A delegation led by the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Poland His Excellency Dr. Tomasz Rzymkowski visited the University of Santo Tomas for a courtesy call. The Secretary-General, Rev. Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P., EHL, graciously received the guests on behalf of the Rector Very Rev. Fr. Richard G. Ang, O.P., Ph.D., on 27 June 2023, at the Rector’s Hall.
Dr. Rzymkowski, who also serves as the Government Plenipotentiary for the Development and Internationalization of Education and Science and a Member of Parliament, was accompanied by the Deputy Director from the Ministry of Education and Science, Mr. Przemysław Skrodzki; Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Poland in Manila Mr. Jarosław Szczepankiewicz, and Embassy Intern Ms. Isabel Borwoska.
UST Office of Public Affairs Director Asst. Prof. Joreen T. Rocamora, Ph.D., the Executive Assistant of the Office of Secretary-General Mr. Emmanuel Batulan, Ph.D., and the Assistant to the Director for Public Affairs Ms. Michaella O. Lagniton, welcomed the visitors.
Part of the discussions during the courtesy call included possible points of further collaboration and new scholarship opportunities. The delegation also met the UST Prefect of Libraries Rev. Fr. Ángel A. Aparicio, O.P., Assistant Prefect of Libraries and Acting Archivist Rev. Fr. Gaspar Sigaya, O.P., Miguel de Benavides Library Chief Librarian Ms. Ma. Cecilia Lobo, and Head Book Restorer Ms. Ginalyn Santiago.
Fr. Aparicio also updated the delegation with regards to the ongoing collaboration between the University of Santo Tomas and the Embassy of Poland on the restoration of a rare first edition copy of Nicolaus Copernicus’ book on heliocentrism, which is a Polish cultural treasure housed within the UST Archives.
