Their present research examines the evolving relationship between Catholic higher education and online learning in view of the emergence of artificial intelligence, exploring both the challenges and opportunities AI presents in the context of Catholic higher education institutions. It highlights AI’s fast-evolving role in Catholic universities, comparing global perspectives, particularly UNESCO’s guidelines, with official Catholic Church teachings. Identifying points of convergence and divergence, the research underlines areas where the official Catholic stance on the use of educational technology aligns or disagrees with current global trends, offering insights for educators, church leaders, and policymakers.

As they zeroed in on the topic through UNESCO and Church documents, the Thomasian researchers encountered a strong reticence from the Church in embracing the said technology as it favored genuine human interaction in honing students. At the same time, the article argues that “online learning can promote interpersonal relationships, and virtual networks can be a place of human connection,� as Pope Francis himself acknowledges. As learning institutions worldwide grapple with AI-driven changes, the paper calls for responsible AI integration, while ensuring that human interaction and the Church’s educational mission remain central to learning, helping Catholic higher education institutions align technological progress with their identity and mission.

The study was included in the International Studies in Catholic Education journal Volume 16, Issue 2, 2024. It was published online by Taylor & Francis Group.

Ocampo is also a research associate at the Center for Theology, Religious Studies and Ethics and one of the pioneering instructors in UST’s Mastertrack Specialist Certificate Program on AI Learning and Development where he gives lectures and facilitates workshops on the ethical and responsible integration of AI. Meanwhile, Gozum has published articles on the ethical use of AI, particularly in the healthcare context.

Read the full article here:

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This comprehensive study, commissioned by the CBCP, seeks to assess the current landscape of Catholic Christianity in the country and serve as a foundation for fostering a more synodal Church. The initiative is a collaborative effort between the CBCP and the UST Center for Theology, Religious Studies, and Ethics (CTRSE). Following the presentation, the bishops instructed the research team to coordinate with the CBCP Committee for the National Synodal Transformation to facilitate the implementation of the final document of the Synod on Synodality at the national level.

Although the Synod on Synodality officially concluded in October 2024, its application remains ongoing. In an Accompanying Note to the Synod’s Final Document, Pope Francis urged local churches and ecclesiastical groups to adapt and execute the document’s recommendations within their respective contexts, utilizing the processes of discernment and decision-making outlined by Church law and the Synodal Document itself.

The preliminary findings of the research are set to be unveiled at the National Synodal Discernment Conference in June 2025. This conference will play a critical role in shaping the national synodal implementation framework.

The CBCP-UST research team includes Assoc. Prof. Allan Basas, SThD, Assistant Director of the UST Institute of Religion; Prof. Pablito Baybado, Jr., Theology Program Lead at the UST Graduate School; Dr. Marites Redoña, PhD; and Assoc. Prof. Philip Fuentes. All are faculty members of the UST Institute of Religion and researchers at CTRSE. Serving as consultants for the project are Rev. Fr. Louie Coronel, OP, EHL, UST Secretary General, and Dr. Joel Sagut, CTRSE Director. Additionally, Fr. Echalas and Dr. Baybado are part of both the UST-CBCP Research Team and the Committee for the National Synodal Transformation.

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In his homily, Bishop Sipalay revisited the life of our University Patron, whose life offered a glimpse of Jesus’ resurrection through his pursuit of wisdom.

Moreover, harking at the parable of Salt and Light, Bishop Sipalay urged educators to learn, listen, and affirm the God-given giftedness of their students. “I would suggest the teachers to try to affirm the kind of talents the students have in learning the subject matter. What is important is that we learn to listen and observe the good things the students we have,” Bishop Sipalay said.

“We are like salt and light [that points out] the giftedness they have received in order to point Christ in their lives,” he added.

Within the Mass, the newly hired academic staff who teach theology courses received their academic mandatum, which gave them the canonical mandate to teach. The theme of this event was “St. Thomas Aquinas: Illumined by Truth, Anchored in Hope.”

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The study examines the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies with healthcare, offering a unique perspective rooted in Catholic ethical principles, underscoring the need for AI to improve healthcare outcomes while safeguarding human dignity as well as the integrity and autonomy of medical practice.

In exploring how AI technologies such as machine learning and natural language processing are reshaping healthcare, the article tackles critical concerns such as data privacy, algorithmic biases, transparency, and the moral responsibilities of AI developers and healthcare practitioners. It also emphasizes the importance of preserving patient autonomy and informed consent. Drawing inspiration from Catholic teachings, the authors advocate for a patient-centered vision of care which can be applied in various areas of healthcare practice such as disease diagnosis, personalized treatment planning, robotic-assisted surgeries, and sophisticated health data management.

