1. CENTENNIAL
PANORAMA
Pictorial History of UPLB
Fernando A. Bernardo, PhD
University of the Philippines Los Baños
Alumni Association, Inc.
2007

2. Production Staff
Writer and Production Manager
Fernando A. Bernardo
Assistant Production Manager
Donna Bella T. Depositario
Editors
Emiliana N. Bernardo
Dennis T. Depositario
Graphic Artists
Delfin R. Laforteza
Simeon R. Manahan, Jr.
Assistant Graphic Artist
Al A. Benavente
Secretary
Nida E. Reyes
Support Staff
Lilia T. Tolentino
Ma. Lourdes M. Rebulanan
Photographers
Fernando A. Bernardo
Al A. Benavente
Cris Quintana
Pol Q. Veluz
Cover Designers
Delfin R. Laforteza
Simeon R. Manahan, Jr.
ISBN: 978-971-547-252-4
Copyright 2007
Published by the UPLB Alumni Association, Inc.
College, Laguna, Philippines
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the permission of the publisher.
Second Printing, 2009
Printed by Jetstar Printers Inc.
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3. Preface
University of the Philippines
Los Baños Alumni Association, Inc.
UP Los Baños Alumni Association (UPLBAA) takes pride in publishing two books
in commemoration of UPLB’s Centennial – UPLB Centennial Panorama and the
accompanying volume, UPLB: A Century of Challenges and Achievements. These
two books provide the most exhaustive and complete documentation of the rich
history of UP Los Baños and are hence a very fitting tribute to commemorate our Alma
Mater’s Centennial.
For a long time, the officers of the Association have been preparing for this coffee
table book. It finally took off when Dr. Fernando A. Bernardo agreed to undertake
the daunting task even with the very limited resources that the Association was able
to provide. There is no one in a better position to undertake this very significant task
other than Dr. Bernardo. Not only is he an acclaimed scientist, prolific writer, and an
artist; but as an administrator, he has witnessed the significant milestones and chal-
lenges of UPLB’s growth and development.
The accompanying volume came about as we felt it just necessary to share with all
UPLB alumni the unexpected vastness of materials and information resulting from
Dr. Bernardo’s painstaking research work.
This book would not have been made possible without the gratis services of Dr.
Bernardo together with the unequivocal help of alumni who assisted him including
Mssrs. Frank C. Cornejo, Sim Cuyson and Ms. Bernie Quimpo. The valuable
assistance they extended has made these books possible.
This two-volume book is a treasure to own and it is with pride and pleasure to have
given each and every UPLB alumni this rare opportunity to have these memorabilia
of UPLB’s Centennial.
ELPIDIO L. ROSARIO
President
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4. Introduction
N ot a task but an exciting adventure! That was how I welcomed the suggestion of the
UPLB Alumni Association president, Dr. Elpidio Rosario, that I produce a coffee table
book (CTB) on the colorful history of UPLB. An exciting adventure, because I have never
done this kind of work before. It is like venturing into an entirely different, unfamiliar
world.
As it turned out, this adventure had a lot of twists, turns, and surprises as well as
disappointments, frustrations, and challenges. Why? CTBs usually consist of less narratives
and a lot of pictures even without captions. As the saying goes, “A picture is worth a
thousand words.” So why should one write captions? But this CTB is much different
because it is a pictorial history of UPLB – and the history of UPLB is not a simple story. It
consists of over 300 milestones, research breakthroughs, surprising stories, events, and
anecdotes many of which could not be easily communicated in pictures, or pictures were
simply not available in the annals of UP and the numerous publications one can find in
libraries and archives. In this case, we have many stories without pictures, but we tried our
best to observe a ratio of at most 30 percent narrative and 70 percent pictures, spacewise.
Unlike writing the history of UPLB, preparing a CTB is not a one man’s job. The
author had to organize a production team, with him as writer and production manager, Ms.
Donna T. Depositario, as assistant production manager, and some support staff. Donna and
the support staff helped in collecting pictures from different colleges, institutes and centers of
UPLB, a task that required written and personal requests and many follow-ups. In many
cases, the different UPLB units had many outstanding achievements, such as research break-
throughs and improved technologies, all written up and even published, but without pictures.
How could we take pictures of past events? Impossible if the field experiments are gone.
