As an expert on the issues surrounding the West Philippine Sea, Justice Carpio discussed how the Philippine territories in the area are determined and clarified some misconceptions. He explained that if we are to look at the map from the Treaty of Paris, we can see the Philippines and the lines that denote its territory—supposedly with all of its islands—and yet, we do not see the islands that are at the center of the dispute between China and the Philippines, namely the Kalayaan Group of Islands (Spratly Island), and the Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc). Such a map is the one being used by the Chinese and some Filipinos to point out that we do not have the rights to the Kalayaan Groups of islands and the Scarborough Shoal. According to Justice Carpio, this is wrong.

Carpio further explains that according to Wang Yi, the territory of the Philippines has been defined through three treaties; the 1898 Treaty of Paris, the 1900 Treaty of Washington, and the 1930 Convention between the United States and Great Britain. The Philippine claim to these islands existed all the way since 1734 through the Murillo Velarde map, an official map from Spanish royale that included the Island of Panacot (Scarborough Shoal), and Los Bajos de Paragua (the shoals of Palawan) also known as the Spratly Islands.

According to Carpio, the Philippine claim to the Spratly islands had not been challenged until 1933 by the French, but it was not pursued. Later in 1939, Japan occupied the islands but renounced it after WWII, and finally in 1947 China asserted that they have a claim to the Spratly Islands through the nine-dash line, as well as the Scarborough Shoal which they left unnamed then, but also acknowledged, that the Philippines had claimed the Spratly. This last part is particularly important, as it indicates China’s acknowledgment of an existing claim of the Philippines over Spratly, as well as the critical date of the case where the facts that can only be used in the case are those from that date and before it.

Justice Carpio argues that aside from the mother of all Philippine maps, that is the Murillo Map, there were also other Spanish maps that proved Philippine claim to the islands such as the 1792 chart of Alessandro Malaspina’s route of navigation which included the Scarborough Shoal, and the 1875 Carta General del Archipelago that included both Scarborough Shoal and Thitu (Pagasa) Island of the Spratly Island groups.

The 1875 map was later adopted by the US and issued four editions that then also included the Itu Aba and Loiata islands. These official maps by Spain outlined the territory of the Philippines and our claim’s historicity towards the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal. It is important to note that during the 1898 Treaty of Paris forging, the Americans used the 1875 map that included the Spratly Islands, as well as Scarborough Shoal.

With the precedent cases such as the Islas Palinas case, Clipperton Island case, and the Eastern Greenland case, Spratly Islands as uninhabitable is not an issue to retain sovereignty due to its uninhabitable nature, and is shown to be within the Philippine territory under the 1875 Carta General del Archipelago and the 1900 Treaty of Washington. Therefore, with all the evidence, Justice Carpio argues that the Scarborough Shoal and the Spratly Islands belong to the Philippines. Moreover, the presented facts by Justice Carpio promote our country’s foreign policies to a credible level for the welfare of the Filipino people and peace in the region towards legal rights on the Philippine Island Territories in the West Philippine Sea.

The invocation and opening message were delivered by UST Purchasing Office Director and  Faculty of Arts and Letters Regent Rev. Fr. George Phe Mang, O.P., while the USTGS Political Science Program Lead Prof. Belen L. Tangco, O.P., Ph.D., gave the welcome remarks, which was immediately followed by the opening remarks by USTGS academic staff Judge Charito Sawali, D.C.L. 

The panel of reactors was led by USTGS Coordinator for Internationalization Prof. Lino Baron, Ph.D. The other members of the panel were USTGS Public Administration Program Lead Prof. Noel Lansang, Ph.D., and Ph.D. graduate student of the Political Science Program Ms. Jennylyn Cabbuag.

The St. Antoninus of Florence Annual Lecture 2024 ended with the closing statement of the UST Graduate School Dean Prof. Michael Anthony C. Vasco, Ph.D.

