By FRANCESCA DE OCAMPO
www.nordis.net

This Christmas, we once again see the colors red, green, white, and gold. However, it is this time of the year that the University of the Philippines Baguio is also adorned with maroon, green and gold.

By day, the campus looks like a carnival – little banderitas hang high above the trees and buildings, and there are make-shift booths that sell different university apparel. As the night closes in, lights all over the campus light up, transforming the grounds into Disneyland. However, this year is extra special – there are more people in school because the alumni have come home.

This year, the University of the Philippines Baguio is celebrating its 50th anniversary with two days of fun-filled festivities. Last December 15, the school officially opened its gates to welcome its former students and teachers. Late in the afternoon, a short recollection of the school’s 50 years was presented through a montage of performances from the performing organizations. The day culminated with a dinner party exclusively for the alumni. Celebrity Angel Aquino was said to be one of the hosts.

The second day came with more activities like the Fun Run, which was joined both by students and alumni. Besides waking up in the wee hours of the morning, the alumni showed that they still had the vigour of the young ones.

Another highlight of the day was the exhibition match between former women’s basketball varsity team members and the reigning back-to-back champions. Then the much awaited celebration of the whole UPB community happened – the parade and program proper for Pasiklaban 2011.

As the theme for the Pasiklaban 2011 states, UPB has served as an epitome of honor and excellence in the Cordilleras and Northern Luzon. Many decades have passed, and the university continues to produce competent and influential graduates. 50 years may still be considered short as compared to others, but there is no other school as closely knit like the family of the University of the Philippines Baguio. # nordis.net