ANG ELEVATOR NG LAGIM

Tara ... sakay tayo sa elevator na ito! hehehe! ;-)

Traffic In Diliman

There’s a bit of traffic in Diliman because lots of people from the area are now off to their respective provinces for All Souls Day. All Souls Day happens on November 1st every year. The holiday, allotted to spend time with loved ones who have passed away, is one of the most popular holidays observed by Filipinos allover the country.

Going to Araneta from Diliman has been difficult since yesterday because of the heavy traffic and the large number of people commuting to the central bus station in Quezon City.

Many more who are based in Diliman will be travelling tomorrow to get either to the NLEX or the SLEX or to the airport to get home for the long weekend.

Regent Bibeth Orteza on mismatched shoes, breast cancer and on thinking outside the box

Regent Bibeth Orteza exits Quezon Hall after a BOR meeting in December 2010. Photo by Chanda Shahani

'And at the investiture of Alfredo E. Pascual, 20th president of UP, at the UP Theater in the month just past, I partnered purple with black, a puwede na rin combined with the purple and green toga assigned to regents."'

'Said Chanda R. Shahani, editor of the online weblog Diliman Diary: “Regent Bibeth’s mismatched shoes signaled to me a lightening of the atmosphere under the new administration of UP president Alfredo E. Pascual, as the administration of former president Emerlinda R. Roman was rocked in its later years by significant policy differences by her administration and the various sectors. Like the mismatched shoes, Pascual symbolized a phenomenon to me that was smart, modern, conscious of the rules, but also witty and inspired enough to think and do things outside the box for the benefit of the country’s only national university.”'

'For former faculty regent Judy Taguiwalo, “kahit ’di pares ang sapatos, walang kapares ang may suot!”'

Read the rest here.

TUPDKK Grand Eye Ball to coincide with December 16 U.P. Diliman Lantern Parade

To enlarge the graphic just click on it

The 1st TUPDKK Grand Eye Ball and TUPDKK Scholarship Launch will be held at the UP Track Oval, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City on December 16, 2011, 7 p.m. onwards.

At least 1,000 attendees are expected to attend this gathering and with possible additional attendees from the spill-over of the UP Lantern Parade which starts at 3 p.m.

TUPDKK, which stands for Taga U.P. Diliman ka kung … is a Facebook page founded by U.P. Diliman alumnus Cleve D. Mallari, and which now has over 35,000 members. It was created last August 10, 2011. The members include students, faculty, staff, residents, and alumni of UP Diliman.

The success of the online community has led its administrators to the creation of a TUPDKK book and a scholarship project. The book, which will contain stories culled from the exchanges in the Facebook group, endeavors to document the unique UP Diliman experiences across many generations. The book will also be a means to give back to the community as a portion of the book sales will be used as seed money for the scholarship project. No deadline has been announced yet for the release of the book by TUPDKK.

TUPDKK’s scholarship project aims to support deserving high school student/s from the poorest rural areas who aspire to become Iskolars ng Bayan. The projected expense of sending one scholar through a four-year course in UP Diliman, inclusive of all allowances and book or project fees, is estimated to be about PhP 500,000.00

To further raise funds for the scholarship project and to ensure its sustainability, the group also plans to come out with merchandise and other fundraising events.

Aside from the scholarship project, it is also our group’s vision to actively support initiatives within the UP Diliman community that promote the culture of giving back and serving the country.

Unlike other institutions which have sports teams that act as a focal point for their communities, the U.P. Pep Squad is the only athletic team that has consistently garnered the top spot among its peers. TUPDKK is especially popular among UPD alumni, because many of them have an unexpressed nostalgia for their college days that has remained unsatisfied – until now – through TUPDKK.

Coming in on the heels of hard times for State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), including the University of the Philippines, which has experienced massive budget cuts, TUPDKK allows the alumni and other members to express pride in their institution in an organized way within a community of peers.

The TUPDKK event is therefore seen by many as a means of reigniting UPD’s fighting spirit, as the University of the Philippines System itself faces the challenge of seeking greater financial autonomy from the government which is facing budget constraints.

National Artist for Theater and Design, Salvador “Badong” O. Bernal passes away

The following was shared with us by Ms. Vicky D. Belarmino, on Facebook regarding the passing away of National Artist for Theater and Design, Salvador "Badong" O. Bernal. The post is embedded below by the Diliman Diary:

"Dear Friends,

It is with great sorrow that we inform you of the passing of our National Artist for Theater and Design, Salvador “Badong” O. Bernal. Badong was not only a great artist – he was also a dear friend to many of us here at the CCP. He was the pioneering head of the CCP’s Production Design Center. A great designer , he forged paths for younger artists to follow. As an administrator, he helped in the formation of the Philippine Association of Theater Designers and Technicians. He never stinted in sharing his knowledge and was the mentor of many of today’s outstanding young stage designers. Badong will be sorely missed.

Details of his interment will follow soon."

Salvador Bernal was one of the most creative production designers in the history of theater and film very sensitive to budget limitations of local productions, he used inexpensive local materials, pioneering or maximizing the use of bamboo, raw abaca, and abaca fiber, hemp twine, rattan chain links and gauze cacha. In 1995 he organized the PATDAT (Philippine Association of Theatre Designers and Technicians) and by way of Philippine Center of OISTAT (Organization Internationale des Scenographes, Techniciens et Architectes du Theatre), he has introduced Philippine theater design to the world. He was named as national artist for theater design in 2003.

Murder at C.P. Garcia, Diliman

A mother and child were murdered in their home along C.P. Garcia Avenue yesterday. The two, Edna Brizuela, 41 and her son Jadi Magsakay, 7 were found dead due to multiple stab wounds, authorities say.

