Spread across two plenary session days and an onsite gathering in the various academic units, over 1,500 academic staff from the higher and basic education units engaged with speakers who discoursed on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Catholic teachings, and the task of integrating these into course plans and outcomes.

In his keynote address, San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alimane Alminaza, D.D. shared how institutions like UST “play a pivotal role in molding current and future generations in emphasizing sustainability� and how educational institutions may adopt the “Laudato Sí Shools Framework, alongside the inclusion of the rights of nature in the curriculum, as well as further development of the integral ecology framework localized to a particular context.�

Representing the government, Philippine Statistics Authority Chief Statistical Specialist for Poverty and Human Development Bernadette Balamban localized the UN SDGs within the Philippine context, providing an update on how the country is faring vis-à-vis the targets. While progress has been made in SDGs 12 and 14, there is regression in targets under SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Balamban called for a “deliberate attempt to recalibrate our curriculum, instruction, and assessment methods in order for HEI’s to be of aid in meeting the set national targets.�

Talking about institutional sustainability, Dr. Yew Kee Ho of the City University of Hongkong’s Chow Yi Ching School of Graduate Studies, spoke of the “vital role of research in promoting sustainability aside from incorporating topics in instruction.� Deputy Dean Ho also bared the need to reflect on University and Impact Rankings when it comes to implementing projects and programs related to sustainability, as these external benchmarks can provide input on recalibrating efforts.

Sustainability in coursework

Two experts spoke about integrating sustainability at the classroom level. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization Regional Office Chief of Education Santosh Khatri spoke of scaffolding in relation to sustainability and integral ecology.

In doing so, Khatri reiterated Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) for 2030, which aims to fully integrate the 17 SDGs into policies, learning environments, capacity building of educators, and empowerment and mobilization of young people. He also emphasized six key concepts of Greening Curriculum, which include climate science, climate justice, post-carbon economies, ecosystems and biodiversity, resilience-building, and sustainable lifestyles.

In another session, Ateneo de Manila University – Lily Gokongwei Ngochua Leadership Academy Executive Director Maria Assunta C. Cuyegkeng, PhD raised awareness on how to make outcomes impactful in light of sustainability and learning experiences. In her session, Cuyegkeng stressed the value of “discernment which begins with reflecting on our experience, which ultimately develops our interiority� to sound off a “call toward adopting a new lifestyle, ecological conversion, and ecological education.� Integrating sustainability, according to Cuyegkeng, requires a “whole-of-university approach when it comes to redesigning our learning experiences.�

Leveraging on sectoral expertise in promoting sustainability

The webinar also included a panel discussion featuring Mr. Benjamin N. Villacorte (Chairman of the Philippine Sustainability Reporting Committee and a Member of the Sustainable Actions for Value-Creation and Enablement (SAVE) Council of SGV & Co.); Prof. Rey Donne S. Papa, PhD (Dean, College of Science); Asst. Prof. Froilan A. Alipao, MCD (Director, Simbahayan ¾ÅÉ« Development Office); and Prof. Cecilia B. Moran, Dr. rer. nat. (Executive Assistant for Research Operations and Management, Office of the Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation).

The session, moderated by Prof. Patricia M. Empleo (Dean, UST-AMV College of Accountancy) and Inst. Fermin Antonio D.R. Yabut, PhD (College Secretary, UST-AMV College of Accountancy), provided a platform to share bare how the industry, academe, community development, and research and innovation sectors can work together for sustainable development. Tips were shared to further strengthen working in interdisciplinary teams.

Putting ideas into course plans

As a culmination of the training, parallel onsite workshops were held on January 10, 2025 in the different academic units, where each unit’s pedagogical lead and e-Learning specialists facilitated discussions that aimed to identify practical steps to promote sustainability in instruction and office practices per academic unit.

Later in the day, twenty small groups were formed from different academic units and offices with the aim of sharing practices for promoting sustainability in terms of curricular activities, research activities, community engagement activities, and operational processes. The session provided a platform to craft initial plans for interdisciplinary collaboration to promote sustainability.

The program was organized by the Office of the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, the Center for Innovative Teaching and Educational Delivery, and the Educational Technology Center, with support from the UST-Alfredo M. Velayo College of Accountancy.

