“The experiences of last year tested our faith, patience and stamina as an academic community. It is reassuring to know that we have survived and overcome the hurdles,” UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. said during his Paskuhan Mass homily on Dec. 17.
For the most part, 2021 felt like a rehashed 2020: Covid-19 cases were rampant and online classes remained the norm.
But in 2021, the world welcomed Covid-19 vaccines, which have been helping the world return to normalcy.
The year was also eventful for UST, which marked a number of milestones.
The Varsitarian recaps its top stories as the year 2021 nears its end.
Construction of P100-M innovation hub at UST Santa Rosa begins
Construction of the first building in the Santa Rosa, Laguna campus, the Tony Tan Caktiong Innovation Center, begins on Feb. 16.
Construction of P100-M innovation hub at UST Santa Rosa begins
New USTFU president elected
Asst. Prof. Emerito Gonzales of the Faculty of Arts and Letters is the new UST Faculty Union president, replacing Dr. George Lim who had occupied the post for a decade.
Gonzales was among the negotiators removed from the union panel during the 2016-2021 collective bargaining agreement negotiations for allegedly violating confidentiality rules when they publicly called for the immediate release of the faculty’s 70-percent share of tuition increases since 2016.
UST Hospital marks 75th anniversary with vaccine rollout
UST Hospital (USTH) kicks off celebrations for its 75th anniversary with a ceremonial vaccination of administrators at the UST Medicine Auditorium on March 7.
500 years of Christianity in PH celebrated
The Church starts the year-long celebrations for the 500th anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines.
Be missionaries, nuncio tells Pinoys on quincentennial of first Mass in PH
UST implements contact tracing using StaySafe app
UST starts using the contact tracing application StaySafe on April 12, which will later become a requirement for students, employees and guests entering the campus.
UST turns 410
UST turns 410 years old on Apr. 28. As part of its 410th-anniversary celebrations, UST holds a Eucharistic celebration led by Ang, the “Musikang Tomasino: Tapat sa Diyos at Bayan” online concert, a commemorative lecture about the University’s foundation by The UST Graduate School History program and the University’s History Department and more.
Rector on UST’s 410th anniversary: ‘We need to love more than ever’
UST Parish, Simbahayan launch ‘kindness stations’
The Santisimo Rosario Parish and UST-Simbahayan Community Development Office on April 25 launch their own twist to the community pantry initiative—two “kindness stations” on Dapitan and P. Noval streets.
Father Ang assumes rectorship
Fr. Richard G. Ang, O.P. formally assumes office as the 97th Rector of UST on May 13, unveiling a roadmap to ensure the University’s survival beyond the Covid-19 pandemic.
The installation rites were delayed by a year after Ang went on medical leave.
Installed as 97th Rector, Ang lays down ‘Vision 2024’ to lead UST out of pandemic rut
Krizia Bricio of Arts and Letters is new CSC president
Legal management junior Krizia Bricio is proclaimed president of the Central Student Council on May 15.
Joining her in the council are Gerald Matthew de la Cruz (vice president), Arnet Paguirigan (secretary) and education junior Gabriele de Lara (public relations officer).
National Artist Arturo Luz, 94
National Artist for Visual Arts Arturo Luz dies on May 26 at 94 years old.
UST Medicine unveils markers for 150th anniversary
The Faculty of Medicine and Surgery unveils historical markers as part of celebrations marking its 150th founding anniversary on May 28 and 29.
UST out of top 1,000 in 2022 QS world university ranking
The University falls to the 1,001–1,200 bracket in the 2022 Quacquarelli-Symonds (QS) World University ranking, reflecting tough challenges to higher education posed by the pandemic.
UST Medicine, health-allied students return to campus
After securing the green light from the Manila city government and the Commission on Higher Education, UST welcomes some students back on campus on June 19.
The limited face-to-face classes are participated in by clinical clerks from the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, physical therapy interns, medical technology students and nursing students.
Campus to open for PT interns June 21; medtech, nursing up next
Advincula installed as Manila archbishop
Thomasian Cardinal Jose Advincula is installed as the 32nd Roman Catholic archbishop of Manila on June 24 at the Manila Cathedral.
Advincula, 68, is the 33rd archbishop of Manila. He succeeds Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, who is now at the Vatican as a prefect of Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
New Manila Archbishop Advincula vows to be a ‘listening shepherd’ to Manileños
UST mourns death of ex-president Noynoy Aquino
“May the former president with his legacy of humility and integrity continue to serve as an inspiration to the country’s future leaders,” UST says in a statement following the death of Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, the 15th president of the Philippines.
