Oblation Run

Despite inconsistencies, sources generally agree that the Oblation Run started in 1977.[10][11][12][13] Also known as the Ritual Dance of the Brave, it takes its name from the Oblation, a statue of a nude man unveiled in 1939. Originally completely nude, a fig leaf was added to cover its genitals during UP President Jorge Bocobo's term (1934–1939).[14] It is found in every UP campus, and has since become UP's identifying symbol.[15] The run has since spread to other UP campuses, including Baguio,[16] Los Baños,[17] Manila[18] and Visayas,[19] and non-UP colleges and universities, such as the Polytechnic University of the Philippines,[20] Far Eastern University and Bulacan State University.[21][22]

According to a 1996 article published by the UP Diliman APO website, the run originated when an unnamed APO member ran naked inside the campus to promote an APO-sponsored play called Hubad na Bayani (Tagalog for Naked Hero). The play is dedicated to Rolly Abad, an APO member who was killed in a brawl a few months earlier. The run was a success so APO decided to stage it every year on the fraternity's anniversary, December 16.[10] This view is supported by a GMA News and Public Affairs report.[13]

A newer account by Oble, a student newspaper of University of the Philippines Baguio, gives a different story. According to a 2011 article of the paper, the first Oblation Run was done by Rolly Abad himself to protest the Ferdinand Marcos's banning of Hubad na Bayani, a play detailing human rights violations during his martial law regime. Rolly Abad would be killed a few months later in a brawl. In his honor, APO decided to stage the run annually and voice contemporary socio-political issues along with it.[11]

Meanwhile, the Philippine Daily Inquirer notes an APO member, Menggie Cobarrubias, saying "We [I and four others] started it as a prank when the Marcos dictatorship did not allow the showing of the play, Hubad na Bayani." The play was a political satire against Marcos.[2]

An Associated Press article likewise details a different version of the story. According to Oliver Teves who wrote the article, the run started as a stunt to promote Hubad na Bayani, a film that depicted oppressed plantation workers. Similar to the account by Oble, the film was banned by Marcos.[12] Similarly, the Internet Movie Database lists Hubad na Bayani as 1977 film directed by Robert Arevalo.[23] It reportedly won the 1978 Gawad Urian Awards for best picture, best production design and best screenplay.[24]

The two women who ran naked during the 2005 Oblation Run at UP Diliman

During the December 2005 Oblation Run at UP Diliman, two unidentified naked women, reportedly Koreans, were seen tailing 30 members who were part of the event. This is the first ever instance that women took part in the occasion. The two, wearing masks to hide their identities, held banners promoting equal rights for women. After posing for photographers, they entered a car which then sped off. The act, however, was condemned by APO.[2][25]

We are condemning their act not on gender issues because they are women, they can do run naked if they want to. But the event [Oblation Run] was supposed to be ours.

— Joselito Caparino (APO media liaison officer), The Philippine Star[25]

To celebrate the University of the Philippines centennial, 100 APO members ran half a mile around the Diliman campus on June 18, 2008. This is the largest Oblation Run in its history in terms of number of participants. The participants started running on 11 AM PST from Vinzons Hall to the Oblation statue in front of Quezon Hall, the UP administration building. Several runners carried placards stating "Serve the People" and raised social issues, including appeals for greater state subsidy of education and ouster of then-President of the Philippines Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The event was observed by senior APO alumni, including Jejomar Binay who was the mayor of Makati.[26][12]

• 2019 (February 8) Protection of freedom of expression and self-determination.[30]
• 2017 End drug-related killings, rebuild war-torn Marawi City, lift martial law in Mindanao, and resume the peace talks between the government and the Communist Party.[31]
• 2016 Condemnation of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos' burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, and justice for Martial Law victims.[32]
• 2015 "Huwad na daan" and "Hubad na daan"[33]
• 2014 Accountability and sustained action on the part of those in power to respect the rule of law.[34]
• 2013 Better disaster risk reduction and management[35]
• 2012 Free, fair and clean 2013 national elections[36]
• 2011 "A Run for Philippine Rivers"[37]
• 2010 Justice for the victims of the 2010 Philippine Bar exam bombing.[29]
• 2009 Justice for the victims of the Maguindanao massacre[28]
• 2008 Opposing Charter Change particularly to any extension of the term of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo[38]
• 2007 Ouster of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and others.[39]
• 2006 Protest against the University of the Philippines tuition increase, Charter change, and the withholding of funds of the Philippine Collegian[40]
• 2005 "Merry Christmas ???", three question marks represent the budget cut for the tuition of the Iskolar ng Bayan ("Scholars of the Nation") the backpay and cost of living allowance woes of the University of the Philippines employees; and the implementation of the EVAT[3]
• 2004 "Environment Restoration and Social Justice for Hacienda Luisita Victims"[41]
• 2003 Clean and peaceful elections (and others)[42]
• 2002 "No to Budget Cuts"[41]
• 2001 "Stop Corruption! Transparency in the Government"/"Walang Ku-Corrupt"[41][43]
• 2000 "Erap Resign"/Ouster of President Joseph Estrada[41][44]
• 1999 Calling attention to University of the Philippines Budget Cuts[45]
• 1995 Stop Fraternity Violence[41]