The Faculty of Pharmacy (FOP) of the University of Santo Tomas, a premier institution of higher learning that has shaped the Philippine educational landscape and the Filipino professional, is celebrating its sesquicentenary with the theme “Dreaming beyond our seeing.” In a grand celebration, the three departments of the FOP – Pharmacy, Medical Technology and Biochemistry – have joined hands in lining up a program of events that will not only bring to mind God’s unending grace to the Faculty but will also pave the way for new significant endeavors. 

On January 28, 2021, the year-long festivities will commence with the Opening Ceremonies to official kick-off the celebration. This will be followed by worthwhile events specially designed to highlight the FOP as a pioneer institution. The 1st International Congress on Collaborative Education and Research in Healthcare (ICCERHC) will be held on March 9-12, 2021. This congress will bring together experts in the field of Pharmacy, Medical Technology, and Biochemistry from all over the world. The FOP alumni will be put on the spotlight at the Distinguished Alumni Awards (May 29, 2021) and the Grand Alumni Homecoming (October 9 and December 5, 2021). A fund-raising drive, tagged as 150 for 150, was already launched to give financial support to 150 deserving students of the FOP. A Grand Medical Mission will be held on October 10, 2021 to give back to the community. Other programs lined up are the Purple Ribbon Awards and Recipio Activities. In connection with the FOP’s sesquicentenary, the three departments will also hold activities relevant to their programs.

The Pharmacy Department will hold the Don Leon Ma. Guerrero Memorial Lecture, Pharmacy Internship Forum, Clinical Pharmacy Practice Training-Workshop, and Conference on Contemporary Areas of Pharmacy. The Department will also launch its Kasambotika Towards 150 program for the free training of Pharmacy Aides. Pharmatalk (a Balik FOP program) will also be held throughout the celebration. The Medical Technology Department will be holding Gracias 2020 Appreciation Day for its stakeholders, as well as several Discurso webinars on current and relevant Medical Technology disciplines (a Balik FOP program). The Biochemistry Department will be holding a series of webinars tackling important topics in their field.

The sesquicentenary will conclude with a 4-day Closing Ceremonies on December 4 – 7, 2021 with events such as Retracing My Roots (A Walk to Remember), Pharmacy Botanical Open Garden, Grand Alumni Homecoming, Family Day, 150 miles for 150 Fun Run, Fr. Lorenzo Rodriquez Memorial Lecture, Pharmacy Fair and Open house, Vin d’ Honneur and the launch of the Sesquicentenary Coffee Table Book. Indeed, it is a busy year for the Faculty of Pharmacy as it celebrates its 150 years of significant existence.