UPLB Loyalty Day, Davis edition! 🇵🇭 🇺🇸

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The University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB)'s Loyalty Day is a celebration of volunteerism, honour, and commitment to country. Every October 10th, UPLB commemorates the mobilisation of Filipinos for a war that they ultimately did not fight. On this date in 1918, staff and students of the UP College of Agriculture (now known as UPLB) enlisted in the Philippine National Guard to help fight in World War I. The Philippines was a U.S. territory at the time, and the enlisted personnel were supposed to sail to Europe and be under the command of General John Pershing. However, on the day they were mustered into federal service, the fighting ended (Armistice Day). They never left the Philippines, but their action spoke of their willingness to serve, forever etched into UPLB history.

Years after moving to California, I found my link to the UPLB community through the active alumni network in Davis, CA. I received an invitation to the Loyalty Day celebration while attending the Global Rice Research Foundation dinner. I didn't realise that Davis and its surrounding areas have a large community of UPLB alumni.

The Loyalty Day celebration was a poignant reminder that the community spirit displayed in 1918 remains alive, even in the midst of the diaspora. Spending time with fellow alumni felt like a highlight reel of good memories about college life; conversations covered topics like popular places for lunch along Grove, side hustles, organisations, and tambayans. I didn't know many of them, but I felt welcomed into the fold as soon as I arrived. 

I'm glad that the camaraderie and distinct culture of UPLB, which I have seen in the Philippines, survived the trip thousands of miles from Carabao Park.


Donan and I attended the 2025 UP Loyalty Day celebration in Davis, CA.


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