The University of Santo Tomas’ Miguel de Benavides Library in its desire to generate interest and enthusiasm for the forthcoming Quadricentennial of the University, collaborated with the Faculty of Pharmacy as it sponsored a two-day conference on “ A Century of Pharmacy Dynamics, Ethics and Significs” last February 8 and 9, 2010 at the Conference Hall of the said Library.

It brought together pharmacists, researchers, historians, librarians, and students who traced the Filipino and Spanish contributions to the history of Pharmacy in the Philippines and showed how it has affected the development of the country today.

All the participants were welcomed by the Vice Rector of the University, Rev. Fr. Pablo T. Tiong, O.P. The Keynote Address was delivered by Hon. Nazarita T. Tacondong, RPh, MPA, the acting director of the Food and Drug Administration. Of the 16 papers presented, 8 were delivered by Filipino researchers while the other 8 were by Spanish researchers. The speakers were: Prof. Ma. Luna,Ph.D. and Prof. Yolanda Robles, Ph.D.,from the University of the Philippines, Prof. Priscilla M. Torres, Ph.D., Prof. Rosalinda Solevilla, Ph.D., Prof. Beatrice Guevarra, Ph.D , Assoc. Prof. Rosie S. Madulid and Prof. Romualdo M. del Rosario, Ph.D. from the University of Santo Tomas , Mr. Pio Andrade Jr. from Arellano University and Dr. Kenneth Hartigan-Go from the Ateneo de Manila University. Prof. Francisco Mulet Zaragoza, Prof. Jose Maria de Jaime Loren, Ph.D., Prof. Juan Ferrer  Llussar, L.Ph , Prof. Vicente Vicent Lopez, L.Ph., Prof. Jose Maria de Jaime Ruiz and Prof. Eva Blasco Julve are from the Universidad de CEU Cardenal Herrera in Valencia, Espana. Prof.Emilio Benedicto Gimeno, Ph.D. from Centro de Estudios del Jilioca Calamocha, Teruel, Espana, and Prof. Pablo de Jaime Ruiz, Ph.D.from the Universidad de Zaragoza, Aragon, Espana.

Some of the topics discussed were: The Faculty of Pharmacy during the Spanish Period, Pharmacy Curricular Developments Through the Years, Anacleto del Rosario y Sales: First Filipino Chemist-Pharmacist, Fr. Marcos Lainez Hernando, O.P.: Evolution and the New Chemical Theories in the Philippines, The Friars and the Philippine Medicinal Plants,  Medical Products Used in the Pharmacy of the Hospital Real de Manila in the Year 1795 and their Survival in the Actual Spanish Pharmacy, Exchange of Medical Products between Mexico and the Philippines at the Beginning of the 19th Century,Honey and Pharmacy: the Origins of Apiculture in the Philippines Filipino Pharmacists in the Diccionario of Rafael Roldan, Pharmacovigilance: It’s History, Science and Impact to Health Systems.

The Conference proved to be a success for it stirred further interest not only among the researchers to continue what they have started as they realized that some of their “missing materials” are found in the Miguel de Benavides Library,  but also for the participants to start a research of their own.