Today in Filipino History: the founding of UST

TODAY IN FILIPINO HISTORY — 28 April 1611: Manila Archbishop Miguel de Benavides, O.P. establishes the Colegio de Nuestra Señora del Santísimo Rosario (College of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary) which years later evolved into the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomás (La Real y Pontificia Universidad de Santo Tomás de Aquino).

The Dominican-run Colegio de Nuestra Señora del Santísimo Rosario was later renamed Colegio de Santo Tomás (College of Saint Thomas) in honor of Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274), patron saint of Catholic schools and one of the greatest philosophers who ever lived. Its first campus was then located within the ancient walls of Intramuros, the original Manila. After receiving a Royal Charter from King Felipe III of Spain in 1611, the school was elevated to university status (pontifical university) by Pope Innocent X on 20 November 1645.

The first courses offered were canon law, theology, philosophy, logic, grammar, the arts, and civil law. In 1871, degrees in Medicine and Pharmacy were offered. One of its noted medical students was José Rizal.

At the onset of 20th century, the Dominicans were given a 21.5-hectare plot of land at the Sulucan Hills in Sampáloc, Manila. It was there where they built a new campus in 1927 which is the site of today’s UST; the original site in Intramuros was totally destroyed during the last days of World War II.

With well-known travel/art blogger Glenn Martínez (right) of Traveler On Foot, taken last 24 November 2018 in front of the Miguel de Benavides Monument at the UST campus in Sampáloc. This bronze monument, made in honor of UST’s founder, was made in Paris and miraculously survived World War II.

Many of UST’s students, professors, and alumni have become saints and clergymen (Saint Lucas del Espíritu Santos, Msgr. Zeferino González, Fr. José Burgos), national heroes (Rizal, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Antonio Luna), presidents (José P. Laurel, Diosdado Macapagal), chief justices (Cayetano Arellano, Andrés Narvasa), and National Artists (Ernani Cuenco, Juan Nákpil).

In 2011, UST celebrated 400 years of existence. It is the oldest university not only in Filipinas but in all of Asia. It is much older than Harvard University  (oldest university in the US), Child & Co. (oldest bank in the UK), Sobrino de Botín (oldest restaurant in the world), the British Museum, the Eiffel Tower, the Taj Mahal, the Iglesia Ni Cristo, Juan Ponce Enrile, and many other centuries-old institutions and establishments.

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