THE HISTORY and devotion to the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of UST were at the forefront of an exhibit launched by the UST Santisimo Rosario Parish leading up to its fiesta on Oct. 6.
The exhibit at the UST Museum, titled “Rosaryo. Debosyon. Misyon,” features a collection of private- and parish-owned depictions of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary.
In an interview with the Varsitarian, Juan Alvarez, the parish’s social communications ministry head, said the exhibit traces the patroness’s origins to old Manila in the walled city now of Intramuros.
“The exhibit is a good venue to reintroduce the parish…People will discover why the image (Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of UST) is a treasure for the Thomasian community and parishioners,” he said during the exhibit’s opening on Sept. 10.
“The image is very historical, and she is a witness to the old UST days,” he added.
Among the exhibit pieces is a resin image of the patroness, owned by parish priest Fr. Paul Talavera, O.P. Also on display are novenas, estampitas, scapulars, and rosaries owned by Alvarez.
The College of Fine Arts and Design (CFAD) is also part of the exhibit, displaying a life-sized rosary suspended from the UST Museum ceiling.
Other CFAD-made artworks on exhibit are “Sama-samang pagbabalik-loob sa Ina ng Santo Rosario” by Jon Alvarez, which won the 2021 Santisimo Rosario Painting Contest, and the 2022 winner, Revin Doromal’s “Enduring the storms of the ages under Mary’s mantle.”
UST Museum assistant director Carlo Sayco touted the collaboration as a fulfillment of one of Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P.’s directives, which is to strengthen collaboration between academic units and departments.
“The artworks and all the objects that can be seen in this exhibition support one’s faith through objects that are tangible,” he told the Varsitarian. “It also gives them (devotees) a visual imagery and an artistic interpretation of how Mama Mary is portrayed.”
The image of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of UST was originally enshrined in the chapel of the old campus of UST, then called the Colegio de Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario, in Intramuros.
The Santisimo Rosario Parish will celebrate its feast on Oct. 6 with a procession and Masses throughout the day, with the Misa Mayor scheduled at 4 p.m.
“Rosaryo. Debosyon. Misyon” exhibit will run until Oct. 8. Billy Andrei P. Ramos
