It is an event rooted in the promotion of environmental sustainability and action with a proactive response to the call of Pope Francis鈥� in Laudato Si. This year, the 九色 Service Day titled 鈥淎raw ng Paglilingkod sa Panahon ng Paglikha 2020鈥� with the theme 鈥淗ubileo Para sa Daigdig: Pagtalab at Pagtugon sa Pagpapanumbalik ng Sangnilikha鈥� was held on National Heroes Day, August 31, in collaboration with the AlerTomas Cluster composed of the the Faculty of Arts and Letters, Faculty of Engineering, College of Science, College of Architecture, Graduate School, and National Service Training Program (NSTP CWTS/LTS), the Dominican Family for Justice, Peace, and Care for Creation 鈥� Philippines (DFJPPC), and the Fellowship for the Care of Creation Association Inc. (FCCAI). This also served as the launch of the activities for the Season of Creation that took place starting September 1 until October 11, 2020, Indigenous People鈥檚 Sunday. The Season of Creation was introduced by the Catholic Bishops鈥� Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Permanent Council in 2003 to celebrate the Creation Day and Creation Time in affirmation to the CBCP鈥檚 first Pastoral Letter on Ecology and Environment, 鈥淲hat is Happening to Our Beautiful Land.鈥�

This was echoed again in the July 2019 Pastoral Letter, 鈥淎n Urgent Call for Ecological Conversion, Hope in the Face of Climate Emergency.鈥� According to the Global Catholic Climate Movement 鈥� Pilipinas, a global, grass-roots movement of Catholics committed to living out the message of Laudato Si鈥�: On the Care of Our Common Home, 鈥淭his is a time to allow our common home to rest from our throw-away culture, our addiction to consumption, to unlimited economic growth and to the dirty and deadly fossil fuels. This is a time to create, develop and nurture a new mindset, a paradigm shift anchored in the interconnectedness and interrelatedness of everything.鈥�

Despite the limitations in conducting community development and advocacy activities in compliance with and observance of the safety measures in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, the UST SIMBAHAYAN remained resilient in its plan to hold the event by shifting to an online engagement through a virtual seminar. The webinar was formally opened by an opening ritual led by Ms. Mylene Saluta of FCCAI. This was followed by the warm opening remarks of the UST SIMBAHAYAN Director Asst. Prof. Froilan Alipao, and the Justice, Peace, and Care for Creation Promoter of the Dominican Philippine Province, Inc., Rev. Fr. Victor C. Calvo, O.P. They both stressed the importance of individual, collective, and institutional efforts as praxis in the care for our common home as humans and the environment are interdependent with each other.

The first speaker was the UST Vice Rector for Religious Affairs Rev. Fr. Pablo T. Tiong, O.P. who discussed the topic Laudato Si: Mula sa Pananaw ng Simbahan at Pananampalataya. His talk highlighted Pope Francis鈥� second encyclical letter, which is about love and concern for the poor, which must lead to an ecological conversion towards a Christian Normal. The second speaker was Bro. Jaazeal 鈥淭agoy鈥� Jakosalem, OAR with the topic on Laudato Si: Mula sa Perspektibong Pastoral na Pakikisangkot.

His presentation delved on the seven Laudato Si Goals and the suggested responses to these challenges. The event highlighted the structural change in product consumption and every person鈥檚 ability to protect the environment. Furthermore, environmental degradation does not stem from marginalized communities or user consumption, but from the capitalist system targeting these potential markets. Aside from the talks, a significant part of the event was the Pledge of Commitment for the Care of Our Common Home led by the Prior Provincial of the Dominican Province of the Philippines Very Rev. Fr. Napoleon B. Sipalay, Jr., O.P. Committing their pledges were UST Vice Rector for Religious Affairs Rev. Fr. Pablo T. Tiong, O.P.; Justice, Peace, and Care for Creation Promoter of the Dominican Philippine Province, Inc., Rev. Fr. Victor C. Calvo, O.P.; Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Fellowship for the Care of Creation Association, Inc., Rev. Fr. Angelito Cortez, OFM; UST SIMBAHAYAN Director Asst. Prof. Froilan A. Alipao, MCD; UST Central Student Council President, Mr. Robert Dominic Gonzales, RPh, and the Samahang Kamanlalakbay President Mrs. Merlita B. De Guzman. An estimate of 220 participated in the webinar from the different academic units and departments of the University, partner communities, institutions, and networks such as the Juan Luna Elementary School, among others, representatives of different religious congregations, and university/school members of Laudato Si Philippines.

