University of the Philippines

Infobox University
name =
|native_name = Unibersidad ng Pilipinas
|

|motto = Honor and Excellence
|established = June 18, 1908
|type = National University
|president = Dr. Emerlinda R. Román
|campus = 11 Campuses, 1 Open University
city = Diliman, Quezon City (Main Campus)
country = Philippines
endowment = PHP 6.23 billion (2008) budget [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/101294/RP-universities-get-low-rankings-La-Salle-UST-dropped-out-of-Top-500 GMA NEWS.TV, RP universities get low rankings; La Salle, UST dropped out of Top 500] . Accessed August 19, 2008.]
students = 53,285 [http://news.inquirer.net/nation/index.php?index=1&story_id=19007 "In the Know: University of the Philippines"] , Philippine Daily Inquirer Online. Accessed April 28, 2007.]
undergrad =
grad =
faculty = 4,135
staff = 10,044
free_label = University Hymn
free = "U.P. Naming Mahal"
colors = Maroon and Forest Green
nickname = UP Fighting Maroons
affiliations = Association of Pacific Rim Universities
ASEAN-European University Network
ASEAN University Network
UAAP
website = http://www.up.edu.ph

The University of the Philippines (or " Unibersidad ng Pilipinas" in Filipino and commonly abbreviated as U.P.) is the national university of the Philippines. [http://www.up.edu.ph/content.php?r=2&c=2 "About UP"] , University of the Philippines System Website. Accessed April 27, 2007.] [http://www.up.edu.ph/pdf2/RA_9500.pdf Republic Act 9500 "An Act to Strengthen the University of the Philippines as the National University"] . Retrieved May 20, 2008.] Founded in 1908 through Act No. 1870 of the first Philippine Legislature, known as the "University Act" by authority of the United States, the University provides tertiary-level education in almost every field, from law, medicine, engineering, political science and other social sciences to nursing, public health, natural sciences, agriculture and the humanities.

The University is considered as the premier institution of higher learning in the Philippines, and has educated some of the country's most popular political and social leaders, economists, scientists, lawyers, medical doctors, engineers, creative artists, educators, and entrepreneurs. [http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/editorial/view_article.php?article_id=110945 "UP in next 100 years"] , Philippine Daily Inquirer (Editorial). Retrieved May 20, 2008.] [http://www.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/67125931!.pdf Senate Resolution 278 "A Resolution Expressing the Sense of the Senate to Honor the University of the Philippines in its Centennial Year as the nation's premier university..."] , Senate of the 14th Congress of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved May 20, 2008.] [http://www.up.edu.ph/upnewsletter.php?i=564& "Hawaii legislature congratulates UP"] , University of the Philippines System Website. Retrieved May 20, 2008.] Several (7) Philippine Presidents have attended courses in the University either as undergraduates or as postgraduate students, while 12 chief justices of the Supreme Court, 36 out of the 57 National Artists and 30 out of the 31 National Scientists are affiliated with the University. [http://www.nast.dost.gov.ph/national.htm "List of National Scientists"] , DOST - National Academy of Science and Technology. Accessed April 27, 2007.]

U.P. was the highest ranked Philippine university in THES-QS World University Rankings in 2006 and 2007 and in the final edition of Asiaweek's Best Universities in Asia list in 2000.Leticia Peñano-Ho, [http://www.up.edu.ph/upforum.php?i=135 "Who Should Tell Us Who We Are?"] , University of the Philippines System Website. Accessed May 6, 2007.] [http://www.topuniversities.com/worlduniversityrankings/results/2007/overall_rankings/top_400_universities/ THES - QS World University Rankings 2007 - Top 400 Universities] , Top Universities. Accessed December 15, 2007.] [http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/features/universities2000/schools/multi.overall.html "Overall Ranking Multi-Disciplinary Schools"] , Asiaweek.com. Accessed May 7, 2007.] U.P. has the most number of National Centers of Excellence and Development among all higher education institutions in the country [http://www.ched.gov.ph/statistics/coecods.html "Statistics : CHED’s Centers of Excellence/Development"] , Commission on Higher Education. Accessed April 27, 2007.] and one of only three schools in Asia that have received institutional recognition in the Ramon Magsaysay Awards.List of Magsaysay Awardees, Wikipedia. Accessed April 28, 2007.] U.P. graduates frequently top the professional board examinations in nearly all professional fields, and its College of Law has produced 49 out of 107 of all top notchers in the Bar examinations.