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UST Acting Rector Rev. Fr. Isaias D. Tiongco, O.P., JCD., commended the awardees, saying “Amidst constantly evolving and unprecedented challenges that our social environment faces, the significance of their achievements transcends accolades and applause. It is a testament to their ability to adapt, to innovate and lead with empathy and integrity. Their journey at the University of Santo Tomas has equipped them with more than just academic knowledge, it has instilled in them the virtues of hard work, self-discipline, perseverance, and a profound sense of responsibility towards their community and society.”

Serving as the guest speaker was Ms. Alice G. Eduardo, the founder of the Sta. Elena Construction and Development Corporation, who is an alumna of the College of Commerce and Business Administration in 1986. Blazing a path forward in an industry traditionally dominated by men, the known philanthropist was recently named PeopleAsia’s Lifetime Achievement Awardee in 2023.

Eduardo shared the five keys to her success “Firstly, build yourself. Success is not about skill and talent, but hard work, discipline, patience, and relentless pursuit of your dreams. It’s about waking up with a determination to be better than you were yesterday. It’s about pushing boundaries, embracing challenges, and learning from failures.”

“Build your courage. Along the way you will face setbacks, but with enough courage, you will overcome them. Third, build your relationships. To succeed in life, build good relationships in your personal and professional life. Being open, positive, honest, sincere helps establish trust and rapport. Always stay humble and grateful.”

“Next, build your faith. Faith provides comfort in challenging times, resilience in the face of adversity, and support through fellow members of our Catholic Church.”

“Lastly, build for others. Success only means something when it is shared. After you have made something of yourself, contribute to the community. Find causes that mean something to you. Help now that you can. Be generous!”

The construction magnate also emphasized the importance of recognizing the valuable support system that has helped the achievers along their way, such as parents, mentors, and friends. “Their belief in you has been instrumental in your success and today we celebrate their contributions as well.”

“As you bask in your well-deserved honor, keep in mind: This is just the beginning. The road ahead is filled with opportunities and challenges waiting to be conquered. Stay curious, stay hungry for knowledge, and never lose sight of your passion. You are the future leaders, innovators, nation-builders, changemakers of tomorrow. Trust in your abilities and always dream big. Congratulations to all the awardees and may your journey be as bright and inspiring as you are. God bless us all!” concluded the philanthropist.

The top academic achievers from the 18 tertiary and post-baccalaureate academic units received the Rector’s Academic Award, conferred by the Father Acting Rector Rev. Fr. Isaias D. Tiongco, O.P., JCD., assisted by the Registrar Mr. Cesar Velasco.

The valedictorian for the Class of 2024, who achieved the highest general weighted average of 1.050, was Averille S. Sacapaño from the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics.

The Aklan-born tennis athlete delivered the response on behalf of the student awardees. Reflecting on the sacrifices necessary for success through the metaphor of pruning plants, Sacapaño shared, “We had to trim the things we wanted to prioritize the things we needed to truly cultivate a life that is healthier, more fulfilling, and flourishing, so I want to acknowledge all our efforts, because each one of us has exemplified, dedication, intellect, and commitment.”

“The knowledge and skills we acquired here are not only tools for personal success, but also instruments for positive change. And of course, we must recognize that our successes are not solely due to our own efforts, they reflect the support and guidance of our professors, coaches, friends, and family. Thank you po because this success is not ours alone, but yours and the University’s,” acknowledged Sacapaño.

Nine exemplary officers of recognized organizations received the Quezon Leadership Award for their service, while the Pope Leo XIII Community Development Award was given to two individual students and four organizations for their outstanding involvement in community development.

Eight individuals and 17 groups received the Benavides Outstanding Achievement Award, which is given to students who have academic or scientific accomplishments of national or international significance.

Thirty-four students and ten groups received the Pope John Paul II Outstanding Achievement Award for six organizations that held activities of significance to the entire University.