Lito “Jugno” Arsenia, Brizuela’s live-in partner is tagged as the primary suspect. The 39-year-old man and Brizuela reportedly had a fight over Arsenia’s excessive drinking a few days before the murder.

Brizuela’s and Magsakay’s neighbors say they saw Jugno leave the C.P. Garcia home at noon on October 24, about 24 hours before the bodies of the victims were found.

Police told the media that a knife was found at the crime scene. Arsenio could not be found in the vicinity though when police initially looked for him yesterday to shed light to the incident.

A manhunt has already been launched by the Crime Investigation and Detection Unit of the Quezon City Police District. 

Underground activists stage Tribute-March for Filipino communist leader

UP Diliman BAA 100% Passing

This year’s Business Administration and Accountancy graduates from the University of the Philippines Diliman are celebrating their 100% passing rate for the year’s CPA licensure exam.

Friends and relatives of the passers are jubilant. On the web, a number of tweets were posted regarding this news while others congratulated the board passers.

Although the University of the Philippines is the country's premiere university, the passing rate in board exams and other exams such as the BAR is not always 100% especially if one looks at the results in recent years.

Former UP students believe that passing a licensure exam  is not only attributed to how hard each examinee studies but how much budget is allotted to the university to improve the quality of education provided.

A Bit of Erotica in Diliman

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If you enjoy a bit of erotica and maybe some erotic writing, you may fancy attending Gaze’s Erotic Writing workshop in Diliman.

Blanket Day with Nerisa del Carmen Guevara will be held at the infamous Gayuma ni Maria restaurant at 123 V. Luna Extension (Maginhawa Street) Sikatuna Village, Quezon City on November 12, 2011.

To join this event, you may contact Gaze at 09267255280 or send an email to ilovegaze@gmail.com.

Registration fee is Php 2, 500, this already includes meals and drinks.

If you are going, be sure to bring a blanket to get yourself ready for some erotic writing and as per the requirement of the organizers, you would also need to bring an object that belongs to your beloved. 

RMP Statement on the Killing of Fr. Fausto Tentorio

Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep." (John 10: 1-2)

We are saddened of the news that came to our attention today, October 17, 2011 that a shepherd of the people Fr. Fausto Tentorio, PIME was murdered in his convent in Arakan Valley Cotabato . He was killed by assailants who entered the convent and shot him on the head and chest with three (3) bullets instantly killing him. It is very clear that the priest's murder was pre-meditated as there was already a threat on his life by the Bagani paramilitary group under the jurisdiction of the 73rd IB, eight (8) years ago due to his love for the Lumads, particularly in organizing them to have their voice heard the, TINANANON- KULAMANON LUMADNONG PANAGHIUSA (TIKULPA).

We, the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP) condemn in the strongest possible terms the killing of Fr. Fausto Tentorio, PIME an RMP member and a foreign missionary priest of Cotabato Southern Mindanao. His killing is a clear disrespect for his right to life and liberty. It is an injustice to his mission to proclaim and live out the gospel. As an RMP member he was very active in his support, encourage, and push forward initiatives working for the promotion of the human rights of the poor farmers and indigenous people Arakan Valley. He took up the defense of the poor and the oppressed against every form of social injustice. What happened to him is a clear manifestation of silencing his prophetic voice in defending the rights of the rural poor in the countryside. We denounce the extra-judicial killings that is still happening and we demand justice for Fr. Fausto Tentorio. We believe that we can only have authentic and lasting peace if we have respect for human dignity, justice and freedom.

Friday Night Lights in UP Diliman

Photo Via UpDharmaDown.com

October 14 –UP Dharma Down will be playing tonight at the CS Amphitheater inside the University of the Philippines Diliman. It may have been a busy week for many students in UP but tonight, many of them will be attending Friday Night Lights.

What’s great about it is not just the music, there will be a grand fireworks display as well. The UP Pep Squad will be there too along with the infamous UP Streetdance Club. If you go to the concert tonight, you will also get to see a grand fireworks display and also be part of Spark the Movement.

If that ain’t cool enough, admission is free. Gates open at 4 in the afternoon today.

CHRISTOPHER LAO AGAIN - BINAHA NA NAMAN II

Mr. Christopher Lao, the U.P. Diliman internet sensation who rocketed to infamy when he got into an argument over his stranded waterlogged car now appears to have the last laugh as he has been tapped by the Bank of the Philippine Islands in an advertisement marketing its car insurance products. Despite his numerous detractors (at the time), Mr. Lao may end up laughing all the way to the bank. Happy Ending?

A Tribue to Given Grace Cebanico

Editor's note: We will be updating developments on the case of the murder of U.P. Los Baños student Given Grace Cebanico. Readers may get updates to this case at this link.

Press Release - Transcript of interview of Senator Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos on Pres. Aquino's statement ruling out state burial for former President Marcos

Press Release - Transcript of interview of Senator Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos on Pres. Aquino's statement ruling out state burial for former President Marcos

Nourish Your Skin. Nourish A Child.

Photo Via idatgirl.com

Many UP graduates, even those who are not as well-known as Miriam Defensor-Santiago and other personalities who graduated from the University of the Philippines Diliman, still do whatever they can to help others. 

Extending a helping hand has always been the natural thing to do for a UP student or a UP graduate –a proof that the university does not only train its students in their chosen fields but give each a big heart as well.

Jelly Punzalan, a UP graduate will be holding an afternoon of facial pampering at the Balay Kalinaw inside UP Diliman on October 22, 2011 from 1pm to 4pm. Proceeds will go to Nourish the Child Foundation. Tickets are sold at P250 inclusive of facial spa, body fat analysis, and free food and drinks.For more information you may send a message to Ms. Punzalan at 09053205327.