The 探花精选 now enjoys the coveted Institutional Certification from the ASEAN University Network 鈥� Quality Assurance (AUN-QA) group, a testament to quality education and processes UST has.

The plum makes UST the second in the Philippines to receive the recognition, and the eighth in the ASEAN region, where 120 institutions are AUN-QA members / associate members. UST is the first associate member to receive the Institutional Certification.

The news, communicated to the Office of the Rector on January 13, 2020, revealed that UST passed in all four areas assessed by AUN-QA, namely Strategic Quality Assurance, Systemic Quality Assurance, Functional Quality Assurance, and Results.

The assessment visit took place from October 21-25, 2019, in which a team of six assessors from the ASEAN regions looked at the aforementioned aspects and validated the claims in the Self-Assessment Reports vis-a-vis observed practices, existing supporting documents, and interviews with stakeholders.

In his final address to University administrators on January 15, former Rector happily broke the news and called on the community to study the findings well and act on the recommendations to further improve the university鈥檚 processes.

According to , Assistant to the Rector for Planning and Quality Management and lead official in this endeavor, the Institutional Assessment 鈥渨ill certainly enhance further the University鈥檚 reputation, strengthening its position among higher education institutions in the ASEAN region.鈥� Furthermore, Carillo added that 鈥渢he AUN-QA quality stamp is a quality assurance symbol easily recognized and understood by other HEIs in the region. To be the 8th institution to have been鈥ertified facilitates the opening of more doors of opportunities for UST in terms of internationalization, networking, academic and research collaboration, faculty and student exchange, student internship, and many others. It also heightens our participation in the educational aspect of the ASEAN integration.鈥�

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On December 2, 2019, the 探花精选 formally opened its annual Christmas celebration, Paskuhan, with the Concelebrated Mass led by the Rector, the .

The blessing of insufficiency

In his homily, fr. Dagohoy called on Thomasians to remember that during the season of Advent, we can find inspiration in trying to live 鈥渟imilar to the remnants of Israel, waiting in expectation for the great promise of God.鈥� Advent, a season of penitence, too, does not only mean a time of sadness, for it is a chance to hope, to anticipate, and to be joyful.

It is being in experiencing insufficiency, the Rector said, that we can recognize our need for God. The Rector challenged the community to reflect over the last year and to see how far or how near they are from the Lord. 鈥淕aano na ba tayo lumayo sa Diyos? Kung masyado na tayong malayo, hindi na natin Siya makikilala,鈥� the Rector said, inviting Thomasians to walk down that path again to come closer to God.

The sure sign of God鈥檚 grace and love

鈥淭he birth of Jesus is the sure sign of God鈥檚 love for us,鈥� fr. Dagohoy said. The significance of Christmas, according to the Rector, can be found in how God focuses solely on His children during this time: 鈥淪a Pasko, tinitingnan tayo ng Diyos, at sinasabi niya: 鈥楢ng Pasko, para sa iyo ito.鈥欌��

Thank you for being a wonderful community

fr. Dagohoy, who has served as Rector since 2012, also took the chance to express his gratitude to the UST family, 鈥渇or being a wonderful community, and we thank God for all the blessing we have received over the last seven years,鈥� as he touched on the importance of remembrance in Advent.

The Rector likewise expressed hope in 鈥渁nticipating the blessings for our University for the next four or eight years,鈥� referring to the duration of a Rector鈥檚 leadership (four years per term, allowable up to two straight terms).

The Paskuhan Mass signals the start of the month-long celebration of Christmas in UST, which includes, among others, a Christmas Concert, the lighting of the Christmas decorations, the traditional Agape, and the Paskuhan Concert on December 20.

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According to , the innovation center aims to help UST鈥檚 academic programs by not only providing an avenue to utilize research outputs, but more so open in the students the prospect of becoming entrepreneurs. 鈥淲e want to change the mindset that we earn degrees to be employees.

We want them to realize that with the innovations and commercialization of their products or technologies, they can also become employers.鈥� The center likewise serves as an answer to the need for not just research publications and dissemination, but more so utilization. In his message of support during the event, Department of Science and Technology 鈥� Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) Deputy Executive Director Raul Sabularse expressed his hope that with UST now joining the ranks of 33 TBIs, the establishment of more startup ecosystems will be intensified.

