The Ang Bahay ng Alumni, a joint project of the University of the Philippines and the UP Alumni Association was launched on June 19, 1992. It was envisioned to be a Convention Center with a 2,000-capacity. It is a timely addition to the campus facilities, Quezon City having no convention center as large as the Ang Bahay.

After several years of painstaking fund-raising and with generous donation of our alumni here and abroad, the UPAA and the University have finally built the P 85 Million project, the “Ang Bahay ng Alumni” Convention into an imposing landmark inside the UP Diliman Campus. A total of P 82,219,175.01 had been received through direct donations, and fund raising activities. Construction cost totals to P 74,998,172.68 and P 6,540,964.86 was spent for fund campaign expenses.

The Ang Bahay is built on a 3,000 square meter lot at the corner of Magsaysay and Balagtas Streets, adjacent to the Fonacier Hall (former UP Alumni Center), with a total floor area of 6,735 sqm. The Ang Bahay is a modern structure that has four levels: basement, ground level, second level and roofdeck. It features a convention hall, meeting rooms, restaurants and coffee shops, bank gallery, office spaces for lease and other facilities.

The vaulted roof echoes the form of several older buildings within the campus such as the gym, the old DCMT barracks beside the engineering building and the old UP Theater now replaced by a more up-to-date structure of bricks, stone, and metal.

From the main assembly hall, the high vaulted ceiling gives a sense of scale and a view to appreciate the stained glass façade with an image of UPAA’s logo.

Ample design consideration has been given to the natural ventilation and day lighting of the interiors. Large sliding stained glass doors at both sides of the assembly hall, awning windows at the deck level to be complemented by a whole-house fan mounted at the rear façade and deck level induce air movement and prevent building of heat during occupied periods. The high large façade windows at the front rear illuminate the assembly hall and main corridors at daytime.

In the evenings, the main vault, lighted by metal halide lamps backlights the stained glass façade that serves as a directional sign especially during social functions. The main vault is made of three layered composite material of galvanized sheet with an insulated core. This minimizes the influx of heat on sunny days. During rainy periods, the insulated core buffers the sound of rain chattering on the metal roof.

At the main hall entrance, the four panel granite pedestal with a lady sculpture holding a lei welcomes you to our Bahay. This was made and designed by our National Artist, Prof. Napoleon V. Abueva. Inscribed in the pedestal are names of mega donors, fund campaign volunteers and the UPAA Board of Directors. The major donors are as follows: Don Emilio T. Yap, Atty. Luciano E. Salazar, Engr. David M. Consunji, Atty. Potenciano T. Ilusorio, Mr. Francis Chua, Engr. Benjamin B. Chua Jr., Dr. William M. Valdez, Mr. Hilario Valdez and Crispina Marcos Valdez, Mr. Hilarion Vibal, Mr. Sulpicio Goguiocso, Dr. Andrew Gonzales, Atty. Amorsolo V. Mendoza, Mr. Jaime Lee Sumulong, Euro Med Laboratories Inc., Liwayway Publishing Corp., Manila Bulletin Publishing Corp., Philippine Trust Company and P.I. Foundation Inc.

Upon entering the hall, added attractions welcoming you are two side walls of the lobby of the main hall. These walls will feature the Donors Scroll of Honor who donated P 10,000.00 and $ 500.00 and above. Each wall contains 1,750 names of donors on a maroon gravoply, computer engraved with magnetic strips and spot lights. A total of 3,500 names can be installed on both sides. Samples of material & letterings are being posted on both walls. The total cost of this scroll will be P 2.6 Million. At present, the Ang Bahay has 2,000 donors and now installed on the donor’s wall.

The mezzanine (second floor) of the Ang Bahay has a floor area of 1,200 sqm. This is where the UPAA Secretariat, the UPAA Board Room, UPAA Director’s Room, the function rooms, offices and the restaurant and coffee shop are located. The UPAA Board Room is used during UPAA Meetings, Special Meetings of the University and UPAA Chapters. The function rooms are being rented.

The convention hall opened last June 1996, but there were many functions already held here like homecomings, weddings, graduations, seminars, fund raising activities like ballroom dancing, bingo socials and raffles, awards night, birthday parties, book launching, concerts, family day, play, exhibits, Christmas parties and company sales rallies.

Donors of the Ang Bahay can avail of a 15 % discount on the basic rate of the convention hall and function rooms.