It’s official: Fr. Richard Ang, O.P., who served as the University’s 97th Rector Magnificus from 2020 to 2024, has been elected to a second term.
Ang’s reappointment papers, dated July 22 and signed by Fr. Gerard Francisco Timoner III, O.P., the Master of the Order and UST chancellor, were made public by UST on Monday evening.
José Tolentino Cardinal Calaça de Mendonça, the prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, issued the “nihil obstat” declaration, meaning “nothing obstructs,” after reviewing Timoner’s recommendation.
This recommendation was based on a document ratified by the Board of Trustees, which includes University vice rectors, the secretary general, and other Dominican friars.
The English translation of Timoner’s announcement reads:
“In accordance with the statutes of the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas in Manila (art. X), received with the approval and confirmation of the Holy See, by the tenor of those present and by the authority of our office, name and install Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. as the Rector Magnificus of the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas in Manila to four years.”
Ang’s installation rites will take place on Sept. 9 at the UST Santisimo Rosario Parish Church.
Ang was the top candidate for rector after the Academic Senate evaluated and ranked the terna, which included himself and two former UST rectors.
Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. (rector from 2012-2016 and 2016-2020) and Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, O.P. (1990-1994, 1994-1998, and 2008-2012) ranked second and third, respectively.
UST rectors, who serve four-year terms, are often re-elected to second terms, as seen with Dagohoy, De la Rosa, Fr. Norberto Castillo, O.P. (1982-1986 and 1986-1990), and Fr. Tamerlane Lana, O.P. (1998-2002 and 2002-2006).
Fr. Isaias Tiongco, O.P. served as acting rector while the University awaited the Vatican’s decision.
A UST alumnus, Ang graduated with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the Faculty of Arts and Letters in 1990 and a bachelor’s degree in sacred theology from the Ecclesiastical Faculties in 1997.
He earned a licentiate in sacred theology and a master’s degree in religious studies from the Ecclesiastical Faculties and the Graduate School in 1999, followed by a doctorate in philosophy from the Ecclesiastical Faculties in 2010. He consistently received Latin honors throughout his academic career at UST.
The major achievements of Ang’s first term included the opening of new UST campuses: the research-focused UST Santa Rosa and the UST General Santos campus in Mindanao.
During his tenure, the University enhanced its information technology infrastructure and introduced the “enriched virtual mode” for online synchronous and asynchronous classes, which was crucial to the continuity of UST’s operations during the Covid-19 pandemic.
He also led the return to in-person classes and switched the University’s learning management system to Canvas from Blackboard.
Under his leadership, UST inaugurated the College of Information and Computing Sciences.
Ang also prioritized improving research quality. In May, UST made its debut in the Times Higher Education Asian Rankings, largely due to its strong research performance.
An expert in Eastern Philosophy, Ang served as vice rector under Dagohoy and is also a former dean of the Faculty of Philosophy and secretary of the Ecclesiastical Faculties.
Candidates for rector must be Filipino members of the Dominican Order with civil or ecclesiastical doctorates.
According to the University’s general statutes, the Rector, as the chief executive officer of the University, is responsible for the promulgation of laws and rules in the University, the appointment of officials, the annual budget of the University, and the approval of programs and semester schedules for all faculties, colleges, and schools.