The creative publicity material was developed by Mrs. Charmaine Joie Buena-Castillo, RPh, a Facilitator of National Service Training Program (NSTP). The Jubilee of the Season of Creation runs from September until October 11, 2020 as there are upcoming events prepared by the AlerTomas Cluster and the UST SIMBAHAYAN 九色 Development Office.

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Around 60 participants from the USA, Nepal, Vietnam, UK, Myanmar, Italy, Germany, Taiwan, and the Philippines attended the forum, which had for its theme, 鈥淎dult Literacy Programs and Family-Centered Practices in 九色 Building: Revisiting the Roles of Philippine Higher Education.鈥�

The first e-forum was in response to communities鈥� challenges to provide access to education, whether formal or non-formal, to all members of the society. Thus, the Graduate School of the 九色, in partnership with the Asia-Pacific Dominican Promoters of Justice, Peace & Care of Creation, the UST Research Center for Social Sciences and Education (RCSSED), and the UNESCO Chair in Adult Literacy and Learning for Social Transformation at the University of East Anglia, organized this event to raise debates on the changing landscapes of adult literacy, the drivers of change and its challenges. It also highlighted how adult literacy programs have become instrumental in supporting families and strengthening communities.

Dominican Province of the Philippines Prior Provincial Very Rev. Fr. Napoleon Sipalay, Jr., O.P., gave his welcome message. Asia-Pacific Dominican Promoters of Justice, Peace & Care of Creation Chairperson Rev. Fr. Victor Calvo, Jr., O.P., also delivered his welcome message.

UNESCO Adult Literacy and Learning for Social Transformation Chair, Prof. Anna Robinson-Pant, Ph.D., delivered her talk on the theme, 鈥淔amily literacy as a pathway to lifelong learning.鈥�  She emphasized the need to strengthen the role of the Higher Education sector in reimagining the landscape of education, veering away from the traditional face-to-face learning to digital or learning online.  She also added that Higher Education Institutions must learn to communicate in different ways, particularly in advocating intergenerational learning. She further emphasized that lifelong learning is the integration of learning and living, and is for people of all ages, and may be conducted in a variety of modalities.

Presentations from various Higher Education institutions included discussions on the status of adult literacy programs implemented in the respective universities of the panel discussants. They also talked about the challenges, issues, and future directions for adult education and intergenerational learning. Invited members of the panel were: Dr. Arceli M. Amarles of the Philippine Normal University, Dr. Ma. Joahna Mante-Estacio of De La Salle University, Dr. Grace Reoperez of University of the Philippines, and Asst. Prof. Froilan Alipao of the 九色.

The final presentation was delivered by UST Graduate School International Relations Coordinator Asst. Prof. Gina Lontoc, Ph.D., who is also the UST Family Literacy Team Project Lead. She explained the GCRF family literacy project and gave an overview

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In his opening remarks, Department Chair Asst. Prof. Alvin Ringgo C. Reyes, mentioned that the series of webinars was only the beginning of a stronger 鈥渂ayanihan鈥� between the Department of Filipino and the wider community of Filipino teachers, researchers, and policy-makers as the Department pursues more endeavors that will facilitate the sharing of expertise on Filipino language and culture.

