University of Santo Tomas (1611-2011) Lights the World

400 Years

University of Santo Tomas (1611-2011)

Lights the World

Manila, Philippines

Dr. Abe V Rotor

4ooth anniversary celebration of the University of Santo Tomas, the eldest university in Asia, and older than Harvard University in the US. In terms of student population, it is the largest Catholic university in the world in a single campus. The institution was established in 1611 through the initiative of Bishop Miguel de Benavides, O.P., third Archbishop of Manila.

After 400 years, celebration ends, begins a new mark;
UST - pride of the nation and region, of the world;
where great men and women passed under the Arch
of the Centuries, armed with truth and the Word.

Born in the Renaissance, the age of Enlightenment,
bridged Europe across the seas and the Orient;
where cultures clashed, earthly life and the firmament,
humbling them into consequential agreement.

Emerging from the Dark Ages after a thousand years,
you carried on the Greco-Roman influence,
through sword and cross, emblem of your forebears
who forged an East-West confluence.

You lived through trials and triumphed with the nation,

a Lazarus after colonization, two world wars,

of ideologies and faiths, of world order in revolution,

taking neither side but followed the stars.

The world in your campus, long before globalization;

knowledge encompassing in tune with the times,

searching, beyond Galileo, answer to the question,

"Quo vadis humanus?" through inevitable signs.

What bigger challenge UST - idealist, classical, dreamer -

as the world has gone a thousand-fold increase:

with man as sapiens, faber, ludens, spiritus in this order!

Old but firm stands the Arch of the Centuries. ~

   

The UST Hymn

Chorus

God of all nations

Merciful Lord of our restless being

Sweep with your golden lilies

This fountain of purest light

Trace with the sails of the galleons

The dream beyond our seeing

Touch with the flame of your kindness

The gloom of our darkest night

Keep us in beauty and truth and virtues

Impassioned embrace

Ever your valiant legions

Imbued with unending grace.

The official hymn of the University was the winning entry in a national contest held in 1961, the 350th anniversary of the University. Its lyrics were penned by José Maria Hernandez, while the music was by the first Director of the Conservatory of Music, Dean Julio Esteban Anguita, and orchestrated by Fr. Manuel P. Maramba, OSB. As the embodiment of the University spirit, it is played with the intention to bolster morale and present the pride and unity of all Thomasians. Adapted from the UST Protocol Manual (2019)

Dr Abe V Rotor graduated with a Doctorate in Philosophy (Ph.D.) major  in Biology at UST in 1984 with highest honor - Meritissimus.  He served as professorial lecturer at the Graduate School, and Faculty of Arts and Letters until his retirement in 2015.  He has written five books published by UST:  Light from the Old Arch (2000), Living with Nature Handbook (2003) winner of Gintong Aklat Award; Living with Nature in Our Times (2007) winner of National Book Award; Living with Folk Wisdom (2010), Don't Cut the Trees, Don,t (2012), and co-author and editor of other UST publications.~