THE UNIVERSITY honored more than 300 faculty members, including Professor Emeritus Fortunato Sevilla III who was given the Gawad Benavides for 55 years of service, during the Dangal ng UST Awards on Aug. 15 at the Quadricentennial Pavilion.
Sevilla, 77, is a national academician and faculty member at the Department of Chemistry and UST Graduate School.
The former dean of the College of Science (2002 to 2008) is an advocate of the use of Filipino in science education.
Sevilla was also recognized for pioneering chemical sensors and biosensors in the country, and his efforts to improve chemistry education.
In his speech, Sevilla said the recognition that educators receive is also an acknowledgement of the inspiration they had given to their students.
“Ganado ang mga estudyante matuto, kaya ganado rin ang mga guro. Kasama ang mga estudyante sa pagsulong ng saliksik, sa pag-iisip ng paraan ng pag-unlad,” he said.
“Marami akong natutuhan sa aking mga estudyante sa silid-aralan at sa laboratoryong pananaliksik. Madali ko makita o maispatan ang umpisa ng binhi ng isang magandang ideya mula sa estudyante at mula doon hihikayatin ko siyang magpursigi,” he added.
Sevilla began teaching at the University in 1969, a year after he graduated summa cum laude in Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. He earned his Master of Science in 1984, and Doctor of Philosophy in Instrumentation in 1987, both at the University of Manchester.
UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. expressed gratitude to the faculty, underscoring the value of earning honor and dignity through many years.
“Dignity or ang karangalan, it cannot be bought. It can only be earned. And it cannot be earned overnight or after a day. It will have to take many years. Kaya para sa ating mga guro na naninilbihan ng maraming-maraming taon sa inyong propesyon, maraming-maraming salamat,” Ang said in his message to the faculty.
More than 300 feted in Dangal ng UST
More than 300 faculty members were recognized in the awarding ceremony, which covered faculty achievements in Academic Years 2021-2022, 2022-2023, and 2023-2024
Five faculty members received the Hall of Fame award, namely: College of Science professors Pia Albano and Mario Tan, and Prof. Joyce Arriola, Prof. Joselito Delos Reyes, and Assoc. Prof. Chuckberry Pascual of the Faculty of Arts and Letters (Artlets).
The Hall of Fame award is given to faculty members who had received more than three awards, excluding the Gawad Benavides (service award) and Gawad San Lorenzo Ruiz (national and international recognition).
A total of 329 faculty members were given the Gawad Benavides, which honors those who had served more than 20 years in the University.
Six faculty members received the Gawad Santo Tomas, a recognition for outstanding faculty.
Raquel Lontoc was given the Gawad San Raymundo Peñafort for her outstanding performance as a librarian, while Maria Theresa Gallardo received the Gawad San Martin de Porres as an outstanding guidance counselor.
Twenty-nine Thomasian educators were given the Gawad San Alberto Magno, a recognition given to faculty members for outstanding research, innovation, and creative works.
There were five recipients of Gawad Santo Domingo, an award for notable community service and volunteer work.
Among the recipients of Gawad San Lorenzo Ruiz, an award for educators who had received citations at the local and international level, was Varsitarian assistant adviser Asst. Prof. Felipe Salvosa II, who was given the Servus Dei Award at the 8th Pasig Catholic Mass Media Awards in 2021.
Co-organized by the Office of Vice Rector for Academic Affairs and UST Faculty Union, the Dangal ng UST Awards honors the achievements of teaching and non-teaching academic staff.
This year’s theme was “Gurong Tomasino: Gabay at Panday sa Kinabukasang Matagumpay.” A.S. Demaisip
