THE PHILIPPINE Congress has commended the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery (FMS) on its 150th anniversary for its “considerable contribution” to developing the healthcare field in the country.
The Senate presented Resolution No. 336 to UST Secretary General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P., Medicine Dean Assoc. Prof. Ma. Lourdes Maglinao, Assistant Dean Prof. Remedios Chan, and Regent Fr. Angel Aparicio on Dec. 5 at the Senate Complex in Pasay City.
The resolution acknowledged the faculty for being one of the top medical schools in the Philippines based on its consistent performance in board examinations and production of more than 400 new doctors yearly.
UST produced the most number of doctors in the October 2022 physician licensure examination, as 416 Thomasians, including three topnotchers, passed the examination.
“[UST has] produced a number of fine doctors, very, very good doctors, and also nurses, who have gone all over the world to help suffering humanity,” Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said.
UST alumnus and former Growling Tiger Sen. Joel Villanueva, who co-sponsored the resolution with Zubiri, lauded the FMS as a “hero-maker, change-maker, and epoch-maker.”
“Prior to the establishment of UST’s Faculty of Medicine, Filipinos had to go to Mexico to study medicine. Sa layo po ng Mexico at layo ng biyahe sa dagat noon, literally, suntok sa buwan para sa mga Pilipino ang pag-aaral ng medicine. Subalit sa pagbubukas ng medisina sa UST, naging abot kamay ito para sa mga Pilipino,” Villanueva said.
“As a Thomasian, I am confident that FMS will continue its tradition of excellence in medical education, health science research, and community services guided by Christian ethics and values,” Villanueva added.
The House of Representatives adopted House Bill Resolution No. 270, similar to its Senate counterpart, for the sesquicentennial of the UST FMS.
The UST FMS, founded on May 28, 1871, is recognized as the oldest and leading medical school in the Philippines. Its sesquicentennial celebration, which opened on May 28, 2021, will close on Dec. 17.
The Commission on Higher Education recognizes the University’s medicine program as a Center of Excellence.
