Obiena, a fourth year Electronics Engineering student under the UST Faculty of Engineering who is currently on leave to concentrate on his training abroad, has played track and field for UST in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and UniGames.

After signing the University guestbook at UST’s historic Arch of the Centuries, Obiena paid a courtesy call upon the UST Rector Very Rev. Fr. Richard G. Ang, O.P., Ph.D.

A testimonial luncheon, hosted by the University for Obiena, at the Dr. Robert Sy Grand Ballroom of the Bl. Buenaventura García Paredes O.P. Building, included the conferment of the Pope John Paul II Award for his Outstanding Achievement in Sports.

UST Vice Rector Rev. Fr. Isaías D. Tiongco, O.P., JCD, expressed his support for Obiena and commended his mindset, saying that, “Your self-discipline and confidence, determination, and rigorous training are bearing much fruit, and more will come, I am sure, to the delight, honor, and gratitude of not only your fellow Thomasians, but likewise your countrymen.”

Presenting the award was Fr. Tiongco, accompanied by UST Secretary-General Rev. Fr. Louie R. Coronel, O.P. EHL, and assisted by members of the Central Committee on Student Awards, namely, College of Nursing Regent Rev. Fr. Julius Paul Factora, O.P., Office for Student Affairs Director Asst. Prof. Ma. Cecilia A. Tio Cuison, College of Tourism and Hospitality Management Dean Assoc. Prof. Gezzez Giezi G. Granado, DCL, and University Registrar Mr. Cesar Velasco, Jr.

Obiena humbly thanked the University for welcoming him home.

“I’ve always been part of the University, even when I was away,” said Obiena.

He also expressed gratitude to his mentors in the Faculty of Engineering, saying “I would not have been here today without your guidance.”

“I will keep my feet on the ground and I will keep soaring high for the University, for the country, and hopefully make the world a little bit better in my own way,” vowed Obiena.

Also included in the program were the blessing of Obiena by UST Vice Rector for Religious Affairs Rev. Fr. Pablo T. Tiong, O.P., and a press conference with the world-class athlete.

Later that afternoon, Obiena also met with his fellow Thomasian student-athletes at the UST Institute of Physical Education and Athletics.

In 2022, the 6’2” Thomasian pole vaulter has had an impressive streak, having won 17 medals, with 12 of them gold.

After representing the Philippines in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the twenty-six-year-old Obiena is now the only Filipino to obtain a medal in the World Athletics Championships, having won the bronze in Eugene, Oregon, USA, where he set the Asian record and his new personal best with a 5.94-meter performance in July 2022.

More recently, he defeated the current world #1 and Olympic titleholder Armand Duplantis by leaping 5.91 meters at the Brussels Diamond League in Belgium earlier in September.

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Showing full support to the booster campaign, UST Rector Very Rev. Fr. Richard G. Ang, O.P., Ph.D., encouraged the community to secure their jabs. In his welcome remarks (in Filipino), Fr. Ang emphasized that “if [the community] gets vaccination boosters, we can all ensure that we are ready, safe, and have a higher chance of remaining healthy. We can protect not only ourselves, but also our family and loved ones.”

“We have to take care of each other, and I’m very glad that we are one in this goal today,” said Fr. Ang.

PinasLakas launch sites include schools, malls, plazas, and places of worship – areas people can easily access to get their vaccines. UST is the first Philippine higher education institution to join this campaign and received the most single-day registrations.

Gracing the event were officials including: Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Assistant Secretary for Community Participation Elizabeth N. Lopez-De Leon, who is an alumna of the College of Commerce and Business Administration; Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Educational Supervisor II Dr. Annalyn P. Diaz; Manila Health Department City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit Chief Dr. Jessie Bermejo; Metro Manila Center for Health Development Director III Aleli Annie Grace P. Sudiacal; and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Director IV Dr. Maria Loida Alzona.

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“Go Further” was the official introduction to the public of the upcoming 1.2-billion PHP target that would address the Sts. Cosmas and Damian Simulation and Research Center project, which replicates clinical scenarios in order to provide students a strong link between their basic medical education and actual clinical practice. Using simulation aides, students can learn more effectively without fear of harming patients.

