Isawan sa Kalayaan on UP’s Centennial January 30, 2008

On U.P.’s Centennial celebration, I found myself parading with students from different U.P. branches. Accompanying my friend Maanne on a quick trip to U.P. Diliman to pass her masters thesis, I was hoping to shoot a little on the side. Instead we were greeted by a mob of students and teachers holding humongous banners of their respective colleges as we headed to the U.P. Diliman library. Unfortunately, the library closed early because of the festivity.

Poor Maanne reading the notice in front of the U.P. Main Library

saying they closed at 3pm because of the Centennial Celebration

Back on the street, iskos and iskas (how students of U.P. are called) wore their school pride well. On their shirts are popular “U.P. ako, ikaw?” and “U.P. Ang galing mo!” prints; which are, if I may say, too brazen for my taste. U.P. Baguio guys on their bahags were getting busy with it, tearing up the floor with an Igorot dance they were too self-conscious to pull off gracefully. I don’t mean to insult but they were getting a lot of sneers and stares on their bare bums.

Since there had been a lot of re-routing in U.P. that day, we had to go way around the Sunken Garden and back to University Avenue. With Vinzon’s Hall in sight, we decided to pay my favorite fish ball cart in the university a visit.

I’m quite surprised they now serve hotdogs aside from the regular fish balls, squid balls, kikiam, kwek kwek (or tokneneng for some), and cheese sticks. I order cheese sticks – P10 for 7 pieces.

And since we’re already on a spontaneous walkathon, we went straight to UP’s famous isaw! During my college days, we only refer to the place as isawan sa Kalayaan or isawan sa Shopping Center. Well, to our surprise, the cart now sports a sign board: Mang Larry’s Isawan complete with his contact numbers! Whoa! I wonder if he caters

Each isaw costs P3 per stick. Other artery clogging treats available are balunbalunan, dugo, tainga (pork ears), atay (liver), adidas (chicken feet). Spicy vinegar for sawsawan (dipping sauce) is available for free but a plastic cup where you can pour the vinegar for your own consumption costs P1.

Mang Larry’s Isawan
Beside U.P. Post Office
and in front of Kalayaan Residence Hall
436-3611/0918-2108839

*By car
From Philcoa:

Take University Ave. then turn left when you see the Oblation. That’ll be Ylanan Road. You should see the College of Mass Communication (Plaridel Hall) on the left and College of Music (Abellardo Hall) on the right.
On the first corner, turn right. You’ll be passing by Bahay ng Alumni – where you can get a taste of Chocolate Kiss and Oz Café. Yum yum!
Turn left on the next corner. Just a short distance, before you reach the U.P Post Office is Larry’s Isawan.

*By jeep
From Katipunan:

Take a jeep ride in Katipunan corner Aurora Blvd. The terminal is under the C-5 flyover. Fare is just the minimum – P7.50 (around $.20).
Get off at Shopping Center. Follow the trail of smoke. It should lead you to Mang Larry on the grill J

From Philcoa:
At the back of the food establishments in Philcoa is a jeep terminal. Fare is just the minimum – P7.50 (around $.20). Get off at Shopping Center.