University of the Philippines(ng Pilipinas), commonlyabbreviated asU.P.and
colloquially referred to asPeyups) is the onlynational
universityof thePhilippines.[5][6]Founded in
1908 through Act No. 1870 of the First Philippine Legislature, known as the
"University Act" by authority of the United States, the University currently
provides the largest number of degree programs in the country.[5]Senate
Resolution No. 276 of the Senate of the Philippines recognizes the University as
"the nation’s premier university".[7][8][9]
The University has produced a significant number of public figures and
officials since its founding. SevenPhilippine Presidentshave
attended courses in the University either as undergraduate or postgraduate
students; 13Chief Justices; 36National Artistsand 34National Scientistsare
also affiliated with the University.[5][7][10]
U.P. has the most National Centers of Excellence and Development among higher
education institutions in the country[11]and one of
only three schools in Asia that have received institutional recognition in theRamon
Magsaysay Awards.[12]
U.P. is partly subsidized by the Philippine government.[13]Students of the university and its graduates are referred to as “[Mga]
Iskolar ng Bayan” (“Scholars of the Nation”).[14]This makes
admission into the University extremely competitive. In 2006, about 70,000
applicants flocked to test centers to take theUniversity of
the Philippines College Admission Test(UPCAT) for undergraduate admission.
Around 11,000 of the applicants were admitted for the year 2006, an acceptance
rate of about18%for the whole of the U.P. System.[15]In its
recent admission test, U.P. added essay questions which tested the writing
literacy of its High School exam takers.[16]
The symbol of U.P. is theOblation. This is a figure of a naked man, with
arms outstretched and face pointed upwards. The Oblation is based on the second
stanza ofJose
Rizal'sMi Ultimo Adios.[17][18]
The year 2008 was proclaimed as the "U.P. Centennial Year" and the years
1998-2008 as the "University of the Philippines Decade."[19][20]The
U.P. System is ranked as the top university in the country by the QS World
University Rankings.