U.P. is partly subsidized by the Philippine government, [http://www.up.edu.ph/pdf/tuitionfee.pdf "Primer on the Proposal to Adjust Tuition and Other Fees"] , University of the Philippines System Website. Accessed April 27, 2007.] making its students essentially scholars of the national government. Students of University of the Philippines and its graduates are popularly referred to as " "Iskolar ng Bayan" ("Scholars of the Nation"). [http://www.uplb.edu.ph/osa/253 "Basic Student Information"] , University of the Philippines Los Baños Website. Accessed April 28, 2007.] [http://www.iskolarngbayan.com/ "Iskolar ng Bayan Estudyante...Iskolar... Makabayan..."] , Iskolarngbayan.com. Accessed April 28, 2007.] [http://iskolar.net/ "Iskolar ng Bayan Para sa mga Isko at Iska ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas"] , Iskolar.net. Accessed April 28, 2007.] This makes admission into the University extremely competitive. In 2006 alone, 70,000 applicants flocked to test centers nationwide to take the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT) for undergraduate admission (Around 11,000 of the applicants were admitted for the year 2006, an acceptance rate of about 18%). [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view_article.php?article_id=13685 "70,000 HS seniors take UP entrance test"] , Philippine Daily Inquirer Online. Accessed April 27, 2007.]

The foremost symbol of U.P. is the Oblation. This is a figure of a naked man, with arms outstretched and face pointed upwards. The Oblation is based on the second stanza of Jose Rizal's "Mi Ultimo Adios", which is replete with references of selfless dedication and service to the nation.Mi Ultimo Adios, Wikipedia. Accessed April 28, 2007.] Michael Tan, [http://pinoykasi.homestead.com/files/2002articles/12192002_Oblation.htm "The Oblation"] , Pinoy Kasi. Accessed April 28, 2007.]

In line with the celebration of the University's centenary, the year 2008 has been proclaimed as the "UP Centennial Year" and the years 1998-2008 as the "University of the Philippines Decade." [http://www.up.edu.ph/content.php?r=14&c=30 "All Systems Go"] University of the Philippines System Website. Accessed April 28, 2007.] [http://www.upd.edu.ph/~up100/decade.html "U.P. Decade 1998-2008"] , UP System Centennial Year Website. Accessed April 28, 2007.]

History

The University of the Philippines was established in June 18, 1908, as the American University of the Philippines by an act of the First Philippine Legislature. Act No. 1870, otherwise known as the "University Act", specified the function of the University, which is to provide advanced instruction in literature, philosophy, the sciences, and arts, and to give professional and technical training. The University began with the establishment of the Philippine Medical School (later incorporated into the University as the College of Medicine and Surgery) in 1905, which started operating in 1907, a year ahead of the rest of the UP System. Together with the College of Fine Arts and the College of Liberal Arts, the College of Medicine occupied buildings distributed along Padre Faura (Ermita district) and R. Hidalgo (Quiapo district) in Manila, the School of Agriculture was in Los Baños. A few years later, the university opened the College of Law and the College of Engineering in Manila, as well as academic units under the College of Agriculture and Forestry in Los Baños. It became necessary to establish more academic programs, as well as to expand its facilities. The Board of Regents approved the need to look for a larger site, and a 493-hectare lot was acquired by the university in Diliman, then a town in the province of Rizal. Construction of the new campus began in 1939.

During World War II, most of its colleges had to be closed except the Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Engineering. Meanwhile, the Japanese Imperial Army occupied two Diliman campus buildings: the College of Liberal Arts Building (now Benitez Hall) and the Colleges of Law (now Malcolm Hall) and Business Administration Building. U.P. President Bienvenido Ma. Gonzalez sought a grant of PhP 13 million from the US-Philippines War Damage Commission. A massive rehabilitation and construction effort was executed during the post war years. For the first time, an extensive Diliman campus master plan and map were created in 1949. More buildings were built across the Diliman campus' landscape: the University Library (Gonzalez Hall), the College of Engineering (Melchor Hall), the Women's Residence Hall (now Kamia Residence Hall), the Conservatory of Music (Abelardo Hall), the Administration Building (Quezon Hall), and the U.P. President's Residence. Most colleges and administration offices were temporarily housed in huts and shelters made of sawali and galvanized iron.

During UP's 40th anniversary in February 1949, central administrative offices of U.P. were moved from Manila to Diliman together with the transfer of the Oblation. Administrative offices and its regional units in Manila, Los Baños, Baguio, and Cebu were all housed in the Diliman campus. General commencement exercises were also held in Diliman for the first time in 1949.

In the 1950s, new academic units and degree programs were established. Another major reform, the General Education (G.E.) Program, was introduced in 1959. The G.E. program became a series of core courses prescribed for all students at the undergraduate level. Most of these courses were being taught at the old College of Liberal Arts. As a result, UP President Vicente Sinco saw fit to reorganize the college into a University College, which would offer the core subjects to be taken during the first two years of the undergraduate program. The College of Arts and Sciences and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, on the other hand, offered major courses in the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. During President Sinco's term, more institutes and colleges were established. These institutes and colleges include the Institute of Public Administration (1952), the Statistical Center (1953), the Labor Education Center (now the School of Labor and Industrial Relations, established in 1954), the Asian Studies Institute (now the Asian Center, established in 1955), the Institute of Library Science (1961), and the College of Home Economics (1961).

