The distinguished guest of honor was the Hon. Ma. Esperanza Christina Garcia Frasco, the Secretary of the Department of Tourism, accompanied by key officials from the DOT: USEc. Maria Rica C. Bueno, Undersecretary for Tourism Standards, Regulations, and Human Capital Development; ASec. Judilyn S. Quiachon, Assistant Secretary for Tourism Regulation, Coordination, and Convergence; ASec. Sharlene Zabala-Batin, Assistant Secretary for Tourism Digitalization and Resource Generation and the Regional Director of DOT National Capital Region; ASec. Ronald P. Conopio, Assistant Secretary for Protocol and Engagement; and Atty. Glenn Albert M. Ocampo, Director of the Office of Special Concerns.

The forum emphasized the critical role of women within the tourism sector, celebrating their contributions and achievements. Among the notable female speakers were Ms. Kach Medina Umandap, recognized as the first and youngest Filipina traveler to visit 195 United Nations countries with a Philippine passport; Ms. Kimberly Dionisio, First Officer for Airbus 320 at PAL Express; Ms. Mary Ann Ong, a consultant for Bridges Travel; and Ms. Anna Marie Almazan, Senior Sales Manager at The Bellevue Hotels and Resorts, Bohol.

Students and academic staff from the College of Tourism and Hospitality Management attended this forum, gaining insights into career opportunities, challenges, and advancements pertaining to gender diversity in the tourism industry.

The participation and co-sponsorship of the University aligned with Sustainable Development Goals No. 4 (Quality Education), 5 (Gender Equality), 8 (Descent Work and Economic Growth), 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), 10 (reduced Inequalities), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), and 17 (Partnership with the Goals).

Secretary Frasco and her team received a warm welcome from the 九色 administrators and officials, including Rev. Fr. Louie R. Coronel, O.P., EHL, Secretary-General of the Office of the Secretary-General; Ms. Michaella O. Lagniton, MA, Director of the Office of Public Affairs; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Atty. Gezzez Giezi G. Granado, Dean of the College of Tourism and Hospitality Management; Rev. Fr. Dr. Ferdinand L. Bautista, O.P., Regent; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Evangeline E. Timbang, Assistant Dean; Asst. Prof. Maria Margarita P. Cruz-Ireneo, College Secretary; Asst. Prof. Christine Concepcion C. Fajardo, Chairperson of the Department of Tourism Management; and Dr. Fhamela F. Sarmiento, Chairperson of the Department of Hospitality Management.

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The research entitled 鈥淪ustainable 九色-based Tourism Potential and Development of Barangay San Miguel, Echague, Isabela鈥� assessed the potential of Barangay San Miguel in Echague, Isabela for sustainable community-based tourism in the post-COVID-19 era. It examined the barangay鈥檚 current tourism development, identified challenges and opportunities, and gathered stakeholder perspectives on sustainability in tourism. The study recommends a Sustainable Tourism and Strategic Development Plan, integrating community contributions to economic, socio-cultural, environmental, and political priorities. This plan aims to guide future tourism development and ensure sustainability in Barangay San Miguel鈥檚 tourism industry.

The project is part of the first batch of the NRCP Policy-funded Research in 2021. #TeamKomunidad is headed by Asst. Prof. Jame Monren T. Mercado with its members, Asst. Prof. Dr. Avi Ben P. Andalecio, Dr. Fhamela F. Sarmiento, Asst. Prof. Maria Concepcion A. Ang, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Evangeline E. Timbang, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Atty. Gezzez Giezi G. Granado. The project is in partnership with the House of Representatives Office of Hon. Faustino 鈥淚nno鈥� A. Dy V of the 6th District of Isabela and the Municipal Government of Echague, Isabela.

The participation of the project team aligned with the SDGs 4 (Quality Education), 5 (Gender Equality), 8 (Descent Work and Economic Growth), 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), 10 (Reduced Inequalities), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), 13 (Climate Action), 14 (Life Below Water), 15 (Life on Land), 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

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Bannering the country’s flag in her matches, Mangin was also the first Filipina to rule and stand at the podium after the tournament.

The Thomasian rising athlete dominated Kim Hyang-gi, 2-1, in the final bout of the Women鈥檚 49-kg category, a huge feat that ended the 28-year drought since participating in the said international fete.

Mangin is a Grade 12 UST Senior High School student from the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) strand.

(Photos from World Taekwondo Facebook page)

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The virtual seminar served as the 5th Nenita Caralipio Honorary Lecture, in celebration of the  98th Foundation Anniversary of the College of Education.

