UP Centennial
Since its establishment on June 18, 1908, the University of the Philippines has maintained its place as the country’s national and premier institution of higher learning. It has produced leaders in both government and industry, trailblazers in the arts and humanities, and innovators in science and engineering.
As the University’s first 100 years comes to a close and its next century begins, join the UP community, along with its alumni both here and abroad, to celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime occasion.
The celebration of the UP Centennial has officially begun on July 18, 2007 and will last through the December 31, 2008, with the whole of 2008 having been declared the UP Centennial Year by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo through Proclamation No. 913.[1]
UP Centennial Theme
The UP Centennial theme, UP: Excellence, Service, and Leadership in the Next 100 Years, was decided upon during the 7th Centennial Commission Meeting on April 25, 2007.
The University of the Philippines is moving into the future with goals that are ever more expansive. Excellence takes the form of not only developing but also discovering new areas of knowledge. Service goes beyond conducting research to include designing workable and effective action plans. And leadership demands transforming the nation through pioneering endeavors that serve as blueprints for national development.
Concretely, this kinetic dash into the next century involves rationalizing UP’s program offerings, strengthening its position as the leading research university, firming up its science and technology programs, and developing a community of scholars with academic credentials comparable to their counterparts in the best universities in the world. For UP, the next century has just begun.
The Centennial Logo
The Oblation is a symbolic icon representing the University of the Philippines. It captures the UP spirit, which has endured for a century: the country’s youth sacrificing itself in the service of the country. This figure is in the foreground of the UP Centennial logo.
Behind it is the Sablay, the sash worn by UP students upon their graduation. It is distinctive, in that across it is inscribed the word “UP” in Alibata letters. This is symbolic of the University’s commitment to remaining the country’s premier institution of higher learning.
Behind the figure of the Oblation is a globe, with the map of the Philippines highlighted. This represents the University’s taking its rightful place in the world as the National University of the Philippines.
UP Ang Galing Mo
UP’s Centennial Song entitled UP, Ang Galing Mo! was created by jingle composer Herbert Rosales and sang by the UP Centennial Band.
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UP Centennial Commission Members
On June 7, 2005 President Emerlinda R. Roman presented “UP Plan 2005-2011” before President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the Cabinet and requested that Year 2008 be declared the UP Centennial Year. On September 6, 2005, the request was granted with the issuance of Proclamation No. 913.
The proclamation also provided for the creation of a Centennial Commission (UPCC) to oversee preparations for the celebration and steer the UP System through the centennial year itself. On July 4, 2006, President Macapagal-Arroyo issued Executive Order No. 537, allowing the UP President to formulate and implement a plan of activities, including the creation of the Centennial Commission. The Commission had its first meeting on October 17, 2006.
- Chairman: Senator Edgardo Angara
- Vice Chairman: Dr. Magdaleno B. Albarracin
- Executive Director: Prof. Benjamin C. Sandoval
- Internal Spokesperson: Prof. Elena C. Pernia
- From the Board of Regents
- President Emerlinda R. Roman
- Regent Nelia Gonzales
- Regent Abraham Sarmiento
- Regent Gari Tiongco
- Regent Edmundo Varona
- From Government
- NEDA Secretary Romulo Neri
- Nestor Espenilla, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor
- From the Private Sector
- Dr. Gregorio Alvior
- Ms. Robina Gokongwei-Pe
- Atty. Gizela Gonzalez
- Atty. Eduardo Hernandez
- Mr. Menardo Jimenez
- Mr. Jose “Pitoy” Moreno
- Dr. Angelita T. Reyes
- From Abroad
- Mr. Theodore B.M. Aquino – California
- Dr. Diosdado Banatao – California
- Dr. Carmencita C. Quesada-Fulgado – New York
- Dr. Bienvenido Jongco – New Jersey
- Dr. Roberto Mariano – Singapore
Centennial Celebrations
Declaration of UP Decade, 1998-2008
MANILA
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
PROCLAMATION NO. 1150[2]
DECLARING THE PERIOD 1998-2008 AS "THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES DECADE" AND DIRECTING ALL CONCERNED GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND OFFICES TO EXTEND FULL COOPERATION TO THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES SYSTEM TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF ITS PROJECTS DURING THE SAID PERIOD.
WHEREAS, the University of the Philippines is the primary national resource for the education and training of outstanding men and women who have advanced the highest interest of the people by their invaluable contributions to the progress and welfare of the Filipino nation;
WHEREAS, in preparing itself for greater service to the nation towards the new millenium, the University has embarked upon a program of modernization as embodied in its Strategic Plan 2008;
WHEREAS, the modernization program of the University is scheduled to be launched this year, 1998, which marks the centennial of the Philippine Republic as well as the 90th year of the University, and thus this event assumes a double significance in the history of the Republic;
WHEREAS, 1998 is the start of the decade (1998-2008) which the University has scheduled as the start of the ten years of preparation for the centennial year of the University in 2008;
WHEREAS, this decade will be a landmark commemoration of the struggle for national independence as reflected in the achievements of the University as a community of Filipino scholars and will be a period of transition to a highly modernized center of learning of the new century;
WHEREAS, the projects and activities of the University to be undertaken during the said decade will generate tremendous positive impact on the long-term interests of the nation, and thus they deserve the support of both the public and private sectors of society;
NOW THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare the decade 1998-2008 as "University of the Philippines (U.P.) Decade."
All concerned government agencies and offices are hereby directed to extend full cooperation to the University in order to ensure the success of its undertakings within the said U.P. Decade.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.
DONE in the City of Manila, this 9th day of January in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-eight.
By the President Fidel V. Ramos
RUBEN D. TORRES Executive Secretary