The administration of Carlos P. Romulo was marked by the founding of the Population Institute, the Law Center and the Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry Training Center in 1964, the Institute of Mass Communication, the College of Business Administration, and the Institute of Planning in 1965, the Computer Center, the Institute for Small-Scale Industries in 1966, the Institute of Social Work and Community Development in 1967 and the Asian Center in 1968.

During the Martial Law period, U.P.'s administrators tried to sustain the university's educational priorities and institutional autonomy. At the height of activism in the university, U.P. President Salvador P. Lopez established a system of democratic consultation in which decisions such as promotions and appointments were made through greater participation by the faculty and administrative personnel. Lopez also reorganized U.P. into the U.P. System. In November 1972, the Los Baños campus was the first to be declared an autonomous unit under a chancellor. A Php150 million grant from the national budget boosted UP's Infrastructure Development Program. In Diliman, it funded the construction of buildings for the Colleges of Business Administration and Zoology, the Institute of Small-Scale Industries, the Transport Training Center, and the Coral Laboratory of the Marine Sciences Institute. Kalayaan Residence Hall and housing for low-income employees were also built around this time.

Onofre D. Corpuz declared U.P. Manila, then known as the Health Sciences Center, and U.P. Visayas as autonomous units. At the same time, the Asian Institute of Tourism (AIT) was established in light of the prioritization of tourism as a national industry. New centers for research and degree-granting units such as the Third World Studies Center (1977), Creative Writing Center, National Engineering Center (1978), U.P. Extension Program in San Fernando, Pampanga (1979), which is now in Clark Field, Angeles City, Institute of Islamic Studies (1973), U.P. Film Center, National Center for Transportation Studies (1976) were also established. U.P. celebrated its 75th year 1983. In the same spirit, a U.P. Extension Program in Olongapo was also established in 1984.

Edgardo Angara's Diamond Jubilee project raised P80 million which was earmarked for the creation of new professorial chairs and faculty grants. Angara also organized the Management Review Committee (MRC) and the Committee to Review Academic Programs (CRAP) to evaluate and recommend measures for improving university operations. The MRC report led to a wide-ranging reorganization of the U.P. System, the further decentralization of U.P. administration, and the declaration of U.P. Diliman as an autonomous unit on March 23, 1983. U.P. Baguio was then placed under the supervision of U.P. Diliman. Meanwhile, the College of Arts and Sciences also underwent a reorganization to become three separate colleges: the College of Science, the College of Arts and Letters, and the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy.

As the flagship university, U.P. Diliman leads the rest of the units. On April 26, 1982, it was formally designated as a constituent university, almost a decade after the reorganization.

Even if Diliman was the seat of the UP Administration, the campus was not immediately constituted after 1972 although it was administered, along with the Manila units prior to the organization of the Health Sciences Center, as a "de facto" university.

President Jose Abueva introduced the Socialized Tuition Fee Assistance Program (STFAP) in 1987. Abueva also institutionalized a Filipino language policy within the university. President Emil Javier established the creation of U.P. Mindanao at Silicon Gulf, Southern Mindanao, and the U.P. Open University in 1995. President Francisco Nemenzo’s legacy includes the Revitalized General Education Program (RGEP) and the institutionalization of more incentives for research and creative achievements by U.P, faculty members.

President Emerlinda Roman, from the College of Business Administration (CBA), is spearheading a Centennial Campaign Fund envisioned to upgrade the university’s services and facilities in time for U.P.’s 100th year in 2008. Her term of office has been noted for the ascension of several key professors from the CBA to positions of power within the university. Notable among them is U.P. Diliman Chancellor Sergio S. Cao, Assistant Vice President for Planning and Development, Prof. Arthur S. Cayanan, Director of the UP System Budget Office, Prof. Joselito G. Florendo, Dr. Lina J. Valcarcel Executive Director, UP Provident Fund, Inc. and U.P Foundation, Inc. Executive Director Gerardo B. Agulto.

Centennial Celebration

On January 8, 2008, the University of the Philippines began its centennial celebration. The opening ceremony featured a 100-torch relay [ [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080106-110642/UP_passes_torch_100-yr-old_to_6th_grader Inquirer.net, UP passes torch: 100-yr-old to 6th grader] ] to light the eternal flame on the Centennial Cauldron at Quezon Hall. Torches were carried by, among others, Fernando Javier, 100, of Baguio City, the oldest UP alumnus (Civil Engineering from University of the Philippines, Manila, 1933), a 6th-grader from the University of the Philippines Integrated School in U.P. Diliman and UP president Emerlinda Roman, the first woman president of the university [ [http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=104862 Abs-Cbn Interactive, UP alumnus, 100, lights Centennial Cauldron] ] . The Centennial Cauldron features three pillars to represent the three core values, and seven flowers representing the seven constituent universities, to wit, UP Manila, UP Diliman (together with UP Pampanga, its extension campus), UP Los Baños, UP Baguio, UP Visayas, UP Mindanao, and UP Open University. [ [http://www.mb.com.ph/YTCP20080109113844.html www.mb.com.ph, UP alumni light perpetual flame at centennial rites] ]

