Description of the attraction
The Arch of the Centuries is a monument located on the grounds of the Santo Tomás University of Manila, 15 meters from the main gate. The National Museum of the Philippines has declared the Arch of the Centuries a National Treasure, which serves as a reminder of the university campus's connection to Spanish heritage. The monument has become a symbol of the acquisition of knowledge - the gateway to greatness, through which generations of students have passed, including graduates of the university, the national hero of the Philippines, Jose Rizal, and the first president of the republic, Manuel Quezon.
The Arch of the Centuries was erected in 1611 on the territory of the ancient Manila region of Intramuros, where the University of Santo Tomás was then located. When the university moved to a new building in the Sampalok area, the Arch was taken apart and also moved to a new location, where it was reassembled in its original form.
Once the Arch, now standing in front of the main building of the university, served as the main entrance to it, but during the Second World War it was destroyed. The current Arch of the Centuries was built exactly according to the original. It consists of Doric columns, but the Baroque style is clearly visible in its details. The inscription on the arch reads: "Entering the history of the best generation of the Philippines", which serves as a kind of reminder that many of the university's alumni have had a significant impact on the history of the country. On the left column there is a commemorative plaque with the name of Jose Rizal, on the right - with the name of Manuel Quezon. At the top of the arch are plaques describing the life of St. Thomas Aquinas (in English - Santo Tomas), the patron saint of the university and all Catholic schools.
All students entering the University of Santo Tomás undergo a kind of initiation rite known as the "Thomas Welcoming Trail" - they must pass under the arch. Graduates are also held under the arch as part of the bachelor's degree festivities. This tradition began in 2002. There is an old belief that it is possible to pass under the arch only in these cases - when enrolling in a university and after final exams. It is believed that if this rule is violated, then fate will make the student expelled from the educational institution.