The target amount would see to the completion and furnishing of the Henry Sy Sr. Hall, the building that will house the Simulation and Research Center; the support of relevant medical research; the awarding of scholarships to underprivileged medical students, and the modernization of facilities at the St. Martin de Porres Building.

After the blessing was given by UST FMS Regent Rev. Fr. Angel A. Aparício, O.P., the message of gratitude and legacy was delivered by the UST Rector Very Rev. Fr. Richard G. Ang, O.P., Ph.D.
Commending the FMS for fostering a culture of excellence in the medical profession, Fr. Ang expressed that the capital campaign launch was “a fitting occasion to give thanks and to celebrate the legacy of the UST FMS in commemoration of its sesquicentennial foundation anniversary.”
Fr. Ang reflected on gratitude, calling it an act of opening oneself to the grace of God, and thanked the many donors that committed to the capital campaign, particularly the alumni. “Your selfless dedication and support to UST’s Vision-Mission are expressions of your gratitude to your alma mater and your desire to leave a legacy to the next generation.”

The Rector also warmly thanked the Vice Chairman of SM Investments Corporation (SMIC) and the Henry Sy Foundation Teresita Sy-Coson for her generous donation and suggestions in the design of the Henry Sy, Sr. Hall, which will be named after her father.

“Physical structures will provide us with material and tangible legacy, but at the same time we are striving for a lasting legacy that is intangible – a legacy of character and integrity,” said the Father Rector.

Designed by Architects Rodolfo and Ana Ventura, the seven-storey building “will evoke transparency from within, modernity and innovation – the direction that the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery is now actively pursuing. The Building exteriors will also feature vertical aluminum sun breakers, which while being functional in itself, will evoke verticality and suggest growth and reaching up to new heights with the innovation in the study of medicine,” as written in the structure notes.

“The Henry Sy, Sr. Hall will be a state-of-the-art structure designed to meet the challenges and expectations of a digitally-inclined medical education landscape. It will house technologically-advanced facilities and equipment, which will complement the existing teaching, learning, and research practices of the University. It is yet another milestone, securing the UST FMS a relevant spot, a significant spot in Catholic medical education in the country, the region, and the world,” said the FMS Dean and AFI President Dr. Ma. Lourdes Maglinao.

The Dean further explained, “Today, our battle cry is ‘Go Further Beyond 150 Years—a statement that inspires movement and direction. We have aptly made this the official banner of our ambitious 1.2-billion capital campaign. Nurtured by our past and inspired by our tomorrow, we go further in every milestone as the cradle of Philippine medical education, building a future founded on Thomasian values, legacy, and excellence.”

The event also included AFI Fundraising Committee Chairman Dr. Charles Cuaso’s presentation of the Fundraising Committee Blueprint and conversations among benefactors and friends of UST FMS and AFI, including representatives from the Henry Sy Foundation, Starkey Hearing Technologies, UNILAB, the FMS Class of 1986, the UST Medical Alumni Association, Drs. Peter and Linda Fang, and beneficiaries of the AFI.

AFI Development Office Executive Director Asst. Prof. Anna Maria Gloria Ward, in her closing remarks, said “We encourage everyone to come and be part of this historical narrative, that in UST FMS’ celebration of its 150th anniversary, its alumni and friends sourced and gathered its resources to assure that it remains to be one of the best medical schools in the Philippines. After all, not everyone can claim to be the Cradle of Medical Education in the country.”
She also shared that of 45 rooms available for naming rights, 14 of the rooms are already reserved for donors and pledgees.
Dr. Cuaso and Asst. Prof. Ward then unveiled a ceremonial thermometer that signified the progress toward the 1.2-billion-peso goal.
Interested donors may contact the AFI through anargyroifoundation@gmail.com

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Through a hybrid format, a 27-unit program will be accomplished over the course of ten months. The participating teacher-scholars from Pasig City will learn under the mentorship of expert educators from the UST College of Education and the College of Science.

Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Cheryl R. Peralta, DrPH, representing the Rector Very Rev. Fr. Richard G. Ang, O.P., Ph.D., signed the Memorandum of Agreement on behalf of the University, while the Pasig City Mayor Hon. Victor Ma. Regis ‘Vico’ N. Sotto and the Pasig City Schools Division Superintendent, Ms. Ma. Evalou Concepcion A. Agustin signed for the City Government of Pasig.

