Central Philippine University

Pamantasang Sentral ng Pilipinas (Filipino)
The university seal
Latin: Universitas Centralis Philippinarum
Former names	Jaro Industrial School (1905–1923) Central Philippine School (1923–1936) Central Philippine College (1936–1953)
Motto	Scientia et Fides (Latin)
Motto in English	Science and Faith
Type	Private, non-profit, research and coeducational basic and higher education institution
Established	1901; 123 years ago (1901) (CPU–Iloilo Mission Hospital) October 1, 1905; 118 years ago (October 1, 1905) (Jaro Industrial School)
Founder	William O. Valentine
Religious affiliation	In concordat with the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches but independent and non-sectarian
Academic affiliations	ACUCA, UBCHEA,[1] ACSCU, PAASCU, ATESEA, SEAMEO Schools Network
Chairman	Peter Irving C. Corvera, LL.B.
President	Ernest Howard Dagohoy, M.Div., D.Min.
Students	15,885 (September 2023)[2]
Location	Jaro, Iloilo City , Iloilo , Philippines 10°43′49″N 122°32′56″E / 10.73028°N 122.54889°E / 10.73028; 122.54889
Campus	Main (Jaro, Iloilo City) – 24 ha (59 acres) Kabankalan Campus (Kabankalan City, Negros Occ.) – 0.43 ha (1.1 acres) Other External Campuses and Lands (total land area) – 167.7 ha (414 acres) CPU–Iloilo Mission Hospital (Jaro, Iloilo City) – 3 ha (7.4 acres)
Newspaper	The Central Echo
Alma Mater song	Central, My Central
Colors	Gold   and   Blue
Nickname	CPU Golden Lions[3]
Sporting affiliations	PRISAA, UNIGAMES, WVRAA, ISSA
Mascot	Golden Lion
Website	www.cpu.edu.ph
Location in the Visayas Show map of Visayas Location in the Philippines Show map of Philippines

Central Philippine University (also known as Central or CPU) is a private research university located in Jaro, Iloilo City, Philippines. Established in 1905 through the benevolent grant of the American industrialist and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller as the Jaro Industrial School and Bible School under the supervision of the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society,^[7][8] it is the first Baptist and second-American founded university in the Philippines and Asia.^[9][10][11]

CPU played a pioneering role in nursing education in the Philippines by establishing the Union Mission Hospital Training School for Nurses in 1906, which later became the Central Philippine University - College of Nursing, the first nursing school in the Philippines.^{[12][13][14][15]} Additionally, the university was the first to establish a Baptist theological seminary in the country, the CPU College of Theology; the first student council in Southeast Asia, the CPU Republic;^[16] and the first government-recognized agricultural school outside of Luzon, the CPU College of Agriculture, Resources, and Environmental Sciences.

CPU–Iloilo Mission Hospital, the university's hospital which was established by the Presbyterian missionary doctor, Joseph Andrew Hall in 1901, is the first American and Protestant hospital in the Philippines. It is also the first healthcare institution for the constabulary and soldiers during the American regime in the country.

CPU has been granted full autonomy status by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the same Philippine government agency that designated some of its programs as National Centers of Development and Excellence. The university has also been distinguished as an ISO Certified institution, while its main campus is recognized as a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines and as a registered cultural property by the National Commission on Culture and the Arts.

Quacquarelli Symonds and Times Higher Education, two world-renowned and influential university ranking bodies, have ranked Central as one of the top Asian and global universities.

The Hinilawod Epic Chant Recordings, housed at CPU's Henry Luce III Library, has been inscribed in the UNESCO Memory of World Register, marking the first documentary heritage to receive such recognition outside Manila.^[17][18]

The university consists of eighteen schools and colleges that offer instruction from basic education to post-graduate levels. Its undergraduate programs includes disciplines in Agriculture, Resources, and Environmental Sciences; Arts and Sciences; Business and Accountancy; Computer Studies; Education; Engineering; Health, Fitness, and Lifestyle Management; Hospitality and Tourism Management; Library Science; Mass Communications; Medical Laboratory Science; Nursing; Pharmacy; Political Science; Psychology; Respiratory Therapy; Social Work; and Theology. At the graduate level, CPU offers programs in Law, Medicine, and Graduate Studies.^[19]

Although founded by the American Baptists and regarded as a Protestant university, CPU is a non-sectarian and independent institution. It historically maintains an affiliation with Silliman University as its sister school.

Central's alumni include prominent politicians, National Artists of the Philippines, Fulbright scholars and professors, scientists and inventors, recipients of prestigious awards like the Ramon Magsaysay Award, senators and legislators, cabinet members, judges, foreign diplomats, military personnel, provincial governors and city mayors, writers and journalists, film directors and actors, singers, and successful business leaders.

History

Incorporation and founding

In the early 20th century when the Philippines was opened to the American Protestant missionaries prior and after the Philippines was ceded by Spain to the United States through the 1898 Treaty of Paris after the Spanish–American War, a comity agreement by the Protestant American churches was established that the Philippine islands will be divided into mission territories, thus the Western Visayan region went to the jurisdiction of the Baptists.

