History

The University of the Philippines in the Visayas Cebu College (UPVCC),as it is now, has a very long and colorful history to tell.

UPVCC was formally inaugurated on May 3, 1918. This was originally situated in one of the buildings of the old Warwick Barracks in Leon Kilat street of Ermita district. This makes this college the second oldest UP unit, next to that of UP Diliman.

This was just a small college-only offering Preparatory Medicine. But in the years to come, UPVCC took off to become one of Cebu's most reputable Colleges.

But UPVCC did not breeze through history without challenges. A number of significant closures and financial problems threatened its very existence. The most notable of which occurred during the World War II era, when the Japanese took over the administration of all learning institutions in the ares of the country they occupied.

On 13 December 1941, the main building was converted as an internment camp for Americans and Filipino civilians. Later, it was occupied by the Japanese troops. Rumor has it that the building served as the Sino's garrison -- making full use of the basement as a chamber for torture.

After the war, the campus was returned to the University on October 31, 1945. School operations resumed but not for long. As a direct result of the war, the national budget was severely strained. Funds were allocated to sectors in immediate need of it. With the cessation of the Appropriations Act of 1950-1951, the college had to shut down its operation.

The College reopened on July 1, 1963 under the administration of a Jesuit Sectarian School. The college was then known as the Berchman's College.

During the Martial law period, UPVCC's students led in progressive demonstartions in the city. This resulted in short time preventive suspensions. at many occassions the college was threatened to be closed.

But with the restoration of Democracy in 1986 and the increase in the appropriation of the education budget, UPVCC slowly built its way to where it is right now, a regional center for excellent academic institution.

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