As the flagship institution for teacher education, the Philippine Normal University proudly waves its flag as it celebrates its 109th year of service to the nation through quality teacher education.

At the end of the Spanish-American War in 1901, the Philippine Normal School (PNS) was established through Act. No. 74 of the Philippine Commission to give Filipinos training in the science of teaching. The school formally opened on September 1, 1901. It was to pioneer in the training of Filipino teachers as facilitators of learning who would subsequently tutor young Filipinos to prepare them for the challenges in life and be actively involved in the sustenance of the democratic system.

On June 18,  1949, with the signing of its Charter, Republic Act 416, PNS became the Philippine Normal College (PNC) , offering undergraduate degrees in education. Republic Act 6615 mandated the offering of doctoral and other academic programs relevant to teacher training.

On December 26, 1191, the PNC was converted into the Philippine Normal University (PNU) by  then President Corazon C. Aquino. Last year, former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed Republic Act 9647, the PNU Modernization Act, designating PNU as a National Center for Teacher Education.

PNU has forged partnerships with 22 higher institutions of higher learning in the Asia Pacific in line with its mission to modernize its system of continuing education and training of teachers and education leaders. It has been consistently cited by the Professional Regulation Commission as a top performing school in the licensure examinations for teachers. For the last two years, it has pioneered in online distance education in graduate courses. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has designated PNU a Center for Excellence.

We congratulate the Philippine Normal University headed by its Officer-in-Charge, Dr. Fe A. Hidalgo, University officials, Faculty, Staff, and Students on the occasion of their 109th Founding Anniversary and wish them all the best and success in all their endeavors.