SM Investments Corp. (SMIC) has turned over a nine-level building to the University of the Philippines (UP) Professional Schools at Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig.
SM Prime Holdings Inc. President Hans T. Sy formally turned over the edifice to UP President Alfredo E. Pascual on Tuesday.
The new satellite campus spans a total floor area of 12,000 square meters, and will house 29 classrooms; three computer laboratories; a study area called a learning commons; faculty lounges; an auditorium; a moot court or a venue for simulated court proceedings for law students; a multipurpose hall; discussion rooms; conference rooms; office spaces; and an executive lounge.
“It is with great pride that we turn over today the Henry Sy Sr. Hall to the highly esteemed University of the Philippines here at BGC. The building carries no less than my father’s name, whose prime advocacy is education. He worked hard and sacrificed so much early in his life just to be able to receive formal education. He wants the same for every Filipino,” Sy said during the turnover ceremonies.
Postgraduate classes will be held on the new campus. The UP College of Law will offer an evening Juris Doctor program. The Cesar E. Virata School of Business will offer MBA and DBA classes starting in 2017. Other UP Diliman units that will be offering postgraduate classes at UP BGC include the College of Engineering, School of Statistics, School of Urban and Regional Planning, School of Labor and Industrial Relations, and the College of Architecture.
In 2014 SM inked a memorandum of agreement with UP for the construction of a professional school building.
UP is SM’s longtime partner-school in its nationwide college-scholarship program under SM Foundation Inc. Through this program, SM has and continues to provide free college education to thousands of deserving children coming from financially challenged families. This program is also rooted in empowering the youth, giving them hope and honing their true potential, while investing both in their future and that of the whole country.