鈥淎 TBI is both a venue and strategy [that provides] engagement [between the academe and industry] in manner that is meaningful and productive.鈥� Sabularse recognized that while the academe鈥檚 mandate is to teach and educate and the industry鈥檚 main goal is to earn profit, the TBI serves as a venue to bridge this seeming gap and place the two in a discussion united around common interests. 鈥淚 would like to believe that the best place to do it is in the academe, because you are doing researches.

If industry does not innovate, they will die because new and better products and services will enter the market,鈥� Sabularse said.

Convergence of disciplines

The center also aims to promote the practice of common and shared laboratories, where people from the different disciplines can use the same equipment and bring to the project their own skills and talents. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 want them to exist in silos. We have to accept that our own areas of expertise need to come together in order to make sure that our ideas translate to usable technologies and products that the public will benefit from.鈥� Initially, the Center will focus on the University鈥檚 niche areas of health sciences, natural products for health and wellness, biomedical devices, bioengineering, information and communication technology apps, and food technology, capitalizing on the strength of UST in these areas, as demonstrated by faculty researchers鈥� expertise and recognitions.

An integrative Catholic formation that cuts across specializations

In an interview with the , the Rector, , said that the business dimension of the TBI will receive the same integrative Catholic education that the University provides within the walls of the academe. 鈥淥ur Catholic education is integrative. Even with the TBI, our moral compass remains the same [for it] cuts across everything, wherever you are or whatever you are.鈥�

The Rector said that the initiative is in line with the concept of technohubs, which provide a platform 鈥渢o encourage the students and also our faculty to innovate and help them discover the economic value of their innovations.

This is a center that will help make a research work become a tangible reality.鈥� Going beyond the walls Apart from literally being outside the University鈥檚 original Sampaloc campus, the Center, which is located in the Ground and Mezzanine Floors of the new Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Building, the center鈥檚 services will be open to students, faculty researchers, alumni, the industry, and the general public. UST鈥檚 DOST 鈥� TOMASInno Center will have ideation rooms, 3D printers, as well as work stations for each of the projects that the center will host. As for the fabrication laboratories, the TBI will partner with the Faculty of Engineering.

Leading the team are Engr. Raymond A. Marquez, MBA (TBI Manager) and (TBI Assistant Manager). Four agreements inked The event likewise saw the ceremonial signing of four agreements with government and industry partners. Representing the University were Fr. Dagohoy, Nonato, and Marquez. The first agreement signed formalized the UST and DOST-PCIEERD partnership through a memorandum of understanding.

The Innovation Center is made possible through a research grant from the DOST-PCIEERD, which manages the Technology Business Incubation program of the government. The inclusion of UST in the grants received from DOST was made possible through the Higher Education Institution Readiness for Innovation and Technopreneurship (HeIRIT) program, a DOST-PCIEERD project implemented by the University of the Philippines through the National Engineering Center and UP Enterprise. Representing DOST-PCIEERD were Sabularse, Russell Pili (Chief Science Research Specialist), and Engr. Al Beato and Ms. Ann Kristelle Icuspit (Project Leaders).

Three agreements were likewise inked with industry partners, with initiatives ranging from licensing, to education, and research initiatives. Representatives of the Jollibee Group Foundation, Inc. namely, Ms. Belen Rillo (Vice-President), Ms. Gisela Tiongson (Executive Director), and Ms. Sharleen Alayat (Program Officer), were on hand to sign the agreement with UST, which is one of the two private universities it partnered with for the Learning Express 鈥� Farmer Entrepreneurship Program (LEx 鈥� FEP). The Lex-FEP is an initiative of JGFI, in partnership with Singapore Polytechnic University.

The project will allow UST students and faculty to have a platform to help farmers uplift their life conditions using Design Thinking and Social Innovation technologies. The two-year commitment included an initial training held in Singapore PolyU earlier this year, with faculty members from the , , and participating.

