Studying the Filipino context, which is steeped in religiosity, ritual, and solidarity, Ocampo stated that locally, 鈥済rieving a loved one is usually a very elaborate affair, involving not just the immediate family but the wider community.鈥� Religious practices, according to Ocampo, play 鈥渁n essential role鈥� in providing accompaniment and comfort to the bereaved. The emphasis on the 鈥渉ope in the life to come鈥� is also underscored within the Filipino faith context.

With the advent of technology, Ocampo delved into the remote means of expressing grief as an alternative to in-person and intimate gatherings鈥攜et these may not align with official Church teachings, which 鈥渁ppears to be ambivalent if not outright negative about online religious practices, presenting a potential disconnection with this ongoing development.鈥� The new study provides a reflection alongside data on how religious practices are entering the digital space.

Ocampo is an academic staff of the Institute of Religion and also is an academic researcher of the Research Center for Theology, Religious Studies, and Ethics.

The research article may be accessed on Springer Nature鈥檚 website:  

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Fr. Ang, who previously served as Vice-President, leads the nine-member officer team, where he is joined by San Beda University Rector-President Fr. Aloysius Ma. A. Maranan, OSB, EdD as Vice-President; University of the Immaculate Conception President Sr. Ma. Marissa R. Viri, RVM as Secretary; De La University President Br. Bernard S. Oca, FSC, EdD as Treasurer; and Saint Louis University President Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, PhD, Adamson University President Fr. Daniel Franklin E. Pilario, CM, University of St. La Salle President and Chancellor Br. Joaquin S. Martinez, FSC, DMin, Ateneo de Davao University President Fr. Karel S. San Juan, SJ, PhD, and University of San Carlos President Fr. Francisco Antonio T. Estepa, SVD, PhD as Board Members.

This marks the return of UST to ACUP leadership, which was previously held by former Rector fr. Herminio V. Dagohoy, O.P., PhD (2013-2015). Meanwhile, the ACUP Secretariat is headquartered in UST through the Office of Public Affairs.

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The team also rediscovered the tarantula species Orphnaecus pellitus, first discovered and described by French naturalist Eug猫ne Simon in 1892. This tarantula species, known to be troglobitic (or an animal that lives entirely in the dark parts of caves), was rediscovered in the Culapnitan Caves, part of the Libmanan Caves Natural Park in Camarines Sur, Bicol.

The rediscovery showed adaptations in the tarantula species, namely, reduced eye size, attenuated limbs, shortened tactile setae, and diminishing pigmentation. According to the study, 鈥渢olerance to hypoxia and heightened sensitivity to ground movements are the other subterranean adaptations observed.鈥� The researchers provide evidence that 鈥�O. pellitus is a true troglobitic tarantula reported worldwide and currently the only one known from Asia.

The rediscovery was published in the article in he journal Subterranean Biology, Volume 52. The team of researchers included Darrell C. Acu帽a, Lorenz Rheum P. Ragasa, Prof. Myla R. Santiago-Bautista, PhD, and Asst. Prof. Leonardo A. Gueverra, MSc of the Faculty of Pharmacy鈥檚 Department of Biochemistry. They are also researchers from the Graduate School. Santiago-Bautista and Guevarra are likewise affiliated with the Research Center for the Natural and Applied Sciences.

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In a June 10, 2025 letter, the Rector, Very Rev. fr. Richard G. Ang, O.P., PhD, called the new consoritum a “mechanism for collaborative planning, innovation alignment, resource sharing, and inclusive development in support of the AANR sectors.” The Rector described joining the AANR consortium to be of “strategic importance” and one that will strength “inter-institutional collaboration and [optimize] regional resources”.

As a founding member, UST will actively contribute to the achievement of the Consortium’s goals by sharing institutional expertise, research outputs, and capabilities. It will likewise help chart the new Consortium’s programs and activities aligned with DOST-PCAARRD and the Department’s strategic pillars.

