SafekipediaUniversity of the Philippines
Adapted from Wikipedia · Adventurer experience
The University of the Philippines (UP; Filipino: Unibersidad ng Pilipinas or Pamantasan ng Pilipinas) is a state public university system. It was started on June 18, 1908, and is the main university of the Philippines. UP helps the country grow by teaching students, doing research, and serving the public.
The UP System has eight universities and one college: UP Diliman, UP Los Baños, UP Manila, UP Visayas, UP Open University, UP Mindanao, UP Baguio, UP Cebu, and UP Tacloban. These schools are in 17 different places, and the main office is at UP Diliman. UP also runs the Philippine General Hospital, which is an important hospital in the country.
Many important people in the Philippines came from UP. The university has helped train Presidents, Senators, Members of the Congress, and leaders in many fields. UP is also known for its work in research and developing the country.
History
The University of the Philippines was created so Filipinos could study advanced subjects without traveling to Europe. It started on June 18, 1908, with schools like Agriculture, Fine Arts, Veterinary Medicine, Liberal Arts, Engineering, and Medicine. These schools were mostly in Manila, with some in Los Baños.
Later, a big campus was built in Diliman, Quezon City. This happened between 1939 and 1949, but World War II paused the building for a while. After the war, many new buildings were built, and all the schools moved to Diliman.
As the university grew, new campuses were added in Los Baños, Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao. Each campus became its own university with its own leader. New programs and research centers were also started to help the country develop.
In 2008, a new law made UP the national university of the Philippines. That year was also the university's 100th birthday, with special events and celebrations. The university keeps growing to better serve the country.
Autonomous units
The University of the Philippines has eight main universities and one special unit. They are spread across 15 campuses in the country. UP Diliman is where the main offices are located. Each main university is led by a chancellor. The president of the whole university is chosen for a six-year term.
Autonomous College
On April 27, 2023, the Board of Regents decided to make UP Tacloban its own special unit, separate from UP Visayas. This change helps UP Tacloban serve better in the Eastern Visayas area.
Satellite campuses
These campuses are smaller parts of the bigger universities. They offer programs from the bigger universities they belong to.
UP Diliman
- UPD Bonifacio Global City Professional Schools (Taguig City, Metro Manila)
- UPD Extension Program in Olongapo (Olongapo City, Zambales)
- UPD Extension Program in Pampanga (Clark Freeport Zone, Mabalacat, Pampanga)
- UP Dasmarinas Technology Innovation Campus (Dasmariñas, Cavite), groundbreaking.
UP Los Baños
- UPLB Professional School for Agriculture and the Environment (Panabo City, Davao del Norte)
UP Manila
- UPM School of Health Sciences in Baler (Baler, Aurora)
- UPM School of Health Sciences in Koronadal (Koronadal City, South Cotabato)
- UPM School of Health Sciences in Palo (Palo, Leyte)
- UPM School of Health Sciences in Tarlac (Tarlac City, Tarlac)
UP Cebu
- UPC Professional Schools (Cebu City, Cebu)
UP Visayas
- UPV Iloilo City Campus (Iloilo City)
- UPV Antique Extension (Pandan, Antique)
UP Open University
- Seven (7) learning centers across the country
Basic education
- University of the Philippines High School Cebu in UP Cebu
- University of the Philippines High School Iloilo in UP Visayas
- University of the Philippines Integrated School in UP Diliman
- University of the Philippines Rural High School in UP Los Baños
| University | Chancellor | Campus land area (Hectares) | Founded | Focus Areas (Non-exhaustive) | CHED Centers of Excellence and Development | Description and remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of the Philippines Baguio | Prof. Joel M. Addawe | 6 | 1961 | Social Sciences (Anthropology, Culture Studies, etc.); Arts and Communication; Business and Management; Biology; Mathematics | Biology, Mathematics, Physics | UP's regional hub in the Cordillera, advancing science and cultural studies |
| University of the Philippines Cebu | Atty. Leo B. Malagar | 12+ | 1918 (Junior College of Liberal Arts); 1930 (Cebu Junior College, UP) | Information Technology; Arts; Various Sciences including Mathematics and Statistics; Social Sciences (e.g., Political Science) | Environmental Science, Information Technology | UP's creative and innovation hub in Central Philippines; Elevated from UP Visayas to an autonomous unit, and later to a constituent university. |
| University of the Philippines Diliman | Atty. Edgardo Carlo Vistan II | 493 (Quezon City campus only) | 1909 (founding colleges); 1949 (Diliman campus) | Arts and Humanities (e.g., Fine Arts, Music, Film, Media, etc.); Social Sciences (e.g., Law, Governance, Sports Science, Economics, etc.); Natural and Physical Sciences (e.g., Geology, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and related fields); Engineering; Business and Management | Anthropology, Biology, Broadcasting, Cell and Molecular Biology, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Communication, Electrical Engineering, English, Environmental Science, Foreign Language, Geodetic Engineering, Geology, History, Journalism, Library and Information Science, Literature, Marine Science, Mathematics, Metallurgical Engineering, Music, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Statistics, Teacher Education | UP's leading institution for liberal arts, scientific research, and nation-building; Houses the central administration of the UP system; represents UP in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines |
