National University (Philippines)

History

23-year-old Don Mariano Fortunato Jhocson, founded Colegio Filipino in August 1, 1900, in Quiapo, Manila.

Only a handful of students at that time were enrolled in the fledgling school and they were in the elementary and secondary levels. Don Mariano served as the director, teacher, and janitor. He began Business courses in bookkeeping and accounting. This prompted a name change as it became known as Colegio Mercantil, awarding the diploma of Perito Mercantil.

A short time later, Don Mariano collaborated with the Lacson Brothers and established the Philippine Law School in 1915. This later served as the College of Law of the institution. The Philippine Law School produced one Philippine president, Carlos P. Garcia and seven bar topnotchers. Another Philippine president, Diosdado Macapagal also studied at the institution but he later on transferred.

From Colegio Mercantil, the Board of Trustees changed the name of the institution to National Academy in 1916. Due to continuous growth of the Academy, liberal arts courses were offered.

After 21 years of service in the field of education, the Board of Trustees applied for university status to the Department of Public Instruction. Thus the school became known as National University on January 17, 1921. The university installed, on that same day, Senator Camilio Osias, a Filipino educators, as the first President of the university.

The Colleges of Education and Commerce were opened in the same year. During the following years, the Colleges of Pharmacy and Dentistry were opened in 1922. The College of Engineering, initially offering Civil Engineering opened in 1925, and the Normal School in 1930. Sanitary Engineering was offered in 1930.

Bachelor's degrees in Chemical, Electrical, Industrial, Mechanical Engineering and Architecture and Arts were opened. Master in Sanitary Engineering was also organized.

Computer Science was opened in 1990, Marine Engineering, Computer Engineering and Electronics and Communications Engineering in 1994. College of Nursing was offered in 2004, Hotel and Restaurant Management in 2008 and Information Technology in 2009.

A fire broke out in January 1, 1998 and razed four buildings of the university which are the Main Building, Law and Commerce Building, Elementary Building, and Graduate School Building. The university was able to re-open its doors after three weeks of restoration work.

In 2008, the SM Group of Companies acquired majority ownership of the National University. This paved way to the university's modernization efforts, which included the construction of a new campus building, one of the first school buildings in the City of Manila to have escalators. The strong support from the SM Group upgraded the institution into a higher one with improved and modernized laboratories and infrastructures. Asia Pacific College will be the Future National University-Makati.

College of Dentistry Building

The College of Dentistry Building is a neo-classical three-storey building located across the main campus building. Built in the 1920s, it is the only building in the NU campus that remained unscathed in the fire that hit much of the NU campus in 1998. It is the university's oldest surviving structure and is considered a heritage landmark in the campus.

National University - Nazareth

Groundbreaking ceremonies for National University’s Annex Building were recently held, signifying the University’s commitment to improve the overall student learning experience. The twelve-storey building will have an auditorium, canteen, library, state-of-the-art laboratories and classrooms. The ceremonies was led by National University President Teodoro J. Ocampo (fourth from the left). Also in photo are (L-R): Engr. Shierwin I. Fillomena of D.A Abcede & Associates Construction Management, Engr. Rolando Villamea of New Golden City Builders & Development Corporation, National University Vice-President for Administration Jose Nilo J. Ocampo, Architect Ana Ling of Jose Siao Ling & Associates and National University Executive Vice President Renato H. Ermita, Jr. . The Annex Building is scheduled for completion by 2016.

Athletics

National University was one of the schools that founded the Philippine National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in 1924. It was one of the three schools that left the NCAA in 1932 and formed a new athletic association named the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) in 1938.

In the UAAP, NU has teams participating in twelve sports out of fifteen, namely; cheerleading, basketball, indoor volleyball, beach volleyball, football, baseball, softball, tennis, table tennis, badminton, fencing, taekwondo and chess.

The university's collegiate men's and women's varsity teams are called the National University Bulldogs and the Lady Bulldogs, respectively. The high school varsity teams are called the Bullpups and Lady Bullpups.

Governance and Public Service

Literature

Academe

Professional Practice

Media

Sports