The article invites healthcare professionals, AI developers, and policymakers to collaborate on creating inclusive, equitable AI healthcare systems that respect the irreplaceable value of every individual person. The authors assert “The Catholic Church’s core tenet is that all people are endowed with intrinsic dignity by being born in God’s image and likeness. Therefore, healthcare AI should be developed and implemented in light of this notion. AI systems created with human dignity in mind would meet the demands placed by patients without treating them as less than data points or algorithms.”

The full article is available online in Journal of Religion & Health. To learn more, visit

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The discussion centered on the importance of philosophy and its relevance to life. According to Gozum, philosophy is not just about thinking critically, but also about finding and implementing solutions to practical problems of society. He added that philosophy is not about making a living, but rather, it makes life worth living. In the same vein, Aguas contrasted the purely academic exercise of philosophy from a philosophy rooted in and relevant to daily life. In line with this, he underlined the importance of civic engagement as a critical component of philosophical education.

World Philosophy Day is celebrated annually every third Thursday of November as set by the UNESCO. In the ¾ÅÉ«, courses in philosophy form an important part of the curriculum, from senior high school all the way to the doctoral level. UST’s Department of Philosophy is one of the university’s best units, recognized in the country as a Center of Excellence. The Department also manages a peer-reviewed and indexed open access journal, Kritike. Meanwhile, the Ecclesiastical Faculty of Philosophy, which is as old as UST itself, has for centuries helped shape future clergymen into becoming astute thinkers ready to minister to the faithful.

The full interview can accessed through this link:

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This conference is also the St. Thomas Aquinas Forum and the 12th Leonardo Legaspi, O.P. Lecture.

To speak in the conference are Dominican priests frs. John William Emery, O.P., Adrian Adiredjo, O.P., and Nicanor Pier Giorgio Austriaco, O.P.

For more details, .

Registration for the Conference (either onsite or online) is free and is now open until February 10, 2025. You may click this link to register: or scan the QR Code provided on the poster. For inquiries, please contact the Secretariat through Email (aquinasconferences@ust.edu.ph) or Telephone (+63-2-3406-1611 loc. 8659.

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The paper focuses on AI’s potential to improve patient outcomes and operational efficiency but emphasizes the challenges related to disparities in AI healthcare access. The authors propose that AI-driven healthcare solutions risk exacerbating existing inequalities, benefiting primarily those in urban and high-income areas while leaving marginalized communities behind. Their research suggests an equitable AI implementation framework, drawing from key principles of CST such as human dignity, the common good, and preferential options for the poor. These teachings, rooted in justice, align closely with the ethical concerns surrounding AI and healthcare.

Using the Church’s commitment to social justice as a guide, Gozum and Flake argue for systemic changes to ensure that AI healthcare technology benefits all communities, particularly the underserved. Their proposal is timely as AI revolutionizes medical fields, from early diagnosis to treatment customization. The authors emphasize that AI must complement healthcare professionals rather than replace them, and call for inclusive healthcare systems that prioritize equitable distribution of AI resources. They also draw attention to the ethical implications of AI algorithm biases, which could disproportionately affect marginalized groups.

This study represents a novel intersection of religion, ethics, and technology, urging both policymakers and healthcare professionals to consider the social impacts of AI and its role in global health equity.

For further details, readers can access the full paper via this link:

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Complying with the Congress’s pledge to diversity, researchers from UST gave talks and took part in panels that broadened the discussion on Filipino philosophy and its role in international discourse. Professor Jove Jim S. Aguas of the Department of Philosophy, Graduate School, and Center for Theology, Religious Studies, and Ethics was a major contributor to the Congress. In addition to moderating and chairing the PAP Society Session titled “Filipino Philosophy in Dialogue: Expanding the Conversation,” Aguas contributed to the Center for Research in Values and Philosophy (CRVP) Round Table Discussion on National Values by presenting a paper titled “The Ambiguity of the Filipino Sense of Nationalism and Filipino Identity.”

In the Contributed Paper Sessions, Thomasian scholars presented their respective papers: 

â—�      Prof. Fleurdeliz R. Altez-Albela, PhD (Department of Philosophy, Graduate School, and Center for Theology, Religious Studies, and Ethics) – “What Is Levinasian in Sustainability?: Sustainability in the Economy of Being Through Levinas’ Third”

â—�      Junior Teacher Blaise D. Ringor, PhD (Senior High School and Ecclesiastical Faculties) – “Education, Christian Values, and the Voiding of Reason: John Henry Newman’s Personalist Education”

â—�      Mr. Christian U. Solis, MA (Senior High School and Graduate School) – “Towards Understanding Fidelity in Marriage and Family: Paul Ricoeur on Man’s Capacity to Promise”

â—�      Mr. Charles Aldrin A. Delgado (Graduate School) – “Christianity as Discomfort: Kierkegaard’s Philosophy of Religion”

â—�      Inst. Ivan Efreaim A. Gozum, MA (Institute of Religion and Graduate School) – “Understanding Filipino Close Family Ties Through Gabriel Marcel’s Mystery of the Family”

Aguas also presented the paper entitled “The Relevance of the Metaphysics and the Notions of Being and Analogy of St. Thomas.”