Thirty-two individuals and 30 groups received the St. Albertus Magnus Award for excelling in research. Among them was Marri Jmelou Roldan from the Graduate School, who published six research papers.

Rector’s Awardees from the remaining academic units listed in unit establishment order include Br. Gian Linardo Mari T. Estrella from the Faculty of Sacred Theology (1.127), Br. Wesley Kim D. Soguilon from the Faculty of Philosophy (1.118), Kharam B. Molbog from the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery (95.602), Kyle Andrei C. Cabatit from the Faculty of Pharmacy (1.055), Kyla Jane P. Purcil from the Faculty of Arts and Letters (1.083), and JF Nichols G. Cortez from the Faculty of Engineering (1.151).

Shane C. Mia from the College of Education (1.064), Vinz Ymmanuelle C. Tatad from the College of Science (1.070), Paul Cesar S. Catama from the College of Architecture (1.314), Andrea Mae Nicole S. Ariola from the College of Commerce and Business Administration (1.184), Deiniel H. Sanchez from the Conservatory of Music (1.079), Angelo B. Urfano from the College of Nursing (1.243), and Tricia Pascual from the College of Rehabilitation Sciences (1.143) were the top students of their respective academic units.

Also achieving the highest GWA in their academic units were Rita Corazon Ma. B. Layug from the College of Fine Arts and Design (1.103), Alexia Nichole R. Guadalupe from the UST-AMV College of Accountancy (1.241), Maridel Ann P. Capistrano and Patricia Nicole S. Sacay from the College of Tourism and Hospitality Management (1.052), and Athena Bianca R. Patricio from the College of Information and Computing Sciences (1.062)

Finally, winning the St. Thomas Aquinas Award was Deiniel H. Sanchez from the Conservatory of Music, for being a Rector’s Awardee who also achieved two or more personal awards within the duration of his program. Fr. Tiongco and Student Awards Committee Chair and Secretary-General Rev. Fr. Louie R. Coronel, O.P., EHL, conferred this prestigious award.

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With the theme “Empowering Thomasians to M.A.P (Meaningful and Purposeful Careers)”, the career fair served as an opportunity for Thomasian students and alumni to explore the various employment and internship offerings of the 64 participating companies representing a diverse array of industries including banking and finance, information technology, construction, manufacturing, health-allied and hospitality management. Likewise, the event served as the UST-CCC’s contribution to the slate of activities in celebration of the University of Santo Tomas’ 413^th Founding Anniversary.

            Career Fair 2024 kicked off with an opening ceremony with Prof. Cheryl Peralta, DrPH, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, Ms. Janice Ocray, M.A, RGC, UST-CCC Director, Ms. Christine Quita, UST-CCC Chair for Career Services, Ms. Yohanne Esguerra, Philippines Country Manager and Head of Partnerships of Prosple in attendance. The different academic and administrative unit heads, student organization officers, participating company representatives and the UST-CCC guidance counselors were also present. Delivering the keynote address was Mr. Mark Anthony Bercando, Chief Human Resource Specialist of the Civil Service Commission. Thereafter, a recognition ceremony for all the companies that participated in the Career Fair was held. Recognitions were also given to companies that successfully made it to Prosple’s list of Top 100 Employers for Fresh Grads and to those that nabbed the Top Sector prizes in their respective industry categories.

The career fair was also an opportunity for some academic units to conduct  consultative meetings with representatives from select participating companies.  The consultative meeting was held as part of the University’s efforts to align its curriculum and instruction with the trends and needs of the industries. Industry and academe cohorts participated in a dynamic exchange with the goal of finding avenues to leverage the strengths of Thomasians in the workplace and effectively address areas for improvement.

             The 3-day event was attended by more than 3,000 Thomasians who interacted with industry professionals, submitted their resumes, and participated in some of the exciting activities prepared by the companies. A rousing success, the  UST Career Fair 2024 is just one step in the University’s mission to mold Thomasian learners into outstanding and upstanding professionals who make a positive and lasting impact in their chosen fields.  

