A Look into UP's History & Culture (with a list of UP jargons and events!

June 18, 1908 in downtown Manila, is when the University of the Philippines first opened its doors. It
was originally located at Calle Isaac Peral which is now the United Nations Avenue, and Padre Faura.
Fine arts, liberal arts, medicine, veterinary medicine, engineering and law are UP's first colleges. College
of Agriculture was also established in a separate campus in Los Baños, Laguna. The University Alumni
Association was established in 1913 and was followed by the formation of Student Council in 1914. The
Philippine Collegian or 'Kule, the university’s longest running official student publication published its
first issue in 1922.

It was during Rafael Palma's term as UP President, when academic freedom became the hallmark in the
university. Social and political issues confronted the country and the promotion of "freedom of the
mind" dominated UP. In 1935, the Oblation was created by the national artist Guillermo Tolentino,
which is based on his interpretation of the second stanza of "Mi Ultimo Adios" of Dr. Jose Rizal, and was
installed at the Manila campus.

After World War II, the Philippine General Hospital became part of UP campus in Manila and in 1948,
much of the university was transferred to a bigger campus in Diliman, Quezon City.

Aside from being the bastion of activism, there's more inside UP. They say this 30, 000 square meters of
land is a microcosm of the Philippine society. And that makes UP not just a university but also a home, a
community, and a fullfillment of dreams.

With a land area so vast, UP developed its own culture. Diversity inside the campus is what makes UP
uniquely different from any other university in the country. Actually, UP culture is something to be
proud of. From the local vocabularies you could hear from the isko or iska talking while eating in a
*kiosk, up to the events that are part of UP tradition, truly, you will experience a lot in your whole stay
in this premiere university.

To help you understand UP more, especially when talking to an upperclass, here's a short list of
UPjargons you could hear inside (or outside) the campus:

1. Paper- n. an academic-related requirement that includes reaction papers, research papers, technical
papers, etc.

2. Sabaw- adj. describes an isko/iska that is preoccupied by a lot of things especially in academics

3. Acads ( n.)- not org-related stuff

4. Org (n.)- organizations, there's a lot of this in Arki (watch out for CASTLE Fair!)

5. Hell week- a week full of exams, deadlines, and other stressful matters

6. Walwal- usually happens after the hell week, or when you feel like drinking with the squad
7. Walkout- a form of protest that UP students organize where you can just left the class and join the
students in their calls for different issues; NOTE: some profs allowed you to join walkouts while some do
not; speaking of academic freedom

8. Kiosk- food stalls that you can see all around the campus where you could eat especially when you
only have up to 15-minute break in between your classes

9. TriCol- refers to the special treatment to the three colleges (CAL, CS, CSSP) offering the most number
of GE classes, every enrolment season

10. GE's- General education classes, where you could learn outside of your respective fields!

11. Majors- major classes, in your case, those with 'Arch'

12. Tambayan- org-related word, a specific place for orgs, sororities and fraternities

13. Oble- just the Oblation, you can't take a picture with this or you won't graduate on time (pamahiin)

14. Ikot- refers to (1) the jeepneys that travels around UP or (2) the route of jeepneys where you won't
actually leave the campus e.g. from Arki to Shopping Center (SC)

15. Prerog- happens when you desperately need units and the CRS can't actually give you class na

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

These blank numbers are for you to fill up! You can write here other UP jargons that you will encounter
from now on.

Events are also part of the UP culture. Here are some of the "ganaps" that you should watch out in UP
every year:

1. Welcome Assembly- as freshies, this is one of your important events to come! Feel the warm
welcoming atmosphere that UP can give you before acads kills you

2. Pep Rally- i'm sure you know the UP Pep Squad! well this event is exclusive for UP students where you
can watch the routines that they will perform in the UAAP Cheerdance Competition

3. Oblation Run- perhaps the most famous UP event, i'm sure you are well aware of it *why do birds
suddenly appear* ;)
4. Lantern Parade- happens every Christmas season!, a tradition where each college and institute
compete for the best parol except the College of Fine Arts. They have their own contest.

5. Maskipaps - organize by the College of Engineering, it is the annual afterparty of the Lantern Parade!

6. UP Fair- held annually in the Sunken Garden, it is a week-long event full of music, rides, and food!

7. University Student Council (USC) Election- when it comes to politics, you should watch out for this
very important yet "pinakamagulong" season in UP where the blue's (UP Alyansa), the red's (STAND UP),
the yellow's (KAISA UP) and the green's (Independent) fight one another to win the vote of the student
body.

8. Graduation Day- it's Sablay time! the annual ceremony for graduates that comes with a lot of
sunflowers along the university avenue.

These jargons and events is nothing except when you actually experience all of these! Wag masyadong
GC and explore the university! Marami ka pang madidiscover na di ko na nilagay dito ;) Good luck!