AT 100, the UST College of Science is looking back not only at a century of scientific instruction, but also at the steady leadership that helped turn it into one of the country’s leading centers for pure and applied sciences.
As the college closes its centennial year, former deans Fortunato Sevilla III (2002 to 2008), Maribel Nonato (2008 to 2012), and John Donnie Ramos (2012 to 2019), along with current dean, Rey Donne Papa, reflected on the programs, policies, and crises that shaped the college’s growth.
Established in 1926 as part of the now-defunct College of Liberal Arts, the College of Science has sustained its momentum through continuity, with each administration building on the work of its predecessors.
What helps keep the college on track and forward-facing is continuity from one dean to another.
“Established na ng mga previous deans ‘yung direction na gusto nila for the College of Science, kaya it was not hard to make plans. Na-set na nila ‘yung foundation sa gusto mong mangyari,” Nonato said.
Papa said this continuity kept the college from “resetting” with every change in leadership.
“One good thing with the College of Science is that the current dean always makes sure that he adds to the [progress], hindi nag-rereset. We build on what the past deans have done,” Papa said.
Faculty profile and research
During Sevilla’s term, the college strengthened its faculty profile by encouraging professors to pursue graduate studies.
“It was a target during my time to increase the number of master’s and doctorate degree holders, and articulated na ‘yung objective na ‘yung goal was zero bachelor degree holders among the faculty,” Sevilla said.
He also encouraged faculty members to become more active in research, including through the University’s research centers.
Nonato and Ramos continued the push for graduate education, with faculty members pursuing advanced degrees in the Philippines and abroad.
During Ramos’ deanship, the college expanded its internationalization programs, allowing students and faculty members to train and collaborate with universities in Taiwan, Australia, and Japan.
The implementation of the K-to-12 curriculum, however, reduced freshman and sophomore enrollment and affected faculty tenure opportunities.
To respond to the decline, Ramos said some faculty members were sent to teach in senior high school, while others were encouraged to apply for scholarships abroad and complete their doctorate degrees.
When the transition period ended, the college saw more faculty members return with graduate degrees and become more involved in research and teaching, strengthening the college’s reputation as a research-oriented institution.
“We have always had excellent teachers, excellent professors within our ranks, and excellent students who have been recognized after they graduated from the University,” Papa said.
“Our faculty members and students are actively doing research that is considered to be of good quality and merit publication in quality international and national peer-reviewed journals,” he said.
Accreditation and curriculum
Papa said the college had consistently led efforts to improve academic programs in the University.
“We’ve always been trailblazers in the University in terms of the quality of academic programs that we have,” he said.
To adapt to the K-to-12 curriculum, the college revamped its biology program into three majors: medical biology, industrial biology (now molecular biology and biotechnology), and environmental biology.
“Turning point ‘yun, because from that time, we started really to get a very good competition with the other pre-med programs,” Ramos said.
During Nonato’s term, the college received its first Level IV accreditation from the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities’ Commission on Accreditation, or Pacucoa, the highest recognition given by the accrediting body.
“We became the first college to be awarded the Level IV accreditation by the Pacucoa. The only college at that time. It was not an easy road to go to,” Nonato said.
The chemistry and biology programs were named Centers of Excellence by the Commission on Higher Education during Nonato’s deanship. The psychology program received the same recognition during Ramos’ term.
UST underwent the Asean University Network Quality Assurance assessment for the first time during Ramos’ deanship.
The college began offering the data science and analytics program in August 2022.
Papa said the college helped develop science programs for UST General Santos, particularly the BS Biology major in Medical Biology curriculum.
“There are also other science programs that are in the pipeline [in] GenSan na malaki rin ang naitulong ng College of Science through our different departments,” he said.
Policies and projects
One of Sevilla’s most prominent initiatives was the use of Filipino in teaching pure and applied sciences.
“Bago ako mag-dean, nagtuturo ako in Filipino, chemistry sa Filipino. Natutuwa naman ako na hindi ako kinontrahan ng dean at the time,” he said.
Papa encouraged faculty members to teach technical courses using the national language, a policy officially implemented in 2025.
During Sevilla’s term, the college continued the practice of holding commencement exercises in Filipino.
“Graduation natin in Filipino language, tapos ang estudyante, Filipiniana ang suot. Lahat ng speech ng estudyante, ng faculty, ng guests, Filipino. Parang matataguyod ng college ‘yung paggamit ng national language,” Sevilla said.
Resiliency in crisis
Papa was dean when the Covid-19 pandemic forced the shift to online learning, bringing new challenges for students, faculty members, and administrators.
“We had to listen to what our students were telling us, the challenges that they were facing. We had to make sure we listened to our faculty, because a lot of problems were raised related to the shift to online learning,” he said.
The college moved activities online and had to adapt its teaching, research, and extension work to remote platforms.
Ramos said earlier efforts to introduce the Blackboard learning management system (LMS) helped the college adjust during the pandemic.
“We’ve been pushing already for the use of that time LMS Blackboard pa. So, we’ve been pushing faculty members to use online systems also as an alternative to face-to-face teaching,” Ramos said.
Papa said the college was able to continue its operations despite the disruption.
“Fortunately, we survived. There was no major disruption. Hindi natigil ‘yung teaching, learning, research, and even extension work, the community service activities,” he said.
Shaping Thomasian scientists
Sevilla hopes Thomasian scientists will remember how the college helped form them.
“Many will say ganito ako ngayon dahil sa tinuro ng UST sa kanila. Binibilin ko nga, huwag niyo kalimutan na bumalik, at i-share ‘yung natutuhan niyo,” he said.
Nonato said graduates should look back on their Thomasian scientific formation.
“And for the future students, they can look back. Para malaman nila, this will be who I am after I leave the College of Science,” she said.
For Ramos, science students should remain curious while keeping their faith intact.
“They should continue always being curious about their environment, that they always start to question everything that is happening around them. Because this is a characteristic of a scientist, a questioning mind,” Ramos said.
Papa said Thomasian scientists should practice science with moral responsibility.
“I hope that the members of the science community will feel a sense of pride that they belong to a college with a very rich history, and that has contributed to the growth and development, not just of science inside the University, but also science in the Philippines,” Papa added.
Bracing for the next century
As the college moves beyond its centennial year, Papa said it must continue building on its past achievements.Papa said the college was looking into micro-credentials, interdisciplinary programs, upskilling and reskilling programs, and lifelong learning opportunities.
“Whether the research that we’re doing is basic or in the applied sphere, dapat ma-ensure ng college na ganong level na ‘yung ginagawa niya, talagang may impact, regardless of what program you are in,” he said.
The UST College of Science marked its 100th anniversary with a month-long celebration from March 24 to April 21. The centennial carried the theme “Expressing Our Faith through Excellence in Science,” underscoring the college’s view that scientific excellence is inseparable from its Catholic identity. With reports from Marigela Isabel R. Cirio, Nyl R. Dadiz, Regis Avalo Jophiel L. Lim, and Mary Dawn S. Santos
