The University of Northern Philippines (UNP)

Vigan City is host to a state university, the University of Northern Philippines or UNP. UNP holds the distinction of being the oldest state university that can be found in northern Luzon. Having been established in 1906, UNP can take pride in being even older than the University of the Philippines, the country’s premier state university, by two years. In 1906, it first started as Vigan High School. Part of the school’s structure was turned into an intermediate-level school in 1910 with the name of Vigan Trade School. It offered high school education in 1927, producing graduates by 1931. It then changed its name to Ilocos Sur Trade School.

It became known as the University of Northern Philippines in 1965 by virtue of Republic Act 4449. It recognized the author of this empowering legislation, Congressman Floro Crisologo, as its founder. Noteworthy information is the presence of another state university in Ilocos Sur, the Ilocos Sur Polytecnic State College. It is noteworthy because there should only be one state-run higher institution of learning for each province. The campus of the first state university of northern Luzon can be found in Barangay Tamag in Vigan.

Its tallest building is that of the College of Health Sciences. It was begun in the eighties and was completed in 1997. It is where the medical and nursing programs are offered. UNP has satellite campuses and a college branch in Candon City named Candon Community College (CCC). CCC became a semi-autonomous unit of UNP in 1989 by virtue of Republic Act 6744, sponsored by Congressman Eric Singson. The satellite campuses are located in Sinait, where future foresters are trained, and in Sto. Domingo’s Quimmarayan, where students of agriculture and fishery receive education. Aside fom these, UNP is equipped with a research station located in Santa Maria’s Nalvo, where sea urchins are bred for study.

The academic excellence that UNP upholds together with its motto of “Honesty, Humility, Hardwork” has not only attracted students from all over the country but from abroad as well. Its school of medicine is where some Nepalese students prefer to receive training, while its graduate school (the only one in Ilocos Sur) is where some Thai students go to. UNP also has a College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, Administration and Accountancy, College of Engineering, College of Architecture, College of Fine Arts, College of Technology, College of Communication and Information Technology, College of Crimonology, College of Teacher Education, School of Law, College of Social Work and an Open University. UNP’s development continuous, as it builds a university infirmary and another campus in Santo Domingo.