UST is one of the leading private Catholic research universities in the Philippines. THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS IS THE OLDEST EXISTING UNIVERSITY in Asia.
In terms of student population, it is the largest Catholic university in the world in terms of student population located in a single campus. The institution was established through the initiative of Bishop Miguel de Benavides, O.P., the third Archbishop of Manila. On July 24, 1605, he bequeathed the amount of P1,500 and his personal library for the establishment of a “seminary-college” to prepare
young men for the priesthood. Those funds, and his personal library, became the nucleus for the start of UST and its library. The founding of the University of Santo Tomas followed on April 28, 1611. The original campus was located in Intramuros, the Walled City of Manila. UST was first called Colegio de Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario, and later renamed Colegio de Santo Tomas, in memory of the foremost Dominican Theologian, St. Thomas Aquinas. On July 29, 1619 the Colegio was authorized to confer academic degrees in theology and philosophy. By November 20, 1645, Pope Innocent X elevated the college to a university. In 1680, it was subsequently placed under the royal patronage of the Spanish monarchy. In 1681, Pope Innocent XI declared it a Public University of General Studies allowing it to confer other degrees. In 1734 Pope Clement XII authorized the University to confer degrees in all existing faculties as well as all others that might be introduced in the future. The Pope also approved the curriculum in the entire field of jurisprudence. During the British invasion of Manila in 1762, the University raised four companies of students and professors numbering 400 men each. These saw action in battles against the British until 1764. The expulsion of the Society of Jesus from the Philippines in 1768 left the University of Santo Tomas as the only institution of higher learning in the islands. In 1785 in recognition of the role of the students and faculty in resisting the British, King Charles III conferred the title of “loyal” to the university and formally granted it the status of a royal university. On May 20, 1865, a royal order from Queen Isabella II gave the University the power to direct and supervise all the schools in the Philippines and the Rector of the University became the ex-officio head of the secondary and higher education in the Philippines. All diplomas issued by other schools were approved by the Rector of the University and examinations leading to the issuance of such diplomas were supervised by the Dominican professors of UST. On September 17, 1902, Pope Leo XIII made the University of Santo Tomas a “Pontifical University”, and by 1947, Pope Pius XII bestowed upon it the title of “The Catholic University of the Philippines”. The University of Santo Tomas is the second university in the world after the Gregorian University in Vatican to be granted the formal title of Pontifical University. The Gregorian University was allowed to assume this title in 1873. The continuing increase in enrolment prompted the administration, in 1927 to transfer the university campus from Intramuros to its present site in Sampaloc district, which covers a total of 21.5 hectares. The Intramuros campus continued to operate until its destruction during the Second World War. Since its establishment in 1611, the university academic life was disrupted only twice: once, from 1898 to 1899, during the second phase of the Philippine Revolution and the Filipino-American War, and for the second time, from 1942 to 1945, when the Japanese Occupation Forces during the Second World War converted the UST campus into an internment camp where around 2,500 allied civilians were detained. Buildings such as the Main Building, the Gymnasium and an annex building behind the Main Building called the Domestic Arts building were used as living quarters. The internees were liberated by U.S. forces on February 3, 1945. Throughout its over 400 years of existence, The University has become the alma mater of four Filipino heroes who shaped the nation’s destiny like Jose Rizal, Emilio Jacinto, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Apolinario Mabini; Philippine Presidents such as Manuel Luis Quezon, Sergio Osmeña, Jose P. Laurel and Diosdado Macapagal; various Chief Justices of the Supreme Court, senators, congressmen, scientist, architects, engineers and writers, all outstanding in their chosen professions. It was visited by two popes, Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II, and various heads of states and foreign dignitaries.
19/08/2026
After nine years that saw the successful transition through the pandemic and various curricular reforms under the leadership of Prof. Cheryl R. Peralta, DrPH, UST's highest policy office for academics, the Office of the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, has a new leader.
