UP president reminds UPCAT takers: No reschedule, be fit for exams

University of the Philippines Diliman. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — The president of the University of the Philippines (UP) system has reminded those who would take the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) that the date of exams cannot be rescheduled, urging students to take care of their health if they really want to enter the university.

During the Laging Handa public briefing on Tuesday, UP president Atty. Angelo Jimenez said that UP would not offer special examinations for those who would miss it, like students on vacation or those sick on examination day.

The UPCAT, held from June 3 to 4, 2023, is returning after being suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions.  Over 100 testing centers have been named nationwide, with at least 104,000 students slated to take the test.

“You really have to physically go to the testing center kaya kung maaari lang, wala po kasing special exams ito, walang special kung ma-late ka or may importante ka (na gagawin).  So ang request lang po namin, eh you have to make a decision on what is very important, ‘yong bakasyon niyo ba sa ibang bansa.  May ibang nagsabi sa akin ‘no, nasa ibang bansa pa, eh kailangan i-prioritize niyo ito kung gusto niyo talaga pong pumasok,” Jimenez said.

(You really have to go to the testing center physically, so if possible, please prepare because there will be no special exams if you are late if you do something else.  So our request is, you have to decide on what is very important — is it your vacation in another country?  Some have told me they are still in another country; they must prioritize UPCAT to enter UP.)

“Wala pong postponement ang inyong schedule ‘pag testing, kung maaari lang po please be healthy, kailangan malusog tayo, handa tayo, i-prioritize natin ang UPCAT kung talaga ‘yon ang inyong ibig.  Hindi na po natin mabago ang inyong mga schedules pati ang inyong mga testing centers, so please po let’s take care of ourselves and let’s prepare for the UPCAT physically,” he added.

(There would be no postponement of test schedules; that’s why we ask you to be healthy. We need to be healthy and be prepared. Let’s prioritize UPCAT if we really want to enter UP.  We cannot change our schedules and even our testing centers, so please let’s take care of ourselves and let’s prepare for the UPCAT physically.)

According to Jimenez, the UP system is already prepared to conduct the examinations again.  He urged the students to check their e-mails occasionally to ensure they would not miss any announcements about the examinations.

“Handang-handa na po tayo, pati training ng ating testing center supervisors, ang ano lang talaga dito is kailangan lang talaga nating pag-igihan at ipag-paalam sa ating mga ibig pumasok sa UP — at sana’y pumasok kayo — na sa kanilang parte na lang ang kailangan talaga lagi, silipin nila ang kanilang mga e-mails araw-araw baka ma-miss nila ‘yong mga vital na information lalo na sa pagkuha ng testing center,” he said.

(We are prepared, even our testing center supervisors, what is just needed is for us to improve information dissemination and inform those who want to enter UP — and I hope you succeed — that, for their part, they need to check their e-mails regularly because they might miss the vital information, especially with regards to knowing their testing center.)

“So alamin na po lang nila ang kanilang mga lugar kung saan sila malapit, at lahat naman ng information na ito ay makukuha sa UP website lalo na sa UP Admissions, i-type niyo lang ‘yon sa Facebook ninyo, lalabas na kaagad.  Bukod pa dito ‘yong matatanggap ninyong email mula sa Admissions Office ng UP,” he added.

(So they should know the nearest area to their examination site. All this information can be obtained through the UP website, especially at the UP Admissions site, accessible through Facebook.  This is aside from the email you would receive from the Admissions Office of UP.)

The UPCAT, one of the country’s premier collegiate-level examinations, was suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  As a result, freshman applicants’ admission was based on students’ scholastic performance during their senior high school years.

Several UP graduates and lawmakers, including Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, called for the resumption of the UPCAT based on fears that some students may be disenfranchised because of no scheduled examinations.

READ: UPCAT resumes in June, application opens March 

As to whether UP would impose health restrictions now that COVID-19 numbers had a slight uptick, Jimenez said they have not decided yet.  However, he said that it would be best for students to bring face masks with them just to be sure.

“Sa ngayon po wala po no, ang protocol na ‘yon would really be dependent on the national government, but right now we do not have that protocol yet, but it will all depend kung ano ang development kapag sa panahon na ‘yon,” he said.

(As of now, we do not have that protocol, it would really be dependent on the national government, but right now we do not have that protocol yet, but it will all depend on what the development is by the time of the examinations.)

“Maganda pa rin na medyo handa tayo sa lahat ng possible (scenarios), hindi naman bawal ang mag-face mask so that is still desirable, depende na po on our individual level of care, but wala pa po tayong requirement na face masks.  Siguro that will be on a location-basis po, but kung meron man po we will make the necessary announcement,” he added.

(It is good that we are prepared for all possible scenarios. It is not prohibited to wear face masks, so that is still desirable, depending on our level of care, but we still would not require face masks.  Maybe that will be on a location-basis directive, but if we require masks, we will make the necessary announcements.)

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