An anniversary lunch that brought together current and former employees and heads kicked off the 50th year celebration of the University of the Philippines (UP) Press.
It was held last March 16, the date when the UP Press – the first university press in the country – was put up in 1965.
Also in attendance at the lunch gathering were President Alfredo Pascual and Vice President for Academic Affairs Gisela Concepcion.
(From left to right): Former UP Press officer-in-charge Rony Diaz, former UP Press director Malou Camagay, current UP Press director J. Neil Garcia, Vice President for Academic Affairs Gisela Concepcion, UP President Alfredo Pascual, former UP Press director Cristina Hidalgo and former UP Press director Sylvia Ventura
Three days later, a roundtable on myth and writing was held in honor of the late Dr. Damiana Eugenio whose seven-volume Philippine Folk Literature collection continues to be the all-time best-selling book series of the UP Press.
Guest speakers were Palanca awardee Dean Francis Alfar, critically acclaimed editor of an annual anthology series Nikki Alfar, journalist and editor Karl De Mesa, Department of English and Comparative Literature associate professor Emil Flores, award-winning writer Joseph Nacino, and playwright/actor/theater director/screenwriter Rody Vera.
Just as it does every year in March, the UP Press also has a month-long sale at the UP Press Bookstore in Diliman to celebrate its anniversary. During this time, UP Press books are sold at 20 percent off while non-UP Press books are sold at 5 percent off.
But 50 years of existence is such an incredible feat that last March 23, apart from the month-long sale, the UP Press also treated everyone to a one-day-only, extra-special sale where all UP Press titles were sold at half the price.
There was never a dull moment at the bookstore as students, teachers, book enthusiasts and librarians left with plastic bags filled to capacity. Some of them even traveled from as far as Baguio and Cagayan.
Students took advantage of the special sale to purchase books by renowned Filipino scholars and authors.
The regular month-long sale continues until March 31.
The UP Press, together with six other offices, is an affiliate of the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
It is the official publishing house for all constituent units of the UP system, mandated to encourage, publish, and disseminate scholarly, creative, and scientific works which commercial publishers would not ordinarily undertake to publish.
(All photos courtesy of the UP Press via its Facebook page)
