 | |
| Location | UST Plaza Benavides,Manila |
|---|---|
| Designer | French:Tony Noël |
| Material | Bronze |
| Completion date | 1889 |
| Opening date | July 2, 1891 |
| Dedicated to | Miguel de Benavides |
TheBenavides Monument is a memorial in theUniversity of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines built to commemorate the founder of the University of Santo Tomas,Miguel de Benavides. Located in thePlaza Benavides in front of the UST Main Building, the monument consists of abronze statue of Benavides rising on top of a granite pedestal. The present monument was unveiled in 1946.
The Benavides statue first stood in thePlaza de Santo Tomas in front of the original campus in Intramuros.[1]
The pedestal is flanked at the base by four seated lions.
The old university seal is featured on each side of the pedestal. Encircling the monument are eight elephants carrying a vase.
Years after World War II, the original statue was transferred to the Sampaloc campus leaving the Plaza Santo Tomas in Intramuros an empty space. In the 1980s, theIntramuros Administration redeveloped the area into a usable park.[2]
In 2002, the UST administration in cooperation with the Intramuros Administration,National Historical Institute, and the university alumni renovated the park. Manuel Cueto of theUST College of Architecture designed the renovation. The renovation project began in March 2001. Only the fences were retained from the original design of the plaza, which were based on a 1936 Unitas.[3]
As part of the preparations for theQuadricentennial Celebration, a fiberglass replica of the statue was erected in its original location. The statue was sculpted by Dr. Crispin Viocencion and was inaugurated on January 25, 2002.[3]
Beside the Benavides statue is an obelisk containing the names of all the framers of theMalolos Constitution. A plaque on the base of the obelisk mentions the 53 names of the Thomasians who became part of the 1899 Malolos Constitution. However, based on historical documents, 54 Thomasians, who were also members of theMalolos Congress, signed the 1899 Constitution.[3]
An octagonal concrete marker was also added. Each side of the marker contains pictures of the original campus and the plaza.[3]
A statue of Benavides was unveiled in his hometown inCarrión de los Condes,Spain, on July 1, 2006.[4][5] The bronze statue was made by Carlos Diez Galán.[6][7] An inscription in the base of the statue reads,Miguel de Benavides, Carrión de los Condes. Primavera, 2006. Galán. In a bronze plaque in the front of the pedestal reads, Fr. Miguel de Benavides, OP. 1552 - 1605. Santo Misionero Prov. Ntra Sra Del Rosario. Arzobispo y fundador de la Universidad de Santo Tomas de Manila.[8]
As part of the UST Quadricentennial Celebration in 2011, a mass at theIglesia de San Andres and a wreath-laying ceremony at the statue were held. It was followed by the inauguration of a library named after Miguel de Benavides in the same town.[9][10]
Depictions of the monument have been used by the university in various occasions.