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Within various technical panels are Thomasian academics and researchers, namely:

ACCOUNTANCY

1. Prof. Patricia M. Empleo, PhD

BIOLOGY, Molecular Biology, and Microbiology

1. Prof. Thomas Edison E. dela Cruz, Dr. rer. Nat.
2. Prof. Rey Donne S. Papa, PhD
3. Prof. John Donnie A. Ramos, PhD

CHEMISTRY

1. Academician Professor Emeritus Maribel G. Nonato, PhD
2. Assoc. Prof. Oliver B. Villaflores, PhD

FINE ARTS

1. Assoc. Prof. Eric B. Zerrudo, PhD

FOREIGN LANGUAGES

1. Prof. Marilu R. Madrunio, PhD (Chair)
2. Prof. Camilla D.J. Vizconde, PhD

GRADUATE TEACHER EDUCATION

1. Prof. Camilla D.J. Vizconde, PhD

LITERATURE

1. Prof. John Jack G. Wigley, PhD

MARINE SCIENCE

1. Prof. Mary Beth B. Maningas, PhD

MATHEMATICS

1. Prof. Ma. Carlota B. Decena, PhD

MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

1. Prof. Ma. Freida Z. Hapan, PhD

MEDICINE

1. Prof. Ma. Minerva P. Calimag, MD, PhD

MUSIC

1. Assoc. Prof. Dolores T. Andres, PhD

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

1. Asst. Prof. Kathlene Anne V. Hernandez, MHPEd

OPEN AND DISTANCE LEARNING

1. Assoc. Prof. Ma. Ninia I. Calaca, MA, MAPhl
2. Prof. Belen L. Tangco, PhD

PHARMACY

1. Prof. Aleth Therese L. Dacanay, PhD (Chair)

PHILOSOPHY

1. Prof. Robert A. Montaña, PhD

PHYSICAL THERAPY

1. Prof. Cheryl R. Peralta, DrPH

PHYSICS

1. Assoc. Prof. Angelita Silverio, MS (ret.)

REAL ESTATE

1. Prof. Eduardo G. Ong, PhD

SOCIOLOGY

1. Prof. Clarence M. Batan, PhD
2. Asst. Prof. Louie Benedict R. Ignacio, PhD

SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY

1. Inst. Elinor Bautista
2. Asst. Prof. Judith S. Damian, MS (ret.)

The newly reconstituted technical panels will have a four-year term beginning on January 1, 2025 and ending on December 31, 2028.

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Bennett delivered a lecture entitled “Oomycetes in Philippine freshwater ecosystems�, highlighting current research developments in taxonomy and potential utilization of oomycetes (aquatic fungi) for aquaculture as natural food source due to its potential for mass propagation and fatty acid content. Meanwhile, Papa updated the audience on “Methane Dynamics and Limnological Monitoring in Tropical East Asia: The Case of Lake Yambo�, which emphasized on the importance of routine limnological monitoring for water quality and methane concentrations in tropical lakes such as Lake Yambo as these are closely linked to eutrophication, especially in tropical lake ecosystems, especially those heavily utilized for aquaculture.

Papa and Bennett joined speakers from Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Turkiye, and Vietnam in giving lectures on the ecology and life history of economically important aquatic organisms, aquaculture, and fisheries, including topics on conservation, management, climate change adaptation and sustainability.

Chonnam National University holds the distinction of having the first and oldest fisheries and marine educational institution in South Korea and is known for receiving the most research funding among Korean universities.

Its College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences maintains two research vessels, including the 96.45m ship Sae Dong Baek which was launched in 2019. Symposium speakers were given the opportunity to visit and inspect the research facilities of their two research vessels, which routinely conducts research cruises around the Korean peninsula.  A best research poster competition was also held during the symposium where graduate students and researchers of Chonnam National University showcased their latest research findings.

The event was organized by the CNU College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences in cooperation with the Korea Fishery Resource Management Research Institute and the Institute of Fishing Village and Aquaculture.

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Ms. Anne Parojinog, MS won first place in the Oral Competition of the Biological and Health Sciences category (MS level) for her research entitled “Integrated Urban Ecology: A socio-ecological overview of Metropolitan Manila and bioecological study of its two urban protected forests�.

