The royal and pontifical University of Santo Tomas, or UST, is a Roman Catholic private university. St. Thomas Aquinas is the university’s patron, while the patroness is St. Catherine of Alexandria. It was founded on 1611 by Miguel de Benavides and it is considered one of the biggest Catholic universities in the world.
UST is composed of a number of autonomous faculties, schools, colleges, and institutes. Each confers undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate degrees, as well as basic education units.
The university is presently situated in España, Manila, Philippines and occupies an area of 220,000 square meters. It houses a mixture of old and recent architecture that includes the various buildings for different colleges. The College of Education and the Conservatory of Music are both in the Albertus Magnus building, the College of Science is in the UST Main Building, the College of Architecture and the College of Fine Arts and Designs are located at the Beato Angelico, the College of Commerce and Business Administration at the St. Raymund de Peñafort building, and the College of Nursing and College of Rehabilitation Sciences are at St. Martin de Porres building.
Student Life and Culture
Thomasians are generally level headed and are known to have diverse but interesting personalities. They are principled, resourceful, and disciplined. Majority of the students who go to UST comes from middle-income family and others are even self-supporting.
The culture that the university promotes is the one that highlights Christian morals and values. The different traditions are aimed at giving balance to the life of the students while upholding camaraderie and creativity. Some of the events that are being celebrated include the Misa de Apertura, the Thomasian Welcome Walk, the USTv Students’ Choice Awards on TV, UST Paskuhan, and the UST Baccalaureate Mass, the Ceremony of the Light, and the Sending Off Rites.
Student Organizations in UST
Because the population of UST is composed of students with different personalities, interests, and orientations, the list of the organizations that they can join in is vast. The most prominent one is the UST Central Student Council; others are Batas Tomasino, Youth for Christ or YFC, UST Community Achievers Association or COMACH, MEDIARTRIX, Musikang Sikat ng mga Tomasino or MUSIKAT, People Undertaking Reforms for Excellence or P.U.R.E., Red Cross Youth Council or RCYC, UNESCO Club of UST, UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe, UST Pax Romana Central Coordinating Council, UST Medical Missions Inc., UST Mountaineering Club, UST Scarlet-Filipino-Chinese Organization, UST Alpha Kappa Rho Fraternity, UST Alpha Kappa Rho Sorority, UST Tau Gamma Sigma Sorority, UST Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity, UST Unicef Volunteers, UST Tiger Dragons Towing Crew, UST Yellow Jackets, UST Yoga Club, and many more.
The UST Growling Tigers is a member of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines or UAAP. Its original name is “Glowing Goldies” but was renamed Growling Tigers starting the 1992-1993 season. The team of the women is known as “Tigresses.” while the high school teams are called the “Tiger Cubs.”
The organizations and activities that UST offers are quite helpful in developing the students to become better members of the society. Joining worthy clubs further develops not only the skills of the Thomasians but their confidence as well.
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