Today marks the centenary celebration of the University of the Philippines. And I must say that I’m wholly overjoyed and flattered to be part of this momentous (literally once-in-a-lifetime) occasion and be one among the crowd to sing the beloved university, a happy birthday.
Rightfully so, everything is in hundred. One hundred notable UP personalities, one hundred balloons, one hundred fireworks display, and in the end, one hundred men with nothing but masks on to cover their whole life and awareness. Naked, boy! Haha…
Ever heard of the Oblation Run? Yes, the one and the same.
Not everybody I suppose understand the concept behind this naked-running, or streaking some may say. But I prefer it to be called as an expression.
An expression of political statements and protests against the system. A line of attack to communicate the sentiments of the people about the heaving political and economical condition of the country. A statement of sort, that is significant and not just what others may deem to say a fleeting lapse of sanity.
It is so more than a meaningless parade of the participants’ anatomical whatever, if some people see it that way.
On their first run ever, the runners, they had a cause: to protest the banning of the movie, “Hubad na Bayani” (Naked Hero) which portrayed human rights abuses during the Marcos regime around the 70’s.
Today, they still do: to petition for the state subsidies to the students’ education and to dissent the commercialization of UP. So, how’s that for a purpose?
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