By Atty. Antonio P. Pekas
The Art and Science (AS) building was about 15 meters from the side of the 16 meter-wide road whose other side was the Humanities building about 15 meters away from the road. So, one had to negotiate that 30 meter distance from the AS Building to get to the road, cross it, to get to the Humanities bldg, then there is an added distance of about 14 meters to get to the backside of that building when you run through its side. It was that distance a “streaker” ran through one bright sunny school day in 1976 at about 11:00 a.m. in plain view of UP Los Baños students and faculty members, men and women. It was a sight to behold as it was not ordinary. The crowd was sizeable as the word was spread about the streaker before the exact time. He was being awaited, with bated breath.
Then he burst forth from the AS building, fair in complexion like a Chinese mestizo, his head enclosed by a paper bag with small holes for the eyes so he could see, and one for the nose so he could breathe, his black pubic hair stark black against his fair complexion, and as he ran, his dick dangled from side to side, visibly, as he was well endowed down there.
The students and the faculty members were in awe, unable to shriek or emit any sound, for everyone seemed to have been shocked, unable to believe it could happen. But it happened. So, the Oblation Run was born by members of the Alpha Phi Omega International Service Fraternity. Was he still a neophyte applying for membership or was he already a full-pledged APO member? I never asked any of the brods who hatched that one. But I was right there in our “tambayan” where the streaker passed by.
Over the years the Oblation Run evolved, becoming an annual activity of the fraternity, conducted by groups of its members, and now done with some socio-economic and political relevance. Often to call attention to such burning issues being ignored.
I remember it clearly, about three decades ago when there was a move to cut the budget of the UP, the Oblation Run was harnessed to call attention to the opposition to the move. Then Vice President Jejomar Binay, an alumnus of the frat and the university, was shown on National TV cutting the ribbon to start the Oblation Run in UP Diliman saying, “NO TO BUDGET CUT, YES TO GERMAN CUT.” German cut is supposed to be a style of cutting the foreskin of a man’s dick during circumcision.
Later when the anchor of the TV show asked some coeds who watched the naked runners with their manhood swinging from side to side as they ran in a relaxed manner, one of the ladies said, “bat ganoon parang may mga libag (grime or accumulated dirt) yong kanila”—referring to the dicks of the runners.
No, my dear, those were not grime or accumulated dirt but natural folds of the skin so it could accommodate expansion of the penis when aroused or when somebody gets crazy at night.
In the run up to the fraternity’s 100 anniversary on December 16, the Oblation Run will be conducted in all the UP campuses all over the country. It is timely with all the secrecy that attended the massive corruption in the flood control projects. It is high time to uncover them all.
So, we go back to the naked Oblation. “A completely nude sculpture of a masculine young man whose genitalia was later covered by a fig leaf for decency, with outstretched arms and open hands, head tilted upwards, closed eyes with parted lips murmuring a prayer, with breast forward in the act of offering himself.” An interpretation of the second verse of Mi Ultimo Adios, it means selfless dedication to the nation. It is the symbol of the University of the Philippines.
Such dedication should now be expressed by running after our corrupt officials or acting to make the government run after them for restitution and to be penalized by sending them to jail.**
