U.P. Centennial Year

U.P. Centennial Year
Declared by Virtue of	Presidential Proclamation No. 913
Opening date	8 January 2008 (Systemwide)
Opening venue	Quezon Hall and Academic Oval, UP Diliman
Officially opened by	Emerlinda R. Román (President, UP System)
Website	centennial.up.edu.ph

The University of the Philippines Centennial Year is a yearlong celebration in 2008 celebrating the centenary of the establishment of the University of the Philippines. Celebrations are scheduled to occur throughout the U.P. System and outside the country through various alumni associations.

The year 2008 was proclaimed as the "U.P. Centennial Year" in 2005 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and will conclude the "University of the Philippines Decade," which was celebrated since 1998.^[1][2]

Pre-Centennial

2005

• In an official visit to the United States, U.P. President Emerlinda Roman launches the U.P. Centennial Fund Campaign, which aims to raise funding for the University's centennial celebration and endowment. Funds raised from the campaign will be used to finance the University's faculty grants, infrastructure, scholarship and research projects.
• The University launches a system-wide logo-making competition. The logo will be used in all official publications of the University and its units during the Centennial Year. The winning logo was designed by architect Ringer Manalang, which is composed of the Oblation, the sablay and a highlighted Philippine map.^[1]

2006

• On July 4, Executive Order No. 537 allowed the University to create the U.P. Centennial Commission, which is tasked to oversee the preparations for the 2008 for the next two years.
• President Arroyo instructs the Postmaster General to issue stamps commemorating the centennial celebrations. Centennial Commission proposes the issuance of commemorative coins and bills in cooperation of the Central Bank. In 2007, the proposal was approved, and the Central Bank will overprint the Oblation, the foremost symbol of the University, on one-hundred Philippine Peso bills to be circulated by 2008.

2007

• The theme, “U.P.: Excellence, Service, and Leadership in the Next 100 Years”, was formally adopted during the Centennial Commission's 7th meeting.^[3]
• The Oblation, the official centennial newsletter, is launched.
• U.P. Centennial Commission approves, among others, a musical, music video, coffee-table book and merchandise.^[4]
• The University launches competitions for creative writing, song writing and digital filmmaking.
• On June 18, 2007, the University centennial celebrations were launched (But the celebration itself will start on January 2008). Los Baños campus launches its centennial celebrations on October during the annual loyalty day.
• On July 5, 2007, the University President named twelve U.P. Centennial Fellows, who will present one of four lecture series. The twelve are Gemino H. Abad, former U.P. president Jose V. Abueva, Randolf S. David, former UPLB chancellor Dr. Wilfredo David, Emmanuel de Dios, former vice president for academic affairs Maria Serena I. Diokno, former U.P. Manila chancellor Ernesto O. Domingo, Cecilia A. Florencio, Jose M. Magpantay, former U.P. president Francisco Nemenzo, Ramon P. Santos, and Edgardo D. Gomez.^[5]
• Also on July 5 was the opening of UAAP Season 71 which was hosted by UP Diliman.
• The University announces a tentative schedule for four lecture series to be held in 2008. The four series are U.P.: The Insider’s View, the series that will focus on U.P. from the University's distinguished faculty, U.P.: The View from Outside, a similar lecture series from an outsider's point of view, Lectures by Distinguished Fellows (lectures from David Gross, a Nobel Laureate, Baldomero Olivera, U.P. alumnus and Harvard Scientist of the Year and former President Fidel Ramos) and other various Thematic Lectures. The lectures will be held in various locations, but will be webcast to all of the University's campuses.
• The College of Medicine in U.P. Manila and the College of Fine Arts in U.P. Diliman celebrates their centenary. The two units were founded prior to the establishment of the University.
• President Roman starts a U.P. road show, visiting alumni in Zamboanga City, Palawan, Bacolod, Nueva Ecija, Ilocos Sur and Cagayan de Oro to raise funds.
• On November 2007, the Hawaii House of Representatives acknowledged U.P. as the premier university in the Philippines and congratulates it on the occasion of its centennial celebration.^[6]
• On December 2007, the Board of Regents accepts the new bells for the Diliman Carillon donated by the U.P. Alumni Association (UPAA). The bells were installed by mid-December and will be played on the celebration kick-off on January 2008. The new bells are part of the UPAA's Carillon Restoration Project. The 130-foot Diliman Carillon was a gift from the alumni in 1952.^[6]
• On December 19, 2007, UP Diliman kicks-off its centennial celebrations with the Pre-Centennial Lantern Parade.

Centennial Year 2008

UP Diliman Corps Commander Ronald Cardema (left) and Commission on Higher Education chair Romulo Neri (right) assist University of the Philippines President Emerlinda Roman as she descends from the staircase that led to the lighting of the Centennial Flame during the kickoff of the UP Centennial Celebration at the Oblation Plaza, Quezon Hall.

January

• January 8, 2008 - The official opening of the Centennial Celebrations in U.P. Diliman.^[7][8]
• April 27, 2008 - The 97th General Commencement Exercises (also dubbed Centennial Commencement Exrecises) were held at the Amphitheater.

Notes and references

1. All Systems Go, University of the Philippines System Website. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
2. U.P. Decade 1998-2008, UP System Centennial Year Website. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
3. Centennial Theme, University of the Philippines System Website. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
4. Projects Take Off As Centennial Approaches, UP Centennial Website. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
5. UP Centennial Fellows Named. UP Centennial Website. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
6. Hawaii legislature congratulates UP, University of the Philippines System Website. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
7. Program of Activities for the UP System Centennial Kick-Off, UP Centennial Website. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
8. Motorcade rites to kick off UP centennial, UP Centennial Website. Retrieved January 5, 2008.