UP Oblation Run: How did roses come into the picture?

The Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity Inc., or APO, held the annual Oblation Run at the University of the Philippines Diliman on Friday, February 14.

As a long-standing tradition, the participants or fraternity members hand out stems of red roses to students and other audience members.

According to Nero Gianan, APO member Batch 2024 and Oblation Run 2025 head, the tradition of giving roses started in the late 1980s.

“There are fully-clothed members of the fraternity that run with the actual runners to control the crowd, which in fact, are the ones who give the roses,” he told GMA News Online in a text message, and added that these are based on stories of fraternity members from older batches.

Although the run coincidentally happened on Valentine’s Day, there is a more special and significant reason for these roses, and that is to make a statement.

“Gusto namin ipakita, una, na ang Oblation Run, hindi lang siya show,” Atty. Fritz Sapon, APO member Batch 2002 and alumni spokesperson, answered GMA News Online during the press conference that followed. “Hindi namin intensiyon na makapangbastos o ipakita ‘yung aming mga hubad na katawan lamang.”

He added, “Ang significance ng rose ay kumbaga pinapakita namin na may issues kaming dinadala at nililigawan namin ang crowd to be with us, na tulungan kami sa pagbabago na inaasam nating lahat.”

Gianan added that the rose is a way to call attention, and “to present the runners and the pertinent issues they bring to the masses with some kind of respect and persuasion.”

“Kami po ay kumakatok nang mahinahon,” he said.

“Ito po ang approach namin to you. We try to be as progressive as we could be, but in a way that we still give respect, we still have our principles,” Gianan added. “Giving roses is persuasion that we do not bring malice, it is our tradition to call for attention, and a way to honor our brothers who started the ritual dance of the brave.”

This year’s Oblation Run featured 10 participants and followed the theme “Boto Mo, Hindi Benta Mo!”

In a press conference, APO members said this theme was chosen in light of the upcoming midterm elections in May. It particularly emphasizes vote-buying across the Philippines, continuous political dynasties, lack of voter’s rights education in schools, and prevalent fake news.

According to APO, the Oblation Run has been an annual tradition at the university since its inception at the Diliman campus in September 1977 during the Martial Law era.

At the time, APO sponsored the screening of "Hubad na Bayani," directed by Behn Cervantes and written by Robert Arevalo. It was allegedly shot down by Marcos’ media sensor due to its portrayal of peasant revolt and mass revolution.

In a show of defiance against the alleged censorship, two APO members ran naked in front of UP’s Palma Hall as numerous students watched and cheered.

Since then, the UP Oblation Run has been a venue to call attention to various social, political, and environmental issues.

— LA, GMA Integrated News