Philippine Christian University
Encyclopedia
The Philippine Christian University (PCU) is a private
university
along Taft Avenue, Manila
. It was founded in 1946 through the initiatives of the Laymen of the Evangelical Association of the Philippines
. Originally named as Manila Union University, it was renamed as Philippine Christian College (PCC). In 1976, the PCC acquired university status.
PCU is one of the two major mainline Protestant (related with the United Church of Christ in the Philippines
and The United Methodist Church) university at the heart of Metro Manila. The other is Trinity University of Asia
under the auspices of the Episcopal Church
.
envisioned a Christian college in Manila. On October 6, 1946, laymen of the Evangelical Association of the Philippines agreed to the establishment of the college. Their initial Board of Directors was composed of the UCCP Presbyterians: Atty. Mateo Occena, Dr. Emilio Javier, Mr. Gerardo Armonio, and the Methodists: Dr. Juan Nabong, Sr., and Dr. Mauro Baradi.
On January 11, 1947, the Articles of Incorporation was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The original name of the institution was Manila Union University; this was later changed to Philippine Christian College.
Dr. Roxy Lefforge, an American Methodist missionary, was the first executive dean.
Dr. Emilio Javier (1952–1958), an outstanding layman of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), was elected as the first president. Under his leadership the institution expanded the ecumenical efforts in education. The Union High School of Manila and Union Elementary School founded by the Presbyterian Church in 1919 and 1946 respectively became part of PCC in 1947. The college added a degree course in Nursing when the Mary Johnston School of Nursing, founded by the Methodist in 1907, affiliated with PCC in 1953.
Dr. Juan Nabong, Sr. (1958–1969), a United Methodist layman, was the second president. Under his Administration, a four-storey concrete building was constructed in 1960 beside the UTS building on Taft Avenue. A year later, a two-storey building for the elementary school was constructed in Vasquez Street, Malate. The Ellinwood College of Christian Education was merging with the Philippine Christian College in 1968 and its curricular programs integrated with the programs of the College of Education.
Dr. Lino Q. Arquiza (1969–1988), a UCCP educator, was the third president. Under him, the growth and expansion of PCC was steady and impressive. What was not impressive under his administration was that American Land was taken by PCU without any sort of compensation. It was made legal by President Marcos on May 24, 1974 issuing Presidential Decree Number 471. There was for many years a cold relationship with the U.S. Denominations that lost property particularly around Taft Avenue.
In 1976, PCC acquired its University status and Philippine Christian University. A highlight of the efforts at cooperation came during Dr. Arquiza’s term when the Union Theological Seminary and PCU merge in 1978. With the merger, the Philippine Christian Center for Learning (PCCL) was born.
The merger enabled PCU to expand its offerings in the 97-hectare UTS campus, 36 kilometers south of Manila.
With this move, Philippine Christian University and Union Theological Seminary, established an ecumenical relationship that is more expansive and more coordinated. Institutional cooperation extended to non-protestant schools when in 1972, PCU and DLSU joined hands in a resource-sharing program. This move ushered in the formation of five-school Inter-Institutional Consortium (I-IC) in 1975 composed of De La Salle University, St. Scholastica’s College, St. Paul’s College of Manila, Philippine Normal College and Philippine Christian University. The Consortium enjoys the full support of the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia.
In 1990, the Board of Trustees elected Dr. Carlito S. Puno (1990–2000), a United Methodist lay leader, as the fourth president of the university.
The year 2000 saw the election of the fifth president, Rev. Dr. Oscar S. Suarez of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines.
In 2006, Rev. Dr. Oscar Suarez was temporarily on leave because of alleged irregularities in finances at PCU. Temporary head was the former UCCP Southern Luzon Jurisdictional Bishop, the former General Secretary of the UCCP (1986–1994); and former Dean of the Silliman University
Divinity School, Bishop Emeritus Erme R. Camba. Currently, PCU is under the Court appointed Management Committee
in 1996. The varsity teams are the PCU Dolphins
.
The Union High School of Manila and the Union Elementary School have their publications called Union Echo and Winglettes respectively.
Note: USHS and USES in Manila are not in the same campus; they have individual campuses across Malvar St. MM.
Private university
Private universities are universities not operated by governments, although many receive public subsidies, especially in the form of tax breaks and public student loans and grants. Depending on their location, private universities may be subject to government regulation. Private universities are...
university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
along Taft Avenue, Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
. It was founded in 1946 through the initiatives of the Laymen of the Evangelical Association of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Originally named as Manila Union University, it was renamed as Philippine Christian College (PCC). In 1976, the PCC acquired university status.
PCU is one of the two major mainline Protestant (related with the United Church of Christ in the Philippines
United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination primarily in the Reformed tradition but also historically influenced by Lutheranism. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC...
and The United Methodist Church) university at the heart of Metro Manila. The other is Trinity University of Asia
Trinity University of Asia
Trinity University of Asia , also known as TUA or simply Trinity, is a non-sectarian private university located in Quezon City, Philippines. Originally established in 1963 as an elementary, high school and collegiate educational institution, Trinity eventually university status on July 18, 2006...
under the auspices of the Episcopal Church
Episcopal Church in the Philippines
The Episcopal Church in the Philippines is a province of the Anglican Communion first established by the Episcopal Church. It was founded in 1901 by American missionaries led by Charles Henry Brent, who served as the first resident bishop. It became an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion...
