The first conference was the Karol Wojtyła Congress held on May 19 at the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Kraków, Poland. Scholars from around the globe convened to examine the philosophical and theological legacy of Pope Saint John Paul II, whose thought remains vital for contemporary personalism and Catholic anthropology. In the said conference, Aguas delivered a keynote address titled The Perfection of Power and Integration of the Person: St. Thomas Aquinas and Karol Wojtyła on Virtue, offering a synthesis of Thomistic metaphysics and Wojtyłan ethics. He argued for a view of virtue rooted not in coercion or convention but in rational and spiritual freedom. Ringor followed with Divinus in Caro: Karol Wojtyła’s Ontological Personalism In-Between Theomorphism and Technomorphism where he critiqued the twin extremes of deifying or dehumanizing the human person and proposed Wojtyła’s incarnational vision as a compelling alternative grounded in freedom, responsibility, and participation in truth.

Afterwards, they attended the 11th Religion, Knowledge, and Society Conference held in “Ovidius” University of Constanța, Romania with the theme Global Tendencies, Local Realities: Redefining Peace in a Multipolar World. In this event brought together international experts to explore new frameworks for understanding peace amid global unrest, Aguas presented his plenary lecture titled Global Solidarity: A Key Component in Attaining World Peace, proposing solidarity as both a spiritual calling and ethical imperative. He emphasized that authentic peace requires shared responsibility for upholding human dignity. In another plenary lecture, Whose God is in the City? Political Ontology, Religious Plurality, and the Indispensable Desire for Peace, Ringor explored the metaphysical and theological underpinnings of urban life. Drawing from classical and Christian political thought, he argued that peace depends on restoring a transcendent orientation within civic life.

The final leg of their academic sojourn brought Aguas and Ringor to Suceava, Romania, for the 11th Religion, Knowledge, and Society Seminar, Vatra Dornei from May 25 to 28. Centered on Pathways Towards Reconciliation: Philosophical and Theological Approaches, the seminar explored healing from historical and contemporary wounds. In this seminar, Aguas tackled the topic Reconciliation Through Dialogue: The Philippine Experience, drawing on interreligious dialogue efforts in the Philippines to demonstrate how openness and shared moral foundations foster peace while Ringor discussed the Thomistic-Augustinian account of reconciliation through divine mercy in his talk titled“Remember Me When You Come Into Your Kingdom”: Suffering, Repentance, and Mercy.

Aguas is a Full Professor of the Department of Philosophy and teaches at the Graduate School and the Faculty of Philosophy, while Ringor is the Academic Collaborations Officer of the Ecclesiastical Faculties of Theology, Philosophy, and Canon Law.

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The discussion, moderated by Professor Linfa Wang of Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School and Dr. Lee Fok Kay of Temasek Foundation, Singapore, delved into what it takes to be ready for the next pandemic. Bergantin and her co-panelists stressed the importance of convincing governments and leaders of the ASEAN groups that the knowledge base gained during the COVID-19 pandemic is a vital resource worth sharing to the general public. Bergantin recalled the collaboration between the government and professional associations during the pandemic. A case in point was the preparation of COVID-19 guidelines prepared by the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, whose inputs helped craft policies during the onslaught of the dreaded virus.

The panel included Indonesia’s Dr. Darmawali Handoko, Medical Services Deputy Director Prof. Derrick Heng, Thailand’s Mahidol University Prof. Prassert Auewarakul, and Malaysia’s Tropical Diseases Research and Education Center Executive Director Prof. Dr. Sazaly bin Abu Bakar.

Bergantin also added that a sound pandemic preparedness policy requires the participation of not just scientists and government leaders, but also economists, vulnerable groups, and community members. In an interview with the Communications Bureau, Bergantin said that: “I am just thankful that aside from teaching, I have been included in various clinical practice guideline creation and health technology assessment thus I have first hand experience in policy-making (recommendation), which I have just realized when I was asked to join the panel. I may not hold a degree in public health but working for the Filipinos in my capacity from the academe, together with other specialists from UST who are regularly consulted by the government based on their expertise, the Thomasian spirit of competence, compassion and commitment truly burns bright.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bergantin joined fellow doctors and healthcare professionals in the UST Hospital to save lives amidst the strictest of mobility restrictions. Look at her COVID-19-focused interview with the Communications Bureau here: 

The congress drew over 300 onsite participants and was supported by Temasek Foundation, Singapore.

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In her Messages at the opening of the event, Mayor Arcillas emphasized the initiatives taken by the City from years ago in integrating the SDG global objectives in the City’s local programs, which now culminate to Santa Rosa becoming a pilot city in adopting the UN ESCAP Tool.�� “I wholeheartedly endorse this initiative, cognizant of the prestige and responsibility accompanying our role as a pilot city,” she said.�� She mentioned how she issued Executive Order 13 Series of 2024, creating the Technical Working Group (TWG) that shall be responsible in crafting the City’s VLR.

A few days before the two-day Consultation-Workshop, Prof. Marcelo and other officials of the University met with the Vice-Mayor, Hon. Arnold B. Arcillas, and the CPDO Coordinator, EnP. Ermin V. Lucino, MPM, to align many aspects of the short- to long-term plan for UST Santa Rosa with those of the City of Santa Rosa.  Vice-Mayor Arcillas and EnP. Lucino recognized UST Santa Rosa as an important private Higher Education Institution (HEI) partner of the City, particularly in its initiatives to become a ‘Smart City’, the characteristics of which are consistent with the SDGs.  In his Message at the Consultation-Workshop showing how the City has been continuously pursuing opportunities to collaborate with its stakeholders to achieve the SDGs, EnP. Lucino shared that the City was planning to establish a Technology Business Incubator (TBI). However, “with the University of Santo Tomas bringing their TBI at their Santa Rosa campus, we need not establish our own. We just have to partner with them,” he said.  EnP. Lucino emphasized that this sharing of expertise and resources leading to inclusive economic prosperity is consistent with SDG #17 (Partnerships for the goals) and other SDGs interrelated with it.    

The City’s VLR TWG is being supported by the UN ESCAP Team led by Mr. Omar Siddique.  The TWG, through EnP. Lucino, recommended to ESCAP to team up with SDG experts from UST to assist in preparing the City’s VLR.  Prof. Marcelo received the recommendation favorably for UST to collaborate with UN ESCAP and the VLR TWG of Santa Rosa.  “The University’s decision to develop UST Santa Rosa as its Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship external facility is precisely to be in a better position to serve in nation-building and in addressing global issues through collaboration and cooperation.  We welcome opportunities such as this.  UST will definitely take part in this landmark endeavor of the City of Santa Rosa every step of the way.  We are proud to be a part of this initiative,” she said.

The activity was organized by the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) of Santa Rosa as lead organizer with support from other offices of the Santa Rosa City government and various national government agencies such as the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).  It was attended by Santa Rosa LGUs, representatives from the industry, the education sector and other stakeholders of the City.

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