Random Memories of UP Architecture Forum

My 29 random memories of you:


1. The then AF tambayan was the 4th floor landing of the Eng’g building (I don’t know what they call that side, basta yung side adjacent to the tennis court). Prior to being a member of the organization, I used to DREAD crossing that landing because the AF members were everywhere, yes, nakakakalat, sa buong landing. They were an odd looking bunch of people but the people who stand out are the long haired big, bulky, rowdy-looking guys who would stare at anyone who passes by. For a freshman like me, that thought was absolutely scary! So instead of crossing that landing, there were times I would just pass thru the center stairs of the building instead.

2. When people ask me what made me join Arki Forum, I couldn’t quite explain it except for one word: DIVERSITY.

3. I don’t think anyone can ever make a stereotype of what an AF member is. It’s a place to be comfortable with who you are. We all dress up differently, talk differently, have fun differently, I guess we all have something in common: how to learn while having fun.

4. A lot of the professors didn’t like the organization then, because we are not the typical angelic bunch. We are kind of territorial, we are noisy, we pollute the air, we get drunk in the tambayan, we ‘owned’ the boys’ and girls’ restrooms beside our tambayan, we are NOT THE NORM. Most people hate you when you refuse to be part of the norm. As much as the professors think they don’t like us, come events where they are in need of manpower, logistics power, creative power, free labor, who do they go to? Arki Forum.

5. I remember prior to being an active AF member, I go home whenever I had hours and hours of vacant time in between subjects. Post-AF active membership, I go to school early in the morning and leave school hours after my classes, just to hang out with the AF peeps.

6. Cozy. I absolutely loved our tambayan! Our batch ‘renovated’ the whole area to a point that we had soft couches, accent pillows, paintings, etc. We usually just hang out there during sun down, chit chat with friends while people watching, light the scented candles and play some good music in the background. Aaaahhhh…

7. The restrooms beside the tambayan may have Male or Female labeled on each of the two doors, it didn’t mean it was exclusive though. You should not be surprised to see boys in the girls restroom and girls taking a shower in the boy’s restroom. I have had a lot of heart to heart talks in the girls restroom, it’s our favorite place to talk about heartbreaks, etc. I also remember crying in the same room after my oh-so-good friend tripped me at the corridor, for everyone to see. Which reminds me of another fond memory…

8. After that friend tripped me at the corridor (itago natin siya sa pangalang Romel Orlando hahaha), I got mad at him, of course, 10% because of humiliation, 10% because I thought it was so immature and 80% because my knees was bruised and it was absolutely painful. It was hard to not be in speaking terms with one of your closest friends, whom you see every day, talk to every day, text with, and hang out with at the same place every single day. I remember people feeling either weirded or out that we weren’t in speaking terms, but see us at the same table, same vicinity, talking to the same group of people. Hahaha. Hoy Romel, ano na nga ba ung hinirit mo candidly kaya napilitan ako kausapin ka ulit? Hahaha.

9. I think 80% of the org members were smokers but not one of them ever asked me to try it too. I extra love my friends for that. :P

10. I had been taking a sip or two of beers or cocktails since high school but my official introduction to the word “tipsy” was from Arki Forum’s Meriendahan. I think I was already in third year then. I remember smiling almost the whole night and unstoppable laughing but to what? I do not remember. Ang unang nag-abot sakin ng baso ng ice-cold beer, itago natin siya sa pangalang, Inson Manalo. Bwahaha!

11. On our thesis year, we rented a 2 bedroom apartment near school so we can concentrate on our thesis. YEAH RIGHT! There were six of us renters in that townhouse, but probably at least 15 people sleeping in the house most of the time. During that year, I think that house became the official AF house. We have several desktop computers which was 20% of the time used for papers and 80% for network gaming, a huge parking space, a patio perfect for inuman, and very kind neighbors who did not complain. Haha.

12. Days before our thesis defense, the thesis house was packed! The overnight inuman sessions turned into overnight production of our thesis materials. Countless hours of labor of love that you did not ask for but was given to you wholeheartedly by your friends. Whenever one comes by the house, the immediate greeting was “What can I do?”

13. Come defense day, they were still there to watch us and become our instant jolalays, taga-pindot ng slide show, taga-signal ng remaining time, or mga dakilang taga-nood for moral support, fan club. When the panel of judges finally announced our grade, it was “95 point WHOOOOHOOOOOWAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!” Screams, shouts, loud applause from the crowd, like proud Moms and Dads, they were jumping for the team’s success.

