Far Eastern University is a nucleus of rich academic and cultural experiences. It takes pride in its eminent founder who as educated in the United States and who cooperated with excellent academics to establish one of the famous universities in the country.

            Dr. Nicanor Reyes, Sr. obtained his Ph.D. in Accountancy and M.A. in Business Administration from Columbia University after he had finished his Bachelor’s Degree in Commercial Science in 1917 from New York University and AB from UP in 1915. he had served as the chair of the Department of Economics of the University of the Philippines before he established his own school.

            The name Far Eastern University was coined following the fusion of two schools, the Institute of Accountancy founded in 1928 by Dr. Nicanor Reyes, Sr. and the Far Eastern College established by Nicanor Maronilla-Seva, Fransisco M. Africa, Pedro Cortez, Salvador Unson, and Vicente Fabilla in 1919.

            The Institute of Accountancy initiated a three-year, non-degree program as a springboard before offering courses in business administration, economics, and banking and finance. It was renamed the Institute of Accounts, Business and Finance (IABF) after its founding. Classes were held at the Masonic Temple on Escolta using three rooms but later transferred to more spacious quarters in the Fajardo Building on Avenida in 1930-1931.

            When Dr. Reyes had gained the controlling stock of the Far Eastern College which primarily offered liberal arts courses, he decided to merge it with IABF. On November 5, 1933, he became the first president of what is now known as the Far Eastern University situated at the cigarette factory on the corner of Azcarraga (now Claro M. Recto Avenue) and M. Lorenzo (now Quezon Boulevard) streets.

            He retained IABF as one of its colleges, or Institutes, and incorporated the Institute of Arts and Sciences (IAS). Fransisco M. Africa became the first dean of IAS with Clemente Uson being his IABF counterpart. Established in the same year were the Institute of Education, the Boys High School, the Girls High School, and the Grade School.

            Whet FEU has aspired for through the years was to attain not only quality education, but also quality environment. Dr. Reyes engaged an architect, Pablo Antonio, who was schooled in England, and who later became National Artist for Architecture, to translate, to translate architecturally his vision of a forward-looking and progressive university. Architect Antonio designed the main building along Quezon Boulevard, which now called Nicanor Reyes Hall and is considered a landmark building of the Art Deco style. The completion of the new and modern building in 1939 launched the five-year building program of Dr. Reyes. Two other buildings were erected in record time – the Girls High School (now called the FEU-East Asia College) and Boys High School (now called Law Building).

            In 1934 the Institute of Law was founded, and two years later, the Institute of Technology, with Fransisco Santana, as its first dean. In April 1938, the FEU Junior College was opened in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

            Other buildings were built on the four-hectare university campus, but the rapid expansion project was cut off by World War II. FEU buildings became the headquarters of the Japanese Imperial Military after burning all the University records, books, and facilities. Sadly, during the liberation of Manila, the retreating Japanese massacred Dr. Reyes and some members of his family. Before his death, Dr. Reyes had the satisfaction of hearing President Manuel L. Quezon’s remark after the latter’s visit to the campus:

            “Dr. Reyes, I do not mind telling you that I think Far Eastern University is the best non-sectarian university the country today.”

            The sad death of the founder did not stop FEU’s commitment to educations. The university was re-opened in October 1945 despite the use of most of its facilities by the American forces until their departure in May 1946, the post-liberation years saw the renaissance of FEU with its massive expansion of facilities aimed at meeting the demands of modern and relevant education in the country and the increasing student population.

            After the founder’s leadership, FEU was still run by prominent educators as presidents – Dr. Hermenegildo B. Reyes, Jaime Hernandez, Dr. Fransisco Dalupan, Clemente Uson, Dr. Leoncio B. Monzon, Belen Enrile-Guitierrez, Dr. Vidal Tan, and Dr. Teodoro Evangelista.

            It is to the credit of subsequent administrators of FEU that soon after the war, in 1949, Pablo Antonio was again commissioned to build the FEU Administration Building, which housed the famous FEU Auditorium and which Dr. Reyes had promised to the very successful pre-war Drama Department under Sarah Joaquin. It was the most modern and first centralized air-conditioned auditorium in the country, with a revolving stage to boot. The new auditorium became the “Cultural Center of the Philippines” during the 50’s and 60’s, and many artists performed there. For over 20 years, it was the venue for major cultural presentations like the operas La Traviata, Il Trovatore, and Carmen.

            In 1950, the seven-story Science Building was erected. In July 1952, the Institute of Medicine was established, followed in June 1955 by the Institute of Nursing.

            The university inaugurated the FEU Hospital on October 22, 1955, which served as the principal training hospital for students of the Institutes of Medicine and Nursing.

