Manila Central University

Private university in Caloocan, Philippines

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Manila Central University

Pamantasang Manila Sentral (Filipino)

Former names

* Escuela de Farmacia del Liceo de Manila (1904–1915)
* Manila College of Pharmacy (1915–1929)
* Manila College of Pharmacy and Dentistry (1929–1945)
* Manila College of Pharmacy and Liberal Arts (1945–1946)
* Manila Central Colleges (1946–1948)

Motto| In Scientia Solidaritas (Latin)

Motto in English

| Solidarity in Science
Type| Private Non-sectarian stock Coeducational Basic and Higher education institution
Established| December 6, 1904; 120 years ago (1904-12-06)
Founder| Alejandro Albert

Academic affiliations

| PAASCU PACUCOA
Chairman| Luningning Tanchoco Estanislao
President| Renato Tanchoco Jr.
Location|

Caloocan

Metro Manila

Philippines

14°39′33″N 120°59′10″E﻿ / ﻿14.65917°N 120.98617°E﻿ / 14.65917; 120.98617
Campus| Urban
10 hectares (100,000 m2)
Alma Mater song| "Dalit ng MCU"
Colors| Purple   and   Gold
Nickname| Supremos

Sporting affiliations

| UCAL
Website| mcu.edu.ph

Location in Metro Manila

Show map of Metro Manila

Location in Luzon

Show map of Luzon

Location in the Philippines

Show map of Philippines

Manila Central University (MCU), formerly known as the Escuela de Farmacia del Liceo de Manila, is a private, non-sectarian, stock basic and higher education institution located on EDSA, Caloocan, Philippines. It was founded in 1904 by Alejandro M. Albert, who also was its first director.

MCU is the first pharmacy school run by Filipinos, and the first nursing school that offered the four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in the Philippines. The patron of the university is Minerva. MCU was a member university of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines from 1952 to 1962.

## History

[edit]

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National historical marker

In 1903, at the request of several students from the University of Santo Tomas and other nearby schools, Alejandro Albert organized a private review class.

The review class developed into the Escuela de Farmacia del Liceo de Manila in 1904, with Albert as the founder and director. Later on, due to the steady increase in enrollment, it was transformed into the Manila College of Pharmacy, with Leon Maria Guerrero, Antonio Llamas, Feliciano Paterno and Filemon Tanchoco Sr. as the incorporators. It was the first educational institution of its kind established and managed by Filipinos. Its initial organization was barely four years after the establishment of the Philippine education system.

In 1929 its board of trustees, answering a long-felt need for the training of the youth for dental services, opened the college of Dentistry. Manila College of Pharmacy became then the Manila College of Pharmacy and Dentistry in the pre-war era. Second World War closed its portals in 1941.

During the Japanese occupation, the enemy looted its facilities, laboratory, equipment, and museums. During the liberation period, it was further looted of everything but the shell of its two buildings.

After the liberation of the Philippines, the board of trustees reorganized the college into Manila Central Colleges.

In addition to Pharmacy and Dentistry, the reorganized institution offered courses in liberal arts, education, commerce, business administration and postgraduate courses in pharmacy. In 1947, the College of Medicine was added. In 1948, it became the Manila Central University after opening the College of Nursing and Graduate School.

In 1949, the MCU inaugurated its 10-hectare campus in Caloocan. The colleges of Optometry and Midwifery, and the High School and Kindergarten departments were opened.

The university's varsity team, the Tigers, competed in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines from 1952 to 1962. MCU's best finish in the centerpiece seniors basketball tournament was runner-up to University of the East in 1958.

## Colleges

[edit]

Manila Central University campus

* College of Medicine
* College of Nursing
* College of Pharmacy
* College of Dentistry
* College of Optometry
* College of Medical Technology
* College of Physical Therapy
* College of Arts and Sciences
* School of Business and Management
* Institute of Education
* Graduate School
* Basic Education Department

## Sports program

[edit]

The Manila Central University was a member of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) from 1952 until their withdrawal in 1962. They have won the women's volleyball championships in Seasons 20 and 24.[1]

## Notable alumni

[edit]

* Salvador Flores, brigadier general
* Rizalino Garcia, brigadier general
* Uchenna Ikonne, optometry professor
* José Corazón de Jesús, poet
* Teodoro Kalaw, legislator and scholar
* Serapion Torre, poet
* Arsenio Luz, businessman and journalist
* Iñigo Ed. Regalado, writer
* Rico Robles, disc jockey
* Zaldy Zshornack, actor (MCU high school)
* Elijah Alejo, actress (MCU senior high school)

## See also

[edit]

* List of universities and colleges in the Philippines

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Who rules the court? A look at UAAP volleyball champions through the years". Rappler. May 15, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2025.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Manila Central University at Wikimedia Commons
* Official website
* Photograph of the Liceo de Manila at Flickr