The new Consortium is composed of UST, Adamson University, Colegio de Muntinlupa, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Quezon City University, Technological Institute of the Philippines, and the Technological University of the Philippines. Attending the signing ceremony was Assoc. Prof. Michael Jorge N. Peralta, MS, Executive Assistant for Intellectual Property and Research of the Office of the Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation and Manager of the Innovation Technology Support Office.

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The new study, entitled 鈥淐onservation of Sustainable Ecotourism on the Island of Siquijor through Sustainable Alternative Livelihoods, Training and Development,鈥� was published in The International Journal of Social Sustainability in Economic, Social, and Cultural Context. The participants, who were inhabitants of the island, favored sustainable ecotourism but expressed the need for intensive capacity-building in both interpersonal and computer skills. In terms of actual livelihood activities, the participants identified housekeeping, healing massage training, and tour guiding/tour car driving as immediate areas of concern. To help manage the desired influx of tourists, the residents likewise expressed the need for basic first aid training.

Santos is the incumbent Chair of the Department of Economics of the Faculty of Arts and Letters, while Ancheta teaches at the Graduate School. Meanwhile, the Garcias are academic researchers of the Department of Biological Sciences of the College of Science.

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The paper 鈥淪hifts in the feeding ecology of the endemic and Endangered Sardinella tawilis in Lake Taal, Philippines鈥� showed that the tawilis, which have been found to feed on zooplanktons,preferred 鈥渃yclopoid copepods and [showed a] noticeable increased preference for Moina micrura, Ceriodaphnia cornuta, and Bosmina fatalis.鈥� This showed a shift from its earlier preference for calanoids. The findings were elicited from an application of stable isotope analysis and gut content analysis.

The new study was published on June 5, 2025 in Endangered Species Research, Volume 57, and was authored by a team of scientists from UST, De La Salle University, University of Rizal System, and the Department of Science and Technology. The authors are: Dale Anthony L. To (UST, DLSU), Asst. Prof. Elfritzson M. Peralta, MSc (UST), Justine R. De Leon (UST), Alexis E. Belen (UST), Lloyd Matthew L. Pineda (UST), Inst. Walled T. Ali (UST), Miguel Angelo F. Dollete (UST), Inst. Ray Allan N. Zafra (UST), Norman Mendoza (DOST), Prof. Richard Thomas B. Pavia, PhD (UST), Assoc. Prof. Dino T. Tordesillas, PhD (UST), Jonathan Carlo A. Briones (UST, URS), and College of Science Dean Rey Donne S. Papa, PhD.

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In the June 2, 2025 joint memorandum signed by Department of Education Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Atty. Fatima Lipp D. Panontongan and Assistant Secretary Malcolm S. Garma, UST was included in the list pilot schools, both public and private, this School Year 2025-2026. In an interview with the Communications Bureau, Senior High School Principal Mary Erika N. Bola帽os, PhD, expressed delight at UST鈥檚 inclusion in the list because 鈥渂eing a pilot school means DepEd sees the kind of work and commitment we put into education. Being part of this pioneering initiative allows us to contribute meaningfully to national educational reforms while ensuring our students continue to receive a future-ready, values-based education.鈥�

Bola帽os further added that UST鈥檚 鈥渓ong-standing tradition of academic excellence, coupled with our strong sense of community and collaboration, places us in a unique position to provide grounded, data-informed feedback to DepEd.鈥� She highlighted the interdisciplinary learning and close collaboration with the tertiary programs and industry partners as potential sources of experience-based data that DepEd may find useful in the eventual national rollout. Being UST鈥檚 largest academic unit with over 5,000 students, UST was classified as a 鈥渧ery large school,鈥� a perfect venue to test the viability of the new curriculum in such setting.

UST, which has implemented six tracks/strands, including the innovative Health-Allied Strand, is now joining the country in the transition to a more streamlined implementation of the curriculum. The Principal allayed concerns on the loss of tracks and strands and the specialized training each brings: “The integrity of our strands and tracks will be preserved. [Instead of strands] we are offering pathways to their chosen career or tertiary program, providing electives that are helpful for them. Our programs, namely Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics; Music, Arts, and Design; Business and Entrepreneurship; Sports and Life Skills; Health Allied and Wellness; and Humanities and Social Sciences, are still there, strengthening the vertical articulation of our SHS programs with the University’s tertiary offerings.”

