UP Carillon Tower’s Original Bells in Quezon City, Philippines

The University of the Philippines (UP) Andres Bonifacio Central Carillon, also known as the UP Carillon, was inaugurated on August 1, 1952, by Philippine President Elpidio Quirino. The original tower still stands, but its bells have been replaced. The original bells are now displayed at the nearby Villamor Hall, where visitors can see them upon entering the building. The UP Carillon was designed by Filipino architect Juan Nakpil and stands 130 feet tall, serving as the maximum height for surrounding structures. A carillon is a percussion instrument played with a keyboard, consisting of at least 23 bells, and the UP Carillon originally had 46 bells. The bells were cast in bronze and tuned to sound harmoniously, with the largest bell weighing around 5 tons and producing the lowest pitch. During the term of UP President Carlos Romulo, the national anthem was played twice daily on the carillon. The UP Carillon played a significant role in student activism on campus in the 1970s, serving as a rallying point during the First Quarter Storm and the declaration of Martial Law. The original bells deteriorated and were removed in 1988, but new bells were installed 20 years later, just in time for the university's centennial celebration. The new bells have an electronic system, allowing them to be preset to play at certain hours.