University of Northern Philippines - History

History

The university began as the Vigan High School (present-day Ilocos Sur National High School) in 1906. Its shop department was converted into a separate intermediate level school, named the Vigan Trade School in 1910. It opened its high school in 1927, and produced its first graduates in 1931, when it evolved as the Ilocos Sur Trade School. They were both located in Vigan town. Two of the buildings still exist, one being used as a warehouse for a construction supply firm, the other is now the location of the Vigan City Trade Center.

President Manuel Luis Quezon converted the Ilocos Sur Trade School in 1941 through the help of Assemblyman Benito T. Soliven and Governor Pedro Singson Reyes. However, World War II halted its implementation.

In 1951 the Ilocos Sur Trade School became the Northern Luzon School of Arts and Trades (NLSAT) by virtue of Republic Act 547. However, Republic Act 2700, or the General Appropriations Act of 1960, converted it back to Ilocos Sur School of Arts and Trades (ISSAT).

It proved temporary however, when in June 19, 1965, then Congressman Floro S. Crisologo authored Republic Act 4449, and was signed into law at the Philippine Embassy in Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan, thus converting ISSAT into the University of Northern Philippines. It then began implementing its Charter on October 14, 1965. Crisologo is recognized as the founder of the University.

The Candon Community College (CCC) was incorporated into the University in 1989 through Republic Act 6744, through the efforts of then Congressman Eric D. Singson. It acted as a semi-autonomous unit. However, despite this semi-autonomous status, CCC was split from the University by virtue of Republic Act 10085, also by Singson, to become the Northern Luzon Polytechnic State College in 2010.

In the late 1980s the commitment of the University to the new Stepladder Nursing Curriculum pioneered in Palo, Leyte was marked by the construction of the College of Health Sciences building, the tallest building in the entire university and one of the tallest in Ilocos Sur, finished in 1997. It currently houses all of its nursing and health-related courses, and later the university-owned radio station dwNP, with its radio mast making the building taller than the new Student Council Building, finished in 2008-2009.

In 2008 the university's FM radio station, dwNP Campus Radio, was relaunched. It occupies the 100.5 MHz frequency, moving from its old, weak 88.5 MHz frequency.

In 2009 two devastating fires struck the University, part of the Father Jose Burgos Hall, which houses the College of Arts and Sciences and the Elpidio Quirino Hall, which houses the University Administration. Despite these seemingly crippling setbacks, especially to the Administration Building, the University fully recovered in a few months and a bigger three-story Administration Building is currently under construction to replace it. Offices once occupying the burned Administration Building has been temporarily transferred to the Graduate School's E-Library Building, while the President's Office occupies three rooms in the new Lauro B. Tacbas (Criminology) Building.

The University Infirmary was due for completion in 2009, but was delayed to give priority to the construction of the Administration Building. It was inaugurated on July 4, 2011. It now houses the Medicine courses of the University.