Baker Memorial Hall
| Charles Fuller Baker Memorial Hall | |
|---|---|
 Baker Hall | |
.svg)  | |
| Alternative names | Baker Memorial Hall, Baker Hall |
| General information | |
| Status | Existing |
| Type | Educational Building |
| Address | Mangga cor. Chico Road,UPLB Campus |
| Town or city | Los Baños, Laguna |
| Country | Philippines |
| Coordinates | 14°09′42″N 121°14′34″E / 14.161801°N 121.242708°E |
| Owner | University of the Philippines Los Baños |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Cement, Wood |
| Floor count | Two |
The Charles Fuller Baker Memorial Hall also known as Baker Memorial Hall or simply Baker Hall is one of the oldest remaining buildings on University of the Philippines Los Baños campus[1] and the oldest existing building of the College of Arts and Sciences. It is named after Charles Fuller Baker, longest serving dean and the second dean of the University of the Philippines College of Agriculture.[2] As a building of the university, it formerly served as the university gymnasium[3] and home of the Department of Human Kinetics before it was transferred to the Edwin Bingham Copeland Gymnasium (simply Copeland Gymnasium). The building was originally built under the term of Dean Bienvenido M. Gonzalez from 1927 to 1938.[4]
History
As a Military Camp
During World War II, Japanese soldiers occupied Los Baños including the UPLB Campus. The Baker Hall was used as an internment camp of around 2, 500 American forces and allies from 1943 to 1945.[2] The camp was raided to rescue the prisoners of war by joint forces of Filipino guerillas from ROTC Hunters, HUKBALAHAP 48th Chinese Squadron, President Quezon's own guerilla unit, Marking's group and other irregular troops on February 23, 1945.[5] Today, the historic raid was known as the Los Baños raid. Most buildings inside the campus were destroyed during the liberation but Baker Hall survived and remained intact.[6]
Home of UPLB Athletes
After the war, buildings destroyed were reconstructed. Baker Hall then became the home of UPLB athletes and the university gymnasium. The Department of Human Kinetics of the College of Arts and Sciences which administers the Physical Education courses of the university is based here. The hall has a volleyball, badminton, basketball court and dance studios inside including an archery range, swimming pool and tennis court.[3] It is also used for concerts, theaters, exhibits and other university events such as the graduation ball and the university convocation for freshmen. Starting point of fun runs held inside the campus usually starts and ends in Baker Hall. In 2010, the university gym was moved to a more spacious Edwin Bingham Copeland Gymnasium. Although PE classes are held in the new gymnasium, Baker Hall is still used for other PE classes such as swimming and tennis.
Plans for Baker Hall
After being the home of UPLB athletes, Baker Hall is being planned to be converted a museum. During the term of Former Chancellor Rey Luis Velasco, it is planned to be integrated into the Mariang Makiling Eco-Tourism Village under the Tourism Master Plan.[7]
Historic Site
Due to the important historical and cultural significance of the Baker Hall specially during the war as the Los Baños Internment Camp, the National Historical Institute (now National Historical Commission of the Philippines) declared it as a Historic Site in February 23, 2005 on the 60th commemoration of the Raid at Los Baños.[5]
References
- ^ Kirk, Kate (2000). A Guide to Los Baños for IRRI International Staff & Families. International Rice Research Institute. p. 9.
- ^ a b Fajutagana, Leonora. "Revisiting UPLB's Natural Heritage". Retrieved June 27, 2014.
- ^ a b "University of the Philippines Los Baños - Sports and Recreation". University of the Philippines Los Baños. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
- ^ Bernardo, Fernando (2007). Centennial Panorama: Pictorial History of UPLB. Los Banos, Laguna: University of the Philippines Los Baños Alumni Association, Inc. p. 17. ISBN 978-971-547-252-4.
- ^ a b "Pook ng Bilangguang Kampo sa Los Baños". The Historical Marker Database. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
- ^ Los Baños: A Practical Guide For Newcomers. International Rice Research Institute. 1989.
- ^ Castillo Llaneta, Celeste Ann (March 2011). "Science meets Culture meets Nature: UPLB envisions Mariang Makiling Eco-Tourism Village". The UP Newsletter. Retrieved June 27, 2014.