VETERAN Dominican administrator Fr. Dionisio Cabezón, O.P., who served as dean of the Faculty of Philosophy and head of guidance and admissions, died on July 7. He was 95.
His death was announced by the Office of the Secretary General.
“His life and ministry were marked by quiet service, intellectual discipline, fidelity to the Church, and deep love for the University,” the secretary general said in a circular.
Fr. Raymond Mi, O.P., vicar provincial of the Dominican Province of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, said Cabezón died at about 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday at the Convent of the Holy Cross, the residence of the missionary province in San Juan.
In a message to the Varsitarian, Mi emphasized Cabezón’s humility as a priest.
“Fr. Dionisio is firm but full of compassion. [He is] very capable, yet extremely humble. A down-to-earth Dominican who takes obedience as [the] first principle of his life and never finds any difficulty with it,” Mi wrote.
Cabezón served three terms as dean of the Faculty of Philosophy: from 1979 to 1989, 1991 to 1994, and in an acting capacity from 2006 to 2007.
He also served as regent of the Faculty of Engineering from 1969 to 1972, acting regent of the College of Architecture from 1969 to 1971, chair of the Department of Psychology under the College of Science from 1976 to 1982, regent of the Faculty of Civil Law from 1987 to 1993, acting regent of the Faculty of Civil Law from 2003 to 2004, and a member of the UST Board of Trustees.
“Being a psychologist himself, he strengthened psychological testing, procured testing materials from abroad, and guided the development of student appraisal, counseling, follow-up, and vocational services,” the circular stated.
He later supervised the University Testing Center, which introduced computerized admissions and provincial testing sites.
Throughout his years overseeing admissions and guidance, Cabezón advocated a merit-based, research-driven admissions system that upheld UST’s academic standards.
In interviews with the Varsitarian, he urged colleges to admit only qualified students, questioned admission interviews that delayed enrollment without significantly improving selection, and supported evidence-based testing.
Cabezón also welcomed the 2002 separation of the admissions and guidance offices so counselors could devote themselves fully to student development.
His wake is being held at the Replica Chapel of the Santuario del Santo Cristo Parish in San Juan, where Masses are celebrated at 7 p.m.
The funeral Mass will be held on July 9 at 9 a.m. at the Santuario del Santo Cristo Parish, followed by interment at the Santo Cristo Parish Cemetery. With reports from B.L. Buenaventura
