The Formation of an Idea
November 4, 2016
by Gian Paolo Mayo
by Gian Paolo Mayo
Poster by Adrian Aquino
Today we celebrate the 75th founding anniversary of the UST Pax Romana. It is the longest existing organization in the University of Santo Tomas. An organization that stood the test of time, it owes resiliency to its structure. UST Pax Romana adopted the ideals of the Catholic Church and the teachings of the Dominican order in its structure. But we owe its origin in the Pax Romana International, situated in Switzerland.
Because of World War II, the General Secretariat of the Pax Romana International in Switzerland did not have any means to continue their activities in the continent. They entrusted to the North-American Secretariat situated in Washington the first congress of the federation outside of Europe. For the federation, the Philippines were the perfect stepping stone for the expansion in the Asian continent.
The Philippines at that time is a colony of the United States of America. It was also a former colony of Spain, inheriting the rich Hispanic culture and religion. During the Spanish colonization, universities, colleges and schools were built by the religious orders in the colony. One of the universities is the University of Santo Tomas, under the Dominican order. UST was a necessary starting point of the intellectual movement of Pax Romana International. UST was seen as the lighthouse of Christian wisdom and fortress of Catholic morality.
The Secretariat of the Pax Romana International made contact with the university officials as early as 1929. They contacted the Rev. Fr. Serapio Tamayo, O.P., at that time the Rector Magnificus of the university to discuss the creation of an affiliate unit in the university. However, all attempts to create a unit failed from 1929-1939. It was Rev. Fr. Silvestre Sancho, O.P. as the Rector Magnificus, made the important discussions for the affiliation with the federation on his stop-over in Washington D.C. The federation was aware of meeting requested by Michael J. O’Doherty, the Archbishop of Manila, with the delegates of 28 Catholic universities to discuss the creation of a Central Bureau of the Student Catholic Action.
The Philippine University Catholic Students’ Federation was created in 1941. This was affiliated with the Pax Romana International and its mother unit was situated at UST. The mother unit becomes the present UST Pax Romana, after the federation was disbanded because of the outbreak of the war in the Pacific. The UST Pax Romana unit’s first constitution was approved by Rev. Fr. Eugenio Jordan, O.P. and enjoyed the Nihil Obstat by the Archbishop of Manila, Mons. Michael J. O’Doherty on October 30, 1941.
The unit was firmly established in the university under the directorship of Rev. Fr. Francsico del Rio, O.P. on November 4, 1941. The following pioneering members are Mr. Jose de Leon, Sebastian Posadas and Jose Uytiepo from the College of Commerce; and Mr. Rafael Ylana from the College of Engineering. The College of Law’s pioneering members of the organization were Mr. Eduardo David, Angel Sison and Antonio M. Molina, who later became professor and dean in the university. The College of Liberal Arts were represented by Mr. Gonzalo Villaver and Francisco Medina. Mr. Antonio Gisbert, Jesus Bacala, Nello Roa and Jose Locsin came from the College of Medicine. And last but not the least, Mr. Benjamin Canda from the College of Philosophy and Letters. Mr. Restituto de Rivera and Professor Antonio Estrada were the Lay Advisers.
Because of World War II, the General Secretariat of the Pax Romana International in Switzerland did not have any means to continue their activities in the continent. They entrusted to the North-American Secretariat situated in Washington the first congress of the federation outside of Europe. For the federation, the Philippines were the perfect stepping stone for the expansion in the Asian continent.
The Philippines at that time is a colony of the United States of America. It was also a former colony of Spain, inheriting the rich Hispanic culture and religion. During the Spanish colonization, universities, colleges and schools were built by the religious orders in the colony. One of the universities is the University of Santo Tomas, under the Dominican order. UST was a necessary starting point of the intellectual movement of Pax Romana International. UST was seen as the lighthouse of Christian wisdom and fortress of Catholic morality.
The Secretariat of the Pax Romana International made contact with the university officials as early as 1929. They contacted the Rev. Fr. Serapio Tamayo, O.P., at that time the Rector Magnificus of the university to discuss the creation of an affiliate unit in the university. However, all attempts to create a unit failed from 1929-1939. It was Rev. Fr. Silvestre Sancho, O.P. as the Rector Magnificus, made the important discussions for the affiliation with the federation on his stop-over in Washington D.C. The federation was aware of meeting requested by Michael J. O’Doherty, the Archbishop of Manila, with the delegates of 28 Catholic universities to discuss the creation of a Central Bureau of the Student Catholic Action.
The Philippine University Catholic Students’ Federation was created in 1941. This was affiliated with the Pax Romana International and its mother unit was situated at UST. The mother unit becomes the present UST Pax Romana, after the federation was disbanded because of the outbreak of the war in the Pacific. The UST Pax Romana unit’s first constitution was approved by Rev. Fr. Eugenio Jordan, O.P. and enjoyed the Nihil Obstat by the Archbishop of Manila, Mons. Michael J. O’Doherty on October 30, 1941.
The unit was firmly established in the university under the directorship of Rev. Fr. Francsico del Rio, O.P. on November 4, 1941. The following pioneering members are Mr. Jose de Leon, Sebastian Posadas and Jose Uytiepo from the College of Commerce; and Mr. Rafael Ylana from the College of Engineering. The College of Law’s pioneering members of the organization were Mr. Eduardo David, Angel Sison and Antonio M. Molina, who later became professor and dean in the university. The College of Liberal Arts were represented by Mr. Gonzalo Villaver and Francisco Medina. Mr. Antonio Gisbert, Jesus Bacala, Nello Roa and Jose Locsin came from the College of Medicine. And last but not the least, Mr. Benjamin Canda from the College of Philosophy and Letters. Mr. Restituto de Rivera and Professor Antonio Estrada were the Lay Advisers.