Meanwhile, Ms. Pauline Maglipon, MS won first place in the Poster Competition of the Agricultural and Environmental Science category for her poster entitled “Spatiotemporal distribution and diversity of plant communities in post fire sites of Mts. Iglit-Baco Natural Park, Occidental Mindoro, Philippines�. Both Ms. Parojinog and Ms. Maglipon were under the supervision of Biological Sciences academic researcher Nikki Heherson Dagamac, Dr.rer.nat.

Another Environmental Biology alumna, Ms. Kamille Poblete, M.Sc. won third place in the Poster Competition of the Biological and Health Sciences category for her research entitled “Temporal shifts of methane production and methane oxidizing bacteria communities: A limnological assessment in a tropical lake,� which she conducted under the supervision of College of Science Dean Rey Donne S. Papa, PhD.

Lastly, Mr. Theo Victor Cavite of the MS Applied Physics major in Medical Physics program garnered second place in the Poster Competition of the Physical Sciences Category. His poster entitled “Neutron spectrometry via in-115 activation foil at the Philippines’ sole research reactor� was co-authored with his supervisors Dr. Alvie J. Asuncion-Astronomo of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute and Asst. Prof. Roland Cristopher F. Caballar, Ph.D. of the UST Department of Mathematics and Physics.

These award-winning student researchers are part of the UST delegation composed of 13 DOST scholars, four Graduate School academic staff, and two UST DOST-ASTHRDP office project staff. The ¾ÅÉ« is a member of the National Science Consortium (NSC) under the ASTHRDP of the DOST–Science Education Institute, which oversees the offering of scholarships in flagship Science and Technology graduate programs. UST is represented in the NSC by Dean Papa. First offered in UST in 2010, the DOST-ASTHRDP scholarship has supported 435 Master of Science graduates and 55 doctoral degree graduates. This academic year, there are 70 Master of Science and 6 doctoral students enjoying the scholarship.

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Bennett was recognized for research efforts as young researcher at the Research Center for the Natural and Applied Sciences and for his work while a graduate student. Specifically, Bennett’s work on the taxonomy and evolution of oomycetes was recognized. Building on the comprehensive study by Dogma, Bennett’s contributions helped “fill in the missing literature and knowledge gap in Philippine Oomycetes.� His studies focus on oomycete taxonomy, ecology, and evolution. Recently, he has engaged with fellow Thomasian researchers on the applied aspects of oomycetes such as fatty acids and secondary metabolites. Among his collaborators, are Prof. Dr. Gina Dedeles, Inst. Mark Devanadera, Prof. Dr. Mafel Ysrael, Inst. Nono Caguimbal, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Kim Arafiles.

His current focus is researching with and training students “who are very willing to learn about these organisms,� which he counts as a rarity as the work involves long hours of observations using a microscope to try and decode the oomycetes life cycle and development.

In his interview with the Communications Bureau, Bennett acknowledged College of Science Dean Rey Donne S. Papa, PhD for the nomination and his plant pathology and mycology professor at the UST Graduate School, Prof. Irineo J. Dogma, Jr., PhD, whom he hailed as the “authority on zoosporic fungi.� He also thanked graduate research advisers Prof. Dedeles and Prof. Dr. Marco Thines. The Chair also thanked his colleagues and teachers in the department, namely Asst. Prof. Mae Lowe Diesmos, Prof. Dr. Thomas Edison E. dela Cruz, Prof. Dr. Pia Marie S.P. Albano, and Prof. Dr. Maureen Sabit.

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Moreover, the event is part of the ongoing collaboration among the Faculty of Theology of the University of Fribourg (Fribourg, Switzerland)under the chairmanship of Prof. Helmut Zander for Comparative History of Religions and Interreligious Dialogue, the Dominican University (Ibadan, Nigeria), and the ¾ÅÉ« (Manila, Philippines). The collaboration is dubbed as CoMIF (Collaboration among Manila, Ibadan and Fribourg) and will host the afternoon Symposium/Workshop on ‘Ecology and Climate Change.’