In an interview with the Communications Bureau, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Cheryl R. Peralta, DrPH stated that 鈥渢he UST SHS program has always been structured as a pre-baccalaureate program. Since its inception and implementation in the University, our SHS strands have been aligned with our baccalaureate degree programs, allowing us to take advantage of our comprehensive degree offerings as a higher education institution to prepare students for their future careers, beginning with their basic education. We are fortunate for the opportunity to conduct inter-level collaborative planning sessions, particularly between baccalaureate and graduate programs, to identify gaps and overlaps in the various curricula and effectively plan curricular modifications to ensure attainment of expected learning outcomes and competencies. We have been doing these collaborative planning sessions since the COVID-19 pandemic, even when we were still operating online, and these allowed us to anticipate concerns much earlier and implement measures to address them sooner.鈥�

Despite the reduction in subjects to be taught, VRAA Peralta added that 鈥淯ST is committed to contextualizing the SSHS curriculum to our institutional approach and available resources, including implementing retooling programs for academic staff to ensure that they will be able to continue teaching in the SSHS curriculum.鈥� The SHS Principal stated: “We are committed to a just and compassionate transition. We are engaging in a comprehensive capacity-building program to upskill and retool our faculty to respond to the curricular shifts.”

On June 11, 2025, the Senior High School rolled out its first retooling session, with more capacity-building sessions expected in the coming month.

Photo Credits: UST Senior High School Professional Development Committee

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Times Higher Education recently released in 2025 Impact Rankings, which saw UST take the #2 spot among Philippine private universities. UST ranked in the #3 bracket or the 601-800, sharing the spot with Saint Louis University Baguio as well as state universities in Caraga, Ifugao, Leyte, and Ilocos Norte.

UST鈥檚 strongest suit was Sustainable Development Goal #5 – Gender Equality, which saw a jump from the 301-400th ranking in 2024. Next were Life Below Water (SDG 14) at 201-300th, Quality Education (SDG 4) at 301-400th and Reduced Inequalities at 301-400th.

While UST鈥檚 rank has held steady since 2021, it has shown improvement in the overall score. The latest edition ranks 2,526 universities from 130 countries or territories based on their contributions to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). According to the THE website, Asian universities 鈥渃laim more than half of all places in the rankings, and 10 out of the 17 individual SDGs rankings are now led by an Asian university.鈥�

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Redo帽a was an invited speaker at the “Dialogic Human Dignity: Legal and Religious Perspectives” international conference in Kyoto, Japan, on June 7-8, 2025. This event was co-organized by Doshisha University’s Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of the Monotheistic Religions (CISMOR) and Brigham Young University’s The International Center for Law and Religion Studies (ICLRS).

This sponsored conference gathered scholars and professors from diverse legal and religious backgrounds to foster a dialogue on human dignity across different times and cultures. The program included sessions with multiple speakers, plenary discussions, and a special panel of religious leaders from Islam, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Catholic Church, which discussed human dignity from their respective traditions. The unique format allowed for a comprehensive and interdisciplinary examination of human dignity.

The Conference hoped to pursue collaborations among the delegates in order push forward the work of promoting religious freedom and human dignity.

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Using the mixed methods tool 鈥淩emittance Investment Climate Analysis in Rural 探花精选towns,鈥� the researchers found that across the six municipalities, there was no common trend 鈥渁mong municipalities that combining a sound investment climate, an ample number of financial institutions, high levels of residents鈥� financial literacy, and an active program for migrants and their families all ensure remittances-induced hometown investing.鈥� The researchers called for instituting investment climate reforms to help ensure that remittances will fuel local development.

The , published in the Asian and Pacific Migration Journal in 2024, was recognized in the 2025 National Academy of Science and Technology awards with the Outstanding Scientific Paper Award.

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