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LIST: “May baon naman ako!” — Scenic Spots to Eat and Linger in UP Diliman
- 46 minutes ago
- 7 min read
Words by: Ava Angeles and Ren Reñido
Art by: Ava Angeles and Ren Reñido
With a variety of ever-growing options to eat, the UP Diliman campus is rapidly turning into a food destination. From the iconic Area 2, as well as the food spot staples in the campus such as Arki Vickie and Rodic’s, it seems as though there are never-ending choices when it comes to where to eat. However, as the campus has become an overwhelming space full of food options, most students have reverted to the classic practice of preparing food at home and bringing it to school as baon. Not only does it save them from the daily struggle of where and what to eat, it’s also more pocket-friendly for a student’s budget.
But with the increase of commercialized spaces requiring students to spend, places that one can stay cost-free have become more limited, and there is a constant struggle to simply figure out where to go during one’s vacants. These desperate times where finding a seat that doesn’t hurt your pocket becomes a newfound problem: the lack of campus spaces wherein students can stay without spending.
But fret not! Whether it be for a quick baon break or somewhere to stay and converse with friends, these campus spaces won’t disappoint given their intimate and unexpectedly scenic settings. With this, here are five spots in the UP Diliman campus that could be your next refuge amidst its increasingly crowded and commercialized spaces.
Melchor Garden
To the left of the steps of the ever-populated Melchor Hall is a green space recognized by most as the Melchor Garden. Although the garden is already known for various engineering organizations and events, its benches and tables are the perfect spot to eat one’s baon or take a quick break in between stressful (engineering) classes.
The garden displays the excellence of the College of Engineering through two structures: the “Centennial Sundial” and the “Pagsisigasig, Pagyabong, Pag-Unlad”. They serve as a soft reminder to reflect upon what the campus is supposed to be for its students—a place that grows and cultivates the Iskolar to be the most excellent and honorable version that they can be.
What makes this spot special is the balance between movement and stillness. Students pass through on their way to labs and lectures, but the garden itself never feels chaotic. You can sit on a bench, have a picnic out on the grass, or share a meal with friends under the trees. It becomes especially nice in the late afternoon, when the light softens, and the campus feels just a little slower. Melchor Garden allows you to see the two most beautiful aspects of the university–the scenic grounds of the campus and the lives of students that make it more full of life and vibrant.
AS Hill
From Melchor Hall, go straight on the path of the Beta Way and you will soon arrive at the historic Palma Hall. Many students, and other members of the community still lovingly refer to this building as “AS,” and nestled within it is the “AS Hill.” Known through other names such as the Rizal Garden and Tamdanay, the hill is a perfect location for students with classes in the connected buildings looking for a quick place to sit during their in-betweens.
More than convenience and accessibility, it does not fall short of being beautiful. With benches and tables covered by warm patches of light bursting through the leaves of the trees on the hill, it is arguably the most scenic location found in the midst of Palma Hall. This outdoor space provides students with a space to settle, eat, and work while still being immersed in the fresh air and green scenes of the UP campus.
Here, one can sit down while still bearing witness to the busy and bustling student Iskolar life—one that is unmissable through the constant echoes of voices from the nearby tambayans of student organizations and the high-pitched squeaking of footsteps through the halls of the significant building.
The AS Hill is a wonderful space, no doubt, but with the considerable amount of like-minded students rushing past each other just to get a spot, it becomes a reminder of the struggle that students have to go through just to find a place to stay. Beyond being a peaceful refuge, the AS Hill becomes a battleground for students that deserve more, and often have no choice but to settle for less.
Third Space
Just a short walk from the AS Hill is the Third Space. True to its name, it serves as a middle ground between the classroom and the home; a place students inhabit as an in-between. Located in Kamia Residence Hall, its rooms have become a shared refuge for those looking for somewhere to study for exams, share meals, or simply stay on campus a little longer than planned.
The atmosphere of Third Space, however, is shaped by the students who fill it–unlike many baon spots on campus defined by lush greenery, the scenery here is more intimate, and by midday, nearly every table is occupied. In one corner, a student quietly reviews their lecture slides while finishing lunch from a stained plastic container. Across the room, a group spreads their laptops and paper plates of pancit canton across the table as an org meeting takes place. Someone nearby is halfway through annotating a reading while eating, pausing every few bites to type something into their laptop. Because of the general scarcity of student spaces on campus, there is a visible negotiation for territory—belongings left unattended in cubicles, chairs pulled closer together, and strangers making room at already crowded tables.
