Two iconic heritage structures have been turned over to the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) during a ceremony for the Handumanan Project (the repair of the Old High School and Woman’s Club buildings) at the UPV Iloilo City campus on Sept. 26, 2024.
The repair of the two buildings was made possible through the efforts of former Senate President Franklin Drilon and retired Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza (together with the UP Iloilo College Class of 1965).
The restoration of the repurposed buildings includes the Old High School Building as a venue to support local arts and culture; provide spaces for gatherings; and an exhibition site for products reflecting UPV’s history and the local culture and the Woman’s Club Building as a venue to support local arts and culture.
In his message, former Sen. Drilon talked about “the value of preserving our heritage – the vestiges of our past,” adding “We have undertaken restoration projects and cultural activities to promote the proud history of Iloilo.”
Some of the notable restored structures in Iloilo City that were provided funding by the Senator include the Museum of Philippine Economic History; Museum of the Philippine Maritime History; and National Museum Western Visayas.
Meanwhile, Justice Jardeleza thanked Sen. Drilon for earmarking P25 million for the adaptive reuse of the two buildings.
Chancellor Clement Camposano, for his part, shared the importance of the structures to their occupants, saying “Beyond the historical value, these buildings are bound up with the very ways we, its occupants of many years, have crafted ourselves.”
He also thanked the UPHSI alumni, particularly Justice Jaredeleza and Sen. Drilon: “These buildings don’t just belong to history, they make history and we have our leaders to thank for their new lease on life.”
As part of the ceremony, the symbolic keys were turned over by Engr. Jurgen De Lugar, Micro-Asia Builders Corp. Project Manager, to Sen. Drilon, Justice Jardeleza, and Chancellor Camposano.
A ribbon-cutting and walkthrough of UPV officials led by Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development Dr. Rhodella Ibabao and Vice Chancellor for Administration Dr. Farisal Bagsit, office and unit heads, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and guests capped off the program.
The fund source for the repair of the two buildings came from the 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA)-UP System, prioritized by Sen. Drilon during his last term as senator.
Meanwhile, the fund source for the assessment is from Justice Jardeleza, the UPHSI class of 1965, and the GAA 2021 for the creation of UPV’s Land Use Development and Infrastructure Plan (LUDIP), handled by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development (OVCPD).
The UP Visayas Foundation, Incorporated (UPVFI) managed the funding and spearheaded the efforts for the study and assessment of the structures.
Former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, a UPHSI alumnus, also made a quick visit to his high school alma mater before the start of the groundbreaking ceremony. Mayor Mabilog and former Iloilo City Councilor Perla Zulueta donated P2 million in 2013 for the conversion of the then-High School Faculty Room into the Learning Resource Center.