.
History
In 1945, American missionary Bishop Edwin F. Lee of the Methodist Episcopal ChurchMethodist Episcopal Church
The Methodist Episcopal Church, sometimes referred to as the M.E. Church, was a development of the first expression of Methodism in the United States. It officially began at the Baltimore Christmas Conference in 1784, with Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke as the first bishops. Through a series of...
envisioned a Christian college in Manila. On October 6, 1946, laymen of the Evangelical Association of the Philippines agreed to the establishment of the college. Their initial Board of Directors was composed of the UCCP Presbyterians: Atty. Mateo Occena, Dr. Emilio Javier, Mr. Gerardo Armonio, and the Methodists: Dr. Juan Nabong, Sr., and Dr. Mauro Baradi.
On January 11, 1947, the Articles of Incorporation was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The original name of the institution was Manila Union University; this was later changed to Philippine Christian College.
Dr. Roxy Lefforge, an American Methodist missionary, was the first executive dean.
Dr. Emilio Javier (1952–1958), an outstanding layman of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), was elected as the first president. Under his leadership the institution expanded the ecumenical efforts in education. The Union High School of Manila and Union Elementary School founded by the Presbyterian Church in 1919 and 1946 respectively became part of PCC in 1947. The college added a degree course in Nursing when the Mary Johnston School of Nursing, founded by the Methodist in 1907, affiliated with PCC in 1953.
Dr. Juan Nabong, Sr. (1958–1969), a United Methodist layman, was the second president. Under his Administration, a four-storey concrete building was constructed in 1960 beside the UTS building on Taft Avenue. A year later, a two-storey building for the elementary school was constructed in Vasquez Street, Malate. The Ellinwood College of Christian Education was merging with the Philippine Christian College in 1968 and its curricular programs integrated with the programs of the College of Education.
Dr. Lino Q. Arquiza (1969–1988), a UCCP educator, was the third president. Under him, the growth and expansion of PCC was steady and impressive. What was not impressive under his administration was that American Land was taken by PCU without any sort of compensation. It was made legal by President Marcos on May 24, 1974 issuing Presidential Decree Number 471. There was for many years a cold relationship with the U.S. Denominations that lost property particularly around Taft Avenue.
In 1976, PCC acquired its University status and Philippine Christian University. A highlight of the efforts at cooperation came during Dr. Arquiza’s term when the Union Theological Seminary and PCU merge in 1978. With the merger, the Philippine Christian Center for Learning (PCCL) was born.
The merger enabled PCU to expand its offerings in the 97-hectare UTS campus, 36 kilometers south of Manila.
With this move, Philippine Christian University and Union Theological Seminary, established an ecumenical relationship that is more expansive and more coordinated. Institutional cooperation extended to non-protestant schools when in 1972, PCU and DLSU joined hands in a resource-sharing program. This move ushered in the formation of five-school Inter-Institutional Consortium (I-IC) in 1975 composed of De La Salle University, St. Scholastica’s College, St. Paul’s College of Manila, Philippine Normal College and Philippine Christian University. The Consortium enjoys the full support of the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia.
In 1990, the Board of Trustees elected Dr. Carlito S. Puno (1990–2000), a United Methodist lay leader, as the fourth president of the university.
The year 2000 saw the election of the fifth president, Rev. Dr. Oscar S. Suarez of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines.
In 2006, Rev. Dr. Oscar Suarez was temporarily on leave because of alleged irregularities in finances at PCU. Temporary head was the former UCCP Southern Luzon Jurisdictional Bishop, the former General Secretary of the UCCP (1986–1994); and former Dean of the Silliman University
Silliman University
Silliman University is a private research university located in Dumaguete, Philippines. Established in 1901 as Silliman Institute by the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, it was the first American private school to be founded in the country. The University is named after Dr...
Divinity School, Bishop Emeritus Erme R. Camba. Currently, PCU is under the Court appointed Management Committee
Athletics
PCU joined the National Collegiate Athletic AssociationNational Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines)
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is an athletics association of nine colleges and universities in the Philippines. Established in 1924, the NCAA is the oldest athletic association in the Philippines...
in 1996. The varsity teams are the PCU Dolphins
PCU Dolphins
The PCU Dolphins are the National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball team of the Philippine Christian University.Their 2004 title was their only NCAA basketball title....
.
The Blue & Silver
The Blue and Silver is the official student publication of Philippine Christian University. It is a member of the College Editors' Guild of the Philippines.The Union High School of Manila and the Union Elementary School have their publications called Union Echo and Winglettes respectively.
Campuses
- Philippine Christian University - Taft Avenue, Manila
- Union High School - Malvar St., Manila
- Union Elementary School - Malvar St., Manila
- Philippine Christian University - Union Theological Seminary - Dasmariñas, Cavite
- Philippine Christian University - Union Science High School - Dasmariñas, Cavite
- Philippine Christian University - Union Science Elementary School - Dasmariñas, Cavite
Note: USHS and USES in Manila are not in the same campus; they have individual campuses across Malvar St. MM.