Tag: February 28, 2014

UST IS set to terminate the services of full-time and tenured faculty members who would fail to earn a master’s degree by the end of the academic year.

School officials set the deadline in compliance with Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) Memorandum No. 46, requiring such faculty members to have at least a master’s degree by this year so the university could keep its autonomous status.

Autonomy means independence from regular monitoring and evaluation by CHEd, freedom to set academic calendars, and the privilege to revise its curriculum and to establish branches or satellite campuses, among others.

THE IMPASSE between administrators and the faculty union over employment terms threatens to be a repeat of the labor troubles experienced by the University more than two decades ago.

Disagreements between the University of Santo Tomas Faculty Union (USTFU) and the UST administration over a new, five-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA) have led to a deadlock, which could be a prelude to a strike.

A LOCAL antioxidant against dangerous free radicals.

The antioxidant properties of Ficus pseudopalma, an endemic medicinal plant commonly known as niyog-niyogan and is widely cultivated in Lake Buhi in Camarines Sur, were revealed in a study conducted by Librado Santiago, a professor from the Biochemistry Department of the Faculty of Pharmacy.

In his paper, titled “Lupeol: An Antioxidant Triterpene in Ficus pseudopalma Blanco (Moraceae),” which was published at the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, he noted the importance of lupeol—a particular chemical compound found in the plant as the possible source of its antioxidant property essential in combating free radicals in the body.

FASTER, lighter and significantly cheaper.

And with nanotechnology, new devices could be used to detect infectious diseases and provide early diagnosis, said one researcher from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) in Spain.

The relatively new technology was the subject of the 3rd Bioanalytical Nanotechnology (BANT) School held at the UST Graduate School last Jan. 29 to Feb. 1.

The workshop featured various theories and methods in the use of nanomaterials for biological and analytical applications.

LIKE fine wine, something of age takes years to refine its quality.

Now on its 50th year, the Faculty of Arts and Letters (Artlets) continues to uphold the Thomasian understanding and command of the arts, media, literature and the social sciences.

“A milestone is always marked in all aspects. For me, it is a testament that we stand unhindered to continue its mission and vision,” said Alfredo Navarro III, vice-president internal of the Artlets student council.

But many still do not know the rich history behind the premier liberal arts college in the country.

It has been the training ground of the most creative and competent individuals who continue to excel in their different careers.

The UST Graduate School marked its 75th year by honoring top alumni in ceremonies last Feb. 22.

The diamond jubilee at the Manila Hotel had the theme “Refracting the Light, Illuminating the Mind, Reflecting the Glory.”

Fr. Jose Antonio Aureada, chair of the 75th anniversary celebration, said in his welcome remarks that the secret to the Graduate School’s longevity lies within its sense of mission in spreading the “light of education.”

“In UST, we don’t count years, we count centuries. But our sense of mission is the secret of being forever young even if we are already 400 years old. It’s the key to our institution’s dynamism.”

THEIR spiritual endeavors founded this award-winning medical organization.

In a span of five decades, Medical Missions Inc. (MMI) has been a steadfast Thomasian student organization, serving deprived communities through medical service.

But this year has been most significant to the non-profit organization as it bagged its second Ten Accomplished Youth Organization (TAYO) award, one of the most prestigious commendations ever bestowed to organizations in the country.

Last Feb. 6, MMI, along with nine other youth organizations, received the 2014 TAYO awards by the National Youth Commission. Their entry was last year’s General Santos medical mission, which was in cooperation with General Santos City and General Santos Doctors Hospital Foundation Inc.

DESIGNING footwear has always been a passion for this Thomasian topnotcher.

While surfing the Internet, Arturo Tolentino Jr. stumbled upon the webpage of PENSOLE, an exclusive school for footwear design founded by D’wayne Edwards, former director of Nike and someone Arturo truly admired.

The program included a design competition for footwear enthusiasts, an opportunity that he did not pass up. It was a chance that took him to greater heights in footwear designing.

Industrial Design was Arturo’s first choice to take in UST, but soon realized that the course would not guarantee enough choices after graduation.

“I keep myself open to things. But I hope I’m in the right direction because it feels like it,” Arturo said.

THE FIRST Filipino created cardinal by Pope Francis is a Thomasian.

Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo, along with 18 others from 12 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, and South America, were named to the College of Cardinals last Feb. 22.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), commended Quevedo’s passion in forming basic ecclesial communities in different areas in Mindanao.

“He is an intellectual giant with a very simple lifestyle and very warm fraternal manners. He is a blessing for the Church,” Villegas said in a CBCP press release.

Villegas added that Quevedo’s elevation to the rank of cardinal would strengthen the Catholic faith in Mindanao.

WITH THE theme “Lai’ko ‘to: Kawan ko, Mahal ko, Paglilingkuran ko,” 148 alumni bishops, priests, and deacons celebrated the 79th Alumni Priests’ Association (ALPA) Homecoming last Jan. 28-29 at the UST Central Seminary.

“By attending this alumni homecoming, we are in a way returning to the days of our youth that we have shared in this ancient ground, our home, our beloved UST Central Seminary,” Dumaguete Bishop Julito Cortes said in his homily during the Eucharistic celebration for the two-day event.

Cortes urged Thomasian priests to establish a relationship of love and service with the faithful, emphasizing three essential articulations from the homecoming’s theme— Kawan ko, Mahal ko, and Paglilingkuran ko.