What if I told you that this campus is older than the university it belongs to? That’s right. Welcome to the University of the Philippines Manila. It is a campus with a unique story.
UP Manila began its life as the Philippine Medical School on December 1 1905. This was three years before the University of the Philippines itself was established. In 1907 the school was renamed UP College of Medicine and Surgery. It wasn’t until 1983 that it gained its current name.
UP Manila is the country’s center of excellence for health sciences. This includes health professional education training and research. The university administers and operates the Philippine General Hospital. This is the largest medical center in the Philippines. It also serves as the national referral center for health.
The National Institutes of Health are located here at UP Manila. Early COVID-19 testing took place in this section. Health research continues in various fields.
The campus spans 14 hectares or 35 acres. It occupies two large city blocks. American architect William E Parsons designed many of the pre-war heritage buildings here. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines has declared them historical landmarks.
UP Manila opened in 1909 with several colleges. These included the College of Medicine and the College of Liberal Arts. They also included the College of Veterinary Medicine. All these colleges transferred to this campus in 1910. The College of Agriculture remained in Los Baños.
The Philippine General Hospital PGH opened in 1910 with 350 beds. It provided healthcare and clinical training to medical students. The PGH School of Nursing was established in 1915. Later the School of Pharmacy the Department of Dentistry and the School of Public Health were created.
World War II caused widespread destruction to the university in 1945. Despite this the College of Medicine and PGH continued to operate. In 1948 most of the university moved to a larger campus in Diliman Quezon City. However Medicine Dentistry and Public Health remained here in Manila.
Today UP Manila remains a vital center for medical education and research. It plays a crucial role in the Philippine healthcare system. It is a place of learning innovation and service to the nation. Remember that sometimes the oldest stories are also the most vital.