University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines - Older than Harvard

The University of Santo Tomas is older than Harvard and has been teaching since 1611.

Founded on April 28, 1611, the University of Santo Tomas in Manila holds the distinction of being the oldest existing university in Asia. When its doors opened, Shakespeare was still writing plays, the Mayflower had not yet sailed, and most of the world's great universities did not exist. Dominican friars established the school initially as a seminary, but it quickly expanded into a full university offering degrees in philosophy, theology, law, and medicine.

During World War II, the campus served as an internment camp where thousands of Allied civilians were held for years. The Main Building, with its imposing neoclassical facade, survived the war and still serves as the heart of the university today. Over four centuries, UST has produced national heroes, presidents, scientists, and artists who shaped modern Philippine society.

Meanwhile, Did you know that Filipinos were Trading with China Before the Spaniards came to the Philippines?

Chinese records of the Song dynasty note that on March 17, 1001, a tribute mission from Butuan arrived at the imperial court, the earliest recorded mission from the Philippines. Butuan was then a gold mining and trading hub in northeastern Mindanao, known for metalwork, jewelry, and trade across Southeast Asia.

In 1007 its king, Kiling, sent another envoy to ask for equal status with the envoy of Champa, and the Butuan envoy returned with gifts and honors. Long before Spain arrived, Filipinos were already trading with an empire.

Finally, My Dish of the Day:

Pancit Bihon at every birthday party means one thing: long life and full stomachs.

In Filipino tradition, noodles symbolize long life, which is why no birthday celebration is complete without a heaping platter of pancit. Bihon noodles, made from rice flour, are the thinnest and most popular variety, and they soak up every drop of the savory sauce they are cooked in. The dish traces its roots to Chinese traders who brought noodle-making techniques to the Philippines centuries ago, and Filipino cooks made it entirely their own.