But whenever possible and desirable, we have to ask professors or scientists to reenact
what they did in the laboratories or out in the field – not an easy task because they are not
trained as actors, neither are we trained as directors.
Obviously, we have to hire good photographers, but even good photographers cannot
turn back the hands of time to capture in their cameras past events. They had to make do
with whatever is available at present, and we have to coach them to focus on objects of real
interest in UPLB’s history.
In some cases, UPLB units gave us old pictures from their files, but in most cases
there was a lot to be desired in terms of quality. We have to observe high standards of
quality for a CTB.
In the beginning, the author hired an experienced layout artist, Mr. Delfin “Toti”
Laforteza. He encountered quality problems with photocopies of pictures from various old
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5. publications. In fact, he had to go to the libraries to take pictures of the originals. He
slowed down, perhaps because of the depressing and time-consuming task of improving
many of the 650 old pictures for Chapters 1 to 12 of the book. To beat the deadline for
printing in July, the author had to hire another layout artist, Mr. Simeon Manahan, Jr., to
handle the pictures for Chapters 13 to 19.
Altogether, this book of 19 chapters has over 1,000 pictures! A thousand pictures
sounds too many, but in truth, we should have added more to complete our story about
the colorful past of UPLB, and its numerous contributions to nation building, but we
had time constraints.
Producing a CTB covering a hundred years of interesting and exciting events,
from the pioneering days in the wilderness at the foot of Mt. Makiling to the present
challenges and continuing activities of a great university, is by no means an easy task.
To paraphrase the entomologists, “You don’t have to be crazy to do this kind of work,
but it helps.”
To the members of the Production Team, and all those who, in one way or
another, helped in the production of this CTB, goes my heartfelt and everlasting
gratitude. Without their support, it would have been impossible to achieve what we
did in less than six months.
For the names of those who helped the author in producing this book, please
turn to the list of members of the Production Team and the Acknowledgement.
May all of you, readers, enjoy the colorful pages of UPLB’s history.
Fernando A. Bernardo
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6. Contents
CHAPTER 1
Agriculture and Forestry During Colonial Times 3
Filipinas During the Spanish Regime 4
Aftermath of the Filipino-American War 8
CHAPTER 2
Copeland’s Pioneering Years 1907-1917 11
The Bureau of Education Conceived the School 12
UP’s First Born: The College of Agriculture 12
The Bureau Served as Foster Mother 14
Classes Were Held in Tents 14
A Forest School Created as a Branch of the College of Agriculture 16
Division of Forest Investigation Transferred to Los Baños 16
The College Grew Despite Limited Support from UP 18
Student Thesis Became a Requirement for Graduation 21
Students Gave Birth to a Scientific Journal: The Philippine Agriculturist and Forester 22
Dr. Charles Fuller Baker, an Outstanding Scientist Arrived 25
First Commencement Day Held Before the Inauguration of a Permanent School Building 26
First Batch of 15 Forest Rangers Graduated Under the Bureau 27
The “First School” Became Independent with the Bureau Director as Dean 27
Dean Copeland Retired at Age 44 Due to Political Problems 28
CHAPTER 3
Historic Developments Under Baker 1917-1927 31
First World War: Overwhelming Response to the Call for Volunteers to the National Guard 32
Successful Lobbying for the Central Agricultural Experiment Station 33
Campus Development and Planting of Royal Palms 34
Strengthening of the Socio-economic Dimension of College Programs 35
The College of Veterinary Science Transferred from Pandacan to Los Baños 36
Glorious Victories of Los Baños in University Athletic Competitions 38
Offering of BS Sugar Technology in 1920 39
Unexpected Large Enrolments in 1920-1921 with Students from China, Siam, Java, India, Japan, and Guam 40
College Extension Function Highlighted: First Laguna Farmers Day (1922) and First Laguna Provincial Fair (1924) Held on the Campus 41
Release of High-Yielding Sugar Cane Varieties Resistant to Diseases 42
Other Research Outputs and Breakthroughs 43
Dean Charles Fuller Baker Passed Away 44
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7. CHAPTER 4
