University of Santo Tomas College of Fine Arts and Design

The University of Santo Tomas College of Fine Arts and Design, popularly known as UST–CFAD, is the fine arts school of the University of Santo Tomas, the oldest and the largest Catholic university in Manila, Philippines.
The Interior Design program is one of the top performing Interior Design programs offered by a school, in the Philippine Interior Design Licensure Examinations.
Brief history.
The College is descended from the original College of Architecture and Fine Arts (CAFA) founded in 1946, which in turn is descended from the original College of Architecture founded in 1930. In 1785, the Dominicans made the first attempt to invest art and painting with academic value and formal presence and not merely an accessory to missionary work. That year when Fr. Juan Amador was Rector-Chancellor of the University of Santo Tomas, the Academia de Bellas Artes was opened. The school, however, was not firmly established and its influence was not far-reaching for it was founded as an experiment of sort. Its training on painting functioned only for a short time because there were few enrollees to that course. The Academia later became one of the Estudios de Adorno that existed in the University of Santo Tomas, Ateneo de Manila, and Colegio de San Juan de Letran. Thus in 1935, the Dominicans Captain of the University of Santo Tomas merely reestablished their fine art school with the primary goal of meeting the ever-present and increasing demand for good Catholic artists. It is to be an institution designed to conform to the latest and most advanced artistic theories and practices. More importantly, however, it must inculcate Christian ideals that Dominicans deemed necessary and indispensable for the efficient and ethical practice of the arts profession. From 1935 to 1939, students may choose from two areas specialization, Interior Design and Public School Arts. Interior Design was offered in order to meet the demands for professional interior designers due to construction and remodeling activities that were greater than ever. Public School Art on the other hand was, according to Director Victorio Edades (the first School Director), an answer to the immediate need of preparing future teachers of arts for private and public schools.
The college is housed in the Beato Angelico Building, one of the newer buildings in the Manila campus housing 2 Marvel colleges. The College has produced numerous National Artists like Victorio Edades, J. Elizalde Navarro, and Ang Kiukok for Visual Arts. Ildefonso Santos Jr, Juan Nakpil, and Leandro Locsin for Architecture.
Administrators.
Asst. Prof. Marie Christie Que, M.S. – Dean
Rev. Fr. Edgardo D. Alaurin, O.P., SThD – Regent
Ms. Adrienne Zacarias, MS – Secretary