Palma Hall

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Palma Hall (more commonly known today as "AS" to the UP Community) is located on Roxas Avenue along the Academic Oval of the University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City. It was named after Rafael Palma (1874-1939), who served as president of the university from 1923 to 1933. It currently houses the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP).

Palma Hall is also where most of the courses of the Revitalized General Education Program (RGEP) are being held, thus making it one of the most frequented buildings in the university. Because of its location and space, it is also where special events and activities are held, such as student demonstrations, student organization booths and exhibits, as well as the famous Oblation Run, among others.

<googlemap lat="14.654012" lon="121.069014" width="400" height="300"> 14.653577, 121.069799 Palma Hall, UP Diliman </googlemap>

History

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A. Palma Hall Building

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. 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.

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, the college previously 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. [1]

Parts of AS

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A. AS Lobby

• 
  Plaque found outside the "Basement"

AS Canteen - known at present as the "Basement", the AS Canteen used to be the meeting place of the artists and scientists of UP where they used to hold intellectual debates in the 60's and 70's. Some of the topics were Existentialism and Marxism. A prominent figure in the canteen was Salome Flores, more popularly known among the students as "Mommy". The canteen was closed in the 90's. At present, it serves as the office of the Archeological Studies Program.

• 
  Plaque at the AS 2nd floor Lobby

AS 2nd floor Lobby - during the latter part of the 70's, the AS 2nd floor Lobby became known as the "Second Floor Republic" among the student activists. It served as the 'tambayan' of three activist fraternities/sororities; the Pi Sigma/Pi Sigma Delta, the Sigma Kappa Pi/Sigma Delta Pi, and the Alpha Sigma/Sigma Alpha Nu, and other organizations such as Kalilayan, Asylum and Kutang Bato.

AS 209 - served as the office of the UP President from 1951-1956. Used by then UP President, Vidal A. Tan.

AS 207 - served as the meeting place of the Consultative Committee on Student Affairs (CONCOMSA) from 1974-1975. The CONCOMSA was a group of students in charge of preparing the return of the UP Student Council (USC) which was abolished during the Martial Law in 1972. It also served as the office of the AS Student Council, SINAG and the Freshmen Orientation Program Committee (FOPC).

B. AS Steps

One of the major meeting places in Palma hall is the AS steps. It consists of 75 steps and resembles the same façade with Melchor Hall (College of Engineering). It has been the witness of many student activities since the building was built and at present, it is a popular tambayan for students and provides a good view of the activities during the Lantern Parade and APO’s Oblation Run.

C. AS Walk

AS Walk spans the entire length of Palma Hall, stretching from the East Wing Side Entrance (across CASAA) leading to the West Wing Side Entrance (near the Haring Ibon convenience store inside AS). It is home to many student organizations of the university, usually filled with booths put up by different student orgs. AS Walk is also where the Third World Library is found. CSSP houses the Third World Studies Program, an academic research institute committed to analyze and develop alternative perspectives on Philippine, regional, and global issues.

D. AS 101

AS 101 is the Office of the College Secretary for CSSP. This is where the enrolment of CSSP students takes place, and where they can get their TCG (True Copy of Grades), dropping slips, ChangeMat slips (Change of Matriculation), and registration materials (Form 5 and Form 5A) during enrolment.

E. East and West Wings

Palma hall has two wings: the East and the West Wings. The West Wing is called the Tau Alpha Wing. The rooms in Palma Hall follow an odd-even scheme: odd numbered rooms are on the West Wing while even numbered rooms are on the East Wing. On the first floor East Wing, the Office of Student Affairs (OSA), CSSP Computer Laboratory and the Sinag (CSSP’s literary folio) Office can be found. The CSSP Student Council can be found on the West Wing, beside the side entrance. In addition, on the first and second floors of the building, the Ladies’ Restrooms can be found on the East Wing and the Men’s Restrooms on the West Wing. There are also bulletin boards strategically placed between classrooms, each belonging to an organization.

F. Third World Library

The Third World Studies Center is found along the AS Walk. The Third World Studies Center (TWSC) of the University of the Philippines is an academic research institute based at the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP), committed to analyze and develop alternative perspectives on Philippine, regional and global issues. [2]

G. Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater

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  Plaque outside the Guerrero Theatre (AS 2nd floor Lobby, UP Diliman)

Found at the AS 2nd floor Lobby, the theatre, which was named after Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero in 1976, is dedicated to the former director of the UP Dramatic Club. The theatre was first opened on September 16, 1976 and was inaugurated by the UP Dramatic Club with the play, "I Remember Mama". Renovation of the theatre was completed in the year 2000 through the efforts of Claro T. Llaguno (UP Diliman Chancellor, 1996-1999), Emerlinda Roman (UP Diliman Chancellor, 1999-2000) and Leonor M. Briones (Treasurer of the Philippines, Bureau of the Treasury).