The origins of Central Philippine University dates back in 1901 when the American Northern Baptists, through its foreign mission board, the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society, laid a plan to establish mission schools following the comity agreement of the division of the islands for the evangelical mission and through a benevolent grant given by John D. Rockefeller, an American industrialist and philanthropist.^[20] Rockefeller himself was a devoted Northern Baptist with numerous church related philanthropy works throughout his life, that is why he gave a grant to the Northern Baptists that resulted in the establishment of Central.^{[8][10][11][7][9][21][22][23]}

On the other hand, in 1901 also, four years before the founding of Central in 1905, alongside when the American Baptists came in Iloilo, the Presbyterians came and they established the Union Mission Hospital (Sabine Haines Memorial Union Mission Hospital) (which Central, since its founding until this day is closely associated with as its university hospital) under the Presbyterian Church in the United States by Joseph Andrew Hall, it is the first Protestant and American hospital in the Philippines. Since the hospital's founding, Presbyterians worked closely with the Baptists for the operation of the hospital. Following the years since its founding, in 1925, its administration was eventually transferred to the Baptists who also bought the land in the City of Jaro (now part and a district of Iloilo City) where the hospital now stands. The hospital was later renamed to Iloilo Mission Hospital in 1932. The hospital predates the schools founding by four years. It also serves since then as the hospital of Central. The hospital pioneered the Nursing education in the Philippines when it established the Union Mission Hospital Training School for Nurses (the present Central Philippine University College of Nursing) in 1906. The school also produced the first graduate nurses in the country.

Then in 1903, there will be two schools that will be established by the mission: an industrial school for boys and a Bible school to train pastors and other Christian workers was incorporated. Later, it was voted on December 2, 1904, to finally establish the two schools. The task to found both schools was given to William O. Valentine, an American missionary, who became the first principal and president with the help of the other co-founders. Valentine was in the service of the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society, where he first ministered as a missionary in Burma, first in Rangoon, then in Mandalay, where he became the principal of the Baptist Mission High School for Boys in 1895. The new mission was given to him by the mission society in 1903. During his eighth year in Burma he suffered severe sunstroke and returned to America for treatment. There he met his future wife, nurse Ina Jane Van Allen. Valentine and Van Allen were married in 1903 and the couple left for his new appointment in Iloilo in the Philippines.^{[citation needed]}

The establishment of the Baptist Missionary Training School and the Jaro Industrial School is associated with the first Baptist church in the Philippine Islands, the Jaro Evangelical Church, which was established on February 28, 1900, by the Northern American Baptists also, now the American Baptist Churches. On June 1, 1905, the Bible School opened in the home of the Valentines under the auspices of the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society from the United States along with other missionaries that are considered as co-founders. There were 12 pupils with some "Bible Women" who attended as auditors.^[24]

The benevolent grant given by the industrialist and oil magnate John D. Rockefeller was used to provide the school the facilities during the school's establishment along with the industrial school (which was later established in the fall of 1905) and to purchase a 24-hectare piece of land in the City of Jaro (now a part of Iloilo City) where Central's main campus is located at present.^{[8][10][11][7][9][25][excessive citations]}

In the fall of 1905, the Jaro Industrial School was opened as a free vocational boarding school for poor boys.^[26] The first class consisted of 20 boys who worked four hours a day to pay their tuition, room and board, and spent four hours in the classroom.^[27][28][29] One of the school's innovations was the adoption of student self-government, the first in the South East Asia, known today as Central Philippine University Republic, which is modeled on American civil government. Dr. William Orison Valentine, worked for its incorporation and recognition by the Philippine government.^[29][30] A year later when Jaro Industrial School was established, one of the school's innovations was the adoption of student self-government which is modeled on American civil government, the Jaro Industrial School Republic. The Republic continues to this day as the Central Philippine University Republic. It still holds the distinction as the oldest student governing body in South East Asia.^[31] The original purpose of the founding of the industrial school for boys was quoted a century later in 2005 during the centennial celebrations of the university:

"The original purpose of the school (Jaro Industrial School) was to provide opportunity for poor Filipino boys to receive a good Christian education by working their way through school. Actual work experience and earnest study of the Bible were the core of the curriculum."

Later the leadership of the Bible School was turned over to the Reverend Henry Munger, who conducted classes off campus.^[24] In 1907, Reverend William Valentine became and tenured again as head of the Jaro Industrial School. By 1907 during his term, there were 300 boys working an active farm and in various trades. All of this students were required to live on campus. In 1907 also, the Bible School split off under a separate principal, Dr. Eric Lund. Classes were held at the Mission Press building where Lund was doing his Scripture translation work.

In 1910, independent student media at the Jaro Industrial School created the first official student publication, The Hoe (the present Central Echo). It is now one of the oldest student publications in the Philippines.^[32]

In 1912, Dr. Lund left the Baptist Missionary Training School and it was closed. Following that year, in 1913, Dr. Valentine's objectives were realized and in the same year the Jaro Industrial School also admitted its first female student; it was fully incorporated then by the Philippine government and enrolled 740 students. Then in 1915, Jaro Industrial School opened its first high school program, starting with first and second year classes, adding third and fourth year classes in 1920. As both two schools were founded by the Northern American Baptists from the American Baptist Churches, ordination for women is affirmed^[33] that resulted and eventually in 1917, the Jaro Industrial School elected its first female head and Principal, Mary J. Thomas, who tenured as a principal of the Jaro Industrial School from 1917 to 1918. The Baptist Missionary Training School later, however, was reopened in 1913 by Rev. Alton Bigelow. It was under Rev. Alton Bigelow's leadership that the Bible School began to have a definite direction in its development. In 1921, the following year after the Jaro Industrial School added fourth year high school classes, the school graduated its first high school batch.^[34][35]

The first Board of Trustees which was formed a year earlier before the founding of the two schools, is composed of five members from the mission conference which are selected by the mission conference in annual session. They remained American in composition until prior to the conversion of the Jaro Industrial School as a junior college. In the early years of the school's operation, building up qualified faculty and staff had been a great challenge. Some missionaries gave part-time service and Dr. David S. Hibbard, founder of the Silliman Institute, now Silliman University, also provided Filipino instructors who had trained at Silliman Institute.^[29]

To accommodate the need for tertiary education in the area, a junior college was opened in 1923 and the name of the school was changed to Central Philippine College. In April of the following year, the Baptist Missionary Training School became an organic part of the junior college. The senior college opened in 1936 and by 1940 five degrees were offered: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Theology and Bachelor of Religious Education.^[34]

