In recent years, UA&P’s Trailblazers—loyalty awardees—have been receiving a trophy with an ampersand on it. It is a big shift from the previous design, which prominently featured a dragon. While the dragon’s meaning is obvious to the UA&P community, proudly calling themselves Dragons, the symbol ‘&’ does not seem as telling. So why is it now part of the award given to employees who have dedicated years of meaningful service to the University?
See the Trailblazers of 2024 here.
The ampersand in the University of Asia & the Pacific or its acronym, UA&P, may seem like a simple typographical choice, but it carries a profound legacy. When UA&P was founded, its vision was to be more than just a university for the Philippines—it sought to embrace a regional and global perspective.
In a live interview on August 17, 2017, during the launch of the Golden Jubilee Countdown, UA&P co-founder Dr. Jesus P. Estanislao emphasized, “I would suggest that you in UA&P should never forget that ampersand. You are a university not only for the Philippines but also for Asia and for the entire Pacific region.” The inclusion of “&” was intentional, representing the University’s commitment to bridging cultures, disciplines, and ideas.
More than just a connector of words, the ampersand embodies inclusivity, interdependence, and a broader outlook. Dr. Estanislao highlighted how UA&P must approach education holistically: “We cannot be thinking in terms of law, of accounting, of medicine. We’ve got to go into a cross-sectional, interdisciplinary approach to real problems and real issues that humanity faces, that Philippine society faces.” The ampersand serves as a constant reminder that knowledge is best cultivated when different fields come together to tackle the complexities of the modern world.
Additionally, “&” reflects the union of faith and reason. “What I hope this University will do is to stick very close to its roots—the ampersand—faith and reason, Philippines plus Asia and the Pacific, and the rest of the world.” The University’s commitment to intellectual rigor is inseparable from its moral and ethical foundations, fostering individuals who can think critically and act responsibly.
At its core, the ampersand is a call to action: to collaborate, to think beyond ourselves, and to embrace a worldview that sees the Philippines as part of a greater whole.
“We cannot think too much only about ourselves. We cannot be narrow nationalists. We have to be patriots, who are very much in love with this country. And also very much in love with the whole world, which we have to help shape and for which we are responsible.”
So the next time you see the words University of Asia & the Pacific or UA&P in print, take a moment to reflect on the power of that little symbol. It is not just a grammatical shortcut—it is a reminder of UA&P’s unwavering commitment to interconnectedness, collaboration, and a vision that extends far beyond its walls, ideally practiced by the Trailblazers of UA&P.
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