Message from the Regent
Fr. Angel Aparicio, OP
On UST Medicine’s 150th year celebration
The idea came as in a flash of lightning. For 18 months we had been exploring
the possibility of establishing an office of Development (DO) to consolidate the projects and plans needed for the Faculty of Medicine. An offer from grateful alumni came to extend financial assistance by the establishment of an independent foundation.
A tall order to reconcile the suggestion of our benefactors with the expectations of the University. Finally, the Father Rector acceded to the creation of an independent foundation and an equally independent office that would identify needs, and set strategies.
In the meantime, and in view of the lack of interest in the community for the celebration of the Medicine Week, it dawned on us to coincide, the establishment of the foundation and the creation of the DO with the festivity of the Patron Saints of the FMS, Saints Cosmas and Damian. If the quadricentennial of the University had aroused quite an expectation and helped to stir Thomasian spirit, could not a sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) do something similar to the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery? Nothing wrong in trying. The spark ignited a little fire and the idea seemed not too farfetched. This is all it needed, a few souls to harbor a dream. The ball started rolling.
We thank all those who in one way or another are making this project viable. We pray and hope that all FMS stakeholders will engage in this activity of our community so that by 2021 the FMS Sesquicentennial will constitute another milestone in the history of Medicine in the Philippines.
