Sunday, January 24, 2010

UST landmarks to be declared national cultural treasures

(Reposted from The Manila Bulletin, Jan. 24, 2010)

By FRANCIS T. WAKEFIELD
January 23, 2010, 1:17pm

The University of Santo Tomas (UST), which will celebrate its 400th anniversary in 2011, will etch another milestone in its history with the formal declaration of the UST Main Building, the Central Seminary, the Arch of the Centuries and the University’s Open Spaces as National Cultural Treasures by the National Museum, Monday, Jan. 25.

Associate Professor Giovanna V. Fontanilla, director of the UST Public Affairs Office, says the declaration ceremonies will be held at the UST Main Building Lobby, 3 p.m., and will be attended by high-ranking school officials led by Fr. Rolando dela Rosa O.P., the university rector.

Fontanilla said the declaration ceremonies will be held following the unveiling of “The Foundation of the University of Santo Tomas by Archbishop Benavidez” oil canvas painting dated 1911 and restored through the UST Museum’s Heritage Conservation Fund.

Section 3 of the Cultural Properties Preservation and Protection Act states that a “Natural Cultural Treasure is a unique object found locally, possessing outstanding historical, cultural, artistic and/or scientific value which is significant and important to this country and nation.”

The recognition marks the first ever inclusion of an educational institution among the ranks of National Cultural Treasures, with the majority of structures being churches and the rest being terrestrial landmarks, intangible cultural property and movable objects.”

Fontanila said the declaration, considered a milestone for UST, is the culmination of efforts which began in 2004. She added that this coincides with the various activities for UST’s Quadricentennial celebration next year.

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