UP Department of Computer Science

12/09/2026

12/09/2026

𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞!

Today is the LAST DAY to visit the DCS Anniversary Exhibit at Melchor Hall and the UP Alumni Engineers Centennial Hall!

This week, we’ve been celebrating the remarkable history and achievements of our department through immersive exhibit installations that bring the DCS journey to life. Under the creative direction of our alumna, Gabbi Ramirez, each installation offers a unique way to look back and celebrate how far we’ve come.

📍 Melchor Hall: maps.app.goo.gl/sEMoXpKUMKoLYxRn7
Take a trip down memory lane and explore our department timeline at the DCS Hashtag centerpiece. Wander through the exhibit and rediscover the milestones and moments that made us who we are today.

📍 UP Alumni Engineers Centennial Hall: maps.app.goo.gl/iHtuEdamdnAG89Lp6
Then, head over to our home department at the UP AECH, where the exhibit puts the spotlight on the people who have built and continue to define DCS. Find your place in our story at the Quiwa Tree and mark your very own Quiwa Number.

More surprises and memorable moments await! So gather your friends, batchmates, and fellow DCS alumni and make your way to the exhibits before they close today at 5 PM.

Don’t forget to take a photo, share your experience, and celebrate with us online! Tag us and use and as we continue celebrating 35 years of connectedness.

Special thanks to the UPD College of Engineering and the UP College of Engineering Library for providing the venues to showcase the history, stories, and people of DCS.

Until our next commit!

04/09/2026

𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰'𝐬 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐝𝐚𝐲!

Deployment scheduled: DCS@35 goes live!

DCS 35th Anniversary Kick-off and Exhibit Launch
🗓️ September 5, 2026 · Saturday · Registration starts at 8:30 AM
📍 College of Engineering Theater, 3F Melchor Hall, UP Diliman
maps.app.goo.gl/dsNdWgAfbZx5gqaX8
👔 Dress code: Smart casual

See you there!

29/08/2026

𝟏 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐆𝐨!

The clouds are getting heavy, but we're pushing this celebration to production!

DCS 35th Anniversary Kick-off and Exhibit Launch
🗓️ September 5, 2026 · Saturday · 8:30 AM
📍 College of Engineering Theatre, Melchor Hall, UP Diliman

RSVP to reserve a lunch seat and parking spot.
New RSVP Deadline: September 1, 2026
🔗 bit.ly/dcs35-kickoff-rsvp

24/08/2026

𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄! 𝐃𝐂𝐒@𝟑𝟓 𝐊𝐢𝐜𝐤-𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Due to inclement weather, our Kick-off Celebration has been moved to a new date. The venue and program stay the same — only the date has changed.

This year, the UP Diliman Department of Computer Science marks its 𝟯𝟱𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆, and we're kicking it off with a celebration for the entire DCS community. Join us as we look back at the history of DCS, hear from distinguished guests, and open the DCS@35 Exhibit.

🗓️ NEW DATE: September 5, 2026 · Saturday · 8:30 AM
📍 College of Engineering Theatre, Melchor Hall, UP Diliman
maps.app.goo.gl/dsNdWgAfbZx5gqaX8

Already RSVP'd? You're all set — no need to register again.
But if the new date affects your availability, you can submit another response or email us at [email protected] to update us.

Haven't RSVP'd yet? Register now to secure your seat. Lunch seats are limited, so sign up early.

RSVP Deadline: August 31, 2026
🔗 bit.ly/dcs35-kickoff-rsvp

16/08/2026

𝘿𝘾𝙎 𝙃𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙨𝙝 𝙏𝙖𝙜 #2

# 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝘾𝙤𝙢 𝙎𝙘𝙞 𝘿𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩

Pre-DCS: The Source Code Era
Computer science in UP Diliman started as a graduate program. The Master of Engineering in Computer Science (MEngg CS) was one of the earliest formal computing programs in the Philippines, together with the University of the Philippines Computer Center. MEngg CS was administered by the Department of Engineering Sciences (DES), in collaboration with the Department of Electrical Engineering (now the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute) and the Department of Mathematics (now the Institute of Mathematics).

In 1982, the Bachelor in Computer Science (B CS) program was launched, with an initial batch of 35 students, chosen from 200 applicants across UP Diliman.

In 1988, the Board of Regents approved renaming DES to the Department of Engineering and Computer Sciences (DECS).

1990s: The Alpha Launch Era
In August 1991, the Department of Computer Science was formally established, finding its first home in Melchor Hall, College of Engineering. Under Prof. Evangel Quiwa, DCS took ownership of the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS) program and began building its identity.