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In a parallel session, Dr. Baldia presented a paper that dealt with the importance of phytoplankton in maintaining the ecological balance of the freshwater ecosystems such as lakes, ponds, and dams. Angat Hydroelectric Dam (AHD) which is one of the largest freshwater dam in the Philippines has been in existence for over 50 years supplying potable water in Metro Manila, irrigates farmlands in Bulacan and Pampanga provinces, and generates hydroelectric power in Luzon Island. The study investigated the diversity of the phytoplankton community structure in Angat Dam and its relationship with the changes of the water quality of the reservoir. Thus, a monthly sampling on the phytoplankton diversity coupled with water quality analyses in AHD was conducted from June 2018 to May 2019.  This study was beneficial for monitoring the health of the reservoir ecosystems, as well as the conservation of environment functions.

            She shares authorship of the paper with her former graduate thesis advisee, Michelle S. Agustin, who is now a graduate of Master of Science in Biology.  The research was supported by the UST Research Center for the Natural and Applied Sciences, and by the Commission on Higher Education and Bulacan State University through Ms. Agustin.

            The 9^th Asian Pacific Phycological Forum (APPF) 2024 is a gathering of scientists, professors, engineers, and even students for exchange of ideas and garnering new information in the field of phycology (study of algae).  This was attended by over 240 participants, the sessions included the following topics: Harmful Algal Blooms, Seaweed Cultivation, Algae and Climate Change/Ecology, Taxonomy, Phylogeny and Evolution.

������Ƶ of Santo Tomas joins six other Philippines universities who also were present in the conference delivered oral presentations, served as chairs of the different sessions, and acted as judges of oral and poster presentations of student participants.

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The research explored the hidden gems of Tagkawayan through the lens of the local community. Their study has three objectives, each echoing sustainable development’s socio-cultural, environmental, and economic aspects. Beyond the academe, this study has significant implications, defining the path for long-term growth that goes beyond economic investments, serving as a foundation for future researchers in conducting quantitative research, which can strengthen ties and break barriers between stakeholders and the environment through conscious stewardship and mutual understanding in the community.

The study is authored by BS Tourism Management major in Travel Operations and Service Management students, Joan R. Acosta, Rio Ferdinand G. Arnaldo, Holly G. Fernando, Allyssa Bernice R. Mosquera, Aaron R. Pajo, and Jovelle N. Villamayor. It was advised and co-authored by Asst. Prof. Maria Concepcion A. Ang. The research is in partnership with the Municipal Government of Tagkawayan, Quezon.

The event, organized by the Philippine Association of Researchers for Tourism and Hospitality, Inc. (PARTH), saw a submission of 86 research manuscripts from 44 academic institutions.

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Carrying the theme “Beyond Vision: Embracing Change for Transformative Teacher Education,” the conference underscored best practices for implementing transformative changes in teacher education programs in the Asian region.

The conference was organized in partnership with Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, University of the Philippines Open University Faculty of Education, and Saint Louis University.

Dr. Jennie V. Jocson, Standing Committee Member of the Subcommittee on Teacher Education and Development, EDCOM 2 – Second Congressional Commission on Education, delivered her Keynote Address “Teacher Quality using the EDCOM2 Year I Findings as Lens,” following the Opening Remarks by UST Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Cheryl R. Peralta, DrPH.

Prominent academics here and abroad lectured on the current landscape of transformative teacher education.

Plenary sessions in the morning were led by Dr. Edizon A. Fermin, Chair of Technical Panel for Teacher Education, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), with his lecture “Evolving Teachers’ Competencies”; Dr. Joseph M. Velarde, Deputy Director of Education for All Impact Laboratory, Taylor’s University, Malaysia, who talked about “Transformative Education: Perspectives from Malaysia”; and Dr. Kamonwat Phuwuchit, Head of International Relations of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Kamphaeng Phet Rajabhat University, Thailand, who presented “Transformative Education: Perspectives from Thailand.”