When the junior college became a senior college in 1936, the College of Engineering was also established.^[36]

In 1938, Baptist Missionary Training School (BMST) for women which was established independently on October 20, 1905, became part of the theology department of the college.^[37] In the same year also, students and interested sectors of the school began to press for the opening of a law school. Finally, on March 18, 1939, the board of trustees voted to apply for a permit to offer the first two years of the law course. It opened in the school year 1939–1940. Attorney Pablo Oro, who had been one of the leaders in urging this move and in seeking patrons to help develop the law library, was given the responsibility for developing the program. Pablo Oro, a member of the Philippine Bar, was a graduate of Silliman University and of the University of Manila College of Law.^[38]

On September 19, 1931, the Union Mission Hospital started admitting and treating patients in its present location on Mission Road. The hospital plant occupied a lot 29,283 meters or approximately 3 hectares in area. On October 21, 1931, became a joyous day. The new relocated hospital was dedicated with its founder, Dr. Joseph Andrew Hall came all the way from Tacloban City, Leyte, as the guest of honor on the said momentous occasion. Dr. Precy Grigg lost no time in developing the new hospital's buildings and its surroundings. On what used to be a deep rice field and swampy place was a green lawn and rose garden surrounding the new imposing and neat-looking concrete hospital. After office hours, Dr. Grigg loved to work on landscaping the surroundings with plants secured from the islands of Negros and Panay.^[32]

On March 5, 1932, Union Mission Hospital (UMH) became the Iloilo Mission Hospital (IMH). Likewise the training school was renamed Iloilo Mission Hospital Training School for Nurses (IMHTSN). The hospital onwards continued to grow. It drew students from many parts of the Philippine islands who came to apply for admission to the training school for nurses.^[32]

World War II

Academic life in the campus was interrupted when invading Japanese forces landed in Iloilo. As a consequence of the invasion, missionaries assigned at Central fled and took refuge in the mountain barrios of Katipunan, Tapaz, Capiz. They hid in the forest they called "Hopevale" with the help of their Filipino friends. They were eventually captured by the Japanese troops on December 19, 1943. The missionaries begged them to free the Filipino captives and instead offered themselves as ransom. At the dawn of December 20, 1943, the missionaries asked to be allowed to pray and, an hour later, they told their Japanese captors they were ready to die. The adults were beheaded and the children were bayoneted.^[39]

The missionaries who died in the massacre are today called the Hopevale Martyrs. The martyrs are: Dr. Francis Howard Rose (former president and head of Central), Jeanie Clare Adams, Prof. James Howard Clovell, Charma Moore Clovell, Dorothy Antoinette Dowell, Signe Amelia Erikson, Dr. Frederick Willer-Meyer, Ruth Schatch Meyer, Gertrude Coombs Rose, Rev. Erle Frederich Rounds, Louise Cummings Rounds, and Erle Douglas. Despite the order that these Americans should go home because of the war, they refused to leave their mission and eventually sacrificed their lives.^[40]

On the day Pearl Harbor was bombed on in December 1941, the American Baptist Foreign Mission and its affiliate Woman's American Baptist Foreign Mission Society had 21 missionaries in the Philippine islands. The mission works of the American Baptists had been rocked during the height of the World War II. On December 15, 1941, the two mission hospitals run by the mission on Panay – Iloilo Mission Hospital and Capiz Emmanuel Hospital, began to work in full co-operation with the United States Armed Forces. By January 1942, Manila had fallen in the hands of the Japanese Imperial Army and had become clear that they would come to Panay. The two hospitals moved to separate inland areas, the Capiz Emmanuel Hospital to Dumalag, Capiz and the Iloilo Mission Hospital to Calinog, Iloilo where, April 1942, they continued to operate under their regular missionary and Filipino staffmen drawing more heavily on the armed forces for equipment and supplies.^{[citation needed]}

Post-war years and reconstruction

After the war ended, the college was reopened by the remaining members of the faculty and by returning missionaries. When the Second World War broke out, the college's buildings were destroyed. Reconstruction was made possible through funds from friends at home and abroad.^[34]

The college's Graduate School was formally opened in 1951 with Dr. Linnea A. Nelson as dean. Dr. Nelson, holder of an Ed.D degree from the University of California, Berkeley, had been a missionary in China from 1935 to 1949.^[41] Since its founding, the graduate school has been chosen by the fund for Assistance to Private Education (FAPE) as a graduate center for MBA, MA in English and Master of Engineering for the following fields of specialization: civil engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering.^{[citation needed]}

When the war ended, Dr. Henry S. Waters, the postwar director of Iloilo Mission Hospital and also principal of the Iloilo Mission Hospital School of Nursing in 1946–1947, pressed for the offering, with Central Philippine College (the forerunner of Central Philippine University), a collegiate course leading to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.^[13] The director of the Bureau of Private Schools and the members of the board of examiners for nurses authorized the opening of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing four-year course in 1947 that resulted the school's operation transferred to the college.^[13]

Dr. Waters served as acting dean of the new College of Nursing at Central Philippine College (1947–1948). When he returned to the United States, Dr. Teofilo Marte served as the executive secretary (1948–1949). Loreto D. Tupaz, who finished her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at CPU, was the acting dean from 1949 to 1950 and served in this capacity until the arrival of Esther Salzman, Master of Science in Nursing and an American Baptist Foreign Mission Society missionary nurse, who held the deanship from 1950 to 1961. During her term, the college offered three curricular programs: the Bachelor of Science in Nursing four-year course, the GN-Bachelor of Science in Nursing Supplemental Course and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing five-year course.^[13]

