SENATOR Mark Villar and Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno led alumni and friends of the University of the Philippines Diliman who were conferred with the UP Gawad Oblation award for their “extraordinary service with or in the name of the university.”

Among the 38 awardees were Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla, Tarlac Governor Susan Yap, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor and former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia.

Given by the UP President, the UP Gawad Oblation recognizes alumni and friends, including individuals, organizations, and institutions, for “their significant efforts in increasing the institutional visibility, international prestige, and recognition of UP as a National University, and for helping UP undertake its mandates under Republic Act No. 9500 or the UP Charter.”

The award was first conferred in 2017.

“The award is named after UP’s enduring symbol, The Oblation, a National Artist Guillermo E. Tolentino’s sculpture inspired by the second stanza of Jose Rizal’s Mi Ultimo Adios. The Oblation signifies the offering of oneself in service,” the university said.

The UP Gawad Oblation medal was designed by artist and UP College of Fine Arts professor Leo A.C. Abaya.

“In the Gawad Oblation medal, the UP Oblation is appropriated as the human figure surmounting the central image, which is a closeup of the Oblation’s hand, as it were in the gesture of offering. Transposed in this medal—golden, enlarged, and set against a mother-of-pearl disc—it has become the signifier of the eminent value of service through sharing,” the university said.

“Surrounding this central image is a green enamel band inscribed in baybayin. The inscription is Andres Bonifacio’s translation from Spanish of the second line of the second stanza of Rizal’s Mi Ultimo Adios: “Sa kagalingan mo ay akin ding handog,” it added.