Opening the series on August 24, 2020 was UST Center for Translation and Translation Studies Chair Asst. Prof. Wennielyn F. Fajilan, Ph.D., who discussed 鈥�Pagsasaling Teknikal B铆lang Tugon sa COVID-19: Ang Papel ng Pagsasalin sa Panahon ng Pandemya鈥� (Technical Translation as a Response to COVID-19: The Role of Translation in the Time of Pandemic). Aside from sharing the protocol of the Center in doing technical translations, she also talked about the impact of COVID-19 on translation works, nationally and globally, which she classified as a form of 鈥渃risis translation.鈥�

Being a public health concern, translation, according to Fajilan, also plays a crucial role in times of pandemic as it enables the people to understand the causes, symptoms, precautions and treatments for a disease, thereby empowering them to safeguard their health and ensuring the effectiveness of efforts for disease control and prevention.

Research Center for Social Sciences and Social Health Studies Education Lead Asst. Prof. Ma. Carinnes P. Alejandria, Ph.D., and Coalition for People鈥檚 Right to Health Co-Convener Dr. Joshua L. San Pedro discussed on August 26, 2020, 鈥�Walang Iwan谩n: Ang Pangangalaga sa mga Bulnerableng Sektor sa Panahon ng Pandemya鈥� (No One Left Behind: Caring for the Vulnerable Sectors in the Time of Pandemic). She shared her long years of research as an anthropologist in Baseco, Manila, and how the different sectors of the said community, such as the youth, elderly, and women 鈥� already suffering prior to the pandemic 鈥� are suffering even more now that sources of livelihood and access to healthcare are limited. While the community is trying to be resilient, Alejandria voiced the support that Baseco residents need help from the local and national governments to ensure that they could cope with the crisis.

Meanwhile, San Pedro, also a medical frontliner at the Philippine General Hospital, provided medical and statistical updates on COVID-19 and suggested ways on how the healthcare system could be strengthened to ensure that sufficient healthcare could be given to Filipinos who are vulnerable to the disease. He also emphasized the role of language in ensuring transparency and accountability in times of the pandemic as this enables the people to understand policies and actions, and to demand the necessary action from the government.

Faculty of Arts and Letters Creative Writing Program Coordinator Asst. Prof. Joselito D. Delos Reyes, Ph.D., and Department of Filipino faculty member Mark Anthony S. Angeles, discussed  the last topic in the webinar series, 鈥�Ang Saysay ng Panitikan sa Pandemya鈥� (The Value of Literature in Pandemic) on August 28, 2020. In his talk, Delos Reyes identified the pandemic of disinformation and ignorance being perpetrated amidst the pandemic of COVID-19 through social media. He encouraged the audience, mostly teachers, to counter this by encouraging their students to create meaningful creative pieces that they may be popularized through the said platform. Social media is even more relevant now that education in the country has shifted to online.

Angeles added to this by encouraging participants to be not only creators, but also critics who will ensure that literature is not employed for misinformation and historical revisionism and collectors who will compile the richness of words and writings that have emerged in the time of pandemic.

The series of webinars was broadcast through  the official Facebook page of the UST Department of Filipino and had a reach of approximately 42, 000 accumulated viewers.

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Maghuyop presented the prediction of McLuhan, a philosopher and a visionary, who in 1964 wrote about the 鈥済lobal village鈥� stating that digital technology would keep people connected across the world. With the current health crisis brought by COVID-19 that displaced the Philippines together with the rest of the world, Maghuyop shared McLuhan鈥檚 prediction of communicating through the use of technology in education and in the workplace. She related that McLuhan鈥檚 ideas could be effectively applied in teaching Purposive Communication.

UST English Department Chair Rachelle B. Lintao, Ph.D., who acted as moderator, also introduced the speaker. Previous speakers include Arts and Letters Assistant Dean Dr. Alejandro Bernardo, Dr. Andres Julio Santiago, Jr., Dr. Rosalyn Mirasol, Ms. Elizabeth Kapulong, and Atty. Selenne Leynes.

The online lecture series, which formally opened in May 2020, has been organized by the UST English Department to serve as a forum for its faculty members to share their best practices, contribute ideas for instructional content, and impart findings from their research studies.