Tupaz and Salzman worked together to develop Central Philippine College of Nursing (later the Central Philippine University College of Nursing) into a college of distinction, recognized both in the Philippines and abroad. Salzman served as dean until 1961 when she retired in the United States.^[13] Lily Plagata, MSN, was appointed to the deanship (1961–1974). When she resigned and went abroad, she was replaced by Carmen Centeno, Master of Science, for the remaining months of 1963.^[13] Centeno, however, also left for the United States, and Loreto D. Tupaz, who finished her MA degree at CPU, resumed the deanship (1963–1970), assisted by Maria Pablico, MSN (1969–1970). Pablico also resigned to work in the United States from 1963 to 1973. Tupaz continued to administer the three course programs of the college, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing five-year course, the CCT (Clinical Teaching) course, and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Supplemental Course.^{[citation needed]}

Post world war pushed for the expansion of the university's programs including in the field of healthcare sciences. In 1947 saw the need for CPU to open a dentistry and pharmacy programs.^[42]

The plan for a College of Pharmacy was presented by Mr. Plagata in response, as he said, "to insistent demands from a number of students." He reported that an outlay of 9,000 pesos would cover the initial cost because some equipment was already available in the Chemistry Department. The board voted to apply for a permit for the first two years if the college administration found it feasible. The administration at once made formal application for the permit, and this was given by the Bureau. The third year in Pharmacy was opened in 1948, and by 1949 four years of Pharmacy was offered, with Carmelina Jalbuena as dean.^[42]

Mr. Plagata reported that Dr. Emilio Gatanela, a prominent practicing dentist, had encouraged the Faculty Council to propose a College of Dentistry in response to requests for its opening, after pointing out that such program would not necessitate considerable outlay. He stated that local dentists could be employed as instructors and they would lend their equipment. In it was voted to open the College of Dentistry. In early 1950s however due to the cost the university may cover for its expansion for a modern school of dentistry, it was formally closed.^[42]

On April 1, 1953, the college gained government recognition and was given a university charter, converting the college into what is now known as the Central Philippine University.^[34]

In July 1955, the Hon. Robert Simmons, the former chief justice of the Nebraska State Court, visited the campus and lectured to the students. He became very much interested in the former law school dean Atty. Pablo Oro and the College of Law. Justice Simmons gave generous support to the law school's library and encouraged his friends and colleagues to do the same.^[38]

In 1965, Central's College of Engineering offered a one-year sanitary engineering course with three graduates. One could only enroll in this course after completing the civil engineering course. However, this restriction was abolished later due to an insufficient number of enrollees.^[36] In 1956, after three years when the college received a university charter from the Philippine government, the first female president, Linnea A. Nelson, was elected.^{[citation needed]}

On the other hand, Linnea Nelson became the first female university president, she was the person behind the establishment of the School of Graduate Studies back in 1951, where she was the first dean of the school. Nelson is an Ed.D degree holder from the University of California, Berkeley, and had been a missionary in China from 1935 to 1949. She served as the president of Central from 1956 to 1957 and was again re-elected in 1965–1966.^[47]

From its founding, Filipinos were gradually given larger responsibilities in its administration.^[34] In 1966 the first Filipino president, Dr. Rex D. Drilon, a CPU alumnus and a political scientist from the University of the Philippines Diliman, was elected. Dr. Drilon began initiatives for the Filipinization of the university, and made a trip to the United States for the purpose. The American Baptist Foreign Mission Society consented to transfer the multi-million university properties to the Filipinos in consonance with the Foreign Mission policy of "Americans receding and Filipinos advancing". Thus, in 1968 the entire university property – land, buildings, and equipment – was turned over by the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society to the Filipino corporation of CPU. Since 1973, all members of the board of trustees and administrative officials of the university have been Filipinos.^[34]

1990s and recent history

In 1998 until 2008, the 3rd Filipino president of the university, Dr. Juanito Acanto term was dubbed as Years of Bliss: Years of Fulfillment, where academic and infrastructural developments flourished in the university, through help from the alumni. It was in his term also, when the university started a goal to raise 100 million Php and as planned, the campaign started in September 2001 until December 2005. The CPU Centennial Development Fund alone raised a total of 75,000,000 pesos from 182 Endowment programs. The helpful endeavor through other endowment fund programs, which started years back, was intensified and is still ongoing, with a total of 433 Endowment Funds, amounting to 127,500,000 pesos until May of his last year term as the university president in 2007;^[48][49] celebrated its centennial year in 2005, where thousands of alumni from the world came home.^[50] The university's centennial celebration and followed by the foundation day on October 1 owes a lot to the American founders and missionaries who founded and sacrificed for Central, especially to the Reverend William Valentine, the founding father of the institution.

CPU–Iloilo Mission Hospital, the university hospital of Central in 2001, celebrated its centennial, commemorating its century of existence and its contribution since its founding in 1901 to the Philippine and American colonial history in the Philippines and in Asia as it pioneered the Nursing education in the Philippines, as the first Protestant founded hospital in the country and the second American hospital in Asia. The centennial building was inaugurated in the hospital area proper and the hospital acquisition of the Philips MX8000 CT Scan machine, the first of its kind in South East Asia^[51]

Augmented amounts from the Centennial Development Fund and the help of various individuals, was used to build and expand the various structures on the main campus, such as the Dr. Alfonso A. Uy – Student Union Building, a four-storey commercial building built through the fund and by Dr. Alfonso A. Uy (an alumnus of the university) on the campus, to help augment its operational expenses, and to further raise its financial base; CPU Lifestyle Learning Center (prior to the students and the people who wanted to manage their fitness lifestyle); and the CPU Alumni Promenade and Concert Park, which is structurally attached to the also newly built CPU Alumni Center, CPU Alumni Affairs Office, Educational Media Center (where the CPU TV Channel and Radio broadcasts still to this day) and the CPU Dining Hall, and the CPU Excel Center.

The Board of International Ministries of the American Baptist Churches has awarded Central a School of Excellence award.

