What’s UP, Los Baños?

In celebration of the centenary of the University of the Philippines, Kwentong Peyups -essays of UP alumni during their stay in the university – is published in the Sunday Life section of the Philippine Star. This week, the featured essay is by Romeo H. Gecoleo, BS Agriculture (1961). His essay on life in UPLB in the late 50s tells of typhoons (life in UPLB won’t be complete without them), of the downtown that was Grove, of two meals a day for only 35 pesos a month (!!!) and more… Check the UPLB that was in his essay “Macdeath, farming, and how to castrate and goat“.

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Know more about steel buildings here.

One of the alumni sent me this. I do agree with his assertion.

“can you imagine the oblation sporting a maroon and green speedo or the statue of liberty wearing a red, white and blue garb? should statues wear a color other than its material as the patina-coated bronze or white marble or wooden as christ on the cross? concrete statues are made to look bronzy or ebony or marbly but not like this monstrosity at the uplb plaza.  whoever sponsored this “artistic” aberration should be crucified by paul zafaralla.”

This reminds me of Ambeth Ocampo’s article Red pants for revolution? (Philippine Daily Inquirer) and I quote:

“I recall an interview with a descendant of a revolucionario that shattered my stereotype image of him in the camisa and red pants. This descendant asked me five times for the color of Bonifacio’s pants (“Ano’ng kulay ng pantalon ni Bonifacio?”). Five times, in between stories, I answered that red was the color of Bonifacio’s pants. I felt the interview was useless and that my informant was probably senile, and yet this repeated query was meant to establish a point. Asked the same questions for the sixth time, I answered politely “Pula po. Why do you keep asking a question I have answered five times already?”

Then she asked the P1-million question that changed my life. Looking me in the eye, she asked, “Ikaw, Ambeth, kung lalaban ka sa rebolusyon, magsusuot ka ba ng pulang pantalon?” [“You, Ambeth, if you were to fight in a revolution, would you wear red pants?”] Would I wear red pants to the revolution? I resisted the urge to answer, “Bakit hindi?” [“Why not?”]

She explained that the battles were fought in wooded areas, so it was logical to wear something that would blend with the foliage: green, brown, even black. But wearing those screaming red pants would make Bonifacio an easy target. He would have gotten shot during the first encounter and would not have survived to fight another day.

This made me realize that even in historical representation, common sense is not common.”

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Have a use for industrial clamps?

 Last week was the Feb Fair, a much awaited event each year by students and alumni alike. Since I didn’t have any org at all, I was not too keen on looking around the students. I preferred going to the food booths, eating barbecues (I wonder where they go the rest of the year), enjoying the food soold by international students and basically just moving around and mingling with old friends and classmates who came just for this. I met some classmates I haven’t seen since I graduated in 1995 so that was really memorable. The food was good, although I missed Mrs Phuong this year.  Do you recall eating Vietnamese spring rolls during the Feb Fair many years back? Anyway, she has a resto at Agrix so I can go there anytime.

Here’s the Oblation run video I promised.

Any Oblation run anecdotes out there?

I came across the UPLB Link during the recent Loyalty Day celebrations when students were distributing copies to everyone. I thought I’d have to type the news here if I want to share it with you. Fortunately I browsed upon the UPLB website and found that UPLB Link is online. Here is the online version of UPLB Link.

Latest updates include current issues at UPLB:

• New PUJ traffic route at UPLB
• Ambulant Vendors
• Alleged frat/sorority rape at UPLB
• Change of UP sked
• Smoking ban

Any thoughts on these news?

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Interested in fat burners?