UST at 400
The University of Santo Tomas will celebrate its Quadricentennial on 2011. UST started its countdown to 2011 (4 horas, 4 dias, 4 hundred days, 400 taon) last December 18 with a grand celebration at the UST Grandstand.
The theme of the grand event is “400 Years Celebration of Unending Grace”. During the festive countdown, the Quadricentennial Prayer, the Quadricentennial Song, the Quadricentennial Flag, the Quadricentennial countdown clock and the Quadricentennial mascot were launched.
Rev. Fr. Isidro “Tito” Abaño, OP, the Executive Director for the Quadricentennial Activities and Highlights, said “I’m inviting all the Thomasians, the alumni, the students and friends to participate in this historical event because it is not only the history of UST but also the history of the Philippines.”
UST is a Pontifical and Royal University as it is recognized by Rome. It is run by the Order of Preachers and founded on April 28, 1611 by Archbishop Miguel de Benavides.
It was given the title “Royal” by King Charles III of Spain on 1785; “Pontifical” by Pope Leo XIII on 1902 in his constitution, Quae Mari Sinico, and the appellative “The Catholic University of the Philippines” by Pope Pius XII on 1947.
“Being a pontifical university is not just nominal. It’s actual,” said Fr. Tito.
UST is the only university to have been visited by two popes three times: once by Pope Paul VI on Nov. 28, 1970 and twice by Pope John Paul II on Feb. 18, 1981 and January 13, 1995.
It is also the only university that offers ecclesiastical degrees. UST also houses in its archives Copernicus’ books, one of the only four in existence in the world.
The first printed book Doctrina Cristiana that is now in the US Library of Congress will be part of the exhibit of the UST in 2011.
Jose Rizal’s report card while still a student at the university will also be viewed for the first time in 2011.
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