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History of Pax Romana
In 1929, barely eight years after the birth of the Pax Romana International Movement, its Secretariat in Fribourg, Switzerland, communicated with the University of Santo Tomas through the Apostolic Delegation in Manila for the establishment of its national chapter in the Philippines.
Difficulties in coordination between the parties and the rising tension among the political powers of Europe before the Second World War hampered advances for its realization.
“UST has invariably considered you as the most important organization in the University, why she has always lavished the best attention and care on you. For indeed Pax Romana, among all student university organizations, stands closest to her mission and therefore closest to her heart.” – Rev Fr. Leonardo Z. Legaspi, O.P., Rector, during the induction of UST Pax Romana officers at the UST Chapel on August 6, 1976.
Since the statutes of the Pax Romana International requires that the national affiliate should be a federation of Catholic university organizations in the country, the Philippine University Catholic Students’ Federation was organized at UST. UST Pax Romana was made a member of this federation.
The Constitution of the Philippine University Catholic Students Students Federation, 1941
With the liberation of the Philippines, a notice was received from the Washington Secretariat which had jurisdiction over Asia for the resumption of Pax Romana activities. Immediately, Rev. Fr. Eugenio Jordan, O.P. appointed Rev. Fr. Aniceto Castañon, O.P. as Moderator and instructed him to reorganize UST Pax Romana.
Rev. Fr. Aniceto Castañon, O.P.
Elected as first set of post-war officers were: Mr. Antonio M. Molina (Law) – President; Mr. Henry Cube (Medicine) – Vice-President; Mr. Dalmacio Guidote (Commerce) – Treasurer; Mr. Eduardo Bengson (Liberal Arts) – Assistant Secretary-Treasurer. Mr. Santiago Artiaga Jr. (Law) was appointed as Secretary.
Its first activity was a gala program centered on the celebration of Philippine Independence with Vice-President Elpidio Quirino as guest of honor and main speaker.
Later, female students were allowed to join. Separate chapters for male and female officers and members were created, each with its own Executive Board and representatives from the colleges.
Antonio M. Molina
Molina was a well-regarded professor, scholar, lawyer and later press attaché and consul at the Philippine embassy in Madrid. At UST, he served as Dean of Civil Law (1960-1966), Director of the Institute of History (1967-1970) and Vice-Rector for External Affairs (1968-1970).
Regular broadcast over Station KZPI every Sunday 6:30 to 7:00 PM was held. The program, named “The Catholic Students’ Radio Hour,” featured doctrinal discussions and Catholic news.
In 1947, UST Pax Romana, following the program of Pax Romana International which focused on dialogues on the intellectual and socio-cultural issues guided by the ideals of Catholicism, started conducting symposia. The first topics were marriage, divorce and labor.
The General Study Club was organized in every faculty and college to formulate a solid Catholic opinion among students. It tackled religious questions and the religious dimensions of social, economic and political issues.
In 1949, Rev. Fr. Angel de Blas, O.P., Rector Magnificus, announced a new fight against Communism and directed UST activities towards Catholic Action. UST Pax Romana actively supported the effort.
In the 1950s, the Catholic hierarchy in the Philippines endorsed the establishment of Student Catholic Action (SCA) in all schools in the country. At UST, the SCA was formed and it engulfed the functions of UST Pax Romana.
In 1955, the UST Pax Romana was re-organized. The work of both organizations were merged, the ultimate ideal being the same, into an entity bearing the name UST PAX ROMANA.
In the Philippines, UST alone became identified with Pax Romana and its intellectual apostolate. However, affiliation with the Pax Romana International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS) could not be attained because UST Pax Romana was not a national federation. UST Pax Romana applied for accreditation with the “Association des Amis de Pax Romana” in 1955 and was granted Friendship Number 521.
The logos of UST Pax Romana
The logo on the left was used until the 1990s
UST Pax Romana envisioned to establish chapters in other universities in the country. Efforts for expansion however did not prosper. It took 23 years for UST Pax Romana to establish its first affiliate at the University of San Agustin in Iloilo City in January 1978.
Major changes in the organizational structure were implemented with the creation of the following:
- Central Coordinating Council (CCC), with two sets of officers, for male and female chapter, composed of all the senior officers and members
- A Unit in the colleges and faculties
- Senate of Presidents, composed of the Unit Presidents
- The four Sections
- Catechetical – for the imparting of religious knowledge to others
- Religious – for the Christianization or evangelization of society
- Cultural – for the moral and intellectual formation of the students
- Miscellaneous – for activities not covered by the preceding sections
- Advisers
- Supreme Moderator – Rector Magnificus
- General Ecclesiastical Assistant – Dean of the Department of Religion
- Unit Ecclesiastical Assistants – Regent or Asst. Regent
- Lay Faculty Advisers
University of San Agustin
UST Pax Romana continued to conduct symposia and conferences which became the trademark of the organization.
In 1959, the Catholic Church in the Philippines hosted the historic Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Dialogue in Manila under the auspices of International Pax Romana. It was one of the first formal meetings sponsored by Catholics that brought together many leaders of different religions.
The Rector, Dean of the Institute of Religion and Regents concelebrating the Pax Romana mass
In 1968, the male and female groups of UST Pax Romana were unified to effectively carry out its tasks during the visit of Pope Paul VI in 1970, the first papal visit to the University.
Substantial changes in the sections were effected:
- Religious Section became Christian Renewal Section, with stronger emphasize on Christian formation of students.
- Miscellaneous Section became Social Action Section, which focused on the corporal works of mercy.
- Cultural Section ceased organizing symposia and conferences and focused on the promotion of culture and the arts.
