Use of Sablay is ‘good to go’

LOS BAÑOS—Students of the University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB) have gathered the number of signatures required for the state campus to adopt the Sablay as official attire on graduation day.

The use of UP Sablay as graduation attire was “good to go,” said Tres Panganiban, of the UPLB Student Council.

The council, said Panganiban, has submitted last month more than 5,800 signatures of students supporting the use of Sablay, a native sash, as official graduation attire.

Panganiban said the council was just waiting for the Office of the Chancellor to issue a memorandum on the matter this week.

Sablay is worn over barong Tagalog or dress in lieu of the toga.

According to the UP website, Sablay is UP’s official academic costume that uses the university’s colors of maroon, green and yellow gold.

The sash contains characters from the “Baybayin” (ancient Philippine alphabet) equivalent to the letters U and P and a design called ukkil or ukit that resembles a sprouting plant to signify life.

Its geometric designs are common to indigenous peoples from Batanes to Tawi-tawi to “highlight the diverse cultural communities (in) pursuit of knowledge, cultural enrichment and scientific advancement.”

Panganiban said the use of Sablay as official graduation attire has been proposed since 2009.

In UP Diliman, students have been wearing the Sablay for graduation rites since the 1990s. Except for those in medical courses, graduates in UP Manila also wear Sablay.

Elpidio Basilio Jr., who’s pursuing a doctorate degree in UPLB, said Sablay distinguishes UP from other universities.

A graduate can own the Sablay as souvenir for P700-P800, which is slightly more expensive than renting a toga for P400-P500, Panganiban said.

Students, however, could also rent Sablay for a lower price, said Panganiban.