The UP Centennial (1908-2008)

Exactly a week ago, the year long commemoration of the University of the Philippines' (UP) centennial has started.
It kicked off with the motorcade from UP Manila, which is the first UP campus established, and ended at UP Diliman. It was joined by representatives from different UP campuses such as UP Baguo (my Alma Mater), UP Los Baños, UP Clark, UP Visayas and UP Mindanao.
Being an Ivy League school in our country, UPians (people who study and studied at UP) are fond of making jokes making UP of course as the invincible of all. And that UPians are second to none. I don't know if it's a secret, but I’m guilty of it we loved to mock other schools back in the day when we were students. But not anymore. I and my fellow alumni, I believe, have matured. I’m speaking for myself here, UP is not the only school producing the cream of the crop.

Anyway, I got this message first via text last year from fellow UP alumnus. My comment was, Woohoo, UP airheads strike again! So when I saw this banner from a fraternity brother's Friendster account, I was brought to thinking, is this really a slogan? Or is it still some form of a joke?
Like for example in our team, we felt that one of our team leader's unwritten qualifications in recruiting members for our team is that the person has to be a UP graduate. She's a UPian herself. Of course she won’t admit it. Har-har. Oh well, she bent her standard a little because we are so under manned. She hired 1 from De La Salle and 2 from Miriam College but still the team is UP dominated.

Peace!

WW - Out in the fog

Click here to learn more about the UP Oblation

The Ritual Dance of the Brave

December 16 marks the founding anniversary in the Philippines of Alpha Phi Omega International Collegiate Service Fraternity and Sorority or simply known as APO.
Each APO chapter in UP campuses holds an annual oblation run in celebration of the national anniversary. This is one of the most awaited events in UP.
The very first oblation run was done in 1977. Rolly Abad, an APO member ran naked in the A.S. lobby of UP Diliman as a form of promotion for play the fraternity was sponsoring called "Hubad na Bayani," (Naked Heroes), Abad was killed in a rumble few months later. The run was held yearly with noble themes every year to commemorate his death.
Contrary to some people’s belief, only the members of the APO are allowed to run since it's a privilege. Neophytes are the ones helping other members controlling the crowd.

UP Diliman 2007
photosource: AP/Associated Press

Here are other pictures taken from the past years’ Oblation Run in different UP campuses (please click photo to enlarge):

UP Los Baños
photosource: Photobucket

UP Baguio

Reactions Galore:
photosources: nash potato, bikoy

Check out Bikoy's to see more UP Diliman's version of Oblation run for 2007. UP Baguio will be having its own run on December 21 after the torch parade.

P.S.
Recently, APO has signed up partnership with Gawad Kalinga dubbed as Kalinga ng APO.
“The APO now makes its neophytes build houses in a Gawad Kalinga village in a remote province as part of 40 hours of community work.” By Belinda Olivares-Cunanan/Inquirer
To learn more about APO, please visit:
http://www.apo.org/ or http://www.apo.org.ph/?page=index

Weekend Snapshot 14

This was taken one weekend by my fellow UPian Rieon Dran Carreon at the foreground of the University of the Philippines Baguio City. The adjacent building beneath the rainbow is the Baguio Convention Center.
The ground is a bit bushy though. You know how public schools are being run here on our side of the planet
The Oblation is the iconic symbol of the University of the Philippines, represented by a man with arms wide-stretched and face facing up, symbolizing selfless offering of one's self to his country.

The statue was sculptured based on the second verse of Jose Rizal's Mi Ultimo Adios;

“In fields of battle, deliriously fighting,
Others give you their lives, without doubt, without regret;
Where there’s cypress, laurel or lily,
On a plank or open field, in combat or cruel martyrdom,
If the home or country asks, it's all the same--it matters not.”

Have a great week ahead y’all!