By 1995, the Master of Science in Computer Science (MS CS) was approved.

2000s: The Full Stack Era
The 2000s were when DCS started building its full infrastructure. Laboratories, industry partnerships, and student organizations all came together in this decade.

Around 2003, the UP Java Competency Center was established through partnership with Sun Microsystems, Ayala Foundation, and Mirant Foundation, as part of the broader ASEAN Java Competency Programme.

In 2004, the UP CS Network was established as the first student organization alliance of its kind in the UP Diliman CoE, bringing together CURSOR, UP ACM, and other CS-based student organizations.

In January 2007, the department moved to its new home at the UP Alumni Engineers Centennial Hall, marking a new chapter in its growth.

2010s: The Benchmark Era
In the 2010s, DCS began setting the standard. Faculty grew in number, doctoral qualifications, and research output, attracting a higher volume of externally funded projects than ever before. National and international recognitions followed, with faculty receiving awards from PhilAAS, DOST-NRCP, and others.

Following the introduction of the K-12 program in 2013, the department revised the BSCS curriculum in 2018 to emphasize fundamental principles and core competencies.

The decade also saw the groundbreaking of the Innovation Wing, the first of the planned buildings that would give DCS a home of its own.

2020s: The Cross-Platform Era
Entering the 2020s, DCS had established nine active research laboratories, strong industry and academic partnerships, and five dedicated student organizations.

What began with 35 BSCS students now averaged 440 undergraduate and 110 graduate students annually.

New graduate programs in Artificial Intelligence, Bioinformatics, and Data Science were approved, reflecting the department's growing reach across disciplines.

This year, the BSCS program achieved AUN-QA certification, a milestone that affirmed 35 years of computing excellence at UP Diliman. What other milestones do you think the department will achieve in this era?

In the photo (from left to right):
Ms. Milagros Ramos, Ms. Maria Asena Galang, Prof. Veronica Tayag, Prof. Cedric Festin, Mr. Abe Diaz, Prof. Evangel Quiwa

———

# 𝘿𝘾𝙎 𝙃𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙨𝙝 𝙏𝙖𝙜𝙨
DCS Hanash Tags is a series of stories, memories, and tributes from the people who learned and grew in DCS. Hanash your moments, struggles, breakthroughs, and friendships, and help us build a collective institutional memory. Because a department that knows where it came from knows exactly where it is going.

———

# 𝙃𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙨𝙝 𝙏𝙖𝙜𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩
Want a chance to win exclusive DCS@35 merch? Share your hanash in the comments.

One lucky winner will take home a signed First Edition copy of Data Structures by Professor Emeritus Evangel Quiwa. See the photo below for how to join. Please drop your hanash directly in the comments section of this post. We will be tracking entries here, as comments on shared posts may be difficult to trace.

Prizes will be awarded during the Kick-off Celebration on August 26. Follow our page for more Hanash Tags contests.

06/08/2026

𝘿𝘾𝙎 𝙃𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙨𝙝 𝙏𝙖𝙜 #1

# 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝘿𝘾𝙎 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙞𝙧
Professor Evangel Quiwa is one of the faculty pioneers who spearheaded the birth of the Department of Computer Science (DCS) at the U.P. Diliman College of Engineering. Early batches of students spoke of Prof. Quiwa with equal measures of respect and fear. His undergraduate courses in CS 32 - Data Structures and CS 131 - Numerical Computing were taken with trepidation, and you can hear mixed sighs of relief and dismay when exam results are released.

Prof. Quiwa, though, was not just a respected teacher at UP. He was likewise a key part of that initial group of computer engineers and scientists in the early days of computerization efforts at U.P. In those years, mainframe computers were few and far between, and programmers skilled in handling such computers were even more rare. These computing pioneers at U.P. worked at the University Computer Center, and initiated efforts to digitize and optimize major systems in U.P., from the admissions systems, the tuition fee assistance program, to the registration system.

- Pancho-Festin, S. 2021. Computing in the University of the Philippines: A Tribute to Professor Emeritus Evangel Quiwa. Philippine Computing Journal. 16, 1, 1–3.

———

# 𝘿𝘾𝙎 𝙃𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙨𝙝 𝙏𝙖𝙜𝙨
DCS Hanash Tags is a series of stories, memories, and tributes from the people who learned and grew in DCS. Hanash your moments, struggles, breakthroughs, and friendships, and help us build a collective institutional memory. Because a department that knows where it came from knows exactly where it is going.

———

# 𝙃𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙨𝙝 𝙏𝙖𝙜𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩
Want a chance to win exclusive DCS@35 merch? Share your hanash in the comments.