| University of the Philippines Los Baños | Dr. Jose V. Camacho, Jr. | 15,205 (total); 5,445 (main campus); 9,760 (land grants) | 1909 | Agricultural and Food Sciences (including Biotechnology); Life and Natural Sciences (e.g., Forestry, Biology, Chemistry, Nutrition, Physics, and related fields); Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science; Engineering; Veterinary Medicine; Communication; Economics | Agricultural Engineering, Agriculture, Biology, Chemical Engineering, Development Communication, Environmental Science, Forestry, Information Technology, Statistics, Veterinary Medicine | UP's center of excellence for agricultural, natural, and applied sciences; Houses the International Rice Research Institute; designated as caretaker of Mount Makiling |
| University of the Philippines Manila | Dr. Michael L. Tee | 14 | 1905 (College of Medicine); 1908 (UP) | Health Sciences and Allied Medical Professions; Biomedical Sciences (Biochemistry, Biology) | Medicine, Nursing | The Philippines' national center for health sciences and medical education; Operates the Philippine General Hospital and houses the National Institutes of Health |
| University of the Philippines Mindanao | Prof. Lyre Anni Murao | 204 | 1995 | Humanities and Social Sciences (e.g., Architecture, Sports Science, etc.); Agribusiness; Various Sciences including Data Science | Biology | UP's flagbearer in Mindanao, advancing the sciences, culture, and innovation; houses the CHED Zonal Research Center, DOST-SEI Regional Biotechnology Laboratory, and the Philippine Genome Center Mindanao |
| University of the Philippines Visayas | Dr. Clement Camposano | 1,500 Main Campus | 1947 | Fisheries and Ocean Sciences; Basic and Applied Sciences; Business and Management, Social Sciences, Humanities, and the Arts | Fisheries | UP's regional hub in the Visayas, pioneering in fisheries and regional development |
| University of the Philippines Open University | Dr. Joane V. Serrano | 23 (Headquartered in Los Baños, Laguna) | 1995 | Education, Information & Communication Studies, Management & Development Studies (offered in the distance education mode) | UP's leader in open and distance e-learning |
| College | Dean | Founded | Focus Areas (Non-exhaustive) | Declared as Autonomous Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of the Philippines Tacloban | Dr. Patricia Arinto | 1973 | Humanities, Management, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences & Mathematics | April 27, 2023 |
Organization
The University of the Philippines is led by a President chosen by a group of 11 leaders called the Board of Regents. This board makes the most important decisions for the university.
The current president is Angelo Jimenez, who began his role in February 2023. The Board includes representatives from students, faculty, alumni, and staff, as well as leaders from the government.
Presidents of the University of the Philippines
Main article: President of the University of the Philippines
The President of the University of the Philippines is elected for a six-year term by the university's eleven-member Board of Regents. The current president of UP is lawyer and former regent Angelo Jimenez. He began his job on February 10, 2023.
Board of Regents
The governance of the university is handled by the Board of Regents of the University of the Philippines System and is called the Lupon ng mga Rehente in Filipino. The board, with its 11 members, makes the most important decisions for the UP system.
The Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is the Board's Chairperson while the President of the University of the Philippines is the co-chairperson. UP students, represented by the General Assembly of Student Councils, nominate a Student Regent. The Faculty Regent is nominated by the faculty members of the whole University. Alumni are represented by the President of the UP Alumni Association. A Staff Regent, representing professional and administrative personnel, was added with the new UP Charter in 2008. The remaining members of the Board of Regents are nominated by the President of the Philippines.
The secretary of the university and of the Board of Regents is Atty. Roberto M.J. Lara.
| Presidents of the University of the Philippines |
| Murray S. Bartlett, 1911-1915 |
| Ignacio B. Villamor, 1915-1921 |
| Guy Potter Wharton Benton, 1921-1925 |
| Rafael V. Palma, 1925-1933 |
| Jorge Bocobo, 1934-1939 |
| Bienvenido Ma. González, 1939–1943, 1945-1951 |
| Antonio Sison, 1943-1945 |
| Vidal A. Tan, 1951-1956 |
| Enrique Virata, 1956-1958 |
| Vicente G. Sinco, 1958-1962 |
| Carlos P. Romulo, 1962-1968 |
| Salvador P. Lopez, 1969-1975 |
| Onofre D. Corpuz, 1975-1979 |
| Emanuel V. Soriano, 1979-1981 |
| Edgardo J. Angara, 1981-1987 |
| José Abueva, 1987-1993 |
| Emil Q. Javier, 1993-1999 |
| Francisco Nemenzo, Jr., 1999-2005 |
| Emerlinda R. Roman, 2005–2011 |
| Alfredo E. Pascual, 2011–2017 |
| Danilo Concepcion, 2017–2023 |
| Angelo Jimenez, 2023–present |
| Board member | ||
|---|---|---|
| Chairperson | Hon. Shirley C. Agrupis | Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education |
| Co-chairperson | Hon. Angelo A. Jimenez | President of the University of the Philippines |
| Member | Hon. Loren B. Legarda | Chairperson, Senate Higher, Technical and Vocational Education Committee |
| Member | Hon. Jude A. Acidre | Chairperson, House Committee on Higher and Technical Education |
| Member | Hon. Robert Lester F. Aranton | Alumni Regent & President, UP Alumni Association |
| Member | Hon. Early Sol A. Gadong | Faculty Regent |
| Member | Hon. Marie Theresa S. Alambra | Staff Regent |
| Member | Hon. Ron Dexter L. Clemente | Student Regent |
| Member | Hon. Alfredo E. Pascual | Appointed Regent by President Bongbong Marcos |
| Member | Hon. Gregorio B. Pastorfide | Appointed Regent by President Rodrigo Duterte |
| Member | Hon. Raul C. Pagdanganan | Appointed Regent by President Rodrigo Duterte |
Academics
The University of the Philippines System has many programs. It offers over 200 programs for students, more than any other university in the country. The Diliman campus has the most programs, while other campuses focus on specific areas of study.