Also, in the school year 2000–2001, the Central Philippine University College of Engineering introduced the Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering. This has earned the college another place in Engineering History in the Philippines. It is the first engineering school in the country to offer the course. On August 15, 2001, also, Dr. Ted Robles (BSEE 1964) (the present university president) and a former Milwaukee School of Engineering professor conducted a national seminar on a digital logic software known as the Altera Max + Plus II which was attended by different engineering schools in the Philippines and hosted by the Electrical Engineering and Electronics and Communications Engineering department of Central Philippine University College of Engineering.^[52]

The College of Engineering hosted the first-ever National Congress on Civil Engineering. Then, a seminar workshop was held featuring Dr. Stephen Agunlana from Asian Institute of Technology as guest professor. This was followed by the two more Civil Engineering Seminars, this time featuring alumni, namely, Asian Institute of Technology based Engr. Henry Abiera (College Alumnus) on Geotechnical engineering, and Engr. Vicente Golveo (BSCE 1957) from the United States of America on Structural Engineering. Seminars on Instrumentation and Micro Controllers were undertaken with Dr. Teodoro Robles (College of Alumnus and present university president), also from the United States of America, as resource person.^[52]

One of the other prominent infrastructural developments during Dr. Juanito Acanto's term as a president, is the establishment of the university's own Television Channel, the CPU TV Channel. The television channel, launched in 2001 under its former names, EXCEL TV, then was changed to CPU Alumni Channel in 2005, and to CPU TV Channel, is the first university–based cable TV channel in Asia, is one big leap in upholding the university's standard in quality education through the use of mass media.^[53] There were various new real properties also that is owned by the university when he was in his term as the president. The 24 hectares San Rafael Agricultural Land^[54][55][56] and the 14-hectare (35-acre) Guimaras Agricultural Land^[57][58][59]

Central gained much attention and was lauded by various business and technology sectors in the field of Engineering, through its pioneer Packaging Engineering program and department in the College of Engineering, being the first such in the country and in Asia, organized and hosted the first National Conference in Transport Packaging in 2007 it was then followed also by the first Philippine International Packaging Conference, the Global Pack 2012.^[60] Thomas Schneider, President and CEO of the 51-member nation World Packaging Organization, is one of the delegates of the Global Pack 2012 event along with various people from other countries, government agencies and business sector.^[61] Along with the Global Pack 2012 conference, a packaging engineering testing center and laboratory and value-added facility of a UN-compliant and comprehensive was donated by US Packaging Hall of Famer and Department of Science and Technology (DOST-Philippines) Balik Scientist Dr. Lejo Brana, is also the first of its kind in the Southeast Asian region, the CPU Philippine Center for Packaging Engineering and Technology (CPU-PC PET). The center is backed by the Department of Science and Technology, the industry's Packaging Institute of the Philippines and a private sector's packaging advocate, Systemat-PackEDGE.^[62][63]

The university currently expanded its numbers of programs in business, agriculture, and medical and health sciences and the recent re-establishment of the pharmacy department. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO), prior to the university as an ISO Certified Institution, recently conducted an external audit and surveillance for the university's renewal of ISO certification, based on the new standard. The university last upgraded its certification last 2010. The said University's certification, covers educational and support which is up to year 2013.^[64] Recently, through international collaborations with other institutions has made CPU to offer undergraduate programs in Business Administration and Accountancy, graduate programs in Business Administration and Public Administration, and doctorate degree in Management program at Thai Nguyen University (TNU) and Thai Nguyen University of Economics and Business Administration (TUEBA) both in Vietnam.^[65][66]

The university acquired also a Level IV accreditation status (the highest level of accreditation that could be given to an individual academic program in the Philippines) from Association of Christian Schools, Colleges and Universities (ACSCU) in the programs of Business Administration, Accountancy and Education, among others, has made it the top university in the Western Visayan region with programs that has a said accreditation status and level. It ranks first in the Philippines in terms of tertiary academic programs with Level III level status. The university also ranks first among other universities based on Centers of Development and Excellence list in Western Visayas, where six of its programs designated by the Commission on Higher Education as Centers of Development and Center of Excellence, while the Department of Science and Technology designated its Civil Engineering program as Center for Civil Engineering Education. Central is one of the two leaders in the Visayas and Mindanao based on endowment funding, with 182 Endowment programs and a total of 433 Endowment funds in 2007 that is still on-going and expanding still to this day.^[67]

In 2019, it had 7,673 students.^[68]

In November 2020, the university's long continued run in academic excellence has resulted for it to be ranked by Quacquarelli Symonds in its list of Top Universities in Asia and the World for 2021, the first highed education institution to do so in the Western Visayas region. CPU placed in the 601+ bracket ranking (8th place in bracket ranking and 13th place in numbering in the Philippines) among other Asian universities in the list. Quacquarelli Symonds or QS is one of the big three world university ranking agencies along with Times Higher Education (THE) and Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).^[69][70]

In December in the said year, Central has also been admitted as a member institution of Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Schools Network (SEAMEO Schools Network) to further enhance its research and academic capabilities in the international stage.^[71]

On February 24, 2023, Asian Christian Outreach, Inc. (ASCO) and Fortress College, Inc. in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, donated their properties through a memorandum of agreement with Central Philippine University, thus creating the first presence of the university outside Iloilo.^[72]

Campus

Central has an overall total combined land area of 195.13 hectares (482.17 acres), which is composed of the main campus (24 hectares), CPU Hopevale Agricultural Extension Land (95.8 hectares), CPU Zarraga Farm and Research Campus (19.3 hectares), CPU Leon Experimental Farm and Research Campus (7 hectares), CPU Centennial Village (2.9 hectares), the CPU–Iloilo Mission Hospital (3 hectares), CPU-FA (Faculty Association) Heritage Ville Subdivision (4.7) San Rafael Land (24 hectares), and Guimaras Land (14 hectares), and CPU Fortress College in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental (0.43 hectares).

