History of PWU PDF

PHILIPPINE WOMEN’S UNIVERSITY and its Affiliate School for Men and Women Taft Avenue, Manila 1004 History of the Philippine Women’s University The Birth of a Mission In 1919, a group of far...

PHILIPPINE WOMEN’S UNIVERSITY and its Affiliate School for Men and Women Taft Avenue, Manila 1004 History of the Philippine Women’s University The Birth of a Mission In 1919, a group of far-sighted Filipino women founded the Philippine Women’s College. A non-sectarian school that prepared young girls from leadership and service. The women were: Clara Aragon, Concepcion Aragon, Francisca Tirona Benitez, Paz Marquez Benitez, Carolina Ocampo Palma, Mercedes Rivera and Socorro Marquez Zaballero. Jose Abad Santos (then a prominent lawyer who later became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court) drafted the constitution and by-laws. A University In 1932, thirteen years after its founding, the college won university status, becoming known henceforth as the Philippine Women's University and thus the first university for women in Asia founded by Asians. Between 1933-1938, PWU actively pioneered several projects. o The Department of Child Development was opened in 1938, a course in Social Civic Training was incorporated in the curriculum of the collegiate department. This was in line with the PWU objective to train Filipino girls in civic responsibility. Rising from the War During the World War II in 1941, the PWU building was converted into USAFFE Hospital. In 1943, although the university was officially closed, PWU administrators opened the “Pagamutan ng Maralita” for free medical services for the sick and disabled. In 1946, a year after the war ended, faculty, alumnae and students helped reconstruct the university which was heavily damaged. Soon enough, it rose again to continue its mission. In 1969, PWU suffered another setback when fire gutted the entire fourth floor and part of the third floor. Valuable researches were destroyed by the fire. The damaged was repaired in two years with an additional fifth floor.  PHILIPPINE WOMEN’S UNIVERSITY and its Affiliate School for Men and Women Taft Avenue, Manila 1004 The Golden Years Number of firsts and pioneering innovations of PWU Organization of the Student Council, the first such council in a Philippine private school, in 1922. Pharmacy in 1924. Business Administration as a private school, four-year course in 1926. Home Economics as a bachelors' degree course in a private school in 1928. The Graduate School in 1931. Social and Civic training in 1938 evolving into the MSCED (Moral, Social and Civic Education) course required at all levels in all courses and disciplines as a hallmark of PWU education. In 1945, PWU opened regional branch in Iloilo named Philippine Women’s College. The branch served the educational needs of girls in Visayas. In 1947, the College of Music and Fine Arts was opened with voice clinic, the only service of its kind in the country In 1948, The Institute of Human Relations and the Family Life Workshop of the Philippines In 1949, the Community College opened as an extension service to career women and homemakers. It offered late afternoon and evening classes on a quarterly basis. In 1950, PWU became a member of the International Association of Universities. In the same year, the Philippine School of Social Work, a PWU affiliate, was opened to train students in professional social work. Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 1952. In 1953, another Philippine Women’s College was opened in Davao. o Fraternidad Gonzales became the first Dean of College and Principal of the High School Department o Miss Monserrat T. Yulo served as its first treasurer. Other highlights of that period were: o The introduction of Free Adult Homemaking Class for out-of-school girls under the sponsorship of the College of Home Economics, Education and Community College. o The “recognition” of PWU by the University of Chicago as the first local university to be “adopted” by a big and reputable university in the United States.  PHILIPPINE WOMEN’S UNIVERSITY and its Affiliate School for Men and Women Taft Avenue, Manila 1004 o The intensive research study made on “Philippine Primitive Tribes and Their Music” jointly sponsored by the College of Music and Fine Arts and the College of Liberal Arts. A milestone in the PWU’s service to the community, particularly the foreigners was the creation of the Institute of Filipino Languages and Culture in 1955. In 1956, Dr. Helena Z Benitez found the Bayanihan Folk Dance Group. o In 1958, the successful performance of the PWU’s Bayanihan Folk Dance group in Brussels Exposition in Belgium was a cultural milestone. o It was awarded the Presidential Merit Award in Malacanang in the same year. o Since its Brussels triumph, the Bayanihan has won numerous laurels for the Philippines in many parts of the world. o In 1999, In appreciation and recognition of their pioneering efforts and international success, the people of the Philippines through the 10th Congress enacted R.A. 8626 declaring the Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company as The Philippines National Folk Dance Company. o Since its formal organization, the company has mounted fourteen (14) major tours (of six months to a year in duration) to Asia, Australia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Americas and over a hundred short tours to foreign countries. In half a century Bayanihan has performed in six continents, sixty- six countries and 700 cities worldwide. o A multi-awarded company, both nationally and internationally, Bayanihan has awakened a new pride among Filipinos in their cultural heritage; added a new dimension to the country’s dance tradition; and has built a rich reserve of international goodwill. o Since then, Bayanihan has won 13 Grand prizes in World Dance competitions. In 1970s, PWU started admitting male students and is now fully co-educational. In 2019, PWU celebrated its 100th year. The PWU Presidency Mrs. Paz Marquez Benitez was the first President of Philippine Women’s College. PWU Founder Francisca Tirona Benitez served as the President of PWU for 45 years from 1921-1966 succeeding Mrs. Paz Marquez Benitez. The torch was passed on to the third president, Dr. Helena Z. Benitez in 1966 but was cut short when she was elected to the Philippine Senate in 1968.  PHILIPPINE WOMEN’S UNIVERSITY and its Affiliate School for Men and Women Taft Avenue, Manila 1004 Dr. Belen Enrile Gutierrez was installed the fourth president in 1968-1973. At the end of President Gutierrez’s term, Dr. Helena Z. Benitez was prevailed upon to resume the presidency in 1973-1976. Dr. Leticia P. de Guzman became the president in 1976-1979. Followed by Dr. Rosa Santos Munda as Acting President in 1979 and was the president from 1980-1987. o At the end of Mrs. Munda’s term, she went back to Davao to resume her former position as the head of Philippine Women’s College (PWC) of Davao and in 1991 got the title of Chancellor. Dr. Helena Z. Benitez was back as president from 1987-1992. Dr. Jose Conrado Benitez was appointed Acting President in 1992 and was installed president in 1993. In 2003, Amelou Benitez Reyes became the 8th University President. Dr. Jose Francisco Benitez became the 9th and 2nd male President of PWU. Mr. Marco Alfredo Benitez is the current President of PWU and was installed as the tenth President last February 22, 2020. The PWU Campuses Philippine Women’s University, Taft Avenue, Manila (Main Campus) Philippine Women’s University, Quezon City Jose Abad Santos Memorial School (JASMS) Philippine Women’s College, Iloilo Philippine Women’s College, Davao Source: https://www.pwu.edu.ph/about.html