UST Faculty of Arts and Letters (AB) to preserve ‘tradition of excellence’ through alumni lectures, book launch, and scholarship program
The generational differences between the offsprings of the Faculty of Arts and Letters (AB) and its predecessor institutions, including the varying ways they learned their craft, do not diminish the humanistic core values of their liberal arts education, the rector said.
In his speech during the Philets and Artlets grand alumni homecoming on Saturday, March 1, UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. said the Artlets’ holistic academic tradition has honed them to become “ethical” and “socially responsible” professionals in the face of digital technology and other changes in today’s education system.
“The library now is a physical and digital space, offering access to a wealth of information with just a few clicks. Classrooms have transformed with the use of technology, making learning more dynamic and interactive,” Ang said at the Manila Hotel.
“Yet despite these advancements, the essence of liberal arts education remains. One that forms not just skilled professionals but thoughtful, ethical, and socially responsible human beings,” he added.
Ang, who finished his Philosophy degree in 1990, reminisced his own experience as an Artlets alumnus. According to him, learning at the time extended beyond the “four walls of the classrooms.”
He recalled the traditional tools that Artlets depended on before today’s technological advancements, citing his experience in writing his thesis on typewriters and using Manila paper as his go-to visual aid.
“Despite these seemingly rudimentary tools by today’s standards, we have something truly precious—an education shaped by brilliant mentors who challenge us to think deeply, write rigorously, and uphold the highest standards of scholarship,” the rector said.
“We balanced our academic responsibilities with extracurricular activities that taught us leadership, teamwork, and service.”
Ang mentioned the late Artlets dean, Prof. Magdalena Villaba, former Philosophy chair Prof. Alfredo C,o and faculty secretary Josephine Aguilar-Placido as some of the most influential educators during his college years.
“They were more than just teachers. They were role models who instilled in us the values of integrity, curiosity and intellectual discipline,” the rector said.
“And so, we are grateful to our administrators and teachers—past and present—the unforgettable moment with tears and rigorous yet fulfilling academic experience which instilled in us an appreciation for knowledge and humanistic values,” he added.
Among the oldest living and prominent Philets recognized during the event was longtime journalist and Journalism alumna Julie Yap-Daza. She delivered a keynote address recalling her “somehow magical” life story on how she landed in Philosophy and Letters, which she said had developed her “prowess” in the industry.
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Upcoming activities
During the gala night, Artlets Dean Prof. Melanie Turingan also unveiled upcoming activities aimed at preserving the faculty’s “tradition of excellence,” including the “AB Alumni Legacy Lectures” that would showcase the alumni’s field of expertise and success stories.
The keynote speaker of the lecture’s inaugural year on April 10, 2025, will be Isabelita Paredes Mercado, chief executive officer of construction firm IPM Group of Companies and Economics alumna from the class of 1971.
“So hopefully every year, it will be sustained. We could feature different alumni and be able to reach out to them so they could inspire more [students],” Turingan told The Flame.
To assist Artlets in finishing their education, the faculty will transfer funds to the UST Research and Endowment Foundation, Inc. (REFI), which manages donations for Thomasian students and faculty members’ scholarships.
Turingan said the initiative is a continuation of the Artlets Alumni Scholarship Fund, which was launched during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting this year, the collection of funds will be handled by a university- wide scholarship program.
“Of course, once it is done-deal, the process would be under REFI so there would be no question where the money went… The money will be [in] the hands of the University,” the Artlets dean said.
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Turingan said she remains hopeful of producing at least one scholar from each AB program under her term. The faculty has yet to sign a memorandum of agreement with REFI and acquire sufficient funds to fulfill such a goal, she added.
“We are hoping for more batches to donate. Though there is a batch that already—from 1970… We have already a fund but it’s not that sufficient so, of course, we can’t financially support many students [yet],” Turingan said.
The faculty will also launch a book titled “Vilma Santos, Icon: Essays on Cinema, Culture & Society” in honor of the actress’ legacy in film. It will be written by UST Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies co-director Prof. Augusto Antonio Aguila and Journalism Asst. Prof. Joselito Zulueta.
A prototype of the mural depicting AB’s history was also unveiled during the homecoming. Created by Artlets painters the Blanco brothers, the mural will be displayed at the St. Raymund de Peñafort building upon its completion.
Carrying the theme “Pen to Pixels: Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future,” the gala program paid tribute to notable Philets and Artlets as part of AB’s 60th anniversary celebration. It was hosted by veteran reporters Journalism and The Flame alumna Sandra Aguinaldo and Communication Arts alumni Ali Sotto and Mon Gualvez.
In 1964, AB was established through the merger of the College of Liberal Arts with the now-defunct Faculty of Philosophy and Letters.
Story originally from The Flame
