Last Friday, January 27, the University of Santo Tomas closed its quadricentennial celebration and began its new centennial  in a spectacular manner worthy of the occasion.

There was much to celebrate: four hundred and one years of existence; being the oldest university in Asia, the greatness of many of the university’s alumni and professors— martyrs of the faith, presidents,  Supreme Court justices, legislators, government officials, businessmen/women — the impact on the nation and on the world of its alumni in the different professions, the 45,000 students enrolled in the university at present, and the quality of its faculty and personnel. Indeed, UST is a national treasure, but a living national treasure, a beneficial presence in Philippine society. I must say that I feel a touch of pride in being at least a guest professor in the ecclesiastical faculty of this august institution.

But to go back to the celebration itself—it began with the closing liturgy for the jubilee year and the opening ceremony for its new centennial. The  liturgy flowed into the Mass which was presided over by the president of the CBCP, Archbishop Jose Palma of Cebu, a UST alumnus himself. Concelebrating were Cardinal Ricardo Vidal, Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle, the new archbishop of Manila, Archbishop  Leonardo Legazpi, O.P. first Filipino rector of UST and at present archbishop of Nueva Caceres, Archbishop Soc Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan, who delivered a beautiful homily on UST as mother, and about fifty archbishops and bishops, plus hundreds of Dominican priests and priests-alumni of UST Central Seminary.

Specially moving was the memorial ceremony for the martyred professors and alumni of UST, during which whole congregation lighted their candles, producing a beautiful panorama of little lights  covering the whole UST field. After the Mass,  a 40,000 voice choir, made up of practically the whole student body of UST  did a brief  concert. When the happy singing ended, the fireworks display began, lasting fifteen minutes. It was the most beautiful fireworks display I have ever seen, with the UST gold color predominating.

The bishops and other guests were then ushered to the UST Central Seminary refectory for a delicious dinner, catered by Bizu. During the dinner, we were entertained by a string band, and then by the famous UST choir, which earned a standing ovation from the audience.

I congratulated the UST people that I met. The celebration was exhilarating and uplifting, and despite what must surely have been huge expenses for the occasion, the money and effort spent was well worth it.  UST has done so much good to  our people in the past four hundred years. It has been one of the most potent means for evangelization and  advancement of our people.

At more than  four hundred years old, UST shows no signs of weakening. In fact, it is a refreshingly young and vibrant university where, as the present rector, Fr. Rolando de la Rosa remarked, the effort of learning is joined to the joy of living.

Congratulations, UST, and may you continue to produce men/women imbued with the spirit of Christ and equipped to lead our people to new economic, political and cultural heights. May the unity of wisdom and holiness found in St. Thomas flourish in your professors, personnel  and  students.