UP Quirks and Perks

My university is home to intellectuals, stoics, artists, athletes, athlete's foot, atheists, nerds, promdis and every other Pinoy stereotype you can possibly imagine.

More often than not we agree to disagree, whether it's a debate on gender issues or political correctness, but there are things that bind us, and making us perfect examples of the "unity amidst diversity" BS.

And these things do not exactly hold meaning to anything. They're just fun.

MANG LARRY'S ISAW

Chicken intestines may spell Hepatitis for the gastronomically sensitive, but for Isko and Iska, they are a palatable treat in between classes. Mang Larry has been around for ages and he managed to construct a small stall in the middle of an empty lot of land near Kalayaan Dorm and the Shopping Center. I hope it's still two pesos a piece.

LANTERN PARADE

Every year right before the Christmas holidays, every college goes out to the Academic Oval to showcase its artistic talents. Of course the fine arts people are always under the spotlight. But engineering and communication students don't do badly at all, most of the time.

OBLATION RUN

A well-known fraternity in our university hosts the Oblation Run. A group of frat neophites run around the campus naked for a cause. It could be freedom of speech this year, and a cry for increased government subsidy in the next. Whatever it is, the gays get the most fun, following the birds around to get a glimpse of you-know what. Not once did we see a shaven haven, FYI.