The CPU's main campus sits on 24 hectares (59.30 acres) of land in the former city of Jaro, which is now a district of Iloilo City, the largest in the city. The main campus's vital location set between the Tigum River and Dungon Creek is laid back-urban. It is near to necessary contacts yet far away from the distraction of the metropolis noise and dust of the progressive and bustling city center of Iloilo. The city, which has been dubbed the Asia's City of Love or The City of Love and Emerging Museum City of the Philippines, is the last capital of Spanish Empire in Asia and the Pacific; hence, the Spanish influence could be seen elsewhere, especially in the broad spectrum such as the culture and traditions.

The main campus's 24-hectare land was bought through the benevolent grant of the American industrialist and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller to the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society to build a mission school in the Philippines. From a swampy land where the school started in 1905, it grew to a campus housing more than thirty structures, and is a veritable community by itself surrounded by different barrios. Several tree species such as palm and acacia trees dot the entire main campus, a unique feature the university has.

Some of the structures on the main campus which were built during the early American colonial period possess designs of the said period. The main campus, which follows a typical university plan found in the universities in the United States and in Europe, has wide and big green open spaces or yards bounded on the sides with edifices, a character unique to CPU and a factor for a campus being conducive to learning.

The campus is flanked by various gates. The second gate is the main entrance. It bears the university's motto, Scientia et Fides, which in English means "Science and Faith". Central is a registered national historical landmark by the Philippine government cultural agency of National Historical Commission of the Philippines.^[31][73] Central has been declared by the local government unit of Iloilo City as Tourist site and is the only university in the Western Visayas region recommended for tourists as a place of interest, attraction and landmark to visit by travel site Trip Advisor.^{[74][75][76][77]} Central has been also hailed as the second of all the 18 beautiful college campuses in the Philippines by American internet media company BuzzFeed.^[78][79]

By architectural order, the CPU Church is the tallest building on the main campus and is meant by the planners as a "central and dominant feature" of the main campus proper. The church is notably noted for its Malay design and is a famous landmark in Iloilo City.^[80] Henry Luce III Library is one of the largest libraries in the Philippines, with more than a quarter of a million volume holdings. Inside the Henry Luce III Library is the Meyer Asian Collection holdings of artifacts and other museum and art exhibitions.

Other buildings on the main campus include the Rose Memorial Auditorium or Rose. Rose was built to replace the old Rose Memorial Hall which was burned down by a fire in 1991. The Rose Memorial Auditorium is the largest theater in Western Visayas and has been a famous venue for different international and local kinds of musical and band concerts and conventions in Iloilo. Rose was the first annual venue of the prestigious national Bombo Music Festival when during its early years since it was established.^{[81][82][83][84]} Recently, the Cultural Center of the Philippines has designated the Rose Memorial Auditorium for a three-year memorandum of understanding as one of the first batch of nine Cultural Center of the Philippines Regional Art Centers or Kaisa sa Sining Regional Art Centers in 2014, which is the only one in Western Visayas region.^{[85][86][87][88][89][90][91]}

Notable residential halls on the main campus include the Johnson Hall which houses the only residential-academic college in the university, the College of Theology; the Weston Hall, a dormitory for women; Franklin Hall, a residential hall for men; the Missionary Hall, a co-ed apartment type residence; and the Roselund Hall (Hostel). There are several residential houses and halls in the American Village which cater to foreign students who are studying at the university.

The Roblee Science Hall serves as a laboratory building for the science and laboratory experiment classes of the colleges and departments of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Pharmacy, and Chemistry (also, General subjects of other colleges held classes in Roblee Science Hall). Valentine Hall is a monument to Central's founder, William Valentine, a Baptist missionary. It now houses the Colleges of Education and Arts and Sciences of the university.^[92]

The main campus is a locally declared tourism site, and the university maintains a team of landscapers and gardeners. It is enhanced by parks, gazebos, gardens and open spaces, including the Big Field, Half Moon, Alumni Garden, Santos Park, Nuñez Centennial Garden, Caipang Tree Park, Rex A. Drilon Millenium Park, the Glen at the Catedral, the Prayer Garden, the CPU-CAS Butterfly Garden, and the University Botanical Garden.

Annually, the university showcases the Festival of Lights and Music at Central, a joint project of the university and the CPU Alumni Association. The event features lighted figurines, trees and buildings, nativity scenes, and colorful lanterns attracting thousands of local and foreign tourists during the Christmas season. The Opening of Lights (Festival of Lights and Music at Central) remains one of the notable features of the CPU campus. It opens in the first week of December and is highlighted with a fireworks display at the opening ceremony. Lighted trees, buildings and figurines, Pampanga, Capiz shells, and native lanterns placed along the major campus roads and nativity scenes add to its festive atmosphere.

The Central Philippine University–Iloilo Mission Hospital (CPU–Iloilo Mission Hospital), located more than a kilometer away south of the main campus in the district of Jaro, Iloilo City, sits on 3 hectares of land. A tertiary, teaching and academic hospital, it serves as the university hospital of Central for its medical care and laboratory and clinical training center for the university's medical and allied health sciences students.

Further north, in Katipunan, Tapaz, in the province of Capiz, is the 95.8-hectare (237-acre) Hopevale land of the university being utilized and to be developed into instruction, research, and extension of the College of Agriculture, Resources and Environmental Sciences (CARES). The 19.3-hectare (48-acre) CPU Zarraga Farm (in the municipality of Zarraga, Iloilo) which is also under the said agricultural college and is separate from the university's main campus, hosts being an agricultural farm for research and extension. The CPU Crop Research Laboratory and other agricultural research facilities and equipment of the agricultural college are located in the CPU Zarraga Farm. The CPU Experimental Farm in Leon, Iloilo, which is under the college also is the site of the CPU Center for Research, Technology Development and Commercial Production of Philippine Native Chicken (CPU CRTDCPPNC), the largest research center for Philippine Native Chicken in the Philippines is located. The university villages for faculties and administration members of Central, the 2.9-hectare (7.2-acre) CPU Centennial Village (Aganan, Pavia, Iloilo) and 4.7-hectare CPU-Faculty Association (FA) Heritage Ville Subdivision (Anilao, Pavia), are located also separately from the main campus which is both located in the municipality of Pavia, Iloilo, north of the main campus. CPU has also properties in San Rafael, Iloilo (24 hectares), and in Guimaras (14 hectares) serving as agricultural lands for the future expansion of the university.

