The UP Fair is back! What’s changed after two years?

AFTER two years of students singing along to their favorite bands through a screen, the University of the Philippines’ student council was finally able to bring back the UP Fair as a face-to-face event. 

The five-day affair, which kicked off Tuesday night, features performances from numerous musical artists like Kart’ellem, Al James, Unique Salonga, Munimuni, and Ben&Ben. 

It is also a venue to push for numerous causes and advocacies, including quality education and equality. 

While many applauded the USC for being able to pull off full-blown concerts through Zoom calls at the height of the pandemic, they can’t deny that actually being back on the grassy fields of UP and waving their hands in the air as their favorite artists perform hits differently.

For some, the return of the UP Fair this year serves as a blast from the past. For others, it’s a new experience. 

Hello, UP

People of all backgrounds were quick to come back to UP Diliman after the fair was limited to online events in the past two years. 

Fourth year student Aces said it was much harder to get tickets this time around, compared to when he was a freshman. 

“Siguro factor din na excited lahat ng mga tao, so talagang maraming gustong lumahok. So naiintindihan natin yun,” Aces said.

Meanwhile, freshman student Sophia was thrilled about being able to physically attend the UP Fair for the first time. It made her feel that she was really a UP student. 

“Ang saya kasi most of the time that we spent in the pandemic, I didn’t really feel like I was in UP. So this is the time where feel ko talaga na ‘ah, eto yung UP na nakikita ko sa movies.’ Like yung culture niya is famous,” she said. 

Online blues?

Many felt that the online version of the fair was unable to equal the feel and energy of the live, face to face event.  

UP Los Baños alumni Chino said that during those two years, he felt as if the fair didn’t exist. 

“Panget kapag online eh. Sana nag Youtube na lang ako,” he said. 

“Iba yung ganitong feeling na nararamdaman mo yung vibrations ng stage, yung mga tao tumatalon. Mas immersive yung experience kaysa yung pinapanood mo siya,” he added. 

He also believes going to the actual event is something that all students should experience. 

“Super happy na binuksan ulit yung UP for these kinds of events kasi I think highlight siya ng college years. So I think dapat ma-experience talaga siya ng mga estudyante,” he said.

Aces said he wasn’t even aware of the fact that the UP Fair had been held online in the past two years. 

Tattoo artist Merrill said the online event did not have the same energy of the crowd who turn up at the live performances. 

Staying safe

There was a general consensus of happiness from the attendees at the fair, who were elated to return or to experience the event for the first time.

But reminders of the pandemic were still there as organizers implemented health and safety protocols 

Luis, one of the organizers of the event, said concessionaires were asked to wear face masks at all times. Social distancing was difficult to implement among the attendees, but the organizers encouraged them to wear face masks, he said.

The organizers also put up alcohol dispensers at the booths so that attendees could sanitize their hands, he said. 

Advocacies are king

Aside from jamming to your favorite performances, what else is there to do at the UP fair? 

Attendees said people should also enjoy the booths and look out for the advocacies being pushed at these events. 

“Must try yung mga foods ng ating mga concessionaires. Ang biro nga before na ang UP Fair ay parang ‘Shawarma’ or ‘Mango Graham Shake’ Fair, kasi marami talagang ino-offer,” said Luis, who added that the rides are also must-tries. 

But he also said it was important to learn about the good causes that organizers and participants talk about. 

“Most importantly, ang inaabangan natin sa UP Fair sa bawa’t night is yung advocacy na ipinaglalaban ng buong UP Fair organization and ng buong UP Diliman dito sa UP Fair,” he said. 

This year, the advocacies include the opposition to the Marcos-Duterte regime, quality education, public transportation, equality, and accessible education for all.

The UP Fair has always been a form of protest, noted Chino. 

“I think importante na malaman ng mga current na uma-attend ng UP Fair yung main reason kung bakit tayo nago-organize ng ganitong klaseng event. And that is to make a stand na UP is always having events with a purpose, and maganda na may connect yun lagi every time we attend these kinds of events,” he said. 

The UP Fair is more than just a party, after all.