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and UP issued commemorative P 100 UP Centennial notes, as collector’s item, at the BSP Security Plant Complex in Quezon City. The notes appear as four-outs (4 uncut pieces) in an especially designed folder (P1,000 each) featuring the signatures of all UP presidents including Roman. [ [http://www.inquirer.net/specialfeatures/education/view.php?db=1&article=20080620-143893 Inquirer.net, UP centennial P100 notes launched] ]

Inspired by the UP Oblation, the University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) launched an art exhibit, "100 Nudes/100 Years" featuring the works of 9 UP alumni national artists. [ [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20080621-144031/Exhibit-showcases-UPs-best-artists-in-last-100-years newsinfo.inquirer.net, 100 NUDES/100 YEARS, Exhibit showcases UP's best artists in last 100 years] ]

UPAA 2008 Centennial Yearbook

The University of the Philippines Alumni Association announced its launching of a special 3-volume (P 500 for all 3 volumes) UPAA 2008 Centennial Yearbook on June 21, 2008, the UPAA Grand Alumni-Faculty Homecoming and Reunion at the Araneta Coliseum, Cubao, Quezon City. The theme is “UP Alumni: Excellence, Leadership and Service in the Next 100 Years,” with the 3 cover designs showing the works of National Artists Napoleon Abueva, Abdul Imao, and BenCab, respectively.Chief Justice Reynato Puno is the Yearbook's most distinguished alumnus awardee (among 46 other awardees). [ [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view/20080615-142820/UP-to-launch-Centennial-Yearbook-at-June-21-homecoming newsinfo.inquirer.net, UP to launch Centennial Yearbook at June 21 homecoming] ]

UP Charter of 2008

UP Charter of 2008, Republic Act No. 9500, was signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo into law on April 29, 2008, at the UP Library Conference Hall in Lahug, Cebu. It principally aims "to provide both institutional and fiscal autonomy to UP, specifically, to protect student's democratic access and strengthen administration through the recognition of UP system's board of regents and UP Council." [ [http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p080507.htm&no=53 www.pia.gov.ph, New charter reinforces UP's institutional, fiscal grip] ] The new charter declared UP as the Philippines national university, giving it "the enhanced capability to fulfill its mission and spread the benefits of knowledge." [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/92226/Arroyo-signs-UP-Charter-of-2008-into-law gmanews.tv, Arroyo signs UP Charter of 2008 into law] ] The new charter will help improve it's competitiveness. The newly crowned “national university,” however, needs P 3.6 billion to be at par with other universities in the area. [ [http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=122157 abs-cbnnews.com, New charter to improve UP’s competitiveness but more funds needed] ]

Constituent Universities

At present, the University of the Philippines System (U.P.) is composed of seven Constituent Universities (Commonly abbreviated as C.U.) located in 12 campuses around the country.

U.P. Diliman is the flagship campus of the university and offers the most number of courses. The University is also negotiating with the Makati City government for the use of one building in the University of Makati.

Each constituent university of UP is headed by a chancellor, who is elected on a three-year term by the Board of Regents. Unlike the president, who is elected on a single six-year term without re-election, the chancellor maybe re-elected for another three-year term but it is upon the discretion of the members of the Board of Regents.

The Secretary of the University and the Board of Regents is Dr. Lourdes E. Abadingo, professor of Political Science in the Department of Social Sciences at U.P. Manila.

Academics

The University offers 246 undergraduate degree programs and 362 graduate degree programs, more than any other university in the country. [http://www.up.edu.ph/content.php?r=5&c=5 "Academic Programs"] , University of the Philippines System Website. Accessed May 6, 2007.] The flagship campus in Diliman offers the largest number of degree programs, and other campuses are known for specific programs. [http://upcat.up.edu.ph/htmls/aboutupcat.html "UPCAT General Information"] , University of the Philippines College Admission Test Website. Accessed April 28, 2007.] The University has 57 Degree-Granting Units throughout the system, which may be a College, School or Institute that offers an undergraduate or a graduate program. In the Los Baños campus, a separate Graduate School administers the graduate programs in agriculture, forestry, the basic sciences, mathematics and statistics, development economics and management, agrarian studies and human ecology. [http://www.uplb.edu.ph/gradschool "The Graduate School"] , University of the Philippines Los Baños Website. Accessed May 6, 2007.] The School of Public Health at UP Manila has a collaboration with Boston University School of Public Health. This program allows several students from Boston University to do a semester of coursework at UP Manila as well as an international field practicum in the Philippines. The University has 4,135 faculty, trained locally and abroad with 75% having graduate degrees. The University is one of the three Universities in the Philippines affiliated with the ASEAN University Network, and the only Philippine university to be affiliated with the ASEAN-European University Network and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities. [http://www.uibk.ac.at/asea-uninet/members.html "ASEA-UNINET Universities"] , ASEA-UNINET Website. Accessed May 7, 2007.] [http://www.apru.org/about/members.htm "Member Universities"] , Association of Pacific Rim Universities Website. Accessed May 7, 2007.]