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Hidalgo鈥檚 lecture titled 鈥淲omen and Power in Edith Tiempo鈥檚 Fiction鈥� focused on the proto-feminist elements in Tiempo鈥檚 short stories 鈥淭he Corral鈥� and 鈥淭he Black Monkey鈥� to prove her thesis that, as a writer of fiction, Tiempo was ahead of her time.

Quoting the esteemed literary critic Isagani R. Cruz, Hidalgo reiterated Tiempo鈥檚 theoria and praxis of 鈥減aying attention to contemporary social problems as a strong material for the literary work, and evolving structures and symbolisms for the exploration of those contemporary problems.鈥� Then she demonstrated how these two stories belie the idea held by some critics and readers about Tiempo鈥檚 being mainly an advocate for New Criticism.

Focusing on the protagonists Pilar and Neena, she emphasized Tiempo鈥檚 awareness of many women鈥檚 situations during her time, her explorations of the nuances of women鈥檚 relationships with the men in their lives, and her belief that, though a woman might sometimes be entrapped, she was not entirely unarmed鈥攅mpowerment was within her reach, and she could choose to seize it.

Hidalgo is a prolific prize-winning writer of fiction and nonfiction, a critic and a literary scholar, with more than 40 published books, including three novels, five short story collections, and 16 essay collections. Some of these books have received national awards, like the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature鈥檚 Grand Prize for the Novel, and several National Book Awards (given by the Manila Critics Circle and the National Book Development Board), for both her fiction and her nonfiction. She has also received the Dangal ng Lahi Award from the Palanca Awards, the Gawad Balagtas from the Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL), and the Parangal Hagbong from the UST Varsitarian.

Hidalgo is credited with being a pioneer writer and scholar of creative nonfiction, particularly travel writing. As a critic, she is best known for her groundbreaking work in studying the literary memoir and fiction by Filipino women. Her latest book is Collected Stories and Tales published in 2019 by the UST Publishing House.

鈥淢anila Reads Edith Tiempo鈥� is the second installment of the National Artist for Literature Series of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts鈥� National Committee on Literary Arts. The first one, titled 鈥淐ebu Reads Lazaro Francisco,鈥� was held at the University of San Carlos on April 11, 2019, and was co-sponsored by the NCCA, the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF), and the Cebuano Studies Center. The third installment titled 鈥淒avao Reads Amado Hernandez鈥� will be held on October 2, 2020.

Tiempo, who was honored as National Artist for Literature in 1999, is the author of the following books: the novels A Blade of Fern (1978), His Native Coast (1979), The Alien Corn (1992), One, Tilting Leaves (1995), and The Builder (2004); the short story collection Abide, Joshua, and Other Stories (1964); the poetry collections The Tracks of Babylon and Other Poems (1966), The Charmer鈥檚 Box and Other Poems (1993), Beyond, Extensions (1993), Marginal Annotations and Other Poems, and Commend Contend/Beyond Extensions (2010), and the writing guides Six Uses of Fictional Symbols (2004) and Six Poetry Formats and the Transforming Image (2008).

Aside from being named National Artist, Tiempo also won the following awards: the Palanca Awards (1951, 1955, 1967, and 1969 for her poetry and short stories), the Philippines Free Press Short Story Contest (1955 and 1959), the Cultural Center of the Philippines Award (1979, First Prize for the Novel), and the Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas from UMPIL in 1988. Tiempo has mentored many aspiring Filipino poets and fictionists from all over the Philippines through the Silliman National Writers鈥� Workshop, which she established and directed in Dumaguete City with her husband Edilberto Tiempo, himself a prize-winning fictionist.

Other participants of the event were UP University Professor Emeritus G茅mino H. Abad, who delivered the second lecture, which focused on Tiempo鈥檚 poetry; Prof. Virgilio S. Almario, National Artist for Literature and former Chairman of the NCCA and the KWF; UST鈥檚 Prof. Joyce Arriola, who delivered the opening remarks; UST Publishing House Director Asst. Prof. Ma. Ailil B. Alvarez, who read selected short story excerpts and poems; Cebuano Studies Director Prof. Hope Sabanpan-Yu, who delivered the closing remarks, and UST CCWLS Assistant Director Assoc. Prof. Ralph Semino Gal谩n, who served as the overall emcee as well as moderator of the open forum.