In the afternoon, Prof. Jacklyn Santiago, Head of Educational Psychology Area, College of Education University of the Philippines Diliman, delved on “Evolving Learners’ Characteristics,” while Dr. Joanne V. Serrano, Dean of the Faculty of Management and Development Studies, University of the Philippines Open University, talked about “Microcredentials as the Driver to Addressing Emerging Teacher Competencies.”

Two panel discussions were also set to assess national and international situations.

The first panel “Transformative Education: Perspectives from the Asian Region” was led by Prof. Piyanat Chantakhat, Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Education, Chiang Mai Rajabhat University, Thailand; Dr. Abdul Rahman, Vice Dean of Academic Affairs of the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, University of Bengkulu, Bengkulu, Indonesia; and Prof. Paulina Chandrasari, Head of Teacher Professional Program Development of Atma Jaya Catholic University, Indonesia.

On the other hand, the panel “Transformative Education: Perspectives from Philippine Schools” included Asst. Prof. Eleanor L. Bahrami-Hessari from the College of Education, University of Santo Tomas; Dr. Charisse Y. Reyes from the Faculty of Education, University of the Philippines Open University; and Dr. Dorothy D. Silva from the School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts, Saint Louis University.

Selected participants also shared their studies on innovative and effective teacher education through parallel paper presentations and poster exhibits.

PSALM 2024 Conference Chair Dr. Louie B. Dasas, who is also Assistant Dean of the College of Education, provided the synthesis for the whole-day event.

Dr. Pilar Romero, Dean of the College of Education, gave the Closing Remarks.

The conference is part of the 98th Founding Anniversary of the College of Education, with the theme “#EduGREATat98: Gratitude, Resilience and Excellence Amidst Transitions.”

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This summit reorganized the Society of Ecclesiastical Archivists of the Philippines (SEAP) membership from around the nation, reinforced the involvement of the archdiocese, dioceses, religious archivists, parish secretaries, and records custodians in the implementation and fulfillment of the Church records preservation, discussed existing practices and explored the pivotal role of archivists and heritage workers, and provided knowledge and skills in managing the Church’s cultural heritage records.

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts Chairman Victorino Manalo graced the event and delivered a special message.

On the first day of the summit, UST Faculty of Civil Law Dean Atty. Nilo Divina, JD, delivered the keynote address on “Intellectual Property Law – Applicable to Ecclesiastical and Archival Record and Domain”, Prof. Regalado Trota José discussed “The Status Quo of the Catholic Church Heritage in the Philippines”, and Commission on Cultural Heritage Executive Secretary Fr. Milan Ted Torralba tackled “Archives and Canon Law”.

Archdiocese of Manila Chancellor Fr. Isidro Marinay spoke about “The Interplay of the Work of Diocesan Chancellors, Parish Secretaries, and Archivists”, while the “Panel Discussion on Government Archives” was led by NCCA National Committee on Archives Head Ms. Emma Muñoz-Rey, Ms. Jacklyn Joyce Delgado from the National Archives of the Philippines, and Ms. Vilma Rodriguez from the Senate of the Philippines Archives.

Also included were lectures from Fr. Jonas Awayan of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro, who headed the discussion on Diocesan Archives.

Meanwhile, Sr. Wilma Bumangabang, OP from the St. Catherine of Siena Archives, Rev. Mervin Lomague, O.P. from the Dominican Archives, and Fr. Nestor Impelido from the Salesian Archives jointly discussed the topic of Religious Archives, and Family Search Philippines Field Relations Manager Mr. Felvir Ordinario spoke about “The Impact and Issues of the Genealogy Project of the Church of Jesus Christ”.

