The University of Santo Tomas (UST), at the tail end of its 4th centennial celebration, is gearing up for the next one hundred years.  As poets and philosophers like to say, endings are beginnings, and in the Philippines’ academic circles, the four-century-old UST is the shining proof of that popular adage. The University’s quadricentennial year may be ending, but Thomasians would rather look at what lies ahead, and not take the concluding Q festivities as a closing door but as a portal to an even more vibrant future.  This is the idea behind the "Neo-Centennial" theme: as the University marks the apex of its 400 years of life, the mood is buoyant in anticipation of the next 100 years.

Thus, crossing the threshold is set to begin by January 20, with a photo-exhibit, “400 Shots to Immortality” that will run until Feb. 10 at the UST Museum.

January 24 promises to deliver an increasingly festive spirit with two important events from 8:00 a.m. until evening: the opening of the campus-wide University Fair with the Feria de la Tapa at the Quadricentennial Square, and the launching of the 400 Books at the Benavides Library.

There will be no breathing room left on January 25 when the whole campus will hum with an event taking place almost every 30 minutes, beginning with the rare and exciting Velada Tomasina at 8:00 a.m., the unveiling of the Historical Marker, wreath-laying ceremonies, Velada Tomasina Lectures, a La Naval de Manila procession, and the Ad Januam Coeli (to the gates of heaven) exhibition. 

On January 26, there will be a walk-through the Thomasian Alumni Center at 4:00 p.m. 

The final day, January 27, will again mean an adrenalin rush coming up as early as 8:00 a.m. when the Q Cheer-making Contest: Cheermania spins off at Plaza Mayor.   A Eucharistic celebration with a Neo-Centennial twist follows at 4:30, to be held in the Open Field, it will then be followed by "40,000 Voices' and fireworks.  Pursuing UST’s neo-centennial theme is the Grant Fiesta all over the campus capped by a Grand Variety Show at the UST Grandstand and Open Field.