__NOTOC__ This is a timeline of the history of the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, the oldest university in Asia, comprising important events in the history of the university and of the development of Philippine higher education in general. To read about the background to these events, see History of the University of Santo Tomas. See also the history of the Rector Magnificus of the University of Santo Tomas, and the Santo Tomas Internment Camp
Centuries: 16th17th18th19th20th21st
16th century Year Date Event References 1581 March Arrival of the first Dominicans in the PhilippinesThe Dominican Mission in the Philippines knapsack.weebly accessed 16 May 2012 1587 21 July Arrival of Miguel de Benavides with the second batch of Dominicans in the Philippines, and the establishment of the Province of the Most Holy Rosary of the PhilippinesDominicans in the Philippines simbahan.net accessed 16 May 2012 1593 Dominicans pioneer printing in the Philippines by producing using the old technique of xylography kabayan central.com accessed 18 May 2012This technique produced the Doctrina Christiana en Lengua Española y Tagala and the Doctrina Christiana en Lengua y Letra China, the first books in the Philippines
17th century Year Date Event valign=center|References |- | 1602 || || Fray Blancas de San Jose, O.P. together with Tomas Pinpin succeeds in making typographic printing through movable type|| |- | 1605 || 24 July || Archbishop Miguel de Benavides bequeaths his library and a total amount of ₱1,500 for the establishment of a seminary college||The nucleus of ₱1,500 for the foundation of a seminary-college was increased to ₱7,140 by donations made by Pablo Rodríguez, Andrés Hermosa, and Juan Morales |- | rowspan="2" valign="top" | 1609 || || The Dominicans granted permission to open a seminary-college by Philip III of Spain|| |- | || Philip III issues a royal cedula requesting from Governor Juan de Silva and the Real Audiencia a report on the projected college|| |- | rowspan="2" valign="top" | 1611 || || Philip III's permission arrives in Manila|| |- | 28 April || Act of Foundation for the establishment of a seminary-college signed||The Document of Foundation was signed by Fr. Baltasar Fort, O.P., Provincial of the Dominican Province of the Holy Rosary, Fr. Francisco Minayo, O.P., Prior of the Santo Domingo Convent, and Fr. Bernardo de Santa Catalina, O.P., Commissary-General of the Holy Office of the Philippines. Notary Juan Illian witnessed the signing of the act of foundation. |- | rowspan="2" valign="top" | 1612 || || Fr. Domingo Gonzalez, O.P. appointed to work on the completion of the organization of the college|| |- | || The seminary-college opens as the Colegio de Nuestra Senora del Rosario|| |- | rowspan="2" valign="top" | 1619 || 29 June || The Colegio given authorization to confer academic degrees in Theology and Philosophy by the Holy See|| |- | || Governor Alonso Fajardo de Entenza recognizes the Dominican Colegio|| |- | 1617 || || The college renamed as the Colegio de Santo Tomas|| |- | 1624 || || The Faculties of Philosophy and Theology implemented by the royal order of Philip IV of Spain|| |- | 1625 || || Tomas Pinpin's printing press settles at the Colegio|| |- | rowspan="2" valign="top" | 1645 || 20 November || Pope Innocent X raises the college into the status of a university'' upon petition of King Philip IV of Spain The Master General of the Dominican Order assumes the power of appointing the Rector Magnificus of Santo Tomas by virtue of the permission granted by Pope Innocent X 1680 12 May King Charles II of Spain extends royal patronage to the university
18th century Year Date Event References 1734 2 September The Faculties of Civil Law and Canon Law established by virtue of a royal cedula of Charles II of Spain 1762 Rector Fr. Domingo Collantes organizes four companies of university students to help in the defense of the city against the British Invasion of Manila 1768 17 May Royal decree banishing the Society of Jesus from Spain and the Spanish dominions reaches ManilaFr. Miguel A. Bernad, S.J.: "Colegio de San José (1601–2001): A Quick Survey of the Turbulent 400-year History of an Educational Institution". Monk's Hobbit 1 May 2012. 1769 The closure of the Jesuit Universidad de San Ignacio leaves the university as the only institution of higher learning in the colonyThe First Hundred Years Of the Ateneo de Manila. The First Hundred Years Of The Ateneo de Manila 16 May 2012.Royal and Pontifical . Inquirer.net 16 May 2012. 1773 21 July Clement XIV suppresses the Society of Jesus in his papal brief Dominus ac Redemptor"The Catholic Encyclopedia". "The Catholic Encyclopedia" 16 May 2012. 1781 Charles III of Spain authorizes the university to prepare its own statutes, independent of those of the University of MexicoEver since its foundation in 1611, the university's constitution was based on that of the Real y Pontificia Universidad de Nueva España 1785 7 March Charles III grants the university the title of Very Loyal 20 May The university granted the officially granted the title Royal by Charles III
