Celebrating the institution that shaped
generations of Filipino learners—from a small classroom in 1980 to a global
education network.
AMB. AMABLE R. AGUILUZ - CHAIRMAN AND FOUNDER OF AMA
EDUCATION SYSTEMS FATHER OF IT EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES
Every great
story begins with a dreamer.
Sometimes it’s
a young person searching for a chance at a better life. Sometimes it’s a parent
hoping their child grows up with opportunities they never had. And sometimes,
it’s one founder—standing in a small, rented room—with a vision big enough to
pull the future a little closer.
DR. AMABLE C. AGUILUZ IX - VICE CHAIRMAN, AMAES FOUNDER, AMA UNIVERSITY ONLINE EDUCATION (OED)
This is the
story of AMA.
But more than that, it is the story of every student who ever walked through
its halls believing, “Kaya ko pala.”
Where the Dream Started (1978–1980)
In 1978,
computers were mysterious machines—expensive, rare, and almost intimidating.
Yet AMA dared to bring them to the Philippines, becoming the first
Computerland franchise in Asia. This bold step wasn’t about business. It
was a quiet act of belief: that Filipinos deserved access to the technology
shaping the world.
Just a year
later, Computerland was pioneering microcomputer sales—planting seeds for a
country that would someday become an IT hub.
And by 1980, in
a modest space on the second floor of a rented building, 13 students
showed up for the very first day of AMA Institute of Computer Studies. Their
classroom wasn’t just a room—it was a promise. A door opening to futures they
had never imagined.
Building a Family, One Campus at a Time
(1981–1990)
As AMA grew, it
didn’t expand like a corporation. It expanded like a family learning to make
space for every new child with a dream.
Cubao. Makati.
Quezon City. Cebu. Davao.
Every new
campus was a story waiting to unfold: students carrying secondhand bags,
mothers waiting outside classrooms, young men and women discovering a talent
they never knew they had.
In 1987, AMA
did something unheard of: it linked all its campuses through a nationwide
computer network. At a time when most homes didn’t even have internet, AMA
was already stitching together a digital community—proving once again that
innovation wasn’t a luxury; it was an act of service.
Going Global, Staying Filipino (1991–2000)
By the 1990s,
AMA began reaching places many Filipinos only dreamed of visiting.
Guam, Hong
Kong, Bangladesh, California.
But AMA didn’t
expand to boast international branches. It expanded to reach Filipino
communities abroad—parents working overseas, children growing up in unfamiliar
cities, families searching for connection in foreign places. AMA became a
bridge between who they were and who they aspired to be.
At the same
time, AMA was forming partnerships with global giants like Lucent
Technologies, Microsoft, NCC-UK, Cisco, Hewlett Packard—showing the world
that Filipino talent belonged on the global stage.
And while the
world prepared for the Y2K scare, AMA’s founder, Dr. Amable R. Aguiluz V,
was appointed to lead not just the Philippines’ preparations, but to sit among
world leaders planning for the digital shift of the century.
From a small
room in Manila to the halls of the United Nations—the dream had grown wings.
A University With a Heart (2000–2010)
The new
millennium marked a turning point.
In 2002, AMA
officially became AMA University—a recognition not just of academic
excellence, but of its impact on Filipino lives.
Makati’s new
AMA One building rose like a symbol of hope. The School of Medicine
opened in both Makati and Cavite, giving birth to doctors who would someday
serve communities, far-flung towns, even pandemic frontlines.
AMA also
pioneered blended learning years before the country knew it would one
day need such innovation for survival. Through satellite-powered classes,
students in remote islands were learning the same lessons as students in major
cities. For many, it was their first real shot at finishing college.
A Home for Every Dreamer (2010–2020)
The next decade
was filled with stories of young people defying odds.
Students from
Bahrain bringing home robotics awards.
Learners from Jakarta, Macau, and Oman finding a Filipino-style warmth on their
campuses.
OFW families reunited through AMA’s international institutes.
And thousands of Filipinos—many already working—earning degrees through AMA
Online Education, the first fully online degree program in the country.
It was no
longer just about diplomas.
It was about dignity.
About second
chances.
About proving that education can meet people where they are—not the other way
around.
Dreams That Evolve With the Times (2020–2025)
As the world
changed rapidly, AMA refused to be left behind.
New programs in
Cybersecurity, Data Science, Blockchain, and Artificial Intelligence
opened doors for Filipino youth to compete globally.
Partnerships
with CompTIA and PeopleCert ensured students graduated with
credentials recognized around the world.
The vision
expanded beyond classrooms:
- Real estate developments valued at over PHP20 billion
- A hospital rising in ARA Vista
Village
- A rural bank that became the
largest used-car loan bank in the country
- A banana farm exporting to Asia and
the Middle East
- Water utilities, telecommunication
franchises, power distribution companies
- And a foundation offering
scholarships and medical missions to those who needed help the most
AMA was no
longer just an educational institution.
It had become an ecosystem—supporting families, communities, and industries.
In 2025, AMA
earned ISO Certification and introduced U-Learn 24/7, a platform
envisioned as the “Uber of Philippine Education,” making learning available
anywhere, anytime.
The dream had
come full circle: education for all, without limits.
The Story
That Still Continues
Forty-five years after that first small classroom opened its doors, AMA
stands not just as an institution, but as a living testament to what happens
when a dream refuses to stay small.
When you walk through any AMA campus today—whether in Quezon City, Dubai, Hong
Kong, Laguna, or online from the quiet corner of a home—you will feel the same
pulse that began in 1980: the belief that every Filipino deserves a fighting
chance.
Because the truth is this:
AMA did not grow because it had the best computers.
It grew because it never stopped believing in the people who sat in front of
them.
For every scholar who once thought education was out of reach…
For every working student who attended class after a long shift…
For every OFW parent who dreamed of a better future for their children…
For every young dreamer who arrived unsure, uncertain, or unseen…
AMA became the place where they were told, “Kaya mo ‘yan. Tuloy lang.”
And they did.
They graduated.
They built careers.
They lifted their families.
They broke cycles.
They created new legacies of their own.
A Legacy That Belongs to the Filipino
AMA’s 45-year story is not defined by the rise of buildings, the
expansion of campuses, the international branches, or the technological
firsts—though those milestones matter.
The real milestone is this:
Millions of dreams, once fragile and flickering, now stand tall because
AMA believed in them first.
From the students who became engineers, nurses, entrepreneurs, soldiers,
and IT leaders…
To the parents who finally watched their children cross a graduation stage…
To the communities touched by the foundation’s missions and the jobs created
across industries…
AMA’s greatest achievement has always been its people.
And Now, the Next Chapter Begins
As AMA steps into its 45th year, it does so with the same courage that
shaped its beginning—fearless, forward-looking, and rooted in purpose.
Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Global Education, U-Learn
24/7—these are not just programs.
They are bridges leading the next generation into a world that keeps changing
faster than ever.
And at the center of it all is a promise that has never wavered:
Wherever there is a Filipino with a dream, AMA will always make room.
A seat in the classroom.
A path to a degree.
A doorway to a future that once felt impossible.
Because dreams deserve more than inspiration—they deserve a home.
And for 45 years, that home has been AMA.
And the story is far from over.
In fact… the next great chapter is about to begin.