University
AUL to start using the ‘UST’ name soon, university official says
“It is publicly declared: Aquinas University of Legazpi will start using its new name — University of Santo Tomas Legazpi,” the Facebook post said.
A university official made a surprising announcement online about a development on the school’s planned integration with its sister-school — the University of Santo Tomas.
“It is publicly declared: Aquinas University of Legazpi will start using its new name — University of Santo Tomas Legazpi,” the Facebook post said.
The official, Engr. Virgilio Perdigon, is currently the Media and Information Technology Center (MITC) Director of Aquinas University. He had also served as Secretary-General under the Office of the Rector and President.
“On Jan 5, the Rector and President informed administrators that his request to formally use the name UST Legazpi was approved by UST Manila’s Council of Regents. As far as the Dominican Fathers are concerned, the name change is a done deal. Only a response from SEC is awaited which we expect anytime now,” said Perdigon in an online correspondence with AH.
While the University has yet to make an official announcement, another school official confirmed the news, thru the Supreme Student Council.
“The Father Rector has relayed the info that UST Manila has approved AUL’s request to UST. We are now in the process of officially using UST soon,” said Jesus A. Barizo, the Student Services Director, in a post by the council.
As to when exactly the supposed name-change will be official, no detail has been revealed yet. Other official sources inside the admin told Aquinian Herald that the community should still wait for an official announcement from the Rector and President, Fr. Ernesto Arceo, O.P.
Aquinas is one of the Dominican schools who signed a memorandum of intent (MOI) to ‘integrate’ last Dec. 2014, with University of Santo Tomas, Angelicum College Quezon City, and Angelicum School Iloilo, with all the institutions serving as satellite campuses and bearing the name of the four centuries old Royal and Pontifical University, UST.
Since then, the University has been working towards integrating as one campus system with the other Dominican schools who signed the MOI, and in addition, the two more planned UST campuses in Laguna and Gen. Santos. ■ By Aldrin C. Brosas/AH
