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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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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Under the Department of Occupational Therapy, eight student interns participated in the Global Initiatives Summer Occupational Therapy Immersion (SOTI) Program of the University of Southern California Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy from July 1 to 31.

Onsite participants were Regina Lianne Castro and Noel Remi Pineda while Danielle Josephine Ang, Geordee de Guzman, Frances Therese Ureta, Mariella Sofia Palo, Keiana Louise Lazaro, and Mary Catherine Anne Olegario participated in the same program online.

This program aims to facilitate the development of a more global perspective of occupational therapy, health, and wellness.

Meanwhile, the Department of Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) contributed to the row of internationalization efforts by initiating a partnership with the Hanen Centre to bring certification and workshops to the Philippines. Several of the academic staff, clinical supervisors,  and alumni from SLP have successfully completed the More Than Words Certification Program from July 22 to 24. 

The Hanen Centre is a charitable organization geared towards helping professionals, parents, caregivers and educators to have the skills to promote the best possible language, social and literacy skills in young children including those that are differently abled. Specifically, the program offered focuses on empowering parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder to improve their social communication skills.

Among the academic staff who participated were Mr. Paul William D. Jacinto, MRS-RSLP, Ms. Mary Ann Gisselle O. Esguerra, MHPEd, RSLP, and Mr. Daniel Ymmanual E. Puri, RSLP. UST Communication Sciences Center clinical supervisors Mr. Lord Andre Ardeña, RSLP, Ms. Jana Maitina Ysabelle Batoy, RSLP, and Mr. Ian Francis Peralta, RSLP also joined the workshop.

Lastly, CRS also welcomed Lect. Supatida Sorasak Siangchin, Ms. Hudasamila Da-Oh, and Mr. Peerayut Saardaiam of Mahidol University as they participated in a month-long Global Immersion Program (GIE). 

Lect. Siangchin had an academic encounter with occupational therapy interns where she shared with them her study titled, “Experiences of Thai older adults regarding smartphone usage in daily activities” during their pre-internship activity.

Siangchin, Da-Oh, and Saardaiam also paid a courtesy visit to the UST Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Cheryl Peralta, DrPH, and UST Office of International Relations and Programs Director Prof. Lilian Sison, Ph.D., during which other possible collaborations were discussed.

These internationalization efforts display the commitment of the college in improving the overall academic experience of both students and academic staff.

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Aligned with the theme Perspective on Sustainability Disclosure: The Trend of Corporate Reporting in an Emerging Market, Yabut discussed the demand for accountants to develop sustainability-related competencies. This was followed by an examination of the evolving sustainability reporting landscape in the Philippines, together with the underlying sustainability strategies of Philippine corporations.

Finally, Yabut presented some recommendations for accounting and business academics as they develop a sustainability integration plan for the existing curricula.

Surabaya State University is a public university in Indonesia. The lecture is part of UNESA’s annual workshop that aims to address pressing issues in the fields of economics and business. This year’s theme centered on the Sustainable Development Goals and corporate sustainability.

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The seminar workshop’s primary objective was to enhance participants’ knowledge of cultural mapping and equip them with the skills to apply it in their communities. This comprehensive approach aimed to create a detailed inventory of cultural assets, assess their significance, and identify their potential for community development, including enhancing tourism, education, and economic growth.

The seminar also introduced cultural planning as a strategic framework for integrating cultural assets into broader sustainable development efforts, addressing community needs and objectives. Additionally, it emphasized heritage utilization, which leverages cultural mapping and planning outcomes to benefit the community through tourism, education, and local economic development.

The event included not only lectures but also hands-on workshops. Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Dexter Galit, a committed advocate for cultural development, welcomed the guest speakers and participants. Ms. Beverly Macayan-Bautista, the Officer-in-charge of CCCPET, who took the helm of conceptualizing the Pamanaraan program, shared a lecture on ‘Cultural Mapping: Laws, Process, and Utilization’ and facilitated a workshop on cultural mapping. Assistant Professor Jame Monren Mercado, academic staff from the College of Tourism and Hospitality Management and Coordinator of Sentro Turismo, shared his insights on ‘Cultural Development Planning’ and led the workshop on cultural planning.

The final part of the workshop, focusing on heritage utilization and the creation of a museum, was led by Dr. Eric B. Zerrudo, Executive Director of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

The seminar-workshop underscores the Provincial Government’s unwavering commitment, under the leadership of Governor Edwin Ongchuan, to preserving Northern Samar’s rich history, culture, and heritage, including the establishment of the Ibabao Museum of Northern Samar, the envisioned provincial museum of Nortehanon.

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The open-access article, entitled “Climate justice beliefs related to climate action and policy support around the world,” focused on the value of climate justice beliefs “as a motive for climate action across diverse geographical contexts.” 

Participants acknowledged the influence of capitalism and colonialism on the climate crisis and how it adversely impacts poor people.

The survey found that participants from countries with higher greenhouse gas emissions and politically salient social inequality associated climate justice beliefs with policy support and various indices of climate action.

The paper can be accessed here:  

Reyes, a renowned scholar and Psychological Association of the Philippines President from 2020-2022, also teaches at the Graduate School and is an academic researcher of the Research Center for Social Sciences and Education.