UST campus ministry head ‘Sir Tsard’ Pazcoguin dies at 41
UST Center for Campus Ministry Director Assoc. Prof. Richard Pazcoguin, O.P., better known in the University as “Sir Tsard,” passes away on June 25.
Thomasian doctor is army’s first female surgeon general
Col. Fatima Claire Navarro, a UST Medicine alumna, makes history on June 30 after being appointed as the 56th surgeon general of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Institute of Information and Computing Sciences elevated to college
The Institute of Information and Computing Sciences on July 15 announces that it has been elevated to the rank of college and will become the College of Information and Computing Sciences (CICS). The CICS is the 22nd college within UST.
BREAKING: The Institute of Information and Computing Sciences (IICS) announces that it has been elevated to the rank of college. It will now be called the College of Information and Computing Sciences (CICS). pic.twitter.com/G9wuFQid6A
— The Varsitarian (@varsitarianust) July 15, 2021
UST becomes first PH university with 5-star QS rating
UST becomes the first and only higher education institution (HEI) in the Philippines with a five-star Quacquarelli-Symonds (QS) rating, the second highest rating.
Coronel replaces Miranda as UST SecGen
After five years of keeping the University seal, Fr. Jesus Jay Miranda, Jr., O.P. ends his term as secretary general of UST. Replacing him is Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P.
Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P. named UST secretary general; new administrators appointed
UST opens Covid-19 vaccination site
UST on July 26 opens an on-campus vaccination site, serving Thomasians, non-Thomasians, Manileños and non-Manileños.
St. Dominic’s 800th death anniversary
Celebrations are held for the 800th dies natalis or birth in heaven of St. Dominic de Guzman, founder of the Order of Preachers.
Master of the Order: St. Dominic’s mission is timeless, timely
‘Be citizens of heaven,’ Dominican provincial tells Thomasians
Pabillo moves from Manila to Palawan
Thomasian Bishop Broderick Pabillo ends his 15-year tenure as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Manila after being named apostolic vicar of Taytay, Palawan.
UST announces second year of USTAR
UST announces that it will sift through aspiring Thomasians for Academic Year (AY) 2022 to 2023 using the University of Santo Tomas Admission Rating (USTAR) for the second straight year.
España campus remains bar exam venue
UST will remain a bar examination testing center despite the deferment of the 2020/2021 examinations to Jan. 16 to Feb. 6, 2022, according to Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina.
Thomasians save Heaven’s Touch resto
From being at the brink of closure, Heaven’s Touch Cuisine, a food business that had operated for 15 years at Villa Maria Asturias Building, moves to Concepcion Street in Dapitan thanks to a fundraiser by Thomasians.
Nat’l Artist Bien Lumbera dies
National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera dies on Sept. 28 due to complications of stroke at 89 years old.
UST alumnus and ex-‘V’ editor Bienvenido L. Lumbera, National Artist for Literature; 89
Accountancy moves out of carpark, transfers to Albertus Magnus
After 15 years at the UST multi-deck carpark building, the UST Alfredo M. Velayo College of Accountancy announces its transfer to the Albertus Magnus Building on Dec. 1.
Accountancy transfers to Albertus Magnus; athletes to use carpark for training ‘bubble’
UST GenSan main bldg topped off, set to finish construction by 2023
The UST General Santos (GenSan) main building, the first edifice in the 76.78-hectare Mindanao campus, is topped off on Dec. 4. During the building’s topping-off ceremony, University officials say the GenSan campus is expected to open in 2023 or 2024.
UST GenSan main bldg topped off, set to finish construction by 2023
UST is accreditation body’s top university for 11th straight year
For the 11th straight year, the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (Pacucoa) names UST as the No. 1 university in terms of accredited programs.
UST is accreditation body’s top university for 11th straight year
College of Nursing extends immaculate board exams streak
UST tallies 100-percent passing rates in the July and November 2021 licensure examinations for nurses, extending its immaculate streak to seven straight nursing board exam cycles.
Ninety-four new Thomasian nurses are produced this year.
First pandemic Paskuhan held
The University holds its first live Paskuhan concert amid the Covid-19 pandemic on Dec. 17, headlined by Mayonnaise, Nobita, and Orange & Lemons.
The Paskuhan raises P233,123 for partner communities and victims of typhoon “Odette.”
UST Paskuhan raises over P233K as Rector urges Thomasians to help ‘Odette’ victims
