Moments, Memories & History:
Over 50 years of Vanguard Architectural Education
​in the Philippines

  • 1928: A School of Architecture was proposed to be established in the University of the Philippines (Manila Campus), but was disapproved by the Board of Regents.
  • 1954: Dean Crisostomo Ortigas (College of Engineering) tasked Prof. Alfredo L. Juinio, Sr. (Head of the Department of Civil Engineering) to establish a program in "Architectural Engineering." Prof. Aurelio T. Juguilon ( both a Civil Engineer and an Architect) was tasked to assist Prof. Juinio in crafting the Architecture Program. 
  • 1955: The UP Board of Regents approved the Architecture Curriculum. The curriculum instituted a novel 5-year course, instead of the common 4-year program offered by private schools. It stressed a stronger background in subjects such as Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Mechanics.
  • 1956: The first semester of AY 1956-1957 is officially the first time when the Architecture Program was offered, still by the College of Engineering then. The first day of classes was on June 1, 1956 (Friday). There were an initial 36 enrolees. The only faculty for the program then, was Prof. Aurelio T. Juguilon.
  • 1958: The Architecture program was transferred or placed under the College of Fine Arts. The unit later became known as the School of Fine Arts and Architecture. The classes were also transferred to the third floor of Gonzales Hall (University Main Library). Prof. Juguilon was later joined by Prof. Efren P. Hernandez, and Prof. Victor N. Tiotuyco, who had  completed his graduate studies at the Cranbrook Academy of Art.
  • 1961: The Architecture Program produced its first graduate - Leonardo Concepcion. November of the same year, saw the elevation of the School into the College of Architecture and Fine Arts.
  • 1962: The Architecture Program produced its first Cum Laude graduate - Geronimo V. Manahan.
  • 1963: Prof. Hernandez & Tiotuyco instituted the group work system, mirroring the "group architecture" concept of Walter Gropius. Prof. Honorato Paloma introduced the "concept system" in solving design problems.
  • 1965: Prof. Aurelio T. Juguilon was appointed as the Dean of the College of Architecture & Fine Arts, and eventually assumed the post as the first Dean of the College of Architecture.
  • 1970: The College of Architecture was finally recognized as a separate academic unit. The College officially transferred, and returned once again to Melchor Hall, and occupied its fourth floor, and eventually the expansion at its fifth floor.
  • 1971: Two (2) new programs were introduced - Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture and the Master of Architecture Program. The first faculty of the B. Landscape of Architecture Program is the Father of Landscape Architecture in the Philippines and National Artist for Architecture - Ildefonso P. Santos, Jr.
  • 1974: The Master of Architecture program produced its first graduates.
  • 1975: The Bachelor of Landscape Architecture program produced its first three graduates - Zenaida Dela Cruz (now Galingan), Jose Velasquez, and Edward Johnson Wong.
  • 1979: The College of Architecture produced its first Magna Cum Laude graduate, in the person of Jose Danilo Silvestre.
  • 1980: The College implemented the ladder-type curriculum. A student will be able to obtain a degree after acquisition of critical skills - as evidenced by an award of a Certificate of Architectural Drafting, then a Certificate of Building Technology and finally a Diploma in B.S. Architecture.
  • 1984: Prof. Geronimo V. Manahan assumed office as the second Dean of UPCA.
  • 1985: The Master of Tropical Landscape Architecture program was first introduced.
  • 1988: The College produced its first Summa Cum Laude in the person of Irene C. Ngo.
  • 1990: The Research Program and Extension Program were formally established.
  • 1999: The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) confirmed UPCA's leadership in higher education by declaring it as a National Center for Excellence in Architecture.
  • 2005: The College has finally transferred to its own home in the summer of 2005, where it held its first ever College Recognition Rites in its own grounds in UPCA Building 1. The Architect for Building 1 was Arch. Jose Danilo Silvestre. Building 2  (Admin Building) before, was the burnt down Campus Maintenance Office. Arch. Nicolo Del Castillo, designed the said building for adaptive re-use.
  • 2006: Marked the golden foundation year of UPCA.
  • In 2016, the College held its 60th year founding anniversary. Currently,  UPCA is further strengthening its leading role as the premier provider of higher education in Architecture and Landscape Architecture . The thrust of the College is to align itself with being a service-oriented institution that responds well to providing solutions for critical national and international issues.

- compiled by Edra Belga-Casono, April 20, 2013

References:
  1. Fermin, Ephraim K. (June 30, 1985). The University of the Philippine College of Architecture: The First Thirty Years By the People Who Made  It. Quezon City: UPCA.      
  2. ​IskiWiki (2013). UP College of Engineering. Retrived on April 30, 2013 from: http://iskwiki.upd.edu.ph/index.php/Melchor_Hall.
  3. IskiWiki (December 31, 2012). Palma Hall. Retrieved on April 30, 2013 from: http://iskwiki.upd.edu.ph/index.php/Palma_Hall  
  4. Interviews and College Documentary research made by the UPCA Extension Program and Research Program.
Picture
Melchor Hall, under construction in 1949. Designed by Cesar Concio, the first UP Campus Architect. Image taken from urbandud.worpress.com
Picture
Melchor Hall, nearing completion in 1951. Image taken from arkitektura.ph as uploaded by Jaycee Gopez.
Picture
A conceptual, proposed Gonzales Hall - University Main Library by Arch. Juan Nakpil. Image taken from arkitektura.ph
Picture
A vintage Gonzales Hall (the University Main Library) housed the School of Architecture and Fine Arts from 1958 until 1970. Image taken from urbandud.wordpress.com
Picture
The College of Architecture returned to Melchor Hall in 1970, and occupied its fourth and fifth floors until 2005. Photo credit to Glenn Magaspac.
Picture
Finally, UPCA found its own home in its new complex along E. Delos Santos Street in the summer of 2005. Above is Building 1, designed by Prof. Jose Danilo Silvestre. Photo credit to Roi Francisco.
Picture
UPCA Building 2 (Administration Building), designed for adaptive re-use by Arch. Nicolo Del Castillo. Photo credit to Roi Francisco.

The Future of UPCA