As the only first-year student in UP Buklod-Isip, psychology major Yani Padilla said her organization is small but tight-knit. Their org space is similarly quaint—just a small area near the side entrance of Palma Hall—but Buklod-Isip still fostered a community there among its members and its neighboring organizations.
But when Yani found out that Buklod-Isip, an organization advocating for Sikolohiyang Pilipino, was one of the 13 College of Social Science and Philosophy (CSSP)-based organizations to be relocated to make way for construction on the third and fourth floors of Palma, she could only ponder what would happen to her org’s tambayan, dubbed their “tambuk.”
“Sobrang significant ng tambayan namin kasi doon lang kami lahat usually nagkikita. Kaya sobrang magiging sagabal [yung relocation] para sa orgs in general,” Yani said.
Without much choice but to comply with the May 1 deadline to vacate their tambayan, CSSP-based orgs are left clamoring for at least better accommodation during their displacement period.
Compromise
It was announced to CSSP-based organizations that due to the planned renovation on the third and fourth floors and computer laboratory, the gate near some orgs’ tambayan spots will be opened for construction workers to pass through.
A renovation project at Palma Hall last year left third and fourth floor classrooms unusable until April 15, 2023. With this new renovation project, however, some org tambayan spots at the first and third floors will be displaced in addition to the relocation of some classes and the closure of venue rooms PH 400 and PH 207.
Affected CSSP orgs were thus advised to relocate to their respective spots at the AS Ruins by May 1. However, the CSSP Office of Student Affairs (OSA) might consider extending the deadline to May 31.
But as only an open area without the necessary facilities that the current org tambayan spots have, the Ruins could hinder members from working and studying like some usually do at their tambayan.
The CSSP Student Council forwarded these concerns to OSA and requested that the new tambayan spots at least be equipped with extension cords and canopies, said CSSP Representative to the University Student Council Jewel Politico during KAPPanayam 2024 on April 13.
While OSA said that they will look into fixing the conditions of the Ruins before orgs are required to relocate, Yani sees the location change to be a problem in itself.
Community
Orgs were advised to remove some of the belongings in their current tambayan spots that were not included or drafted in the tambayan guidelines, while unused CSSP lockers will be provided for storage of their important documents. OSA will inventory and keep the orgs’ other items in a storage room in the meanwhile.
But for Buklod-Isip, this could mean losing its “Cloud9 bench” which, beyond serving as a landmark when it conducts its income-generating projects, serves as a hallmark of its space.
“Buklod-Isip is a bit of a small org. If it's known to other people, it's known doon sa area na yun. Kung malipat kami sa kabila, it's going to give us less of a chance na makilala kami,” said Yani.
Meanwhile, orgs situated at the gazebos outside will not be displaced, so the relocation of other orgs could impede their interactions with one another. This, especially given UP’s history of construction delays that could prolong the displacement period beyond the one year that the orgs were told.
Student spaces are already insufficient within campus as is, and these tambayan spots are the few spaces that orgs can lay claim to. But with the certainty that the renovation will push through, orgs can only ask that their temporary tambayan at least have enough facilities to continue their day-to-day activities.
“Kung i-re-relocate kami nang wala man lang na provisions for our basic needs as students na tumatambay sa orgs, I think it's going to be very problematic for us at kailangan magbigay sila ng mas solid na solution,” said Yani. ●
