The University of the Philippines was founded in 1908 in the city of Manila and is considered the "premiere institution of higher learning" in the Philippines.

[1]

In 1945, through a grant from the US-Philippine War Damage Commission, damaged facilities were fixed and buildings were constructed after which the University was transferred from Manila to Diliman, Quezon City.[2]

Now UP Diliman houses over 22,000 students in its 493 hectare campus.That's quite a number! [3]

This statue or the "Oblation" is known to be a symbolic offering of one's self to the country" and this same sense of selflessness for the country is instilled in every University scholar or Iskolar ng Bayan.

The Oblation is a masterpiece of National Artist Guillermo Tolentino and was made to symbolize the 350 years of the Spanish regime by epitomizing the book by Jose Rizal, Mi Ultimo Adios, translating to My Last Farewell.

Jose Rizal's farewell note to his beloved Filipino people showed how he offers himself to the country as he was sentenced to execution by firing squad for the crime of rebellion through his writings about love for the country.

Farewell, my adored Land, region of the sun caressed,
Pearl of the Orient Sea, our Eden lost,
With gladness I give you my life, sad and repressed;
And were it more brilliant, more fresh and at its best,
I would still give it to you for your welfare at most.
-translation by Encarnacion Alzona & Isidro Escare Abeto

The Oblation is a great source of inspiration and ignites in us Filipinos our everyday sacrifice and love for our family, and for our country.

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Food Trip!!!

What's a trip to UP without isaw (grilled intestine)? Mang Larry's isawan behind the Bahay ng Alumni is well known in and out of the campus, not only for the isaw but also for their grilled barbeque meals. There were families and students in plastic picnic tables waiting for their grilled snacks. Their avocado shakes were great for the hot weather.

Isaw is a street food from the Philippines, made from barbecued pig or chicken intestines. The intestines are cleaned, turned inside out, and cleaned again, repeating the process several times; they are then either boiled, then grilled, or immediately grilled on sticks. [6]

If you are not grossed out by the description, let me tell you I ate 5 sticks of it dipped in spicy vinegar. Yum yum. I also tried the dynamite which was deep fried long green peppers with cheese inside them. Yum yum yum.

Fresh Fruit shakes for only Php40

Calamares (Squid Rings) - Php25 , Quail Eggs or Kwek-Kwek - Php15, Dynamite - Php25

Isaw Baboy - Php10, Isaw Manok- Php10, Tenga - Php10, Inihaw na Pusit - Php 110, Inihaw na Bangus - Php90, Inihaw na Chicken Ass- Php20

The prices were very affordable and I was so thirsty from the heat of the sun during my photowalk that I had 2 avocado shakes!

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A visit to the College of Engineering

I received an email from my old student organization asking for solicitation and sponsorship of a Machine Design Summit for a number of University and High School Students in Luzon on February 3 and 5. I thought it would be an excellent start to @steemph University Roadshow that we were planning when we started laying out projects in 2017. I talked to their Marketing Committee and told them about @steemph and steemit. They were very curious about steemit and also wanted to join the steemit platform soon.

I wrapped it up with a wacky photo with the kids. I blended in just well, right?

Exciting things ahead for Steemit Philippines!

Stay tuned to @steemph for announcements on our University Roadshow.

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References:

[1]https://upd.edu.ph/about/the-university-of-the-philippines/
[2]https://upd.edu.ph/about/history/
[3]https://upd.edu.ph/about/facts-at-a-glance/
[4]https://upd.edu.ph/sites-of-interest/
[5]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mi_%C3%BAltimo_adi%C3%B3s
[6]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaw

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