            Other buildings erected were the Chapel, the seven-story Arts Building (AB), the two-story Home Economics Buildings, the seven-story New Technology Building (THB), and the eight-story Grade School Building (now Education Hall Building).

            These facilities became the venues of instruction of the different institutes set up after the liberation. The Institute of Medicine eventually became a non-stock, non-profit educational foundation known as the FEU Dr. Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation (NRMF) along with the School of Medical technology, the FEU Hospital and the Student Health Service Clinic on August 7, 1970. In 1957, the Institute of Graduate Studies took charge of offering graduate courses, hence allowing the other institutes to concentrate on the administration of undergraduate courses

            The 1959, President Teodoro Evangelista articulated the University’s thrust for the 60’s – “Education for Culture” – a broader program to include arts and culture in the academic preparation of students to be well-rounded persons. Dean Alejandro R. Roces introduced the teaching of Humanities, together with Alfredo Roces, Juses Q. Cruz, and Carmita Legarda. Dean Roces was a major force in many other pursuits of the University in the areas of arts and culture, including the commissioning of Fransisco “Botong” Fransisco to paint the Stations of the Cross at the Chapel and Piyesta ng Anggono at the Administration Building, among others.

            In July 1970, FEU founder’s eldest son, Nicanor Reyes, Jr., acted as the dean of the newly formed Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts. Eventually he became the University president from March 1971 until his death in 1982. he was succeeded by Dr. Belen E. Guitierrez as acting president.

            FEU suffered the same plight experienced by other academic institutions in the country during the martial law regime. One of the consequences of dictatorship on student life was the cessation of The Advocate,  the official student publication of the University. Demonstrations, anarchy and graffiti on all the walls of the University and the city were some of the tangible reactions of the studentry to the authorities.

            After EDSA 1, a people power revolt, the situation normalized, particularly in the so-called “University Belt” – a university district of the city in which the disorder and chaos in the streets penetrated the campuses. Much had to be done by the new administration to achieve the standards of the founder – which was to have not only quality education but also quality environment. Dr. Josephine Cojuanco-Reyes, widow of Dr. Nicanor Reyes, Jr., assumed the presidency in 1987. FEU was at the center of a crowded area, but from the start, the quadrangle with buildings intelligently built only on the periphery made it possible to have an organized campus.

            In 1989, Dr. Felixberto C. Sta. Maria was installed as the eighth president, together with Dr. Lourdes R. Montinolla, the only living scion of the founder, as the Chair of the Board of Trustees. Their tandem brought a renaissance to FEU with efforts to revitalize and preserve buildings and facilities with Art Deco Style. They also continued to revise and improve the curricula. Moreover, three of its units, - Institute of Arts and Sciences, Institute of Education, and the Institute of Accounts, Business, and Finance – attained accredited status.

            After careful study of the technology program, the administration in 1992 decided to phase it out in favour of a computer technology program forged with the East Asia Computer Center, Inc. which offered degrees in computer science and certificate courses.

            A cultural rebirth was also brought by the establishment of President’s Committee on Culture with its twice-a-month presentations of local and international artists at the historic FEU Auditorium. Modern stage productions necessitated the overhauling of the auditorium with state-of-the-art theatre facilities, including a wide screen and a powerful video and computer projector.

             Dr. Sta. Maria retired after 60 years of service, and on July 15, 1995, an eminent public servant, academic and management expert from the Asian Institute of Management assumed the presidency. Dr. Edilberto C. De Jesus was formally appointed as the ninth president of FEU on March 9, 1996.

            His leadership, anchored on the philosophy of Total Quality Management (TQM), centered on the sustained growth and development of the faculty, curricula, facilities, researches and outreach functions.

            The University also forged with linkages with other developed academic institutions that provided of possible technology transfer and assistance for faculty development.  At present, FEU strengthens its international linkages with the University of Oregon, University of Cincinnati, Eastern Mediterranean University, Turkey, Girne American University, North Cyprus, University of Incarnate Word, Texas, among others.

            FEU has many firsts; the first to air-condition all classrooms, the first to put up a basketball court with the latest high-tech facilities including a maple wood floor, the first to set up an outdoor rubberized basketball court, among the first to set up electronic libraries. Almost all the buildings have been done up and different gardens around the campus provide refreshing greenery and serenity to students who seek a shelter from outside stress.

            Dr. Reyes’ dream of a university included the emphasis of art and culture, aesthetics, and the best facilities the university could afford for a well-rounded education. FEU today takes pride in having numerous works of art by National Artists such as Vicente Manansala, Fransisco “Botong” Fransisco, and Fernando Amorsolo that grace its grounds and buildings.