A Day Inside UP

Located at the 493 hectares of the UP Diliman Campus, thousands of people from across the nation would visit this place that takes pride of several sites of interest and other cultural sites such as museums and performance spaces.

We were fortunate enough to tour this place during the part 2 of the Bloggers Adventure in Quezon City for its 75th celebration of Diamond Jubilee.

Our meeting place was at the Quezon City Hall in Quezon Memorial Circle and the call time was 10am. Unfortunately though, we left the place at a much later time. 

Our young tour guide did not exactly study the tour plan well so we ended up going around circles from UP to Eastwood and then going back to UP again. 

UPTownCenter was our first stop for the #QCBlogventure.

This place offers an optinal mix of high quality retailers and restaurants, in tradition of great universirty town centers around the world.
This is a 7.4 hectare #UPDilimanEastCampus property along Katipunan Ave. where great minds come together to shop and dine.

 Meet my blogger besties for the day : Ella, Iris, Kuya Mon , Omar and the little girl Sammy.

Because we were tired from the traffic we faced , we went to Wingman Restaurant located at the second floor of UP Town Center.
They serve casual and comfort food with yummy chicken wings with 15 different flavors.
This restaurant was founded in 2009, an american-style restaurant, serving quality hand-crafted, homemade food and beverages.
Their meals are surprisingly good.

We had Garlic Parmesan and Honey Dijon. It was really yummy! You can get these for 235 pesos half dozen and 410 pesos for a dozen.

 I think this is the Grilled Cajun Ceasar Salad and the price is 295 pesos.

Our next stop was the Vargas Museum that was formally inaugurated in 1987- 9 years after Vargas donated his collection to the UP Diliman East Campus.

The Jorge B. Vargas Art Collection consists of works by late 19th century artists such as Lorenzo Guerrero, Simon Flores, Juan Luna and Felix Resurrecion Hidalgo and from the 1930s and 1940s, most notably by Fabian de la Rosa and Fernando Amorsolo.
There are also artworks by Jorge Pineda, Vicente Rivera y Mir and other artists who were referred to as belonging to the “Amorsolo School.” The collection also includes modernist works such as those of Victorio Edades, Juan Aralleno, Diosdado Lorenzo, Vicente Manansala along with contemporaries who were active in the 1950s.

One floor features areas for changing exhibitions. One area at the Vargas Museum is designated for major solo exhibitions or group shows of contemporary artists.

Paranoia.
Anger.
Part of Bembol Dela Cruz's Hand Made Violence exhibit is this Braille in metal sheets with inscriptions.
This can be viewed at the first floor of the lobby of Vargas Museum inside UP Diliman East Campus.

 The multi-level architechture was designed to support the museum's diverse functions.

My mind was somewhere far when I was trying to pose for the camera, until I realized I was in front of one of Amorsolo's masterpieces. I only see him his works on textbooks.

FernandoAmorsolo's work at the Vargas Museum is curated in the context of other works and a critical reflection on land. It is meant to be seen in a new light.
You can view his other works at the Jorge B. Vargas exhibit called Breeding Ground, first floor, West Wing.

One room provides a rich venue for the late president Manuel Quezon and present it through various exhibitions.

After the Vargas Museum, we went straight to the well-known Sunken Garden.
Did you know that the Sunken Garden in UP Diliman East Campus is also known as the General Antonio Luna Parade Grounds?
This basin-shaped low-level formation is the most favourable place for the UP and Non-UP communities surrounded by Acacia Trees to present a place for a number of activities such as "dating area", training, concerts.

This Acacia Tree is a piece of art in the middle of God's creations.

We also had the chance to visit the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice inside UP Diliman East Campus. Originally, Leandro Locsin designed the circular church with a saucer-shaped roof, the pews situated around the altar in the middle of the church and with 14 entrances but no doors.

The cross depicting both a suffering and a risen Christ and the marble altar are the handiworks of Napoleon Veloso Abueva, National Artist for Sculpture.  The tilework design on the floor is by Arturo Rogelio Luz, National Artist for Visual Arts.

I have alwasy wanted to visit the famous statue of a naked human figure which is the Oblation.
This iconic symbol, the statue of Oblation seen inside UP Diliman East Campus was based on the second verse of Rizal's #MiUltimoAdios.
"In fields of battle, deliriously fighting,
Others give you their lives, without doubt, without regret;
Where there's cypress, laurel or lily,
On a plank or open field, in combat or cruel martyrdom,
If the home or country asks, it's all the same-it matters not"

It symbolizes all the unknown heroes who fell during the night.

The University Amphitheater is a semi-circular open area located at the back of Quezon Hall.
While it is not a complete round or oval space, it has the main feature of an amphitheater—rising tiers—with flower boxes to demarcate the area.  The Lantern Parade also winds up at the Amphitheater where all participating groups converge and present their song, dance and other numbers.

 The Carillon Tower and Plaza, the first in the country, is a 130-foot structure that originally housed 46 bronze bells cast by Van Bergen Bell, Chimes and Carillon Foundry of Holland.
Located between the University Theater and the UP Film Institute along Osmeña Avenue, the tower was constructed from UP Alumni Association (UPAA) funds and inaugurated in August 1952 with the bells pealing the “UP Beloved” across the campus.  Architect Juan Felipe de Jesus Nakpil, the first National Artist for Architecture, designed and supervised its construction.In 2005, the UPAA launched the “Save the Carillon,” a restoration project in time for the UP Centennial in 2008.  Along with major renovation works, the project made possible the purchase and installation of 36 new Holland-made bells, and the construction of the Carillon Plaza, as designed by Landscape Architect Horacio Dimanlig.  The plaza features 3-meter wide broad steps, a small entry from Osmeña Avenue and the central court facing the Ang Bahay ng Alumni.  The central court, a long rectangular open space, serves as site for performances.
Today, the Carillon bells peal the time of day every hour and plays well-known Filipino and UP songs at 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily.

 The PAGASA Astronomical Observatory was the last stop. It is where most night observations for the University of the Philippines Astronomical Society are held.
Sadly, only a few people would visit this place.

Public and guided tours are offered on a daily basis inside University of the Philippines.
 Most tours under the supervision of DIO begin from the Quezon Hall.

The tour went smoothly and it was indeed a fun day for learning and meeting with new blogger friends. Tiring but fun.

You may call them at 924-1882
Or email them at updio@upd.edu.ph
Their website is up at http://upd.edu.ph