Polytechnic University of The Philippines - History

History

The institution started as the Manila Business School (MBS), founded on October 19, 1904 as part of the city school system of Manila under the superintendence of C.A. O’Reilley. The school was established to meet the demands of needed businessmen and businesswomen for government service and private employment. It was renamed as Philippine School of Commerce (PSC) on 1908 and became an National school. In 1911, the school was again placed under the administration of the city school system but still kept its status as an National school.

In 1933, PSC merged with the Philippine Normal School (PNS) and the Philippine School of Arts and Trades. The resulting merger placed PSC under the administration of PNS and PSC students who completed their courses were considered graduates of the PNS. President Manuel L. Quezon promised a new building for the school through his graduation address in 1940. This was supported by Congressman Manuel A. Alazarte and PSC's Department Head Luis F. Reyes, who formulated a bill to this effect and present it to the Congress in 1942. Unfortunately, the plan was not carried out because of the Pacific War.

In 1946, efforts for the school's re-establishment and rehabilitation was intensified. The Bureau of Public Works released more than ₱8,000 for the repairs and maintenance of public buildings of which the school is a beneficiary. The ruins of PNS's Normal Hall was reconstructed and the college resumed its operations. Afterwards, the Normal Hall was converted as a dormitory, forcing PSC to continue its operations on its former campus before the merge with PNS and PSAT. However, its campus size is inadequate to serve its ever-growing student population and therefore the school authorities intensified its plans and proposals to acquire a new campus lot. A new campus lot was acquired and PSC moved to its new campus on July 1947 which is located at S. H. Loyola Street in Sampaloc, Manila. It continued its operations there until 1971.

PSC became the Philippine College of Commerce (PCC) on 1952 by virtue of Republic Act 778, which broadened the school's course offerings and with Reyes serving as its first president. The expansion and establishment of satellite campuses throughout the country started on the late 1960s. Also, it was at this time that the school acquired a large lot located at Santa Mesa, Manila. This lot became the new flagship campus of the school.

The Philippine College of Commerce (PCC) was converted into a chartered state university which was accordingly renamed as the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), through Presidential Decree (PD) 1341 in 1978 with Mateo serving as the first University President. Mateo was succeeded by Dr. Nemesio E. Prudente who was known for his educational reforms and his contribution to the university. A plaza was erected in the center of the campus in honor of Prudente and his achievements.

On 2004, PUP celebrated its centennial anniversary. To highlight the signing of the Declaration of Peace to be put before the United Nations, PUP held the record for the world's largest human rainbow consisting of 30,365 students, faculty, staff and alumni.

Dante G. Guevarra assumed presidency on 2005, and his administration was notable for its numerous issues including allegations of graft and corruption, the assassination of the then-Vice President for Administration Augustus Cezar, and issues about the university's land disputes. Guevarra also failed to obtain an outstanding rating as the University President and therefore his term was not renewed. Students also expressed outrage and dissatisfaction against Guevarra's administration.

Guevarra was replaced by Edicio G. dela Torre, followed by Estelita Wi-Dela Rosa, both of whom became the Officers-in-Charge of PUP for a while as the Board of Regents searched for a new university president, although this move did not fare well among the faculty and students and several protests occurred. Emanuel de Guzman was appointed as the new university president on March 2012.