UP Visayas marks 75th founding anniversary with book launching

University of the Philippines – Visayas | PHOTO: UPV’s official website

ILOILO CITY—The University of the Philippines in the Visayas (UPV) on Friday, August 19, launched its new book to commemorate the 75th anniversary of its establishment here.

The book titled “Padayon nga Maragtas sang UP sa Visayas” traces the 75-year journey of UP Visayas from its beginnings at the old Iloilo City Hall back in 1947 to its contributions to the colorful history of the city and province of Iloilo.

The book was edited by retired professor Ma. Luisa Mabunay and published by Ret. Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza.

Donations for the book’s production came from Enrique Razon, who owns the majority of MORE Power, Iloilo City’s power provider; and San Miguel Corporation where he previously worked.

During the launching, Mabunay said the book details the stories of UPV through the eyes of the people who walked the halls of its campuses.

She added that the book also detailed the transfer of the UPV from Iloilo City to its present main campus of Miagao in 1980.

Jardeleza called the contents of the book “serious and heartfelt”, citing the anecdotes and photos contributed by the UPV itself and its students, current and former faculty, and alumni.

“Everything is serious and everything is heartfelt. To a graduate of UP, they would ask, ‘Are we here?’ We can answer, ‘Look at this page,’ then they would see their images dancing or doing other things. There are secrets that are in the pictures,” said Jardeleza.

The book is part of the larger Handumanan Project, which aims to protect and preserve two buildings of heritage value in the Iloilo City campus, namely the Old High School Building and The Woman’s Club Building.

Both buildings were built in the “tsalet” or chalet style, which were the dominant architectural style in the few years after the end of World War II.

Prof. Rhodella Ibabao, UPV’s Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development, said that the total cost of the two buildings cost up to P25 million.

From 222 students in 1947, the university’s data indicated that as of academic year 2021 to 2022, they have had 4,440 students enrolled across five colleges in three campuses in Iloilo City, Miagao, Iloilo, and Tacloban City.

The book “Padayon nga Maragtas sang UP sa Visayas” is sold at an introductory price P2,000, available via Handumanan Project’s Facebook page.

Proceeds from the book will go to the Handumanan Project, and eventually to a planned non-government organization initially called the Iloilo Heritage Trust.