On September 21, 1972, with the proclamation of Martial Law, student councils and student organizations were banned. UST Pax Romana remained the only organization allowed to operate in the campus, particularly for its catechetical work. It took over some functions of the students councils.
In 1973, UST started to re-activate student organizations that were managed through the Office of Student Affairs (OSA). UST Pax Romana remained to be directly under the Rector through the Dean of the Institute of Religion.
Pope Paul VI’s visit at UST
November 28, 1970
The role of UST Pax Romana in the university during the early years of Martial Law was bolstered by the active support of Rev. Fr. Leonardo Z. Legaspi, O.P., Rector from 1971 to 1977, and Rev. Fr. Regino O. Cortes, O.P., Dean of the Institute of Religion from 1974 to 1978.
In 1975, UST has accredited about 15 student organizations. In order to closely coordinate and monitor their activities, OSA formed the Student Organizations Coordinating Council (SOCC). UST Pax Romana was made part of the Council and was represented by its CCC President and all ten Unit Presidents.
Very Rev. Fr. Leonardo Z. Legaspi, O.P.; Rev. Fr. Regino. Cortes, O.P.
Egidio Elio presenting to His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin the Thomasian Pledge of Devotion and Loyalty.
In 1976, Egidio Elio, CCC President, was elected as acting Executive Secretary of SOCC. In 1977, he was elected as chair of its Constitutional Convention.
On January 3, 1978, UST Pax Romana officially recognized the University of San Agustin Pax Romana in Iloilo City as its first affiliate organization. Egidio Elio represented UST Pax Romana during the inauguration and presented the Certificate of Affiliation.
In 1990, the Center for Campus Ministry was established. UST Pax Romana was transferred from the Institute of Religion to this new office. At the same time, some functions of the Christian Renewal Section were taken over by the Center for Campus Ministry.
UST Pax Romana received the Pope Leo XIII Award for Communitarian Work in 1977
On May 27, 2020, Egidio Elio initiated the formation of the UST Pax Romana Alumni Association which was inaugurated simultaneously with the induction of its first set of officers on November 28, 2020.
UST Pax Romana received the Pope Leo XIII Award for Communitarian Work in 1977
Central Coordinating Council Presidents
1970-1971 – Freddie Cabuang (Commerce)
1971-1972 – Aurora Argente (Pharmacy)
1972-1973 – Henry Chua (Science)
1973-1974 – No election under Martial Law
Fr. Regino Cortes, General Ecclesiastical Assistant, and Henry Chua (Medicine) as “caretakers”
1974-1975 – Michael Leh (Science)
Nestor Jongko (Engineering)
1975-1976 – Irene Chanbonpin (Science)
1976-1977 – Egidio Elio (Science)
1977-1978 – Narciso Nario Jr. (Arts & Letters)
Mary Jean Villa-Real – Guno (Science)
1978-1979 – Miguel Domingo (Science)
1979-1980 – Edylweiss Balbin (Pharmacy)
1980-1981 – Roberto Galvez (Engineering)
1981-1982 – Ricardo Alina (Architecture)
Elizabeth Cheng-Magalit (Science)
1982-1983 – Ric Verdolaga (Education)
1983-1984 – Timothy Pangan (Science)
1984-1985 – Noel Fortuno (Education)
1985-1986 – Gerard Anthony Catapang (Pharmacy)
1986-1987 – Frederick Parayno (Engineering)
1987-1988 – Arlo Luis Salvador II (Medicine)
1988-1989 – Jephte Munez (Commerce)
1989-1990 – Jephte Munez (Commerce)
1990-1991 – Bighani Naval Jr. (Engineering)
1991-1992 – Loreta Prodon – Mendoza (Pharmacy)
1992-1993 – Jennifer Aquino (Arts and Letters)
1993-1994 – Glenn Nicodemus (Engineering)
1994-1995 – Aileen Rotor (Pharmacy)
1995-1996 – Nolan Parinas (Music)
1996-1997 – Emma Concepcion Antipuesto – Tomanan (Commerce)
1997-1998 – Pompei Umali (Engineering)
Rommel Pozon (Engineering)
1998-1999 – Jennifer Anne Cantre (Physical Therapy)
1999-2000 – Jenny Lou Bermejo (Education)
2000-2001 – Marlon Soriano (Nursing)
2001-2002 – Jennifper Zabala – De Pano (Engineering)
2002-2003 – Analyn Angus (Education)
2003-2004 – Ramona Olga del Rosario – Ko (Science)
2004-2005 – Glenda Gubac (Nursing)
2005-2006 – Nonon Baang (Music)
2006-2007 – Nonon Baang (Music)
2007-2008 – Lloyd Cascabel (Education)
2008-2009 – Vicxen Fernando de Ramos (Education)
2009-2010 – Isidrian Paolo Silva Montes (Arts & Letters)
2010-2011 – Gerald Matthew Eustaquio (Arts & Letters)
2011-2012 – Shena Gladys Baylon (Accountancy)
2012-2013 – Marc Delvin de Quero (Pharmacy)
Gabriel San Juan (Education)
2013-2014 – Charlene Versoza (Nursing)
2014-2015 – Charlene Versoza (Nursing)
2015-2016 – John Angelo Dizon (Engineering)
2016-2017 – Paulo Brillo (Pharmacy)
2017-2018 – Paulo Brillo (Pharmacy)
John Derick De Recto (Accounting)
2018-2019 – John Derick De Recto (Accountancy)
2019-2020 – Jeremy Evan Balusero (Commerce)
2020-2021 – Charles Francis Julian (Information and Computing Sciences)
2021-2022 – Estelle Janeth Bonilla (Science)
2022-2023 – Alyssa Cambaling (Pharmacy)