Philippine Christian University

The Philippine Christian University (PCU) is a private, coeducational Christian university located in Ermita, Manila, Philippines. It was founded in 1946 through the initiatives of the Laymen of the Evangelical Association of the Philippines. Originally named as Manila Union University, it was renamed as Philippine Christian College (PCC). In 1976, the PCC acquired university status.

PCU is one of the two major mainline Protestant (related with the United Church of Christ in the Philippines  and The United Methodist Church) universities at the heart of Metro Manila. The other is Trinity University of Asia under the auspices of the Episcopal Church.

History

In 1945, American missionary Bishop Edwin F. Lee of the Methodist Episcopal Church envisioned a Christian college in Manila. On October 6, 1946, laymen of the Evangelical Association of the Philippines agreed to the establishment of the college. Their initial Board of Directors was composed of the UCCP Presbyterians: Atty. Mateo Occena, Dr. Emilio Javier, Mr. Gerardo Armonio, and the Methodists: Dr. Juan Nabong, Sr., and Dr. Mauro Baradi.

On January 11, 1947, the Articles of Incorporation was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The original name of the institution was Manila Union University; this was later changed to Philippine Christian College.

Dr. Roxy Lefforge, an American Methodist missionary, was the first executive dean.

Dr. Emilio Javier (1952–1958), an outstanding layman of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), was elected as the first president. Under his leadership the institution expanded the ecumenical efforts in education. The Union High School of Manila and Union Elementary School founded by the Presbyterian Church in 1919 and 1946 respectively became part of PCC in 1947. The college added a degree course in Nursing when the Mary Johnston School of Nursing, founded by the Methodist in 1907, affiliated with PCC in 1953.

Dr. Juan Nabong, Sr. (1958–1969), a United Methodist layman, was the second president. Under his Administration, a four-storey concrete building was constructed in 1960 beside the UTS building on Taft Avenue. A year later, a two-storey building for the elementary school was constructed in Vasquez Street, Malate. The Ellinwood College of Christian Education was merging with the Philippine Christian College in 1968 and its curricular programs integrated with the programs of the College of Education.

Dr. Lino Q. Arquiza (1969–1988), a UCCP educator, was the third president. Under him, the growth and expansion of PCC was steady and impressive. What was not impressive under his administration was that American Land was taken by PCU without any sort of compensation. It was made legal by President Marcos on May 24, 1974 issuing Presidential Decree Number 471. For many years, the UCCP had a cold relationship with the U.S. Denominations that lost property particularly around Taft Avenue. As of 2015, the UCCP has never admitted to their part in illegally taking away land without proper legal procedure.

In 1976, PCC acquired its university status and Philippine Christian University. A highlight of the efforts at cooperation came during Dr. Arquiza’s term when the Union Theological Seminary and PCU merge in 1978. With the merger, the Philippine Christian Center for Learning (PCCL) was born.

The merger enabled PCU to expand its offerings in the 97-hectare UTS campus, 36 kilometers south of Manila.

With this move, Philippine Christian University and Union Theological Seminary, established an ecumenical relationship that is more expansive and more coordinated. Institutional cooperation extended to non-Protestant schools when in 1972, PCU and DLSU joined hands in a resource-sharing program. This move ushered in the formation of five-school Inter-Institutional Consortium (I-IC) in 1975 composed of De La Salle University, St. Scholastica’s  College, St. Paul’s College of Manila, Philippine Normal College and Philippine Christian University. The Consortium enjoys the full support of the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia.

In 1990, the Board of Trustees elected Dr. Carlito S. Puno (1990–2000), a United Methodist lay leader, as the fourth president of the university.

The year 2000 saw the election of the fifth president, Rev. Dr. Oscar S. Suarez of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. In 2006, Oscar Suarez was temporarily on leave because of alleged irregularities of finances at PCU.  
During Suarez's Time, the NCAA Policy Board slapped a one-year suspension on Philippine Christian University for fielding in a high school basketball player later found to be involved in "identity switching." The students reported as having false identities, false academic records and highly irregular type of recruitment procedures were identified as Jaypee Importante, Victor Miguel Oliveros, Jundell Navaja, James De Gano and Elvin Jake Pascual — were members of the PCU Baby Dolphins. Importante’s real name was Vincent King while Oliveros and De Gano had already been implicated in the NCAA report April which led to the PCU suspension. Pascual, who won the 2006 Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards, was with the Team B of back-to-back NCAA champion San Beda College.

Today PCU had grown into an institution responsive to national needs through its expanded and relevant curricular offerings.

