University of Sto. Tomas

      The University of Santo Tomas, is a private Roman Catholic university run by the Order of Preachers in Manila. 

      Founded on April 28, 1611 by Archbishop of Manila Miguel de Benavides, it has the oldest extant university charter in the Philippines and in Asia.  

      As a Pontifical University in Asia, UST is the only university to have been visited by two popes three times: once by Pope Paul VI on Nov. 28, 1970, and twice by Pope John Paul II on Feb. 18, 1981 and January 13, 1995.