14. Another culture I got from AF is to study hard on days that you want to, and on the other days, do whatever you like. Take your own pace. The morning I woke up for my thesis defense, both my thesis mates were missing – one went to a salon, one went to have her nails done. Haha! I was on the other hand in the house watching Betty La Fea. That is how you prepare for an important presentation. You RELAX.

15. The Architecture Forum applicant interview. A 3 hour interview to wrap up months of the org’s application process. All the members would probably want to forget that day but I bet they could never do that. Enough said. Haha.

16. Out of the blue, our batch of Arki Forum officers and friends felt like dancing in front of the crowd. So we did. Not all of us were born good dancers, but the rule is… if you want to dance, then just go do it. For the girls, it was Don’t Call Me Baby by Madison Avenue, and for the boys it was Bye Bye Bye by N’Sync. Lupiiiittt!

17. Vice relay. A game I first knew because of the org. It’s a, hmm, relay race of all vices. Haha. Each team member would have to finish a station of vice (e.g. beer, cigarette, etc) or the vice’s usual partners (e.g. pulutan like chicharon). First team to finish wins.

18. Sem-ender out of towns! Tagaytay, Batangas, etc. Well, it didn’t really matter where we go, but a day or two away from school, with the rest of the AF members, is always F.U.N.

19. I had a crush then, code named Blacky. What’s the point of having a code name when everyone in the org knows who he is anyway. Hahaha.

20. The blue comfy couch. I have slept on it, wept on it, people watched, studied, had small talks, drank beer, or had a heart to heart conversation on that blue couch. It’s probably the prime spot of the tambayan then.

21. The then scary looking big men I mentioned on item 1 later became my big bros. Who would have thought they were actually sensitive and emotional men? The type that talks about their feelings and knows how to appreciate love songs. What a disguise! :P

22. I was standing peacefully by the tambayan ledge, people watching at the parking lot below when I witnessed three men wearing ski masks pass by the driveway, smashed another car with baseball bats, then drove away. The car owner then saw it a few minutes later, opened and closed one of the doors of his car and said “PU*****NA!” Then walked away casually. Everyone else went on to do what they were doing, dedma.

23. Dance dance revolution in the tambayan! :)

24. When I was still an officer heading the application process, I had a few applicants who I knew was just joining the organization so they can put it in their resume. They complied with all the requirements of the application process. Text-book A student. The typical non-AF attitude. I knew they didn’t have the heart of an AF member but couldn’t reject their application just by my gut feel that “they don’t have the heart.” They did pass the application with flying colors, score-wise. Was they ever seen by the organization after that? Nope. Did they ever become an active member? Nope. Did they ever get in touch with the org? Nope.

25. You know you’re a true Arki Forum member when you have been to Sarah’s (all too) frequently. You need not be a beer-lover and drink all the time, regardless, you were there for the company of the ones who did.

26. Skyflakes na dinurog sa Century Tuna (bonus na kung may sibuyas kayo). Instant pulutan.

27. During Arki Forum week, we felt like doing a huge artwork of the AF mascot - Yattattee (Oh no! Wrong spelling?). So we did. It was so big it was covering almost a third of the width of the hallway. We’ve put it in the middle of the hallway where people would have dodge their way pass it. We didn’t get any complaints though, that’s how powerful that green monster is.

28. AF logbook. This is our exclusive FACEBOOK, TWITTER, BLOG page all in one. Most of us did not have cellphones then too, so this is our main means of communication. We write lyrics of songs, poems, or have our own chat pages in it. I especially love the comic strips in it! The logbook is your daily dose of comic relief, emo page, art, or just plain gossip. I wonder if they still have it now and still uses it as much as we did before. I hope so!

29. August is our foundation month. In preparation for Arki Forum’s (usually) month-long celebration, the members try to finish all the production work by doing it all night long, for consecutive days for some. As the saying goes, Architects do it all night long. Being the morning person that I am, I usually wake up early in the morning and find everyone fast asleep, literally in each and every corner, hallway, steps in and along the tambayan. It was such a sight to see, a peaceful, breezy morning, cups of paints, wet paint brushes scattered everywhere, empty beer bottles on the floor, junk food scraps on your feet, and those angelic looking friends of yours sleeping in the oddest positions you have ever seen. You are the lucky ones (or the early sleepers) if you got a couch, or perhaps a table to sleep on, but for most of the people who worked all night, their bed is a piece of manila paper on the concrete floor, a 4” wide bench, 2 pieces of chairs to balance your body in, or perhaps the drafting table. Yes, for all nighters, if you can sleep on/in it, it’s yours for the night. Oh, how I wish I have the pictures.


Happy 29th Anniversary to Arki Forum!
MORE POWER!!! :)

Note: Above logo taken from UP Arki Forum Facebook page.