UST community recreates 19th century Philippines

In a blast from centuries past, frailes and illustrados walked on the grounds of the University of Santo Tomas once again, even as they occasionally whipped out cellphones and cameras for snapshots of the school’s one-day time travel on Wednesday.   Clad in barong, coats, and Filipiniana dresses, Thomasians suited up in their best period costumes as “Velada Tomasina” recreated a 19th century UST, complete with a replica of its old campus.   “Pagpasok pa lang ng USTe, mararamdaman mo na yung feeling na nagbalik ka nung 1600s - early 1900s dahil sa mga suot ng mga tao na talagang pinaghandaan,” said student Alexis Lim.   Aside from costumed students, faculty, and alumni at the Plaza Mayor, the school’s security personnel were also dressed for the revelry. Spanish songs played that day as calesas plied university roads.   With its quadricentennial celebration drawing to a close this week, UST remembered the era when national hero Jose Rizal and his contemporaries entered the university. “Velada Tomasina” also witnessed the unveiling of a historical marker at the foot of the school’s iconic statue of Msgr. Miguel de Benavides. “Sa ating mga kapwa Pilipino, aming ibinabahagi sa inyo ang kasaysayan at ang misyon ng University of Santo Tomas upang tuloy-tuloy kaming magsilbi sa simbahan, sa bayan, at sa pamilya,” associate professor and public affairs director Giovanna Fontanilla told GMA News.   Currently on exhibit at UST are 400 of student photographer Paul Quiambao’s photos, as well as the pope mobile that John Paul II used during his Philippine visit. The university ends its festivities on Friday. - Roehl Niño Bautista/ HS/YA, GMA News Photos by Alexis Lim