Based on Screen-printed Carbon Electrode.” Meanwhile, Dr. Ernesto Paruli III also presented the findings of his dissertation titled, “Tailoring the 3D Design of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers via Two-photon Stereolithography and Photoiniferter Polymerization.”

The 2024 ACCS was organized by the Japan Association of Chemical Sensors (JACS) and the Electrochemical Society of Japan. The conference was held at Kitakyushu International Convention Center (KICC) Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan.

The post Carreon of GS wins Best Oral Presentation in ACCS 2024 appeared first on University of Santo Tomas.

The project is a nationwide study commissioned by the CBCP to understand the current state of Christianity and provide a basis toward becoming a synodal Church.  The research study is a joint project of the bishops’ conference and the UST Center for Theology, Religious Studies, and Ethics. In response to the report, the bishops directed the research team to work with the CBCP Committee for the National Synodal Transformation for the implementation of the final document of the synod on synodality in the country.  

The Synod on Synodality concluded in October 2024 but its implementation continues. In his Accompanying Note to the Final Document on the Synod of Synodality, Pope Francis urged the local churches and groupings of churches “to implement, in their different contexts, the authoritative proposals contained in the document through the processes of discernment and decision-making provided for by law and by the Document ���ٲ������.”&�Բ�����;

The initial findings are expected to be presented at the national synodal discernment conference tasked to craft the national synodal implementation framework in June 2025.  

The CBCP-UST research team also includes Assistant Director of the UST Institute of Religion Assoc. Prof. Allan A. Basas, S.Th.D., Theology Program Lead of the UST Graduate School Prof. Pablito A. Baybado, Jr., Ph.D., Asst. Prof. Marites R. Redoña, Ph.D., and Asst. Prof. Philip L. Fuentes, Ph.D. UST Secretary-General Rev. Fr. Louie R. Coronel, O.P., EHL, and Director of the Center for Theology, Religious Studies, and Ethics Prof. Joel E. Sagut, Ph.D., are the consultants. Fr. Echalas and Baybado are both members of the UST-CBCP Research team and the Committee for the National Synodal Transformation.

The post CBCP-UST Research Team sheds light on synodality at 129th CBCP Plenary Assembly appeared first on University of Santo Tomas.

Students observed firsthand the evidence-based and innovative approaches OTs use to address diverse client needs during their visits to institutions such as Carrico Pediatric Therapy and Momentum Pediatric Therapy Network, Gateways Hospital and Mental Health Centers, Children’s Ranch Foundation, Braille Institute, Center for the Neuroscience of Embodied Cognition, Keck Hospital of USC and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and Mychal’s Learning Place. These visits provided the students a comprehensive understanding of how OT is applied in different practice settings, including but not limited to pediatrics, mental health, visual rehabilitation, physical dysfunction, and prevocational training.

The visits also offered insight into how traditional and modern therapeutic interventions are used to promote the client’s independence, well-being, and quality of life. Furthermore, these reinforced the importance of client-centered care, highlighting how OT is rooted in a holistic approach that considers the individual’s unique circumstances, preferences, and goals.

A series of lectures broadened the students’ perceptions of OT across diverse settings, beginning with the exploration of Occupational Science by Dr. Daniel Park, exploring occupational therapy’s theoretical foundations and the Theory of the Human Need for Occupation.

Occupational therapists Dr. Stephani Gharehptian and Dr. Janis Yue then discussed trauma-informed care within a Violence Intervention Program, demonstrating how occupational therapists support survivors of abuse in regaining independence through meaningful activities.

The Admissions Information Session delivered by Dr. Catherine Shin highlighted various academic pathways, research opportunities, and professional development resources available at USC, while other lecture sessions explored specialized areas of practice such as Sensory Processing in Daily Life and Medical Complexities. These diverse learning experiences enriched the students’ perspectives on global OT practices and strengthened their commitment to advancing the profession in the Philippines.

The USC Chan Global Initiatives office, led by Dr. James Lee and Dr. Park, offers various programs to allow international students to immerse themselves in the current and emerging OT practices in the United States. While USC has been facilitating the global partnership for a few years, this was the first time that UST has participated. Joining the UST students in this program were other undergraduate OT students from Taiwan, such as Asia University and Kaohsiung Medical University, and from South Korea, such as Soonchunhyang University, Inje University, and Yonsei University.

The global immersion experience served as an avenue for the Thomasian OT students to enrich their knowledge and skills through exposure to various clinical settings, innovative and evidence-based therapeutic approaches, and emerging practices in the field of OT. By engaging with experts across California, the students were equipped with better tools and insights to bring back to the Philippines, eventually enhancing the level of care they can provide in the future as members of the Occupational Therapists’ workforce.

The post CRS OT students, academic staff experience global immersion program in California appeared first on University of Santo Tomas.

Held on December 4, 2024, at the UST Central Laboratory Auditorium, the lecture titled, “C.A.R.E.: The Writing and Publishing of Manuscripts, and Beyond,” gathered academic staff, researchers, and students from the College of Science and other academic units of the University.  

Cordell’s engaging presentation provided an essential framework for upholding ethical research  practices and achieving excellence in scholarly publishing. The talk also underscored the importance of integrity and innovation in research writing, resonating with the audience and sparking meaningful  discussions throughout the event. The lecture was particularly impactful for the 3rd and 4th-year BS  Chemistry students as this was an essential part of their academic training.  

Adding to the day’s highlights, the Department of Chemistry Chair Assoc. Prof. Alan Rodelle M.  Salcedo, Ph.D., together with Acad. Professor Emeritus Maribel G. Nonato, Ph.D.,  Prof. Christina A. Binag, Ph.D., Prof. Mario A. Tan, Ph.D., and Asst Prof. Melfei E. Bungihan, Ph.D., held a consultative meeting with Cordell to discuss potential improvements to the UST BS Chemistry curriculum. The discussions focused on integrating sustainability topics and initiatives, aligning the program with global trends and the pressing need for sustainable scientific practices.

The post Honorary Professor Cordell lectures on scholarly publishing, ethical research appeared first on University of Santo Tomas.