In the Beginning
…was an exceptional school created by the University of the Philippines primarily to prepare qualified young people for college. Established in 1954, UP Preparatory School had a clear focus: to lay the foundation of a liberal education through a “…rich academic curriculum, [with] emphasis on English, mathematics, biological and physical sciences, and social sciences.”
This rigorous academic discipline—aimed at developing the critical thinking necessary for higher education—was complemented by health and physical education, as well as robust extracurricular activities. The student council allowed students to hone their leadership skills, while the school newspaper, Scroll, provided ample opportunities for self-expression.
UP Prep was housed on the third floor of the old, World War II-scarred Rizal Hall on Padre Faura, where specialized learning facilities were practically nonexistent. Its strategic location, however, more than compensated for what it lacked in physical infrastructure.
Rizal Hall stood on a rectangular plot formally designated as the science-exposition grounds, where world-class science teaching and research centers converged. Adjacent to it were the Supreme Court, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Department of Justice. Every year, Prepians underwent physical and medical check-ups at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), UP’s medical research arm—which was also where biology students collected hydra from the garden pools. Prepians conducted term-paper research and studied for exams in the library of the UP College of Public Administration on the second floor of Rizal Hall.
UP Prep was also a stone’s throw away from Malacañang Palace, the seat of power, where idealistic high school students joined their college counterparts in exercising their civic rights and urging government reforms.
The school’s environment encouraged bright, young minds to strive for excellence. Inside and outside the classroom, Prepians brimmed with enthusiasm for learning, sharing common interests and diverse worldviews along the corridors and within their student clubs.
Among the most anticipated student experiences were the annual educational tours and off-campus assemblies. Destinations ranged from distant trips to Mindanao and ferry rides to historic Corregidor, to daytime excursions at Josephine’s Resort in Tagaytay and guided tours of the nuclear reactor in Quezon City. Teachers and administrators organized these outings not only to fulfill the mandate to “…promote moral character, personal discipline, civic conscience, vocational training, and to teach the duties of citizenship,” but also to provide a necessary release from the stresses of heavy academic workloads. By making school engaging and fun, UP Prep administrators ensured students remained motivated to pursue higher education.
Preparing students for college was, after all, the school’s core raison d’être. Consequently, administrators selected only those applicants with the mental, psychological, and physical aptitude for rigorous academic work. This standard extended to the faculty, requiring highly competent teachers, many holding postgraduate degrees. UP Prep distinguished itself through a dedicated, highly intelligent faculty well-grounded in their respective fields.
Between 1956 and 1974, UP Prep graduated 1,480 students, with an additional 49 students from the Class of 1975 graduating under the newly formed UP Integrated School (a merger of UP High and UP Prep). Many of these alumni went on to become prominent doctors, scientists, politicians, public servants, entrepreneurs, artists, and professors.
The three lifetime achievement awardees recognized at the 2014 Grand Reunion exemplify the caliber of education UP Prep provided:
Felipe Gozon (Class of 1956), head of the multimedia conglomerate GMA Network Inc., distinguished himself as an outstanding lawyer, corporate executive, and civic leader.
Dr. Baldomero Olivera (Class of 1956) gained international acclaim in the fields of biochemistry and neuroscience.
Jejomar Binay (Class of 1958), former Mayor of Makati City, served as Vice President of the Philippines.
A Prepian education was the common springboard from which these leaders successfully launched their careers.
In 1975, UP Prep merged with UP High, bringing an official close to an extraordinary era after more than two decades.