A licensing agreement was signed with Santeh Feeds Corporation, represented by Chairman Phillip Ong and Administrative Officer Dhonna Noreiga. Santeh, one of the leading feeds manufacturers in the country, provides UST with its first licensing agreement. Santeh will adopt and market the JAMP Primer, a diagnostic tool used for early detection of the white spot syndrome virus in shrimps.

The primer was developed by marine biologist (Principal Investigator), while the device was developed by faculty members Patrick Ellis Z. Go, PhD and Erica Ocampo. Finally, D&L Industries, represented by Managing Director Lester Lao, Technical Director Ms. Sonia Salvador, Market Development Manager Glenn Apostol, and Consultant David Pe帽aloza, Jr., entered an agreement with UST to 鈥渄evelop academic and research cooperation on the basis of equality and reciprocity and to promote relations and mutual understanding between both parties.鈥�

According to the DOST-PCIEERD website, TBI is a process of nurturing business start-ups in techno-enterprise and is an ecosystem where innovation is promoted and supported toward commercialization. As a host of a TBI, UST鈥檚 DOST 鈥� TOMASInno Center will be a facility where start-ups are hosted and business development services are provided. Among the services provided are technical assistance, intellectual property management and legal counseling services, and analytical laboratory services, among others.

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According to Assistant to the Rector for Information and Communication Technology Rev. fr. Winston F. Cabading, O.P., SThL-MA, the session aimed 鈥渢o bring the 3 most digital technology-immersed departments [, , and the ] together for a unified strategic planning for the University.鈥�

Among the areas of concern were 鈥渢he interfaces among the three [units]鈥� and the need to craft a 5-year strategic plan, backed up by a mechanism to accomplish the targets. Also, the gathering aimed 鈥渢o draft appropriate policies for the ICT services of the University.鈥�

Rev. fr. Stephen Redillas, O.P., served as facilitator in the strategic plan. Among the salient points discussed were the competencies of each of the three units and how these competencies can be harmonized to move toward the same goals.

According to fr. Cabading, 鈥淪anto Tomas e-Service Providers (STePs) provides the robust, reliable, scalable, hardware and network infrastructure, while the Educational Technology (EdTech) Center provides the innovations for connected learning on multi platforms. Finally, the Institute of Information and Computing Sciences (IICS), as the academic department, [is responsible] for the creation of technological innovations as well as training Thomasians IT professionals who are prepared for the fast-changing landscape of information technology.鈥�

In an online interview, EdTech Center Director , said that with the August 2018 decision to provide the EdTech Center 鈥渁 clearer focus specifically to be the support unit dedicated for eLearning through the UST Cloud Campus project and instructional media production鈥he EdTech Center [now] can better focus and prioritize services to harness the university鈥檚 expertise in deploying massive e-Learning scale adoption.鈥�

Part of the goals is for UST to be an online university, which will allow it to 1) develop and deliver fully online courses; 2) offer unique courses that are not available to existing program offerings; 3) model and showcase 21st-century teaching and learning practices that embrace student-centric approaches in physical and virtual learning spaces; 4) develop an exemplary league of online instructors in course design, development, and delivery; and 5) produce digital content for a wider set of audiences, among others.

On the part of the academic units, the Institute of Information and Computing Sciences 鈥渁ims to provide latest technologies to the University.鈥� IICS Director Jerralyn T. Padua, MSc stated that it will partner closely with the EdTech Center to 鈥渙ffer dynamic programs and courses for students, alumni, professionals, and all other stakeholder.鈥� Furhtermore, the Institute will 鈥渟trengthen its software development consultancy in close coordination with the Santo Tomas e-Service Providers (STePS) in the service of all Thomasian business process owners by introducing innovative systems/applications for various units in the University.鈥�

The output of the entire planning session was a Wildly Important Goal (WIG) to unite the efforts of all units concerned.

The Office of Information and Communication Technology was established in 2018 by the Rector, the . With its establishment, the Santo Tomas e-Service Providers and EdTech Center now fall under its direct supervision. STePs used to be under the Office of the Secretary-General, while EdTech Center used to be under the Office of the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs.