College of Education Dean Assoc. Prof. Pilar I. Romero, Ph.D., College of Science Dean Prof. Rey Donne S. Papa, Ph.D., Certificate of Science Teaching Project Leader Mr. Louie B. Dasas, Ph.D., Department of Secondary Education Chair Mr. John Christian C. Valeroso, Ph.D., were in attendance.

Congressman Roman Romulo, Pasig City Vice Mayor Hon. Robert Vincent Jude Jaworsky, Jr., City Councilor (In-Charge of Education) Hon. Corazon Raymundo, Pasig SDO Assistant Superintendent Dr. Carolina Rivera, Schools Governance & Operations Division Chief Dr. Victor M. Javeña, SDO Public Schools District Supervisor Dr. Sofia J. Papio, and Education Program Supervisor for Science and SHS Ms. Liza Alvarez also attended.

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Reyes bested 22 other finalists, who came from the academe and the literary industry, in the contest organized by the Filipinas Institute of Translation, Inc.

The senior member of the UST Sentro sa Salin at Araling Salin and former chair of the Departamento ng Filipino received Php100,000 to finish his Filipino translation of the Japanese classic novel Kokoro by Natsume Sōseki.

Reyes related the significance of translating Asian literature into Filipino, especially in a borderless world hastened by internationalization and globalization.

“Kailangang maunawaan din natin ang realidad ng mga kapuwa natin sa mas malaking pamayanang ating kinabibilangan,” he explained.

Reyes’s translation was guided by Venuti’s theory on foreignization at domestication, a topic discussed in the Pagsasalin subject which he helped create in the department.

“Naging hamon sa akin kung paano pananatilihin ang natatanging kahulugang kultural ng mga termino sa kalagayan ng Japan noong 1910 na siyang reference ng nobela,” he said.

The contest was held in partnership with Katipunan sa Kultura at Kasaysayan (KKK2022), UP Departamento ng Filipino at Panitikan ng Pilipinas (UPDFPP), UP Kolehiyo ng Arte at Literatura (UPKAL), Likhaan: UP Creative Writing Center, Maningning Miclat Arts Foundation, Inc. (MMAFI), and UP Sentro ng Wikang Filipino Diliman (SWF-UPD).

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Joining the roster of alumni who have received the award in the previous years for their outstanding achievements in the different fields of engineering are Engr. Frederick C. Parayno and Engr. Joseph Cerezo both BS Civil Engineering, Batch 1987; Engr. Jerenato B. Alfante, BS Civil Engineering Batch 1984; Engr. Restituto A. Cabrera, BS Civil Engineering, Batch 1983; Engr. Maria Virginia Braga-Magat, BS Civil Engineering, Batch 1982; Engr. Emmanuel L.R. Estrada, BS Electronics Engineering, Batch 1982; Engr. Nathaniel R. Orillos, BS Chemical Engineering, Batch 1981; Engr. Elvira Q. Nombrefia-Arceo, BS Industrial Engineering, Batch 1980; and Engr. Justo Ma. J. Lopez, BS Electrical Engineering, Batch 1974. 

Engr. Parayno was President of the USTEAAI from 2014 to 2016 and of the UST Alumni Association from 2015 to 2017.   For almost 10 years, he was University Researcher and Senior Lecturer at UP Diliman. He was Senior Project Manager of Metro Rail Transit Corp. and VP for Commercial Development & Special Project of MRT Development Corp. Currently, he is the Executive Vice President of MRT Development Corporation and President of Metro Rail Transit Corporation.

Engr. Cerezo, who is also a lawyer, was the President of USTEAAI from 2012 to 2014.  At present,  he is a Trustee of the  University of Santo Tomas Law Alumni Foundation, Vice President of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Quezon City Chapter and Managing Partner of Cerezo, Malasig, Samonte, Cajigal and Associates Law Office.

Engr. Alfante was President of USTEAAI from 2016 to 2018. He received various awards including Awards of Excellence in Entrepreneurship and Outstanding Man of the Year among others. At present, he is the treasurer of PMA Maharlika Class of 1984 and the Chairman of OFW Partylist. Before he became President and CEO of Macro Wiring Technologies Co. Inc., he was the General Manager of JBA Builders, President of Superstar Packaging Corporation, and Chairman of Saint John Bosco Faith Training Center.