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In response to this need, UST Graduate School student Celine Grace V. Causapin, along with UST Research Center for Natural and Applied Sciences and College of Science faculty researchers Dr. Felicidad Christina R. Ramirez and Dr. Christina A. Binag, fabricated a supercapacitor using Abaca-Cotton Fabric (ACF) with Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) and Polyaniline-Polypyrrole Complex Layer (PAPY) as electrode materials.

This research study by three Thomasian researchers won first place in the Scientific Posters category of the Rapid Fire Competition under the Material Science and Technology Cluster during the 40^th Philippine-American Academy of Science and Engineering (PAASE) Anniversary and 2020 Annual Scientific Meeting and Symposium (APAMS), as announced in the closing ceremonies held via Zoom on August 14, 2020.

The study was able to show that 鈥渢he energy density (1.82 Wh/L) and power density (50.31 W/L) values of PAPY/MWCNT/ACF fall well within the supercapacitor range of the Ragone plot, indicative of an ideal supercapacitor electrode material behavior.鈥� This ACF, though non-conducting, has a high surface area and is suitably porous for supercapacitors, while MWCNTs have high conductivity and stability but low capacitance. PAPY complements the other materials with its good conductivity, improved cycling stability, and high capacitance values.

This means that supercapacitors with these electrode materials are 鈥渃apable of storing and delivering energy, enough to power a 2.88 V LED鈥� and can be used to power a variety of other low power devices such as PC cards, portable media players and flashlights.

Other potential applications are in off-grid areas or rural areas, as well as assistance during and after major calamities.  This textile-based supercapacitor is highly sustainable with the use of indigenous fabrics like abaca blended cotton.

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Near the heart of Manila sits the Lagusnilad Underpass which connects the historic walled city of Intramuros with the Manila City Hall. Having previously been infamous for being dark and crowded, the renovated underpass was refurbished and inaugurated by Manila Mayor Francisco 鈥業sko Moreno鈥� Domagoso on August 24, 2020 with a Thomasian touch.

Intending to overhaul the space where thousands of people pass through each day, the Manila City Government and the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) partnered with academic institutions from Manila including the 九色 (UST). The UST group was composed of College of Architecture faculty member Ar. Juanito Malaga, and UST alumni John Benedict Fallorina, Sean Patrick Ortiz, and Leon Centeno Tuazon, who assisted in redesigning the Lagusnilad underpass.

According to the Manila Public Information Office, the redevelopment initially commenced in November 2019. Key issues such as flooding, vagrants and security have been addressed with key agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-NCR, Manila City Security Office, and Department of Tourism, Culture and Arts of Manila (DTCAM).

The underpass is expected to have a 24/7 security, composed of designated security personnel and CCTV cameras connected to the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) command center. A Manila Interactive Info Desk that will give the public information about the city is installed. 鈥淏ooks from Underground鈥�, a local bookstore that was popular prior to the redesign, was also able to retain its space and will open soon.

Aside from these practical functions, initiatives to preserve Filipino cultural heritage were also included in the form of visual art. Murals depicting significant events, figures, and structures in Philippine history now adorn the walls of the underpass. The artworks were created in collaboration with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Gerilya Artist Collective and were inspired by the works of Carlos 鈥楤otong鈥� Francisco, the first Thomasian National Artist.

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With Bautista鈥檚 expertise in robotics, producing LISA robots has become a project of the Faculty in response to the COVID pandemic. Its objective is to minimize face-to-face interaction between the medical practitioner and the patient, thereby protecting the medical frontliners.

Alfante, who graduated in 1984, is president and CEO of Macro Wiring Technologies, Co. Inc. Having been president of the UST Engineering Alumni Association, he saw his possible role in the undertaking.

