University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos facade

The University of Negros Occidental – Recoletos, commonly referred to by the short form "UNO-Recoletos" and by the acronym "UNO-R", is a private Catholic university founded in 1941 in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines. It is notable for being the first university in the city and in the whole province.

Brief history

The University of Negros Occidental – Recoletos founded in 1941 in Talisay, Negros Occidental by Dr. Antonio A. Lizares and Dr. Francisco Kilayko. Then known as Occidental Negros Institute, the school offered first and second years of high school education. Upon the outbreak of World War II in the Philippines in December of that same year, the institute closed temporarily.

The Occidental Negros Institute was re-established in Bacolod City in 1946, this time offering elementary, high school and three tertiary degree programs. The campus transferred from Locsin street (formerly Smith Street) to Lupit Subdivision in Lizares Avenue, its present site, in 1950. Dr. Antonio Lizares served as the school's first President with Dr. Francisco Kilayko as the School Director.

On May 15, 1957, ONI was elevated to university status by the Acting Secretary of Education, Martin V. Aguilar, Jr. ONI became the University of Negros Occidental, the first university in the province. Five years later, on May 25, 1962, UNO was acquired by the Augustinian Recollect friars. UNO became the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos with Fr. Federico Terradillos, OAR, as the first acting rector. The current university president is Rev. Fr. Dionisio C. Cachero, OAR.

 

Mission and vision statement

Mission

As a Catholic University imbued with the Augustinian recollect style of viewing education, the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos commits itself to provide the climate, the structure, and the means by which vocation, technical skills and talents of all members of the academic community can be optimally developed and inextricably permeated by faith so they can be used in the service of the people for the glory of God.

Vision

The University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos envisions itself as: A Catholic institution giving witness to the Augustinian recollect charism as a way of living Christian faith; A true Catholic institution offering an Augustinian recollect style of education that responds to the needs of the church, the Filipino society, and the world; and A partner of the government in the development of the young to be productive, enlightened and upright citizens whose hearts and minds are not only focused on their individual good but also on the welfare and well-being of the entire Filipino nation with special concern for the weak and poor.

Patron Saint

The university's patron saint is Nicholas of Tolentino. Saint Nicholas of Tolentino ((Italian) San Nicola da Tolentino (c. 1246–1305), known as the Patron of Holy Souls, was born at Sant' Angelo, near Fermo, in Italy in the March of Ancona, around 1246. His parents, Compagnonus de Guarutti and Amata de Guidiani, were originally unable to have a child, but after praying at a shrine of St. Nicholas of Myra, Amata became pregnant, and they named their son after the saint.

Accessibility

Negros Occidental can be reached through its capital, the highly urbanized City of Bacolod, which is 55 minutes from Manila and 30 minutes from Cebu by air. By sea, it is an 18-hour cruise from Manila and one hour aboard sea crafts from Iloilo. By land-and-sea travel, it is seven hours from Cebu. From Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental, Bacolod is 5 hours away via Mabinay in the south, and via San Carlos City in the north: 6 hours via the coastal road and 5 hours via the Translink highway in Don Salvador Benedicto.

Big and medium-sized buses, both aircon and non-aircon, ply the northern and southern parts of the province, with terminals in Bacolod. Car rental services are available for travel to any point of the island. Air-conditioned metered taxis are numerous in Bacolod, but the jeepney is still the most common means of transport among the towns and cities.