History

The Geographic Society of the University of the Philippines, also known as UP GeogSoc, is a college-based, non-profit and non-partisan academic organization. It was founded on 02 February 1963 as The Geographic Society U.P. by Ricardo S. Domingo, Jr. at the UP Diliman College of Arts and Sciences under the Department of Geology and Geography. Ricardo S. Domingo, Jr. also served as the organization’s first president. For a time, during the 1990s, the organization was also once known as The Geographical Society of U.P. UP GeogSoc’s very first faculty adviser was Dr. Domingo C. Salita, who was also the first professor of Geography to serve as the chairperson of the UP Department of Geology and Geography, and one of the pioneers of the discipline of Geography in the country. UP GeogSoc was initially a social club for Geography majors during its early years but has since evolved to become an academic organization composed of individuals who are driven together by the passion of making Geography a better-known discipline in the country and developing the practice of geographic inquiry, particularly in the Philippine context. It is guided by four main principles: academic excellence, camaraderie, service, and advocacy.

In 1972, after only 9 years of existence, UP GeogSoc, along with the other student organizations in UP during that time, was forced to suspend its activities due to the declaration of Martial Law and the ban on student organizations. UP GeogSoc was revived and its activities resumed in 1980 under the leadership of Darlene Occeña-Gutierrez after almost 8 years of inactivity. On 26 October 1983, when the College of Arts and Sciences was split into three separate colleges (College of Arts and Letters (CAL), College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP), and College of Science (CS)) by virtue of Administrative Order No. 170 by the UP Board of Regents, Geography became a separate Department under CSSP. UP GeogSoc continued its programs and expanded its membership under the newly created Department of Geography, and has been based in CSSP since then.

UP GeogSoc experienced a brief hiatus in the mid-1990s following the graduation of the members of its Executive Committee in 1996. During Jonas Gaffud’s presidency in 1997, activities and recruitment of new members for the organization resumed and intensified.

In 2010, under Hanie Sanchez’s presidency, the two flagship events of UP GeogSoc--namely Geog Ride and the Philippine Geography Olympiad--were established and held for the first time.

In February 2012, the Alumni Association of the Geographic Society of the University of the Philippines Inc. (GSUP Alumni Inc.) was formally registered in the Securities and Exchange Commission to establish an association that would maintain connections among the UP GeogSoc Alumni Members. The following December, GSUP Alumni Inc. was recognized as an Organization-Based Chapter of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA).

In February 2018, UP GeogSoc officially became a student branch of the International Association of Young Geographers (IAYG) and became the first and only student branch of IAYG in the Philippines. It is also the largest student branch of IAYG in Southeast Asia. In May 2020, UP GeogSoc’s constitution was amended under the presidency and leadership of Jacob Jacela to update the organizational structure, internal processes, and membership rules of the organization. It was also done to make room for innovations within the organization. The constitutional amendment has also codified “UP GeogSoc” as the official abbreviation of the organization, replacing the abbreviation “GSUP” while still recognizing its historic and sentimental value. In October 2020, upon the formation of a new executive committee, UP GeogSoc made headlines, gained national prominence, and was featured in several news media outlets when its open letter to DENR undersecretary Benny Antiporda regarding his comments made against the UP Marine Science Institute went viral on social media.

On February 27, 2023, in celebration of its 60th founding anniversary, the Geographic Society of the University of the Philippines launched its new flagship event entitled, “MAPAaralan: Geography for Kids” which aims to teach children basic geographical concepts in a very fun and comprehensible way appropriate for their age. On its launch, UP GeogSoc partnered with Kalinga Day Care Center. The program was filled with different activities about landform modeling, making simple maps, and activities teaching basic spatial concepts which would be useful to the children as they continue to explore their environment. MAPAaralan: Geography for Kids was one of the first major face-to-face events spearheaded by the organization after three years of conducting activities and programs online because of the pandemic.

Logo

The color green represents the land, while the color sky blue represents both the sea and people who live in between. As a whole, the logo represents the Society's aim to promote Geography as a holistic discipline. From ridge to reef, land and sea, the white line represents the far-reaching scope of the discipline of Geography.

Timeline

• 

  February 2, 1963

  UP GeogSoc Founded

  Ricardo S. Domingo, Jr. founded The Geographic Society U.P. at the UP Diliman College of Arts and Sciences under the Department of Geology and Geography.

• 

  First Logo

  (1963 - 1990)

• 

  1972 - 1980

  Hiatus

  President Ferdinand Marcos signed Presidential Proclamation № 1081, placing the entire Philippines under Martial Law, as well as banning all student organizations in the country.

• 

  1980

  Revival

  UP GeogSoc was revived and activities resumed under the leadership of Darlene Occeña-Gutierrez.

• 

  Second Logo

  (1990 - 2010)

• 

  Third Logo

  (2010 - Present)

• 

  September 9-10, 2010

  Geog Ride

  The 1st edition of Geog Ride was held in Punto Miguel Laiya, Batangas.

• 

  December 4, 2010

  1st Philippine Geography Olympiad

  The first ever Philippine Geography Olympiad was held at PH 400. PGO, along with Geog Ride, are UP GeogSoc's two original flagship events.

• 

  2012

  GSUPAA

  Alumni Association of the Geographic Society of the University of the Philippines Inc. (GSUP Alumni Inc.) was formed.

• 

  2018

  IAYG Student Branch

  UP GeogSoc became a member of the International Association of Young Geographers.

• 

  February 2, 2023

  60th Anniversary

  UP GeogSoc celebrated 60 years of Academic Excellence, Camaraderie, Service, and Advocacy.

• 

  February 27, 2023

  MAPAaralan: Geography for Kids

  UP GeogSoc launched its new flagship event "MAPAaralan: Geography for Kids” which aims to teach children basic geographical concepts in a very fun and comprehensible way appropriate for their age.

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