The University of Santo Tomas Athletic Field and Open Spaces, located at 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 ...

in Manila, is a National Cultural Treasure as declared by 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 ...

.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

History

The campus grounds are noteworthy for various events such as the internment of American and other nationals during World War II, the Battle of Manila, and the four papal visits. The grounds have been transformed from the original swamp with a creek crossing over it to a well-kept green field that has become the single biggest open green area in Manila. It was significant because three pontiffs made appearance here,

Pope Paul VI Pope Paul VI ( la, Paulus VI; it, Paolo VI; born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini, ; 26 September 18976 August 1978) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City, Vatican City State from 21 June 1963 to his ...

in 1970,

Pope John Paul II Pope John Paul II ( la, Ioannes Paulus II; it, Giovanni Paolo II; pl, Jan Paweł II; born Karol Józef Wojtyła ; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1978 until his ...

in 1981 and 1995 and

Pope Francis Pope Francis ( la, Franciscus; it, Francesco; es, link=, Francisco; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936) is the head of the Catholic Church. He has been the bishop of Rome and sovereign of the Vatican City State since 13 March 2013. ...

in 2015.

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.

References

{{Sports venues in the Greater Manila Area

Field Field may refer to: Expanses of open ground * Field (agriculture), an area of land used for agricultural purposes * Airfield, an aerodrome that lacks the infrastructure of an airport * Battlefield * Lawn, an area of mowed grass * Meadow, a grass ...

Sports venues in Manila Buildings and structures in Sampaloc, Manila University sports venues in the Philippines