UST HISTORY

UST HISTORY
Really, Really Old and Rich

THE SCHOOL was founded on April 28, 1611 by the third Archbishop of Manila, Msgr. Miguel de Benavides, O.P., together with Frs. Domingo de Nieva and Bernardo de Santa Catalina.  Located in the Walled City of Intramuros, it was first called Colegio de Nuestra Senora del Santisimo Rosario and later renamed Colegio de Santo Tomas in honor of the foremost Dominican Theologian, Saint Thomas Aquinas.  It was originally conceived to prepare young men to priesthood.  In 1624, the Colegio was authorized to confer academic degrees in Theology, Philosophy and arts.  Pope Innocent X promoted the College to the rank of a university on November 20, 1645 and subsequently placed under royal patronage in 1680.  
King Charles III of Spain granted the school the title of "Royal University" in 1785 for the loyalty shown by the administration and student volunteers who defended Manila against British invasion.
Pope Leo XIII made the University of Santo Tomas a "Pontifical University" in 1902.
Pope Pius XII bestowed the title of the "Catholic University of the Philippines" in 1947.

UST Library

Through the centuries, proud students and alumni have always called UST by its complete name in formal and official introduction: UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS - The Royal, Pontifical and Catholic University of the Philippines
[Spanish: A la Real, Pontificia y Catolica de Filipinas]

Due to continuing increase in enrollment, the University moved in 1927 from Intramuros to its current location in Sampaloc, Manila.  Since its foundation in 1611, the University's academic life was interrupted only twice: during the Philippine revolution against Spain in 1898 to 1899 and during the Japanese occupation of Manila from 1942 to 1945 when the Japanese military transformed the school into an internment camp.  The main building of UST is "earthquake proof" because egg whites were used and mixed with cement instead of water (?).  Some years ago, a PBS war serial documentary best featured the life and suffering of American soldiers captured and families living in Manila at the time in the internment camp.  At the winding days of World War II, Five-star Gen. Douglas MacArthur visited the soldiers for support and hope.

Recycled Blog Page   August 2014

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AERIAL VIEW OF UST   AUGUST 8, 2014    A lot has changed in 87 years

Bringing back memories of student days, "studying hard" and keeping a low profile in class so as not to catch the attention of my professors.  How I made it till graduation day is a miracle.

Published  9/28/12  ust1611 blogspot
Blog Page: UST HISTORY