UPISlife

We’re giving away our remaining stock of exclusive merchandise to our FORE! UPIS participants!

• First 30 Registrants: Receive an exclusive UPGC Golf Cap.
• All Registrants: Receive a Limited Edition Official Shirt.

See you on the fairway! ⛳️

FORE! UPIS ⛳️
A Fundraising Golf Tournament
The 1st organized tournament for the benefit of the University of the Philippines Integrated School.

Join us on June 26, 2026 at Hallow Ridge Filipinas Golf, San Pedro, Laguna, for a day of purpose-driven play and friendly competition organized by UPIS Batch 2001 through UPISLIFE and the UP Golf Club

Registration: 5:30 AM
Tee Off: 7:00 AM
Format: Scramble

Entry fee includes green fee, shared cart, limited edition shirt, giveaways, lunch, awards, and raffle entry.

FORE! UPIS brings together golfers, alumni, and partners in support of the University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS).

📣 Proceeds will go toward improving facilities and providing resources that enhance the student learning experience.

Secure your slot by registering here:
https://forms.gle/R6XE4CTksXygLCFe6

Prefer to talk to us directly?
For questions, sponsorships opportunities, or inquiries, feel free to reach out to us:
Whatsapp or 📞 09177082315
Or message our upislife page

See you on the fairway! ⛳️
FORE! UPIS

𝐔𝐏𝐈𝐒 𝟕-𝟏𝟐 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬

Only thirteen years after its construction, the UPIS 7-12 Academic Building was shut down on February 17, 2026, Tuesday, after the UPIS administration ordered an immediate evacuation of the building and shift to online classes from February 18 to 27. The sudden and indefinite closure was prompted by issues threatening the building’s structural integrity, deeming it unusable until further action, based on the report of third-party assessor VNR Villasenor and Associates.

UPIS officials and University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman Chancellor Edgardo Carlo Vistan held an online Zoom meeting on February 21, Saturday, to explain the structural assessment results and to inform the school’s stakeholders of safety measures and plans for high school classes for the rest of the academic year.

According to UPIS Principal Assoc. Prof. Anthony Joseph C. Ocampo, the problem was not superficial. “The problem was inherent in the beginning... Rather than risking staying there, waiting for the [seismic] event, we are being proactive,” he said, explaining that the issues were systemic rather than isolated cosmetic problems.

Principal Ocampo then released a letter to the UPIS community on February 27, Friday, detailing the building’s brief time on campus, and the logs of communication between the administration, Office of the Campus Architect (OCA), Office of the Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development (OVCP), and VNR Villasenor and Associates.

𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

The UPIS 7-12 Academic Building was not a UPIS-funded project but a donation to the UP system from Ayala Land Incorporated (ALI) as part of a long-term lease agreement covering the Katipunan property previously occupied by UPIS since the late 1950s. The site now hosts the UP Town Center.

Proposed as one of the campus’s first “green” structures, the building was designed to incorporate energy-efficient lighting, ventilation systems, skylights, and wide windows to support its 18 classrooms, according to an August 2011 report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer. The project was developed under the supervision of the UP System’s planning offices and constructed by Makati Development Corporation (MDC), an Ayala-owned firm, before being turned over to UPIS in 2013.

However, UPIS administrators later noted that the school was unable to review or finalize the building’s punch list, a document detailing incomplete or inadequate portions of construction, prior to turnover, as approval had already been granted at the system level without their direct involvement.

𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀

Concerns about the building surfaced as early as June 2021, when cracks and falling concrete debris were reported along the facade and stairwells. Engineers from campus planning offices recommended cordoning off affected areas and installing temporary structural supports while further evaluation was conducted.

From 2022 to 2025, UPIS repeatedly coordinated with university offices to request a full structural assessment and retrofitting plan. The process involved lengthy budget approvals, procurement reviews, and multiple bidding stages, resulting in prolonged delays before an independent third-party assessor was finally engaged.

In February 2026, the assessment concluded that while construction materials were largely up to code, critical structural elements—such as undersized columns and improperly positioned beams—posed serious risks. The evaluators recommended immediate evacuation and deloading of the building, prompting its shutdown.

𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴

It remains unclear whether the building will undergo full retrofitting or be permanently abandoned in favor of a new structure. Chancellor Vistan announced in the February 21 meeting that a second opinion on the assessment findings will be requested before a final decision is made.

