He was a full-time professor and was promoted to become Dean of one of the university's oldest schools - the Faculty of Philosophy.

[3] After topping the elections of the Academic Senate from a terna,[4] Ang's name was formally nominated by Master General Very Reverend Father Gerard Timoner III to the Holy See.

Ang's official appointment as Rector Magnificus came after securing papal approval from the Vatican through the Congregation for Catholic Education led by Cardinal Prefect Giuseppe Versaldi and Monsignor Angelo Vincenzo Zani.

Archbishop José Tolentino de Mendonça, the prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education issued the “nihil obstat” declaration, in line with University of Santo Tomas' statutes (art.

Filemon I. Dela Cruz Jr. OP, Prior Provincial of the Dominican Province of the Philippines and University Vice-Chancellor.