Change, of course, is not a
single-aspect phenomenon. It has
component parts. Some change very fast,
but some don’t change fast enough. Let’s
take the case of the Oblation at the UPLB.
That it was put up at UPLB was a great idea; that it was erected in-front
of the CAS building is something else.
It could have been better appreciated had it been erected at the Alumni
Plaza, near the UPLB Gate, or at least in front of the UPLB Library where it
could stand majestically.
Well, that’s water under the bridge
now. What is a bit disappointing at the moment is
that the Oblation is standing there and
it doesn’t look like somebody is even thinking of landscaping its surroundings,
or at least repainting it. This was a
very clear issue that former Regent Romulo Davide was trying to raise a few
years back but which wasn’t even acted upon.
Today, the Oblation has not been cleaned, much less repainted. Its head and shoulders are full of bird
droppings. Nobody pays attention to it,
except some students when they gather at the steps of the CAS to prepare to
demonstrate or rally.
Some observers, including former
Regent Davide, who have actually inspected the UPLB Oblation have claimed that
it isn’t as well taken-cared of compared to its counterpart at the UP Open
University grounds. And the Oble at UPLB
isn’t that much older than the one at UPOU.
It’s just that the Oblation at the UPOU, many have commented, is
probably the most beautiful among the oblation statues in the different
campuses of the UP, including Diliman.
In fact, the Oble’s quadrangle at UP Diliman is so cramped even Oble
himself isn’t able to even wriggle. The
Oblation at UPOU stands tall (23 feet in all) on a rotunda in the middle of an
open space right along the national highway at the boundary of Los Banos and
Bay in Laguna. It’s a photo-ops area for
passers-by.
Point is, the Oble at UPLB deserves
better attention that it now gets.
Paging the Landscape Office of UPLB: can’t you at least landscape the
base of the Oblation pedestal and repainted Oble itself? The Oble deserves to be repainted every three
years, at least, to maintain a clean statue that reflects the sunshine at
various angles. The Oble enhances more
meaningful thoughts when it reflects the sunshine, rather than exhibit bird
droppings on its face, head, and shoulders.
***
By the way, have you been to the UPLB
Campus lately? You must have observed a
new marker alongside the palms on the Royal Palm Avenue, stretching from the UPLB
Gate to the CAS (formerly the UPCA Library) building. There’s marker there proclaiming the Royal
Palms as part of the list of century trees on the UPLB campus. History tells us that the Royal Palms have
been there since the presidency of Palma and have become a symbol of UPCA in
the olden years and UPLB in recent times.
The royal palms were planted perhaps
during the period that the Palma Bridge was constructed. I’m not sure about this and I need to be
corrected here. Some alumni should
inform us about the year that the palms were plant and the bridge built. What I’m certain of is that the bridge near
the UPLB Auditorium was built in honor of UP President Palma, that’s why it’s
called the Palma Bridge.
***
I’m not sure, though, if the concrete
tower with the traditional symbol of “education”, the torch, atop it is an
appropriate part of the landscape in the area near the Gate. Personally, I’d rather see the UP Oblation
there. It could be more meaningful. But that’s me, and I’m not the conscience of
the UPLB. Just commenting on the
structure (which is something I’ve always wanted to do since that structure was
erected some years back, during the time of UPLB Chancellor Willy David).
***
Talking of recent developments in Los
Baños, at the former site of Agrix is the Los Baños Centtro, a shopping
mall. We’ve written about this sometime
last year. They’re now putting the
finishing touches to it. At the center is
the Mall, but on both sides are wings that are probably going to either housing
additional stalls or condos. We’ll see
how this goes.
Then, in front of the YMCA Dormitory
is now rising the YMCA Condominium building.
For those with the financial base, I believe many units are still
available. I’ve looked at the facility,
which I find very beautiful, but I can’t afford it.
***
Remember the old Los Baños Municipal
Hall? It’s an old building on the shores
of Laguna de Bay. It’s a small building
thaty has been unable to accommodate even the small government offices in Los
Baños. Well, employees of the Los Baños Municipal Hall will soon have brand new
offices.
Right now, the finishing touches to a
new Los Baños Municipal Hall are being made.
The new edifice is located on a space in the BPI Economic Garden
Compound at the corner of the National Highway and the PCARRD Road. It’s a beautiful building, and large enough
to accommodate most of the government offices in Los Baños.
***
I’ve commented about the elevated
bridge at Calamba Crossing a couple of times in the past and I’d like to make
another comment again.
The bridge was supposed to have been
constructed to provide appropriate covered walk for people moving around the
Crossing area, especially those going to SM or other parts of the Crossing
Area, and to free the ground area of pedestrians so that vehicles could freely
move relatively quickly. As for this
second idea, it’s clear that such was the purpose because there are signages on
the posts of the bridge saying “No Jaywalking”.
The other day, I was driving through
the intersection in front of the jeepney station across from SM when I saw a
policeman stopping the traffic just so a woman could cross the street. I shouted at the policeman, “That person
should use the bridge” (they were standing at the foot of the bridge beside the
sign “No Jaywalkiing”). Of course they
didn’t hear me, but the nerve!
So there’s an ordinance prohibiting
jaywalking in the area, but if the police force doesn’t enforce it, then the
ordinance is utterly useless and no problem is solved.
###
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