Text by Angelou C. Mendoza
Photos by Joseph Bautista

From left: Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development Jose V. Tecson III and PGHBMC Chair Gloria G. Almariego lead the ribbon cutting and blessing of the new Bayanihan Kiosk at CAS. With them were Rev. Fr. Eli Lumbo, SJ, UP Manila College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Julius Andrew Nuñez, as well asPGHBMC board members Raquel Malapascua and Fe Salazar. 

In pursuit of providing the University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) students, faculty, and staff with affordable food, an additional Bayanihan Kiosk owned and operated by the PGH Bayanihan Multipurpose Cooperative (PGHBMC) was launched last May 15, 2024 at the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), beside the Little Theater. 

This initiative is seen as most convenient especially for students with back-to-back classes who opt to buy ready-to-eat meals and snacks to consume. 

“Naging convenient sya kasi dito sa UPM, inside the campus, konti lang yung stores and minsan pricey pa and costly rin. So, itong ganitong uri ng stall ay malaking bagay for us students din na convenient lalo kapag need bumili [ng food] tapos nagmamadali sa klase, may mga choices and options pa. But again, it’s better din na magkaroon pa ng mas malawak na iba’t-ibang options of snack for students na healthy, at the same time budget-friendly rin yung presyo,” said Benjie Vicente, a third year BA-Development Studies student from CAS. 

“Kanina binigyan lang kami ng ten minutes ng professor namin para mag-break, tapos pag labas namin naalala namin na may Bayanihan store. So, bumili kami dito ng tinapay, tubig, mga madali lang po kainin kasi yung time din po nagmamadali kami so wala na rin kaming time para lumabas,” added Venise Lopez, also a third year BA-Development Studies student from the College and a regular customer of the Bayanihan kiosk. 

Evidently, the convenience brought by the launch of the Bayanihan Kiosk at CAS benefits not only the students but also the faculty and staff at the College who became regular customers since the launch of the kiosk.   

“Simula nung nagbukas sya [the kiosk], triny kaagad namin tapos mas convenient sya kasi bukod sa malapit, marami rin choices like may snacks tapos meron din yung ulam kaysa kakain ka sa labas na mas mahal. Kapag bumili ka ng ulam tapos less than one hundred [pesos] lang may kanin na, minsan sabaw pa na ulam. Kapag sa labas parang hundred plus na yung mga ganon na ulam,” said Patricia Villaran, Senior Research Assistant in the Office of the Associate Dean for Research and Public Service, CAS. 

In an interview last March, former PGHBMC Chair Ranee B. Niño initially mentioned the goal of setting up a Bayanihan kiosk in CAS with the approval and cooperation of the UPM officials, after the successful launching of the PGHBMC at the UP Manila Dormitory last February 14, 2024. This plan was immediately realized only after three months through the will and drive of the University administration and of the PGHBMC to open additional food providers in the campus in response to the request of the UPM community.

The new Bayanihan Kiosk is open from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. It offers bottled beverages, noodles, bread, canned goods, breakfast, lunch, and merienda meals and snacks, and sanitary items. Vegetable, meat, and fish meals for breakfast and lunch are also available. 

PGHBMC staffer Princess Tenorio catering to the CAS students.