The veteran and decorated certified public accountant, Professor Patricia Manalo-Empleo, PhD, took over OVRAA on August 1. In an interview with the Communications Bureau, the new VRAA shares the trajectory for UST's academic programs in the foreseeable future, with quality assurance, sustainability, generative artificial intelligence, and the vertical articulation of graduate programs among the priorities.
We wish VRAA Empleo and her team well as they take on this new mission.
The UST Guidance and Counseling Center and the UST Department of Psychology are rolling out the Virtual Drop-in Support Session tomorrow, August 20, 2026, to help our stakeholders cope with recent events, including the various adjustments, suspensions, and flooding.
Stakeholders may register for the session using their Google accounts.
18/08/2026
The UST Hospital provides this guidance on when and how often to take doxycycline. Always consult a healthcare professional before taking doxycycline.
Floodwater exposure can increase the risk of 𝗹𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘀. If you have been exposed, knowing the appropriate 𝗱𝗼𝘅𝘆𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁-𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗵𝘆𝗹𝗮𝘅𝗶𝘀 (𝗣𝗘𝗣) regimen may help reduce the risk of infection.
2️⃣ 𝗠𝗨𝗖𝗢𝗦𝗔𝗟 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗢𝗥 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗔 𝗪𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗
💊 Doxycycline 100 mg capsule
• 2 capsules once daily
• For 3–5 days
3️⃣ 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗢𝗥 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗨𝗢𝗨𝗦 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗨𝗥𝗘
💊 Doxycycline 100 mg capsule
• 2 capsules once weekly
• Until the end of exposure
⏰ 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗧: Start PEP within 𝟮𝟰–𝟳𝟮 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲.
⚠️ 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗧𝗛 𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥:
The use of doxycycline for leptospirosis prevention should be 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗮 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹. 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝘅𝘆𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝗮 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 to determine the safest and most appropriate preventive option.
Do not self-medicate. A healthcare professional should assess your 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲, 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 and determine whether doxycycline PEP is appropriate for you.
The University's response to the crisis was made possible with the active and generous collaboration of our student leaders from the councils, organizations, and media groups, who helped report the needs of students, distribute food and drinks, and administer first aid, among other services.
We thank our students who joined our officials and staff in stepping up to address the various concerns yesterday. Maraming salamat sa inyo!
18/08/2026
We congratulate our fifty-seven (57) new Professional Food Technologists who passed the August 2026 licensure exams administered by the Professional Regulation Commission! Leading the new cohort is El Jireh F. Fabito, PFT, who landed in the #10 spot with a score of 87.5%.
UST is the top private university and #4 overall for the top performing schools.
Our Thomasians have begun trooping to the UST Hospital to avail of the free doxycycline capsules. Our UST Health Service is also open for onsite and online consultations today.
We thank our dear staff and stakeholders for their continued support. We likewise thank the Manila government for the additional doxycycline capsules that augmented the supply.
18/08/2026
18/08/2026
The UST Hospital is administering free doxycycline prophylaxis to Thomasian stakeholders who were exposed to floodwaters.
We thank the taxpayers of the City of Manila, whose local government provided 3,000 doxycycline capsules to augment supply, along with food packs and bottles of water.
We invite our Thomasians within the vicinity to avail of the free service if they were exposed to floodwaters.
𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀! 💛🐯
𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗗𝗼𝘅𝘆𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗵𝘆𝗹𝗮𝘅𝗶𝘀
To safeguard our Thomasian community against waterborne illnesses following the recent flooding, UST Hospital, in close collaboration with the City Health Office of Manila, will provide 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗗𝗼𝘅𝘆𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗵𝘆𝗹𝗮𝘅𝗶𝘀 to those who have been exposed to flood waters.
19/08/2026
19/08/2026
18/08/2026
18/08/2026
18/08/2026
18/08/2026
18/08/2026
18/08/2026