The University of Santo Tomas

The oasis in the concrete jungle of Manila is the University of Santo Tomas, a National Historical Landmark and Asia’s oldest existing university. The Sampaloc campus is home to the 95-year-old Main Building, the first earthquake-resistant structure in the country. It’s a frequent destination for Thomasians and non-Thomasians alike who want to have a souvenir photo. The newly unveiled Tiger statue represents the university mascot, after the team “The Growling Tigers.” The campus has a museum, hospital, and Catholic parish church inside, so the general public can also visit. The campus is sprawling, at 21.5 hectares.