University of the Philippines-Cebu

One of the most highly-touted universities in Cebu is the University of the Philippines. I’ve never been to its inner grounds since I was able to access only the front building but, I guess, they got a huge area. It occurred to me once that if I go to college I would certainly choose U.P. over the other universities in Cebu, but it was too far from my home so I settled for the other. It’s actually located in Gorordo Ave., Lahug, Cebu City, which is one of the most developed areas in the island of Cebu.

I didn’t actually know this but the complete name of the school is University of the Philippines in the Visayas Cebu College (or commonly U.P. Cebu or the longer U.P.V.C.C.) held by the University of the Philippines in the Visayas. Along with the other thee components in Tacloban, Iloilo and Miagao, the U.P. Cebu was founded 10 years later right when the whole U.P. was established in 1908.

Like some universities in Cebu, U.P. Cebu provides high school, undergraduate and graduate education. There are a lot of courses to choose from and the some of the most notable programs include Computer Science, Biology, Fine Arts, Psychology and Political Science.

The site

Its 15-hectare site, which was donated in 1929 by the Cebu Provincial Government, is enough to hold several notable UP-Cebu buildings like:

• The Administration Building – contains the Office of the Dean, Office of the College Secretary, Office of the Associate Dean, Office of Student Affairs, the Cashier’s and Accounting Office and the Interactive Learning Center

• The High School Buildings – hold classrooms that were named after the first nine presidents of University of the Philippines

• Management Building – the management program’s main building

• Guest House – for U.P. visitors

• Arts and Sciences Building – this is the hub of both the Computer Science program and the Social Sciences Division

• Student Dormitory – houses a 50 students

• The Library Building

The site of U.P. Cebu gobbles the parts of three certain barangays; Barangays Camputhaw, Kamagong and Lahug. It was also recorded that the original site of the school was in Leon Kilat Street and, for a time, it was also based in one of the major attractions in Cebu, the Fort San Pedro.

The Oblation Run

One of the most popular events in U.P., as well as in U.P. Cebu, is the Oblation Run that is held annually on mid-December, specifically December 16, which is the International Founding of APO (Alpha Phi Omega). Members of the prominent fraternity runs around the school campus naked (or more commonly known as “streaking” in the West). The Oblation Run is also serves as a statement to a certain economic or political situation in the country.