Budget

The University has the highest financial endowment of all educational institutions in the country. In 2008, the entire University system has a financial subsidy from the national government of about PHP 6 billion. The total expenditure for the same year, however, is PHP 7.2 billion, or approximately PHP 135,000 per student. [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/101294/RP-universities-get-low-rankings-La-Salle-UST-dropped-out-of-Top-500 GMA NEWS.TV, RP universities get low rankings; La Salle, UST dropped out of Top 500] ]

Rankings

The University is ranked 299 and 398 on the Times Higher Education Supplement Rankings in 2006 and 2007 respectively, and 48 in the Asiaweek's Best Universities in Asia last published in 2000, making it the highest ranked Philippine university in both lists, but ranking poorly in research and financial resources. In 2006, the University, through President Emerlinda Román, has expressed that it does not want to participate in the THES Ranking, but was included in 2007 with an incomplete academic profile.

However, in the 2008 global "Top 500" ranking, by The Times Higher Education Supplement and consultancy Quacquarelli Symonds (THES-QS), only 2 Philippine universities remained in the list: University of the Philippines (398th in 2007 from 299th in 2006), and Ateneo (451st from 484th). La Salle and UST dropped out of the Top 500 (519th and 535th, respectively). [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/101294/RP-universities-get-low-rankings-La-Salle-UST-dropped-out-of-Top-500 GMA NEWS.TV, RP universities get low rankings; La Salle, UST dropped out of Top 500] ]

In the national rankings based on cumulative data from 1991-2001 of average passing rates in all courses of all Philippine colleges and universities in the Board tests, UP Diliman, UP Los Baños and UP Manila emerged as numbers one, two and three." [http://www.up.edu.ph/upnewsletter.php?issue=33&i=511 UP is no. 1 based on PRC exams] ". "UP Newsletter, Vol. XXVIII, No. 09". September 01, 2007.] For the four-year period (1994-1998), however, UP as a whole placed second to Xavier University of Cagayan de Oro.Vanzi, Sol Jose. " [http://www.newsflash.org/2000/03/ht/ht001110.htm Xavier University Cagayan beats UP in State Tests Average] ". "Philippine Headline News Online".March 29, 2000.] The study was done by the Professional Regulation Commission and the Commission on Higher Education.

General Education Program

The General Education Program, was first introduced in 1959 and formed core courses prescribed for all students at the undergraduate level. The current General Education Program is the Revitalized General Education Program (abbreviated as RGEP), which was approved by the Board of Regents in 2001. The RGEP offers courses in three domains (Arts and Humanities, Mathematics Science and Technology and Social Sciences and Philosophy) and gives students the freedom to choose the general education subjects in these domains that they would like to take. [http://www.uplb.edu.ph/registrar/254 "General Academic Information"] , University of the Philippines Los Baños Website. Accessed May 6, 2007.] Opponents of the RGEP, however, say that the RGEP courses will be subject to demand, like products in a market, and that it would be possible for students to avoid taking History, Philippine Literature and Language and Mathematics subjects. [http://www.bulatlat.com/archive2/042act.html "Modern Thomasites Charting RP's Future Again"] , Bulatlat.com. Accessed May 8, 2007.] [http://www.bulatlat.com/archive2/044rgep.html "UP Diliman Approves `Revitalized’ General Education Program"] , Bulatlat.com. Accessed May 8, 2007.] Despite the criticism, the Program has been adopted by most constituent units of the University, and has led to the offering of courses otherwise unavailable to students. It has likewise led to the development of courses unique to the campuses. Examples of these courses include NASC 10 ("Forests as Source of Life") in Los Baños and History 3 ("History of Philippine Ethnic Minorities") in Baguio.

