Universidad de Manila

The Integridad de Punto

Universidad de Manila was founded in 1995 during the term of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim. It was then located in the old 12-storey high Philippine National Bank Building in the district of Santa Cruz.[2][3]

The logo of City College of Manila (CCM)

In its early years, and before it acquired its current name and status, many controversies haunted the CCM. Among the issues were the low passing rates that it had received and its proposed transformation into a district college of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.[4] PLM and the CCM students opposed the plan; thus, it never materialized.

In early 2005, many environmental groups resisted the construction of the new building at the Mehan Garden, but there were organizations that backed the move.[5] Later on, the City Council unanimously voted in favor of transferring the CCM's main building to the site, and the construction of a five-storey edifice ensued.[2][6] In that same year, the CCM integrated sports in its curriculum in line with the plan of establishing the Manila Sports Academy, which is tasked to provide free college education to deserving athletes and outstanding performers and develop future sports educators.[7][8] Additionally, the college took part in the enforcement of English as the medium of instruction.[9][10]

A year later, Manila City officials, including Mayor Lito Atienza, initiated the elevation of CCM to a university to promote higher learning and provide more opportunities to Manila youth for a quality education. By virtue of the amendments of Ordinance No. 7885, which was authored by majority floor leader Ernesto Dionisio and some members of the majority bloc, the CCM acquired the name Universidad de Manila (UDM).[11] During the same year, UDM hosted the International Youth Expo, with the theme, "Showcasing an Ideal World through Visuals."[12]

In 2007, the Commission on Higher Education allowed the UDM to confer postgraduate studies. On November 30 of the same year, during the commemoration of the 144th birth anniversary of Andrés Bonifacio, Lim renamed the school in honor of Bonifacio, who despite of financial difficulties pursued knowledge through self-education.[13]

UDM has three buildings, in the Annex, Escolta and the Main Building.

The university's ten colleges offer courses from bachelor to postgraduate degree programs. Degree programs, such as Criminology, Social Work, Physical Therapy and Nursing, are considered as the University's pilot courses.

The university started with some 2,000 enrollees[3] until its population increased to 6,000. From October 2005 to January 2006, 1,051 students out of 1,600 enrollees graduated in their selected courses. Some 290 students finished the basic computer course while 11 finished the photo silkscreen and signage course. The assessment report prepared by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority showed that 234 examinees passed the knowledge assessment, while 189 passed the skills assessment, which resulted to a 100% passing rate in January 2006.[11]

In 2005, the university had more than 14,000 students, of whom 9,830 were in the college programs (psychology, mass communications, mathematics, political science, physical therapy, criminology, nursing, electronics, education and computer engineering, social work, among others).

More than 4,200 others had been trained in ladderized courses. Under this generic program called Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology fall most of the vocational and technical courses like automotive mechanics, hotel and restaurant technology, refrigeration and air-conditioning, among others. More than 3,500 students are housed in its main campus at the Mehan Garden.

The University's sports teams are nicknamed the Merlions. Student athletes participate in the Alculympics,[15][16] National Students Basketball Championship, Manila Youth Games, and other intramural sports.[17]

• Eulogio "Amang" Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology
• University of the City of Manila

• Newspaper articles and supplements
  • Marshalling Resources For a City’s Development. Malaya Online Newspaper. June 30, 2005.
  • Sports talks ready for MY Games Nat’l. The Manila Times Internet Edition. October 10, 2006.