UST RECTOR Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. has been named president of the Association of Catholic Universities of the Philippines (ACUP) and is set to lead the board of directors of the 37-member organization until 2027.
Ang took over from Fr. Gilbert Sales, C.I.C.M., president of Baguio’s Saint Louis University, who has held the post since 2019. Sales will continue to serve as a member of the board of directors.
Before assuming the ACUP presidency, Ang served as vice president from 2023 to 2025.
Elected UST Rector in 2020, Ang led the University in the transition to hybrid learning and subsequently, the return to in-person instruction. He was reelected to a fresh four-year term in 2024.
Eight other Catholic school executives were named ACUP officers.
San Beda University Rector Fr. Aloysius Maranan, O.S.B. will be the new vice president.
Sr. Maria Marissa Viri, president of the University of Immaculate Conception and a 2024 The Outstanding Thomasian Alumni awardee, will serve as the new ACUP corporate secretary.
Viri finished her undergraduate and master’s degrees in pharmacy at UST.
De La Salle University President Br. Bernard Oca F.S.C. was named treasurer.
The following will serve as members of the ACUP board: Adamson University President Fr. Daniel Pilario, C.M.; University of St. La Salle President Br. Joaquin Martinez, F.S.C.; Ateneo de Davao University President Fr. Karel San Juan, S.J.; and University of San Carlos President Fr. Francisco Estepa, S.V.D.
ACUP is an organization of 37 Catholic higher education institutions in the country, whose goal is to uphold religious values in education for the youth and participate in conversations on faith and society.
