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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UST tallied a 39.8-42.5 score and secured its place in the 251-300 bracket. Moreover, it scored 54.7 in input, 66.7 in process, and 29.7 in the output metrics. 

THE Interdisciplinary Science Ranking based their assessment in 11 metrics grouped under three pillars: inputs (19%), process (16%) and outputs (65%). 

Under the inputs metric, schools’ interdisciplinary science research funding (8%) and industry funding (11%) are measured. The measure of success (4%), physical facilities (4%), administrative support (4%), and promotion success (4%) make up the process criterion. 

The outputs pillar evaluated the quantity of interdisciplinary science research publications (10%), its proportion among all publications (5%), utility outside the discipline (5%), publication quality (20%), and reputation (20%).

Within the University are research centers that allow interdisciplinary collaborations across the research interest groups, especially those targeting concerns laid down in agenda such as the Sustainable Development Goals.

The full results of the 2025 rankings can be viewed here:

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A total of 137 examinees passed the said board exams, which was conducted on June 18, 2024 in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Al Ahmadi, Kuwait; Al-Khobar, Jeddah and Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Doha, Qatar; Manama, Bahrain; and Singapore.

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UST logs an 81.82% passing rate, producing 63 new master plumbers comprised of graduates from the Faculty of Engineering.

The board exams was administered by the Professional Regulation Commission.

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Cheng, mentored by Mr. Leonard Albao of Big Fuzz, emerged as the 2024 Whiskey Live Manila Champion with his drink “Ikigai,” a nod to the Japanese concept of finding one’s purpose. The championship bout required an original cocktail good for 50 servings that highlighted Nikka Coffey Gran Whiskey. The entries were judged based on: 1) must be savory; 2) must have a story; and 3) must adhere to zero-waste and sustainability principles.

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Leading the new cohort of Thomasian RNDs are:

#3 Faye Beatriz V. ����ñ���, RND – 91.45%

#6 Nina Jilliana D.C. Cortez, RND – 91.10%

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ARTDEC’s membership includes faculty affiliates from Visual Art & Design academic institutions in the Philippines namely -University of the Philippines, Far Eastern University, University of San Carlos, University of the East, Bulacan State University, St. Scholastica’s College, CIIT College of Arts & Technology De La Salle Lipa, Adventist University of the Philippines, Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science & Technology and the University of Santo Tomas.

The Council of Visual Arts & Design Educators, Inc. (ArtDEC) was initiated in October 2012 by representatives of higher educational institutions (HEIs) that offer programs in visual arts and design in the Philippines. ArtDEC was organized primarily to provide art and design educators with opportunities for professional development and networking with fellow academicians as well as with practitioners in the creative Industry. Some of the founding members and current officers/board of trustees of ArtDEC also serve as CHED Technical Committee for Fine Arts.

ArtDEC’s major activity for the year 2024 was held during the three-day conference (July 4-6, 2024) at School of Architecture, Fine Arts and Design (SAFAD) Theater, University of San Carlos (USC) Talamban Campus, Cebu City with the theme “REDESIGN: Explore the Ways Design Practice is being Re-considered, Re-defined and Re-formed”.

The said conference was hosted by both academic institutions – University of Santo Tomas College of Fine Arts and Design, Manila and University of San Carlos School of Architecture, Fine Arts and Design, Cebu in partnership with National Bookstore.

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From October 22 to 25, 2024, 94 fourth-year tourism students from classes 4TOM4 and 4TOM5 conducted a site visit and a Usage, Attitude, and Image (UAI) survey in Bataan as part of their course requirements.

On December 10, 2024, the results of this IMC Campaign will be presented under the theme “Cutting Edge Campaigns: A Look Into The New Destination Marketing Strategies.” This presentation will mark the culmination of our student’s hard work and the beginning of a strengthened partnership with the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between the University of Santo Tomas College of Tourism and Hospitality Management and Colegio de San Juan de Letran – Bataan. This initiative is one of the projects of the UST Sentro Turismo. Additionally, a group of students from class 3TOM2 taking the Travel Agency Management and Operations course facilitated the fieldwork and data-gathering travel arrangements.

This activity aims to continuously improve teaching ways to equip the students in tourism marketing and gain practical skills in destination research and analysis, planning and strategy development, exposure to current trends, and a deeper understanding of tourism marketing as a discipline and the needed expertise to make a career in the said field.

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In an interview with the Communications Bureau, Caliwan said the recognition was “very fulfilling” as it recognizes “accounting teachers with outstanding achievement and distinguished performance as an educator, and whose outstanding contribution has a national impact.” Caliwan said the distinction is “a very big honor that I will treasure forever.”

Caliwan thanks the University community, particularly Accountancy Dean Patricia M. Empleo, PhD, Accountancy Regent fr. Franklin F. Beltran, O.P., PhD, and the college community, for their support. “UST allowed me to be actively involved in my professional organizations. A lot of activities for accounting teachers that we co-organized are held in UST. We showed the accounting education profession the Thomasian brand of service.”

Caliwan credits parts of his award to his recent stint as president of the National Association of CPAs in Education (NACPAE), during which time he championed the capacity-building of CPAs in education through a multi-part nationwide caravan of workshops on Outcomes-Based Education and updating on the CPA Licensure Exams based on recent pronouncements of the Professional Regulation Commission. The one-year term also gave a chance to broach the idea of a Magna Carts for Accounting Teachers, which is envisioned to “will answer the many concerns of accounting teachers.” Among these are the stringent and expensive continuing professional development unit requirements that make some CPAs shy away from teaching.

The awarding ceremonies will take place on November 21, 2024.

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Pavia, the immediate past Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences, has worked on non-native aquatic organisms and non-native freshwater fish species. In 2023, he published an article warning about the risk of non-native fishes invading due to climate change, with Lake Taal as the study site. Recently, he co-authored the article “Development and application of a second-generation multilingual tool for invasion risk screening of non-native terrestrial plants.”

First chartered in 1968, FIFMS now has over twenty-three members comprised of both public and private higher education institutions. The federation provides an avenue for greater collaboration among members through collaborative research undertakings and the sharing of expertise and resources.

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