Asst. Prof. Rose Marie Cordura, MA, Bachelor in Early Childhood Education Supervising Teacher, explained that Caralipio inspired teachers and would-be-teachers 鈥渨ith her significant contribution in the university鈥檚 research initiatives and as principal of the UST Grade School for 25 years.鈥�

Assoc. Prof. Carmina Vicente, Ph.D., Chair of UST Elementary Education Department, gave the Opening Remarks.

Dr. Diosdado San Antonio, Manager of the Educational Research and Innovation Office 鈥� Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization 鈥� Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology (SEAMEO INNOTECH), delved on 鈥淭ransforming the Future through Holistic & Integrated Early Childhood & Elementary Education.鈥�

San Antonio discussed a future-focused leadership paradigm after enumerating 21st century realities in basic education and the main features of Key Stage 1 in the MATATAG Curriculum.

Meanwhile, Mr. Jaime Bunga, MA, Ed., Supervising Education Program Specialist, Teaching and Learning Division, Bureau of Learning Delivery, Department of Education Central Office, 鈥淚mproving Equality and Inclusivity in Education through Holistic, Inclusive and Integrated Programs.鈥�

Reactors included reputable academics, including Assoc. Prof. Celina Cerda, MA, Dean of University of Rizal System, Angono Campus and a UST graduate of Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEEd) Batch 1990;  Asst. Prof. Louie Dasas, Ph.D., Assistant Dean of UST College of Education; and Maria Theresa Abesamis, MA, Instructor from the UST College of Education and an alumna of BEEd Major in Special Education (SPED) Batch 2019.

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Galanggan is one of the 12 recipients across the US in the Titan Division.

In the middle of Galanggan’s duty, in a Facebook on September 14, 2023, the Facility Administrator of their region, LaShon Williams, along with her colleagues set her up to bring her the message of her achievement, which they kept along with her family members for two weeks.

Sometime in 2021, Galangga flew to Hampton, Virginia and filled in a nursing post at DeVita Kidney Care Center, where she was elevated to the position of clinical manager after five months. She worked at the Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center and also at a military hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Florence Nightingale, the namesake of the highest distinction given to a nurse, dedicated her life to providing exceptional patient care. During the Crimean war, Nightingale was a manager who trained nurses in treating wounded soldiers. She was also instrumental in leading the advancement of nursing practices and hospital management. Thus, she was hailed as the “Mother of Modern Nursing”.

Meanwhile, Nightingale’s notable legacy resonated in Galangga’s contemporary Thomasian brand of service and such distinction was a fitting tribute to her for imbuing and demonstrating the Thomasian core values overseas.

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Aside from teaching at the Faculty of Pharmacy and the UST Graduate School, Hapan has also held the following posts in recent years: Chairperson of the Technical Committee for Medical Technology/Medical Laboratory Science Education under the Commission on Higher Education, member of the Committee on Career Progression and Specialization Program and Credit Accumulation Transfer System under the PRC, Chairperson of the Philippine Association of Medical Technologists (PAMET) Committee on Career Progression and Specialization, member of the PAMET Committee on Education, member of the PAMET Committee on Research and National Executive Secretary of PAMET from 2018 to 2020.

She is also a member of CHED鈥檚 technical panel for health professions education. Dimaano, the Program Lead of the UST Graduate School Engineering Cluster, has also served as government research administrator and Corporate Secretary of the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP). She has earned awards such as the 2009 National Research Council of the Philippines Achievement Award, 2011 Gregorio Y. Zara Award for Applied Research by the Philippine Association for the Advancement of Science and Technology (PhilAAST).

Prof. Hapan and Prof. Dimaano now join the University鈥檚 roster of Outstanding Professional of the Year Award recipients, such as the Assistant to the Rector for UST Sta. Rosa Prof. Philipina A. Marcelo, Ph.D. (Chemical Engineering, 2021), Dr. Roberto Manaois (Medical Technology, 2021), Assistant to the Rector for UST General Santos and Academician Dr. Maribel G. Nonato (2020, Chemistry), Dr. Eduardo Ong (2020, Real Estate Service), Dr. Donald G. Manlapaz (2020, Physical Therapy), Dr. Aleth Therese L. Dacanay (2018, Pharmacy), Dr. Donald Lipardo (2015, Physical Therapy), Dr. Rosalinda Solevilla (2011, Pharmacy), Dr. Priscilla Torres (2009, Pharmacy), Dr. Cheryl R. Peralta (2009, Physical Therapy), Assoc. Prof. Jocelyn Agcaoili (2007, Physical Therapy), and Dr. Fortunato Sevilla (2002, Chemistry).

