Agbayani
A pioneer resident fondly recalls the University’s early years at Diliman.
When the University transferred from its 10-hectare campus in Padre Faura to its 493-hectare campus in Diliman, a Philippine Collegian editorial regarded it as a “pioneering venture.” Students, faculty and staff involved in the exodus were asked “to condition their hearts and minds, to give freely of their talents and to be willing to forego personal conveniences to help bring about the realization of a greater University of the Philippines.”
Agbayani
The transfer that took place from December 16, 1948 to January 11, 1949 saw the UP population thrust headlong into what one professor described as “the brave new world.” The frontier land that confronted the pioneers was daunting: only two concrete buildings in the nearly five million square meters of land, most of which were overgrown with cogon grass. The rest of the structures were semi-permanent--quonset huts made from the local sawali left behind by the US Armed Forces in the West Pacific.
But despite the rawness of the place, it was said to be very romantic, said Professor Emeritus Betty Flor-Agbayani, then an instructor at the School of Fine Arts. It was “like a cathedral without walls,” she said. The location itself was so beautiful, with the Sierra Madre Mountains serving as a backdrop.
UPD became a community and the former military camp was transformed into a residential campus, with housing for both faculty and students. The sawali structures were not only adapted as school buildings by the different colleges, but also as housing units by members of the academic community. The houses were made from sawali as it would have been the coolest material for any American to stay in, in a tropical country. The houses they left behind were big and comfortable, and renting at only P47.00 a month, was certainly very
The exodus. A motorcade bearing the Oblation in February 11, 1949
capped the University’s transfer from its Padre Faura campus in Manila to
the Brave New World in Diliman.affordable. The problem posed by the
material, though, was that of security.
The area being an open land, the University at that time was in constant fear of the threat posed by the Huks who were already knocking at the doors of Manila. In 1950, the Huks attacked the PC detachment in Balara, sending the residents to take shelter in the Law and Education Buildings, the only concrete structures on campus. This episode brought to light the need for secure, concrete and permanent residences on campus.
Another incident that cemented the UP Administration’s resolve to fast-track the construction of permanent houses occurred in the early months of 1951 when a fire broke out and razed one of the sawali residences in Area 2. According to Agbayani, the owner of the house was Dr. Ignacio Salcedo, a professor at the Chemistry Department and a next door neighbor. What disturbed university officials was the fact that in less than 10 minutes, the whole house was down, with not a single thing surviving the fire.
Looking at the vestiges of what used to be a home, President Bienvenido Gonzalez asked Agbayani how the University can help the residents. Her immediate reply was, “Sir, permanent housing.” Although UP was willing to help, its budget was tight and there was no provision for faculty and staff residences.
With Gonzalez’ resignation in March 1951, the problem of employee housing fell into the hands of Pres. Vidal A. Tan. Feeling that Agbayani was really a pioneer at heart, Tan called on the young instructor once again and asked if she was willing to “volunteer” to build her own home.
According to Tan, although the University does not have money to build the houses; it however, has the land. UP was also willing to extend loans to those who were interested to build, which they can pay through salary deduction for 10 years at an interest rate similar to what commercial banks charged. Even then, very few were willing to invest so much of their own money for a house. In exchange, the employees who financed their houses will be considered the owners of the houses they had built.
The Agbayanis agreed, and Tan was very pleased. Without any written agreement, the Agbayanis proceeded to plan the construction of their home. Tan was to have said, “Our agreement will be based on loyalty to the University. As long as a member of your family remains connected with UP, you may consider the house as your own.” And this connection, according to another UP president, is no less than a relative of the family who is at UP to learn and gain knowledge.
The Agbayanis built their home on these words of honor. The design and construction of the house was overseen by her husband, Mariano. Her husband also acquired a 90-day character loan to augment the meager P12,000 loan they got from UP. Being just an instructor at that time, Agabayani was told by UP Vice President Enrique Virata that they could not give her more since all that was left after the contributions and payments were deducted from her monthly salary of P157 was a mere 27 centavos. Her husband also promised to pay her P100 every month as rental for the house.
