MASTER of the Order of Preachers and University Chancellor Fr. Gerard Timoner III, O.P. will lead the Eucharistic celebration for the partial opening of the UST Hospital’s St. John Paul II Building on April 30.
The Master General will also lead the unveiling of the commemorative marker of the building together with UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P., UST Vice Chancellor Fr. Filemon de la Cruz, Jr., O.P., and UST Hospital Chief Executive Officer Fr. Julius Paul Factora, O.P.
The blessing and ribbon-cutting ceremony of the bridge from the San Vicente Ferrer Ward to the St. John Paul II Building will be held on the same day, to be led by Timoner, Factora, and pastoral director Rev. Fr. Arturo Pestin, O.P.
The ribbon-cutting will be followed by the opening of the building’s dermatology center, business office, clinical pathology and drug testing, blood bank and transfusion services, center for respiratory medicine, and the San Jose Ward.
Factora said that with the opening of the St. John Paul II Building, UST Hospital wants to become the premier teaching hospital in Asia.
“Ang distinct characteristic ng UST Hospital ay it is a teaching hospital so ibig sabihin ang mga doctors natin dito nagtuturo at ‘yung mga residente at interns tinuturuan nila, kasi mayroon tayong medicine school unlike sa ibang hospitals,” Factora told the Varsitarian.
“One thing’s for sure, with the opening of the John Paul II building, we are going to reinforce our identity,” he added.
An estimated P900 million was spent on the construction of the extension building, named after the late Pope St. John Paul II. Construction broke ground way back in 2013. Jamilah Mae B. Angco with reports from Gillian Kate Robles