Interested scholars, faculty members and students are invited to register through or the QR code provided on the poster. Updates related to this event will be released through the Facebook page of UST Institute of Religion ().

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During the same period and into the middle of the 1900s, notable professors and university alumni made contributions to fields such as bacteriology, botany, freshwater biology, and genetics, among others, even though, as Papa noted, there was no “formal research agenda in the University until the establishment of the UST Research Center in 1962.� Despite the “supporting� roles that biologists were relegated to when research focus shifted to applied research, Papa noted the “renaissance from the 2000s onwards,� which culminated in the establishment of “Biodiversity, Ecology, Systematics, and Taxonomy (BEST) as a recognized research cluster in the university, contributing significantly to the university’s research productivity and providing important scientific data.�

Entitled “On Biodiversity: History, Heritage, and Research in Asia,� the hybrid conference was organized by NUS’s Asia Research Institute with support from Yale-NUS College. Papa, a limnologist by profession, has published 75 research articles in local and international peer-reviewed journals, as well as book chapters and textbooks. A freshwater zooplankton ecology and systematics specialist, he is the National Ambassador of the Philippines to the International Society of Limnology.

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During the ten-month program, there will be a twenty-seven (27)-unit program delivered to the teachers in hybrid format. Among the outputs are capstone projects from the Pasig City teachers, who will be mentored by faculty experts from the UST College of Education and the College of Science.

The Memorandum of Agreement among UST, the City Government of Pasig, and DepEd Schools Division of Pasig was signed by the Rector of UST, Very Rev. fr. Richard G. Ang, O.P., PhD (represented by Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Cheryl R. Peralta, DrPH); the Pasig City Mayor, the Hon. Victor Ma. Regis N. Sotto; and the Pasig City Schools Division Superintendent, Ms. Ma. Evalou Concepcion A. Agustin.

In his message, Mayor Sotto expressed delight at the partnership, which bolster the capacity of the local government’s Science teachers. Councilor Corazon Raymundo, in-charge of Education in the City Council, in her message, also thanked UST for helping them achieve the city’s vision of former “Batang Pasig� who are “matino, mahusay, at magiting.� The investment of the local government in teachers is a step in the right direction, according to Ms. Shalani Soledad-Romulo, representing Congressman Roman T. Romulo, as this will redound to the benefit of the students later on.

The University Rector expressed hope that the collaboration will be the first of many avenues opened for partnerships between UST and the local government of Pasig City. The Rector expressed the University’s commitment to help prepare the teachers “to take on leadership roles and nurture their abilities to work cross-culturally if we really have to make an impact on the kind of education we give to our students.� College of Education Dean Pilar I. Romero, PhD assured the city government of UST’s formation of Science teachers who will have a heart that will allow them not just be technocrats but people of service to society.

Gracing the event were VRAA Peralta, Dean Romero, College of Science Dean Rey Donne S. Papa, PhD, Department of Secondary Education Chair John Christian C. Valeroso, PhD, Education High School Science Supervising Teacher Louie B. Dasas, PhD, as well as officials from Pasig City and DepEd. Councilor Raymundo, Ms. Soledad-Romulo, and Hon. Robert Vincent Jude B. Jaworski, Jr., Vice-Mayor, joined Mayor Sotto in the event.

Photos by Hans Lawrence V. Malgapu

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Held from November 23 to 24, 2021, the webinar provided a platform for collaboration among academics and practitioners involved in research and development in the quantitative sciences, analytics and applied mathematics.

UST Rector Very Rev. Fr. Richard Ang, OP, Ph.D., in his opening message, stressed the importance of data analytics and the need to find effective ways to analyze and utilize these data especially during this challenging time of the pandemic, stating, “When great minds meet, great things happen.�

The keynote session was led by UST Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Dr. Cheryl R. Peralta with her presentation “Data-Informed Decisions in Academics in Support of Quality Assurance: The Experience of the ¾ÅÉ«.â€�

Peralta discussed the University’s experiences in the use of data analytics for informed decision-making in academics and highlighted the key lessons in UST’s journey that helped support continuous quality improvement.

Prof. Dr. Naomie Salim of the School of Computing of the Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia, and Prof. Dr. Anton Abdulbasah Kamil of Istanbul Gelisim University, Turkey, were among the keynote speakers.

