Women of UP Diliman

Today is International Women’s Day, and I thought of making it somehow extra special to the ate's and nanay's I come across almost everyday in the university. After greeting them happy women's day, i took the opportunity to capture their beautiful smiles :)

We may see them everyday, some we even talk to, but we really never get know a part of their story (or even their names). And it’s amazing how their genuine smiles tell the message of this day’s real essence and very purpose, of what it's really all about. I just find it amazing how their smile says it all…

I hope after reading this, coming across them today would make us give a little smile or nod to them, passing a tiny spark of positivity there :)

[Representing all the women. Salute, salute!] single, strong and independent - she is Stella Cabanella, 76. Nanay Stella collects carton boxes from the university Shopping Center’s (SC) fruit shake store to sustain herself.

"Ate pabili pong tubig, *with matching hingal-effect* yung malamig po." Being the nearest sari-sari store to the gym, perhaps almost all the student-athletes who train day and night (and had their desperate times in need of water, HEHE) there know ate Susan Poliquit. Ate Susan works from 6:30 a.m. To 6:30 p.m., Monday to Sunday.

There are two custodians at the SC, one male and the other female. She is Elvie M. Lasaga, and proudly, ate says she is the chosen female custodian of the SC. She works 8 hours everyday, plus 3 hours overtime (starting 6 a.m.) 

She is Belen Castañeda, a former custodian and her husband a former guard of the university. Nanay Belen has five children (all now are college graduates) who recently asked her and her husband to resign since the five of them are now stable and working. Her husband bakes Binangkal (a Waray delicacy) and hotcake, and Nanay Belen sells them for extra-income. 

Their Binangkal (also known as "Kabak" in Waray) is a must-try! She usually stays at the SC from morning to late afternoon. 

Quick stop for some fishball/squidball snack near the CHK gym? She is Gloria de Leon, 61 years old, sari-sari store vendor outside the Vanguard building. Nanay Gloria works from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

Not only a mother to her children, but to us all UP Acacia Residence Hall Dormers. She is Cheerene L. Badron. Ate Cheerene works (as our wonderwoman!) 12 hours duty everyday, rain or shine. 

She is Linda Guilaran, 50 years old, vegetable vendor outside the Shopping Center. Nanay Linda and her daughter sells fresh vegetables from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

She is the daughter of Nanay Linda, Jesielyn "Lenlen" Guilaran. She focuses on selling corn and sweet potato.

From 7 a.m. To 12 n.n., nanay Dolores Galisa sells kangkong outside the SC  

One of the best-seller pancit canton in town, I guess? Haha. Ate Tes Gariosa says they've been witness to many rants and heartbreaks of the students who eat at their sari-sari store (just next to the jeepney stop, near Area 2 and SC)

She is ate Tes' partner-in-crime, ate Lyn Suela. They work as a team from day to night at the sari-sari store.

And she is ate Tes and ate Lyn's sari-sari store manager, nanay Carla Ofilada. It's amazing how proud she is about ate Tes and ate Lyn's performance and dedication to their work. 


Sometimes, we stay too long looking too closely on murals that are supposed to be viewed from a broader perspective.Yes, its very details give its profound beauty. But sometimes, we just overdo it that we already treat murals as portraits. We forget that they're just bigger than that. We tend to look too closely that we don't get to see the real picture anymore. 

Happy International Women's Day to all ladies out there! Representing all the women. Salute, salute! :D