UP Fair 2013: Style sightings, good music, and reasons to fall in love 

A crowd of 11,000-strong music lovers and festival-goers set the Sunken Garden abuzz last Thursday.  

 

Going to the UP Fair isn’t usually associated with dressing up, synonymous as it is with letting your hair down and partying with flip-flop clad State U undergrads. Fortunately, some fashionable fair-goers proved that dressing down can be pretty stylish too. 

 

What do you wear when you know you’re going to get dirty – sitting on the grass, jumping to your favorite song, or stuffing yourself silly with barbecue? 

 

Grunge is the solution

 

The practical fair outfit solution: anything and everything rugged! Shorts and jeans were a popular option for bottoms, while many opted to wear grunge-inspired tanks on top. Boots and sneakers were the evening’s go-to footwear, which made trudging the dusty grounds easier.  

Colorful hats and headgear like bows and thematic headbands were also popping up here and there. For girls, long peasant skirts, girly dresses and even some wedged heels were also a favorite, while many guys decided to go for smart polos in bright colors or prints.

 

Another notable trend was the appearance of local brands, including footwear from Rusty Lopez and Primadonna. Many outfits were also thrifted, with one pair of shorts hailing from none other than the Marikina palengke.

 

In terms of palette, pinks and reds were especially prevalent (it being this particular Thursday of February), while festival fashion staples like black, white, and brown turned up in many outfits as well.

 

On schedule this year 

 

Backstage, Camille Maala, a busy staff member of the UP Underground Music Community, managed to stay pretty in her uniform t-shirt by knotting it around the waist of a summery green dress.

 

“This year's fair? I think it's better than last year, ‘cause it's more organized. . .it's very fresh,” she says.

 

On a similar note, Andy Lopez, a musician and organizer also from the UP Underground Music Community (fondly nicknamed “UG”) jokingly says, “Our goal actually this fair is to be the first UP fair that will end on time." 

 

Then more seriously he says, “The goal of the UP Underground Music Community is to be an events-based org that caters to independent musicians and to introduce really professional events. . .so far we’re on schedule."  

It was indeed a very professional, very well thought-out event – and no ordinary feat either, coming from the first musicians’ org to host an event of this caliber for the university. Subtitled “A Music and Arts Festival,” Roots did not only feature OPM favorites like Up Dharma Down, Urbandub and Sandwich, among others, but even a silent film-showing and live art exhibitions from different campus orgs.  

Perfect for Valentine's 

 

For the classic fair fix, there were rides, photobooths, henna tattoo stations, tiangge stalls, and every kind of finger food. Other popular attractions were the appearance of comedic hosts Ramon Bautista and Bogart the Explorer. When asked how his evening was going so far, the latter jestingly said, “. . .might as well enjoy the music, since I can't enjoy the company of a good woman.” 

 

It looked like being at the fair on Valentine’s Day was pretty enjoyable as well for the members of Stomachine, who were all smiling widely after their set. 

 

“We’re all just working today,” said vocalist Fruhlein Econar, who seemed happy nonetheless.

 

When asked what makes this year’s fair extra-special, Stomachine's guitarist Ean Aguila took no time in saying, “’Cause we organized it,” while Rafael of Extrapolation quipped, “UG eh.”

 

“All creatives. . .nagsama-sama,” said Koji Arboleda, one of the contributing artists who showed his silent film at the fair. “Dahil wala akong valentine. . .eh `di, at least occupied!" he added. The fair was attended by 11,000 people on Thursday night, according to a crowd estimate from the UP Diliman University Student Council.

 

With everything UP Fair Thursday had to offer, it was no surprise that so many people enjoyed the festivities – date or no date. – KDM, GMA News