Engr. Cabrera was President of USTEAAI from 2009 to 2012. He started and relentlessly grew many companies under his leadership. He was the President and CEO of Cabres Builders, Inc. (Manila) which later expanded offshore to South Carolina, California, Guam, and Papua New Guinea. He also built several other businesses such as a food processing facility in Naga and is currently working on the management of Papua New Guinea’s agricultural program which is for implementation soon.

Engr. Braga-Magat is the Chairman and President of Dreamhauz Management and Development Corporation and the Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of MB Prime Landholdings and Development Corporation.  She was a consultant at NJR Realty and Development Corporation, Meridian Properties Inc. and Drydock Corporation and  worked with the Special Projects of the Technical Services Group of the Office of the Vice President of ������Ƶ Guaranty Corporation. 

Engr. Estrada is a registered ASEAN engineer and a member of the ASEAN Academy of Engineering Technology.  His 38 – year career in the telecommunications industry included stints in the engineering academe, government and the private sector. He devoted eight years as a faculty member in the UST ECE Department, nine years as a telecommunication regulator at the National Telecommunications Commission. In 1995, he joined Globe Telecom and held various positions. In 2019 he took on the role of Sr. Vice President for Technology Strategy & Service Integration focusing on emerging technologies & services. He is at present head of Regulatory Development and Strategy Group of Globe, Telecom, Inc.

Engr. Orillos is the President of the newly established UST Chemical Engineering Alumni Association (USTChEAA). He was conferred the Outstanding Aklanon Award in the field of Science and Technology during the 55^th Founding Anniversary of the Province of Aklan and Outstanding Chemical Engineer Award at the 73^rd PIChE National Convention. He started his career as a Process Engineer and rose from the ranks to be the Assistant Vice President of Petron Bataan Refinery until his retirement in 2019.

Engr. Nombrefia-Arceo was president of the UST Engineering Alumni Association from 1998 to 2001.  During her term, she organized projects and activities for the welfare of the Faculty of Engineering, and to promote unity among Thomasian Engineers.  Over the last decade, she has dedicated herself in promoting the history & culture of her hometown, Baler, Aurora, helping organize a civil society group for this purpose. She is currently involved in a community of indigenous people – the Agtas of Casiguran – bringing education to their children

Engr. Lopez is a Professional Electrical Engineer, ASEAN Chartered Professional Engineer, ASEAN Engineer and Fellow at the Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers (IIEE). He was awarded as IIEE Most Outstanding Electrical Engineer for Construction and Project Management in 2010 and Most Outstanding Alumnus of Don Bosco College in 2011.  He was an electrical engineer for 48 years working in the field of  industrial, commercial, institutional and residential construction and project management.  He designed and constructed the electrical system of numerous commercial, factory, institution buildings and residential houses.  He was a consultant for Special Projects of the City of Manila and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources

The Thomasian Engineer Award recognizes UST Faculty of Engineering alumni who have shown exemplary achievements in their area of practice in the field of Engineering and the Thomasian values of competence, commitment, and compassion in the practice of their profession.

Present during the award ceremonies were Rev. Fr. Roberto L.  Luanzon Jr., O.P., S.Th.D., DL, Regent of the Faculty of Engineering and UST Vice Rector for Finance, Prof. Angelo R. dela Cruz, Ph.D., Acting Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the president of USTEAAI, Engr. Jason Ong. 

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During the same ceremony, the 2nd  Dr. Celia T. Anatalio  Lifetime Achievement Award was also given to Agnette dP. Peralta and Lilian V. Rodriguez.  The same award was also received by Eulinia M. Valdezco in 2017. She was also an academic staff under the Medical Physics program of the Graduate School.  

The two awards were established to honor the two most important persons in the birth of medical physics in the country – Engr. Luciano Niguidula and Dr. Celia Anatalio.  The late Luciano N. Niguidula, affectionately known as Tatang, was originally an x-ray engineer who underwent specialized training and eventually became  the first Filipino medical physicist.  He worked continuously for 75 years and died at the age of 98.  Tatang was the first mentor in medical physics of Ms. Peralta and Ms. Rodriguez. On the other hand, Dr. Celia T. Anatalio is the Mother of Medical Physics in the Philippines.  As a radiologist and a radiation oncologist, she knew of the important role of the physicist in medicine.  She was instrumental in the establishment in 1981 of the Medical Physics Master’s Program in the UST Graduate School as a joint project of the Department of Health, the then Philippine Atomic Energy Commission, and UST, with technical assistance for ten years from the International Atomic Energy Agency.  

