Preparations for the Kick-off

In less than a month’s preparation, UPLB was able to mobilize 1,000 contingents during the Centennial Kick-off at UP Diliman in January 8. UPLB found the participation of their students, faculty and alumni the most important factor in the kick-off.

Dr. Abraham referred to their efforts for the kick-off as “a labor of love”. Within a short notice, the campus according to Dr. Abraham was not able to gather funds from sponsorships and donations.

Dr. Abraham shares, “Ang basic na naging input ng administration dun was to provide the transportation, partly. Because some others were college-based, mga sasakyan ng kolehiyo.” When asked, he did not relay how much the administration gave the campus for its transportation needs.

He narrated that the students were very excited about participating in the kick-off at the flagship campus. Organizers were surprised that the numbers of the contingents going to Diliman doubled the morning of the event. They were expecting a number of 400 but they left with a group of 800. This group left Los Baños in rented jeepneys and buses and college-based vehicles. Some 200 went directly to UP Diliman to support the event.

“Meron na kaming ginagawa that I think found a venue for expression doon sa motorcade,” Abraham said. One of which was “Isang Daan,” the centennial theme song of UPLB composed by Angelica Dayao that won at ELBI 19.09 last September 2007.

UPLB dressed-up a vehicle that would serve as the campus’ lead vehicle. However, the float was later on used by UP Manila during the motorcade. “Kahit small contribution, we came ready to serve also,” Dr. Abraham added.

College-based activities, funded by each colleges’ individual chests, are to be expected from the University of the Philippines’ campus at Los Baños the whole centennial year.

Security preparations

Prior to the January 8 kick-off party, there has been a memo issued to all deans and unit heads to enjoin themselves in the celebration of the university’s centennial.

To take care of the campus security is the UP Diliman Police (UPDP), with the help of the Special Services Brigade (SSB) and the Supervisory Team of Private Security, both under the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs.

Prior to the actual event were meetings and consultations among these groups to prepare for their respective assignments.

The SSB even decided to employ 28 guards on extra duty besides the 18 on regular duty, said Sgt. Narciso T. Domino, SSB Team Leader. The SSB guards secured the areas covered by the affair—from the University Avenue to the Academic Oval and Quezon Hall.

The UPDP, on the other hand, is assigned to attend to traffic supervision and control, as well as to ensure the orderly flow of vehicles in the alternate routes since the Oval was closed, said Maj. Bernie Baltazar, UPDP OIC.

They also deployed personnel in intersections and parking areas to look after the “bukas-kotse” and “basag-salamin” gangs in campus.

The celebration was generally peaceful, both units claimed. Only an incidence of loss of some personal belongings in the amphitheater was reported to the UPDP, which were apparently impossible to recover.

The SSB said they were able to tame down activist-visitors through a “verbal agreement,” arguing that the event is nothing but a celebration of the centennial.

Chancellor Sergio Cao, thru a “text [message]” to Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs Dr. Grace Gregorio, reportedly extended his greetings to the security units for “a job well-done.”

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