In the 1930s, the Lopez family of Iloilo through Don Ramon Lopez, donated a piece of 30,000 square meters (3 hectares) of land west of Dungon Creek in Mandurriao for the establishment of the CPU College of Medicine. It was supposed to be named Ramon Lopez Campus but the establishment of the medical school did not materialize until 2003.

CPU's physical plant of campuses and properties are under the jurisdiction and management of the university. The three-hectare CPU-Iloilo Mission Hospital on the other hand which is separate from the main campus, has its own Board of Trustees and Corporation independent from Central Philippine University.

Sustainability

CPU's main campus buildings are predominantly painted with eco-friendly lighter shade of green color for environmental consciousness and green campus initiative plans for sustainability. The university has laid in place an Air Quality Monitoring System unit, which monitors air quality and is the only unit that serves the City of Iloilo. The unit is operated jointly by the university with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.^[93]

In 2011, the university's continued efforts in sustainability yielded when it won the Regional Tertiary Level of the National Search for Sustainable and Eco-friendly Schools of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau. The said award paved the way for the university's nomination at the national level of the said prize. The award is given to schools, colleges, and universities that have shown excellence through the campus sustainability programs it has.^[94]

The campus is dotted with nearly centuries-old acacia, anahaw, and royal palm trees in the whole stretch of CPU's main campus. Two large lush and green open spaces, the Big Field and Halfmoon are the university's green yards, equivalent to what some university campuses in Western countries have. The university's campus beautification program oversees the maintenance of the university's gardens and park.

The other sustainability programs of the university on the campus include a wastewater treatment facility for the wastewater that is emitted then will be processed to a safer level before it will be dumped back into the environment by the main campus buildings. Back in 2005, the university also launched the CPU New Millennium Tree (CPU NMT) for Sustainable Development. The said program is designed to heighten environmental consciousness in the university, where it seeks to plant thousands of mahogany trees.^[95]

Administration

The Central Philippine University is governed by a corporation under a non-stock and non-profit entity as Central Philippine University, Corporation. The university is administered by a Board of Trustees with members representing the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches.

CPU–Iloilo Mission Hospital, the university's hospital, is also represented automatically in the university's corporation by its hospital director. Historically Protestant and maintaining an affiliation with the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches and fraternal ties with the American Baptist Churches USA, Central is independent in governance and academically non-sectarian, imposing no religious requirement on the admission of students.

First Female Heads

Mary J. Thomas (First female head)

Linnea A. Nelson (First female president)

The CPU Board of Trustees' structure and the corporation is headed by a chairman and vice-chairman alongside the university president, the vice-president for administration and finance, the vice-president for student affairs, and the vice-president for academic affairs (and research). The General Secretary of the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches sits as an ex-officio member. The CPU Alumni Association, the faculty, and staff are likewise represented on the board. The president of the university's student government, the CPU Republic, sits as a representative of the students.

CPU–Iloilo Mission Hospital is a separate entity from the university. Its board of trustees is independent of CPU's corporation but largely composed of personnel from the university. Former CPU president, Juanito Maca Acanto, seats as the chairman of CPU–Iloilo Mission Hospital Corporation and Board of Trustees.

The former and 17th president (and also the 4th Filipino president) of the university is Teodoro C. Robles. An alumnus of the university, he studied engineering and graduated in 1964. Dr. Teodoro C. Robles also earned his M.S. and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Electrical Engineering at Montana State University.

The board of trustees unanimously elected him on September 5, 2008, to be the new president and was confirmed by the CPU Corporation in a special meeting on September 18, 2008.^[96][97][98]

Ernest Howard B. Dagohoy currently serves as the incumbent and 18th president of Central Philippine University (CPU) and is also recognized as the 5th Filipino president of the university. An alumnus of CPU, he holds a bachelor's degree in Theology. During his college years, Dagohoy held leadership positions, including Governor of the CPU College of Theology and later as a Senator of the CPU Republic. He furthered his education, earning a Doctor of Ministry from The Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism, and Church Growth, as well as a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from the Asian Theological Seminary. Notably, he graduated with honors from the CPU Development High School Class of 1978 and held prominent roles, such as Corps Commander of the Citizens Army Training Corps of Cadets.^[99]

On October 2, 2023, the Board of Trustees and Corporation of Central Philippine University (CPU) announced the election and confirmation of Rev. Dr. Ernest Howard B. Dagohoy as the new president.^[100]

Central Philippine University maintains ties as a sister school with Silliman University in Dumaguete, the first American and Protestant-founded university in the Philippines and in Asia.

