Central Philippine University, Research university in Jaro, Iloilo City, Philippines
Central Philippine University is a private research institution located in Jaro that spreads across a large campus with multiple academic buildings and facilities. The Henry Luce III Library anchors the center of the grounds and serves as the main hub for learning and research.
The institution started in 1905 as Jaro Industrial School with funding from John D. Rockefeller and became the first Baptist university in the country. Over the years it expanded and developed into a major center for higher education in the region.
The annual Festival of Lights and Music draws crowds to campus with local performances and seasonal celebrations that have become part of the city's cultural calendar. The event shows how the university functions as a gathering place for the wider community.
Plan to spend time exploring since the campus is expansive, and wear comfortable shoes for walking around the grounds. For access to special collections or events, it helps to check ahead or ask at the main entrance about what is currently open to visitors.
The Henry Luce III Library holds UNESCO-recognized recordings of the Hinilawod Epic Chant, a rare cultural document of the Visayas region. This collection gives the library a special role in preserving local traditions and knowledge that might otherwise be lost.
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