Meanwhile, the UPIS administration acknowledged the broader impact of the closure on donors, parents, and students. A portion of donated room resources will be relocated for temporary use, while others will be stored for a possible future building.

Officials also emphasized that the success of relocation plans depends heavily on cooperation with host units across campus and the discipline of students using shared facilities. Even with the partnership with the Tri-Unit institutions, provisions are still lacking to accommodate all high school students in one building.

𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿

As a result of the findings, Grades 7 to 12 shifted to remote learning from February 17 to February 27 to allow the administration time to prepare alternative arrangements for the remainder of the semester.

Starting March 3, Grades 11 and 12 will shift to full face-to-face classes, while Grades 7 to 10 will adopt an alternating face-to-face and remote setup.

Temporary venues were acquired with assistance from the UP College of Education (CEd) and the UP National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development (NISMED). Grades 11 and 12 will use eight laboratories at NISMED, while Grades 9 and 10 will occupy three rooms and a computer laboratory at CEd.

Meanwhile, Grades 7 and 8 will be housed in available rooms within the UPIS 3-6 building, including the 3-6 Bulwagan, where two classes will be held simultaneously with temporary dividers installed to support the shared classroom setup.

Physical Education classes will continue at the UPIS 7-12 Gymnasium, while selected Grade 12 interest courses will use facilities still deemed safe on campus, such as the Practical Arts Foods Laboratory and the Advanced First Aid and Nursing Care (AFANC) Room. Other services, including the 7-12 Clinic and Canteen, will maintain limited operations in the relocated venues.

Detailed guidelines on traffic schemes, room assignments, and schedules for irregular students were then released on February 27, Friday. Students were advised to use the designated entry and exit points for each venue, and to take note of the assigned areas specifically for UPIS.

As a combination of the inevitable shift to remote learning due to the pandemic and the inherent foundational issues surrounding the building, the unanticipated transfer of students to separate institutions within the campus marks UPIS Batch 2019 as the only batch to wholly spend Grades 7 to 12 in the academic building since its establishment in 2013.

“May kailangan talaga ditong accountability na ma-attribute. Basically sa pag-design at pag-construct ng building. Ang tanong na lang ay kung saang punto nagkamali,” Chancellor Vistan explained regarding the next steps in determining who is responsible.

Current efforts are centered on ensuring the continuity of regular face-to-face learning and exploring possible relocation options, while long-term development plans are still underway. The administration requested the stakeholders’ patience and cooperation as they finalize plans for the rest of the semester and develop guidelines for the succeeding academic years.

Principal Ocampo ended the meeting and his letter by inviting the community to offer their insights in order to improve the school’s current setup. He encouraged open communication with the UPIS administration, through email or by appointment.

The shutdown, while abrupt, reflects what administrators described as a necessary decision to prioritize safety—one that now leaves the community balancing continuity of quality learning with the question of how the building’s structural shortcomings will ultimately be addressed for the future generations of scholars.

Written by: Maya Ozo, Gerty Duque, and Xinia Maza
Photo taken by: Bea Oyzon

Reference:
‘Green’ building to rise soon on UP campus. (2011, August 19). Philippine Daily Inquirer. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/44431/%e2%80%98green%e2%80%99-building-to-rise-soon-on-up-campus

Let’s run in UP Diliman!

We’ve just sealed our batch partnership with I RUN PH for the upcoming - - UPisRun, featuring 3K, 5K, and 10K categories.

We’re very excited to organize the very first UPIS Alumni Batch –led community run for everyone! 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️

more details soon!!

Salamat ng marami Dean Francis “Kiko” Diaz ng UP College of Human Kinetics at kabilang sa UPIS batch 84, at sa UP Golf Club para sa pagtulong sa aming mga plano para sa UPIS Alumni Homecoming

a great partnership coming up with UP Golf Club

Preps for the fundraising activities and the 2026 UPIS Grand Alumni Homecoming

Some of our batchmates at last night’s UPIS Grand Alumni Homecoming! Thank you batch 2000 00, UPIS it was fun!!! its our time next year and we are excited hosting the 2026 UPIS Grand Alumni Homecoming! Kita kits!

Send a message to learn more