​The Freehand shared its roots with its closest college-based publication in the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP)—the Engineering Spectrum (formerly "Spectrum")—when Architecture was once under the same college as Engineering courses in the College of Engineering and Architecture (CEA) until the end of millennium. Five years later after the separation of now College of Architecture, Design, and the Built Environment (CADBE, formerly CAFA), and College of Engineering (CE), Ar. Jocelyn Rivera Lutap made the first move to build the foundation of the publication.

 

The Freehand was introduced in 2005 as an official newsletter of the Department of Architecture, under the leadership of then Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Chester Estrella. Due to staffers' inconsistency, the publication struggled to stand on its feet on its early days, adding to the fact that Ar. Lutap left the University for a while to finish her graduate studies, The Freehand slept under the blankets of who-knows-when will it come back to service.

 

Year 2013 marked the revival of the long forgotten publication, and with much passion and strong leadership lead by Ar. Anthony Novero (was still a student back then), The Freehand have risen once more and was finally introduced as the Official Student Publication of the College.

 

In the year 2015, The Freehand officialize its existence as the University accredited and recognized the publication. On that same year, The Freehand joined the widest PUP-system alliance of all student publications and campus journalists, Alyansa ng Kabataang Mamamahayag PUP (AKM-PUP).

 

From then on, The Freehand continues to serve the student by informing them on relevant and latest news and updates inside and outside the University, invites them to be critical towards social and political issues, and promotes safe space for students, alumni, and faculty of the college to deliver their raw emotion, in writing, and illustrations.