The Arch of Centuries is a monument located on the Manila campus of the University of Santo Tomas 15 metres from the main gate. The National Museum of the Philippines has declared the Arch of Centennial as a national treasure, which serves as a reminder of the university campus' connection to its Spanish heritage. The monument has become a symbol of the acquisition of knowledge, a gateway to greatness through which generations of students, including through which generations of students have passed, including alumni of the university. Philippine national hero Jose Rizal and the first president of the republic, Manuel Quezon.
The Arch of Centuries was erected in 1611 on the grounds of the ancient Manila distric of Intramuros, where the University of Santo Tomas was then located. When the university moved to a new building in the Sampaloc neighbourhood, the Arch was taken apart into pieces and also moved to a new location where it was reassembled in its original form.
The Arch, which now stands in front of the main building of the university, once served as a the main entrance to the university, but it was destroyed during World War II. The current Centennial Arch was built exactly like the original. It consists of Doric columns, but the Baroque style is clearly evident in its detailing. The inscription on the arch reads, "An entrance to the history of the best generation of the Philippines", which serves as a reminder that many graduates of the university had a significant impact on the history of the country. On the left column is a commemorative plaque with the name of Jose Rizal and on the right one with the name of Manuel Quezon. At the top of the arch there are plaques describing the life of St. Thomas Aquinas (Santo Tomas), the patron saint of the university and all Catholic schools.
All students entering the University of Santo Tomas go through a kind of rite of initiation known as the "Thomas Welcome Path" - they must to pass under the arch. Graduates also pass under the arch, as part of the festivities to celebrate the as part of their baccalaureate celebrations. This tradition began in 2002. There is an old belief that you can only pass under the arch in these cases - when enrolling in a university and after final exams. It is believed that if you break this rule, the fate will make it so that the student will be expelled from the institution.
