VOLUME XCV / NO. 13 · MAY 1, 2024 · THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS · Manila, Philippines
► UST General Santos boasts of
an 82.2-hectare campus and is the largest UST campus to date.—
PHOTO BY RAINIEL ANGELYN B. FIGUEROA INAUGURATION ALBUM PAGE 6
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LARGEST UST CAMPUS OPENS IN GENSAN By Logan Kal-El M. Zapanta
GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Filipino Dominicans inaugurated the largest of the UST campuses in General Santos City on April 11, bringing “Thomasian quality of education” to southern Philippines. In its maiden academic year, the Mindanao branch campus will offer five programs under three pioneering schools: the School of Health Sciences, School of Business and Accountancy, and School of Engineering and Information Technology. UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P., in his speech
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at the inauguration, emphasized the importance of the expansion to UST as the Mindanao branch is the first campus outside Manila and Luzon. “We stand in the majesty of a structure that not only represents bricks and mortars but embodies UST’s rich history, values, and aspirations,” Ang said. “This structure is a symbol of faith in God, a beacon of hope for the region and the country, and unity and cooperation amid plurality,” he added. “This is a place for interreligious and interfaith dialogue.” Ang concelebrated the Mass at the start of the ceremonies alongside Bishop Cerilo Casicas of the Diocese of Marbel, Prior Provincial Fr. Filemon de la Cruz, O.P., and other Dominican priests.
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They also blessed the UST GenSan Main Building, the only completed school building on the 82.2-hectare campus to date. This building was modeled after the similarly named structure designed by Fr. Roque Ruaño, O.P. in 1927 at UST Manila. The seven-story Main Building of GenSan can accommodate up to 5,000 students and features 24 classrooms, 23 laboratories, a chapel, library, clinic, auditorium, cafeteria, organization rooms, and function halls. Other areas of the branch campus have also been developed for future structures. These include
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UST enters THE Asia University Rankings for 1st time in 11 years By John Ezekiel J. Hirro
EDITORIAL ► PAGE 5
RIP, CSC
For the first time in 11 years, UST has secured a ranking in the Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings, placing third among Philippine schools.
In the 12th edition of the rankings, released locally on Wednesday, UST landed within the 601+ bracket with an overall score of 14.7-24, sharing the third spot with Mapúa University. Ateneo de Manila University retained its position as the top-
ranked school in the country, although it dropped to the 401500 range from 84th overall in the 2023 edition. The University of the Philippines and De La Salle University, THE RANKINGS PAGE 4
► Fr. Isaias Tiongco, O.P. and Fr. Richard Ang, O.P.
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Tiongco assumes UST rectorship temporarily as Ang concludes 1st term
NEWS ► PAGE 3
Trees, bokashi balls mark Earth Day 2024 at UST
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CIRCLE ► PAGE 8
Conservatory of Music’s ‘Sampung Mga Daliri’ concert returns after 5 years
ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES & DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS & MAPÚA UNIVERSITY
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By Ernest Martin G. Tuazon
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ART BY JAN KRISTOPHER T. ESGUERRA
UST marked Earth Day this year by planting more trees at the Santa Rosa campus and educating students in Manila about the ability of “bokashi balls” to clean polluted waters.
2024 TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION
UST Vice Rector Fr. Isaias Tiongco, O.P. is set to take charge as acting rector of the University beginning May 1, marking the start of a transitional phase as Fr. Richard Ang, O.P., completes his first term as UST Rector. Due to his appointment coinciding with Labor Day, which is a regular holiday in the country, Tiongco will commence his duties as acting rector on May 2. Tiongco previously took on the responsibilities of the rector when Ang went on medical ► UST RECTOR PAGE 3