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The youth ambassadors were accompanied by Delegation Head Ambassador Chi-ping Chang from the MoFA Department of International Information Services, Deputy Head of Delegation Ms. Chieh Wong, and Delegation Secretary Ms. Chen Yu-Chih.

Gracing the event were Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines Representative Ambassador Michael Peiyung Hsu and his spouse Madame Charlotte Yu. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Non-government Organization International Affairs Department Director General Lai Ming-Chi, Philippine Tariff Commission Chairperson Marilou P. Mendoza, Taiwanese Compatriots in the Philippines Honorary President Mr. Hsieh Shih-Ying, Taiwan Association Inc. President Mr. Chiang Fu-Long, TECO Press Division Director Mr. Jerry Chuang, and TECO Executive Assistant to the Representative Mr. Fernando R.F. Wu were also present for the occasion.

After the welcome remarks delivered by UST Office of Public Affairs Director Assoc. Prof. Giovanna V. Fontanilla, Ph.D., TECO Representative Ambassador Michael Peiyung Hsu, in his message, thanked the many people involved in making the third Taiwan Night in UST possible, especially the UST Rector The Delegation Head Ambassador James Chi-ping Chang gave more information on the IYAE Program.

The 探花精选 began its presentations with the performance of the 70-member UST Symphony Orchestra under the baton of , as conductor. The Orchestra performed three songs by National Artists, namely, 鈥�Mga Katutubong Awitin鈥� by Lucio San Pedro, 鈥淏y the Hillside (Tone Poem)鈥� by Antonino Buenaventura, and 鈥�Mutya ng Pasig鈥� by Nicanor Abelardo.

Choir of the World Champions The UST Singers, led by Maestro Fidel Gener Calalang, Jr., sang 鈥�Cantate Domino鈥� by Josu Elberdin Badiola, 鈥�Tuwing Umuulan at Kapiling Ka鈥�, by Ryan Cayabyab, and 鈥淐ome Alive (The Greatest Showman)鈥� by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.

The UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe performed 鈥�Binasuan鈥� and 鈥�Tinikling.鈥�

In turn, the Taiwan Youth Ambassadors staged a 40-minute four-act play titled 鈥淭aiwan: An Island of Vitality.鈥� The first act, 鈥淲ishes Sent Skyward,鈥� presented the traditional Taiwanese festivals, such as the Lantern, Dragon Boat, Mid-Autumn, and Lunar New Year Festivals, through dances.

The second act, 鈥淎 Cure for What Ails,鈥� detailed Taiwan鈥檚 thriving healthcare industry through a fast-paced diabolo (Chinese yoyo) and hip-hop performance interspersed with images of their medical care, which balances traditional Chinese medicine with Western medical practices.

The third act focused on Taiwan鈥檚 farm produce, textile, and technology industry and is named 鈥淨uality as an Art Form,鈥� while the fourth and final act, 鈥淎 Resplendent Island,鈥� introduced Taiwanese folk music, tourist attractions, and cuisine through an energetic dance.

In the morning of the same day, the Youth Ambassadors were given a tour of the University, led by Assoc. Prof. Fontanilla at the historic Arch of the Centuries, assisted by student leaders from the UST Asian Studies Society. 

The students facilitated a tour of the University campus, with a tour under the guidance of its Assistant Director Ar. Carlo Sayco. After lunch, student leaders from the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery interacted with the Youth Ambassadors.

This year, 75 Taiwan Youth Ambassadors were sent to neighboring countries in three groups that visited two countries each, namely, the Philippines and Malaysia; Thailand and India; and Kiribati and the Solomon Islands, as part of the IYAE, with the theme 鈥淵outh Diplomacy Brings Taiwan to You.鈥� The 探花精选 has hosted and engaged with the youth ambassadors for the third consecutive year.

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鈥淚 am personally, particularly touched that this occasion is, in a way, the end of my term,鈥� said Br. Cador茅 at the start of his homily on July 4. It was under Cador茅鈥檚 leadership that the Order of Preachers welcomed its 8th centenary, in 2016, and when UST welcomed its Quadricentennial (2011) and Neocentennial (2012).

