The Oblation: Symbol of Filipino Pride

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The Oblation structure found in all University of the Philippines campuses is the most recognized symbol of U.P students. The structure features the naked form of a man in a sacrificial emblematic gesture of offering service to both country and humanity. It has become a landmark in every U.P campus. It is the second-most recognized sculpture in the Philippines, next to the Rizal statue found in Luneta. Also known as the Oble, the structure has been a major rallying point for all kinds of protests actions, social criticisms, and expression of public service, nationalism and patriotism. For all students of all U.P. campuses, the Oble is a symbol of their unity in mission, vision and traditions.

The structure is the work of genius Filipino sculptor Guillermo E. Tolentino and was made in 1935 under the first Filipino president of the University, Rafael Palma. Palma ordered Professor Tolentino to translate Jose Rizal’s “Last farewell” into a monument for it to become the official landmark of the University.

The original monument was fashioned out of concrete but was later painted in a bronze color. The 3.5 meter height of the statue represents the 350 years of Spanish Colonization of the Philippines. The original Ogle cost 2000 pesos which were a result of the contributions of students, alumni, officials and employees of the University over a two-month fund-raising campaign. The statue was finally unveiled in 1939 on National Heroes Day and was dedicated to the national heroes found at the Padre Faura Campus. The Oblation continued to withstand the ravages of war in the U.P Padre Faura campus. It was then transferred to the UP Diliman campus in February 1949 as part of the university’s anniversary celebration. The original Oblation is located at the 3rd floor of the UP Diliman Main Library. A year after, the U.P. Board of Regents decided that the Ogle was to be cast in bronze as part of the golden anniversary of the school. The bronze statue was then cast in Italy and was unveiled in 1958. The 9-foot tall Oblation now stands in front of Quezon Hall, which is the main administration building of U.P campus.

There was always a belief that a U.P student should never pose for a picture in front of the Oble. Stories say that students who do pose together with him won’t graduate on time. How true the superstition goes, we can never know. Maybe the Oble has some kind of special powers wherein he tries to retain students as long as possible under his wing, or maybe this is just something to scare off those freshmen. Even if there’s any truth to it, it still remains a nice story to be told by the U.P. students and graduates.

Visitors headed towards the south of the Philippines should try to stop by the Philippine University campus in Davao to take a picture with this iconic symbol of Filipino sacrifice. The Oblation represents the ideals of service of the Filipinos and the loyalty to cause human betterment to the country.