The milestones of the University of Santo Tomas are captured in a photo exhibit by Architecture student Paul Quiambao. Some of his photos feature the main building in all its splendor during the centennial festivities.

MANILA, Philippines — What is a 400-year-old academic institution from a student’s perspective?

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) opens an exhibit dubbed “400 Shots to Immortality: Timeless Photographs of the University of Santo Tomas Towards its Neo-centennial,” today, Jan. 20, at the UST Museum of Arts and Sciences. It will run until Feb. 10.

The exhibit mirrors the University from the perspective of Architecture student Paul Allyson Quiambao, who has been appointed by Fr. Florentino Bolo, OP, UST secretary-general, as official photographer of the UST quadricentennial. Quiambao joined the Art Petron Hall of Fame in 2009. He was official Philippine delegate for photojournalism to the 2011 Asean Cultural Youth Camp. He is also the former chief photographer of the Varsitarian, UST’s official student paper.

It could also be a tour of the campus—which has been declared as a national landmark by the National Museum—since it will display the unnoticed spaces and uncaptured locations of the 21.5-hectare campus. It will feature 40 rare photos of UST and 360 documentations of the UST life at large, divided into eight sections: “We Are the Champions” showing UST athletes; “Unguarded Moments,” documenting day-to-day vignettes of the Thomasian campus life; “Thomasian Culture” displaying photos of annual affairs in UST, such as Paskuhan and the Baccalaureate Mass, “Record Breaker,” reviewing the memories when UST formed the Largest Human Cross;

"Royal, Pontifical, Spectacular,” showing UST landmarks; “UST in Paris,” documenting last year’s event when UNESCO paid tribute to UST’s quadricentennial; “Our Fathers,” giving a glimpse of the Dominican’s life inside the university, and “Quadricentennial Celebration,” recapping the yearlong celebration of UST’s 400th anniversary.

Photos in the exhibit will be available for sale. Part of the proceeds will be donated to the victims of typhoon “Sendong,” and “Simbahayan,” the centerpiece project of the Quadricentennial celebration where UST will rehabilitate 400 villages through medical, literacy, community and peace “interventions.”