* v
* t
* e

Colleges and universities in Metro Manila

Universities

| State universities|

* Philippine Normal University
* Polytechnic University of the Philippines
* PUP Parañaque
* PUP Quezon City
* PUP San Juan
* PUP Taguig
* Rizal Technological University
* Technological University of the Philippines
* University of the Philippines Diliman
* University of the Philippines Manila

|

Local universities|

* City University of Pasay
* Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina
* Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
* Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa
* Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasig
* Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela
* Quezon City University
* Taguig City University
* Universidad de Manila
* University of Caloocan City
* University of Makati

Catholic universities|

* Adamson University
* Ateneo de Manila University
* De La Salle Araneta University
* De La Salle University
* Our Lady of Fatima University
* San Beda University
* St. Paul University Manila
* St. Paul University Quezon City
* University of Asia and the Pacific
* University of Perpetual Help System
* University of Santo Tomas

Other religious universities|

* Philippine Christian University
* Trinity University of Asia
* New Era University

Other private universities|

* AMA Computer University
* Arellano University
* Centro Escolar University
* Las Piñas
* Makati
* Far Eastern University
* FEATI University
* José Rizal University
* Lyceum of the Philippines University
* Manila Central University
* Manuel L. Quezon University
* Mapúa University
* National University
* Philippine Women's University
* The University of Manila
* University of the East
* UE Caloocan

Colleges

| State colleges|

* Eulogio "Amang" Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology
* Marikina Polytechnic College
* Philippine Public Safety College
* Philippine State College of Aeronautics

|

Local colleges|

* Navotas Polytechnic College

Catholic colleges|

* Assumption College San Lorenzo
* Children of Mary Immaculate College
* Colegio de San Juan de Letran
* Colegio de San Lorenzo
* Colegio de Santa Rosa
* CSR Makati
* College of the Holy Spirit
* Concordia College
* De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde
* Don Bosco Technical College
* Immaculate Heart of Mary College-Parañaque
* La Consolacion College Manila
* LCC Novaliches
* Miriam College
* Our Lady of Perpetual Succor College
* Pasig Catholic College
* Perpetual Help College
* Saint Francis of Assisi College
* Saint James College
* Saint Joseph's College
* Saint Louis College
* Saint Mary's College
* St. Paul College of Makati
* St. Paul College Pasig
* Saint Rita College
* St. Scholastica's College
* San Beda College Alabang
* San Juan de Dios Educational Foundation
* San Sebastian College
* Santa Catalina College
* Santa Isabel College
* Siena College
* UST Angelicum College

Other religious colleges|

* Grace Christian College
* La Verdad Christian College
* Manila Adventist College

Other private colleges|

* Access Computer College
* Airlink International Aviation College
* Asia Pacific College
* Asian Institute of Computer Studies
* Asian Institute for Distance Education
* Asian Institute of Maritime Studies
* CAP College Foundation
* Center for Culinary Arts
* Central Colleges of the Philippines
* Chiang Kai Shek College
* Chinese General Hospital Colleges
* CIIT College of Arts and Technology
* De Los Santos – STI College
* Emilio Aguinaldo College
* Enderun Colleges
* FEU Alabang
* FEU Diliman
* FEU Institute of Technology
* Global City Innovative College
* Golden Link College
* iAcademy
* International Academy of Management and Economics
* Kalayaan College
* Manila Business College
* Manila Tytana Colleges
* Metropolitan Hospital College
* MFI Foundation
* National College of Business and Arts
* National Teachers College
* Olivarez College
* Open Source College
* PATTS College of Aeronautics
* Philippine College of Criminology
* Philippine College of Health Sciences
* Philippine Cultural College
* Philippine Merchant Marine Academy
* Philippine School of Business Administration
* PMI Colleges
* PNTC Colleges
* Roosevelt College
* Saint Jude College
* South Mansfield College
* South SEED LPDH College
* Southeast Asian College
* Southville International School and Colleges
* STI College
* STI-NAMEI
* Technological Institute of the Philippines
* Universal College
* Valenzuela City Polytechnic College

Theological colleges|

* Asian Seminary of Christian Ministries
* Asian Theological Seminary
* Christ the King Mission Seminary
* Maryhill School of Theology
* San Agustin Center of Studies
* San Carlos Seminary

Postgraduate education

| Graduate schools|

* Adamson University Graduate School
* Alliance Graduate School
* Arellano University Graduate School
* Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication
* Asian Institute of Management
* Asian Social Institute
* Ateneo Graduate School of Business
* Ateneo School of Government
* Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health
* Far Eastern University – Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation
* National Defense College of the Philippines
* San Beda College of Medicine
* South East Asia Graduate School of Theology
* University of the East Graduate School
* University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery
* University of Santo Tomas Graduate School

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Law schools|

* Arellano University School of Law
* Ateneo Law School
* De La Salle University College of Law
* Far Eastern University Institute of Law
* Philippine Law School
* PLM Graduate School of Law
* Polytechnic University of the Philippines College of Law
* San Beda College of Law
* University of the East College of Law
* University of the Philippines College of Law
* University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law

* See also: Higher education in the Philippines

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* United States

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