Completed projects
As UST Grand Chancellor, it was under Cador茅 that the University鈥檚 administration was finally turned over to the Dominican Province of the Philippines. In 2014, he also saw the revision and implementation of the most recent version of the General Statutes of the University, akin to the constitution of the University.

UST Rector thanked the Master of the Order for being very supportive and patient as the University undertook its projects and expansion efforts. The St. John Paul II Building was one of such projects.

For his part, Dominican Province of the Philippines Prior Provincial fr. Napoleon B. Sipalay, Jr., O.P., underscored how the Master was not just present, but was physically present and available for many of the Province鈥檚 efforts.

The capacity to think and the need to do it together
During his message to the community at UST, Br. Bruno, who is formally called Very Rev. Fr. Bruno F. Cador茅, O.P., MD in UST by virtue of his office as Grand Chancellor, joked that in the Province of the Philippines, he 鈥渞eceived a new baptism.鈥�

Br. Bruno, a medical doctor specializing in bioethics prior to becoming a Dominican priest, emphasized that in universities most especially, 鈥渨e must believe in one鈥檚 capacity to think for himself and herself, and we need to think together for us to achieve true community.鈥�

In an exclusive interview with the University鈥檚 , the outgoing Master of the Order said that he is personally amazed at God鈥檚 creativity, which is seen in how the Lord 鈥済ives unity in all this diversity,鈥� which he said is important, especially because 鈥渢here is a risk to always want to be different.鈥� The Master emphasized that 鈥渨e must find something common in all this diversity and make something together because we are a community.鈥�

The faith that is present
Br. Bruno expressed appreciation at how 鈥渇aith is very present in the Philippines.鈥� Having visited the country several times during his term, the Master congratulated his brothers and sisters in the Dominican Province of the Philippines, for the work they do both in the mainland and the mission areas, where the 鈥渂rothers minister to the sometimes forgotten people [in the Isla de Babuyanes and Camiguin missions].鈥�

Companions
As is customary for the Order, the Master was accompanied by companions, who are also officials of the Generial Curia (the Order鈥檚 highest governing body). Joining him were the Socius (Companion) for Intellectual Life, Br. Pablo Sicouly, O.P.; Socius for Asia-Pacific, Br. Gerard Francisco P. Timoner III, O.P., who is also from the Province of the Philippines; and Procurator-General Br. Benjamin Earl, O.P.

Br. Sicouly and Br. Earl, who visited the Philippines for the first time, went around the University and visited the Museum, Center for Campus Ministry, Library, and the Communications Bureau. Br. Sicouly also visited the UST Sta. Rosa campus, as well as the new Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati, O.P. Building, which will house the UST Senior High School鈥檚 Grade 11 students starting this August.

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Care, service, humility
In his homily, fr. Cador茅, himself a medical doctor prior to becoming a priest, reminded the medical staff and the Thomasian community about the theology of care in the hospital setting, particularly that which is found within a Catholic university. Reflecting on the Gospel of the Paralytic, the Master emphasized that 鈥淸the hospital] community鈥akes care of sick people, and in a certain way, the University hospital is entrusted by humanity to take care, in the name of humanity, of each sick person coming here.鈥�

Recognizing medicine as the melting pot of brains and talents, fr. Cador茅 highlighted the need for technical competence and skills, but also stressed that this must be coupled with humility. 鈥淎t one point, we all have to give all our knowledge, our energy, to take care [of the patient] and then, take a step back and let Him cure those [whom] He entrusted to us. This patient is not just your patient鈥nd the profession of care requires this humility, to let the One who cares most, restore the patient.鈥�

The Master likewise reminded the medical staff that more than just curing maladies, physicians and allied health professionals do something else for patients: 鈥淭he care is always aimed at restoring the patient鈥檚 ability to carry out his or her health with confidence and support of all. We are here to take care, to cure sometimes, but more than all, to give once again confidence to each patient in his own life, his or her own capacity, ability to live among the human community.鈥�

The dream and the patience
In his message, former Hospital Chief Executive Officer and incumbent University Rector said that the project was inspired 鈥渂y a truly noble aim. It is the genuine dream in everyone鈥檚 heart to be of service to the Filipino people that kept this project going and in particular, to address the academic needs of the community of the University.鈥�

