The Varsitarian

EVERYTHING is going according to plan.

Three more quadricentennial projects gained ground last February 4, a week after UST sites were declared “National Cultural Treasures” by the National Museum.

A 3x1 marble University marker was unveiled during a program at the España gate attended by University officials, led by Rector Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, O.P.

Vice Rector Fr. Pablo Tiong, O.P. said in his speech that the marker should serve as a “reminder of our fidelity to UST.”

The unveiling was followed by the groundbreaking of the Thomasian Alumni Center at the UST Gym, which was attended by members of the UST Medical Alumni Association Foundation.

The United States-based alumni association had pledged $1 million to build the center, which would serve as a venue for alumni gatherings and events hosted by the University. The center will have a grand ballroom, seminar and multi-functional rooms, and receiving rooms for visiting alumni. It will take the place of the UST Gym, but the façade and Olympic-size pool will remain.

“As of the moment, we have given a total of $425,000,”said Stella Evangelista, medical alumni association executive director.

De la Rosa also announced the start of the UST housing project titled “Simbahayan: Tomasino para sa Simbahan, para sa Tahanan, para sa Bayan,” which will relocate shanty-dwellers beside the Pasig River to Marilao, Bulacan.

“Simbahayan is an opportunity for us to put our acts together,” De la Rosa said.

Simbahayan was first announced by De la Rosa during his Rector’s Report last September as a tie-up project between UST and Gawad Kalinga. The project will now be executed by the University and Gawad Kalinga together with ABS-CBN Foundation, the National Housing Authority, and the local government of Marilao.

“These are the only four major institutions [which the University has tied up with] including the Dominican Network of Schools, but within these groups are smaller ones that work with us as well,” said Jose Cruz III, director of the Office for Community Development. Jennifer Ann G. Ambanta