19th century Year Date Event References 1865 Isabel II of Spain declares the University of Santo Tomas as the center for public education throughout the Philippines 1870 The University of Santo Tomas taken over by the Colonial Government and renamed as Universidad de Filipinas by virtue of an edict issued by Segismundo MoretThe Moret code never got implemented due to the restoration of the monarchy in Spain 1871 May Faculties of Medicine and Pharmacy established as the first schools of medicine and pharmacy in the Philippines2011 Countdown UST.edu.ph accessed 9 November 2008 1874 The School of Notaries established by royal order of Alfonso XII 1875 29 October The Hospicio de San Juan de Dios becomes the clinical training institution for medical students of the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of the university by virtue of royal order of King Alfonso XIIUST Hospital History UST Hospital Website accessed 15 May 2012 1879 School of Midwifery opened 1878 December Rector Fr. Joaquin Fonseca, O.P. conceives the idea of erecting a monument in honor of university founder Archbishop Miguel de Benavides 1887 23 March Prof. Mariano Marti, M.D. establishes residency and Externship programs at the Hospicio de San Juan de Dios 1895 The defunct Jesuit Universidad de San Ignacio incorporated into the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of the universityA Brief History of PLM. ReoCities 16 May 2012. 1898 The university closes its doors due to the Philippine Revolution and the Spanish–American War 1899 The university resumes its classes
20th century Year Date Event References 1902 17 September Pope Leo XIII bestows upon the university the title of PontificalLooking Back - Royal and Pontifical by Ambeth Ocampo, Philippine Daily Inquirer. 13 August 2008 1907 18 May Faculty of Engineering established as the first engineering school in the PhilippinesUST Engineering History UST Website accessed 15 May 2012 1911 16 December Tricentennial celebration of the universityLim-Pe (1973). pp 38-40. 20 December The laying of the cornerstone of a new building of the university in SampalocLim-Pe (1973). pp 38-40. 1924 The Faculty of Pharmacy opened to women enrollees 1925 English replaces Spanish as medium of instruction June The College of Education established at the Intramuros CampusUST College of Education History UST Website accessed 15 May 2012 1926 January The College of Science of the university officially establishedCollege of Science History UST Website accessed 15 May 2012 Faculty of Philosophy and Letters becomes co-educational 1927 5 July First Classes held at the University Sampaloc Campus 1928 16 January The Varsitarian, the official student publication of the university, officially organizedVarsitarian History The Varsitarian Website accessed 15 May 2012The Varsitarian is currently the oldest Catholic School Publication in the country 1932 College of Commerce and the Faculty of Medicine also becomes co-educational 28 August The University Gymnasium officially inaugurated by Governor Theodore Roosevelt Jr. 1933 7 March UST Swimming Pool, the first Olympic-size swimming pool in the country, opened to the students by Senate President Manuel Quezon 1941 8 December Start of the Japanese invasion of the Philippines 26 December Manila declared an open cityMorton, Louis. U.S. Army in World War II: The War in the Pacific: The Fall of the Philippines. US Army in World War, Chapters VIII-XIV. https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-P-PI/, accessed 15 May 2012 1942 2 January Japanese Forces occupy ManilaMorton, pp.237-238 4 January Japanese forces converts the university campus at Sampaloc into an internment campUniversity of Santo Tomas: 400 Years of Unending Grace UST Website accessed 15 May 2012 1944 8 February Arson was created to the original campus at Intramuros by the Japanese forcesLim-Pe (1973). pp 48-51. 1945 3 February American Liberation of the Santo Tomas Internment CampHartendorp, Vol. II, pg. 561-562 1946 The university reopens at the Sampaloc Campus7 March UST Hospital formally opened 13 November The Benavides Monument re-erected at the university campus in SampalocThe place where the Benavides Monument was re-erected was named as the Plaza Benavides 1947 30 April Pope Pius XII bestows to the university the title The Catholic University of the Philippines 1949 20 December The university lot in Intramuros sold to the Philippine American Life Insurance Co. 1953 July Completion of the installation of Francesco Monti's statues atop the Main BuildingStatues Atop the Main Building UST Website accessed 15 May 2012 1956 16 December The university radio station DZST begins operationDZST later became Radio Veritas 1961 Semiseptcentennial celebration of the universityLim-Pe (1973). pp 58-61. 18 July The Spanish Government grants the Blue Ribbon of The Civil Order of Alfonso X el Sabio to the universityThe Blue Ribbon of The Civil Order of Alfonso X el Sabio is the highest civil decoration in Spain 1966 6 March Formal inauguration of the University Hospital Clinical Division 1970 28 November Pope Paul VI visits the university 1971 October 9 Leonardo Legaspi, O.P., elected as the first Filipino Rector Magnificus of the university 1977 January Mother Teresa of Calcutta visits the universityJanuary The Pautakan Contest officially organized by The VarsitarianVarsitarian holds 35th Pautakan The Varsitarian WebsiteThe Pautakan is currently the longest running quiz bee in the country 1981 18 February Pope John Paul II visits the university 12 June The Student's Democratic Party established as the first student political party in the PhilippinesSDP History accessed 15 May 2012 1991 19 December First Paskuhan CelebrationPaskuhan 1991 The Varsitarian Website accessed 15 May 2012 1992 1 February The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Singers officially organizedUST Singers UST Singers Website accessed 15 May 2012 1993 UST Press renamed as UST Publishing House 1995 13 January Second Papal visit of Pope John Paul II to the university
21st century