A History Of The University Of The Philippines Volume One: 1908-1943

In this book the grand panorama that is UP’s history is so very similar to the stitched videos that emerged in COVID-19 lockdown. Digital technologies magically brought everyone together in a video where you could see each one performing, physically distanced yet united in a love of UP and love of country. So many “little” stories coming together for a grand narrative, moving us, bringing us together in remembering to remember.
—Michael Lim Tan, DVM, PhD
Chancellor of the University of the Philippines Diliman, 2014–2020

Murray S. Bartlett – “This university should not be a reproduction of the American University. If it is to blossom into real fruit, it must grow on Philippine soil… It can serve the world best by serving best the Filipino.”

Ignacio B. Villamor – “It is therefore well understood that a university remains the center of education of various branches of human knowledge, and its main purpose is substantially to preserve the life and promote the progress of nations.”

Guy Potter Benton – “The UP will fail utterly unless it stimulates an effective and well distributed social service; unless it raises the standard of living for all the people; unless it promotes general comfort and happiness without making a privileged class who enjoys a monopoly of the so-called ‘good things in life’.”

Rafael V. Palma – “The University must move with the times—to carry out fully its mission in this country and thus aid in solving our national problems. It is our bounden duty to help the State in the solution of its manifold problems especially in a country ‘still in the springside of life, as in the Philippines.’”

Jorge C. Bocobo – “Especially at this time when misunderstanding seems to portend danger to the common objectives of the world’s work, the Universities should resolutely assert their ancient duty and privilege to transform the darkness of prejudice and error and passion into the sunlight of Science, which knows no national barrier and owes fealty to the greater cause of humanity.”

Bienvenido M. Gonzalez – “We have too much mediocrity in our mental efforts and so I have appealed to the Faculty to create a spirit of discontent towards mediocre work.”

— From The University Experience, edited by Belinda A. Aquino, 1991