Faculty members and students from the College of Science and the College of Information and Computing Sciences presented papers during the parallel sessions.

From the Department of Mathematics and Physics of the College of Science, faculty presenters on the topic ‘Surfing the Big Waves’ included: Department Chair Asst. Prof. Enrico Yambao (“Iteration Functions for Approximating Complex Roots of Cubic Polynomialsâ€�), Dr. Josephine Bernadette Benjamin, (“Feature Weighted Multi-View Possibilistic C-Means with Feature Reduction Frameworkâ€�), Dr. Ma. Carlota Decena, (“Detecting Chaos in Time-Series Data of Localized Measles Cases in the Philippinesâ€�), Dr. Bernhard Egwolf, (“The UST CoV-2 Model for the COVID-19 Pandemic in Metro Manilaâ€�), Asst. Prof. Arturo Patungan- (“A Machine Learning Modeling Prediction of Enrollment of Admitted College Applicants at ¾ÅÉ«â€�), and Asst. Prof. Mark Louie Ramos (“Adaptive local false discovery rate procedures for spiky data and their application to protein Set4 Delta dataâ€�).

Discussed during the second day of the webinar was “Improving Asynchronous Delivery of Mathematics in the Modern World through Student Feedback: A Descriptive Case Study� delivered by the dynamic and YouTube sensation faculty member of the Mathematics and Physics Department, Asst. Prof. Xandro Alexi Nieto.

This was followed by eight student presenters from the UST College of Science and the UST College of Information and Computing Sciences that included: Ronica Lilia A. Pascua (College of Science- “Cardiac alternans suppression using the T±ε feedback control in a single cell human modelâ€�), Jose Conrado Añonuevo (College of Information and Computing Sciences- “A Prescriptive Analysis of Toll Plaza Booths for Company Xâ€�), Ramon Joseph A. Teoxon (College of Science- “Proton beam interaction with ovary and prostate tissues using SRIM software simulationâ€�), Abigail Joy Roxas (College of Information and Computing Sciences – “Revenue Maximization: A Case for a Furniture and Decking Companyâ€�), Nicole G. Aquino (College of Information and Computing Sciences – “A Prescriptive Analysis on the Cost Optimization of LF Almirañez Construction Metal Worksâ€�), Jigo Jovero (College of Science – “Feasibility of Markov Chain Modelling Techniques for Covid-19 Cases Prediction in the Philippinesâ€�), Ray Liorenz SP. Dominguez (College of Science – “Sentiment Analysis of the ¾ÅÉ« on COVID-19 Vaccination Programs: A Case Study of the 2nd District of NCR, Philippinesâ€� ) , and Hancelie Keith Llaguno (College of Information and Computing Sciences – “The Implementation of Service Desk and Service Request Management through the Development of e-Ticketing System for IT Management Servicesâ€�).

The conference concluded with speeches from the Dean of the UUM School of Quantitative Sciences Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Kamal Mohd Nawawi, and the Dean of the UST College of Science Prof. Dr. Rey Donne S. Papa.

The two-day event in a fully virtual platform brought together numerous participants from Malaysia, Philippines, Nigeria, Japan, Iraq, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United States of America, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Taiwan, and other countries.

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The PAMB resolution, signed by Director Nilo B. Tamoria, CESO III, Regional Executive Director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – CALABARZON Region and Chairperson of the PAMB-TVPL, confirmed Dean Papa’s appointment, which comes after Dr. Macrina Zafaralla ended her service as chairperson.

Dean Papa, one of the country’s leading limnologists, has Taal Lake as his field site. He established the Zooplankton, Systematics, and Limnology (ZESL) research group at the Research Center for Natural and Applied Sciences in 2011. He is the first Filipino to be named national representative to the International Society of Limnology.

Dean Papa is an expert in tropical freshwater microcrustacean zooplankton ecology and systematics, as well as lake ecology. The research undertakings he and Thomasians have been engaged in with regard to Lake Taal have led to, among other scientific endeavors, the creation of the UST Zooplankton Reference Collection, the first organized repository of freshwater zooplankton in the Philippines.

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