The University of Santo Tomas (UST), through the UST Health Service and the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, in collaboration with the Starkey Hearing Foundation, held a three-day Hearing Mission at the UST Central Seminary Gym.

The Hearing Mission, themed “UST is here: UST Hears,” shared the gift of hearing to those in need, empowering them to their potential. Three thousand free hearing aids were provided to those who qualified after an initial hearing assessment, aligning with the University’s Institutional Wellness Program and Starkey’s mission of “So the world may hear.”

The chairman of Starkey Technologies and the Starkey Hearing Foundation William F. Austin, a UST Golden Cross awardee, was personally among the medical professionals and volunteers sharing the gift of hearing with those in need within the Thomasian community and nearby communities in Metro Manila. SHF vice chair and chief philanthropic officer Tani Austin and the leadership of SHF were also participating.

The UST rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P., Ph.D., also expressed gratitude and said, “We honor the tireless efforts of everyone involved in this medical mission and of course the boundless generosity of the Starkey Hearing Foundation. Together these efforts have made this three-day hearing mission a success, a mission that has touched, transformed, and empowered countless lives through the gift of hearing.”

The fr. rector reflected on the common history of UST and the Starkey Hearing Foundation, which launched the “400 years, 4,000 ears” project in time for UST’s quadricentennial anniversary 13 years ago. Since 2011, the partnership with SHF has led to numerous missions benefitting many Filipinos including members of the UST community, he shared, adding that “Small actions matter. Together, many people can turn a difficult and impossible task into a remarkable success. This is the power of our collective action.”

The Starkey Hearing Foundation president Richard Brown also addressed the medical students who completed certification for Ear and Hearing Health Care. “Our founder Bill Austin has always taught us a simple yet powerful philosophy, ‘Better today than yesterday, better tomorrow than today.’ This mindset of continuous improvement is something that I hope each one of you will carry with you throughout your careers, never stopping to be better for yourselves, for your patients, and for your communities. You now have the great responsibility and privilege to help your fellow Filipinos, or wherever your work may take you. You are not just graduates, you are ambassadors of hope and change. Armed with the skills and compassion you develop, you will bring sound into the lives of those who need it most.”