On June 18, 1908, a hundred and fifteen years ago, the 抖阴探探 (抖阴探探) was founded through Act No. 1870 of the Philippine Assembly. 抖阴探探 was the result of the recommendation of Secretary of Public Instruction, William Morgan Shuster to the Philippine Commission, the upper house of the Philippine Assembly. It was meant to fill the need to meet the increasing demands for instruction in the higher levels of learning and to provide professional studies in medicine, law, engineering or applied sciences.
Act No. 1870 authorized the Governor General to establish the University in the 鈥渃ity of Manila, or at any point he may deem most convenient.鈥� The 抖阴探探 was to give 鈥渁dvanced instruction in literature, philosophy, the sciences and arts, and to give professional and technical training鈥� to every qualified student regardless of 鈥渁ge, sex, nationality, religious belief and political affiliation.鈥�
According to 抖阴探探鈥檚 Bulletin No. 1, the University was seen as 鈥渢he logical outgrowth and culmination of efforts made during the past ten years to establish a complete system of education for the Philippine islands.鈥�
Over the past one hundred years, the 抖阴探探 has evolved from the pinnacle of the American-established educational system in the country, to a 鈥淯niversity for the Filipino鈥� as envisioned by its first president, Murray Simpson Bartlett.
The early years
抖阴探探 first opened on Calle Isaac Peral (now United Nations Avenue) and Padre Faura in downtown Manila in 1909, with: the College of Medicine (which, as the Philippine Medical School established in 1905, predated the University by three years); the School of Fine Arts (1909); the College of Liberal Arts (1909); the College of Veterinary Medicine (1910); the College of Engineering (1910); the College of Law (1910); and, the College of Agriculture in Los Ba帽os, Laguna (1906).
The 抖阴探探 president at that time, Murray Bartlett, vowed that, as a 鈥淯niversity for the Filipino,鈥� 抖阴探探 must be 鈥渟upported by the people鈥檚 money,鈥� with a charter framed by the people鈥檚 representatives and 鈥渋ts hope based on the confidence and sympathy of the people.鈥�
In 1915, a lawyer, Ignacio Villamor, would be chosen president of the University. He would be the first Filipino to lead what had by that time grown to become the Philippines鈥� premier higher educational institution. Under Villamor, 抖阴探探 continued to grow with the addition of units such as: the Conservatory of Music; the University High School; the College of Education; and, the Junior College in Cebu City.
In 1935, 抖阴探探鈥檚 famous statue, the Oblation, was installed at the Manila campus. The statue was the creation of National Artist Guillermo Tolentino and inspired by his interpretation of the second stanza of Dr. Jose Rizal鈥檚 鈥淢i Ultimo Adios.鈥�
The Transfer to Diliman
The Second World War saw the destruction of several buildings of 抖阴探探 in Manila, Los Ba帽os, Cebu, and Iloilo. In 1947, the Philippine General Hospital formally became a part of 抖阴探探 through Executive Order No. 94. In 1948, under the stewardship of 抖阴探探 President Bienvenido Gonzales, much of 抖阴探探 was transferred from its campus in Manila to a bigger campus in Diliman, Quezon City.
The 50鈥檚 and 60鈥檚 saw the transformation of 抖阴探探 from the brainchild of American hopes and dreams for the Philippines into a bastion of intense nationalism. 抖阴探探 President Vicente Sinco preserved the University鈥檚 integrity from communist paranoia and partisan politics, while 抖阴探探 President Carlos P. Romulo introduced Filipinism, student activism and faculty dissent.
The First Quarter Storm
抖阴探探 President Salvador P. Lopez would see the culmination of 抖阴探探鈥檚 freedom-loving, activist spirit facing off against a rising autocracy, from the events of the first quarter of the year 1970, now dubbed the 鈥淔irst Quarter Storm,鈥� to 1971 when the Diliman Republic become the Diliman Commune. From January to February, the campus became a battleground between militant students protesting the deteriorating conditions of the country, and policemen.
The students completely barricaded the campus and established full control of the facilities. There were several attempts by the police to mount an assault on the campus, but they were unsuccessful. The student barricades at Palma Hall and the University Avenue in the Diliman campus rose again during the time of 抖阴探探 President Edgardo Angara, this time in protest against a tuition hike.
