Down memory lane – a fire in campus

Most students would recall that the space in front of Humanities and BioSci is a burned down and overgrown area that used to be the Zoology department. Wasn’t there an electron microscope, too? Well anyway, I came across these pictures of the fire taken by a visiting scientist at UPLB. He has kindly allowed me post these pictures. Here is his account of what happened then:

“One of the nastiest cases that I had was once when I was working at the University of the Philippines at Los Baños with colleagues in the Zoology Department. I was working in an office when one of the grad students came running in and yelled that the building was on fire! Someone had been working with volitile chemicals under a hood, the power went out, and they left the room. The power came back on, something sparked in the hood, and it started a fire that quickly engulfed the entire building. I and the grad student grabbed all of our stuff and headed outside. Many others frantically threw their papers and data files out the windows trying to save it. Many faculty members and students were gone at the time and lost everything, including years of work!”
– Lepomis
Does anyone remember that fire?

This happened sometime in the late 80s or early 90s. The papers are data sheets thrown out of the windows by the staff to save their data. After the fire. Years of work gone.

An eyesore for many years, the Zoology/Old Chem building has just been rebuilt.

Fried chicken goodness

There’s fried chicken and there are fried chicken. But nothing comes close to Ellen’s fried chicken paired with steaming sauteed mongo. I think this is one of UPLB’s best kept secrets and one of the things I will always miss of UPLB. And always you pair it with mongo, everyone agrees. From a dark restaurant in Grove (it is now a hardware store) to the CR-like building to the new location at Raymundo Gate, it is still a student favorite. These days, it is best to eat the Raymundo Gate branch which they now call RM Cadapan Canteen. Mind you, pinipilahan talaga ang manok dito. They cook it in front of you, in wood-fired stove similar to Bat Cave’s. You’re lucky if you get the last piece of chicken available otherwise you will have to wait. They usually cook it in batches and you can specify your favorite part. I think they list it down already, how many wings, thigh, drumstick, etc… At 25 pesos per piece, it is still a good meal. To get the complete set of 1 piece chicken, mongo and rice will cost you 40 pesos. Or you can indulge and get two pieces. I always do.

Homecoming Weekend

Saw this announcement at the gate welcoming alumni to the much-awaited Loyalty Day celebrations. Three major activities were lined up – a golf tournament by the UPLBAA, an alumni night and fun run (or was it a marathon?) for tomorrow morning. I would have wanted to join the alumni night at Baker Hall but I don’t know if any of my friends were coming. I will try the marathon tomorrow, but it starts at 4am! Aside from being to dark yet to go out, it might rain early morning. The past several days, it had been raining in the mornings. The kind of lazy-rain-that’s-good-to-snuggle-in-bed kind of rain. Well, I will try to get some pictures and post it here. Too bad there is no garden show.

I was a jubilarian last year – 10 years since graduating from UPLB. I met my blockmates plus some classmates. We were not able to attend any activities as we were busy catching up with each other. We had lunch at Bonito’s and while there, we saw some batchmates with their own barkadas so it was like a mini-reunion of the batch `91 people. Perhaps in our 15th year or maybe 20th, we’d be better organized.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Things to expect in the coming days:

1. I’ve compile a telephone directory of UPLB offices from the administration to dorms to colleges and will post it in another blog
2. Also, a directory of establishments around UPLB and telephone numbers

Suggestions? Do email whatsuplb@gmail.com

Random thoughts

Nope, I didn’t get any sem-break vacation as most of you might have thought. Got busy with lab work and theses work as I’m hoping to graduate this second semester. Just some thoughts…

• Sembreak means most of the shops were close. No Ellen’s fried chicken for a week, no LB Square gimik – ang tahimik sa campus!
• But I do like this time of the year, with the campus so quiet, it’s like having the campus to myself for a week. When I stayed at IH, I usually go to the field early morning bringing my cup of coffee. Very few joggers and no jeepneys that early – so peaceful.
• Signs of Christmas are here – from Crossing where there is a shop dubbed “Divisoria ng Los Banos” to the putong bumbong stall just outside UP Gate to Christmas songs on the radio. Soon there’ll Christmas decorations, the Carabao Park will be decorated with the Belen, Parolan and Apo Run!
• The first time I had buko pie, it was only 25 pesos. I think it’s 150 pesos per box now.
• I remember we had a one-eyed cat at Womens’. We called him Garfield. In IH, there is a dog named Adobo.
• Had sukiyaki and sushi for dinner with friends at Komeshi, the Japanese resto at Raymundo Gate. Good thing there is a variety of food to eat here in Los Banos. Some must-try: Paella Valenciana at Bonito’s (order a day before), Italian pasta dishes at Joes in Umali, chicken sisig at Conga (Agrix), seafood salad at Namjai Thai, chicken with nuts at Ning’s Thai.
• Enrollment again next week. In graduate school, one unit costs 1000 pesos!
• Mudspring and Peak Two are close for a few months since Milenyo came.
• Campus figures? Would you believe me if I tell you that one famous figure from Humanities, a professor always clad in Barong Tagalog and quite ancient then but has since retired now dons a sporty attire -with bike, cycling shorts and goggles?
• Anymore scary stories to tell?
• Need to get in touch with UPLB people or look up directory? Check out UPLB’s website: http://www.uplb.edu.ph