The University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P; Filipino: Pamantasan ng Asya at Pasipiko) is a private university in the Philippines. It traces its beginnings to the Center for Research and Communication (CRC), which was established on August 15, 1967, as a private think-tank that conducted economic and social research and offered graduate courses in economics. The spiritual and doctrinal formation given in the university is entrusted to Opus Dei, a Personal prelature of the Catholic Church. History On August 15, 1967, a non-profit private research center was formally established by economists Dr. Bernardo Villegas and Dr. Jesus P. Estanislao, who would later be appointed Finance Secretary during the presidency of Corazon Aquino. It served as a "think tank" for private sector businesses and a provider of economics training programs. After this formal establishment, CRC set up its offices in a rented facility along Jorge Bocobo Street in Malate, Manila. Prior to this, the CRC's first office was at offices of the United Coconut Authority of the Philippines, a private organization of coconut producers, then headed by Ambassador Jose V. Romero Jr. who served as its executive director. The transformation of CRC into a university was inspired by a private meeting in Mexico between the founder of Opus Dei, Msgr. Josemaría Escrivá, and the founders of CRC in 1970. The meeting encouraged Estanislao and Villegas to expand the institution's horizons internationally, which resulted to its first graduate program, the Masters in Industrial Economics. CRC then moved to its current campus in Ortigas Center, Pasig, with established formal and informal programs in 1982. A year later, the Center for Food and Agribusiness was established. Then in 1987, CRC was reminded by Bishop Álvaro del Portillo to establish a university. This resulted to the Institute of Development Education; the foundation for the School of Education. On March 19, 1989, the College of Arts and Sciences was established and admitted its first batch of 158 college students. The center finally gained its university status on June 26, 1995, with Dr. Estanislao as its first University President and Fr. Ramon Lopez, the regional Vicar of Opus Dei for Asia, as its Vice Grand Chancellor. Timeline 1996 The School of Management was founded with Dr. Jose Rene C. Gayo as the Founding Dean. 1997 Mario D. Camacho installed as second University President. 1998 Visit by the University Grand Chancellor, Bishop Javier Echevarria, the Prelate of