St. Thomas of Villanova Institute, Inc.

Yesterday, May 1st, was a day of 'restless hearts' finding fulfillment in wisdom.

Huge congratulations to our brothers, who successfully defended their theses! In the spirit of St. Augustine, they’ve shown that the pursuit of truth is a journey worth taking.

Postulant Lemuel P. Romagos – An Exposition of the Concept of Élan Vital according to Henri Bergson (Adviser: Mr. Joseph A. Guillermo)

Postulant Lee John S. Ramirez – Simone de Beauvoir's Role in the Life of Seminarians (Adviser: Mr. Wilzel A. Adriatico)

We are so proud of your dedication to your studies and your formation. May your 'Élan Vital' continue to burn bright in your journey.

LOOK!
The Institute’s students recently concluded its Literary Day—a two-day celebration of intellect, eloquence, and Augustinian reflection—held on October 8–9, 2025.

The first day featured the Essay Writing, Extemporaneous Speech, and Poetry Recitation Contests, where aspirants and formandi demonstrated both intellectual depth and spiritual insight.

Participants included:
Essay Writing Contest: Post. Ramirez, Asp. Paraiso, Asp. Casicas, Asp. Bonares, and Post. Pilon.
Extemporaneous Speech Contest: Asp. Molero, Asp. Nieto, Post. Encinas, Asp. Verano, and Asp. Paril.
Poetry Recitation Contest: Asp. Layos, Asp. Albo, Asp. Salares, Asp. Tesado, and Asp. Castanares.

The celebration continued today, guided by the spirit of St. Thomas of Villanova. The Debate Contest challenged participants with a profound philosophical question—“Is the digital world real?”—inviting them to apply the Augustinian pursuit of Veritas to the realities of modern existence.
CON Team: Asp. Cuenca, Asp. Del Rosario, Post. Ramirez, and Asp. Servallos.
PRO Team: Post. Amit, Asp. Verano, Asp. Paraiso, and Asp. Guides.

Following the debate, the Declamation Contest showcased the emotional and rhetorical power of the spoken word, with compelling performances from Asp. Adlawan, Asp. Alcoy, Asp. Fedillaga, Asp. Lariosa, and Asp. Onis.

This two-day Literary celebration not only honed the seminarians’ communication and reasoning skills but also deepened their commitment to embodying truth, compassion, and hope in their Augustinian formation.

The Institute’s College students visited the Bahay Consuelo House of the Elderly in Novaliches, Caloocan City, today as part of their Outreach Program. The visit aimed to foster relationships and camaraderie among the elderly sisters. Upon arrival, the college brothers hosted a joyful program filled with songs, dances, and theatrical performances that brought smiles and laughter to everyone present.

The experience at Bahay Consuelo was truly heartwarming, nurturing a spirit of compassion and unity. As St. Augustine reminds us, “Each of us had something to learn from the others and something to teach in return. Friendship, which draws human beings together in a tender bond, is sweet to us because out of many minds it forges a unity.” (Confessions)

Inspired by St. Thomas of Villanova’s example of charity and service to the poor, this outreach embodies the Augustinian call to live in community, to love selflessly, and to see Christ in others—especially in the most vulnerable.

On the first day of STVI Week, October 6, 2025, Augustinian College seminarians, together with their formator, Institute staff, and some faculty members, embraced “Lakbayan” led by Manila Water. Through a Tree Planting Program at the La Mesa Nature Reserve, our brothers cultivated 1,000 seeds and participated in a watershed tour at La Mesa Dam and Reservoir, deepening their commitment to stewardship and reflecting on God’s gift of creation. The group also visited the Manila Water Balara Treatment Facility 2 to learn about the water filtration process, further appreciating the value of clean and sustainable water resources.

Inspired by St. Thomas of Villanova’s life of generosity, compassion, and concern for the common good, this activity echoes his call to live out charity not only toward our neighbors but also toward the environment—our shared home. It reminds us that caring for creation is an act of love rooted in faith and service.

Today, September 13, 2025, the Institute conducted a Seminar on Video and Photography at the San Agustin Center of Studies (SACS) Conference Room. The seminar was facilitated by Mr. John Raymond Lim, owner of JL Perspective and Visuals, a professional photography studio. Mr. Lim is an experienced wedding photographer and videographer, known for his creative eye and extensive expertise in the field.

The event was made possible through the initiative of Mr. Kevin M. Rosal, who proposed the seminar as part of his Living in the IT Era class.

The seminar was attended by the Institute’s Officer-in-Charge, Rev. Fr. Ronnel Ian M. Garcia, OSA, along with friars, students, faculty members, and staff of the Institute.

The audience learned the Types of Photography, the importance of Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO as the fundamentals factors of a photo, various kinds of Composition such as the "Rule of Thirds", "Golden Ratio", "Leading Lines", and many more. Mr. Lim shared his professional knowledge about the "magic" of taking aesthetic photos especially in a film camera and shooting videos. He emphasized that every picture tells a story, and that a powerful image communicates its message clearly and emotionally. One of the key takeaways from the seminar was a quote shared by Mr. Lim:

"Your first 1000 photos are your worst." — Benson
Make your 1001st the best!

The seminar proved to be a meaningful experience for all attendees, inspiring many to look at photography not just as a technical skills, but as a powerful form of storytelling.

𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐒𝐭. 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐨 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲

Two graduating students from St. Thomas of Villanova Institute in Quezon City participated in the 2025 Commencement Exercises of the University of San Agustin, held in Iloilo City on July 5. This marked the first joint graduation celebration since the institute became an affiliate of the university in 2002.

The event was led by Fr. Frederick C. Commendador, O.S.A., former president of the University of San Agustin and current director of St. Thomas of Villanova Institute.

The graduates were Rejemel M. Abella from Cebu City, Cebu, and Christian Lendelud L. Delcampo from Compostela, Davao de Oro. This year’s ceremony carried the theme: “𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘉𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘓𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘴: 120 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘶𝘨𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘌𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦.”

In his commencement message, Fr. Arnel S. Dizon, O.S.A., emphasized the lasting value of education, stating, “Learning is without borders, and building connections is without limits.”

Prior to the main graduation rites, the students from the institute joined the Baccalaureate Program on July 3 at the university auditorium, centered on the theme: “𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯: 120 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘶𝘨𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘌𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘌𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦.” They also attended the Baccalaureate Mass on the morning of July 7.

Yesterday, we joyfully celebrated the 50th birthday of our beloved Institute Director, Fr. Frederick C. Comendador, OSA. Surrounded by his loving relatives from Cebu, our dedicated faculty and staff, the friars, and members of our vibrant community, it was a day filled with gratitude, laughter, and shared memories.

Fr. Migo, your leadership, wisdom, and unwavering faith continue to inspire all of us. May God bless you with many more years of health, happiness, and service. Here's to celebrating you—not just today, but every day!