Culture & Arts in UP Diliman
UP Diliman is home to a vibrant art community in an environment with rich heritage and cultural memory. In the pursuit of academic excellence and honor, its faculty and students have committed to hone art practices that are anchored on art research, and interdisciplinal collaborations throughout the various disciplines.
The creative and critical atmosphere that have challenged the scholars of the nation have invariably produced award-winning artists in the visual arts, architecture, interior design, creative writing, theater, music, dance, cinema, and curatorship, among others. This is exemplified by the roster of the National Artists of the Philippines, wherein artists from UP Diliman have been honored, such as: Napoleon Abueva, Larry Alcala, Federico Alcuaz, Fernando Amorsolo, Benedicto Cabrera, Victorio Edades, Abdulmari Imao, Jose Joya, Ang Kiukok, Cesar Legaspi, Arturo Luz, Vicente Manansala, Hernando Ocampo, Guillermo Tolentino, Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio, Ryan Cayabyab, Felipe de Leon, Kidlat Tahimik, Francisco Feliciano, Ramon P. Santos, Benedicto Cabrera, Bienvenido Lumbera, Resil B. Mojares, Ildefonso Santos Jr., NVM Gonzalez, Virgilio S. Almario, Andrea Veneracion, Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero, Jose Maceda, Lucio D. San Pedro, Antonino R. Buenaventura, Carlos P. Romulo, Jovita Fuentes, Francisca Reyes Aquino, Antonio Molina, Gemino Abad, Fides Cuyugan-Asensio, Ricky Lee, Agnes Locsin, and Tony Mabesa.
Art activities and cultural traditions have defined the UP campus. While some UP community traditions in the past have been discontinued, such as cadena de amor, hayride, and arbor day, other forms of cultural activities have gained popularity, such as the UP Fair and the Oblation Run. As cultural events, these activities have transformed with the times in terms of content and relevance to contemporary culture.
UP Diliman reinforces the creation of art and cultural activities that promote artistry and socially relevant projects by supporting the creative energies of its faculty, students, and staff. It sees the arts as closely integrated in both academic and community life of its constituency.
About UP Diliman
(Community and Heritage)
UP Diliman Narratives of Place
In 2019, to commemorate the 70th year of the University of the Philippines’ move from its 10-hectare original site in Ermita, Manila to its 493-hectare campus in Diliman, Quezon City, an exhibit was held at the Bulwagan ng Dangal University Heritage Museum on February 15 to April 12 entitled Lupang Hinirang: Mga Kuwento ng Pagsasalugar ng UP Diliman.
The UPD Art Collection
UPD is steward to many artworks and heritage objects under the care of various units on campus. In 2017, the University Collection Mapping (UCM) project was developed with the goal of updating the 1986 inventory as published in the University Art Collection.
