Spread Some Awesome

Duration: 1 day

Budget: ~Php1000

Bummers: bumper to bumper traffic jam from Pansol to Los Baños and vice-versa

UPLB

UPLB (or elbi to most) is like my second home. I have spent 5 years of my college life and 2 more years of my teaching career in this university. That is why elbi always has this special place in my heart. I guess all graduates of this university has that soft spot for it.

One Saturday morning, we went to visit this place on impulse. It’s been in long time since the last time that I have been here so I was so excited to see my beautiful Alma Mater. When I was based in this place, I didn’t appreciate its natural beauty but now, all I can think of is roam around elbi and get back that stress-free feeling that I once had before.

When arrived, we decided to have lunch first at Bonitos so that we will have the strength to walk around the place. After lunch, we started walking from the gate to Freedom Park. Freedom Park is the version of elbi of UP Diliman’s Sunken Garden.

I saw the familiar places along Grove but not the familiar faces. Then, all the memories began surging into me. I was sad and happy at the same time.

Along Grove

There are lots of changes but it’s also good to know that some things also never change. We continued to walk.

Our first stop is Carabao Park. This park is located in front of UPLB, right across the gate and between the Administration (admin) and College of Development Communication (devcom) buildings. Btw, when we say gate, there is no physical gate per se. It pertains more to an open entrance.

Carabao Park

The Kwek Kwek Tower is a popular structure in Carabao Park. I am not sure what’s it’s real name but it is popularly called as Kwek Kwek Tower because it looked like it is a tower with a giant kwek kwek (Pinoy street food made of fried quail eggs dipped in orange batter) on top. Actually, the kwek kwek is the fire and the tower is a torch.

Kwek Kwek Tower

We continued to walk. We stopped again to see Oblation (or Oble). Oble is the iconic symbol of UP. It is located in front of the Humanities (Hum) building near the Office of Admissions.

Oble

Next stop is the UPLB Main Library (main lib). I could still remember when I was in freshman year joining an organization for theater acting. That was fun though I wasn’t able to finish it through. We used to rehearse at the back of main lib after class.

Also, who would forget the tamarraw (Mindoro Dwarf Buffalo) who has wings? Pegaraw is the hybrid produced from the combination of Pegasus and Tamarraw.

UPLB Main Library

Pegaraw

As we proceed to our last stop, Freedom Park, here are some snap-worthy images that shows how serene it is in elbi.

From UPLB Main Lib

SEARCA

Coop

Back of Hum

From SU

Finally, Freedom Park.

Freedom Park

Spread some awesome..ness.. 

Tags: nature, trip