University of Santo Tomas
The University of Santo Tomas, established on April 28, 1611, is the oldest existing university in Asia and the Philippines, and one of the largest Catholic universities in the world. The campus consists of 220,000 m² in metropolitan Manila and enrolls thousands of native and foreign students. It was started by the Spanish Archbishop of Manila in the early 17th century as a seminary for aspiring young priests, taking its name and inspiration from St. Thomas Aquinas. In the last four centuries, the university grew into a full pledged institution of higher learning, conferring degrees in law, medicine and various academic letters.
Its name includes the title The Pontifical and Royal Catholic University of the Philippines. These are appellations granted by King Charles III and various popes throughout the years.
UST has the reputation and distinction of graduating many of the country’s historical elite, in business, politics and the clergy. Many of the educated members of the 19th century independence movement came out of the university as lawyers, journalists, writers and priests. The campus itself is a bastion of conservatism, its administrators and students traditionally protecting status quo in defense of the Spanish against the British in the 18th century and local insurgents throughout the occupation years.
During World War II, the Japanese converted the campus into a concentration camp for civilians, foreigners and POWs. After the war, the university resumed its mission and continues to be one of the more prestigious universities in the country.