Central Philippine University (or simply CPU) is a non-stock, non-profit Christian institution of higher learning in Iloilo City, Iloilo, Philippines. The university offers programs in the kindergarten, elementary, high school, undergraduate and graduate levels. Its graduate and undergraduate programs cover various disciplines such as the Arts, Sciences, Business, Accountancy, Computer Studies, Education, Engineering, Tourism, Nursing, Theology, Law, and Medicine.
History
CPU was founded in 1905 as the Jaro Industrial School by missionaries of the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society. It started as an Elementary Vocational School for poor boys who worked for their board and tuition. Dr.William Orison Valentine, the first principal and the founder, worked for its incorporation and recognition by the Philippine Government. In 1913, his objective was realized and in the same year the school also admitted its first female student. In 1915, it opened its first high school program, starting with first and second year classes, adding third and fourth year classes in 1920. The following year the school graduated its first high school batch.[1]
To accommodate the need for tertiary education in the area, a junior college was opened in 1923 and the name of the school was changed to Central Philippine College. Senior college started to be opened in 1936 and by 1940 five degrees were offered namely: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Theology and Bachelor of Religious Education.[1]
When war broke out during the Second World War, the college's buildings were destroyed. Eleven American missionaries were massacred by the occupying Japanese forces and several students, faculty, staff and alumni joined the guerrilla movement. Some died in the process. After the war ended, the college was reopened by remaining members of the faculty as well as by returning missionaries. Reconstruction was made possible through funds coming from friends at home and abroad.[1]
On the 1 April 1953, the college gained government recognition as a university, converting the college into what is now known as the Central Philippine University.[1]
From its founding, Filipinos were gradually given larger responsibilities in its administration. In 1966 the first Filipino president, Dr. Rex D. Drilon, was elected; and in 1968 the entire university property - land, buildings, and equipment - was turned over by the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society to the Filipino corporation of CPU. Since 1973, all members of the Board of Trustees and administrative officials of the university have been Filipinos.[1]
Through the years, CPU has grown from an elementary school with 17 pupils to a university with an enrollment of over 12,000. The 24-hectare campus, which was originally chosen for its quiet and relative isolation, is now a community by itself, with more than 30 buildings used for classrooms and support facilities.[1]
Currently, it is affiliated with the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches and maintains fraternal ties with the International Ministries of the American Baptist Churches (known before as the American Foreign Mission Society) and the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia. The university is also a member of the Association of Christian Schools, Colleges and Universities (ACSCU) and the Association of Christian Universities and Colleges in Asia (ACUCA).[1]
[edit]Campus
The university sits on 240,000 sq. m. (24-hectare campus) along Lopez Jaena Street, Jaro, Iloilo City. The area was originally chosen for its quiet and relative isolation but is now a veritable community with more than 35 buildings. There are prominent parks and gardens on the campus that are conducive for relaxing and study, also for informal gatherings and even weddings receptions. Landscaping and propagation of flowering and ornamental plants is all over the campus.
[edit]Tourism site
Supervised by the Campus Beautification Office, it is one of the reasons CPU was declared a Tourism Site by the Iloilo City Council. The landscaping and flowering of the campus is a continuous project that makes the campus very attractive to students and visitors. The declaration is contained in Iloilo Council Resolution No. 2001-1140 which was unanimously approved during the regular weekly session of the Sangguniang Panlunsod of Iloilo City last November 21, 2001. The approved resolution was sponsored by Councilor Raul Gonzalez Jr., chairman of the Committee on Tourism, Trade and Industry. This makes CPU as the first and only university in the Philippines and perhaps in the world to be declared as a tourism destination by a local government unit.
In approving the resolution, the city council took cognizance of the beautiful campus whose atmosphere is conducive to study and reflection and whose buildings are famous for their old American Colonial, Malayan and modern architecture. The well-landscaped, clean, and green campus is also endowed with many attractive amenities like the Alumni Promenade-Concert Park, Alumni Garden, Alumni Gazebos and Benches, Alumni Prayer Park and Roselund Hostel.
The city council mentioned CPU as home to the largest library in Western Visayas, the Henry Luce III Library, with more than 200,000 volumes including holdings of special collections like the 40,000 United Nations documents, World War II documents, American Studies Resource Center, Meyer-Asian Collection, Food and Agriculture Organization and Elizabeth Knox Sacred Music Collection.
The city council expressed optimism that CPU and the city government will mutually benefit from all forms of tourism-related partnership, especially because the university offers a Bachelor of Science in Tourism. This implies that CPU will be included in brochures as a recommended tourist destination. The university is also entitled to seek support from the Department of Tourism for any tourism-related projects.
[edit]Festival of Lights and Music at Central
Central Philippine University is one of the two schools in Iloilo City that showcases its grandest festive of lights.
The Promenade of Lights or Festival of Lights and Music at Central, an annual joint project of CPU and the CPU Alumni Association, with the lighted figurines, trees and buildings, nativity scenes, and colorful lanterns attracting thousands of local and foreign tourists during the Christmas season was also highlighted in the resolution.
Every December the campus is turned into a Christmas fairytale-land. The Opening of Lights (Festival of Lights and Music at Central) remains one of the best features of CPU. It opens in first week of December and is highlighted with a fireworks display on the opening ceremony. Lighted trees, buildings and figurines, Pampanga, Capiz shells and native lanterns placed along the major campus roads and nativity scenes add to the festive atmosphere.
Address : Lopez Jaena Street, Iloilo City, Iloilo 5000
Region : VI - Western Visayas
Telephone : 033-329-1971 to 1979; 033-320-3824
Fax : 033-320-3685
E-mail : admin@cpu.edu.ph
Website : www.cpu.edu.ph
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