The University of Santo Tomas Central Seminary Building currently houses the Santísimo Rosario Parish, the Central Seminary, and the Faculties of Ecclesiastical Studies of the

Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas The University of Santo Tomas (also known as UST and officially as the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, Manila) is a private, Catholic research university in Manila, Philippines. Founded on April 28, 1611, by Spanish friar Miguel ...

Manila Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...

. The Parish was canonically inaugurated on April 26, 1942 by

Michael J. O'Doherty Michael James O'Doherty (30 July 1874 – 13 October 1949) was an Irish prelate and was the 27th Archbishop of Manila in the Philippines. O'Doherty was Archbishop of Manila for 33 years from 1916 until his death in 1949, making him the longest ...

, the

Archbishop of Manila The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila ( lat, Archidioecesis Manilensis; fil, Arkidiyosesis ng Maynilà; es, Arquidiócesis de Manila) is the archdiocese of the Latin Church of the Catholic Church in Metro Manila, Philippines, encompassing ...

.Santissimo Rosario Parish of the University of Santo Tomas
''Santissimo Rosario Parish website'' accessed October 26, 2012 On January 25, 2010, the

National Museum of the Philippines The National Museum of the Philippines ( fil, Pambansang Museo ng Pilipinas}) is an umbrella government organization that oversees a number of national museums in the Philippines including ethnographic, anthropological, archaeological, and visu ...

formally declared the Central Seminary Building as a ''National Cultural Treasure''.National Museum declares UST structures as National Cultural Treasures
'University of Santo Tomas website'' accessed October 27, 2012Formal Declaration of UST National Cultural Treasures
''University of Santo Tomas Museum of Arts and Sciences website'' accessed October 27, 2012UST sites declared 'National Treasures'
'The Varsitarian website'' accessed October 27, 2012UST landmarks declared ‘National Treasures’
'The Inquirer website'' accessed October 27, 2012UST landmarks to be declared national cultural treasures
'The Manila Bulletin website'' accessed October 27, 2012UST spots declared cultural treasures
'GMA Network website'' accessed October 27, 2012

Architecture

The Central Seminary of the

University of Santo Tomas The University of Santo Tomas (also known as UST and officially as the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, Manila) is a private, Catholic research university in Manila, Philippines. Founded on April 28, 1611, by Spanish friar Miguel ...

was designed by Ar. Fernando Hizon Ocampo Sr. It was built in the 1930s. The plan of the seminary was configured in the form of the letter E, with courtyards bisecting the wings. The boxy building had an elongated frontage assembling a continuous band of balconies and windows on the second and third level. The structure's horizontally-oriented massing was broken by an engaged central section at the main entrance and two other similar treatments at the end portions. An art deco relief, bud-like finials, and a tableau embellished the stepped pylon at the entrance.

Official Declaration

Section 3 of “The Cultural Properties Preservation and Protection Act” states that a “National 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.” This prestigious 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.” As heritage sites, they will be accorded protection and recognition, giving importance to their witness of 400 years of tumultuous Philippine history.

Gallery

File:UST Central Seminary Exterior View.jpg, View from Gonzales Drive File:UST Central Seminary Entrance.jpg, Entrance and central facade File:UST Central Seminary Fenestration.jpg, Regular fenestration File:UST Central Seminary Church Entrance.jpg, Entrance to Santisimo Rosario Parish Church File:UST Central Seminary Columns.jpg, Columns File:UST Santisimo Rosario Parish Church.jpg, View of the nave from the entrance File:UST Santisimo Rosario Parish Church Ceiling.jpg, The coffered ceiling File:Santisimo Rosario Parish Church Balcony.jpg, Organ on the balcony File:Santisimo Rosario Parish Church Balcony Seats.jpg, Balcony seats File:Santisimo Rosario Parish Church Chancel.jpg, Chancel File:Santisimo Rosario Parish Church Window Design.jpg, Window designs File:Santisimo Rosario Parish Church Altar.jpg, Altar File:Santisimo Rosario Parish Church.jpg, Viewed from the chancel

References

External links

Website of Central Seminary
{{UST

Central Seminary Building The University of Santo Tomas Central Seminary Building currently houses the Santísimo Rosario Parish, the Central Seminary, and the Faculties of Ecclesiastical Studies of the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas in Manila. The Paris ...

Buildings and structures in Sampaloc, Manila Educational structures in Metro Manila Art Deco architecture in the Philippines