Eat’s Complicated
Why off-campus dining does not resolve UPM canteen woes
by Jean Margareth Baguion and Julia Emelene Mendoza
At noon, the thought of devouring a hearty, delicious meal fills every student’s mind. After a long morning of academic responsibilities, what would be a better way to reward oneself than to eat healthy and affordable meals? Unfortunately, the familiar aroma of having a canteen inside the campus is nonexistent in UP Manila. Instead, students trek the polluted streets of Taft Avenue for satisfactory meals, and the question of “Saan tayo kakain?” burdens UPM students more than reasonable — the lack of student spaces and convenient on-campus food options are to blame.
Past, Present, and Future Plates
Before the pandemic, various food options and student-friendly meals could be found along the busy streets of Padre Faura and Pedro Gil. Several colleges also used to have food stalls available for UPM students. Affordable kainans on and off the campus used to be accessible. However, food vendors are forced to cease their operations during the pandemic due to the implementation of health protocols. The two-year quarantine inescapably prohibited in-person dining, significantly contributing to food vendors’ financial losses. Some eateries no longer have the resources to reopen after the pandemic, resulting in a decline of eateries around the university.
With the resumption of face-to-face classes, the lack of carinderias around campus remains a dilemma for students looking for affordable meals. Just to get through, students look for alternatives, resorting to more expensive yet less satisfying meals. Commonly known as RobMan, Robinsons Place Manila remains the most accessible establishment for UPM students to run to. However, fast food chains are unhealthy alternatives for both students’ stomachs and pockets. The current campus situation leaves them with no other option but to consume these commercialized goods, so experts warn of its detrimental effect on health.
The dilemma of promoting commercial establishments is not new to the UP system as UP Diliman (UPD) plans to build ‘DiliMall,’ a shopping center inside the campus. UPD’s agenda for commercialization is dissonant with the university’s core objective and values since its facilities no longer cater to the provision of basic social services but for mere businesses and corporate interests. Profit has now become the administration’s utmost priority without carefully considering its community’s living conditions.
Starving for Student Spaces
The long-unheeded complaints about finite on-campus food options are huge components of the larger call for student spaces within UPM. “It’s depressing that I’ve been here for seven years, and there is still no proper canteen unless we count mga kainan sa PGH. [Noong] 2017 pa lang, panawagan na ‘yan ng USC, and it’s sad that we’re still deprived of an eating area and more broadly, student spaces even until now,” Sophie Echivarre, a student from the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), expresses.
Seemingly, the main culprit behind this inaction is the lack of space within the UPM campus. Associate Professor of the College of Public Health and Registered Nutritionist-Dietitian Dr. Kim Leonardo Dela Luna confirms in an interview that the lack of space hinders the administration’s plan to establish a campus canteen. Nonetheless, providing food options within the campus is proven to be possible. In 2017, the CAS Student Center housed food vendors who were subsequently displaced due to rent payment issues between them and the CAS administration. Last year, as face-to-face classes in UPM resumed, three food concessionaires opened beside the CAS tambayan.
Even with the presence of these concessionaires, UPM students would still opt to seek cheaper, healthier, and more varied food options outside the campus. Most of these students spend their lunchtime at RobMan, home to an abundance of restaurants and fast food chains. This is an inconvenience to students’ time; given the often long queue, walking to and from the mall takes minutes, which inevitably eats up the already limited time of students.
Students’ daily expenditures are also significantly affected, especially since most of them allocate their daily allowance to food expenditures. Budgeting becomes a much greater challenge, especially for those students who live in dormitories away from their hometowns. “When I had F2F classes, I would do my best to stick with my budget, kasi nakatira ako sa apartment away from my family, and if maubusan ako ng allowance, then wala na akong panggastos para magpalaba, magpa-load, or para sa pamasahe pauwi for the weekend,” Echivarre shared.
It seems that the available food options make UPM students sacrifice their budget or health. Dr. Dela Luna emphasizes this reality, stating that a nutritious diet is less achievable in an environment that does not enable students to consume such a diet. This is evident as the most affordable options are high in sodium, fat, trans fat, and cholesterol, while healthier options are often priced higher. “If I stick to my budget, my meals will be repetitive and unhealthy. Going beyond my budget allows me to eat better and healthier food,” explained CAS student Justine Wagan.
Eateries Around UPM
Despite the scarcity of food options around the campus, several nearby eateries proved themselves worthy of students’ time, appetite, and budget.
P30 Meals at Bocobo St. | Kuya Raul’s Siomai Rice business has been servicing the students and employees around Padre Faura. Known for its siomai rice and siomai-hotdog with rice, he managed to capture the stomachs of the masses not just because of the taste but also because of its affordable price ranging from only P30 to P50.
Panaderia, Padre Faura St. | Students always need a quick breakfast or snack before going to class. This mini panaderia on a bike located in front of RobMan has been saving a lot of students from having empty stomachs in the morning for 3 years. According to Kuya Ronny, the owner of the Panaderia, the best sellers in his Panaderia are the donuts and chocolate bavarian. Price starting at as low as P7, students will no longer have to worry about starting their day without having breakfast.
Zadee’s Fried Chicken, Pedro Gil St. | Satisfy your chicken cravings with this famous chicken meal in front of RobMan, at its Pedro Gil side. Being in the industry for 8 months, Zadee’s Fried Chicken has undeniably become popular because of its well-seasoned chicken recipe and affordable price. Different food vloggers and influencers have already featured their menu, inducing curiosity for people to try their fried chicken. Ranging from P50 to P100 meals, students can now satisfy their lunch cravings at an affordable price.
Cuevas, Pedro Gil St. | Just outside UPM Manila’s Sotejo Hall, students may find an eatery that is known for its food variety. Established in 2005, Cuevas offers a variety of rice meals, bread, and beverages. With meal prices that lie around P110, Cuevas boast their bestsellers inipit and pork binagoongan, along with the students’ go-to chicken meals.
Nanay Gemma’s, Pilar Hidalgo Lim St. |A few steps away from Cuevas is Nanay Gemma’s eatery, a fresh face along Pilar Hidalgo Lim St. Students may satisfy their thirst for varied lutong Batangas dishes for as low as P30 to P80. Being in the business since August 2023, the colorful walls of Nanay Gemma’s boast its bestsellers, tinolang manok and sinigang. Also one of the student’s favorites are their vegetable meals and embutido.
Without these student-friendly eateries around the campus, students may risk poor mental and physical well-being, extreme time constraints, and tight budgets. Moreover, the availability of these eateries still does not ease UPM students’ struggle for a campus canteen that offers healthy and affordable food options. In an environment that values the quality of their students’ outputs but disables their well-being through scarce spaces, the call for #WeNeedSpace will continue, clamoring for the administration to provide the students with healthy and sufficient spaces.
