"Better to lose my empire,” King Philip II declared, “than lose a single soul to the devil.” Spreading the Christian faith was foremost in every royal instruction issued by the Spanish Crown to all expeditions and missions it sent abroad. Christianity is one of Spain’s enduring legacies to the Filipino people.

The Philippines became the only Catholic country in Asia because of this royal resolve to spread the faith and the University of Santo Tomas (UST) is one of the institutions that became the bulwark of Catholicism in the country. To this day, it continues to carry out the royal instruction.

Founded on April 28, 1611, by Archbishop Miguel de Benavidez, the University of Santo Tomas enjoys many distinctions. It is the oldest existing university in the Philippines and Asia and is one of the world’s largest Catholic universities in student population studying on one campus. It is the only Pontifical University in Asia. It is the only university, sectarian or non-sectarian, visited by two Popes – Pope Paul VI on November 28, 1970 and Pope John Paul II on February 18, 1981, and January 13, 1995. St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Catherine of Alexandria are its Patron and Patroness.

The University of Santo Tomas was first named Colegio de Nuestra Señora del Santissimo Rosario. Later, it was renamed Colegio de Santo Tomas. Pope Innocent X elevated it to a university level on November 20, 1645. The University of Santo Tomas was given several distinguished titles. King Charles III bestowed on the university the title “Royal” in 1785, “Pontifical” by Pope Leo XIII in 1902, and “The Catholic University of the Philippines” by Pope Pius XII in 1947. The complete name of the University of Santo Tomas is “The Royal and Pontifical University of Santo Tomas, The Catholic University of the Philippines.”

From a few students in 1611, the University of Santo Tomas today has some 43,000 students enrolled in various degree programs offered by the university.

Saints, heroes, Philippine Presidents, Senators, Chief Justices of the Philippine Supreme Court, scientists, and other dignitaries are among its numerous illustrious alumni.

Growth continues to be a distinctive feature of the University of Santo Tomas demonstrating that this educational institution has remained relevant to the needs and demands of the times. Lately, it has established campuses in Santa Rosa City in Laguna, General Santos City in Mindanao, and Negombo in Sri Lanka.

The University of Santo Tomas will be celebrating its 400th Founding Anniversary in A.D. 2011.

We congratulate the University of Santo Tomas headed by its Rector, Rev. Fr. Rolando V. de la Rosa, OP, its Board of Regents, Officials, Deans, Faculty Personnel, Students, and Alumni, on the occasion of its 399th Founding Anniversary and wish them success in all their endeavors. Mabuhay!