The University of the Philippines, the first state university in the country was founded on June 18, 1908. Located at Padre Faura, the single Campus University then has now evolved into a complete university system with four autonomous universities and a few satellite campuses. UPLB was the first autonomous campus to be established. The other four are UP Diliman, UP Manila, UP Visayas, UP Mindanao, and UP Open University.
March 6 1909 marks the beginning of UP Los Baņos when the College of Agriculture was established as one of the first two units of UP. On April 19, 1910, the College of Forestry was established.
On November 20,1972, Presidential Decree No. 58 created the University of the Philippines System at the same time granting autonomy to UPLB. With this mandate, UPLB assumed the long and difficult task of transforming itself into a comprehensive university that offers 26 bachelor's, 44 masteral, and 19 Ph.D. degree programs.
The first batch of 12 students under the supervision of five American teachers has long left the university. And today, the same university where those twelve were formally schooled is the home of over 8,000 undergraduates and graduates from the different provinces of the Philippines and even from our neighboring countries in Asia. Unlike the urban-saturated universities in Metro Manila, the UPLB lies at the foothills of the legendary and mysterious Mt. Makiling, which is also bounded by Laguna de Bay on its Northeastern side. The university is also surrounded by distinguished research institutions:
IRRI - International rice Research Institute
SEARCA - Southeast Asia Regional Center for Research and Agriculture
PCARRD - Philippine Council for Agriculture and Natural Resources Research and Development
FPRDI - Forest Products Research and Industries Development Institute
ERDB - Ecosystems Research and Industries Development Bureau
NAPOCOR - National Power Corporation
Not to forget, recreation is no stranger to UPLB; Los Baņos has its fair share of recreation spots. It is surrounded by beautiful resorts and gardens like the Makiling Botanical Garden, the Pook ni Maria Makiling, the Boy scouts of the Philippines, private resorts and swimming pools at nearby Pansol, Calamba. For environmentalists and sport buffs, there's the Mt. Makiling Peak1 and Peak 2 for you to conquer.
Organizations are not only encouraged, but are motivated by the University. There are 100 recognized student organizations in UPLB. There are numerous quiz contests, symposia, film showings, parties, concerts, plays, and other cultural presentation you can go to.
Sponsored by the Upsilon Sigma Phi Fraternity and the Sigma Delta Phi sorority, the annual "Friday, Friday on a Thursday" is by far the only ultimately free disco party held especially for the newest batch of freshmen.
These are only a few of the attractions in this beautiful university. Others are left to your own exploring mind.
