BELONGING to the government of Spain, Casa Asia is a cultural institution, whose goal is to promote knowledge about Asian nations and cultures and also to support the relations between Spain and Asian countries in the cultural, economic and educational spheres. It was founded in 2001, and its headquarters is located in Barcelona although they have a branch in Madrid. It organizes courses and workshops. It has a center for documentation. It launches and publishes books about Asia. It provides research grants, and it mounts exhibitions, among other activities. Needless to say, it is a very prestigious institution, and I was extremely joyful to know that the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) received Casa Asia’s yearly prize in the category of education and science. Its jury argued that this university “is an historical, academic and cultural institution that has played a key role in the education of Filipino people during more than 400 years, which makes it the oldest modern university in Asia.”

The survival of any human institution for more than four centuries is an achievement in itself and even more so if we take into consideration its excellence. It is a sign that the people in charge of it and the community that it has been serving do greatly appreciate its importance and commitment. In line with this, I would like to highlight two of my favorite places in this university.