De-stressing at UP Diliman

The past two weeks has been great, but it also took a lot from me. I have been looking forward to my guest’s visit since I got back from Australia, but I never thought it would stress me so much. What better way to recover from stress than by having a picnic at the University of the Philippines with my closest friends?

Mr. Oblation
Mr. Oblation

 
I didn’t study at UP. Neither did my two friends. But UP has been a pretty big part of our lives. After we graduated from high school and went our separate ways in college, our barkada (group of friends) would have our annual picnic at the UP lagoon to get everyone together again.

Piyesta Komedya
All decked out for Piyesta Komedya

 
If before we would each bring food for the potluck picnic, as well as mats, reading materials, even a radio, this year’s picnic is different. I left the house just toting three sarongs to use as mats, and a wallet full of change. The plan was to buy all our picnic food inside the university grounds.

Isawan ni Mang Larry
Mang Larry’s Isawan

 
Filipinos are big on food. For us, the food that brings us the most comfort are the food we ate growing up, be it the food our mothers cooked or the food we bought off the streets. This being UP, we were spoilt for choice: taho, banana-que, lumpia, isaw, fishball and kwek-kwek. The ultimate comfort food!

Street food picnic
Street food picnic: fishballs, isaw, kwek-kwek, donuts, lumpiang toge, banana-que, Pringles and C2

 
The weather even cooperated with us. It was overcast that afternoon, and though it looked like it would rain any second, it didn’t pour. It was still pretty humid, but it wasn’t as unpleasant that it would’ve been if the sun was out. Besides, how can you get up and take photos when the pull of the earth’s gravity was too strong to resist?

UP Sunken Garden
UP Sunken Garden

 
The University of the Philippines is celebrating its 100 years this 2008. This means plenty of activities and events throughout the year. We went there a couple of Fridays ago, and there were 3-5 events happening all at once. This week is the week-long UP Fair. Who know what events they have lined up next week? If you’re looking for a place to hang out after work or school, or a great place to picnic during the weekend, you need not look far: UP Diliman is the place to be.


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12 responses to “De-stressing at UP Diliman”

  1. Krishna Avatar
    Krishna

    ๐Ÿ˜€ Oh wow! Looks like so much fun! Too bad I don’t have the time to go hang out at UP nowadays ๐Ÿ™ Sigh…

  2. kaoko Avatar

    Wow! Streetfood galore, I love! Pero you also have the aberration that is Pringles Asian Distro! Ugh. I het it. I’ve been meaning to blog about it in comparison to old US distro Pringles but I don’t want to spend money on a can of that new crap in the thinner cans.

    Ugh. At dito pa ako nagreklamo sa blog mo no? Hahaha, forgive me, Neeners!

  3. nina Avatar

    Krishna: I would say that it’d be easy for you to go there, since you just study and dorm nearby, but then I remember how busy you are XD But yes, UP is love! You need to unwind, girl ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Kaoko! Ang puso mo! Hahaha. I don’t really notice the difference in the quality of the chips. Then again, I didn’t really eat the pringles.. nasobrahan ako sa fishball at isaw XD

  4. Anna Avatar

    Mmmmmmmm UP picnic. Mmmmmmmmm damnit, I haven’t had isaw forever.

  5. nina Avatar

    We’re going back on Sunday ๐Ÿ˜€ Though our food source would be the Lung Center Sunday Market…

  6. kaoko Avatar

    Potato Chips is sacred. ๐Ÿ˜›

  7. nina Avatar

    Kaoko: Hahahaha! That reminds me… I’m craving for that Tzatziki flavored chips. Darn you Kao!

  8. Stress | Something evil this way comes

    […] De-stressing usually involves me going out. Whether alone, with my friends or with my family. It doesn’t […]

  9. spongee Avatar
    spongee

    plan to go there this wekend with kids to play frisbee…been looking for a weekend workout where i can take my kids..so there.

  10. […] I love picnics. My friends and I used to do this every year after high school, but because of work, drama and other obligations, we hardly go on picnics anymore. Our usual venue was UP Diliman’s lagoon, but this time, we decided to check out the La Mesa Ecopark. I seem to be determined to humiliate myself this year […]

  11. arcee Avatar

    i love tukneneng and c2!

  12. arcee Avatar

    i love mang larry!haha

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