Capping off the first day of the event was a Eucharistic Celebration at the Santísimo Rosario Parish presided by the Archivo de la Universidad de Santo Tomas Acting Archivist Rev. Fr. Gaspar Sigaya, O.P.

The lectures for Day 2 included “Ethics and Accountability in the Management of Archives and Records Management” by Ateneo de Manila University Archives Director Asst. Prof. Francis Navarro, Ph.D., which was followed by “Development of Archives and Records Management Profession and Training in the Philippines” by the Board for Librarians Chairperson Hon. Yolanda Granda and “Data Privacy for Ecclesiastical Documents” by the Executive Assistant for the Office of the UST Secretary-General Mr. Emmanuel Batulan, Ph.D.

A tour of the UST facilities, including the oldest school-based museum in the country, the UST Museum and its laboratory, the Archivo de la Universidad de Santo Tomas (AUST), andthe Antonio Vivencio del Rosario UST Heritage Library occupied the afternoon session.

Day 3 activities included lectures by the UST Prefect of Libraries Rev. Fr. Angel Aparicio, O.P. regarding the Antonio Vivencio del Rosario UST Heritage Library, “Disaster Resilience and Post-Disaster Recovery for Cultural Heritage” by UST College of Tourism and Hospitality Management academic staff Mr. Karl Baroro, and “Sustainability in Conservation in the Philippine Setting” by Okada Manila Records Specialist Ms. Lulu del Mar. 

This was followed by a workshop on Archives Management conducted by Ms. Lulu del Mar, Ms. Jocelyn Marcos, and the AUST staff; a Eucharistic Celebration with Fr. Mequiades Serraon and Fr. Ric-Zeus Angobung as presider and homilist; “SEAP Moving Forward Workshop and Planning” session led by UST Acting Archivist Fr. Gaspar Sigaya, O.P.  and SEAP Secretary Ms. Jocelyn Marcos; and the Fellowship Night.

For the fourth and final day of the summit, the Assistant to the UST Rector for Information and Communications Technology Asst. Prof. Jerralyn Padua delivered a lecture on “Parish Registry Portal: E-Records Management of Sacramental Books”, while NCCA Executive Director Hon. Eric Zerrudo, Ph.D. delivered the concluding lecture “Alikabok, Access, and Animating Archives”

Concluding the four-day National Summit was a concelebrated Mass with the Dumaguete Bishop Most Rev. Julito Cortes, D.D., as the main presider and homilist.

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According to Prof. Ma. Teresa Tricia Guison-Bautista, MD of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, who also serves as chair of the conference, the 3^rd GALACST was designed to “raise awareness on the diverse ways universities can collaborate with communities to improve public health outcomes, share best practices and innovative approaches to public health challenges, foster dialogue between stakeholders including academicians, community leaders, policymakers, and practitioners, and explore sustainable solutions that prioritize community needs and empower individuals and communities to take charge of their health and well-being.”

The conference commenced with a welcome message from Assoc. Prof. Michael Peralta, MSc, MSPT, LI.M. on behalf of Rev. Fr. Jannel Abogado, OP, D.Th.Sc.Pat, Vice Rector for Research and Innovation  where he highlighted that the “nexus between active citizenship and the SDGs is profound. Active citizens play a vital role in holding governments and institutions accountable for their commitments to sustainable development”. He also shared about the integral role of gender equality, adult literacy, and active citizenship to advancing the UN SDGs. The opening remarks of Prof. Michael Anthony Vasco, PhD, Dean of UST Graduate School stressed that “public health concerns should be given priority since any challenges and problems in public health greatly affects the day-to-day functions of society. It may disrupt the economic, political, social, and academic functions which affect the stability of nation-states”.  Assoc. Prof. Lourdes Maglinao, M.D., MHPEd, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery further explained that “by fostering gender and adult literacy and promoting active citizenship, we equip them with the tools to advocate for themselves and their communities”.