However, Alfante was aware of these two realities: the logistics needed to produce more robots, and the speed of the spread of the virus as shown by rising cases being reported daily by the Department of Health. This means that more frontliners will have to deal with more patients, but at the same time, they also have to be protected from COVID. He is no stranger to frontliners鈥� needs having a nurse for a daughter, Kathleen, the Nursing Director at a health facility in California, USA.

Using his personal funds, this socio-civic oriented Thomasian took on to research, after being given Bautista鈥檚 nod to innovate its original design. Alfante designed his version of the LISA robots depending on the function needed by its recipient hospitals.

The first LISA robots that were produced by the Faculty of Engineering were given to the UST Hospital and a hospital in Pasig, and then after that, the project received a grant from the Department of Science and Technology.

The original specifications of the robot designed by Bautista included the following features: one speed, and operated on 6V battery/6 V motors. Alfante鈥檚 innovation resulted in a two-speed robot with High and Low options running on 12V battery/ 12V motors. With a 12 V battery, the robot could run for as long as 20 hours. Instead of a tablet, he decided to use an Android phone because it is capable of a louder sound. He also added a cable from the unit to the cellphone. It weighs six kilos without a battery.

Now with 20 LISA robots produced in his factory located at the Cavite Economic Zone, Alfante, who quickly adds that he used his personal funds to finance the production of these robots, was able to donate them to the following hospitals:  V. Luna Medical Center, Quezon City (two units); Office of Civil Defense (OCD), COVID Facility Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City (one unit) and one unit Food Tray Robot that can bring as many as ten trays at a time; Santo Nino Hospital, Baguio City, (four units); Pampanga Medical Specialist Hospital, Pampanga, (one unit); Sarangani Bay Specialist Medical Center, General Santos City (one unit); and Chinese General Hospital, Manila (one unit). Deliveries were made between June to September.

There are also LISA robots that are scheduled to be delivered to hospitals in the south and in the United States pending availability of flight schedules to Butuan Medical Center, Butuan City (two units); Agusan Del Norte Provincial Hospital, Agusan del Norte (one unit); Democrito O. Plaza Memorial Hospital, Agusan del Sur (one unit); and Jurupa Hills Post Acute Nursing Home, California, USA (two units).

Alfante鈥檚 advocacy to provide protection to medical frontliners has now reached even the farthest provinces in the country, particularly in Mindanao. He has no plans yet to stop this humanitarian act. This Thomasian has indeed extended the efforts of his alma mater to send the message to the medical frontliners that the University is one with them in the fight against COVID.

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鈥淭he pandemic has cost us a lot in terms of celebrating our traditions,鈥� said Nobleza in an online interview, adding, 鈥淪o I took action to continue our yearly traditions in a different and virtual approach.鈥�

Through the sandbox video game Minecraft, Nobleza 鈥� who has been playing the game for over eight years already 鈥� was determined to give these new students at least a virtual experience of the Welcome Walk, a tradition since 2002 where freshmen symbolically enter the University through the historic Arch of the Centuries to signify the beginning of their Thomasian life.

After gathering a team of 80 Thomasians through sending out a recruitment tweet, the Minecraft UST team took two months to painstakingly reconstruct the 21.5- hectare Manila campus in a Minecraft server dedicated to that purpose. With members from the different academic units and even alumni divided into smaller groups of 鈥淏uilders, Assistants, Interior Designers, Floor Planners, and even Small Details,鈥� each team member had their role.

Led by Nobleza and through real-time communication in the Discord messaging application, the group meticulously worked together with keen attention to detail, to give their target audience the very same view of UST that any Thomasian could see in real life. From the iconic large yellow letters forming 鈥楿ST鈥� in the Olympic-size pool to the life-size 鈥楿ST鈥� standing letters and Tiger figure in the Plaza Mayor.

鈥淲e tried to ensure [the correctness of the structures] by using other programs that do an accurate ratio of buildings in real life. We also have our fellow College of Architecture students to help, and one of them was Francpoe Javin Dalangin, a second-year student. He is our Master Builder and the one who corrected the scales of the buildings,鈥� shared the 19-year old Nobleza.

