Editing Palma Hall (section)

== History ==

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'''A. Palma Hall Building'''

[[Image:Palma2.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Palma Hall, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City]]

Palma Hall  was named after Rafael Palma (1874-1939), who served as the fourth president of the university from 1923 to 1933. Rafael Palma formally assumed the Presidency of the University of the Philippines on July 18, 1925 after having served as acting President for nearly two years. In 1923 to 1925, he served as an acting president of President Guy Potter Benton. He was a politician, journalist, and lawyer. Palma was dubbed as the “builder president” because during his term, many new buildings and laboratories were constructed. Palma believed in freedom of expression (being a journalist) so he supported liberalism and academic freedom. In December 1933, he resigned from his position.  In 1938, UP conferred him honoris causa meaning Doctor of Laws. 

Palma Hall was designed by Cesar H. Concio, the University Architect at the time of the construction. It was one of the first four buildings that were constructed since UP Manila transferred to UP Diliman in 1949. The building has an asymmetrical structure inspired by international style and Filipino design expression. The main purpose of its design is to make the building well-ventilated and let natural light enter. The building was finished in 1951. 

Melchor Hall, where the College of Engineering is housed, is Palma Hall’s mirror image. It is located directly across Palma Hall on Osmena Avenue along the other side of the Academic Oval.

Palma Hall was, and still is, a common meeting place for various student organizations and movements, serving as a venue for different student activities such as rallies, miting de avances, and Alpha Phi Omega’s famous Oblation Run which takes place every December.
[[Image:Palma_Hall_ca_1950s.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Palma Hall circa 1950s-1960s - picture downloaded from Facebook posting of Ruben David Defeo]]

'''B. College of Arts and Sciences'''

Palma Hall is commonly known as “AS”, which was derived from its previous name, College of Arts and Sciences. Although it was officially formed and named as CAS only in 1959, the history of the College of Arts and Sciences dates back to the year 1910, with the formation of the College of Liberal Arts.

The College of Liberal Arts was established in June of 1910 by the UP Board of Regents. Previously called the Junior College of Liberal Arts, it existed as an institution operated by the Bureau of Education of the Department of Public Instruction. The CAS had two units: (1) the Junior College, which offered the degree of Bachelor of Arts after two years of study, and (2) the Senior College, which offered the degree of Master of Arts after three years of study.

Upon the start of Academic Year 1959-1960, the College of Liberal Arts was reorganized into three separate units being served by only one faculty: (1) the University College, which was tasked with teaching general education courses; (2) the College of Arts and Sciences, which offered undergraduate courses as fields of specialization and focused on the third and subsequent years of education; and (3) the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, which catered to those who would pursue their Masters and Doctorates after graduation from the University. 

On October 26, 1983, the UP Board of Regents issued Administrative Order No. 170, which created three new colleges from the former College of Arts and Sciences: (1) the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP), (2) the College of Arts and Letters (CAL), and (3) the College of Science.  

Palma Hall now houses CSSP, while CAL and CS have their own buildings. [http://web.kssp.upd.edu.ph/history.html]