Growth and Beauty Under the Bureau of Forestry 1917-1936 47
Filipinos Trained as Forestry Pensionados in US Universities 48
Choice of Narra as the National Tree 49
Birth of the Makiling Echo in 1922 50
Glorious Celebration of the School’s 20th Anniversary 50
Discovery of Doña Aurora, Mount Makiling’s Legacy to the World of Ornamentals 54
About 4,000 Hectares Converted to the Makiling Forest Reserve and National Park 54
Beginning of Traditions: Celebrations of Forestry Day and Moving-Up Day 56
Tamesis Rose to the Top Positions in the Bureau and the School 57
CHAPTER 5
Landmarks in Agriculture Under B. M. Gonzalez 1927-1938 59
Bienvenido M. Gonzalez, the First Filipino at the Helm of the College 60
The New Dean Expected No Less Than Excellent Outputs from the Faculty and Students 61
Creation of a Department of Agricultural Education and a Rural High School 63
Laboratory Research Facilities and Other Buildings Constructed 64
Construction of the College of Agriculture Campus Gate-the Most Symbolic Landmark of the College for Decades 68
“Hail College Dear” Sung Publicly for the First Time During the 1934 Loyalty Day 69
The College of Agriculture Recognized Nationally and Internationally as a Scientific Center 69
UPCA-Generated Technologies in the 1930s 70
Gonzalez Elected UP President 72
CHAPTER 6
Devastation During World War II 1941-1945 75
Leopoldo B. Uichanco Appointed Dean 76
World War II Broke Out 77
Classes Continued... 78
Under the Scorching Rising Sun 78
War Prisoners Liberated 80
Decades of Setback 82
The Schools Begun Rising from the Ashes 83
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8. CHAPTER 7
Changes and Challenges in Forestry Under Tamesis,
Amos and Mabesa 1945-1957 85
The UP and Bureau of Forestry Teaching Staff 87
Local Training with International Programs 88
Women’s Invasion of Forestry Begun 90
Honoring Those Who Gave Their Lives to the Cause of Forestry 92
Construction of the Forest Products Laboratory, the Largest and Best Equipped in the Eastern Hemisphere 93
Tamesis Retired and Amos Took Over 94
Successful Lobbying for a New College of Forestry Building 95
The College of Forestry Separated from the Bureau 96
Massive Staff Development Program Under the ICA-NEC Training Grants 96
CHAPTER 8
Milestones on the Lower Campus During
the Uichanco Years 1945-1959 99
Reconstruction and Rehabilitation After the War 100
Graduation of the First Summa Cum Laudes 100
Of Culture and Social Graces 100
Meteoric Rise in Enrolment 102
Reliable But Aging Professors Had to Train Over a Hundred Young Assistant Instructors and Research Assistants 104
Physical Facilities Development 106
ICA-NEC and Rockefeller Scholarship Grants Resulted in Massive Staff Development 108
Colorful Mussaenda Varieties Bloomed and Beautified Ornamental Gardens 110
UPCA-Cornell University Contract Accelerated Improvements in Instruction, Research and Extension 111
A Breakthrough in Inter-Agency Collaboration Increased National Rice and Corn Production 114
Expansion and Strengthening of Extension Programs 116
Novel Approach in Farm and Home Development 119
Establishment of the Agricultural Credit and Cooperatives Institute (ACCI) to Serve Southeast Asian Countries 120
CHAPTER 9
Milestones on the Upper Campus During
the Zamuco and Lantican Years 1958-1971 123
Many Pursued PhD Studies Abroad 125
National Impact of the Makiling National Park and Botanic Gardens 126
Construction of the Forestry Technology Building 128
Zamuco Retired and Lantican Took Over 129
A Comprehensive Campus Development Plan Implemented 130
Forestry Graduate Program Approved 131
Launching of a Well-Organized Long-Term Forestry Extension Program 131
Establishment of the Forest Products Research Institute 133
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9. CHAPTER 10
Cascading Developments in Umali’s Decade 1959-1970 137
Birth of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Baños 138
Launching of the UP-Cornell Graduate Education Program 142
Birth of the Department of Food Science and Technology 144
Organization of the Association of Colleges of Agriculture in the Philippines (ACAP) 146
Massive Staff Development Under Rockefeller Foundation 147
Birth of the Dairy Training and Research Institute (DTRI) 148
UPCA Launched a Massive Facilities Development Program 150
Establishment of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) 154
Creation of the UPLB Graduate School 156
Breakthroughs in Research and National Awards 157