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The webinar, presented in two parts, first gave insight on the history of the LGBTQIA+ community, their influence in society, and the labels and terms that emerged within the community throughout the years. This was followed with a discussion that highlighted inclusivity discussing ways on how to make members of the said community feel welcomed.

The guest speakers of the event were Attorney Chel Diokno, a lawyer, educator, and advocate for human rights, Dr. John Manuel R. Kliatchko, Chair of the Interdisciplinary Studies Department and member of the Ethics Committee of the Psychological Association of the Philippines鈥� LGBT Special Interest Group, and Ms. Lou Sheridan Manlapaz, a project manager at Cardinal Health International Philippines.
The webinar was organized in line with the 5th SDG of achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls. The organizers chose to conduct a webinar on inclusivity to underscore empowerment regardless of gender.

In his short speech, Atty. Chel Diokno expressed his beliefs as a human rights lawyer that the freedom to express one鈥檚 gender identity, including one鈥檚 relationship preference is firmly included in our rights. He thanked the youth for their call to action and reiterated his support for equality, stating that the journey towards equality is admittedly an uphill climb, but he too hopes for a day that no one would be judged for their gender identity.

Dr. Kliatchko gave his discussion on gender and sexuality in the workplace, starting with the history of the LGBTQIA+ community and its influence and changes in society, one of which is the SOGIE bill. He then began his discussion on celebrating diversity and informed the participants of the many different labels and terminologies of the LGBTQIA+ community as a precursor to the goal of the SOGIE bill which is to stop discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression. Dr. Kliatchko expressed that in order to do so, everyone must be informed of the basics and that starts with language and how to properly address a member of the LGBTQIA+ community as it is the very first step towards inclusivity.
The second and last speaker, Ms. Manlapaz, shared her experiences in life and the workplace as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. She began her discussion by applying the information from the previous lecture and discussing what one should do if their child, family member, friend, or co-worker is a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. She expressed that in order for one to be inclusive they must first initiate the conversation regarding the topic, following that, by being well-informed, one would be able to show their full support towards their friends and family, and lastly, support from the community will follow. She reiterated that an inclusive workforce starts with having a conversation, and from there, allies and members of the LGBTQIA+ community can further help and make society a better place.
The course facilitator, Mr. Gian Carlo M. Ledesma, concluded the event with his closing remarks by expressing his advocacy for the needs and rights of the LGBTQIA+ community. He stated that while the community has had challenges and successes throughout history, society still has a long way to go to achieve the desired acceptance and treatment for the LGBTQIA+ community.

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Assoc. Prof. Maria Ruth Pineda-Cortel, Ph.D., from the Department of Medical Technology, and Asst. Prof. Nikki Heherson Dagamac, Dr.rer.nat, from the Department of Biological Sciences joined the roster of eleven Outstanding Young Scientists for the year 2022.

According to the NAST Philippines website, the Outstanding Young Scientist (OYS) Awards are given to Filipino scientists under 41 years of age who have made significant contributions to science and technology. It consists of a trophy and cash prize.

Pineda-Cortel鈥檚 expertise is on women鈥檚 diseases, particularly gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Her study of PCOS is on the current diagnostic methods being used for it, the risk factors associated with it, and its association with genetic polymorphisms. As for GDM, Pineda-Cortel heads a project funded by the Department of Science and Technology 鈥� Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) titled, 鈥淏lood and Placental Gene Expression in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.鈥� This research study aims to identify early biomarkers of GDM and emphasizes the importance of preventive prenatal healthcare to protect both the mother and the baby from the various complications that the said disease may bring.

Pineda-Cortel is currently involved as one of the Project Leaders of the Oplan Atletang Pinoy Program under the DOST-NICER (Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D), which aims to develop a local product that will be utilized for rapid wound healing and recovery by athletes suffering from musculoskeletal injuries and tendinopathy.

Having finished her Bachelor鈥檚 and Master of Science degrees in Medical Technology, and Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biological Sciences, all with distinctions, at the 九色, Pineda-Cortel currently teaches at the UST Faculty of Pharmacy and is a Resident Researcher at the Research Center for the Natural and Applied Sciences (RCNAS).

Recently, she took her postdoctoral fellowship under the US-ASEAN Science and Technology Fellowship program through the US Mission to ASEAN (US-ASEAN) in coordination with the US American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). She also had her postdoctoral diplomacy under the ASEAN Science Diplomat program through the ASEAN and Environmental and Climate Change Research Institute.

