History and Mandate
The UPD Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts (OICA) was established in March 1999 by the UP Board of Regents and is under the UP Diliman Office of the Chancellor. It assumed the functions of the dissolved UP Diliman Committee on Arts and Culture. The transformation of OICA from a committee to an office was spearheaded by Prof. Eufracio C. Abaya, Ph.D. who later became its first director.
THE OICA LOGO
The UPD-OICA tree-of-life logo was conceptualized during the term of Prof. Eufracio C. Abaya, Ph.D. as OICA Director in 2000. It first appeared as a graphic image in the poster of the UP Diliman Month February 2000 which had the theme “Hitik sa Sining 2000: Pamana at Pagsulong.” The poster was designed by UP College of Fine Arts faculty members Armando B. Burgos and Roberto Eliseo G. Paulino based on the Samal “Tree of Life,” an applique tapestry displayed during festivities in Tawi-Tawi. By February 2001, the image was adopted as the OICA logo in that year’s UP Diliman Month poster with the theme “Hitik sa Sining 2001: Talas-Suri sa Tuwid na Simulain.” The logo was modified during the term of director Ruben D.F. Defeo. (Source: RGPaulino, pers. comm., 2021)
| Prof. Cecilia S. De La Paz, Ph.D. | 1 May 2018 – 31 July 2023 |
| Prof. Sir Anril P. Tiatco, Ph.D. | 1 October 2015 – 30 April 2018 |
| Prof. Marc San Valentin | 1 May 2015 – 1 July 2015 |
| Prof. Jose Danilo A. Silvestre | 1 November 2012 – 30 April 2015 |
| Prof. Ruben D.F. Defeo | 1 January 2007 – 31 May 2012 |
| Prof. Eufracio C. Abaya, Ph.D. | 1 March 1999 – 31 December 2006 |
- The need to systematize art and culture programs towards the development of medium- and long-term plans for culture and the arts, in the context of the overall vision and mission of the University.
The UPD-OICA shall aim at making UP Diliman the center for audience and venue development for culture and the arts, and the cultural center for Quezon City. In this regard, it shall establish links with the government of Quezon City to mutually strengthen their respective cultural programs. - The need to institutionalize domestic and international art and cultural linkages.
The UPD-OICA shall enable the University to proactively develop and sustain cultural exchanges as well as promote the University’s dynamic cultural development management programs, informed by the principles of cultural diversity and unity, universal cultural rights and cultural integrity. - The need to rationalize financial support and fund generation.
The UPD-OICA shall enable the University to generate additional funds (i.e. endowment and grants) and thus increase its cultural funds solely derived from student fees. This will contribute to program and project sustainability as well as to the creation of an environment that will encourage initiatives from UP Diliman with respect to cultural preservation, transformation, and other related concerns. - The need for a University-based policy making body on art and cultural development management.
The UPD-OICA shall perform this function in consultation with an advisory group duly constituted by the Chancellor.
- To formulate, subject to Chancellor’s approval, policies, and programs on artistic and cultural activities for the UP Diliman campus that are aimed at:
a. Enriching the artistic and cultural experiences of the UP Diliman students, faculty, staff, and residents;
b. Promoting humanistic and nationalistic values among UP Diliman Students and employees as part of their continuing general education;
c. Creating a cultural environment conducive to the full realization by the UP Diliman artists of their potentials; - To organize, coordinate, and/or support various artistic and cultural activities or objects in UP Diliman;
- To promote and support the various artists and artistic groups based in UP Diliman;
- To plan, evaluate, and oversee the development of theaters, museums, sculpture, gardens, art galleries, and other artistic and cultural facilities and infrastructure in the UP Diliman campus; and
- To promote UP Diliman as a major cultural center of the Philippines.
