Sablay tayo!
Iris Palma in Ang Pinoy Stories
Feb 20, 2020 • 3 min Read
This story is NOT about how we failed in little things. No, sir. This is about how we are finding our identity as a Filipino. This is about the SABLAY that will be a new feature of graduations or moving-up ceremonies in the Philippines. Soon. This is also my story.
First used in 1990, the sablay replaced the toga in University of the Philippines (UP) graduation ceremonies. The UP Sablay was worn over a white dress or a barong. The colors of green and purple in a sea of white successful graduates were a sight worthy of a throwback. The sablay was officially adopted in 2000 as the official academic costume of UP and its design was patented in 2002 under the names of UP professors Virginia D. Monje, Rogelio L. Juliano Jr. (deceased), Abraham P. Sakili, Antoinette B. Hernandez, Consuelo J. Paz, and Carmen G. Diaz de Ventanilla
So what’s with the sablay? What is its significance?
The UP Sablay has a curvilinear design called ukkil or ukit in the form of a sprouting plant signifying life. The zigzag and diamond patterns are common design elements in our indigenous peoples from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi. The letters U and P are in our native Baybayin. Taken together, the UP Sablay reflects the “University’s pursuit of knowledge, cultural enrichment, and scientific advancement.”
Fast forward to 2020.
Newspaper headlines read: DepEd recommends wearing of sablay in all graduation rites. Education Undersecretary for Administration Alain del Pascua has advocated scrapping the use of the expensive togas from graduation ceremonies. Pascua’s proposal highlights nationalism and cultural pride in having our own attire in one —perhaps multiply that by 3 or 4 or 5, counting pre-school, elementary, high school, college, and more!—of the most important events in our lives.
The move is putting an end on colonial adulation and opening opportunities to our textile and weaving industries. It is changing the face of graduation fashion. The Higher School of UMAK (University of Makati) has its own blue and yellow sablay. We are not certain how many small schools have been using sablay in their rites. What is certain is that perhaps it is high time that the sablay will take on a new meaning of ‘victory’ for Filipinos and be proudly worn by graduates.
My own UP Sablay will soon be three decades old. It is a rough version of the weaved sablay today that I see on new UP graduates. I actually saw the same textile in Baclaran one time! But this is one sablay that holds about seven years of ups and downs (more of the downs actually) and seeing it all worn and rough sits right with me. It is my victory:
Worn, old, and a bit rough na. Not weaved. But worth the almost seven years residence sa Diliman. Dami stories nyan. Halos magna na ako (that’s magna-nine years in our lingo). I failed miserably in academics because of a lot of emotional and financial issues. I had cinco and tres. Dami. But hey! I have the sablay to show that I made it!
Parang buhay di ba? So why am I not giving up? Duh. Nalampasan ko ang Diliman and all the stories of the magnas and summas. May power ang sablay ko!
Ding! Ang sablay ko!
#UPsablay #SablayIsVictory #SablayForNanay
