History of Lyceum of the Philippines University
Lyceum of the Philippines University prides itself with its long and rich tradition of
Academic Excellence through the legacy of its founder, Dr. Jose P. Laurel. The only president
to have served in all three branches of the Government, Dr. Laurel was a successful lawyer,
legislator, constitutionalist, jurist, writer, scholar, statesman, philosopher, and above all things,
an educator.
Dr. Laurel’s concern for education was his most abiding passion. A graduate of top educational
institutions such as University of the Philippines College of Law, Escuela de Derecho, University
of Santo Tomas and Yale University, his credentials as an educator were unassailable. He wrote
extensively on Education and managed to teach in several educational institutions on Manila,
despite his numerous commitments.
During the Second World War, as the leader of the nation during its darkest period in its
history, he introduced educational policies that emphasized and upheld national morale and character.
As a senator after the war, he authored the law creating the National Education Board alongside
Sen. Claro M. Recto.
The inspiration to establish a school came to him in the early 1920’s while a student at Yale.
Three decades later, along with some of his close friends, he turned this dream into a reality.
With the aim of becoming a center of academic excellence in the Philippines and the Far East,
Lyceum of the Philippines University (then still a college) formally opened its doors to the
public on July 7, 1952.
With his admiration for knowledge and his appreciation of classical thought, Dr. Laurel named
the school Lyceum of the Philippines after Lykeios, the site in ancient Athens where the great
philosopher Aristotle nurtured the minds of his protégées. The school’s motto, “Veritas et Fortitudo,
Pro Deo et Patria”, reflects Dr. Laurel’s belief in the value of learning and character formation for
God and country.
Unfortunately, Dr. Laurel unexpectedly died in 1959 while at work.
On his third son, Sotero, who was then in the practice of law, fell the mantle of responsibility
of running the school. He was the natural choice as in years earlier it was Senator Sotero who helped
his father organize Lyceum and acted as the first executive secretary to his father, the school
President, before resuming his law practice.
For the next forty-three years, it was this chosen son, Sotero, who nurtured the school and
made it grow beyond Manila into the provinces.
In 1966, he founded the Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas followed by
Lyceum of the Philippines-Laguna in 2000. Both campuses are now headed by Senator Laurel’s
fourth son, Peter, who was elected President in 2000.
In 2008, another campus in Cavite was established to bring the total number of LPU campuses
to four with a grand total enrollment of approximately 25,000 students, about 10,000 of whom are
enrolled in various hospitality courses.
Senator Laurel’s eldest son, Atty. Roberto Laurel, heads the Manila and Cavite Campuses
as President.
