A quick visit to the University of Sto. Tomas (UST)

We were at the University of Sto. Tomas last Saturday to attend the recital of our daughter's voice teacher. I have not been to the UST campus along Espana for maybe almost two decades.

The main building that houses the admin offices and the UST Museum

Museum lobby featuring paintings with Roman Catholic themes such as the Crucifixion of Christ

The museum has many old art work such as paintings that have darkened over time.

The venue for the recital is the section where the museum holds its taxidermy collection.

The number of species of birds, mammals, reptiles and marine animals preserved here is impressive.

Our daughter was much amused to see the items on display around us. Here she is during the break at the recital. Note the various fishes at the lower display.

Different kinds of turtles including those often referred to simply as pawikan.

Saltwater crocodile, reticulated python and other reptiles were also there.

I took a photo of this map showing the locations of national cultural treasures and important cultural properties in the Philippines.

The statues of saints atop the building stand as if they were sentinels.

These statues were witnesses to a lot of events including those during the Second World War.

If these statues can only speak then we will have much to document and add to written history.

Despite its location and the pressures of development, UST maintains green spaces including its Open Field. The campus provides the remaining wide green spaces in this part of Manila. If you look at the map of the Sampaloc District and its adjacent areas, most are practically built up.

The previous photo and this shows Plaza de Benavides, which I think serves as the campus' lungs. It may also be the lungs of the district and a big part of the U-Belt.

It would be nice to go to UST again sometime soon and to see the collections in their museum. Aside from religious artifacts, there should be more to see and marvel at the museum. UST, after all, is the oldest university this side of the world. And they would have been collecting stuff for hundreds of years of their existence.

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