Meanwhile, Dagamac studies the evolution, ecology, biogeography, and population genetics of tropical and subtropical slime molds. His investigations of the myxomycete compositions in terrestrial ecosystems of the Philippines and Paleotropical regions of the world increased the number of records of myxomycetes for the Philippines and supported the moderate endemicity hypothesis as a global biogeographic pattern for eukaryotic protists refuting the popular, ubiquitous model for microorganisms, respectively.

Currently, he is a long-term Balik-Scientist at the Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science at the 九色. He translated his expertise in the fields of basic and applied ecology, evolution, and genetics in the development of the course plans of various technical courses in the Biology program. His knowledge on machine learning, ecological modeling and statistics, and population genetics became fundamental in drafting remote and virtual laboratory exercises in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology.

Apart from his academic duties, Dagamac is the program leader of two major research programs. The first program is the DOST-PCAARRD project which proposes wildlife conservation strategies, land use and evaluation, and the diversity of terrestrial protists and vertebrates in Occidental Mindoro. The second program, funded by the National Research Council of the Philippines, aims to study land use and evaluation, conservation of various endemic trees and flora in general, and the diversity of the terrestrial and marine protists in the province of La Union.

He obtained his Bachelor鈥檚 degree and Master of Science in Biological Sciences degrees from UST, and his Doctor of Natural Sciences degree from the University of Greifswald in Germany.

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The AD Scientific Index uses the total and last five years鈥� values of the author impact index and citation scores from Google Scholar to rank scientists by subject, institution, country, region, and in the world according to scientific performance and the added value of the scientific productivity.

Hidalgo, who holds a doctorate degree in comparative literature, is also a Professor Emeritus of English and Comparative Literature at the University of the Philippines (UP).

Among the many awards she has received are the Gawad Balagtas, Gawad Dangal ng Lahi, and three Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, including the Grand Prize for the Novel in 1996 for Recuerdo. She has also been recognized as an Outstanding Thomasian Writer and an International Publication Award Hall of Famer.

Hidalgo has published more than 40 books, including novels, short story and CNF collections, and autobiographical travel books. Her works on literary criticism and research focusing on women鈥檚 literature have contributed greatly to local and international feminist scholarship.

Her latest book, What I Wanted to be When I Grew Up, released by UP Press in May 2022, is a memoir that traces the effects on her life of the books she read and movies she watched from childhood to high

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The UST Graduate School, in partnership with the Department of Philosophy, celebrated the 7th Thomasian Philosophers Reunion Convention. The convention is a biennial event which aims to celebrate its alumni for their contribution to the academe. This year鈥檚 convention was a tribute to Dean Emeritus Prof. Magdalena Alonso-Villaba, Ph.D., who was able to virtually join the event for the duration of the program.

Dean Emeritus Prof. Magdalena Alonso-Villaba, Ph.D. finished her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy in 1957. A year after her graduation, she was already recruited by Dr. Emerita Quito to teach Philosophy in the University.

She pursued her graduate studies and finished her doctorate in 1976, Magna cum Laude. Her dissertation was then published by Filipiniana Sacra in 1976. Her notable publications are Philosophy of the East, Atman-Brahman Relationships in the Upanishads, Interpretation of the Doctrine of Transmigration, and Mission of Women: A Return to their Original Role.

Aside from being a respected professor, Dr. Villaba also served as the Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Letters from 1972 – 1976, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Letters from 1976-1987, and Dean of UST Graduate School from 1987- 1995.

It is because of these reasons that she was given tribute by the Department of Philosophy and the Graduate School. Her role as an educator and an administrator has inspired her students to continue a career in the academe. This is evidenced by the messages given by her former students who were invited to deliver testimonials, namely, Dr. Arlen Ancheta, Dr. Lino Baron, Mr. George Garcia, and Mrs. Anita Garcia. All of them have become respected professors and administrators in the university.

Dr. Alma Santiago-Espartinez and Dr. El Mithra Dela Cruz also delivered a paper about Dr. Villaba鈥檚 role in shaping female philosophy students. It is important to note that when Dr. Villaba started teaching philosophy, there were only 3 female faculty members in the department whom female students looked up to as their models. Dr. Villaba鈥檚 presence alone encouraged female students to prosper in a male dominated discipline. Fr. Ranhilio Aquino was also invited to deliver a tribute paper.

The conference ended with a response from Ms. Espie Villaba-Alvez, daughter of Dr. Villaba. The closing remarks were delivered by Dean Prof. Michael Anthony C. Vasco, Ph.D., who was also a former student and thesis advisee of Dr. Villaba.

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