Aside from making sure that the virtual structures look alike with the real-life counterparts, immersive features were added as well. Students can have their game avatar wear their respective college uniform and use the ID system to enter the buildings, as usually done in real life.

Since its first version in 2009, Minecraft has firmly established itself as a creative and collaborative medium. Minecraft has its appeal of easy-to-grasp gameplay, open sandbox world, and multiple modes of play; people of all ages have come to enjoy its blocky 3D world.

It is this kind of functional flexibility from which the Minecraft UST team benefitted. For Nobleza in particular, 鈥渢he creativity it gives to its players and the vibes of being in an alternate universe, especially in a virtual game,鈥� was what made him interested in the game. His background as an Information Technology student was also advantageous in leading the virtual reconstruction effort.

鈥淸The process of] implementing new ways of experiencing our tradition in the field of technology, having it through a game also helped me learn [more about] some aspects of programming as well as design,鈥� said Nobleza.

Thanks to the Minecraft UST team, the Thomasian freshmen explored the iconic structures of the reconstructed Manila campus in a two-hour virtual campus tour. Each academic unit had its schedule with synchronous streaming of the tour available through the UST Tiger TV Facebook page.

Shortly after the media attention that the UST Minecraft map got, Nobleza鈥檚 team already floated the idea of a virtual UST Paskuhan experience. There had been Minecraft versions of the towering 70-foot Christmas tree beside the UST Grandstand with the famous fireworks display that adds color to the UST skyline. With Nobleza and his co-Minecraft enthusiasts at the helm, the Thomasian community will continue to experience decades-long Thomasian traditions in virtual reality, as part of the so-called new normal.

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Focusing on metallurgy, the presentations held via Zoom also served as a culmination activity and promotion of the dual Master of Science degree.

The colloquium was graced by the presence of Australian Ambassador to the Philippines His Excellency Steven J. Robinson, AO, who delivered the congratulatory remarks for the three Thomasian graduate students, namely, Engr. Princess R. Parubrub, Engr. Julius Christian Conrad A. Puentes, and Engr. Maria Joriza C. Bondoc.

Also present were the Curtin University- Western Australian School of Mines (CU-WASM) Program Coordinator and Balik Scientist to the Philippines Dr. Richard D. Alorro; Philippine Australian Human Resource and Organizational Development Facility (PAHRODF) Facility Director and Australia Awards and Alumni Engagement Program 鈥� Philippines Director Ms. Milalin Javellana; Assistant Vice President and Business Procurement Group Manager of Ginebra San Miguel, Inc. and former UST Chemical Engineering Department Chair Engr. Rosalina A. Lioanag; Executive Director of San Miguel Foundation, Inc. Ms. Camille B. Buenaventura; UST Graduate School Dean Prof. Michael Anthony C. Vasco, Ph.D.; and UST GS Engineering Programs Cluster Lead Prof. Maria Natalia R. Dimaano, Ph.D.

Parubrub, Puentes, and Bondoc pursued their specialization courses and fulfilled their thesis requirements at the Curtin University-Western Australian School of Mines (CU-WASM) and first obtained their master鈥檚 degree on Engineering Science (Metallurgy) from CU-WASM.

Since the graduate students have already defended their theses at CU-WASM, they publicly presented their theses through this colloquium at the UST Graduate School in compliance with the requirement of the UST GS Office for Graduate Research. These presentations equate to the graduate students鈥� thesis completion, which is required to obtain their Master of Science in Chemical Engineering degree from UST.

Parubrub presented her research titled 鈥淪eparation and Purification of Scandium from Oxalic Leach Solutions of Nickel Laterite Process Residue,鈥� while Bondoc discussed the 鈥淭echnospheric Mining of Cobalt from Nonferrous Slag.鈥� Puentes delved on 鈥淩are Earths Recovery from Monazite Ore using Oxalic Acid with Multi-stage, Rare Earths Oxalate and Hydrogen Peroxide Leaching.鈥�

Besides special guests, around 80 guests composed of graduate students, invitees from mining companies, researchers, and faculty members attended the online colloquium.

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