UPCAT applicants camp at UP Diliman one day before deadline of applications

Applicants swarmed the University of the Philippines Diliman one night before the deadline of filing of applications for the UPCAT (University of of the Philippines College Admission Test).

Some even even camped out at the university grounds.

In a report on Stand for Truth, reporter Izzy Lee witnessed how UP hopefuls endured long lines just to be able to apply at what is tagged to be Philippines' best university.

The deadline for the UPCAT applications is on August 23 and some applicants like Alyssa Flores have lined up at UP Diliman as early as August 22 at 9 p.m.

"Deadline po ng 23 po Friday, 22 po ng 9 p.m. nag-start na po kaming pumila dito para po to make sure po 'yong spot po namin doon sa una po ng pila," Flores told Stand For Truth. "We don't mind waiting naman po, para naman po sa future namin 'to.

According to Aurora Odette Mendoza, the Director of the Office of Admissions of UP Diliman, the number of applicants have been increasing each year.

"Every year dumadami po ng dumadami and but since nagbukas kami ng online applications mas madaming nakakapag-apply ang nag-online po sa amin po ay more than 170,000 at this point we cannot say how many have actually submitted," Mendoza said.

Last year, UP applicants recorded were only at around 120,000.

UP Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan said although free tuition fee is what most would say to be the reason why they want to get in the school, he said the quality of UP's education is also another factor why students are eager to get in.

"Of course ang sasabihin na libre na kasi ang lahat 'yong tuition fees and all ang mas nakaka-attract dito 'yong tinatawag na tatak UP na education," he said. "Ang mga produkto namin ay nakakapag kung sa paglutas ng problema magaling mag-isip, malikot ang isip ng mga taga-UP."

Tan said the quote for the entire UP system is 15,000 students. UP Diliman is about 3,900.

According to the 2019 Philippine University ranking, UP is the Top 1 of all Philippine schools. It has the rank of 95 in Asia-Pacific according to the Asia University Rankings.

For the world ranking Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings placed UP is on the 365th place.

The UPCAT will happen on October 5 and October 6. — Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/LA, GMA News