Nonetheless, as a baon spot, Third Space stands out for its comfort. You’re indoors and shielded from the heat or sudden rain, with enough seating to settle in properly instead of balancing lunch on your lap. In the act of sharing space, the area becomes an almost chaotic yet affectionate reminder of belonging, even in a campus that sometimes feels like it’s running out of room.
CS Amphitheater
At the heart of the College of Science—impossible to miss, and as impossible not to appreciate—is the beauty of the CS Amphitheater. This picturesque setting boasts an almost endless seating capacity, guaranteeing that almost every student looking for a place to stay or eat on a regular school day has just the space to do so. For some students that prefer a cooler and more shaded place without compromising the beauty of the location, there is also the option to stay underneath the shade provided by the amphitheater stage.
With its convenient location especially for students having classes right around the CS complex area, the Amphi could be your next perfect place to sit, eat your baon, chika with your friends, or simply linger. Here, it is as though each conversation is made warmer when the sun hits just right, lighting the scenery of the amphitheater up with its warm and vivid orange hues.
Although the Amphi is a great place to hangout, eat, and pause, these activities are not exactly what the site was meant for. Despite this, many students still choose to do just that, a display of resilience and making the best of the situation that they are in. And in a way, the students that choose to linger here serve as a display of what life in UP is unfortunately like – making the best out of what there is while still being aware that they deserve better and fighting for that change.
CFA Kiosks
Tucked within the UP College of Fine Arts is a kiosk area that feels vividly alive with color and character. Found along Emilio Jacinto Street and accessible via UP Ikot, it’s an easy stop for students passing through the quieter stretch of campus who are seeking a quiet place to unwind.
The space itself feels lived-in. Rows of wooden benches and tables sit beneath a shaded structure, surrounded by walls filled with graffiti, murals, and traces of student art. Even overhead, creativity is present; papier-mache sculptures of UP streetfood staples hang from the roof, swaying slightly as people move through the space. Around lunchtime, the area begins to fill: a friend group spreads their baon containers across the table like a small picnic, CFA students hurriedly finish their plates between classes, while a lone student sits with their lunch, quietly unwinding. The open seating and communal tables make it easy to stay—whether you’re eating, or simply need a space to decompress—all while being imbued with the heart of creativity and art in the university.
This space sits right across Gyud Food, a commercial hub filled with varied restaurants and stalls. While it offers plenty of options, its seating is naturally tied to buying a meal. In contrast, the CFA kiosk area remains open and informal; students stay long after their meals are finished, whether it be sketching, talking, or waiting out the vacant moments before their next class. The space serves as a small but meaningful reminder that spaces to simply exist—without worrying about cost—still very much matter, especially with the direction that the university is headed towards.
In a campus that is rapidly being taken over by commercialized spaces, places like these remind us that the UP Diliman campus is not only a site for learning, but also one for gathering and belonging.
Each spot offers something different: the lush greenery of a garden, the open breeze of an amphitheater, the vibrant energy of an art college courtyard, or the buzz of a shared indoor space. Yet, what unites them is their openness—they allow students to unpack their baon, sit with friends, and simply exist between classes without needing to buy a seat at the table.
As more in-campus spaces become tied to consumption and commercialization, these spots become even more meaningful. The constant push and pull for spaces in the campus is an issue that is incredibly complex. For one, the inclusivity promoted through the accessibility and openness of the campus is what perfectly encapsulates our beloved university—a university “for the people”. But when student spaces are consistently made more scarce or monetized, it calls into question whether or not the university is headed towards a future for the students and the people, or more towards commercialization and profit.
It is through these vital yet unassuming spots that a small, but important part of student life is preserved: the communal act of sharing food, stories, and time together. By protecting and appreciating these shared spaces, we are bringing to mind and noticing the undervalued and underappreciated art of staying and letting time pass. And most of all, through advocating for these, we also protect the everyday moments that make campus life feel a little more human, and a little more like home.
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