One lucky winner will take home a signed First Edition copy of Data Structures by Professor Emeritus Evangel Quiwa. See the photo below for how to join. Prize will be awarded during the Kick-off Celebration on August 26. Follow our page for more Hanash Tags contests.

NOTICE
Please drop your hanash directly in the comments section of this post. We will be tracking entries here, as comments on shared posts may be difficult to trace. Thanks!

04/08/2026

ENLISTMENT IN CS COURSES AND ES 26
First Semester AY 2026-2027

1. Enlistment of CS courses (majors and electives) and ES 26 for all students is through the waitlist module of the CRS. There are NO alternate ways to secure slots. Waitlists will be closed and processed every 10:00AM and 2:30PM during the registration period, and these will be cleared at the end of each processing schedule.
2. THERE WILL BE NO TEACHER'S PREROG. Emails sent directly to DCS faculty, advisers and staff pertaining to requests for slots and enlistment will NOT be entertained.
3. Cancellation of CS courses and ES 26 can be done by sending an email to dcs.upd+[email protected] with the following subject header:
CANCEL (e.g. CANCEL CS 10 THW 202012345 SANTOS, JUAN)
3. Slots will NOT be granted if CRS has blocked your enlistment. This can happen when:
- You are tagged as Ineligible. Please settle your accountabilities first.
- You came from LOA/AWOL and have not been readmitted. Please process your readmission first.
- Your enlistment status is Locked. Please unlock it first or finish the registration until your status is Paid.
- Upon enlistment of a new course, you will be overloaded. Please process permit to overload or cancel some of your enlisted courses.

08/07/2026

Look: UP Engineering Summa Cum Laude is first College Graduate in his Family

Carl John S. Salces, a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science graduate and Summa Cum Laude of the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Engineering Class of 2026, challenged his fellow graduates to use their technical knowledge not merely to build systems that work, but to create solutions that serve people and contribute to a better society.

He delivered his address during the morning session of the UP Diliman College of Engineering Undergraduate and Graduate Recognition Rites held on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at the University Theater in UP Diliman, Quezon City.

Reflecting on the responsibilities of engineers and researchers, Salces urged the graduates to look beyond technical implementation and consider the people affected by their work. “Who are we building these things for? Who do we affect? Who gets to benefit? And most importantly, who gets left behind?”»

He emphasized that engineering decisions are never isolated from society. “Every system, every circuit, every line of code and every single decision we make affects real Filipinos.”

“We don’t just build products and systems that work. We build things that matter, things that contribute to a better society.”

He also shared the personal significance of earning his degree as the first college graduate in his family.

“I am the first college graduate in my family.”

He recalled seeing his family members work continuously to provide him with opportunities that had not been available to them. “I saw them work hard every single day to make sure that I would have the opportunities they never had.”

Rather than presenting his experience solely as a story of hardship, Salces described it as proof of the transformative value of education, curiosity, and public institutions.

“Educational institutions like UP can change the lives of people like me.”

He recalled spending much of his third year with friends and batchmates in the Engineering Library, working on circuits, programming exercises, projects, and examinations.

Despite the difficulty of the program, Salces said the support and example of his peers made the experience meaningful.

“Being surrounded by smart and hardworking people made me strive to be better.”

He said that working alongside his friends and batchmates made studying more enjoyable than it was difficult and encouraged him to continue showing up, persevering, and eventually helping others do the same.

Concluding his address, Salces expressed pride in his family, friends, batchmates, and fellow graduates. “We are engineers filled with knowledge, strengthened by experience and called to serve the people.”

The 2026 Recognition Rites honored undergraduate and graduate students who completed their degree requirements at the end of Midyear 2025, the First Semester of Academic Year 2025–2026, or the Second Semester of Academic Year 2025–2026.

The morning ceremony recognized graduates of the Department of Computer Science, Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute, Institute of Civil Engineering, Artificial Intelligence Program, and Data Science Program. Department of Budget and Management Secretary Kim Robert C. de Leon served as guest speaker.

The afternoon ceremony recognized graduates of the Department of Chemical Engineering, Department of Geodetic Engineering, Department of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Mining, Metallurgical, and Materials Engineering, Energy Engineering Program, and Environmental Engineering Program.

Dr. Maria Cielo Magno-Gatmaytan, professor at the UP School of Economics, served as guest speaker for the afternoon session.

The UP Diliman College of Engineering celebrates the Class of 2026 for reaching this academic milestone and calls on its graduates to carry forward the values of honor, excellence, and service as engineers and scholars of the nation.