MANILA, Philippines – Hours after the University of the Philippines community kicked off its yearlong centennial celebration with a series of activities, fire razed an uninhabited 55-year-old dormitory on the Diliman campus in Quezon City before dawn yesterday.

Gutted was the 200-room Narra Residence Hall, one of the campus’ more familiar landmarks.

Insp. Arnel Ramilo, operations chief of the Quezon City Fire Department, said the fire started at 4:14 a.m. It reached the fifth alarm before it was put out more than two hours later.

“Because of the age and the type of building materials, the fire quickly engulfed the entire establishment. Fortunately, we were able to contain it before it could spread to nearby buildings,” Ramilo told the Inquirer on the phone.

He added that no one was hurt in the incident as the building had been deserted since October.

The fire official estimated the damage to property at P1 million.

Ramilo said they have yet to identify the possible cause of the two-hour blaze.

According to a report from the UP Police, however, faulty electrical wiring could have ignited the fire.

Built in 1953, the bungalow structure was one of the earliest student dormitories built on the Diliman campus.

UP alumni who heard about the incident expressed their regret and shock over the loss of one of the state university’s beloved buildings.

“Thousands of UP graduates would probably tell you that they spent some of their best times on campus while they were residents of Narra. It’s really sad as it happened while we were celebrating our centennial,” said lawyer Dan Calica, a former Narra resident.

Calica, who graduated from the College of Law seven years ago, said that just a few days ago, he had attended a meeting of former residents who were planning to help raise funds for the dormitory’s repair.

Dr. Elizabeth Enriquez, vice chancellor for students affairs of UP Diliman, said they had written to a number of senators and congressmen who used to be Narra residents for help in a bid to gather funds for its much needed facelift.

Her office, however, has not received any positive response from the lawmakers.

Enriquez said among those who used to live in the dormitory while they were still students were incumbent Senate President Manny Villar, former Senate president Franklin Drilon and Sen. Edgardo Angara.