UST Plaza Benavides

The canopies of trees at the Plaza Benavides

The Plaza Benavides, also known as Benavides Park or Benavides Garden in Manila, Philippines is a landscaped park located in the University of Santo Tomas. It contains the Benavides Monument, built to commemorate the founder of the university, Miguel de Benavides.

History

[edit]
The view of the UST Main Building from the Lover's Lane

Prior to the park, the area served as a temporary burial site of the Santo Tomas Internment Camp during the World War II.[1]

Park layout

[edit]
The Chinese tombstone

The Plaza Benavides, the largest park in the Manila campus, is bounded to the northwest by the Plaza Mayor, to the southwest by Osmeña Drive, to the northeast by the Quezon Drive, and to the southeast by the Plaza Intramuros. The center walkway is called the Rizal Lane, more popularly known as the Lover's Lane. Parallel to Rizal Lane is Burgos Lane on the left and M.H. Del Pilar Lane on the right.[2][3][4] The three lanes were named in 1960 after UST alumni José Burgos, José Rizal, and Marcelo H. del Pilar.[5] They begin at the Plaza Mayor and end at the Plaza Intramuros.[6] The lanes have alternating terracotta, gray, and white colored cobblestones arranged in an interplay of squares and vertical lines.[7]

The plaza underwent an extensive renovation for the quadricentennial celebration, but the Benavides Monument's raised circular base and the path that contained the Chinese tombstone were left relatively unaltered.[7]

At the middle entrance of the Plaza Benavides from Plaza Mayor lies a Chinese tombstone. The tombstone, which dates back to 1818, measures 67 cm x 130 cm. It reads:[8]

甫山
嘉慶歲次戊寅年桐月吉旦
顯妣甲必丹娘微沓吳氏之城
孝男...
同立
孝女...
Fushan (village of origin)
Jiaqing wuyin by an auspicious day of the 3rd month
Tomb of our beloved mother Vita, wife of capitan Uy
Erected by her five filial sons and five daughters...

The Benavides Monument serves as the park's main attraction. The statue of Miguel de Benavides was transferred from Intramuros in 1946.[9][10][11]

Botany

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The Benavides Park comprises at least 60 different types of trees.[12] The Rizal Lane is lined by rows of tall pruned Photinia × fraseri or Red Robins. It's also surrounded with native trees and exotic trees like rubber fig and mahogany. The list of trees include:[13][14]

Usage

[edit]
The Rizal Lane during the visit of Queen Sofía of Spain in 2012.

The annual UST Inter-School On-the-Spot Painting Competition is usually held in the plaza.[15]

When Queen Sofía of Spain visited UST in 2012, she was welcomed by the university rector at Rizal Lane before laying a wreath at the Benavides Statue.[16][17]

In 2015, Pope Francis entered the UST campus through the Arch of the Centuries. He then went to an open-top vehicle for a motorcade which began at Rizal Lane, passing through the Benavides Monument and Plaza Mayor.[18]

In 2016, the UAAP Season 79 held its opening ceremonies at the UST campus. Student-athletes from the 8 participating schools passed through the Arch of the Centuries and Rizal Lane in a parade leading to the Plaza Mayor.[19]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Cruz, James Patrick (October 28, 2024). "Trivia: UST Lover's Lane used to be a burial site during World War II". Interaksyon. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  2. ^ "Top 10 Most Infamous University Hookup and Breakup Spots". Spot.ph. February 17, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  3. ^ "Freshie FOMO: University hotspots new students have yet to experience". Rappler. October 14, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  4. ^ "UST Lover's Lane - Manila". Top 10 Place Philippines. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  5. ^ "Who cares about UST's streets?". The Varsitarian. September 30, 2008. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  6. ^ "Manila's Pontifical and Royal Campus (Part 1)". The Urban Roamer. May 5, 2001. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Synchronized constructions in UST". The Varsitarian. May 27, 2006. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  8. ^ Chu, Richard T.; Ang See, Teresita (2016). "Toward a History of Chinese Burial Grounds in Manila during the Spanish Colonial Period". Archipel. 92: 63–90. doi:10.4000/archipel.283. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  9. ^ Jose, Regalado Trota (May–August 2016). "Historic Visual Images of the University of Santo Tomas in Intramuros, from the Archivo de la Universidad de Santo Tomas". Philippiniana Sacra. LI (153): 489–535. doi:10.55997/ps2009li153pr1. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  10. ^ Arcilla, Rancho (June 11, 2020). "Trivia no. 1: Rizal on the Benavides Monument". Manila Weekly. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  11. ^ Fusio, Christine (April 10, 2016). "#InquirerSeven Most photogenic places in UST". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  12. ^ Cecilia May Villanueva (January 2015). Arboretum: Balancing the UST Campus Landscape (Report). doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.33832.16640. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  13. ^ Emocling, Oliver. "If you want nature, visit your local university". Scout Mag. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  14. ^ "Ang mga puno sa Uste". The Varsitarian. May 13, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  15. ^ Sembrano, Edgar Allan (February 15, 2015). "74th UST on-the-spot painting contest commemorates World War II". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  16. ^ Tabora, Brylle (July 9, 2012). "In her visit, Queen Sofia scores a goal worthy of a World Cup". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  17. ^ Macairan, Evelyn (July 7, 2012). "Queen Sofia gets royal welcome at UST". Philippine Star. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  18. ^ De Jesus, Julliane Love (January 18, 2015). "UST 'blessed' by Pope for third time". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  19. ^ Giongco, Mark (September 3, 2016). "UST's rich history in full display as UAAP Season 79 kicks off". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 18, 2024.

14°36′33″N 120°59′25″E / 14.6091°N 120.9902°E / 14.6091; 120.9902

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