Fr. Dagohoy thanked the Hospital administration for seeing the project through, and added that this new building 鈥渁dds a new dimension to the Hospital as it continues to trailblaze in the areas of healthcare and service with the most highly trained medical specialists, with good hospital facilities and equipment, and competent and pleasant staff, which make patient experience more akin to getting well than feeling ill.鈥� In a special way, the Rector thanked all those who worked for the building鈥檚 completion, such as the architects from the firm of former Architecture Dean John Joseph T. Fernandez, the engineers, the maintenance personnel, and security, all of whom 鈥渨orked tirelessly to make this building presentable for us today.鈥�

On its own two feet, standing proudly, in the service of humanity
UST Hospital Chief Executive Officer Fr. Manuel F. Roux, O.P., MHA noted that because the old edifice was meant to be a school building, it was not necessarily a perfect fit for a hospital setting. Thus, the dream was conceived to build one to house state-of-the-art facilities that will best satisfy the requirements set by regulatory and accrediting bodies.

Fr. Roux provided the audience with a glimpse of the history of the edifice and how the story was a journey of overcoming obstacles along the way: 鈥淭he path to the dream was not easy.鈥� Fr. Roux acknowledged that the edifice as it was inaugurated had several versions prior to its completion. 鈥淭oday, the 探花精选 Hospital continues to stand on its two feet, with no syndicated loan from any bank whatsoever, and continuously progresses,鈥� claimed Fr. Roux. 鈥淭his is largely thanks to our finance wizard,鈥� pertaining to UST Hospital鈥檚 Director for Finance and Administration Assoc. Prof. Isidora A. Lee.

Fr. Roux highlighted that the reforms that began during the incumbency of former Rector fr. Rolando V. de la Rosa, O.P., who was also the Hospital COO at the time of his leadership, have been carried on up to the present, in the form of the OpCom or the Operations Committee.

Fr. Roux likewise noted that it was during the Rectorship of fr. Herminio V. Dagohoy, O.P., who also was instrumental in the Hospital鈥檚 financial recovery prior to his election as University Rector, that the plans for a new Hospital building were commissioned to former Architecture Dean John Joseph T. Fernandez. It was Fernandez鈥檚 firm that designed the present structure, with the construction contract awarded to Hilmarc鈥檚 Corporation.

All throughout the construction of the building, Fr. Roux highlighted that the cooperation of everyone ensured the unhampered operations of the Hospital and the continued formation of students from the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, 鈥渨ithin the framework of Catholic education in the Dominican tradition.鈥� Added to these educational efforts is the 2017 launch of the biannual, open-access Journal of Medicine 鈥� 探花精选 (JMUST), 鈥渨here the researches of our doctors can be published,鈥� Fr. Roux said.

Finally, Fr. Roux highlighted that true to its mission, the UST Hospital intensified its outreach and indigency program. 鈥淭oday, more than 1,800 patients benefitted from various programs that were given for free, such as child and adult wellness programs, hernia repair, breast cancer surgeries, thyroid surgeries, heart mission, and many more.鈥� This initiative was recognized recently by HealthCare Asia Magazine, which awarded the UST Hospital the Corporate Social Responsibility of the Year 2019. Fr. Roux shared that 鈥渢hrough this award, we were able to share our model to the Asia-Pacific community to inspire them to do the same so that together we can change the world of more of our less fortunate brothers and sisters.鈥�

鈥淭he St. John Paul II Building is a testimony to the commitment of the UST Hospital to uphold and promote its tradition of compassionate healing and caring,鈥� reiterated Fr. Roux.

Saints of healing
The new edifice bears the name of St. John Paul II, who visited the University in 1981 and 1995. Attributed to the beloved Polish Pope, who died in 2005, are two miracles of healing that led to his beatification and canonization, the miraculous healing of a nun and a woman, both of whom were terminally ill and were deemed beyond healing through medical means.

