400 Years and Still Beautiful!

A little fun fact about me: I studied in a University who's celebrating its Quadricentennial Anniversary today.

The University of Santo Tomas (UST), my Alma Mater, is the oldest University in the Philippines. Gosh, it's been 400 years since the first University was founded in our country!

The Main Building (oldest building that the school preserved) houses the College of Science,
a Museum and the Administrative Offices
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The Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas
The Main Building on a normal school day
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One of the three architectures fronting the University's entrance: the Fountain of Knowledge
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The school's architectural centerpiece, The Arc of the Century
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The University is quite huge. Now, this place was where I got a more womanly form from.:

Photo taken from my sister's camera

We call it, "The Grandstand". My former classmates and I jogged the perimeter of this field together with some of our Physical Therapy professors (how cool is that?!! our professors were the ones who encouraged us to stay fit and bribed us with merits if we jogged... now, i learned that on top of the academic merits, i'm reaping the benefits from jogging by having a prettier physique).

Aerial view: that's the perimeter I jog around on.
Don't ask me how many laps though :)
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UST is known for quite a number of things too aside from being really old. Like hosting the "Paskuhan", an annual Christmas celebration held at The Grandstand. This event is famous for free food (for the students, free ice cream for visitors), a variety show, and a lengthy display of FIREWORKS!

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Releasing Lanterns in the Sky in 2010
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That's the Grandstand (where I jog); it's where 'Paskuhan' happens
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Paskuhan is also famous for drawing a HUGE crowd
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Students viewing the fireworks far from the grandstand
(but still inside the school's premises)
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People, not ants...
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My college, The College of Rehabilitation Sciences, has been consistently topping the country's Physical and Occupational Therapy Licensure exams through the years. The year I took my boards was the year when UST once again experienced a 100% passing rate for PT (2003). (another trivia: I was President of the College when I was in my Senior year, I do not want to look back at how I drained myself juggling gruesome academics and demanding extra-curricular stuff).

This is so reminiscent of my college days!
Clockwise: Practical exams (and that's our laboratory uniform),
Learning how to create splints (that's an ankle splint, btw), Research and Thesis, Internship
Collated photos from ustcrs.com

UST Hospital (still inside the campus)
i held internship here, worked here and even became a patient here (Sophomore year)
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Here's a toast to 400 years of excellence and for more years to come. I can never be grateful enough for this University's efforts in striving to become a better place for hopeful dreamers like me. Go, USTe!

Viva Santo Tomas!