For 89 years, the UP Geodetic Engineering Club (UP GE Club) has been a leading organization promoting proficiency and excellence in the profession. This year, it celebrates its 89th founding anniversary since its establishment on August 15, 1937, with the theme “TANAH: From Our Roots, Beyond Boundaries.” This anniversary aims to look beyond standard surveying, illustrating the vital and diverse role of geodetic engineering in society and the community.
Beyond commemorating the organization’s history, legacy, and established connections, the celebration highlights how land means more than what geodetic engineers physically measure. Each parcel of land tells its own stories: from resolving boundary disputes to protecting and recognizing the ancestral lands of Indigenous peoples, defending national sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea through accurate and reliable spatial measurements, and assessing Pax Silica’s effects on the lands it will cover. Through TANAH, the organization emphasizes that geodetic engineering does not only measure land but also listens, analyzes, and provides solutions for the spaces and people connected to it. It is the responsibility of present and future engineers to develop competence and integrity for the advancement of their profession and the public good.
To mark this milestone, the UP GE Club organized a lineup of activities running from October 2026 through February 2027. The celebration began with a sportsfest, an exhibit, and a gift-giving initiative, followed by an alumni talk, the anniversary celebration, an alumni skill workshop, and an outreach program.
The sportsfest carried the theme “KAMANGÂ,” which means grindstone, and aimed to develop teamwork and sportsmanship among participants through different challenges. The games included sack race, patintero, dodgeball, six-legged pentathlon, and catch the tail, all designed for the event. It also encouraged socialization and community development within the Department of Geodetic Engineering. The event successfully took place on October 11, bringing together more than 50 participants from across the department.
Following this, the exhibit took place over one whole week, from October 12 to 16, under the theme “TALUKTOK,” meaning the highest point of something. It was intentionally designed to illustrate the connection between geodetic engineering, community land rights, and societal challenges.
Alongside the exhibit, a gift-giving initiative was also held to express appreciation to the department’s building staff. This was a sub-event under the theme “SALOG,” meaning floor or ground, which also covers the outreach program scheduled for February 2027. The outreach program will focus on supporting local farmers through direct community immersion and educational segments.
Meanwhile, this celebration introduces a new event entitled Alumni Series, with the theme “HALIGI,” or pillar, which highlights the expertise of UP GE Club alumni by sharing their knowledge with members and other students. It consists of two sub-events: the Alumni Talk, an event exclusive to members, and the Alumni Skill Workshop, which is open to everyone.
Through these initiatives, the UP GE Club continues to foster camaraderie, competence, integrity, and groundedness. For more updates on its 89th Anniversary activities, visit its official social media channels: @upgeclub on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter), and @upgectok on TikTok.
