University of the Philippines
Diliman

University of the Philippines
Diliman

Campus

Farewell, Doc Caoili

Benito V. Sanvictores Jr. - Diliman Information Office
February 13, 2024 | UPDate Online > Campus
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The UP Diliman (UPD) community lost another treasured member.

Olivia Del Castillo Caoili, PhD, a former professor at the Department of Political Science (DPolSci) passed away on Feb. 9.

Caoili. Photo from Caoili’s Facebook account

Caoili started as a research assistant at the then-UP College of Public Administration (now UPD National College of Public Administration and Governance / NCPAG) from January 1962 to July 1963. She left UP to study abroad and later worked in other Philippine universities.

Caoili returned to UPD in June 1983 as an associate professor of political science at the UPD College of Social Sciences and Philosophy. She retired as a full professor in May 2006. Among her fields of specialization were modern political analysis, political development, and public administration.

Caoili was UP vice president for academic affairs (December 1994–August 1999) and UPD vice chancellor for student affairs (January 1990–August 1992). She also served as secretary of the University and the UP Board of Regents, and DPolSci chair.

She served as president of the National Research Council of the Philippines (2007-2008) and was a member of the Philippine Political Science Association.

According to a tribute prepared by the University of the East (accessed on Feb. 12), Caoili was one of the three recipients of the 2012 Outstanding World Researcher award given by the International Association of Multidisciplinary Research in recognition of “her world-class contribution to research and demonstration of social responsibility as former president of the NRCP.”

Caoili earned a BA degree (political science) from UP in 1961. She attended the University of Hawaii and Cornell University for her master’s degree (political science and public administration) which she completed in 1965. She obtained a PhD (political studies, major in modern political analysis, political development, and public administration) from Queen’s University in 1980.

According to the DPolSci website (accessed on Feb. 12), Caoili’s wake at the Sta. Maria della Strada Parish at Katipunan Ave. cor. Pansol St., Quezon City is until Feb. 14, also the day of cremation after the 11 a.m. concelebrated mass.