University of the Philippines Diliman - UPD
speciality: Performing Arts

I spent one year in another UP campus (Los Banos) before transferring to UP Diliman. As someone from a province that’s 3 hours away from the University, I found it quite fun living in the campus. Compared to the other UP constituents, this main one—Diliman—has a hustle and bustle kind of student life. It is situated in the largest city in Metro Manila.

Many say that UP is a microcosm of the Filipino society. Well, it is true. You can practically live there—food stalls, convenience stores, domitories, hotel, gym, football field, oval, notary public, ATMs, own transportation system, fruit and vegetable stands, etc. However, it also means that you can find students and employees from different economic backgrounds. UP is a State university, meaning, students enjoy free tuition.

The University takes pride in having been abe to produce prominent figures since the last century—artists, engineers, inventors, scientists, researchers, educators, lawyers, doctors, architects, accountants, athletes, politicians, and many more. However, some of the corrupt and questionable officials also came from UP. This only means that it will always depend on the morality and decisions of the student, no matter how much the University life had tried to open their eyes on societal issues.

The administration has also failed to answer to the problems and calls of students, employees, and vendors. It has been focused on industrialization, that the small vendors and students from the lower classes of society, find it hard to get by. The campus that was known for really cheap and good food for students, is now unfortunately taking pride in having commercial food stalls and fast food chains found in malls.

My program is also dependent on in-person learning, thus the administration’s decisions on the pandemic’s online learning was also questionable. I spent 2 years practically learning only theoretically, and the use of gadgets was crucial. It was really hard for less fortunate students, for they had to raise fund for their own gadgets.

Yes, the best professors in different fields are in UP, but there also work the most condescending ones. I believe that if you get into UP, it is your full decision on how you will carry the university’s name with you. Will you be the know-it-all UP graduate, or the compassionate and inclusive one?

I qwould still recommend getting into UP, because it will not only shape you into an academically-inclined individual, but also a street-smart and critical one.

There’s a lot of pressure with regards to the standards in achieving academic success inside the university. Since all of the students are living under the microscope, I’d say it’s worth it as long as you have enough heart for it and not aiming for any prestige.