Library System

The University library system has a comprehensive collection, containing the largest collections of agricultural, medical, veterinary and animal science materials in the Philippines. [http://www.up.edu.ph/upnewsletter.php?issue=21&i=237 "CUs recover from Milenyo"] , University of the Philippines System Website. Accessed May 8, 2007.] [http://www.uplb.edu.ph/cvm/facilities/library.html "CVM-IAS-DTRI Library"] , University of the Philippines Los Baños Website. Accessed May 8, 2007.] [http://www.upm.edu.ph/universitylibrary.php "University Library"] , University of the Philippines Manila Website. Accessed May 8, 2007.] The library system, in general, has a large collection of Filipiniana material, serials and journals in both electronic and physical forms and UPIANA materials in its archives. It also has acquired a collection of documents of student, political, and religious organizations advocating political, economic, and social changes during the Marcos administration in the Diliman library. [http://www.mainlib.upd.edu.ph/mainlib.php?p=15 "Philippine Radical Papers in the University of the Philippines Diliman Main Library"] , The University Library Website, University of the Philippines, Diliman . Accessed May 8, 2007.] The University is one of the five governmental agencies involved with the Philippine eLib, a nation-wide information resource-sharing consortium, to which it provides access to 758,649 of its bibliographic records. [http://www.elib.gov.ph/about.php?cid=8#8 "Organizational Structure"] , Philippine eLib Website, University of the Philippines, Diliman . Accessed May 8, 2007.] The University Library was established in 1922 in the Manila campus and was considered as one of the best in Asia prior to the Second World War. [http://www.mainlib.upd.edu.ph/mainlib.php?p=2 "Brief History"] , The University Library Website, University of the Philippines, Diliman . Accessed May 8, 2007.] The collection, containing almost 150,000 volumes, was destroyed when Japanese troops stormed the library during the war, leaving only a handful of books intact. Gabriel Bernardo, the Librarian of the University who built the collection, described the loss as "intellectual famine." Bernardo would later rebuild the library in the Diliman campus. Mary Sue Coleman, [http://www.umich.edu/pres/speeches/060206google.html "Google, the Khmer Rouge and the Public Good "] , Office of the President Website, University of Michigan. Accessed May 8, 2007.] The University has likewise been one of the pioneers in library science education in the country. Library courses were first offered under the College of Liberal Arts under James Alexander Robertson in 1914. In 1961, the Institute of Library Science was established in Diliman and a year later, the institute established the country's first graduate program in Library Science. [http://www.upd.edu.ph/~ils/history.html "History"] Institute of Library and Information Science Website, University of the Philippines, Diliman. Accessed May 8, 2007.]

Admissions and Financial Aid

:"See also University of the Philippines College Admission Test"

Undergraduate Admissions

Being a state university, "selection is based on intellectual and personal preparedness of the applicant irrespective of sex, religious belief and political affiliation." [http://www.upcm.ph/main.php?fid=policies "Admission Information"] , University of the Philippines College of Medicine. Accessed April 30, 2007.] Admission into the University's undergraduate programs is very competitive, with over 60,000 students taking the exam every year, with about 11,000 being accepted, an admission rate of about 18%. [http://www.upd.edu.ph/~updinfo/archives/MayJun2005/articles/MakeIt.htm "3,822 make it to UPD!"] University of the Philippines, Diliman . Accessed May 12, 2007.] Admission to a program is usually based on the result of the UPCAT, University Predicted Grade, which is an average of grades obtained during high school and sometimes, a quota set by the unit offering the program. The University also maintains a "Policy of Democratization" which aims to "make the UP studentry more representative of the nation's population." The UPCAT also allows students to enter INTARMED, the University's accelerated medicine curriculum, one of the two entry points into the program. Transferring to the University from other constituent units or schools outside the system are determined by the degree-granting unit that offers the program or the course, not by the university's Office of Admissions.

ocialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program

The Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (also referred to as the "Iskolar ng Bayan" Program, and more commonly abbreviated and referred to as STFAP) was implemented in response to the increase in tuition in 1989. The program, proposed in 1988 by U.P. President Jose Abueva and mandated by the President and Congress of the Philippines, called for "a radical departure from the old fee and scholarship structure of UP, resulting in tremendous benefits for low-income and disadvantaged students". [http://www.geocities.com/osa_gcp/stfafa.html "Scholarship and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP)"] , University of the Philippines Manila Office of Student Affairs. Accessed May 6, 2007.] The STFAP is divided into four basic components; Subsidized Education, Socialized Tuition, Scholarships and Student Assistantships. In the 1989 STFAP, income groups are divided into 9 brackets, with 1 having the full benefits. In December 2006, the Board of Regents approved a restructured STFAP, along with the increase in tuition and other fees that will apply for incoming freshmen. [http://stfap2.up.edu.ph/page.php?content=bulletin&prevpage=%2Fpage.php "STFAP Bulletin for the Alphabetic Bracketing Scheme"] , University of the Philippines Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program Page. Accessed May 6, 2007.] The Revised STFAP reduces the brackets from nine to five, and will supposedly increase the number of students receiving tuition subsidy and increase stipend rates and coverage. However, critics of the restructured STFAP argue that the data used in the formulation of the revised program is not an acceptable prediction of a student’s family income, that some of the bracket assignments are flawed and that the program fails to address or revise student assistantship programs. [http://philippinecollegian.net/?p=35 " Points of (dis)order"] , Philippine Collegian. Accessed May 6, 2007.]

