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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.”

In UP Los Baños

The University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) is one with the whole UP community’s centennial celebration. As one of the constituent universities, UPLB’s celebration exhibits the three pillars of the UP Centennial Theme – “excellence, service and leadership for the next 100 years.”

But the Los Baños campus wants to give a unique blast to welcome the 100 years of the state university. So, they established their own theme but not separate from that of the whole UP community – UPLB’s “Distinctive Excellence.”

Dr. Emmanuel Abraham, Assistant to the Chancellor and Director of the Office of Alumni Relations, enunciated that UPLB highlights leadership, excellence and service in support to UP Centennial’s Theme. Having said that UPLB does not only settle for excellence, but strives for its distinctive excellence, Dr. Abraham uttered the definition of the Univeristy of the Philippines Los Baños’ Distinctive Excellence.

He said, “As one of the constituent units, we tried to give our own flavor also in the celebration. Distinctive excellence is what we do best in a niche that sets us apart from others. It is the collective expression of a culture of instruction, research and community service grounded on the principles of science and social responsibility. It is the standard of greatness that we established in the academic and research world that others look upon for guidance and inspiration.”

Dr. Abraham boasts of their theme as being very specific on their heritage where they look at the past linked up to what they can contribute in the future. He speaks of leaving a legacy priding their foundation on science and social responsibility.

The Los Baños campus has been able to express their excellence in the areas of agriculture, biotechnology and environment. These fields are distinct to them. Also, they try to highlight the culture and the arts especially of the Southern Tagalog Region.

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.

In UP Manila

As a constituent university, UP Manila adopts the theme - , “Excellence, Service and Leadership for the next 100 years” - as its own.

However, the students of UP Manila, led by the party ASAP-Katipunan offered an alternative theme, “UP @ 100: Itigil ang Kumersalisasyon, Ipaglaban si Oblation: Isang Daang Taon ng Pakikibaka ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan para sa Karapatan ng Sambayanan.” Although it is lengthier than the official theme, outgoing USC Councilor Patricia Cielo believes it captures “the historic role of UP as the nation's primary social conscience and architect.”

UPM’s Participation in the Kick-off

It all began in Padre Faura. One hundred years and seven constituent universities later, it is only fitting that the University of the Philippines begin their centennial celebrations back at UP Manila. On January 8, 2008, Mass was celebrated at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Chapel and there was a short program to launch the centennial celebrations.

A great number of delegates from UP Manila went on to participate in the celebrations that followed in UP Diliman, including representatives from the seven colleges, National Institute of Health and PGH. All in all, Cielo estimated roughly 5,000 people from UP Manila at the centennial kick-off.

While the Centennial Commission provided jeepneys to transport the delegates from Manila to Diliman, they were only able to supply one jeepney for each department. Should this prove to be insufficient, the college or department would have to fund for additional jeepneys for their other delegates.

Many people however were not provided transportation for the trip back to Manila, since the jeepneys were only rented until seven o’clock, and the celebrations lasted until almost eleven o’clock. UP Manila performers had to rent their own jeepneys to take them home with their bulky instruments.

UPV kick-off celebration

The University of the Philippines in the Visayas (UPV) celebrated UP’s centennial on the 26th of January. Titled “Bayle sa Kalye,” it was celebrated during the “Kasadyahan,” one of the activities of the Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo City.

Senator Francis Pangilinan was reportedly the guest of honor with President Roman joined by VP for Academic Affairs Amelia Guevara, VP for Public Affairs Cristina P. Hidalgo, and VP for Legal Affairs Marvic Leonen.

“On the day of the kick-off parade, all Miagao-based UPV students assembled at around 10 a.m. at the UPV Dormitory area (Balay Lampirong). The UPV Transporation committee hired at most 24 jeepneys to accommodate an estimated 400 students going to Iloilo City,” said UPV student Coleen Servando.

They jumped-off from UPV Miagao at 11:30 with 26 vehicles in convoy, including the car of the transportation committee and the truck of the sound system that played the “UP Ang Galing Mo” centennial theme song from Miagao to Iloilo City, she added.

The bayle dance parade started at 2 p.m. and moved from Plaza Libertad to the Freedom Grandstand, turned right upon reaching the Obelisk and passed by the Amigo Terrace Hotel to the Provincial Capitol. It then turned left at Gen. Luna Street, passed by the Atrium, and straight ahead to St. Paul’s Hospital and the University of San Agustin.

It turned left again at Jaladoni St. and turned right shortly at Delgado St. going to Infante Avenue. At Infante Ave., the parade which was composed of marshalls, the Colors, UPV officials, alumni, UPV Administrative Staff, the core group of dancers, the mobile sound system, students and student organizations, and the medical team stopped at the UPV Infante gate and rested at the UPV Quadrangle.

The bayle would commence the year-long celebrations of the UP system including the 61st Anniversary Celebration of UP in Iloilo in July this year, said UPV Chancellor Glenn Aguilar. The UPV Centennial Raffle, featuring a new Toyota Vios as its grand prize, was also launched during the program, according to the UPV official website, the proceeds of which will be used to fund UPV’s projects.

The participants were wearing white shirts with the UP and UP centennial logos. They waved maroon, green, and golden yellow cloths cut into banderitas, scarves, and flaglets. A contest among the different academic groups was also held during the parade with the categories namely, Best in Gimmickry, Best Mascot, and Most number of participants.

An estimated 6,000 people, mostly UP alumni from Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and the Negros provinces, including Iloilo City Vice Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog reportedly attended the kick-off.

As a gesture still symbolic of the centennial, the Admin Officials released 100 balloons after the program.