The old edifice, which began as the building of the College of Education, currently houses the Private Division. This edifice will remain to be part of the UST Hospital and will be named the St. Vincent Ferrer building. St. Vincent Ferrer is the 15th-century Dominican friar to whom hundreds of miracles of healing are attributed. In an article by Fr. Patrick Briscoe, O.P. in Aleteia, noted that in St. Vincent Ferrer鈥檚 lifetime alone, 873 miracles were already recorded, as well as at least 70 exorcisms, and 28 cases of raising people from the dead, as witnessed by Dominican Saint Antoninus of Florence.

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I love you 3000

Inspired by the iconic line from Avengers: Endgame, the Rector, the , bid farewell to his 7th graduating class by expressing the University鈥檚 love for them.

鈥淟ove transforms, love changes everything it touches, it makes heavy burdens light, long hours short, ordinary faces beautiful, houses into homes, picnics into banquets, wilted daisies into bouquets, and sinners into saints,鈥� Fr. Dagohoy said, quoting a poet. 鈥淟ove equalizes. It is a love that unites. It is a love that knows how to forgive. We should learn how to forgive because we are capable of hurting each other.鈥�

Recognizing that the Baccalaureate Celebration punctuates their Thomasian journey, perhaps for good for some, the Rector quoted Pulitzer Prize winner Ellen Goodman, whose thoughts on exits and endings proved apropos for the occasion: 鈥淎 graceful exit begins with the recognition that when something ends, just let it go. It should excite us because it opens the doors to a myriad possibilities.鈥�

With the Gospel for the day signaling Jesus鈥� own farewell to the disciples, the Rector quoted Scripture, saying: 鈥淟ove one another, and You are my friends if you do.鈥� Fr. Dagohoy argued that 鈥渂y our love for one another, we will be identified as followers of Christ. People will know we are Christians because of such love.鈥�

Apart from joining the graduates in their jubilation, Fr. Dagohoy prayed for the graduates to be truly happy, as St. Thomas Aquinas wanted people to be. 鈥淲hat is the best way to achieve happiness? By loving the way God loves. You should be known for the love of the Father that creates, the love of the Son that forgives, and the love of the Spirit that sustains and preserves.鈥�

The Cross, the Light, the Cross

In keeping with tradition, the post-Mass ceremonies included the imposition of the Thomasian mission cross, which is designed after the Dominican cross, with the elements of the University seal imposed on each arm.

The mission cross reminds the graduates of their 鈥渞oots as Thomasians,鈥� said Director Ma. Socorro Guan Hing, RN, DNM, who told the graduating students to allow the said crosses to be their 鈥渟hield as they venture through life outside the University.鈥� As the graduates imposed the cross on one another, they were called on by Fr. Dagohoy 鈥渢o bear witness to the Good News and spread Jesus鈥� holiness.鈥� He also asked the graduates to remember the sacrifices of the Thomasian martyrs and saints, whom he said are models of living life with faith, hope, and love.

Following the imposition of the Cross and the recitation of the Thomasian pledge of loyalty, the Deans and Regents spread the light to their graduates, by lighting each graduate鈥檚 candles from the fire that was sourced from the main source. This light, symbolizing St. Thomas鈥檚 call to illuminate and not merely shine, pierced the otherwise pitch-black night, as the graduating students looked to the blue Cross atop the Main Building and sang the University hymn as one batch of 10,186 for the first and the last time.

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In cooperation with the British Council Professional Development Centre, the program was made possible through the Office of the Rector, which concurrently serves as the ASEACCU Secretariat as the UST Rector , is the Executive Secretary / President.

Twenty administrators and officials of Catholic universities across Southeast and East Asia joined the program titled 鈥淓xecutive Leadership Essentials鈥� to enhance their skills in: engaging their employees, creating a climate of trust among their teams, developing their ability to lead with credibility and confidence even in times of change, and strengthening their ability to connect with others. The first group of delegates for the leadership training program was hosted by UST in August 2018.

