#InquirerSeven Tidbits about PHINMA-University of Pangasinan

PHINMA-University of Pangasinan, situated in the third most vote-rich province in the Philippines, is all set to host the last presidential debate on Sunday, April 24.

The Pangasinan debate, organized by the Commission on Elections, ABS-CBN and Manila Bulletin, will be the final time all five presidential candidates appear together on national television before the elections on May 9, 2016.

READ: All systems go for last presidential debate in Pangasinan

Know more about the venue of the last presidential debate in this #InquirerSeven list of interesting facts and tidbits about PHINMA-University of Pangasinan, or “UPang” as its students call it.

Blas F. Rayos, founder of what is now known as PHINMA-University of Pangasinan. SIMON VISTRO/CONTRIBUTOR

1. UPang was founded in 1925 by Blas F. Rayos, a native of Pangasinan and advocate of education in the province. He headed the school for 45 years until his death, and was succeeded by his son George right after.

It was Rayos who established the university’s Latin motto, “Patria, Virtus, Scientia,” which roughly translates to “Love for Service to the country, Love of God, and Devotion to the Truth and Science.”

PHINMA-University of Pangasinan. KIM EVANGELINE A. OKOL

2. UPang as an institution has gone through three different administrations since its founding. After the Rayos administration, UPang was sold to Dagupeño Cesar T. Duque. In 2009, 21 years after the Duque administration, UPang was sold to Philippine Investment Management Consultants (PHINMA).

English professor Rebecca Fernandez, who has been teaching in the university for 46 years, said UPang has gone from “good” to “best” since its founding, as there have since been many changes in the school’s facilities, equipment other demands from its faculty and employees.

“I’ve been with the university for three administrations and I have seen how [it] has really transformed into not just a better but the best [version] it has ever been,” she said.

English professor Rebecca Fernandez has been teaching in PHINMA-University of Pangasinan for 46 years. KIM EVANGELINE A. OKOL

3. The University of Pangasinan has three sister schools: Araullo University in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija; Cagayan de Oro College, and University of Iloilo. UPang also has one other branch, PHINMA-UPang College Urdaneta, which was established in June 2015.

4. A library in UPang, currently under construction, is set to be named after former President Fidel V. Ramos. The library will feature his collection of books and souvenirs in tribute to his presidency. The Fidel V. Ramos Library is expected to open before the start of the next academic year.

PHINMA-University of Pangasinan campus. PHOTO COURTESY OF UPANG FLAMES.

5. If the University of Santo Tomas has its Growling Tigers, PHINMA-University of Pangasinan has its Flames. UPang’s logo is a flaming torch that represents the whole UPang community. Because the university believes that everything that passes through fire changes, one of UPang’s goals is to make better through education the lives of its members.

Posters of the Pangasinense film “Mapulang Paggugunamgunam (Bloodshot Reverie)”

6. The struggles, sacrifices and fun experiences of mass communication students from UPang is encapsulated in the film “Mapulang Paggugunamgunam (Bloodshot Reverie),” a true-to-life short independent film written and directed by Noubikko Ray Tadeo, who graduated from the university in 2015. “Mapulang Paggugunamgunam” won best short film, along with eight other awards, in the first-ever Urduja Film Festival, a local film fest.

UPang’s very own “Erwin Tulfo,” aka Redentor Q. Villanueva. KIM EVANGELINE A. OKOL

7. Another interesting fact unique to UPang? One campus security guard Redentor Q. Villanueva is also known as “Kuya Tulfo” because of his resemblance to Erwin Tulfo, a commentator of the hit show T3 in TV5. Kuya Tulfo has been working in UPang as a desk guard for 20 years.