During
the Spanish colonial years, there was a training course,
similar to what is presently known as ROTC, at the University
of Sto. Tomas. In 1762, Father Domingo Collantes,
O.P., Rector and Chancellor of UST, with the aid of
a segeant of the Royal Spanish Army, organized a battalion
of young students for military training. They were trained
to fight invading English troops of some 7,000 men,
fresh from thirteen warships bivouacked in Madras.
These
boys, displaying courage and commendable spirit in
the face of a real war against a superior enemy, won
for the university the award of "Royal Cedula"
from the King of Spain, who conferred on them the
title of "Regalia", and the seal of loyalty:
"Muy Leal", for participating in the fight
against the British.
To
this day the "Muy Leal" crest remains a
part of the UST ROTC seal, and was adopted by the
unit's ROTC fraternity as its motto.
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