Jan. 23, 2:49 p.m. – THE UNIVERSITY opened the closing week of its year-long Quadricentennial celebration today with a Mass led by Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, O.P., Rector of UST, and the blessing of the site of the future UST Hospital extension building.
The Mass for the opening of the ‘Neo-centennial’ week, concelebrated by other Dominican priests, highlighted UST Hospital’s role as the community’s symbol of hope throughout the years.
“When a patient enters the hospital, their hope of a new beginning is reignited,” said Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P, internal auditor of the University, in his homily. “UST is a Catholic hospital. Therefore, it should be seen as a refuge of hope.”
Dagohoy said Fr. Pedro Traqueña, O.P., the oldest Dominican priest in the University, often joked that he visited UST Hospital not only to anoint the sick and dying, but also to ask them for a new lease on life. “Sinasabi ni Father Traqueña na sa kanilang (patients) pag-akyat sa langit, sabihin sa Diyos na biyayaan pa siya ng isa pang taon,” Dagohoy said.
Dagohoy said the construction of the extension building was the “most awaited” project of the hospital. “The essence of this new hope is in waiting,” he said.
The blessing of the new UST Hospital extension building was led by De la Rosa, other Dominican priests, doctors, and support staff. College of Architecture Dean John Joseph Fernandez, Graduate School Dean Lilian Sison, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery Dean Graciela Gonzaga, Conservatory of Music Dean Raul Sunico, and Faculty of Engineering Dean Josefin de Alban were also present.
The Medical Arts building will be demolished to make way for the new hospital building. Services in that building will be temporarily relocated to a newly constructed vestibule. Antonio Ramon H. Royandoyan