The participants were: Dr. Gregory Siy Ching, Prof. Yuan-Ho Huang, and Dr. Shiu-Yun Fun (Fu Jen Catholic University, Taiwan), Mr. Jaka Mulyana, Dr. Lodovicus Lasdi, and Mr. Albert G. Godjaja (Widya Mandala Catholic University, Indonesia), Ms. Febrina Astria Verasvera, Ms. Maria Fransiska Hanna, Ms. Monacella Ella Kosasih, and Ms. Veronica Afridita Khristiningrum (Parahyangan Catholic University, Indonesia), Mr. Beni Utomo (Sanata Dharma University, Indonesia), Dr. Nathaya Pupat (Assumption University, Thailand), Ms. Lenny Setyowati (Soegijapranata Catholic University, Indonesia), Dr. Marilyn Rubrica, Dr. Irene U. Dalog, and Ms. Criselda B. Espiritu (De La Salle Araneta University), Ms. Perlita Antonio and Dr. Belen De Jesus (Pasig Catholic College), Dr. Jackqui Moreno (San Beda University), and Dr. Jennifer Joy Olivar (St. Paul University 鈥� Manila).

Facilitating the training was Ms. Shalini Thomas, a master trainer from the British Council for business skills and intercultural competence in corporate organizations. She brings with her over 15 years of experience in the learning and development field. She has designed, developed, and delivered programs on a variety of topics to a wide range
of audiences across industries, including sessions on teamwork and collaboration, creative problem-solving, leadership, diversity and inclusion, and working effectively in multicultural environments.

On the last day of the seminar, January 25, the participants had a historic tour of the Corregidor Island.

The Office of the Rector was assisted by the following offices for this conference: , the , Facilities Management Office, and the .

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The also held Triduum Masses from January 22 to 24, 2019 with the theme 鈥淜eep us in Beauty, in Truth, and in Virtues: Celebrating St. Thomas聽Aquinas in the Year of the Youth.鈥�

In his homily, the Father Rector discussed how true beauty can lead to a life of holiness, saying that, 鈥淪a Filipino, ang salitang 鈥榢agandaan鈥� ay hindi lamang tumutukoy sa panlabas na anyo. Laging sinasabi natin na ang kagandahan ay makikita sa loob. Kaya beauty is the splendor of being鈥� Sa mga Pilipino, ang konsepto natin ng kagandahan ay ang pagiging 鈥渂uo.鈥� Ang buong loob ay maganda. Ang tamang loob, maganda rin. Ang mabuting loob, maganda rin.

Kaya ang kagandahan sa mga Pilipino, ay 鈥渂uo.鈥� May integridad, totoo, at mabuti. At ang kagandahang ito ay magdadala sa atin patungo sa langit. Integridad, ibig sabihin ang isip at ang puso ay magkaugnay. In sync. At dahil magkaugnay ang isip at damdamin, hindi pagkakasala ang kilos at malinaw ang aksyon.鈥� (In Filipino, the word 鈥榖eauty鈥� does not only refer to the external appearance. We always say that beauty can be seen from within. That is why beauty is the splendor of being. The Filipino concept of beauty is in 鈥渨holeness.鈥� A whole sense of self is beautiful. A just and kind self is also considered beautiful, which is why beauty is equated with wholeness of the self. There is integrity, truth, and goodness. This beauty can bring us towards heaven. Integrity means that the mind and the heart are linked. In sync. And because of this link between the mind and heart, the resulting actions are not sins and there is clarity in decisions.)

Through integrity and having a whole sense of self, one can be committed, said the Father Rector. He explained, 鈥淜aya competent ang mga Tomasino kasi ang mga kilos at gawa ay tama, akma 鈥� At ang pagmamahal, compassion, ay hindi labis at hindi kulang. Sapat.鈥� (Thomasians are competent because their actions are right and just鈥� and their love, their compassion, is neither excessive nor lacking. [It is] sufficient.)

The Father Rector further discussed that through the values of commitment, competence, and compassion, a saintly life can be achieved. He ended his homily with the challenge, 鈥淒o we have what it takes to be a saint? Yes, we have. Buo dapat [ang loob], tama dapat [ang kilos], sapat dapat [ang pagmamahal].鈥� (Have integrity, act justly, and be
compassionate.)

The feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, patron of Catholic schools and one of the Doctors of the Church, falls on January 28, a holiday in UST.

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