Culture, Sports and Traditions

University Symbols

:"See also University of the Philippines Official Seal, U.P. Oblation and U.P. Naming Mahal"The University's colors are maroon and forest green. Maroon was chosen to represent the fight for freedom, as Maroon is also a name of a Jamaican tribe who were successful in defending their freedom from slavery and their independence from English conquerors for more than 100 years. [http://members.tripod.com/livi_d/history/history.htm#The%20Maroons The Maroons] , The history of Jamaica website. Accessed May 12, 2007.] The colors are also immortalized in the University's hymn;In 2004, the University's seal and the Oblation were registered in the Philippine Intellectual Property Office to prevent unauthorized use and multiplication of the symbols for the centennial of the University in 2008. [http://www.ipophil.gov.ph/tmgazette/Unlimited/OfficialSigns.asp?pubdate=1/24/2005 "Official Signs for Prohibited Registration under SEC. 123 PAR (b) of Republic Act No. 8293 and Article 6ter of the Paris Convention"] , Intellectual Property Office website. Accessed May 12, 2007.] The University has also released the centennial logo in 2006, which will be used in all visual materials and presentations of the various centennial activities and events of the University System. The logo, which was designed by Ringer Manalang, is composed of the Oblation, the sablay and a highlighted Philippine map. [http://www.up.edu.ph/content.php?r=14&c=30 "All Systems Go"] , University of the Philippines System Website, Accessed May 12, 2007.] [http://www.up.edu.ph/content.php?r=14&c=29 "Description of the UP Centennial Logo"] , University of the Philippines System Website, Accessed May 12, 2007.]

UP Naming Mahal

U.P. Naming Mahal, or UP Our Beloved is the university's hymn. The melody for the song was written by Nicanor Abelardo, an alumnus and former faculty member of the U.P. College of Music. Abelardo is considered to be one of the Philippines' greatest musicians. Because of the original scale of the hymn in B flat major, which is too high for the usual voice, UP Conservatory of Music (now UP College of Music) professors Hilarion Rubio and Tomas Aguirre reset the music in G major.

The original English lyrics (entitled as "U.P. Beloved") was taken from a poem by Teogenes Velez, a Liberal Arts student. The translation to Filipino was a composite from seven entries in a contest held by the University. The judges did not find any of the seven translations as fully satisfactory.

Sablay

The University uses unique academic regalia. Instead of the traditional academic dress composed of a cap, hood and gown, some constituent units prescribe the Sablay. The Sablay is a sash joined in front by an ornament and embroidered or printed with the University's initials in Alibata and running geometric motifs of indigenous Philippine tribes. It is traditionally worn over a white or ecru dress for females or an ecru barong and black pants for males, although there has been instances wherein the Sablay is worn over other indigenous clothing. [http://www.science.upd.edu.ph/main/modules/wfsection/html/2007_university_graduation_instructions.pdf "Instruction to Candidates of Graduation"] , College of Science Website, University of the Philippines Diliman. Accessed May 12, 2007.] Candidates for graduation wear the sablay at the right shoulder, and is then moved to the left shoulder after the President of the University confers their degree, similar to the moving of the tassel of the academic cap. Not all units have adopted the Sablay, the Manila and Los Baños campuses still prescribe the usual cap and gown. [http://www.upd.edu.ph/~updinfo/aprmayjun06/articles/therites.htm "Rights at a glance"] , University of the Philippines, Diliman Website. Accessed May 12, 2007.]

Oblation Run

The Oblation Run is an annual tradition of the members of the Alpha Phi Omega, one of the prominent U.P. fraternities. Members of the fraternity run around the campus naked (a concept known as streaking) to protest their sentiments about a current political or economic situation. The run started in 1977 to protest the banning of the movie, “Hubad na Bayani,” which depicted human rights abuses in the martial law era. Today, the Oblation Run is held on or about December 16th, in honor of the international founding of Alpha Phi Omega. [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20071215-107020/Nude_runners_on_UP_campus_call_for_Arroyo_ouster Nude runners on UP campus call for Arroyo ouster] , Inquirer.net. Accessed December 15, 2007.]