H. Anthropology Museum

• 
  Plaque outside the Anthropology Museum (AS 2nd floor)

The Anthropology Museum, found at the 2nd floor, was opened on July 13, 1967 through the efforts of then University Secretary, Iluminada Panlilio. Its first exhibit featured Prof. H. Otley Beyer's collection of archeological and ethnological artifacts which he had gathered from 1905 to 1926. The said collection was first featured in 1668 at the Museum and Institute of Archeology and Ethnology in Aviles Street, Manila which was destroyed during the 2nd World War. In 1961, Beyer was offered by the University of the Philippines several rooms on the third floor, east wing of Palma Hall to house his collection. The rooms were kept for several years until... due to the shortage of classrooms, the rooms were gradually encroached upon, until only one big single room was left, all the collections were transferred here where they remained until his (Beyer's) demise (Noriega, 1978). Natividad Noriega, Beyer's personal secretary, served as the museum's first curator. The Anthropology Museum has two sections; Section A (Prehistory and Archeology) and Section B (Ethnography). (Source: Museum of Anthropology Brochure, 1978)

Artworks of Palma Hall

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A. AS Lobby mural

"The Arts and Sciences", AS Lobby mural

The mural at the AS Lobby, entitled "The Arts and Sciences", was made by National Artist, Vicente Manansala in 1960. With a length of 14 meters and a width of 2 meters, "The Arts and Sciences" is the biggest mural in the UP Diliman Campus.

B. AS Lobby floor design

The floor design of the AS Lobby

The floor of the AS Lobby has a terrazzo granolithic design.

C. Second floor mural

Entitled "Mga Natatanging Pilipino" (Exceptional Filipinos), this mural was made by the UP Artists' Circle Fraternity in 1996. It features prominent and exceptional Filipino figures who played important roles in the Propaganda Movement (1882-1892), the EDSA Revolution(1986), and other student leaders.

D. Jose Rizal busts

There are two Jose Rizal busts found inside Palma Hall, one is located in the Alcove II (facing the AS steps), and the other one near the mini-pond across AS 101.

Surrounding Buildings

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Institute of Biology, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City

Bulwagang Rizal (Faculty Center), University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City

A. Benton Hall

Benton Hall is located to the east of Palma Hall, also facing the Academic Oval. It houses the Center for International Studies (CIS), as well as offices like the Office of Anti-Sexual Harassment (OASH) and the UP Diliman Gender Office (UPDGO).

B. Palma Hall Annex/PHAn

The Department of Psychology is one of the few departments in the university which has its own building - the Palma Hall Annex (PHAn), which, being connected to Benton Hall, is located between Palma Hall and Benitez Hall (College of Education). Graduate and undergraduate courses are held in classrooms in the second and third floors of PHAn. [3]

C. CASAA

The College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Association food center, more commonly known as CASAA, is located just across the street from the east wing of Palma Hall, in between Benton Hall and the Institute of Biology. It is an open cafeteria/ food court that serves different kinds of food. It currently houses 8 food establishments: Gloria's (which has 2 stalls facing each other), Chef's Grille, Chinatown, Sizzler, Mongolian Grill, Special Treats, Pasta House, and the soda fountain, which serves only softdrinks and ice cream. The accessibility of this food center makes it a common eating destination of the students.

D. Institute of Biology

Located to the east of Palma Hall and facing Quirino Avenue, the Institute of Biology of the University of the Philippines Diliman is the premiere institution on the Philippines for higher learning and research in biology [4]. It houses some classrooms and laboratories, as well as the administration offices of the Institute of Biology.

E. Science Pavilions

The Science Pavilions consist of four separate buildings located right behind Palma Hall, facing Quirino Avenue. These buildings house the laboratories for Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. The first building across the street from the Institute of Biology is the Biology Pavilion; next to it is the Physics Pavilion; and the other two buildings at the west side of Palma Hall are the Chemistry Pavilions.

F. Bulwagang Rizal/Faculty Center

The Bulwagang Rizal or the Faculty Center, more commonly known as FC, is found to the west of Palma Hall. It houses the rooms for the faculty of CSSP and CAL. It also houses different departments of both colleges, such as the departments of Anthropology, Philosophy, Political Science, Sociology, Geography, History, Linguistics, Filipino at Panitikang Pilipino, Art Studies, Speech Communication and Theater Arts, European Languages, English, and Creative Writing.

References and Links

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Palma Hall
Art Studies 2 THR-2
Sir Roberto G. Paulino

Report by: (ORIGINAL ARTICLE)
Kristina Camua
Karina Gonzales
Sharmaine Gonzales

(LIST OF REFERENCES AND LINKS)