In her keynote address, Prof. Anna Robinson-Pant, Ph.D. (UEA – UNESCO Chair and University of Sussex Research Professor) discussed the assumptions relating to literacy empowerment and health, focusing on the gap between policies and practical experiences. She concluded with a call to pilot a more democratic model of partnership between universities and communities, especially in decolonizing global health research and addressing public health challenges.

Plenary speakers included Prof. Eva Irene Maglonzo, M.D. (UST-FMS), who discussed the Philippine context of health professions education, followed by Assoc. Prof. Bishnu P. Choulagai, MPH, Ph.D., and Assoc. Prof. Poojan Sharma Choulagai (Tribhuvan University) who shared about the current approaches and proposed modality of community-university partnership in public health education. The third plenum was by Prof. Surendra Giri, M.Ed, Ph.D. (Tribhuvan University), which tackled the current and innovative approaches to community engagement in health education.

The afternoon session started with a panel discussion with the UST SIGLANG TOMAS Cluster, composed of Assoc. Prof. Marlon Mallillin III, MPH (Pharmacy), Assoc. Prof. Ma. Margarita Leticia Gellaco, M.D. (Medicine and Surgery), Asst. Prof. Jayson Punzal, RN (Nursing), and Ms. Diane Allison Lotho, OTRP (Rehabilitation Sciences), moderated by Assoc. Prof. Christian Rimando, PTRP, where they talked about the UST Community-based programs and how these coordinators make these programs work. The afternoon session of Day 1 concluded with three parallel workshops on Ethnography in Health Research by Prof. Sushan Acharya (Tribhuvan University) and Dr. Laura Burke (University of Sussex) and Participatory Action Research by Asst. Prof. Kamal Raj Devkota, Asst. Prof. Sudha Ghimire, Ms. Ambika Thapa Pachya (Tribhuvan University), and Write shop for Journals: Supporting innovative works that impact social health equities through data and research by Assoc. Prof. Les Paul Valdez (UST).

The second day of the conference started with the launch of the Journal of Social Health (JoSH) by Assoc. Prof. Valdez followed by the fourth plenary session by Dr. Najibullah Habib of the Asian Development Bank, where he discussed reducing health disparities from local to global. After this, the 5th and 6th plenary sessions were led by the Nepal and Philippine teams to share the key results from the study being conducted in Nepal and the Philippines. Assoc. Prof. Choulagai, Asst. Prof. Devkota, and Prof. Acharya presented the Nepal findings. As for the Philippine findings, these were reported by Prof. Tricia Bautista, M.D., Prof. Camilla Vizconde, Ph.D., and Prof. Elizabeth Arenas, PhD.  Prof. Pant and Dr. Burke talked about co-constructing knowledge and some reflections from the team’s collective experiences.  The afternoon session resumed with a World Café session on formulating actionable steps in university community engagement led by Mr. Adonis Evan Basa together with Assoc. Prof. Catherine Jere, Ph.D., Dr. Philina Pasicolan, and Dr. Burke.

The program closed by presenting various research papers on Healthcare Access and Quality and Social and Community Context moderated by Asst. Prof. Ellaine Anne V. Asuncion, M.D., Asst. Prof. Les Paul Valdez, MAN, RN, and Mr. Adonis Evan Basa. The papers presented may be accessed through their microsite, .

This conference is part of a larger study funded by the Medical Research Council on Public Health Intervention Development (MRC-PHIND) in the UK. The symposium concluded with a synthesis and future directions by Prof. Pant and the closing remarks of Assoc. Prof. Jeremaiah Opiniano, Ph.D., Director of the Research Center for Social Sciences and Education.

GALACST 3 ended with the hope that through the conversations and exchange of insights in the two-day conference, the participants and all stakeholders found renewed hope and inspiration to mobilize curricular and institutional changes and encourage more publications and collaborations.