UPCA at the Helm of the National Rice and Corn Program: The Country Exported Rice for the First Time in History 158
CHAPTER 11
Years of Instability 1970-1972 161
Proposed Phasing Out of Vice-President for UPLB 162
Proposed UPLB Development Plans for the 1970s 162
UPLB’s Movement for Independence 163
Lopez Maneuvers to Keep UPLB Under UP 164
P.D. No. 58 Grants UPLB Full and Complete Autonomy 165
Birth of the Philippine Council for Agricultural Research (PCAR) 166
CHAPTER 12
Giant Strides as an Autonomous University Under Samonte 1973-1978 171
Birth of the College of Basic Sciences and Humanities 172
Reorganization and Strengthening of Growth Points in UPLB 174
Birth of Postharvest HorticultureTraining and Research Center (PHTRC) 179
Birth of the Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB) 180
Birth of the National Crop Protection Center (NCPC) 182
Separation of the Department of Horticulture from Agronomy 184
UP College of Agriculture Wins the 1977 Ramon Magsaysay Award 185
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10. CHAPTER 13
Birth of National Centers of Excellence: The Javier Years 1979-1985 187
Birth of BIOTECH 188
Birth of the Forestry Development Center 192
Birth of the Centre for Forestry Education, Research and Development and Institute of Forest Conservation 194
Research Breakthroughs in Forestry 194
Creation of the Research Management Center 194
Chancellor Javier Appointed Chairman of the National Science Development Board (NSDB) 194
Completion of Constructions Under the World Bank Education Loan 195
Creation of Three New Institutes in the College of Agriculture 196
Creation of Institutes of Basic Sciences as National Centers of Excellence 202
Birth of the National and Regional Training Centers for Rural Development 207
Complete Transfer of the College of Veterinary Medicine to Los Baños 208
CHAPTER 14
UPLB in Clear and Placid Waters: The de Guzman Years 1985-1991 211
Improvement of UPLB Organization and Its Administrative Affairs 212
Academic Reforms 213
Creation of Two UPLB Institutes 214
Birth of Philrice 218
Creation of the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) 220
Creation of the Southern Tagalog Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (STARRDEC) 222
Successful Implementation of the Diamond Jubillee Housing Project 223
Completion of Vital Infrastructures 224
CHAPTER 15
Pursuing Dreams in a Short Term: The Aspiras Years 1991-1993 227
Task Force Pinatubo 228
Flower and Garden Shows 230
Birth of the UPLB Agroforestry Program (UAP), Now the Institute of Agroforestry (IAF) 232
Record Achievements in Extension and Promotion of Technologies 234
Books Published 235
Awards and Honors Reaped by UPLB Staff and Students 236
Planning for the Future 237
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11. CHAPTER 16
UPLB on the Wings: The Villareal Years 1993-1999 239
Milestones in Strengthening the Physical Sciences 240
Milestones in Strengthening UPLB’s Capacity in Socio-economics and Communication 245
Research Breakthroughs 251
Breakthroughs in Extension and Community Development 252
Lifting the Morale of UPLB Staff and Students 255
Reorganization of the College of Forestry and Renaming It College of Forestry and Natural Resources 256
Implementation of a Massive Physical Development Program 260
CHAPTER 17
Milestones in Controversial Times: The David Years 1999-2005 263
Reforms and Fruitful Changes in Financial Management 264
Streamlining Academic Programs 266
Improvements in Research and Extension Management 267
Reorganization of the College of Agriculture 268
Birth of the Philippine Forestry Education Network 269
Research Outputs and Breakthroughs 270
Extension and Public Service 273
Improving Services for the Welfare of Staff and Students 275
Modernization/Improvement of Facilities 276
CHAPTER 18
Recent Developments Under Chancellor Velasco 279
Development of a 3-Year Plan 280
Unprecedented Devastation by a Typhoon 281
Sustaining UPLB’s Contribution to Nation Building 282
Improvements in Student Services 283
Online Administrative Services and Online Student Registration System 284
Building and Strengthening Partnerships 284
Addressing the Frequent Brownouts in UPLB 284
Strengthening UPLB’s Role in the Los Baños Science Community Foundation, Inc. (LBSCFI) 285
Development of the CA Agripark 285
Gearing Up for the UP Centennial 286
CHAPTER 19
UPLB: Major Achievements and Challenges Beyond 100 289
UPLB’s Impact in Education and Nation Building 290
Major Concerns and Challenges Beyond 100 308
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