THE OBLATION: UP.Selfless.Truth.Change

AH 6 Essay

UP Mindanao

March 4, 2009

The Oblation represents the University of the Philippines. It has stood for many years as the visible and tangible quintessence of the ideals of the university. It symbolizes a lot of things that greatly contributes to what the university is all about and the reasons of its existence. This paper will try to explore deeply what the naked man of the campus is trying to say. The study, realization and appreciation of Oble will revolve around the meaning it tries to convey physically, its relation to the university as an academic institution, its impact on me personally as a student and its relation to the country as the symbol of a national university.

In entering the UP campus, we can see that Oble is the number one usher that the university has. Moreover, it stands a height of 3.5 meters and is located near the administration building. Being an usher, Oble is telling us not to be ashamed of whom we really are. He is telling us that we do not need to hide anything from the people, for we, like him, need to value truth and purity of purpose and unhidden motives. The height of Oble is also very significant. The 3.5 meter height amazingly symbolizes the 350 years of the Spanish rule in the country. Oble is also located near the administration building, which houses the highest ranking officials and the center of power of the institution. This will be able to remind the high ranking officials the importance of selflessness, transparency and service for the betterment of the majority.

The original Oble can be found in the Main Library Gonzales Hall in UP Diliman. The library is the haven for knowledge. And knowledge is power. Indeed. That is why Oble is there to always remind us that along with the acquisition of knowledge, we have the responsibility to use it properly. Furthermore, it just shows that before offering and showing the world what each UP student can do, he/she must first acquire the necessary knowledge that would serve as the weapon for the battle in the real world. As for the position of Oble, in UP Diliman, I think it is justifiable that it faces west to give acknowledgment to the American initiative in founding the university.

UP is not UP without Oble. Oble has served as a symbol of dedication and loyalty--one’s dedication and commitment to the call of valor and the ideals of selfless service for the people and the loyalty of our motive that will gear towards the betterment of humanity. The university produced graduates that are unified by Oble as the enduring symbol of their unity in mission, vision and traditions.

As a student, there is only one thing I greatly learned form Oble --passion for serving the people. Thank you. I hope that I could go a long way.  

UP as a national university should initiate in molding the people that make up the nation. Oble is a symbol that we can use in order to be more determined in our pursuit for truth and a very good symbol to tell everyone the importance of education and the promotion of academic freedom regardless of social status, religion, and race. He is also man standing naked with open arms embracing freedom and selflessness but is still firmly rooted to its origin wherever he may reach as symbolized by the katakataka.

Oble surely has a long way to go. “May this figure forever stand to move those who come to this University to brighter visions of service and loyalty.”- Mark Joffrey