UP Centennial
Since its establishment on June 18, 1908, the University of the Philippines System 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 System. 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.