A total of 164 members of the UST support staff from its 538-strong
force were honored at the annual Hiyas ng UST Awards 2018, which is now
on its 11th year. This year’s theme was “Mga Kawaning Tomasino: Namumuhay Nang Banal, Naglilingkod Nang May Pagmamahal!” The afternoon event started with a Thanksgiving Mass, in celebration of
the feast day on May 1 of St. Joseph the Worker, patron saint of workers in general, and the UST support staff in particular.
The Eucharistic Celebration was presided by the Very Rev. Fr. Rector Herminio V. Dagohoy, O.P., together with the other Dominican Fathers.
In his homily, the Rector paid tribute to the love and selflessness manifested by the UST Support Staff, specially the Service Awardees who have remained loyal to the University.
“If UST will be asked to show the works of the Father, then all we have to do is to parade all our Support Staff who have been dedicated and faithful to the ideals and thrusts of the University of Santo Tomas,” the Rector told a crowd of more than 300 employees.
“You are the unseen and unsung heroes of UST,” the Rector added. As he
ended his heartwarming reflection, Fr. Dagohoy reminded the Support Staff to always put love in whatever tasks they are assigned to do. “Kapag ang gawa ay walang pagmamahal, hindi ‘yan nagpapabanal.”(If work is done without love, it does not lead to holiness.) After the Eucharistic Celebration, the program proper ensued. For his opening message, Vice-Rector Rev. Fr. Richard G, Ang, O.P., challenged the employees “to continue to have passion in their profession and vocation.”
The awards presented were: Special Award for Punctuality, Special Award
for Achievement, Service Award, St. Joseph the Worker Award, and the Most
Outstanding Employee of the Year Award.
The first to be recognized with the Special Award for Punctuality were 110
employees who received their Certificates of Recognition from UST Secretary-General Rev. Fr. Jesús M. Miranda, Jr., O.P., assisted by Samahang Manggagawa President Restituto D. Llamas.
Also given the Special Award were Catalina S. Barte, Academic Clerk of the Office of the Registrar, for having passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers held on September 24, 2017; and Abegail Martha S. Abelardo for
presenting a research paper titled “Mediations and Social Consequences of a Distance Education Program among Aetas of Bamban, Tarlac” during the First International Conference on Culture-Based Education in the context of
ASEAN Integration held from December 1 to 3, 2017. Abelardo is the Office Assistant for Community Development, UST SIMBAHAYAN Community Development Office.
The St. Joseph the Worker award was given to employees who are punctual and who have not incurred any absence from work. Awarded were:
Jessie D. Carreon, a Laboratory Assistant of the College of Rehabilitation Sciences; Alexander L. Perez, an Office Clerk of the Faculty of Medicine
& Surgery; Joel D. Ovejera, a General Clerk of the Faculty of Medicine & Surgery; and Jomar C. Tolentino, a Technical Aide of the Miguel
de Benavides Library. Each awardee received a plaque and cash from UST Vice-Rector for Religious Affairs Rev. Fr. Pablo T. Tiong, O.P. The Most Outstanding Employees for the year 2017 were: Professional Category: Angelita R. Guinto, a Publication Clerk of the Ecclesiastical
Publications, Technical Category: Isagani H. Manalo, a Laboratory Assistant of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Skilled Category: Raul T. Tindogan, a
Utility Man of the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics. The awardees received a plaque, a token and cash from UST Rector Very Rev. Fr.
Herminio V. Dagohoy, O.P., and UST Vice-Rector Rev. Fr. Richard G. Ang, O.P.
A total of 45 employees received plaques as ‘Service Awardees’ from University administrators and academic officials. Three were 15-year
awardees who received their plaques from Rev. Fr. Joaquin F. Valdes, O.P., and Prof. Cheryl R. Peralta, DrPh; 15 were recognized for having served the University for 20 years and received their plaques from Rev. Fr. Rodel S. Cansancio, O.P., and Prof. Editha A. Fernandez, Ph.D.; six received their awards from Rev. Fr. Reynaldo Adalid, O.P. and Prof. Maribel G. Nonato, Ph.D., for having rendered 25 years of service to UST; four individuals received their plaques from Rev. Fr. Angel Aparicio, O.P., and Assoc. Prof. Imelda A. Dakis, M.D.; 14 had served UST for 35 years and received their plaques from Rev. Fr. Rolando M. Castro, O.P. and Prof. Philipina A. Marcelo, Ph.D., while three who have served the University for 40 years received their plaques from Rev. Fr. Dexter A. Austria, O.P., and Asst. Prof. Maria Cecilia A. Tio Cuison
