The First Students of UST

UST TRIVIA: How many were the first students of UST (formerly, Colegio de Nuestra Señora del Santísimo Rosario and the Colegio de Santo Tomas de Aquino) in the 17th century?

The existing record about the pioneer students gives this information: “twelve scholars (becarios) who are the sons of the most noble Spanish citizens and distinguished captains of this city enrolled with full scholarships (becas) from the Dominicans and were allowed to reside in the colegio for free In addition to these twelve, other Spanish-born students enrolled with partial scholarships, ie they had to pay a hundred pesos for their board and lodging. These latter students must have also been of Spanish descent.”

The personal data of the first twelve scholars are unknown.

Source: Extracts in manifesto, Archivo de la Universidad de Santo Tomás, libros 69, fol.85v; and in Alberto Santa Maria, OP, Estudios Historicos, pp. 54-55.