(JAN.4) — It was drizzling and the smell of wet grass and soil wafted through the air in the afternoon of Dec. 16 but the participants were in festive mood as they geared up for the most anticipated sem-ender/Christmas event of the year, the UP Diliman (UPD) Lantern Parade. As early as 3 p.m., the boom from bamboo cannons echoed throughout the campus to signal the assembly for the parade. Excited crowds also began to converge at the Oblation Plaza and Academic Oval. At 5:30 p.m., the parade…

The University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) was the top performing school of the October 2016 Board Licensure Examination for Certified Public Accountants (BLECPA) with all its 69 examinees passing the Board. The only university with a perfect passing rate, UPD was followed by the University of Santo Tomas (90.72%), De La Salle University–Manila (88.66%), Ateneo de Zamboanga (87.14%), Bicol University–Daraga (84.93%) and Far Eastern University–Manila (82.35%). The top performing schools have 50 or more examinees and with at least 80% passing percentage. UPD was the top performing school since 2009 and with a perfect passing rate in 2014, 2012 and…

Folding fans, portable electric fans, umbrellas and shades became staple paraphernalia at UP Diliman’s (UPD) 105th General Commencement Exercises as good weather, sunshine and sweltering heat bid the Class of 2016 farewell on Jun. 26. Wearing the sablay, the official academic costume of the University, the graduates, together with their families, relatives, friends and other guests, arrived as early as 5:30 a.m. at the University Amphitheater for the rites. Some patiently waited for the ceremony to start while others took the opportunity to take pictures with the sunflowers. The ceremony started…

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales called on the graduates of the UP College of Law (CL) to give hope to people “when all hope is lost” and not turn the law into an instrument of oppression at the latter’s recognition rites on Jun. 27 at the UP Theater. The Ombudsman, who received an honorary doctor of laws degree, also reminded the Law Class of 2016 to take “to heart the time-honored virtues of industry, perseverance, integrity, civility and loyalty for these will remain constant,” she said. She said the country no longer needs…

Good morning! With the sunflowers still abloom and the rain on hold until we finish the commencement exercises, I can say that the morning has broken, together with our hopes and gladness. Congratulations to the UP Diliman Class of 2016! I’am sure most of you woke up very early today, while others failed to catch some sleep because of excitement. Never mind, we know the trials you went through and this is your shining moment! We feel your joy and optimism. And we share your pride in your success. You are yet…

  Program Meet the Summa Profile Commencement Speaker Commencement Speech The President’s Message to UPD Graduates The Chancellor’s Message to UPD Graduates The…

(MAY 25)— UP Diliman (UPD) honored 4,599 University Scholars in the undergraduate and graduate levels and those who distinguished themselves in various fields at the Parangal sa Mag-aaral 2016 at the University Theater on May 18. University Scholars (US) are students who have earned a General Weighted Average (GWA) of not lower than 1.25 in the second semester of Academic Year (AY) 2013-2014 and first semester of AY 2014-2015. The five academic units with the most number of US are the College of Engineering (CoE) with 930 awardees, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP/643), Cesar E.A. Virata…

At the celebration of the 2015 Bar Examination passers, current UP College of Law Dean Danilo L. Concepcion quoted the text message of former Dean Merlin M. Magallona, “It is good to hear that we are back to normal.” The text message was sent to Concepcion after Magallona learned that the UP College of Law is the top performing school in last year’s bar examination, garnering a passing rate of 89.73 percent,…

  UP Diliman Holds Symposium on Potential New GE Courses (update) The Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs (OVCAA) held a symposium on the potential new General Education (GE) courses last 21 January 2016. More than 100 faculty members and university officials attended the symposium to listen to the presentations and comment on the 16 potential new GE courses from different academic units in the University. Held at the National Institute of Physics, the event is the third in the BALANGKAS symposium series of the OVCAA. In his opening remarks, Chancellor Michael…

(JAN. 7)—Twenty-three Centers of Excellence (COEs) declared by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) are at UP Diliman. CHED identified 137 COEs in both public and private institutions through Memorandum Order No. 38, Series of 2015 issued on Dec. 23, 2015. The CHED defines a COE as “…a department within a higher education institution, which continuously demonstrates excellent performance in the areas of instruction, research and publication, extension and linkages and institutional qualifications.” They are envisioned “to become centers of graduate education and research in their fields of strength.” The College of Science has the…