The Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas (UST) Quadricentennial Celebration took place from December 18, 2009 to January 27, 2012. The agenda before the quadricentennial year in 2011 included the introduction of new academic programs, improvements in the university's infrastructure, and other projects to raise UST's national and international prominence and promote its role as a social catalyst.

Summary

Plans to open satellite campuses in Santa Rosa, Laguna, and General Santos are being put in place.

Physical developments for the Sampaloc campus are ongoing. The Plaza Mayor in front the Main Building, the Quadricentennial Square which will feature the Tetraglobal sculpture, the Quadricentennial Fountain, and the Quadricentennial Alumni Walkway were constructed in 2006. To accommodate the needs of extra space for the growing number of student activities, the UST Tan Yan Kee Student Center was built in front of the Miguel de Benavides Library. The more than 80-year-old Main Building, and the artifacts and art works in the UST Museum of Arts and Sciences, were placed under the preservation of the UST Heritage Conservation program in December 2008.

The UST Benavides Cancer Institute, part of the five-year redevelopment plan and expansion of the UST Hospital for its 60-year celebration and the quadricentennial celebration, was established in 2006.

Part of the university's infrastructure modernization is the construction of an P800-million, four-storey gymnasium capable of seating 5,792, designed by Thomasian architects José Pedro Recio and Carmelo T. Casas. University officials, led by rector Rolando V. de la Rosa, led its groundbreaking ceremonies in August 2008.

The UST Publishing House in 2001 launched its quadricentennial project, "400 Books at 400!", publishing books in a range of disciplines, from theology to literature to medicine, written in both Filipino and English.

Quadricentennial Commission A Quadricentennial Commission was created to formulate preparations for the celebration of the UST Quadricentennial Jubilee. The commission is chaired by the UST rector, Rolando V. de la Rosa. The following are its members: Chairman (Rector) Vice Chairman (Vice Rector) Secretary (Assistant to the Rector for Administration) Committees Quadricentennial Committee (Assistant to the Rector for Grants and Endowment) Major Infrastructure Projects Committee (Facilities Management Office Director) External Relations Committee (Office of the Alumni Affairs) Grand Celebrations Committee (Secretary General) Documentation and Publication Committee (Office for Public Affairs / Executive Secretary of the Rector) Media and Publicity Committee (Office for Public Affairs / EdTech).

Symbolization

Logo The Tongues of Fire is the official logo for the quadricentennial celebration. It features the outline of the UST Main Building Tower as a concrete symbol of the stability, integrity and 400 years of existence of the university. From the cross of the Main Building emanate four tongues of fire that spell out U, S, and T. The tongues of fire reference the future of the university and some ideals, and are reminiscent of the stripes of the Tiger, the school's mascot. The quadricentennial logo was designed by Dopy Doplon, a Thomasian.

Song "Ako'y Isang Tomasino" (I am a Thomasian), composed by UST Faculty of Engineering alumnus Gerry de Leon, is the official theme song of the celebration. It bested four other finalists in the Q Songwriting Contest Grand Finals held the previous December at the Albertus Magnus Auditorium. It was performed by Sam Velarde, a friend of de Leon, from other university. The song was launched during the “400 days to 400 years Countdown” on December 18 at the UST football field.

Prayer The quadricentennial prayer was unveiled to the public during the “400 days to 400 years Countdown” on Dec. 18. It was recited by Pompeyo de Mesa with a candle-lighting ceremony.

Flag The quadricentennial flag consists of two horizontal stripes of equal width, the upper one gold and the lower one white. These are defined as school colors of the university because of its Pontifical status. Embroidered with "2011", the flag features the sun and the colors yellow and blue, taken from the logo of the university.

Countdown Clock The countdown clock, which is a Swatch Beatman, is produced by Swiss watch company Swatch. It is designed by former Varsitarian art director Jonathan Gamalinda.

Mascot The mascot is named "QUSTER", which stands for Quadricentennial University of Santo Tomas Tiger.

Infrastructure University Marker

A one-foot-by-three-feet marble marker in Plaza Intramuros near the main vehicular entrance of the campus was unveiled on February 4, 2010. It was designed by architect John Joseph T. Fernandez, Dean of the College of Architecture, and architect Froilan M. Fontecha, faculty member of the same college. It bears the name of the university, its seal on the left, and the year 1611 on the right.

Quadricentennial Square

Replacing the old Colayco Park and its adjacent UST Cooperative Center, the Quadricentennial Square was built as a memorial of the university's four centuries of existence. It has two main features: the Quadricentennial Fountain and the Quattromondial Monument. It is located between the Main Building and the Miguel de Benavides Library.

The Colayco Shrine, an iron statue commemorating the World War 2 victim Capt. Manuel Colayco, was nowhere to be found since its removal from the site in 2006.

Fountain

This recreational and interactive fountain was unveiled in 2007. It was designed and built by Industron Inc., the same designer of Cultural Center of the Philippines and Liwasang Bonifacio fountains in Manila.

