VETERAN broadcast professional Asst. Prof. Faye Abugan has officially ended her run with the Tiger Media Network (TMN), the University’s official broadcasting arm, which she helped establish in 2018.
Abugan’s one-semester stint as TMN business manager ended on May 30 without reappointment. She is set to be replaced by Gessie Krishnan of the UST Senior High School.
“I was in charge of the operations of TMN, so if I stayed there in a different capacity, it would be very awkward for the head now of TMN, kasi automatic siyang mag-head ng operations,” Abugan told the Varsitarian.
Abugan was named TMN business manager on Jan. 1, switching roles with Earl Pantoja, now assistant director of the UST Communications Bureau. Philippe Hernandez is bureau director.
As bureau assistant, Abugan had overseen TMN’s broadcast operations.
Having significant experience and training in production at TV5, Abugan admitted that the abrupt shift was challenging since managing the business aspect of broadcast operations was not her “forte.”
“I really wasn’t confident in being the business manager because it’s not my forte. So I will just give that position to someone who is better, who has a better grasp of what the position entails, what it’s supposed to do,” she said.
Abugan plans to refocus on teaching at the Faculty of Arts and Letters (AB), where she handles courses under the Department of Communication and is set to teach in the Department of Journalism.
“[W]hat I’m planning to do right now is to spruce up the broadcasting efforts of AB through the communication and journalism [departments],” she said. “It’s time I focus on academics…I will [now] serve the University through AB.”
Under Abugan, TMN earned international acclaim, including five awards in the the 84th Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) in 2024, six in the 83rd IBS in 2023, three in the 80th IBS in 2020, six in the inaugural International Student Broadcasting Championship in 2023, and eight in the 10th Philippine Student Quill Awards in 2024.
Abugan expressed hope that UST would continue supporting TMN’s growth.
The UST Communications Bureau, established in 2018, oversees the University’s broadcast and online media initiatives, providing coverage of major academic activities and University-wide events. It operates under the Office of the Secretary General.
