The philosophy of the University of Luzon, "Perecias y valias" (skills and values) is aptly reflected in the character of its first University Chancellor. Many consider Atty. Luis Samson a legend, an icon of excellence in the City of Dagupan and the Province of Pangasinan. He has contributed very substantially to the foundation of the system of education now well established in our country, of which he is generally acknowledged as one of its builders.

Now at 89, Dr. Samson still manages to retain his renowned sharpness, brilliance and wisdom. He still exudes unabated vitality, stamina, zeal, wisdom and dedication to urgent educational, social, cultural and political concerns. These qualities helped him establish in 1948, an educational institution destined to be known as the University of Luzon.

This sterling achievement under Dr. Samson’s impeccable leadership successfully sealed the dream of universityhood into reality which was unanimously conferred by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in 2002. The following year, the University was granted its derregulated status by CHED in recognition of its "meritorious achievement in higher education in the provision of instruction and in the conduct of research and community extension services; for high performance of graduates in licensure examinations; and for maintaining a tradition of integrity and excelence and an untarnished reputation in the educational service."

In the field of higher education in the Philippines, Dr. Mac Arthur Samson, Sr. is a class by himself. Dr. Samson, constant, self-effacing and one of the most courageous educators in the country today is certainly one man who could, with the qualities of mind and heart, save the wicked cities of our educational system from utter confusion and eventual destruction.

One of the highlights of his career as an educator and as a humanitarian was during the year 1990 when a devastating earthquake of intensity eight ruined the City of Dagupan and turned it into a big desolate area, levelling almost all buildings and houses to the ground. As president and chancellor of Dagupan City Civilian Earthquake Reconstruction Fund Foundation he sent all the engineering students of Luzon Colleges as volunteers to assess the damages, both materially and physically on all of the City of Dagupan. Still in shock and fear, the people turned to Engr. Samson for help for food, money and material to rebuild their homes and eventually their lives. Engr. Samson, fondly called Macky by everyone close to him, toiled and walked with the people in the restoration of Dagupan City, sometimes sleeping for only two to three hours so that humanitarian services, medicines and food nutriments, construction materials and other human needs could be delivered without delay to the Dagupeños at the time of the disaster extending assistance for months and even years of rehabilitation.

Because of his civic, fraternal and educational orientation he even raised funds with his friends and tapped other sources, distributed livelihood assistance to the poor and needy of Dagupan City just so they can overcome and survive the calamity that beset the city. At a certain point in time he even rallied and encouraged all the businessmen of Dagupan City and Pangasinan to extend their helping hand to donate anything they can contribute to help the people even if local government was ready to abandon Dagupan City and transfer the city to another site.

In March 2003, Engr. Samson was conferred a doctorate degree in humanities, honoris causa by the Lyceum Northwestern University. The Lyceum award cited him as an outstanding educational administrator who "has continuously provided educational assistance to the thousands of deserving youth in Dagupan City, Pangasinan province and other provinces in Region 1 in the form of academic scholarships, student assistantships, athletic scholarships and other academic grants for the poor and needy." Yet characteristically, the only achievement Dr. Samson puts down when asked is having "helped hundreds (the number is certainly an understatement) of young people to find their places in society" which is becoming more and more complicated in this highly increasing and technologically driven globalized society.