PROGRESSIVE TRUTH. PROACTIVE YOUTH.
UP finally welcomes 2018 applicants after long wait
by Frances Dianne Bael | 30 April 2018 | 5:30 pm
A father of an UPCAT taker checks if his child made the cut in the results posted at the Office of the University Registrar, University of the Philippines Diliman, this April 30.
See you soon!
Aspiring UP students’ countdown ended at 2:30 p.m. today—191 days since the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT) was administered nationwide.
This is the longest wait in the last five years, even longer than batch 2013’s wait of 181 days wherein an essay was included in the UPCAT.
See the results here: bit.ly/UPCATResultsIndex.
Netizens clamored for the exam’s timely release together with other universities as they had to face costly reservation fees from schools they have already passed.
Juan Raphael Perez, a grade 12 student from Quezon City Science High School who passed the exam with a degree in BS Molecular Biology and Biotechnology in UP Diliman, missed the deadline of confirmation in his backup universities.
He took exams in Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU), De La Salle University (DLSU), and Far Eastern University (FEU), institutions which released results earlier and required non-refundable reservation fees from passers.
“I didn’t pass requirements nor confirmed my slots in any of those because I’m really hoping to pass UP,” Perez shared. “If all else fails, I’ll send an appeal to ADMU, but I am really hoping that this worst case doesn’t happen.“
Perez also comes from a family of Iskos. Though his family background has been a cause for pressure, it was also his motivation to do well.
He spent P 5,000 to enroll in an review program during his summer vacation to work to prepare for the UPCAT.
“I feel most sympathetic with my batchmates across the country from the lower and middle classes, those who have been forced to spend thousands just to have a safety net to another university,” Perez said.
What exactly happened?
The public expected the UPCAT results much earlier since UP Student Regent Shari Oliquino previously posted on Twitter that the announcement will be on late March or early April.
“According to Director Aurora Mendoza, results are expected to be released on March 31 or 1st week of April due to the Lenten break,” Oliquino said.
Latest Updates
However, second week of April came and there were still no UPCAT results.
The university was criticized heavily on social media for not being able to deliver on the dates they have announced.
On April 11, UP Vice President for Public Affairs Jose Dalisay Jr. issued a press statement saying that the UP Office of Admissions has made online announcements during the exam that the results will be released anytime within March to April.
He acknowledged the anticipation and anxiety of waiting, but also stated that the factors such as the increased number of applicants and postponement of the examination from August to October affected the timeframe.
“We’ve also had to adjust to the changes brought about by K-12. We had very few applicants during the K-12 transition years, so processing and releasing results was much faster then,” said Dalisay as quoted on article in the UP website .
A rainy afternoon's most awaited moment: Iskolar ng Bayan aspirants and their parents flock to check the names of those included in UP's Batch 2018 freshies.
According to the latest university news, more than 103,000 graduating high school students in the Philippines applied for the UPCAT, but only around 80,000 took the exam in at least 76 testing centers last October.
A passing rate of 17 percent or a total of 14,000 test-takers will be admitted into UP’s eight constituent universities.
“It’s taking time, but we’re making doubly sure that the results are accurate and fair,” Dalisay said.
UP regent blows the coal
Palace appointee and University of the Philippines Board of Regents (BOR) member Frederick ‘Spocky’ Farolan was called out after his Facebook post attracted negative reactions from critics.
On April 6, Farolan relayed an announcement from the UP Office of Admissions stating, “The UPCAT results shall be out by April 30, 2018.”
“Forgive me for saying this…pero yung mga kung makahirit e parang hulog ng Diyos kayo para sa UP, siguraduhin ‘nyo lang na papasa kayo ng UPCAT. Dahil kung hindi lalaitin ko pati kaibuturan ng kaluluwa niyo,” Farolan said in the comments section of his post.
His comment post drew several comments. Later, Farolan replied back at the commenters who expressed their disappointment on the delayed release of UPCAT results.
“Ipapatikim ko sa iyo ang purong panlalait ng isang tunay na pumasa ng UPCAT at nakapagtapos ‘di lamang ng undergrad pero pati na ng law sa UP,” he added.
According to some netizens, his behavior was very unbecoming of a public official.
For Jessa Mae Manlangit, an UPCAT taker from the University of Eastern Philippines–Pedro Rebadulla Memorial Campus who unfortunately did not pass, some people might have been too sensitive on Farolan’s remarks.
She recognized that examinees got frustrated because the statements were discouraging, however as future UP students, she said that they must always be up for the challenge.
“I am not defending Farolan,” Manlangit said. “I took UPCAT because I want to be part of UP. I want to challenge my potentials.”
After drawing flak for his actions, BOR member Farolan apologized on Twitter.
“As for how they felt degraded, I request that they apologize as well to all the UP personnel they make out to be sleeping on the job and intentionally delaying the release,” he said.