
THE UST Ecclesiastical Faculties is set to confer the title of professor emeritus on seven Dominican priests, who have been former rectors and administrators of the University, on Jan. 31.
The professor emeritus title, a lifetime distinction, is the highest award UST grants to academic staff who have attained not only the rank of full professor, but have also achieved academic excellence and significant influence in their field.
The Faculty of Sacred Theology will confer the title upon Fr. Angel Aparicio, O.P., Fr. Rodel Aligan, O.P., Fr. Rolando dela Rosa, O.P., and Fr. Fausto Gomez, O.P.
Fr. Norberto Castillo, O.P. will receive the distinction from the Faculty of Philosophy.
From the Faculty of Canon Law, Fr. Javier Gonzales O.P. and Fr. Jose Maria Tinoko, O.P. are set to receive the honor.
The ceremony will be held at the Dr. Robert Sy Grand Ballroom of the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building.
Fr. Angel Aparicio, O.P.
One of the last two Dominicans sent to the Philippines from his hometown in Spain, Aparicio has been serving as prefect of the UST Miguel de Benavides Library for three decades.
He recently ended his stint as regent of the Faculty of Medicine Surgery, a post he had held since 2014.
During his time as Medicine regent, Congress passed in 2022 Senate Resolution No. 336 and House Bill Resolution 270 to recognize UST’s “considerable contribution to the development of medical and health care educational institutions in the Philippines” for the past 150 years.
He also served as the chief editor of “Honora Medicum,” a 380-page coffee table book commemorating Medicine’s 150th anniversary. The book contains the history of the college, the experiences of alumni, medical missions, and breakthroughs in research especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Since 1980, Aparicio has published 11 books and nearly 40 articles.
Aparicio was ordained to the priesthood in 1973.
He obtained his philosophy and theology degrees from Instituto de Filosofia y Teologia, San Pedro Martir, Madrid.
Aparicio obtained his Licentiate in Sacred Scriptures in 1977 at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. He is teaching Sacred Scriptures at the Faculty of Sacred Theology.
Fr. Rodel Aligan, O.P.
Aligan heads the UST Dominicans as prior of the Priory of St. Thomas Aquinas, a post he has been reelected to for five times.
Aligan, who hails from Albay, was first elected as Dominican prior in 2001 after he served as the University’s secretary general.
He is the regent of the UST Graduate School. Aligan was regent of the UST Faculty of Arts and Letters from 1991 to 1995 and from 2015 to 2021.
Aligan also served as vice rector for religious affairs until 2011.
Other posts he had held include dean of the Faculty of Sacred Theology from 2008 to 2014 and 2016 to 2023, and prefect of theologians at the UST Central Seminary from 1981 to 2001.
He was a member of the Provincial Council of the Dominican Province of the Philippines and consultant for religious education of the Commission on Higher Education.
Aligan obtained his bachelor, licentiate, and doctorate degrees in sacred theology at the UST Ecclesiastical Faculties. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1981.
Fr. Rolando dela Rosa, O.P.
Dela Rosa is a three-time rector magnificus of the University, having served two terms from 1990 to 1998 and a third term from 2008 to 2012.
In his final term, he earned the title “Quadricentennial Rector” for leading UST during its 400th anniversary celebration in 2011.
During this time, he created the Office for Community Development (later UST SIMBAHAYAN) to strengthen the University’s community outreach.
Dela Rosa, who has Bicolano and Ilocano roots, was rector of Colegio de San Juan de Letran-Calamba in 2003.
He is a former Varsitarian Witness (religion) editor.
He obtained his bachelor and licentiate in sacred theology from UST in 1980 and 1984, respectively.
Dela Rosa, also former chairman of the Commission on Higher Education from 2004 to 2005, obtained doctorates in religious studies and theology at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking region of Belgium.
Other previous roles include president of the Association of Catholic Universities of the Philippines, president of the ICUSTA International Council of Universities of Saint Thomas Aquinas, and founding president of DOMNET (Network of Dominican Schools, Colleges, and Universities in the Philippines) in 1995.
Under the Dominican Province of the Philippines, he served as master of novices, diffinitor of the Provincial Chapter, and Provincial councilor.
“Through Untrue,” dela Rosa’s weekly column, has been published in the Manila Bulletin since 1990. It features reflections based on Sunday gospels and has won multiple awards from the Catholic Mass Media Award.
Fr. Fausto Gomez, O.P.
Another priest from Spain, Fr. Fausto Gomez, O.P. was the University’s secretary general from 1966 to 1977.
After this stint, he served as dean of the Faculty of Sacred Theology from 1979 to 1985 and 1998 to 2004.
He also sat as regent of Medicine from 1988 to 1998 and the College of Rehabilitation Sciences from 1989 to 1994 and 2004 to 2009.
From 1970 to 1977, Gomez was editor of UNITAS, the UST Faculty Journal.
Gomez served as director of the Social Research Center (now Research Center on Social Sciences and Education) from 1979 to 1991.
He led the publication of a 1986 monograph titled “Philippine Revolution and the Involvement of the Church,” which carried survey results of Thomasians’ opinions on the post-election statement of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference.
He was ordained to the priesthood in 1962.
Gomez obtained his doctorate in sacred theology and master’s degree in philosophy from UST in 1971 and 1975, respectively.
Fr. Norberto Castillo, O.P.
The Tacloban native served as UST rector magnificus for two consecutive terms from 1982 to 1990.
In 2021, Pope Francis awarded him the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice for his exemplary service to the Church.
The award is the highest distinction awarded by the Pope to members of the clergy and laity for service to the Church.
Castillo is a chemist by profession and was a topnotcher in the chemist boards.
He is also a former managing editor of the Varsitarian.
Castillo had served in various administrative capacities, including director of Angelicum College of Quezon City in 1978, dean of the Faculty of Philosophy from 1994 to 1996 and 2008 to 2012, and vice rector for religious affairs in 2010.
He was vice president and dean of the Colegio de San Juan de Letran from 1976 to 1980.
The former rector served as socius or assistant to the prior provincial of the Dominican Province of the Philippines from 1977 to 1980.
Apart from these posts, Castillo served as spiritual director of the UST Pax Romana Alumni Association, Inc. and conventual lector of the convent of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of Manaoag in Pangasinan.
Castillo was ordained priest in 1973.
He obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry, licentiate in sacred theology, and doctorate in philosophy from the University.
Fr. Javier Gonzales, O.P.
Hailing from Spain is Gonzales, who was dean of the Faculty of Canon Law from 1997 to 2006.
Gonzales also served as regent of the Education High School from 1990 to 1991.
He was editor of the Philippine Canonical Forum from 1999 to 2009 and the Ecclesiastical Faculties’ Philippiniana Sacra from 1991 to 2008.
He was ordained to the priesthood in 1973.
The former dean earned his degrees in philosophy and theology in Madrid and canon law in Rome.
He is a member of the Province of the Holy Rosary where he had served as prior provincial.
Fr. Jose Maria Tinoko, O.P.
Tinoko served as dean of the Faculty of Canon Law in 2015. He had also served as regent.
A native of Albay, Tinoko is now regent of the Conservatory of Music.
Tinoko was one of the top candidates for the rectorship in 1986.
He was ordained to the priesthood in 1967.
He obtained his licentiate in canon law in UST in 1969, and his doctorate in canon law at the Angelicum in Rome in 1973.