¡SupereXtraordinarisimo!: Universidad De Manila

Universidad De Manila

The Universidad de Manila (formerly known as City College of Manila) is a public university in the Manila, Philippines. It is one of the two city-funded universities of the City of Manila.

The main campus of Universidad de Manila, which houses the Administration Building of the Division of City Schools-Manila, is located at the heart of the Mehan Garden adjacent to the Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila City Library and the Light Rail Transit Central Terminal. Apart from its main campus, the university maintains several satellite centers in many parts of the City of Manila such as Escolta, Recto, Del Pan, San Andres, Dapitan and Tayuman.

The university's original name is City College of Manila (CCM), but when Lito Atienza took office as Mayor the name was changed to Universidad de Manila (UDM). In 2007, when Lim was re-elected as Mayor, he reverted UDM to its original name; however, a few months into office, he renamed it Gat Andrés Bonifacio University.

The founder of the university, Mayor Alfredo Lim, said that the "egalitarian UDM complements the elite PLM. For its part, the City College delivers practical education to average student.

History

Universidad de Manila, formerly known as the City College of Manila (CCM) or Dalubhasaan ng Lungsod ng Maynila,was founded in 1995 during the term of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim. It was then located at the old 12-storey high Philippine National Bank Building within the district of Santa Cruz.

In its early years, and before it acquired its current name and status, many controversies haunted the CCM. Among these issues were the low passing rates that it had received in the past, and its proposed transformation into a district college of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. Both the 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 are also various organizations that backed up the move. Later on, the City Council unanimously voted in favor of transferring the CCM's main building at the site, and the construction of a five-storey edifice ensued. In that same year, the CCM integrated sports in its school 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. Additionally, the college also took part in the enforcement of English as a the medium of instruction.

A year later, Manila City officials, including Mayor Lito Atienza, also 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). During the same year, UDM hosted the International Youth Expo, with the theme, "Showcasing an Ideal World through Visuals".

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