Undergraduate programs

College of Arts and Sciences
AB in English
AB in History
AB in Political Science
AB in Psychology
AB in Broadcasting
AB in Communication
BS in Biology
BS in Mathematics
BS in Guidance & Counseling
BS in Office Administration

College of Social Work
BS in Social Work

Institute of Philosophy & Religious Studies
AB in Philosophy
AB in Religion

Institute of Sports, Physical Education, Arts and Culture
Bachelor in Physical Education

College of Nursing and Allied Health
BS in Nursing
BS in Nutrition & Dietetics

College of Business & Accountancy
BS in Accountancy
BSBA Major in 
         Marketing 
         Management
         Economics 
         Finance 
         Micro-finance
         Accountancy

College of Education & Allied Programs
BS in Education
Bachelor of Elementary Education Major in
         Early Childhood Education
Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in
        English
        Science
        Filipino
        Mathematics
        Music
        Arts 
        Physical Education

College of Engineering & Information Technology
BS in Computer Science
BS in Information Technology
BS in Computer Engineering
BS in Information Systems

College of Tourism & Hospitality Studies
BS in Hotel and Restaurant Management
BS in Tourism Management

College of Law
Bachelor of Laws

Seminary programs

Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)

Doctor of Theology

Master of Divinity (M.Div.)

Master of Theology

Master of Ministry

Bachelor of Theology

Bachelor of Ministry

Bachelor of Religious Education

Graduate programs
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Development Administration

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Religious Studies

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Educational Management

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Management/Pedagogy

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Business Management

Doctor of Education in Educational Administration (MA Ed-Ed.D.EA)   Straight Program

Advanced Business Management Course (MBA-Ph.D.Bus.Mgt.) Straight Program

Doctor of Missiology (D.Miss.)

Master in Business Administration (MBA)

Master in Management (MM) Major in

           Public Administration
           Customs Administration
           Educational Management 
           Police Administration
           Information Technology
           Industrial Psychology
           Health Administration
           Hospital Administration
           Taxation Management
           Tourism Management

Master of Social Work

Master of Arts in Education (MA Ed) Major in

           Educational Administration
           Guidance and Counseling
           Early Childhood
           Special Education 
           Psychology
           Mathematics

Master of Information Technology (MIT)

Master of Arts in Theological Studies (MA Th.S.)

Master of Arts in Nursing

Bachelor of Laws (LI.B.)

Diplomate in Education (Dip Ed)

Associate courses

Associate in Hotel and Restaurant Management

Associate in Computer Technology

Associate in Office Management

Summer review classes

Licensure Exam for Teachers

Board Exam for Social Work

Basic education

Pre –School

Elementary School

Junior High School

Senior High School

Athletics
PCU joined the National Collegiate Athletic Association in 1996. The varsity teams are the PCU Dolphins.

Notable alumni

Jejomar Binay, Former Vice President of the Philippines
Jayson Castro, PBA Player, plays for Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters as Point Guard
Lani Misalucha, Singer, "Asia's Nightingale" and "The Siren of the Strip"
Kyla, R&B singer-songwriter, occasional actress and presenter a.k.a. "Queen of R&B"
Beau Belga, PBA, plays for Rain or Shine Elasto Painters as Center / Power Forward
Gabby Espinas, PBA, plays for San Miguel Beermen as Forward
Ronnie Ricketts, actor, scriptwriter, film director, producer, martial artist, and Optical Media Board (OMB) Chairman
Richard Reynoso, 80's OPM Singer
Sen. Cynthia Villar

The Blue & Silver  

The Blue and Silver is the official student publication of Philippine Christian University. It is a member of the College Editors' Guild of the Philippines.

The Union High School of Manila and the Union Elementary School have their publications called Union Echo and Winglettes respectively.

Campuses

Philippine Christian University - Taft Avenue, Manila
Union High School of Manila - Malvar St., Manila
Union Elementary School of Manila - Malvar St., Manila
Philippine Christian University - Senior High School Department - City of Dasmariñas, Cavite
Philippine Christian University - Junior High School Department - City of Dasmariñas, Cavite
Philippine Christian University - Elementary School Department - City of Dasmariñas, Cavite
Philippine Christian University - Mary Johnston College of Nursing- Tondo, Manila

Note: USHS and USES in Manila are not in the same campus; they have individual campuses across Malvar St. MM.

Gallery

References

External links

Philippine Christian University

Category:Educational institutions established in 1947
Category:National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines)
Category:Universities and colleges affiliated with the United Methodist Church
Category:Association of Christian Universities and Colleges in Asia
Category:Education in Malate, Manila
Category:Universities and colleges in Manila
Category:Protestant schools in the Philippines
Category:1947 establishments in the Philippines