UP Life 101

PRE-University-Wide Orientation

Almost all Manila Science High School Students “bound” for UP-Manila met at the MaSci’s facade. Actually, I don’t have any “close friends” that are enrolled in UPm. Almost all of my fourth year friends are in UP Diliman, and only two of us in my senior year section are entering UPm. Sadly, the other one is Ian Jeff. Huhu. The first one I spoke to was Jayson, my first year HS classmate. After slight mingling and friendly talking with the people there, we already went to PhiL-am Life Auditorium (UP-Manila has no adequate venues for such university-wide orientation). There are many freshmen, but MaSci students are things-of-a-sight–We are everywhere! Not to mention, we are one who have the most number of “delegates” from a single school. And our cardinality is just a fraction of those in Diliman.

The Freshmen Block Coordinators (FBCs) are in their busiest mode. My block is already inside the auditorium, and I don’t know what to do. Luckily, Noreen, a classmate of mine in MaSci, is my blockmate and is still outside i.e., with me. After struggling to enter the auditorium, we have successfully entered.

An Amazement

I can feel it already—I’m already part of this institution! After some arrangements, the mass is about to start. There came the march of UP officials. They are in their academic gowns. Whoa! They really look smart! (We will be wearing a similar academic gown for our graduation (picture)). They were followed by two university regents (The highest-ranking people in the UP system) and they even looked smarter, wearing some kind of a philosopher’s gown with a UP-embossed medal. Whoa! Their entrance was simultaneously done with UP-Manila Chorale’s serenade.

The Chancellor’s Message- UPd vs UPm

The Chancellor’s message was really good. I’m not short of adjectives to describe it—it was just really good. But I wan to focus on his silly though fully-spirited speech: The Comparison of UP-Manila and UP-Diliman.

** UP Manila is the cradle campus (We are the first!)
UP Diliman is the flagship campus

** UP Manila has the highest UPG cut-off
UP Diliman falls on the second place

** UP Manila has the UP Manila Mall i.e. Robinson’s Place Ermita
UP Diliman has the Shopping Center

** UP Manila is the true home of the authentic Oblation
UP Diliman just got it from us

** UP Manila’s environment depicts TRUE life: Pollution, Crime, Street Vendors, etc.
UP Diliman depicts the serene life: trees, grasses, nature, etc.

** UP Manila’s audience in their rallies are the DOJ, NBI, COA, etc.
UP Diliman’s audience in their rallies are the trees, the students, and the oblation

** UP Manila’s chancellor lives with the PGH President: Bahay ni Kuya
UP Diliman’s chancellor lives with the UP President: Bahay ni Biyenan

The Student Regent’s Message

The Honorable Raffy Jones, UP’s student regent, spoke about our pagiging Iskolar ng Bayan. Although, honestly, he bore us during his speech, his was very significant and deserves a realization. UP should not only focus on academics, but also the country we live in, and that’s very important. The irony: We are funded by the government but we oppose it. But our opposition is critical, real, justified and worth fighting for.

Before he ended his speech, the University Supreme Student Council president shouted: Iskolar ng Bayan! Ngayon ay lumalaban! Many USC position holders then also shouted the same chant in different locations inside the auditorium. Wow. The student regent said that it is a part of a tradition.

“Maging proud dapat ang mga magulang ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan na sila’y radikal”