THE SEMESTER is almost over, but UST still has no rector yet. What’s keeping the Vatican from naming the new rector?
Three names have been submitted to the Vatican to succeed Fr. Tamerlane Lana, O.P., who was rector from 1998 to 2006: Fr. Ernesto Arceo, O.P., Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, O.P., and Fr. Rodel Aligan, O.P.
Blame summer, said Fr. Edmund Nantes, O.P, prior provincial of the Philippine Dominican province and UST vice-chancellor.
“Europe usually takes a vacation during the months of July and August, that’s why there is no word yet from the Vatican,” Nantes said in a telephone interview with the Varsitarian. “All we have to do is to wait. The Vatican is working on this matter and so there is no reason for anyone to speculate on what could be the reasons for the delay of the announcement.”
Nantes expressed hopes that new rector would be named soon.
“The Vatican does not like to be followed up on this matter because they have their own time of work and we have to respect that,” he said.
But De la Rosa, O.P., a former rector himself, said Central Seminary rector Fr. Arceo, O.P., is the leading candidate.
“Based on the meetings during the election of the new rector, Fr. Arceo is the leading candidate,” De la Rosa, now assistant to the rector for research and development told the Varsitarian. “But it is not yet official,” he said.
De la rosa said UST must continue with its day to day operations even without a rector.
“Although it is a bit hard for UST to have concrete and clear goals this school year without an official rector, we still have to move forward. All of the University’s officials are doing their job to maintain UST’s operations,” De la Rosa said. Jordan Mari S. De Leon
