Editing UP College of Engineering (section)

=== Silver Jubilee ===

The year 1935 was the Silver Jubilee of the College. The College by then, had an imposing main building on the west side of the U.P. Ermita campus along Calle Florida with the engineering shops and laboratories in a one-story U-shaped building northside. The office and drafting room of the School of Surveying were also in that building.

The dean of the College was Edward R. Hyde, a tall and beak-nosed American civil engineer who had taught at West Point. Hyde first came to the College in 1920. He taught upper class Civil Engineering courses including structural design, surveying, astronomy, contracts and ethics. A kindly and liberal fellow, he munched chocolate even in classes. He designed the engineering building and the huge floral sundial in the middle of the Ermita campus. It was an incongruous sight to see him flanked by Professors Alejandro Melchor and E.P. Angeles, both dapper fellows, as they tramped across the campus to inspect the construction of the sundial project which the three of them collaborated in the design.

The secretary of the College was Alejandro Melchor from Ibajay, Aklan, who graduated in civil engineering with highest honors in 1924. He was a brilliant mathematician, and later, became the head of the mathematics department of the Philippine Military in Baguio. He was sent to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston just before World War II, and is also known for designing the pontoon bridges used by the American Army during the war, and holding the position of Secretary of National Defense in President Manuel L. Quezon's cabinet of the Philippine government in exile.

In 1935, six hundred fifty three students enrolled in the five courses now offered by the College. These courses are Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Mining Engineering, and surveying. There were 18 full-time faculty members and 6 lecturers. The various laboratories were equipped with machines, apparatuses and instruments sufficient in quantity to give each student opportunity to do individual laboratory work.

In 1936, new faces in the faculty were Messrs. Oscar Baguio, Raymundo Heredia, Gregorio Imperial, Felipe Encarnacion, Eduardo E. Chanco, and Felipe Santillan. Professor Justo Arrastia also reappointed. In June 1937, the four-year geodetic engineering curriculum was opened to supplant the two-year surveying course. Also in that year the first female student, Miss Lydia Monzon from Cebu enrolled in Civil Engineering.

During the commencement exercises in 1939, the college turned out the first graduates in mining and geodetic engineering. In June of that year, a new department was organized, the department of mechanics and drawing with Professor Justo Arrastia as head.

Dean Edward R. Hyde died in February, 1940. There was also change in the presidency of the University, leading to the change in the composition of the faculty. Dr. Vidal A. Tan, then dean of the College of Arts and Science in Baguio City, was designated the new dean and head of the department of the mechanics and drawing. The peak enrollment of over one thousand was reached in 1940. At that time, entrance examinations were not required in all university units.

In 1941, thirty-one years after its establishment, the College of Engineering had thirty-three full-time faculty members, five professorial lecturers and some 900 students. It was offering five curricula in engineering. It was the top and best equipped engineering school in the country.

Then the tides of war in the Pacific came in December 1941 and thereby interrupted the normal operations of the College. By order of the President of the Philippines, all schools were closed. When the Japanese forces entered Manila in January 1942, they occupied the College buildings. Consequently, when the Philippine Commission under Chairman Jorge Vargas came into operation and permitted reopening of classes in the University, it was in January 1943 that classes were resumed.