University of Eastern Philippines - History

History

The University of Eastern Philippines began as the Catarman Farm School (CFS) in September 1918 in a 516-hectare site of forested mountains and rice fields facing the Pacific Ocean. Then Governor Clodualdo Lucero proposed and sought the approval of the Provincial Board for the establishment of the school.

Its first principal was Washington Wiren from Maine, USA followed by a succession of Filipino graduates from American agricultural institutions. Dr. Felipe O. Cevallos from Bicol became the first Filipino principal, followed by Pedro Montellano who was on special detail from the Department of Agricultural Education, College of Agriculture, UP in 1923, then by Sabino Q. Ami who opened the secondary Home Economics curriculum in 1930. Agapito Buenaventura came next and was succeeded by Eulogio Acuňa whose term was overtaken by the war in 1941.

The CFS was later named the Catarman Agricultural School (CAS), which was proposed by Representative Pedro Mendiola of Catarman raising its status to Insular Provincial, making it the Catarman Agricultural High School (CAHS).

In 1946 Congressman Agripino Escareal and Senate President Jose Avelino Sr. worked for the complete nationalization of the school. Thus in 1950 the school’s name was once more changed to the Catarman National Agricultural High School (CNAHS).

With the rapid growth of knowledge and the urgent call for scientific and technological involvement of schools in rebuilding a nation, Samar Congressman Eladio Balite of Bobon, Northern Samar sponsored House Bill 6559 creating the Samar Institute of Technology (SIT) which Pres. Carlos P. Garcia signed into R.A. 1434. With Senators Gil Puyat and Decoroso Rosales and Congressman Balite, SIT was inaugurated on September 7, 1958. The first and only President of SIT was Colonel Emeterio Asinas (Ret.) of Catubig, N. Samar. It was in his term that the Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Chapel (which houses the University chaplain) and the UEP Centre for Culture and Pageantry (commonly known RAB Amphitheatre) were founded. When he retired on March 4, 1963, Prof. Toribio G. Sorio of Bobon, N. Samar, Executive Vice President, took over as officer-in-charge until SIT became a university.

In response to the pressing need for manpower development necessary for the upliftment of the socio-economic condition of the service area, House Bill 4050, sponsored by Congressman Eladio T. Balite, was signed by President Diosdado Macapagal on June 20, 1964 converting SIT into the University of Eastern Philippines (UEP). UEP is mandated to "primarily give technical and professional training, advanced instruction in literature, philosophy, the sciences and the arts, besides providing for the promotion of scientific and technological researches." The elevation of the school to a university status has, in fact, paved the way towards dramatic increase in its academic, research, and extension programs as well as the creation of additional colleges, institutes, centres, and offices.

UEP's first president was Dr. Narciso N. Pepito of Cebu who assumed office on January 24, 1966. The Veterinary Medicine Building, Science Building, extensions of the Farm Shop and Machinery Building, the Brackish Water fishpond, former College of Education Building, and the University Research Center were among the completed projects prior to President Pepito's retirement in May 1976.

Before Pres. Pepito’s successor was named, the Head Executive Assistant, Atty Sergio Gelera, Sr. of Catarman, World War II hero of Calbayog, became the OIC. He was responsible for opening graduate programs.

From November 1977-November 1983, Dr. Aurora Balite Merida, of Bobon, Northern Samar was appointed as the second president. Her time was when the Australians descended upon Samar for the Northern Samar Integrated Rural Development Project (NSIRDP) and linkages with outside agencies took the form of allowing hectares of lands for the NSIRDP’s and these agencies’ use.

Between the end of President Merida’s term and the appointment of the next president, the CBA Dean, Dr. Gerardo Delorino, became the OIC.

In 1985, Dr. Andres F. Celestino, by birth from Nueva Ecija but a Samareño at heart because of marriage and residence, became the 3rd UEP President. A diploma graduate (With Distinction) of the University of Reading, England, he spent more time supervising classes, projects, and construction works. His one consuming, overriding passion – real high quality education informed by research, effective teachers and selective admission and retention.

He put up the Institute for Agricultural and Rural Development (IARD), the NSIRDP-ADAB-founded NORSARC, and the UEP Research and Development Foundation with the research grants from the IDRC, Canada; PCMARD and PhilRice. He applied for UEP’s membership in the Association of Asian Agricultural Colleges and Universities (AAACU).

Towards the end of the project, the NSIRDP equipped the Crop and Livestock Diagnostic Laboratory with sophisticated scientific equipment for the Biology Laboratory. The NSIRDP, too, turned over its duck dispersal program and the residences of the Australian nationals to the school.

When President Celestino was gunned down in office on April 5, 1990, Dr. Leonor A. Ong Sotto, vice president for academic affairs took over UEP’s helm.

On November 15, 1990, Dr.Pedro D. Destura a UEP and UPLB alumnus from Urdaneta, Lavezares, Northern Samar became its 4th President.

With President Destura’s win-win solutions to problems, he succeeded in enhancing UEP’s educational opportunities and in reinvigorating the University’s Faculty Development Program, which gave rise to a number of PhDs and MAs.

UEP became a Learning Center for the UP Open University, the Regional Science Teaching Center (RSTC) for the non-science and non-mathematics teachers in the elementary and high schools in Region VIII for the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the DOE’s extension arm in the promotion, development and utilization of new and renewable energy technologies and systems in Eastern Visayas via the UEP Affiliated Renewable Energy Center (AREC).

In 1999 the Pedro Rebadulla Memorial Agricultural College (PRMAC) and the Laoang National Trade School (LNTS) formerly CHED-supervised institutions were integrated into the University. Since then, they have been operating as UEP PRMC Catubig Campus and UEP-Laoang Campus under the UEP System. On February 11, 2007, Dr. Destura bowed out of service, after 17 years in the service.

Prior to the selection of a regular successor, the Board of Regents appointed Dr. Milagros Esparrago, Chief Education Program Specialist of CHED Regional Office V, as UEP’s Officer-in-Charge.

On June 15, 2007 in Tacloban City, Atty Mar P. De Asis of Catubig, Northern Samar took his oath of office as the 5th president of the University of Eastern Philippines. A Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Management, he is the second UEP alumnus to occupy the University’s highest position.

Atty de Asis brings to the post his sterling achievement as dean of the College of Law for fourteen years. Under his stewardship, UEP’s College of Law consistently placed among the top law schools all over the country. His 13 years experience with the Development Bank of the Philippines and as a lawyer is paying off well in managing and operating the university.

He assumed the position at a young age of 48, but because he has the drive to excel and the discipline of working at the DBP, coupled with his natural ability to lead, he revolutionalized UEP’s management. Within his first term of office, he was able to lead the university to its desired direction. He is presently serving his second term as UEP President.

The University of Eastern Philippines takes pride and honor for being the lone comprehensive and the biggest state university in the entire Eastern Visayas region, catering to the human resources and socio-economic development of its service area through the years. As an old but dynamic institution of higher learning, it has gone through significant stages of development until it finally attained a university status and became one of the nationally known higher education institutions in the country.

While the University has fairly succeeded in meeting its goals and objectives for the past years, via its existing programs, projects, and activities, it shall remain a potent partner not only in human resource development but also in bringing about better living conditions among the underprivileged sector of society.