UST Main Building

The Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, The Catholic University of the Philippines, is a private Roman Catholic university run by the Order of Preachers in Manila. Founded on 28 April 1611 by the archbishop of Manila Miguel de Benavides, it has the oldest extant university charter in the Philippines and in Asia and is one of the world's largest Catholic universities in terms of enrollment found on one campus. UST is also the largest university in the city of Manila. As a Pontifical University in Asia, 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.

The University is composed of several autonomous faculties, colleges, schools and institutes, each conferring undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate degrees, and the basic education units. Several degrees have been accredited by the Commission on Higher Education as Centers of Excellence and Centers of Development.


The Patron of the University is St. Thomas Aquinas, while St. Catherine of Alexandria is the Patroness. Prominent Thomasians include saints, Philippine presidents, heroes, artists, scientists, professionals, and religious figures, who have figured prominently in the history of the Philippines. The athletic teams are the Growling Tigers, members of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and are consistent winners of the Overall Championship.

Locations

The oldest university school in the Philippines, University of Santo Thomas, is located in España, Sampaloc, Manila.

Prominent landmarks:

• Arch of the Centuries
• Fountain of Wisdom
• Fountain of Knowledge
• Main Building
• Miguel de Benavides Monument
• UST Miguel de Benavides Library (formerly, UST Central Library)

College Buildings:

• Albertus Magnus Building
• Alfredo M. Velayo Building
• Beato Angelico Building
• Benavides Building
• Main Building
• Roque Ruaño Building
• Saint Martin de Porres Building
• Saint Raymund de Peñafort Building

Medical Buildings:

• UST Health Service
• UST Hospital
• USTH Clinical Division
• USTH-Miguel de Benavides Cancer Institute
• USTH Angelo King Auditorium
• UST Medical Arts Building
• UST Medicine Cinematorium

Museums:

• Dr. Julieta Hayag-Manchanda UST Anatomy Gallery
• UST Beato Angelico Art Gallery
• UST Medicine Museum
• UST Museum of Arts and Sciences

Other Landmarks:

• UST Multi-deck Carpark and Food Center
• UST Buildings and Grounds Office
• UST Central Seminary
• UST Grandstand and Parade Grounds
• Thomasian Alumni Center (under construction)
• UST Publishing House
• Santissimo Rosario Parish
• Quadricentennial Pavilion
• UST Tan Yan Kee Student Center
• Thomas Aquinas Research Complex (TARC)

Parks and Gardens:

The university built various parks and gardens inside its campus. It includes Plaza Intramuros, Plaza Benavides, Plaza Calderon, Plaza Mayor, Botanical Garden, and Rosarium.

Streets:

The streets of the University were non-existent until March 1960. The prominent university streets are Intramuros Drive, Quezon Drive, and Osmeña Drive.

Getting around Manila City

Manila is the major city in the Philippines. Tourists can go around Manila in many options. Buses, FXs, jeepneys, taxis, tricycles, and pedicabs are available as a mode of transportations in the city. The city is also serviced by the Manila Light Rail Transit System, popularly known as LRT, as distinct from the MRT in other parts of Metro Manila.

Calesas are still used in the streets of Binondo and Intramuros, but mostly for tourists. Which mode of for-hire used depends upon the distance to be traveled, the cost, and the width of the streets.

The Port of Manila, located in the vicinity of Manila Bay, is the chief seaport of the Philippines. The city is also served by the Pasig River Ferry Service which runs on the Pasig River.