Rankings

Central Philippine University (CPU) has consistently been ranked as one of the top Asian and global universities by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) since 2021. It is the first and only university from the Western Visayas region to be included in these rankings. In 2021, CPU was ranked 601, 651+ in 2022, and 701–750 in 2023. These rankings placed CPU in the 8th position among Philippine universities in the agency's 2022 and 2023 rankings. It is the third Visayan university to be included in these rankings, following Silliman University (CPU's sister school) and Cebu Technological University.^[70][69] This recognition signifies CPU's status as a world-class institution, known for its exemplary education in research, academics, diverse student and faculty populations, linkages, and designations. QS is one of the top three prestigious world university ranking agencies, along with Times Higher Education (THE) and Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).^[101]

In the fifth edition of the Impact Rankings by Times Higher Education, published on June 1, 2023, Central Philippine University was included and ranked in the global position of 1001+ (5th in the Philippines).^[102] The Impact Rankings by Times Higher Education is the only global performance table that evaluates universities based on the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). CPU submitted data for the following SDGs: SDG 1 (no poverty), SDG 2 (zero hunger), SDG 4 (quality education), and SDG 17 (partnerships for the goals). CPU's rankings for each SDG are as follows: SDG 1 – 601–800, SDG 2 – 401–600, SDG 4 – 1000+, SDG 17 – 1000+.^{[4][103][104][105][106]}

In 2006, Central Philippine University ranked No. 1 in the Western Visayas region and No. 5 in the country in terms of high passing rates in various licensure examinations conducted by the Professional Regulation Commission.^[108][109] However, in 2007, a report by the PRC and CHED covering a five-year period (1994–1998) named CPU as the 8th top-performing school in the country based on PRC exams. CPU holds the distinction of being No. 1 in the Philippines in the number of tertiary academic programs accredited at Level III by the Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines.^[110] In the field of engineering, CPU's College of Engineering ranks 10th out of the top 25 engineering schools in the country.^[111] These rankings demonstrate the highest level of standards in instruction, research, and extension activities.

In 2009, the Commission on Higher Education of the Philippines released a report listing the Top 20 nursing schools in the country based on average passing rates in nursing board examinations. Central Philippine University ranked 6th, with an average passing rate of 86.72%.^[112]

According to data released by the Commission on Higher Education (Philippines) for engineering courses, CPU ranked 10th out of the top 25 engineering schools based on the Center of Excellence and Center of Development.^[113] This data further confirms CPU's commitment to maintaining the highest standards in instruction, research, and extension. Additionally, based on board exam passing rates from the Professional Regulation Commission (Philippines), the university's College of Engineering was listed and ranked 9th in the country.^[114]

uniRank, formerly known as 4 International Colleges & Universities, has ranked Central Philippine University as the top university in Western Visayas and 24th out of the 232 top universities in the Philippines for 2021.^[115] uniRank uniRank serves as the official web portal of international colleges and universities. It functions as an international higher education search engine and directory, reviewing over 11,000 colleges and universities across 200 countries worldwide. Tertiary education institutions must be duly recognized, licensed, and accredited by national ministries of education or higher education accrediting organizations in order to qualify and be listed on 4icu.org. Additionally, the organization diligently maintains and updates the profiles of the schools included in its list to ensure the accuracy and quality of the information in its directory. It's important to note that uniRank is a non-academic ranking body and is not utilized to measure the academic standards of the institutions. Its purpose is to assist international students in identifying popular universities or colleges in a specific country based on the popularity of their websites, providing a reference for selecting a higher education institution.^{[115][116][117]}

Academics

Recognitions

In aspect of academic and non-academic designations, Central has been designated by various local, national, international and government agencies. The College of Engineering has been designated by the Department of Science and Technology as the only engineering School for Western Visayas while the College of Agriculture, Resources and Environmental as Commission on Higher Education (Philippines) – National Agriculture and Fisheries Education System (CHED-NAFES) as one of the Center of Excellence for Agricultural Education in the country.^[118] The basic education department of High School is also designated as the sole Department of Science and Technology – Engineering and Science Education Program (DOST-ESEP) Division Leader School for Western Visayas region and likewise it is one of the 15 Network High Schools in the Philippines.

The Commission on Higher Education has also granted the university a full autonomy status (one of the few in the Philippines) and it is one of the few International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certified institutions in the country in which its academic programs, instruction, research and extension programs, and facilities are in accordance with or of international standards.^[119]

Central has been accredited by various accreditation agencies like the Association of Christian Schools, Colleges and Universities (ACSCU) where it is a founding member also, the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU), and the Association of Christian Universities and Colleges in Asia (ACUCA),^[120] while the Association for Theological Education in South East Asia (ATESEA) solely for the university's College of Theology. In terms of accreditation status, the university ranks first in Western Visayas and third in the Philippines, with 15 of its programs designated as Level IV (the highest level of accreditation in the Philippines that can be granted to an individual program) in the programs of Accountancy, Business Administration, Social Sciences, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Education.

Central has also designated by the Commission on Higher Education as National Centers of Excellence in Agricultural Education and Business Administration and National Centers of Development in Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering and Teacher Education, where the university ranks first in the Western Visayas region (4th in the whole Visayas) in terms of the said number of designations.^{[121][122][123][124][125]} The Civil Engineering likewise on the other hand has also been designated by the Department of Science and Technology as Center for Civil Engineering Education for Western Visayas.

Schools and colleges

Central's academic bodies consists of three graduate and professional school/colleges, eleven undergraduate colleges, the CPU Review and Continuing Education Center (a review and continuing education center),^[126][127] and four basic education schools. Central contains also a library system, Central Philippine University Press (CPU Press), three basic education schools, while the university's medical centers are located separately from the university.

CPU of eighteen schools and colleges that provides instruction in basic education all the way up to the post-graduate levels. In the undergraduate and graduate levels, its disciplines include Accountancy and Allied Accounting Studies, Advertising, Agriculture, Arts, Biological Sciences, Business Administration, Chemistry, Computer Studies, Digital Media and Interactive Arts, Economics, Engineering Sciences, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Sciences, Hospitality Management, Law, Library Science, Mass Communication (Journalism), Medical Laboratory Science, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Lifestyle and Fitness Management, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Real Estate Management, Rehabilitation Science, Religious Music, Social Work, Teacher Education, Theology and Tourism.^[19]

Central is one of the two leaders in the Visayas and Mindanao based on endowment fund with current endowment between Php 150–200 million, which is specifically for research, academic and other purposes.^[128] The university has more than 182 Endowment programs and with a total of 433 Endowment Funds that is still on-going.^[67]