Yesterday, I went to the Manila Orchidarium & Butterfly Pavilion with my friend Monic and I was really amazed that amidst this polluted city there is such a place like this. A place where you can relax and enjoy the flowers, the indigenous plants, tree ferns, experience a rainforest and a man made waterfalls.
Another place to visit in UST is the Arch of the Centuries in front of the España Street. The Arch of the Centuries has a classic Greek or Roman style design. The details are very good and it has survived and restored many times due to the Waolrd War one when it was bombed and of course due to earthquakes.
UST Main Building
University of Santo Tomas is the oldest university in the Philippines, not only that, it is also the World’s largest Catholic Univeristy. It was founded in the year 1611 by the 3rd Archbishop of Manila, Msgr. Miguel de Benavides, O.P. with Fr. Domingo de Nieva and Fr. Bernardo de Santa Catalina. The University was first called Colegio de Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario but later renamed to Colegio de Santo Tomas in the memory of the Dominican Theologian, Saint Tomas Acquinas. Well, the University has a massive and imposing structure which gave it an unpainted, gray and rugged look that was acquired through the test of time. It even withstood many earthquakes and World War2, where the Japanese forces transformed the place into a concentration camp. The main building of UST was designed by Fr. Roque Ruaño who is a priest, as well, as an engineer. Well, at the main building tower you can see a cross that symbolizes the University’s mission to impart knowledge in the sacred and civil sciences.