"The Great Centennial Run"

Exactly, on UP's 100th anniversary day, and in the “UP Oblation Run," 100 UP-based Alpha Phi Omega (APO) Fraternity and several UP alumni on June 18, at 11:00 a.m., ran naked along the University of the Philippines (UP) campus to commemorate the centennial anniversary. They sprinted from the Vinzon’s Hall and stopped at Palma Hall, for short photo opportunity. [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/101792/100-UP-fratmen-alumni-join-Oblation-Run-for-centennial-celebration www.gmanews.tv, 100 UP fratmen, alumni join Oblation Run for centennial celebration] ] Jejomar Binay, alumnus and former prime chancellor of APO fraternity led the event. [ [http://www.inquirer.net/specialfeatures/education/view.php?db=1&article=20080618-143417 inquirer.net, ‘Great Centennial Run’ in UP] ] [ [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20080619-143465/Oblation-Run-steals-show-in-UP-Centennial-activities Inquirer.net, ‘Oblation Run’ steals show in UP Centennial activities] ] Runners called "Scholars of the People" carried placards, "Serve the People," to petition for the state subsidies to their education. [ [http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hWn3KhXNfOhyESbxQvfCa0e8t7OAD91CLS480 Afp.google.com, 100 Philippine students run naked at university] ] [ [http://www.dispatch.co.za/article.aspx?id=214902 dispatch.co.za, In brief.......] ]

UP ROTC

:"Main article: University of the Philippines ROTC Unit" The University of the Philippines ROTC Unit is the pioneer of the Reserve Officer Training Corps in the Philippines. One of the brainchilds at that time of Field Marshall Douglas MacArthur. With the activation of the UP ROTC Unit in 1912, several State and Private Universities-Colleges soon followed, activating various ROTC units under the Army of the Philippine Commonwealth. Although the Philippines had no significant military involvement during World War I, the conflagration made the Philippine Government realize the need for a good reserve force of able-bodied Filipinos trained in the art of war capable of resisting foreign aggression. With the formal organization of the UP DMST on March 17, 1922, military drill was superseded by the term "military science and tactics". Organized military training in the University of the Philippines started at the old Padre Faura Campus when it was made a required subject for all able-bodied male students in all colleges, institutes, and schools of the University. During the early years after its inception, military training in the University was mainly an infantry unit. After a few years, specialized units were established that made UP ROTC distinct for its military proficiency. UP produced precision FA Gunners through its Field Artillery Unit. Another distinguished UP ROTC Unit is the Rayadillo Honor Guard Battalion. It was created by Carlos P. Romulo'18 during his term as UP President. The Rayadillo unit is famous for its patriotic Katipunero uniforms, silent drill exhibitions, snappy arrival honors & formal military ceremonies rendered for visiting foreign heads of states and allied Generals. [http://home.earthlink.net/~upmrotc/coc/id64.html]

Notable people

* "See List of University of the Philippines people"

UP Colleges and Institutes

University of the Philippines Baguio

* College of Arts and Communications
** Certificate in Fine Arts (Visual Arts)
** Bachelor of Arts in Communication (concentrations in Journalism and Speech Communication)
** Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Arts)
** Bachelor of Art in Language and Literature
** Master of Arts in Language and Literature

* College of Science
** Bachelor of Science in Biology
** Bachelor of Science in Mathematics
** Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
** Bachelor of Science in Physics
** Master of Science in Mathematics

* College of Social Sciences
** Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences (Major in Economics)
** Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences (Major in History)
** Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences (Major in Social Anthropology)
** Master of Management
** Master of Arts in Social and Development Studies

* Institute of Management
** Master of Management

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University of the Philippines Diliman

Notes and References

External links

* [http://www.up.edu.ph University of the Philippines System]
* [http://www.upd.edu.ph University of the Philippines, Diliman]
* [http://www.uplb.edu.ph University of the Philippines, Los Baños]
* [http://www.upm.edu.ph University of the Philippines, Manila]
* [http://www.upv.edu.ph University of the Philippines, Visayas]
* [http://www.upmin.edu.ph University of the Philippines, Mindanao]
* [http://www.upb.edu.ph University of the Philippines, Baguio]
* [http://www.upou.org University of the Philippines Open University]
* [http://www.dtwlab.com/up/ University of the Philippines Extension Program in Pampanga]
* [http://press.up.edu.ph/ University of the Philippines Press]
* [http://www.peyups.com Peyups.com]
* [http://www.maroonsbasketball.com UP Fighting Maroons Basketball]
* [http://www.gmanews.tv/video/16498/UP-students-join-festive-launch-of-centennial-year GMA NEWS.TV, video, UP students join festive launch of centennial year, 01/08/2008]
* [http://filipiniana.net/read_content.jsp?filename=MCH000000010 The University Act] Act No. 1870 dictating the founding of the University of the Philippines
* [http://www.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/66095859!.pdf] Senate Bill Number 1964 or "AN ACT TO STRENGTHEN THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES AS THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY"
* [http://www.congress.gov.ph/download/billtext_14/hbt02845.pdf] House Bill Number 2845 or "AN ACT TO STRENGTHEN THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES AS THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY"
* [http://www.senate.gov.ph/lis/bill_res.aspx?congress=14&q=SBN-1964] Note indicating that as of April 2, 2008, Congress enrolled copies of the consolidated version of SBN-1964 and HBN-2845, sent to the Office of the President of the Philippines, Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, for her signature and approval, pending amendment of the UP Charter.