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UST kicks off Neo-Centennial celebration
The University of Santo Tomas (UST), at the tail end of its 4th centennial celebration, is gearing up for the next one hundred years. As poets and philosophers like to say, endings are beginnings, and in the Philippines’ academic circles, the four-century-old UST is the shining proof of that popular adage. The University’s quadricentennial year may be ending, but Thomasians would rather look at what lies ahead, and not take the concluding Q festivities as a closing door but as a portal to an even more vibrant future. This is the idea behind the “Neo-Centennial” theme: as the University marks the apex of its 400 years of life, the mood is buoyant in anticipation of the next 100 years.
Thus, crossing the threshold is set to begin by January 20, with a photo-exhibit, “400 Shots to Immortality” that will run until Feb. 10 at the UST Museum.
January 24 promises to deliver an increasingly festive spirit with two important events from 8:00 a.m. until evening: the opening of the campus-wide University Fair with the Feria de la Tapa at the Quadricentennial Square, and the launching of the 400 Books at the Benavides Library.
There will be no breathing room left on January 25 when the whole campus will hum with an event taking place almost every 30 minutes, beginning with the rare and exciting Velada Tomasina at 8:00 a.m., the unveiling of the Historical Marker, wreath-laying ceremonies, Velada Tomasina Lectures, a La Naval de Manila procession, and the Ad Januam Coeli (to the gates of heaven) exhibition.
The commemorative exhibit on Blessed Pope John Paul II will be opened on Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 4:30 in the afternoon, at the UST Museum, Main Building of the University of Santo Tomas. The exhibit on the saintly pontiff who visited UST in 1981 and 1995, is a fitting tribute by the Pontifical University to the Pope, which incidentally, coincides with its preparations for the concluding program to end its yearlong celebration of its Quadricentennial anniversary and the activities that will usher in its 401st year. 
The exhibit, which runs until February 10, 2012, consists of precious photos, documents and memorabilia on the life of the Blessed Pope; his journey as a priest from Poland to becoming the Bishop of Rome and the World; his new way of governance through travels in faith to 129 countries in five continents, and from the Chair of St. Peter; his thoughts as a Shepherd; his elevation from an altar to the altars, and the memorable
visits to UST.
The exhibit is made possible through the collaboration of the Archivo de la Universidad de Santo Tomas; UST Offices of the Secretary General, Public Affairs, Educational Technology Center; Facilities Management Office, UST Theological Society, UST Faculty of Philosophy Students’ Forum, and the UST Museum.
The exhibit echoes the journeying Pope in his address:”I am here to know you. I must say that my affection for one and all is great. I am sure that I can help you, at least in some way…”and the world’s faithful can say…”to the gate of heaven.”
On January 26, there will be a walk-through the Thomasian Alumni Center at 4:00 p.m.
The final day, January 27, will again mean an adrenalin rush coming up as early as 8:00 a.m. when the
Q Cheer-making Contest: Cheermania spins off at Plaza Mayor.
A Eucharistic celebration with a Neo-Centennial twist follows at 4:30, to be held in the Open Field, it will then be followed by “40,000 Voices” and fireworks. 
Playing on the famous “4” that has been associated with the year-long celebration of the quadricentennial anniversary of the University of Santo Tomas, 40,000 students, faculty, employees, administrators and alumni will sing together six songs that characterize the Thomasian: religious, Filipino, contemporary and Thomasian. Dubbed as “40, 000 voices for UST’s 400”, the musical event will take place at six o’clock in the evening, on January 27 at the UST Grandstand and open field where the singers will take their respective places, clad in color-coded t-shirts that classify them according to their voices: blue for bass, white for tenor, orange for alto and fuchsia for soprano.
Playing on the famous “4” that has been associated with the year-long celebration of the quadricentennial anniversary of the University of Santo Tomas, 40,000 students, faculty, employees, administrators and alumni will sing together six songs that characterize the Thomasian: religious, Filipino, contemporary and Thomasian. Dubbed as “40, 000 voices for UST’s 400”, the musical event will take place at six o’clock in the evening, on January 27 at the UST Grandstand and open field where the singers will take their respective places, clad in color-coded t-shirts that classify them according to their voices: blue for bass, white for tenor, orange for alto and fuchsia for soprano. The UST Singers, the Conservatory of Music choir and the various college choirs will be on stage to lead the 40,000 participants who are in the open field. This rare musical experience will come immediately after the Neo-Centennial Eucharistic celebration which will also be held in the same venue as the “40,000 voices”.
Dr. Herminigildo Ranera, who arranged the six songs, will conduct the UST Symphony Orchestra. The songs included are: Joyful, joyful we adore thee, a medley of Philippine folk songs (Leron leron sinta, Magtanim ay di Biro, Pen Pen de Sarapen) and the Abba medley (Thank you for the music, I have a dream, Chiquitita). The 40,000 voices will end with the singing of “Ako’y isang Tomasino, the Quadricentennial hymn, and the
UST hymn.
The Thomasian community will once again be treated to awesome fireworks display at the end of the evening’s affair. It will be followed by the Neo-Centennial Thomasian Grand Fiesta and Grand Variety Show at seven in the evening. The UST Quadricentennial activities started in December 2009 and will end on the 27th, one day
before the feast day of St. Thomas Aquinas, UST’s patron.
Press release from UST 
