The pontifical and royal University of Santo Tomas (UST) is the oldest university in the Philippines and in Asia. It is a private Roman Catholic university founded by Order of Preachers in Manila. Pontifical because it is the only university to have been visited by popes. The university Patron is St Tomas Aquinas and the Patroness, St Catherine of Alexandria. This year they are celebrating it's 400 years of existence and it was so timely for a picture taking (Wikipedia source).
This university is in closed proximity with my Aunt's house in Espana, just a few blocks away from them. I loved the scene here especially at night when the street lights are on and several students on their way home. There are also establishments and restaurants along this boulevard.
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| Arch of the Centuries |
A monument in the UST that is declared by the National Museum as a National Treasure, a symbol of learning, a portal of greatness under which students and alumni including Rizal, Mabini and Quezon have passed. It became now a tradition that all incoming students, as part of their initiation rite into the university, known as the Thomasian Welcome Walk, are required to pass through this arch and candidates for graduation are also required to pass through this arch after their baccalaureate mass. (Wikipedia) According to certain folka I talked with, there is a superstition that one should not pass under this arch until he graduates, if done so an event will happen that will bar you from graduating. Good thing I did not pass through this arch, who knows maybe I will be studying in this university in the future.
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| Walkway to the Main UST Building |
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| 400 years in existence |
Please click.............. Back to My Gay (Misadventure) Manila Trip Part 2
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