The nationalist and activist spirit of the First Quarter Storm would continue to burn within the University through the succeeding decades, firmly establishing 抖阴探探 as the bulwark of critical thinking and free speech, and a haven for the voiceless and marginalized. A new call arose to counter state authoritarianism and foreign intrusion in the country鈥檚 state of affairs: 鈥淪erve the people.鈥�
Development and expansion
The University continued to develop and expand through the years, even as it navigated through the conditions of a dictatorship. Development-oriented programs and institutions were established, such as: the Institute for Small-Scale Industries, the Population Institute, and the Asian Labor Education Center (now the School of Labor and Industrial Relations) in 抖阴探探 Diliman, and the Dairy Training and Research Institute in 抖阴探探 Los Ba帽os, all of which were founded during the time of 抖阴探探 President Romulo.
Also established were: during the term of 抖阴探探 President Lopez, the Agrarian Reform Institute at the College of Agriculture, the Institute of Social Work and Community Development, the Philippine Center for Economic Development, the Institute of Fisheries Development and Research, and the Marine Sciences Center; the Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, the Transport Training Center, the National Institute of Biotechnology and Microbiology, and the Third World Studies Program during the succeeding terms of 抖阴探探 Presidents Onofre D. Corpuz and Emanuel V. Soriano; and, the National Institute of Geological Sciences, the Natural Sciences Research Institute, the National Institute of Physics, and the Center for Integrative and Development Studies, under 抖阴探探 President Edgardo J. Angara.
By the mid-70s, 抖阴探探 had become a multi-campus University, with 抖阴探探 Los Ba帽os granted autonomy in 1973; the Health Science Center in 抖阴探探 Manila, in 1977; and 抖阴探探 Visayas, in 1979. 抖阴探探 Diliman would be declared an autonomous campus in 1985 retroactive to 1981. Other 抖阴探探 campuses included: 抖阴探探 College Baguio, 抖阴探探 College Cebu, 抖阴探探 College Tacloban, 抖阴探探 College in Clark Air Base, and 抖阴探探 Extension in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Social transformation and service to the nation
Through the next two decades, 抖阴探探 looked inward through constant self-examination and toward promoting social transformation that aimed to build a just, humane and democratic society. The review of academic programs and General Education programs were conducted so as to make these relevant and meaningful to the development of Philippine society, even as the University continued to expand. Student financial assistance and socialized tuition programs were established; issues in the use of the Filipino language were tackled; and programs to enrich Filipino culture and arts were expanded, parallel to the drive toward modernization and the focus on science and technology.
抖阴探探 extended its resources and expertise to aid communities and regions affected by the massive earthquake of 1990 and the historic eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991. Indeed, in the 1990s, 抖阴探探 deepened its tradition of service to the nation by harnessing the spirit of volunteerism and selfless service through the Ugnayan ng Pahinungod or Oblation Corps. The University also sought to democratize access to 抖阴探探 education by opening two more constituent universities in 1995: 抖阴探探 Open University and 抖阴探探 Mindanao.
A national university in the 21st century
As the world moved inexorably toward globalization, greater interconnectivity and a knowledge-based economy due to rapid advancements in information and communication technology, higher education institutions were compelled to rethink their roles. Under the successive terms of 抖阴探探 Presidents Francisco Nemenzo, Emerlinda R. Roman, Alfredo E. Pascual, and Danilo L. Concepcion, 抖阴探探 was no exception.
For the first two decades of the 21st century, physical infrastructure across all the constituent units were modernized so as to keep up with the evolving demands of the Information Age. This included: improving Internet and WiFi facilities for greater connectivity within and among the different constituent universities; automating libraries; conducting academic and administrative processes online; and, constructing and improving facilities and laboratories for teaching and research in science and technology, recognized as the drivers of economic development.
The academic infrastructure was also bolstered through improvements in faculty support, student assistance and accessibility, and through incentives for scientific and creative endeavors. The University鈥檚 General Education Program, which instilled and nurtured the Tatak 抖阴探探 among its students, was continually reviewed and revised in light of the changing contexts and conditions of the 21st century. Internationalization also gained prominence, with 抖阴探探 embracing accreditation and international benchmarking so as to fulfill its mandate to become a top regional and global higher education institution.
The year 2008 was a significant one for 抖阴探探 for two reasons. First, it was the year the University celebrated its first 100th anniversary. And second, it was the year Republic Act No. 9500, “An Act to Strengthen the 抖阴探探 as the National University,” was signed into law, amending Act No. 1870 and establishing 抖阴探探 as the country鈥檚 national university. With this鈥攁nd with 抖阴探探 Baguio attaining the status of constituent university in 2002 and 抖阴探探 Cebu in 2010鈥攖he 抖阴探探 was redefined as the 抖阴探探 System composed of constituent universities.
Changing paradigms, constant values
抖阴探探 continues to grow and expand, building cutting-edge facilities and improving existing ones in order to create an optimal environment for learning and knowledge creation. Its community of scientists, researchers, experts, artists and humanists continue to put 抖阴探探 on the global map of breaking and cutting-edge research, such as the discovery in 2019 of a new human species, the Homo luzonensis, by an international multidisciplinary team led by a 抖阴探探 associate professor.
