The Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Sto. Tomas was established simultaneously with the University itself. It is primarily for the philosophical training of seminarians and religious and serves as a preparatory step towards higher levels of understanding, such as Theology and Canon Law.

    Time passed by, and technology advanced. In the midst of our contemporary society's tendency to defy science and technology there was a sordid depreciation of philosophy. Philosophical speculation has been and still is considered as superfluous, picayune, and even hazardous. Instead of being thought of as the queen of all sciences and as an indispensable foundation for changes in the economic, social, political, and moral arenas, philosophy is being branded as a detriment to man’s endeavor for such progress.

    The result is the diminishing interest in the study of philosophy in our society. Thus arose the need for greater recognition of the enduring relevance and necessity of philosophy in life and culture, and the creation of an atmosphere favorable for the nurturing of this recognition. Therefore, the student body founded in 1979 The Faculty of Philosophy Students’ Forum (FPSF).

    The Faculty of Philosophy organized the FPSF with the main objectives of promoting and supervising the extra-curricular activities of the faculty and to enhance the participation of students in faculty affairs. Ranilo B. Hermida, the first president said the FPSF is designed "to create a forum where students of philosophy could further develop their talents in fields like argumentation, writing, discussion and others through engagement in activities like lecture–fora, symposia, newsletter publication, literary contests, and others on topics and issues intimately related with the curriculum and complementary linked to their training in the philosophical sciences."

    The organization is governed by two central bodies, the Administrative Board and the Board of Directors. The former is the governing body and the latter is the planning and coordinating body. The members of the first Administrative Board were:

President : Ranilo B. Hermida

Vice-President: Geronimo Reyes

Secretary: Renato Lopez

Treasurer: Bernardito Auza

P.R.O.: Ricardo Baccay

The first regular committees and their respective chairmen were:

The Committee on Academic Affairs : Maximo Naron, Jr.

Committee on Literary Affairs : Eugenio Reyes

Committee on Cultural Affairs : John Bumanlag

Committee on Extra-Faculty Affairs : Engelberto Gammad

    The other officers are the Class and Congregation Representatives; Danilo Ulep (Philosophy One), Joel Reyes (Philosophy Two), Ronald Ortega (Philosophy Three), Victor Bendico (Philosophy Four), Romeo Santiago (CMF), Rolando Fernandez (OSC), Joven Esteban (MSC), Tolentino Carloman (RCJ), and Felipe Adube (SDB). Fr. Dionisio Cabezon, O.P., Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy was the Forum Adviser.

    Since then, the FPSF has successfully endured and has lived up to the ideals for which it was formed, although there have been some organizational changes, as in the division of the Committee of Music and Liturgy.

    Through the persistent encouragement of Fr. Norberto Castillo, O.P., dean of the Faculty of Philosophy during the school year 1995-1996, the Literary-Academics Committee of the FPSF revived the journal The Thomasian Philosopher and the newsletter The OWL, the official student publications of the FPSF. The OWL took a magazine format the following school year.

    The intensity of the Lit-Ac Committee was matched the following year by the Music Committee, with the launching of the FPSF Hymn. Titled Philosophy Hymn, Sem. Jason Caldea wrote the lyrics, and a theologian, Sem. Jay Velarde, composed the music. It now enjoys the nobility of being the official hymn of the Faculty of Philosophy. It must be noted, however, that the plan to have an official hymn dates back to the presidency of Sem. Anthony Sarmiento during the preceding year.

    Through the efforts of the past FPSF Executive Board, led by Sem. Val Nalangan, the FPSF has been duly recognized as a Students’ Organization by the Office of Students' Affairs and Community Services (OSACS) of the University of Sto. Tomas. The current Executive Board is renewing this recognition at the same office.

    The latest addition to this history is the launching of the official FPSF website (although, as we're writing this, we're not quite sure this website will actually be up and running). So if you're reading this, the FPSF website opened during the school year 1998-1999. We've got the members of the Atlantis Circle --"Ejlif," "Ereneo," "Sun," "Rodgal" and of course, "LordStein," -- whoever these guys are --- together with the other members of the Lit-Ac Committee (Steve, Noel, Manong), to blame for this mess. And don't forget Sems. Jason Caldea, Luis Pula, Jr., Winsor Calamba, and Amiel Borneo (they're part of this mess too!).

FPSF has taken the leap into cyberspace, but what the heck?

President : Jason Caldea

Vice-President : Hollis Sibal

Secretary : Luis Pula, Jr.

Treasurer : Winsor Calamba

P.R.O. : Heherson Cadatal

COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN

Art : Rodne Galicha

Comelec : Carl Placio

Food : Philip Aniceto Torio

Fund Raising : Kim Reyes

Literary-Academics : Denchu Jose Decino

Liturgy : Aldous Baccay

Music : Ferdinand Asis

Socio-Cultural : Melvin Almonguera

Sports : Jose Gerard Mallabo

Special Services : Knarf Talosig

    The Thomasian Philosopher is the official journal of the Faculty of Philosophy Students’ Forum. This annual contains in a synthesized form the theses written by the Licentiate in Philosophy (Ph.L.) graduates. Furthermore, it also includes philosophical discussions as well as book reviews.

    Aside from The Thomasian Philosopher, the FPSF publishes a bi-annual newsletter, The OWL. This publication serves as the vehicle of information to acquaint the student-members with the various projects of the different committees, their progress, and the activities actually being carried out, and also as a venue where students will have the opportunity to share their ideas with their colleagues and to develop further their literary endowments.

The chair of the Literary-Academics committee heads the editorial board of these two publications. Dr. Elena Polo and Prof. John Jack Wigley serve as advisers.

Words: Sem. Jason Caldea

Music: Sem. Jay Velarde

Thou art the guide of our destiny

Assuring all men hale vitality

Hail to thee paragon of sagacity

The steersman of the way to eternity

Thou art the most sublime quality

Of great men of all nationalities

Oh, how precious is rationality

God’s gift to men as distinct property

Thy quest is nothing but truth alone

To change it is a deception, an illusion

Thy birth is as old as humanity’s first born

How great thou art, O man’s organon

Lead all men of present generation

In search for more veritable wisdom

Satisfy their unending destitution