They started the construction of the first permanent house on campus on March 19, 1952. Sixty days after, on the occasion of Agbayani’s 30th birthday, the family moved into their new home. During the first month, their bungalow was known as the “Hansel and Gretel House” because it was practically standing alone in the woods. They chose to stay in Area 1 because it is away from the academic area but at the same time, excellent, paved roads made it accessible to residents and visitors. When the place was still a military facility, the Americans subdivided what is now the UPD campus into Areas 1 to 17. Today, Area 1 has become the first and foremost residential area on campus.
A month after the Agbayanis moved in, Prof. Domingo Cervantes, Secretary of the Board of Regents who out of delicadeza refused to be the first to build, began the construction of his own home. He was immediately followed by Prof. Wyco and the fourth was that of the legendary professor, Ms. Rafols. All in all, only 10 families responded to Tan’s initial call for volunteers. This included, aside from the four mentioned above, the families of Ortigas, Einsedel, and Ostrea in Area 1, and the families of Macham, Damad and Isleta in Area 2. These families built their home according to their own designs, and upon the condition that the houses they were going to build be durable and affordable.
But the University still needed more housing units for its employees. To encourage people to build, Tan instructed the Architect’s Office prepare a design and offer it to faculty members living in old, nearly dilapidated sawali houses. Through this program, the sawali houses occupied by Maestra Jovita Fuentes, Prof. Cruz and Mr. Sabalsa were demolished and new, concrete houses rose in their place. In Area 14, the houses of Mrs. Pablo, Mrs. Garces and Mr. Velasquez were built in the same manner. While this was going on, there were also houses that continued to be built according to the owner’s personal design. This included the homes of the Mangahas, the Lims and the Reyeses . After these houses were constructed, no one offered to build again.
The University, in its eagerness to help, decided to build the houses and offer them to interested faculty, rent-to-own. By paying a considerably higher monthly rental likened to an amortization, NVM Gonzales and the Lesacas were able to acquire their homes.
Thus, Area 1 became home to three national artists and two national scientists. National Artist Maestra Jovita Fuentes and her students would rehearse their opera and would fill the air with their beautiful voices, transforming the park near her house into a makeshift open-air theater. National Artist Dr. José Maceda would play his ethnic instruments and his wonderful music would fascinate his neighbors and passersby. NVM Gonzalez would
conduct writers’ workshops right in his own living room. In Area 1 can also be found two huge sawali houses occupied by two National Scientists, Dr. José Encarnacion and Dr. José Velasco.
Vicente G. Sinco, who became president when Tan retired, recognized the 21 families who stuck it out with UP and spent their own money to build houses for the University when he decreed, “Let those who by loyalty, stuck out with the University be called pioneers”. And true enough, after this proclamation, many people wanted to build houses again. Many housing units on campus were be erected over the decades, but the first 21 had the distinction of being called Pioneer Houses.
According to Agbayani, the neighborhood was very peaceful and nurturing. Children in the Area l played under her mango tree and went home by six in the evening.. Everyone treated the children as if they were their own, and these young people grew up to regard one another as siblings. They all played together, had music lessons together and walked to school together. Nobody bothered to be brought to UP High by private cars, and with the advent of the Ikot jeep, they also took jeepney rides, which Agbayani described as “sinco-sinco lang ang bayad.” The Ikot jeeps, according to her, was a response to the need for transportation in such a sprawling campus, and it took over when the big buses like the JD and Halili were no longer allowed inside the university grounds.
Agbayani said she got her household help from the area who shared with her the history of the place. According to these people, the Katipuneros, including Tandang Sora, used to gather in the area and the mango tree in front of her house was their favorite meeting spot. The name they had given to the place also revealed the hope and optimism of these brave souls. Asking why the place was called Diliman, the old folks replied, “Kasi po, mayroon kaming kasabihan dito: “Mag-dilim man, wag mag-alala. Sisikat din ang araw, dala ang ginhawa.”
How fitting it is that the most promising of youths, considered the hope of the motherland, are educated in this place where so much faith and conviction was sown.
—Shirley S. Arandia