MANILA, Philippines — The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Publishing House will present the “400 Years, 400 Books” to the public in an exhibit to be unveiled on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 6 p.m., at the Miguel de Benavides Library lobby.

Rev. Father Rolando de la Rosa, O.P., UST Rector, will deliver a message. Guests will be welcomed by Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo, director of the Publishing House, and John Jack Wigley, deputy director. Began by UST Publishing House director Mecheline Manalastas 10 years ago, the project is the publishing house’s contribution to the university’s quadricentennial celebrations which will wind up on Jan. 27.

The UST Publishing House, which traces its origins to the UST Press founded in 1593, and therefore antedates the University itself, recently received the Publisher of the Year Award for 2011 from the National Book Development Board and the Manila Critics Circle. It has been going through a restructuring aimed at modernizing and professionalizing its operations as one of the country’s leading academic publishers. Since June of 2010, more than 60 new titles have been released.

These include scholarly titles, such as “Puentes de España en las Filipinas” by Manuel Maximo L. Castillo, “Tomas Pinpin and Tagalog Survival in Early Spanish Philippines” by Damon L. Woods, “Gitnang Uring Fantasya” by Roland Tolentino, and “Alinagnag: Sanaysay ng mga Panlipunang Panunuri sa Panitikan”; art books such as “European Journey of Discovery” by Manuel Baldemor; and literary titles by authors ranging from multi-awarded writers Gémino H. Abad (“Imagination’s Way”), Alfred A. Yuson (“Lush Life”), Cirilo F. Bautista (“The House of True Desire”), Jose Y. Dalisay (“Pinoy Septych”), Tita Lacambra Ayala (“Talamundi”), and Charlson Ong (“Blue Angel, White Shadow”) and Eugene Evasco (“Mga Pilat sa Pilak”); to rock star Lourd de Veyra (“Superpanalo Sounds!” and “Insectisimo”); and young poets Carlos Piocos III (“Corpus”) and Louie Jon Sanchez (“At Sa Tahanan ng Alabok”).

Among recently released titles are essay collections by anthropologist Michael L. Tan (“Thinking, Doing Culture”), and the popular historian Ambeth R. Ocampo (“A Calendar of Rizaliana” and “Talking History”), and PDI Entertainment Editor Emmie G. Velarde (“Show Biz, Seriously”); along with two UST Pop titles, “101 Bugtong na Hindi Alam ng Titser Mo” by German Gervacio and “Metro Serye” edited by Mookie Katigbak-Lacuesta.

The collection also includes a translation into English of Gabriel Miro’s “Our Father San Daniel” by Marlon Sales, and titles by Filipino writers in the diaspora, like Jim Pascual Agustin (“Alien to Any Skin” and “Baha-bahagdang Karupukan”), Cesar L. Aguila (“The Big River and Other Stories”), Norma O. Miraflor (“Available Light”), Fidelito C. Cortes (“Everyday Things”), and Richard T. Chu (“Chinese Merchants of Binondo”).