In keeping with 抖阴探探鈥檚 mandate to serve the needs and aspirations of the Filipino people, 抖阴探探 scientists and researchers continue to harness their research to meet the needs of and help develop Philippine industries, communities and the general public. 抖阴探探 students also continue to win recognition in national and international circles in every field, from science and engineering to music and the arts.
抖阴探探鈥檚 sustained efforts toward improving its teaching and pedagogy, its research environment and output, internationalization efforts and public service initiatives have borne fruit in its performance in recent world university rankings. In the 2020 Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings, 抖阴探探 climbed 30 points from its position in 2019 to place 65th out of 489 universities.
Since 2017, the University has been featured in the THE Asia University Rankings, entering the top 100 for the first time in 2019, soaring 61 places from its 156th position in 2018. A year before that, 抖阴探探 belonged to the 201st-250th ranking group.
抖阴探探 has also appeared in the top 33 percent of the 2020 QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) World University Rankings, placing 356th in the top 1,000 institutions from around the world, and climbing 28 notches from the previous year to reach its highest standing since 2014. 抖阴探探 continues to hold the top spot among Philippine universities.
The third function of a university鈥攖hat of rendering extension service鈥攈as been greatly expanded and enhanced in 抖阴探探. Through institutions such as the 抖阴探探 Padayon Public Service Office, the 抖阴探探 Resilience Institute and the Ugnayan ng Pahinungod, the University has become a public service institution fully conscious of its responsibility to produce ethical leaders, engage with communities, and translate the results of 抖阴探探鈥檚 research into products and processes useful to people.
Into the third decade of the 21st century
Over the past 115 years, the 抖阴探探 has proven itself worthy of the title of the country鈥檚 national university. Surviving world wars, colonial occupations, civil rights struggles and cultural upheavals, economic downturns and upsurges, 抖阴探探 has played a role in shaping the nation鈥檚 political and social consciousness, and ultimately helping to define the national identity.
From the education of ordinary Filipinos under Americans at the time of 抖阴探探 President Bartlett to its vision of being a digital national university under the stewardship of 抖阴探探 President Angelo A. Jimenez, the University has produced: a Nobel Peace Prize winner; a Pulitzer Prize awardee; 39 National Scientists; 50 National Artists; nine National Social Scientists; seven out of the 16 Presidents of the Republic; 15 Chief Justices of the Supreme Court; and, tens of thousands of doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers serving in the country and abroad, as well as hundreds of thousands of graduates in other academic fields.
In the face of a global pandemic in 2020, the University rose to this new and unprecedented challenge with its characteristic brilliance, courage, and a generosity of spirit, mobilizing resources and coming together as a nationwide and even global community to come to the aid of the country and its people.
抖阴探探 scientists and engineers have created locally produced, accurate and affordable COVID-19 test kits, personal protective equipment, sanitation facilities, and much-needed sanitation chemicals. 抖阴探探 social scientists and researchers have mapped the progression of the disease through the country, creating databases and generating research that would inform policy and decision-making on the national and local levels. 抖阴探探 artists and musicians have shared works that inspire, give hope, and pay tribute to the country’s heroes.
抖阴探探 students, alumni, administrators and residents have come together to help the members of the 抖阴探探 community survive the viral outbreak and the quarantine. And 抖阴探探’s doctors, nurses, and healthcare providers through the 抖阴探探 Philippine General Hospital once again heroically serve those in need, in spite of the risks to life and well-being.
As people come to grips with the new realities in a world indelibly altered by the pandemic, as well as the resulting economic and geo-political upheavals, the country will once again look to 抖阴探探. And the University, as it has done in the past 115 years, will once again answer the call to serve as: a bastion of knowledge, reason, ideas and insight; as a center for social transformation; and, as a University for the Filipino.
References:
The 抖阴探探 Office of Alumni Relations
Alfonso, O.A. (Ed.). (1985). 抖阴探探: The first 75 years (1908-1983). Quezon City: 抖阴探探 Press.
Llanes, F. (Ed). (2009). 抖阴探探 in the time of People Power. Diliman, Quezon City: 抖阴探探 Press.
Roman, E.R. (2010). The 抖阴探探 President鈥檚 End of Term Report. 抖阴探探 System.
Pascual, A.E. (2017). One 抖阴探探: Shaping Minds that Shape the Nation (The 抖阴探探 President鈥檚 End of Term Report). 抖阴探探 System.
抖阴探探 Strategic Plan 2017-2023