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With the theme “Harnessing synergy towards sustainability”, the forum included an overview of historical milestones of UST’s Energy Management System (EnMS), a discussion of the guideline format of the working manual and tools, and a presentation of ongoing and new initiatives for saving energy within the campus including POWERWISE (person-oriented energy savings campaign) and Luntiang Tomasino.

Engr. Oliver Gagarin, author of the UST Sustainable Energy Management Systems Manual, introduced GRT-76, which refers to “Go! Renewable Time” and the solar power harvest from 7 AM to 6 PM on selected building rooftops via the installation of solar panels.

As of 2024, solar panel installation has begun on top of the Albertus Magnus building, with the Fathers’ Residence compound, the UST Hospital Pope John Paul II Building, and the St. Raymund de Peñafort Building to follow next year. Steady work is planned for an eventual in-campus, independent, and renewable power supply through GRT-76.

Engr. Gagarin shared that “small appliances” drew the highest load consumption. He also cautioned against the “phantom load” or any electronics that remain plugged into the university power supply that still uses electricity or “standby power” even when turned off.

This year, the USTH Clinical Division, the Main Building, and the Benavides Building had the most energy savings among the 27 EACs, while the USTH St. John Paul II Building, the Quadricentennial Pavilion, and the Frassati Building consumed the most power. The unprecedented recent heat index was also a contributing cause to the power consumption of the structures.

Assistant to the Rector for Information and Communications Technology Asst. Prof. Jerralyn Padua discussed how to help each energy accounting center (EAC) identify saving and conservation measures through the working manual and tools, namely, the operational guide, process map, work instruction, log sheet, and calculation sheet.

She also presented ongoing plans for an Energy Online Dashboard that can predict and visualize energy consumption among the 27 EACs, which is planned to be incorporated into the official portal dashboard.

This University initiative aligns with SDG 7 which calls for affordable and clean energy. The programs and activities discussed in the Energy Forum underscores the University’s goal to achieve energy efficiency (SDG 7.3) among all energy accounting centers.

In attendance were academic and administrative officials, academic staff, and support staff. The opening remarks were delivered by USTH Director for Administration Prof. Analin E. Porto, DEM, while UST Office for Grants, Endowments and Partnerships in Higher Education Director Rev. Fr. Maximo Gatela, O.P. gave the closing remarks.

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The virtual seminar served as the 5th Nenita Caralipio Honorary Lecture, in celebration of the  98th Foundation Anniversary of the College of Education.

Asst. Prof. Rose Marie Cordura, MA, Bachelor in Early Childhood Education Supervising Teacher, explained that Caralipio inspired teachers and would-be-teachers “with her significant contribution in the university’s research initiatives and as principal of the UST Grade School for 25 years.”

Assoc. Prof. Carmina Vicente, Ph.D., Chair of UST Elementary Education Department, gave the Opening Remarks.

Dr. Diosdado San Antonio, Manager of the Educational Research and Innovation Office – Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization – Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology (SEAMEO INNOTECH), delved on “Transforming the Future through Holistic & Integrated Early Childhood & Elementary Education.”

San Antonio discussed a future-focused leadership paradigm after enumerating 21st century realities in basic education and the main features of Key Stage 1 in the MATATAG Curriculum.

Meanwhile, Mr. Jaime Bunga, MA, Ed., Supervising Education Program Specialist, Teaching and Learning Division, Bureau of Learning Delivery, Department of Education Central Office, “Improving Equality and Inclusivity in Education through Holistic, Inclusive and Integrated Programs.”

Reactors included reputable academics, including Assoc. Prof. Celina Cerda, MA, Dean of University of Rizal System, Angono Campus and a UST graduate of Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEEd) Batch 1990;  Asst. Prof. Louie Dasas, Ph.D., Assistant Dean of UST College of Education; and Maria Theresa Abesamis, MA, Instructor from the UST College of Education and an alumna of BEEd Major in Special Education (SPED) Batch 2019.

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