The University of the Philippines (Unibersidad ng Pilipinas in Filipino) or U.P. is the premier state university of the Philippines. It was founded in 1908 and is now composed of seven constituent autonomous universities around the country providing tertiary-level education in almost every field from agriculture, medicine, and law, to the natural and social sciences, engineering, and fine arts.

U.P. is a highly reputable school of tertiary learning, and more high school students apply to it than any other college or university in the country. U.P. is also noted for its highly political and activist student body promoting stands on national issues, as well as being a bastion of academic freedom and excellence.

The foremost symbol of U.P. is the Oblation . This is a figure of a naked man, arms outstretched and face pointed upwards, symbolizing selfless dedication and service to the nation.

U.P. has produced some of the country's brightest politicians, economists, lawyers, scientists, engineers, medical doctors, artists, musicians, and entrepreneurs. Several Philippine Presidents are U.P. alumni.

The autonomous universities

At present, the University of the Philippines System is composed of seven Autonomous Universities located in over 10 campuses around the country. U.P. Diliman is the flagship campus of the university and specializes in liberal arts, law, engineering, social sciences, natural sciences, business and economics, and fine arts. U.P. Manila is geared toward medicine and operates the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). U.P. Los Baños specializes in biotechnology, agriculture, and forestry, while U.P. Visayas concentrates mostly on fisheries. The U.P. Open University provides long-distance education.

• U.P. Diliman
• U.P. Los Baños
• U.P. Manila
• U.P. Visayas
• U.P. Mindanao
• U.P. Baguio
• U.P. Open University

History

U.P. was established in 1908 by Act No. 1870, otherwise known as the University Charter, of the First Philippine Legislature. U.P. started with three colleges, the College of Fine Arts, the College of Liberal Arts, and the College of Medicine and Surgery located in Manila as well as a School of Agriculture in Los Baños, Laguna.

Famous people

• Virgilio S. Almario , National Artist, director of the U.P. Institute of Creative Writing
• Benigno Aquino Jr., popular opposition senator
• Jose Laurel
• Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Philippines
• Ferdinand Marcos, President of the Philippines
• Nur Misuari , Former leader of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF )
• Elpidio Quirino
• Jose Maria Sison, exiled communist leader
• Arturo Tolentino
• Ruben D. Torres, Former Labor and Executive Secretary

External links

Official websites

• http://www.up.edu.ph - U.P. System
• http://www.upd.edu.ph - U.P. Diliman
• http://www.uplb.edu.ph - U.P. Los Baños
• http://www.upm.edu.ph - U.P. Manila
• http://www.upv.edu.ph - U.P. Visayas
• http://www.upmin.edu.ph - U.P. Mindanao
• http://www.upb.edu.ph - U.P. Baguio
• http://www.upou.org - U.P. Open University

Others

• http://www.peyups.com - Online community of students and faculty
• http://www.geocities.com/upfighting_maroons - UP Fighting Maroons "site"
• UP Rifle Pistol Team - Rifle Pistol Team Organization in the Philippines