These talks demonstrated the breadth and depth of philosophical study at UST and the contributions made by Filipino academics to international philosophical debates. Additionally, through one-on-one interactions, the Congress gave Filipino scholars a rare chance to fortify relationships and build mutual trust.

The Congress emphasized Rome’s long-standing position as a crossroads of civilizations, and it began with a ceremony at the ancient Baths of Caracalla. Prof. Luca Maria Scarantino, President of FISP, and Prof. Antonella Polimeni, Rector of Sapienza University, both emphasized the merging of humanistic and scientific cultures in philosophical conversations, reinforcing this subject of interconnection in their introductory statements.

Scholars addressed pressing ethical, social, cultural, political, and spiritual concerns all week long. Topics covered included the ethics of artificial intelligence, with discussions on the implications of AI on human decision-making and the ethical responsibilities of AI developers, and the place of spirituality in secular cultures, with debates on the role of spirituality in a modern, secular society. The Congress featured round table discussions, invited sessions, symposia, contributed paper sessions, endowed lectures, plenary sessions, student sessions, and the FISP General Assembly. The goal of these talks was to question conventional wisdom in philosophy by tackling issues of sustainability, gender and cultural diversity, inequality, and other modern world concerns.

Every five years, the WCP is arranged by the Federation Internationale des Sociétés de Philosophie (FISP) or the International Federation of Philosophical Societies. The WCP is a major conference that brings together philosophers, educators, students, and philosophy aficionados worldwide for a week-long discussion of a certain issue.

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The collaboratory is a four-part webinar series featuring Thomasian experts. Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Cheryl R. Peralta, DrPH provided the overview of Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education on August 12, 2024, while Educational Technology Center Acting Director April Joy M. Gascon, MAN, RN spoke about Innovating Teaching and Learning with AI.

On August 28, 2024, College of Education Assistant Dean Louie B. Dasas, PhD will discuss (Re)Designing Learning Assessments with AI in Mind, while Institute of Religion academic researcher Leo-Martin Angelo R. Ocampo, MA will close the series with the talk “Strengthening Humanity and Human Agency in the Era of Artificial Intelligence,� in a big to refocus the discourse on the role of humans in the use of technology.

Interested participants may register here:

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The ¾ÅÉ« Faculty of Sacred Theology, Institute of Religion, and
Center for Theology, Religious Studies and Ethics are jointly hosting the Theology
Week 2024, which will also feature St. Thomas Aquinas Forum 2024 and 11th Leonardo
Legaspi, OP Lectures.

The event will feature 10 lectures and will happen on March 21-23, 2024 at the George
S.K. Ty Function Halls, 4th Floor, Buenaventura G. Paredes, OP Building, University of
Santo Tomas, Manila.

The speakers are Fr. Nicanor Pier Giorgio Austriaco, OP,
Fr. Ziqiang (Martin) Bai, OP, Fr. Felix delos Reyes, OP, Fr. Jannel N. Abogado, OP, Levine
Andro Lao, Allan Basas, Joel Sagut, Blaise Ringor, Jove Jim Aguas, and Jovito Carino.

Their lectures will center on three important aspects: 1) discussions on the relevance and
legacy of the thoughts of Thomas Aquinas in Asia, particularly in the Philippines; 2)
expositions of the thoughts of selected Thomists who were also Thomasians, that is,
Thomists who taught in the ¾ÅÉ« – the conference will focus on the
Thomasian Thomists of the 19th and 20th centuries; and 3) demonstrations of the lasting
legacy of Thomism in the ¾ÅÉ« through the works of present
‘Thomasians’ especially those teaching in the Ecclesiastical Faculties.

Moreover, Theology Week 2024, with the theme, “Thomism in the University of Santo
Tomas and in Asia: The Legacy of Thomas Aquinas,� is a contribution to the Dominican
Order’s double jubilee celebrations to honor St. Thomas Aquinas, particularly the 750th
anniversary of his death.

This conference is also part of the activities of the Center for Thomistic Studies (CTS),
which was instituted as the University’s response to the declaratio of the Domincians’ 2013
Trogir General Chapter that seeks ‘to develop centers of specialized studies pertinent to the
region wherever the Order is present,’ reiterated by the Provincial Chapter of the Dominican
Province of the Philippines that mandates ‘to strengthen the Thomistic intellectual tradition’
in the ¾ÅÉ« (cf. APC Calamba 2021 178).

The onsite attendance to the Conference is primarily reserved for the Thomasian
community while non-Thomasians are encouraged to follow the event through live
streaming via the FB page of the UST Institute of Religion
(. For questions, please contact
ir.proarc@ust.edu.ph.

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