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A team of aquatic biologists and microbiologists led by Asst. Prof. Reuel Bennett, Dr.rer.nat., Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences, and Inst. Elfritzson Peralta, M.Sc., together with DBS academic staff Inst. Allan Gilles, M.Sc. and Inst. Eunice Aaron, M.Sc. (Marine Biology team), Inst. Justine De Leon, M.Sc. and Inst. Kenneth Xavier Sanchez, M.Sc. (Freshwater Biology team) conducted the study from August 11 to 14, 2024. The team covered 26 study sites in the watershed area, including mangrove forests, coastal areas, estuaries, streams, rivers, and a freshwater lake – Lake Danao. 

On September 17, 2024, Peralta, Assoc. Prof. Richard Thomas B. Pavia Jr., PhD, and Inst. Allan Gilles Jr., MSc presented the project’s initial results to Mayor Torres-Gomez. Also present were City Councilors Peter Rodriguez, Caren Torres Rama, Edmund Kierulf, and Bert Pades, together with officials from the City Environment and Natural Resources Office, City Agricultural Office, and representatives from the Protected Areas Management Board.

This initiative, which underscores the strong partnership between UST scientists and their government counterparts, is a testament to their shared commitment to bring science to the community.

Academic and research staff of the UST Department of Biological Sciences conducting the water quality monitoring, biological sampling and microbiological analysis of aquatic ecosystems in Ormoc Bay and its tributaries.

The UST Team, Mayor Lucy Torres Gomez, and the City of Ormoc officials after the presentation of the team’s initial findings.

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Bennett delivered a lecture entitled “Oomycetes in Philippine freshwater ecosystems”, highlighting current research developments in taxonomy and potential utilization of oomycetes (aquatic fungi) for aquaculture as natural food source due to its potential for mass propagation and fatty acid content. Meanwhile, Papa updated the audience on “Methane Dynamics and Limnological Monitoring in Tropical East Asia: The Case of Lake Yambo”, which emphasized on the importance of routine limnological monitoring for water quality and methane concentrations in tropical lakes such as Lake Yambo as these are closely linked to eutrophication, especially in tropical lake ecosystems, especially those heavily utilized for aquaculture.

Papa and Bennett joined speakers from Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Turkiye, and Vietnam in giving lectures on the ecology and life history of economically important aquatic organisms, aquaculture, and fisheries, including topics on conservation, management, climate change adaptation and sustainability.

Chonnam National University holds the distinction of having the first and oldest fisheries and marine educational institution in South Korea and is known for receiving the most research funding among Korean universities.

Its College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences maintains two research vessels, including the 96.45m ship Sae Dong Baek which was launched in 2019. Symposium speakers were given the opportunity to visit and inspect the research facilities of their two research vessels, which routinely conducts research cruises around the Korean peninsula.  A best research poster competition was also held during the symposium where graduate students and researchers of Chonnam National University showcased their latest research findings.

The event was organized by the CNU College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences in cooperation with the Korea Fishery Resource Management Research Institute and the Institute of Fishing Village and Aquaculture.

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Guinto, who teaches Science, Technology, and Society as well as Environmental Science, shared her expertise and knowledge regarding the basic concepts of climate change and the role of humans in speeding up its processes and effects. The Islamic Principles of Environmental Stewardship include: (1) Oneness with Allah, (2) Humans as Stewards, (3) Balance in Nature, and (4) Public Interest, while Muslim perceptions on climate change include: (1) that it is caused by humans, (2) it is spiritual in nature, (3) there is skepticism caused by conspiracies, (4) that priorities are focused on economic issues instead of environmental concerns, and (5) that there are regional variations in the understanding of climate change. Guinto shared the science behind these perceptions and helped clarify some misconceptions by providing science-based support to current activities toward climate change adaptations that were raised during event. 

The participation of Guinto was made possible through the invitation of Dr. Dimapuno A. Datu-Ramos, Jr. Director of the NCMF-NCR Regional Office to the UST College of Science to participate in this event. This highlights and recognizes the need for inter-religious and multi-sectoral efforts for effective climate change mitigation and adaptation in the Philippines.

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The conferment of the title “Fellow – United Architects of the Philippines” (FUAP) was held during the Investiture of Fellows during the UAP National Convention on April 20, 2024 at the SMX Convention Center Manila.

Apart from being elevated to Fellow, Manalad also won the Election for the position of Area A Vice President held during the UAP National Convention on April 21, 2024. As Area A Vice President, he takes charge of the effective and systematic supervision of UAP Chapters under his jurisdiction–-which covers the North of Luzon to Quezon City, and Foreign UAP Chapters based in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia—a total of 86 Chapters under his leadership.

Aside from Manalad, several Thomasians were also elected to key positions in the Architects Organization which includes Ar. Annie C. Pugeda as National Executive Vice President; Ar. Ma. Cecilia C. Viray as Secretary General; Ar. Mary Janessie T. Tumambing as National Treasurer; and Ar. Catherine Balce-Carunungan as Chancellor of the College of Fellows. Ar. Richard M. Garcia was also recognized as the Immediate Past National President who served UAP from 2022 to 2024.

Several academic staff currently serve the organization in various capacities: Ar. Jose Marie S. Tan as Vice Chairperson of the Committee on National and Civic Affairs; Ar. Mary Rajelyn J. Busmente as Vice-Chair of the Committee on Liturgical Architecture & Sacred Spaces; Ar. Vinson P. Serrano as Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Allied Professions and Fields; Ar. David Paul L. Yu as Chapter President of the Manila Atelier Chapter; and Ar. Armando Eugene De Guzman as Vice Chancellor of the College of Fellows (past UAP National President).

The UAP fiscal year begins on July 1, 2024 and will end on June 30, 2025.

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