The fountain has sun-like floor patterns to pay tribute to the university's patron saint, Thomas Aquinas. Its four cornerstones highlight UST milestones during its first four centuries.

According to UST Facilities Management Office administrator Antonio Espejo, the fountain uses recycled water treated with chlorine. It runs three times a day (6AM to 8AM, 11AM to 1PM, and 5PM to 8PM).

There is a superstition that to counter the effect of passing through the Arch of the Centuries while studying in the university, a student must take a shower in the fountain, as this will cleanse him and prevent the happening of an event that will bar the student from graduating.

Quattromondial Monument Unveiled on January 27, 2011, this is a ten-meter-high structure of bronze and glass made by artist Ramon Orlina, a UST alumnus.

The monument features four figures, which, according to Orlina, represent the school's four centuries:

The young Filipino student represents excellence, and was modeled after actor Piolo Pascual. The young Filipina student represents tradition, and was modeled after Orlina's daughter Monina. The Thomasian teacher represents erudition, and was modeled after beauty queen Charlene Gonzales. The Dominican friar-scholar represents spirituality, and was modeled after university rector Rolando de la Rosa.

Upon the four near-naked figures, whose genitals are covered by a long strip of ribbon, rests a globe; and like the earth, it tilts 23.5 degrees. The globe represents globalization, with all its benefits and hindrances, such as environmental degradation and cultural divisions. The ribbon streams out of the globe, printed with an inscription in Latin signifying accomplishment, scholarliness and wisdom. It reads:

Martyrs' Monument Park and Rosarium Garden

During the Quadricentennial celebrations, the University introduced new structures within the campus. On November 22, 2011, the University dedicated the Martyrs' Monument Park, located in front of the Santisimo Rosario Parish. These monuments take the form of Carillon bells with each bell dedicated to the Thomasian Martyrs. The bells ring every half an hour (in the tune of Westminster chime, with a particular tune and continuous ringing at 12:00 nn and 6:00 pm, which signals the entire Thomasian Community to pause and pray the Angelus (Regina caeli during the Easter Season). The bells were also used on significant occasions, such as the UST Christmas Concert in 2011, when Conservatory of Music Dean Raul Sunico played Christmas carols through a keyboard, and during the closing of the Quadricentennial Celebrations in January 2012.

Meanwhile, the Rosarium garden replaced the Tinoko Park. The park features a rosary garden, with the Mysteries of the Rosary depicted on the walls. The park was blessed by Fr. de la Rosa on December 7, 2011, during the visit of the image of Our Lady of La Naval de Manila to UST.

Quadricentennial Pavilion

Replacing the original UST Gymnasium and the old Engineering Sports Complex, the construction of the 800-million-peso UST Sports Complex began after the Vatican gave its "blessing" to the project. It was to be inaugurated on August 15, 2011.

Officially named the Quadricentennial Pavilion, the sports complex was designed by Thomasian architects Jose Pedro Recio and Carmelo Casas. It stands on what used to be the Engineering Sports Complex, basketball courts, and the adjacent football field. It houses training areas for gymnastics, aerobics, taekwondo, judo, table tennis, fencing, and badminton at its ground floor. It features a ticket counter, a museum, a dance hall for the Salinggawi Dance Troupe, and a fitness room. Its main attraction is a basketball court surrounded by bleachers rising up to the fourth level.

Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building

Built on the site of the original UST Gymnasium, the alumni center is used as a venue for alumni gatherings, various university events, and lodging services for visitors. It is according to the pursuit of the university's Office for Alumni Relations to build a center to cater to the growing number of UST Alumni. The existing Olympic-sized swimming pool located nearby were kept and refurbished. Initially planned as a 4-storey building projected to be completed and opened in 2012, it was raised to 12 storeys and was completed and opened in 2014.

Its design was chosen from seven winners in a competition among students organized by the College of Architecture. Abelardo Tolentino Jr., an outstanding Thomasian alumni from the College of Architecture, worked on the design to produce the final blueprint.

US-based Thomasian medical practitioners raised and donated US$1 million to assist the construction of the alumni center.

UST Hospital extension building

The blessing of the construction site of the UST Hospital's extension building was held on January 23, 2012, the first day of the closing week of the Quadricentennial Celebrations. Once constructed, the services in the USTH Medical Arts building were transferred there. The medical arts building will then be demolished to give way to another construction of a new medical arts facility. This extension building was completed and opened in 2019.

University sites as National Cultural Treasures Four structures within the university's campus were declared National Cultural Treasures by the National Museum. The declaration was made on January 25, 2010. These sites were: The Main Building (the first earthquake-resistant building in the Philippines) The Arch of the Centuries (the remnant of UST's original campus in Intramuros) The Central Seminary Building (the home of the oldest college of Ecclesiastical studies in the Philippines) The Field and Open Spaces (the venue where a mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II was held).

The Cultural Properties Preservation and Protection Act describes "National Cultural Treasures" as unique objects found in the Philippines that possess outstanding historical, cultural, artistic, and/or scientific value. These are considered as significant and important to the Philippines.