MANILA, Philippines - The 400-year-old University of Santo Tomas (UST) expressed its gratitude to The Philippine STAR yesterday for promoting and featuring the events that took place during its year-long celebration.
The STAR, represented by Associate Editor Marichu Villanueva, received the Quadricentennial Service Award.
The STAR was one of the media outfits that were given recognition by the university for its valuable contribution in promoting the UST’s quadricentennial celebration.
UST said the media organizations were being recognized “for being an indispensable partner in reaching out, and communicating with the university’s various stakeholders about the milestone celebration – UST’s 400th founding anniversary.”
UST rector Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, O.P. said that the Quadricentennial Service Award was given as a way of recognition and thanksgiving “for the support given by The Philippine STAR for covering many of our activities during the quadricentennial, especially making the Filipino people aware of this occasion.”
De la Rosa recalled what Sergio Osmeña, an alumnus of the university, once said: “The ingratitude of an individual can easily be forgiven, but the ingratitude and forgetfulness of a country is unforgivable. The country owes a debt of gratitude to this university that has perseveringly formed the minds of several generations of Filipinos. We have the obligation to express publicly this gratitude.”
He believed that the Filipino people should be reminded of the school’s valuable contribution to building the nation, family and the Church.
The Philippine STAR has been covering the major events of UST’s celebration since it began in January 2011. The newspaper was there when the Papal Legate of the Vatican’s Congregation for Catholic Education Archbishop Zenon Cardinal Grocholewski arrived at the campus and when the video message of Pope Benedict XVI was read.
The Pope told the Thomasian community that its quadricentennial celebration was “a significant event in the life of the Church and although I cannot be with you physically, I’m happy to speak to you personally, to send... my affection and my congratulations on this happy occasion.”
“As you know, the UST is the oldest institution of Catholic higher education in the Far East and it continues to play a very important role in the Church throughout the region,” he added.
The STAR covered the UST feat that made it to the Guinness Book of World Records after it gathered more than 13,266 people to form the largest human cross. It was also present when UST launched the commemorative P200 bills, stamps and coins; as well during the photo exhibit called “400 Shots to Immortality,” which featured photographs taken by Paul Allyson Quiambao. Looking back, UST Public Affairs Office director Giovanna Fontanilla said that the year-long celebration was, for her, “really a manifestation of God’s unending grace in UST. Imagine all the events that transpired were all successful. It was also the Jubilee Year, a year of blessings.”
Apart from the Guinness record, the Pontifical and Royal Catholic university also received international acclaim when it held an exhibition and concert in Paris, and hosted several international conferences such as the 10th Biennial International Council of Universities of St. Thomas Aquinas Conference.
It was also during the university’s 400th year celebration when the UST Singers won its second Choir of the World award in Wales.