For eight decades, the University of Batangas (UB) has shaped futures and strengthened its foundations with purpose and resolve. This year, the institution celebrates not only the passage of time but also the steady growth of a legacy built on vision, courage, and service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On February 13, 2026, UB transformed its Main Campus and the streets of Batangas City into a vibrant corridor of gold and maroon as it marked its 80th Founding Anniversary through the Booth Fair Opening, Motorcade, and Opening Program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Six determined founders established the institution with a single modest structure and a clear mission: to provide accessible and quality education to the people of Batangas. They laid the groundwork for what would become the oldest university in the province. Today, modern buildings rise where that humble structure once stood, serving as concrete proof of perseverance, innovation, and sustained growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The university opened the celebration with a dynamic booth fair that showcased student creativity, collaboration, and school pride. Colleges, offices, and student organizations mounted interactive displays that reflected both academic rigor and community engagement. UB President Lily Marlene J. Hernandez-Bohn and President Emeritus Dr. Hernando B. Perez led the ribbon-cutting ceremony, formally opening the festivities and setting a tone of gratitude and unity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Participants then filled the city streets with a carefully organized motorcade. Students, faculty members, alumni, and administrators adorned vehicles in gold and maroon and followed a symbolic figure-eight route that represented continuity and infinity. The motorcade went down memory lane as it retraced the University\u2019s earliest milestones across the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It first passed the corner of D. Silang Street and P. Burgos Street, now occupied by Jollibee Corporation, where UB relocated to accommodate the growing number of college and high school enrollees. The convoy then moved along Rizal Avenue, where the first rented private house once stood \u2013 a modest space where the institution began to expand its academic reach and strengthen its foothold in the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Along the same route, participants recalled the Reserve Officers\u2019 Training Corps (ROTC) military drills held at the grounds of Batangas High School, where students once trained with discipline and pride. The motorcade also passed Plaza Mabini, which previously served as a venue for Physical Education classes, reflecting how the university maximized available public spaces to sustain student activities during its early years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The procession concluded along M.H. Del Pilar Street, where UB rented a twelve-room, one-storey building to respond to the rapid rise in enrollment. Each stop marked a chapter of persistence and progress, highlighting how the University steadily transformed rented spaces into a lasting institution rooted in Batangas City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Former officers of the University of Batangas Alumni Association, Inc. (UBAAI), including Hon. Raneo E. Abu and Ms. Daisy Maghirang, joined the motorcade and stood alongside the current UBAAI leadership. Engr. Pablo Asi, Mrs. Jircy Marie Ibon, Mrs. Josephine Lagman, Mrs. Charize Sepillo Aling, and Mr. Paul Celis also took part in the procession, representing generations of UB graduates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After revisiting its roots, the motorcade returned to campus for the Opening Program. Senior High School Principal Mr. Augusto Africa led the gathering at the Vicente A. Mayo (VAM) Corporate Center, while Mr. Julius Ceazar D. Ayala and Ms. Kim Lorraine V. Malabanan hosted the parallel program at the UB Western Hall. Notably, Africa, Ayala and Malabanan also served as emcees during the university\u2019s 70th anniversary, drawing a meaningful link between past and present milestones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the opening remarks, President Hernandez-Bohn reflected on the institution\u2019s remarkable growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe founders probably did not imagine that what they created 80 years ago would grow this big,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She recalled standing on the balcony ten years ago during the 70th anniversary celebration. \u201cIt\u2019s time to grow,\u201d she said and it happened. Since then, the university has expanded its programs, facilities, and outreach initiatives to meet the demands of a changing educational landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She credited the entire UB community for walking the same path of progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat is all because of every single one of you \u2013 the ones who are here and the ones who have gone before us. We have such a beautiful, rich history. The commitment of our people defines us,\u201d she said. \u201cAng ginagawa po natin ngayon ay hindi para lang sa atin, kundi para rin sa ating kinabukasan<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n President Emeritus Perez reaffirmed UB\u2019s commitment to progress and excellence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUB is the oldest university in Batangas province. Pero \u2018di tayo tumatanda nang paurong; ang pagtanda natin ay pasulon<\/em>g,\u201d he said, emphasizing that the institution advances with age rather than retreats. \u201cWe will continue to grow. We will continue to provide excellent education.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chairman of the Board of Regents Atty. Jesus V. Mayo highlighted key milestones achieved throughout the 80th anniversary celebrations and the university\u2019s sustained pursuit of excellence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur accomplishments over the past eight decades are not accidents. They are results of our strong spirit of togetherness and collaboration, our combined intellectual capabilities, and our purpose to serve others,\u201d he said. He urged the community to reflect on its shared history and to carry forward the same commitment that shaped the institution\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Brahmmy, the official UB mascot, energized the crowd and formally concluded the Rise and Stride<\/em> campaign from the 75th Founding Anniversary, symbolizing the university\u2019s forward momentum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n University officials then unveiled the official 80th Founding Anniversary logo at the VAM Corporate Center, with a simultaneous reveal on the LED screen at the UB Western Hall. UB Distance Education Director Dr. Carl Ivan B. Villanueva, Senior Vice President for Administration Mr. Alex A. Ramos, Chairman Atty. Mayo, Assistant Vice President for Institutional Quality Assurance Dr. Doringer P. Cabrera, and Corporate Secretary Mr. Jose Carmelino V. Quizon led the unveiling. The emblem captured eight decades of resilience, excellence, and service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For 80 years, UB has moved forward with intention. It honors its past with gratitude, strengthens its present with decisive action, and advances into the future with renewed determination to serve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The celebration also affirmed the University\u2019s responsibility beyond its gates. By continuing to champion accessible and quality education in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4: Quality Education and by strengthening partnerships with industries, communities, and alumni in the spirit of SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, UB reinforces its role as a catalyst for regional development. It does not simply produce graduates; it forms leaders, professionals, and citizens who contribute to nation-building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the anniversary program concluded and the crowd slowly dispersed, the message remained clear: the story of UB does not end at eighty. The institution stands on strong foundations, but it refuses to stand still. It commits to innovate in instruction, expand opportunities for learners, and respond to the evolving needs of society. It carries forward a legacy shaped by faith, discipline, and collective effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eighty years ago, six visionaries planted a seed in Batangas. Today, that seed has grown into a university that continues to rise and stride \u2013 firm in its identity, confident in its direction, and steadfast in its promise to deliver the best future for all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" For eight decades, the University of Batangas (UB) has shaped futures and strengthened its foundations with purpose and resolve. This year, the institution celebrates not only the passage of time but also the steady growth of a legacy built on vision, courage, and service. 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