The university has 57 different schools and departments. For example, the Los Baños campus has a special school for advanced studies in agriculture and forestry. The Manila campus works with Boston University, allowing students to study there for a semester. The university has many teachers, and many have studied both in the Philippines and abroad.
The university is part of important networks, connecting it with schools across Asia and Europe. It is the only Philippine university linked with universities around the Pacific Rim.
The university has large library collections in agriculture, medicine, and related sciences. Its libraries hold many books and journals, including items from student and political groups. The library system began in 1922 and was once considered one of the best in Asia. It was later rebuilt and has been a leader in library education, offering courses since 1914 and starting the country's first graduate program in library science in 1961.
Admissions and financial aid
See also: University of the Philippines College Admission Test
The University of the Philippines has very selective undergraduate admissions. Many students take the entrance exam, and only a few are accepted. Admission depends mostly on the results of the University of the Philippines College Admissions Test (UPCAT) and high school grades.
The university has a program called the Socialized Tuition System, or Iskolar ng Bayan, to help students from families with limited money. This program was started in 2014 to make education more fair and accessible. It offers different levels of help based on what a family can afford, including full scholarships for those who need it most.
See also: Oblation (University of the Philippines)
The university’s colors are maroon and forest green. These colors are used in the university’s hymn and official symbols.
The university’s seal features a bald eagle holding symbols of science, medicine, engineering, and agriculture. This seal was approved in 1913 and is used on official documents. Each part of the seal represents important areas of study at the university. The university also has its own flag, which is a horizontal banner with maroon and green stripes and the university seal in the center.
"UP Naming Mahal" is the official hymn of the university. The music was composed by Nicanor Abelardo, a famous Filipino musician and UP alum. The hymn has both English and Filipino lyrics.
The university also uses a special sash called the “Sablay” for graduation ceremonies. The Sablay is patterned after old academic sashes from Scandinavian universities and features the university’s initials in an ancient Filipino script. Graduates wear it during the ceremony.
| Filipino Lyrics (U.P. Naming Mahal) | Original Lyrics in English (U.P. Beloved) |
|---|---|
| I. U.P. naming mahal, pamantasang hirang Ang tinig namin, sana'y inyong dinggin Malayong lupain, amin mang marating Di rin magbabago ang damdamin Di rin magbabago ang damdamin. II. Luntian at pula, Sagisag magpakailanman Ating pagdiwang, bulwagan ng dangal Humayo't itanghal, giting at tapang Mabuhay ang pag-asa ng bayan Mabuhay ang pag-asa ng bayan. | I. U.P. beloved, thou Alma Mater dear For thee united, our joyful voices hear Far tho we wander, o'er island yonder Loyal thy sons we'll ever be Loyal thy sons we'll ever be. II. Echo the watchword, the Red and Green forever. Give out the password, to the Hall of Brave sons rare. Sing forth the message, ring out with courage All hail, thou hope of our dear land, All hail, thou hope of our dear land. |
In popular culture
The University of the Philippines is famous for its students who often speak up for what they believe is right.
Many students in the Philippines dream of attending UP because it is very selective. Each year, many people take the UPCAT exam to try to join the university. Students study hard at special review centers to prepare.
UP students are known for doing very well in important tests for jobs like doctors, engineers, and scientists. Many graduates work in important positions in the government, showing the university's focus on public service. UP is often ranked as the best university in the Philippines.
Notable alumni
Main article: List of University of the Philippines people
The University of the Philippines has many important graduates who have become leaders in many areas.
In politics, UP graduates include past presidents of the Philippines such as José P. Laurel, Diosdado Macapagal, Ferdinand Marcos, and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Other graduates hold important jobs like senators, vice presidents, and members of Congress.
In business, UP graduates have started big companies. One graduate started the first television station in the Philippines, now known as ABS-CBN Corporation. Another graduate won a top prize for work in motion pictures.
The university is proud that one of its graduates, Maria Ressa, received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 for her important work.
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