Did you know that December 7 is a very important day in the Faculty of Pharmacy for the last 72 years? It was on this day in 1948 that:

The second Botanical Garden of the University was inaugurated with the Director of the National Museum, Dr. Eduardo Quisumbing as the guest speaker. This Botanical Garden was prepared after the first garden was destroyed during the WWII. Fr. Lorenzo Rodriguez, OP envisioned the second Botanical Garden to be a scientific garden not only for pharmacy student but for all who are interested in plants. He wanted the university to be known as a, “university within a beautiful scientific and functional botanical garden.” Indeed, Fr. Rodriguez took pleasure in using the botanical garden as hands-on laboratory where he sometimes delivered his lectures. In 1971, an estimated 800 species of flora were recorded in a plant directory which was prepared by the Botanical Institute of the University which Fr. Rodriguez himself has organized. This garden was dedicated to the memory of the great botanists and pharmacists’ alumni of the University. Since its inauguration, several activities for its continuous improvement were initiated. First was in 2001 where a butterfly garden was built, and the botanical garden redesigned to showcase the lowland Philippine flora. Since then, the garden has become a special place for the Thomasian community to enjoy. Through the eyes of the FOP, the garden is not merely a serene place to relax but also a crucible of botanical learnings. Thus, it is a must for it to be preserved. On October 12, 2015, Dean Aleth Theresse Dacanay officially requested the UST administration for the FOP to be granted the privilege of fully supervising the garden – a big leap of faith and a huge responsibility to carry. Recognizing the tireless effort of the FOP to uphold the grandeur of the garden, Rev. Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. granted this privilege to the Faculty of Pharmacy with the Dean spearheading the committee for the reinvention and re-establishment of the garden as a beautiful scientific and functional botanical garden previously envisioned by Fr. Rodriguez. The Botanical Garden is currently being revitalized in celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Faculty of Pharmacy in 2021. This is through the efforts of the Faculty of Pharmacy, again spearheaded by Dean Dacanay. As a distinguished botanical garden in the Philippines, the Botanical Garden became a member of the Botanic Gardens Conservation International which is the largest network of botanic gardens and plant conservation experts in the world.

These are the two major events that happened on December 7, 1948- ang Dalawang Syete sa Disyembre ng FOP!