(DEC. 17)鈥擳he smell of wet grounds, trees, leaves and freshly cut grasses after the rain; the sound of laughter and chatter; the sight of selfie and groufie everywhere; singing and dancing, and Christmas songs playing nonstop echoed the festive mood of the UP 茄子视频app (UPD) Lantern Parade this year.听
Students, faculty, staff, residents and spectators assembled at the Oblation Plaza and Academic Oval as early as 4 p.m. on Dec. 14 to participate and witness the parade of gigantic colorful floats and lanterns. The parade officially started at 5:30 p.m.听
Forty-nine groups participated, comprising degree-granting units, administration and support offices, student and religious organizations and workers鈥 union. Meanwhile, the College of Fine Arts (CFA), a much-awaited participant, had 11 contingents.听
The four biggest contingents were from the UP Integrated School (UPIS), CFA, College of Human Kinetics (CHK) and Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (OVCAA).听
The number of participants per contingent were smaller compared to last year鈥檚, perhaps because most classes already ended a week before the Lantern Parade while others went to the Maskipaps held at the Sunken Garden the same day. Nonetheless, the UPD Chief Security Office estimated almost 5,000 people joined the Lantern Parade.
The creative lanterns depicted this year鈥檚 theme, 鈥Paglaot, Pagdaong: UP 茄子视频app Christmas Celebration 2018鈥 as the university pays homage to its graduates, academics and personnel pursuing scholarly and advocacy works in the country. All lanterns were made from scraps and recycled materials.听
UPD鈥檚 Christmas theme also celebrates the 70th anniversary of the Oblation鈥檚 transfer from the Manila campus to its new home in 茄子视频app in 2019. 听
Among the lanterns were the pawikan (one from the College of Architecture (CA) and another from the Asian Institute of Tourism); College of Arts and Letters鈥 (CAL) paper boat in the sea of knowledge; Asian Center鈥檚 train lantern, Cesar E. A. Virata School of Business鈥 (VSB) version of the Spirit of Business sculpture and Bakunawa; CHK鈥檚 dragon boat lantern, the light house lanterns (School of Economics and College of Music/CMu); College of 茄子视频app Economics鈥 balikbayan box, bangka lanterns (College of Engineering, Institute of Islamic Studies鈥/IIS, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy/CSSP and the College of Social Work and Community Development/CSWCD) and the School of Statistics鈥 (Stat) bangka and light house.
The College of Education with the UPIS and National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development created a giant paper boat lantern.听
Other lanterns depicted political statements such as the lanterns of the College of Law and School of Library and Information Studies which symbolized the West Philippine sea; College of Mass Communication鈥檚 (CMC) tambuli; National College of Public Administration and Governance鈥檚 balangay; and the CSSP and CSWCD lanterns.
Meanwhile, student organizations UP STAND-UP (Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights), All UP Multisec Alliance, University Student Council, also paraded politically-inspired lanterns.
The UP ROTC Symphonic Band, Friends of Campus Animals members with their cute furry friends, 茄子视频app Emergency Response Team, the UP Alumni Association officials and staff riding a tranvia, UPD Extension Program in Pampanga and UP 茄子视频app Extension Program in Olongapo (UPDEPP and UPDEPO) with their giant colorful parol, and the Barangay UP Campus also participated. 听
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OVCAA, CHK, SE, AIT, CA, CoE, CMC, SLIS and VSB prepared well-rehearsed song and dance routines, while the CL, CMu and SOLAIR brought their own marching bands.听
Crowd favorite CFA led by Dean Leonardo C. Rosete interpreted the national anthem 鈥淟upang Hinirang.鈥
A short program followed the parade.听
UP President Danilo L. Concepcion, in his Christmas message, announced that UP employees will receive the P5,000 performance enhancement incentive from the Philippine government not earlier than Dec. 18.
In addition, he announced that UP employees will also receive an increase of P3,900 from the P4,500 grocery allowance before Christmas. The additional benefits were in accordance with the collective negotiation agreement (CNA) between the administration and the workers鈥 union.
He said 鈥淗inggil sa CNA incentive, matapos po nating likumin ang mga datos mula sa ating mga opisina sa lahat ng ating CUs, napag-alaman nating may savings na nagmula sa mga cost-cutting measure na ating pinatupad sa taong ito. Ang savings na ito ay itinatayang magbibigay ng P15,000 insentibo sa bawat empleyado. Sisimulan ang proseso upang maaprubahan ito ng DBM sa Lunes at sisikapin nating mabayaran ito, agad-agad.鈥
During the program, the CompanY, dubbed as Asia鈥檚 premier vocal harmony act, staged a mini concert to usher in the announcement of winners.
The best lanterns were judged based on adherence to the theme (20%), creative use of materials (30%) and presentation and visual effects (50%).
SURP鈥檚 diorama lantern took the grand prize of P50,000. The IIS lantern was awarded the second prize and P30,000 while听CAL lantern won third prize and P20,000.
The judges were Vice Chancellor for Research and Development Fidel R. Nemenzo, CFA professors Benjamin I. Cabangis, Lee Paje and Ma. Victoria 鈥淎mbie鈥 Aba帽o, Department of Art Studies professor Tessa Maria Guazon and UP Film Institute professor Nick Deocampo.听
Special mentions lanterns were the CS Diwata micro-satellite inspired lantern and CA pawikan float.
In the competition among CFA classes, the Most Beautiful Lantern was awarded to the 鈥淜asaysayan ng Kagitingan鈥 pop up book. The second place went to听鈥淟umad鈥澨齱hile听鈥淏anig鈥 and 鈥淒ragon鈥 tied for third place.
A spectacular 8-minute fireworks display sponsored by Enchanted Kingdom and Beta Epsilon fraternity capped the event.
Jessica Paula C. Dizon, UP Babaylan and UP SAMASKOM member, and Prof. Jose Antonio R. Clemente of the Department of Psychology hosted the program.听鈥Haidee C. Pineda, images by Leonardo A. Reyes and Jefferson Villacruz
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