NORTH LUZON’S FIRST STATE UNIVERSITY TURNS 50

The first state-run university in northern Luzon, the University of Northern Philippines gathered the academic community from October 5-18 and marked its golden year with a flurry of activities.

Alumni, students, teachers, faculty, staff, government and private officials and workers, and residents showed up during the events in solidarity with the UNP community
  
With the theme, “UNP @50: Stronger, Better, Bolder,” the school also paid tribute to

the death anniversary of the UNP founder, former Ilocos Sur Rep. Floro Crisologo.

The events include the intramurals, fun run, selection of Mr & Ms UNP 2015, dance sports competition, cheerdance competition, student fair, academic competitions, the First ASEAN Academic Summit cum Trade and Cultural Expo.

The Golden anniversary celebration day began with a Eucharistic celebration, foot parade around the city, unveiling of the historical marker, giving of Length of Service award by the Civil Service Commission, awarding of outstanding faculty, employee and middle level administrator, and outstanding Ilocano educators.    

The Alumni Global Homecoming had a Holy Mass, a motorcade around Metro Vigan, awarding of Outstanding Alumni and raffle draw.

A job fair, forum by the Government Service Insurance System and Pag-ibig were also held. So with the Founder’s Day where a floral offering at the Founder’s Plaza was held followed by the Floro Crisologo Memorial Lecture series at the Tadena Hall.

The UNP was created under Republic Act 4449 authored by the late Representative Crisologo and approved on June 19, 1965. It converted the Ilocos Sur School of Arts and Trades (ISSAT) into UNP.

The trade school began as the shop department of Vigan High School (now the Ilocos Sur National High School). In 1910 it became the Vigan Trade School as it was converted into a separate intermediate level school.  In 1927 the school opened its secondary level and had its first graduates in 1931. That year, the school became the Ilocos Sur trade school.

In 1941 it was converted into a regional trade school by President Manuel L Quezon, with the help of Assemblyman Benito Soliven and Governor Pedro Singson Reyes. In 1951 it became Northern Luzon School of Arts and Trades under RA 647. But in 1960, the General Appropriations Act of 1960 (RA 2700) made it again the Ilocos Sur School of Arts and Trades. – Source - (MCA/ICR/PIA1 Ilocos Sur)