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CHCSA, Inc. is a SEC-registered Caloocan-based non-governmental organization, which focuses on the history, culture, and heritage of the Historic City of Caloocan.

Thomasian alumni were also elevated into the organization’s Executive Board in an election conducted on July 23.

CHCSA, Inc. President Wogie T. Pacala and Executive Secretary Jose Alberto L. Jimenez III earned their Bachelor of Arts in History from UST in 2018, Vice President and Director of Research and Publication Ruben Jeffrey A. Asuncion, graduated with a degree in AB Journalism in 2008, and  Director of Library and Archives Julie Ann Dominique DL San Esteban,, took Bachelor in Library and Information Science from the University in 2012.

As experts in their fields, officers and members of CHCSA, Inc. regularly give lectures in national and international conferences.

Asuncion was recently elected as the Director of Internal Affairs of Lipunang Pangkasaysayan ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Diliman (UP LIKAS).

1st Caloocan Writers Workshop

Angeles was the Founding Director of the first Caloocan Writers Workshop, organized by CHCSA, Inc., in cooperation with Rotary and Rotaract Clubs of Caloocan, JCI Northgate Caloocan, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Cultural Center of the Philippines, and UP Sentro ng Wikang Filipino.

Department of Literature Assoc. Prof. Chuckberry J. Pascual, Ph.D. was one of the panelists of the workshop, held from April 23 to 24.

Both Angeles and Pascual are Resident Fellows of the UST Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies.

Workshop fellow Nicolas Gaba, Jr. teaches at the Senior High School Department while co-fellow Nell B. Buenaventura taught at the Departamento ng Filipino.

Angeles, a senior member of the UST Sentro sa Salin at Araling Salin, also serves as an Independent Member of the Board of Trustees of CHCSA, Inc.

The Board will serve until 2024.

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Grade 9 students Myles Jilliane Althea Kate Frances Sophia Summers Alfonso and Grade 8 student Daphne Maeve Domingo also represented the university.

The UST-EHS Team was supervised by Asst. Prof. Vincent V. Caparas. They also underwent coaching and training facilitated by the Math Pre-Service Teachers under the UST College of Education.

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The JBC has the mandate of recommending appointees to the Judiciary and the Office of the Ombudsman for the President’s perusal, which includes creating a list of nominees for the position of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Faculty of Civil Law Dean Atty. Nilo Divina, in his testimonial speech, said that, “As one Thomasian community, we express our support and appreciation to Atty. Firme as he embarks on this all-important role.”

“We hope the JBC, through you as its academic representative, will give voice and stay true to judicial independence – a cherished principle we endeavor so much to instill in our law students. We enjoin that with every vetting, every search, and every recommendation becomes a reflection of a Thomasian lawyer and educator’s conviction, and most of all, we pray that you carry with you the fortitude to always do what is right,” said Dean Divina.

Atty. Maria Elena Francisco and Atty. Isaiah Asunscion also delivered testimonial speeches.
Firme, who came from a family of educators in Balayan, Batangas, earned his Legal Management degree in 1999, and his Bachelor of Laws degree in 2003, both from the University of Santo Tomas.
An educator himself, he started teaching business law subjects at the Department of Accountancy, De La Salle University – Dasmariñas Campus in 2005, and at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and Jose Rizal University College of Law in 2013 where he also took the great opportunity of shaping the latter’s Clinical Legal Education Program.

Aside from teaching, Firme has also served in various capacities within the government. In 2017, Atty. Firme became the Chairman of Mandaluyong City’s People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB). In 2018, he was tagged as a Legal Specialist for the Implementing Rules and Regulation of the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act of 1997, under the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care of the Department of Health. He also served as Chief of Staff of the MMDA Chairperson from 2021 until February 2022.
The Commission on Appointments confirmed Firme’s appointment on September 28, 2022. At the age of 44, he is one of the youngest members of the Judicial and Bar Council in its history.

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