What’s UP, Los Baños?

Familiar question? I was reminded of this question today while I was talking to a classmate way younger than me. We were comparing notes about college courses, about the planaria for the zoo class and the “Where is the copper now?” question. For those who don’t know, this is one of the exercises in Chem 16. I can’t even remember how the exercise goes. But I do remember the dark hallway going to B105. Chem16 was the first class I attended in college, hence the first time I met my blockmates. At 7 in the morning, most of us were still sleepy to come to class. We called our instructor (his first time to teach, too), Paeng, behind his back, just like how his friends call him. I wonder how he is. At the end of the semester, there is the “open inquiry” where we make our own experiments. The group we shared our bench with, had a bottle or beaker explode suddenly. Everyone rushed out of the room except Paeng, who was left sitting calmly as he observed the other group.

And they are posted online. No need to find your name in the long list of passers posted at the UPLB Registrars office. How did you find out you passed?

UPCAT Results can be found here.

One of the most important events of my life at UPLB was attending the World Youth Day celebrations in Manila, in 1995. I was most excited at seeing Pope John Paul II and the prospect of meeting people from all over the world. Some of the things I remembered are the following:

• Learning the song “Tell the world of His love” and the action that goes with it. I can still remember my classmate Ome of Lisseux (tama ba spelling?) singing it in our P.I. 100 class as part of the talents/skills we share in class under Beng Boro

• Instead of proceeding at the Tent City in Lawton we had the campout first at the Jamboree site together with delegates from other parishes. We slept in tents, too. I cannot remember the name of the parish priest at San Antonio then, but he did share that he was the one who held the bible for Pope John Paul II to read during mass when he came to the Philippines in 1981.

• Calling meal times Bukas Loob sa Diyos or BLD as in Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner.

• Group discussions on Faith, Hope and Charity – from the program and liturgy guide book

• More singing, masses, confessions and prayer meetings

• On Friday, January 13, 1995 we were able to go to the Tent City, we formed a long convoy then of jeepneys and vans all from Los Baños. I remember we went there at night.

• The first thing that greeted me at the Tent City was this huge streamer that says “BE NOT AFRAID”. The first food we ate? Jollibee longganisa!

• We slept in big tents and bathed in tent-like bathrooms. Wala nga lang hook ka yang hirap magsabit ng gamit!

• Hearing the mass presided by the Pope and seeing him in his popemobile afterwards. Sayang wala akong picture.

• Walking from Lawton to CCP and back just to celebrate mass with the Pope..

• We had some free time and my sister and I were able to walk around the old city, visiting Manila Cathedral, Casa Manila and the nooks and cranny of Intramuros.

• Seeing millions of people in Luneta just to hear the Pope again during mass. That was the first time that I knew that he already had prepared speeches marked “embargo, not to be published until (date)”. Kaya pala ang bilis magprint ng mga dyaryo ng speeches, ganun pala ang ginagawa.

• Generous St Therese parishioners who helped us raise funds to be able to join as delegates. The Couples for Christ who organized the Tent City making it possible for delegates to have a safe place to stay.

• Souvenirs galore! From tshirts, keychains, caps, posters of the Pope, pins, etc… My sister and I still has a WYD ref magnet attached to the ref at home.

What really stood out was the theme “As the Father has sent me, so am I sending you” (John 20:21). The Sunday after my graduation from UPLB, I went to mass at St Therese and that was the gospel reading. I knew then that I made the right decision to leave UPLB.

The World Youth Day 1995 ref magnet souvenir, one of the many souvenirs you
could buy during the gathering.

Tell the world of His love

For God so loved the world

He gave us His only Son

Jesus Christ our Savior

His Most Precious One

He has sent us His message of lobe

And sends those who hear

To bring the message to everyone

In a voice loud and clear

Let us tell the world of His love

The greatest love the world has known

Search the world for those who have walked astray

And lead them home

Fill the world’s darkest corner

With His light from up above

Walk every step, every mile, every road

And tell the world of His love