UP Namnama

History

UP Namnama is the first and only true-blooded Ilocano organization in the country's premier university, University of the Philippines. It exists with the purpose of providing academic and social growth among the Ilocano youth, as well as encouraging a widening awareness and appreciation of our region's unique heritage and culture among our fellow Filipinos.

Founded at the height of Martial Law, it was originally a political confraternity, formed to go against the dictatorial government of then President Ferdinand Marcos. During this highly tumultuous period, UP Namnama became politically involved in and out of the university, having been an active participant in the "parliament of the street" almost daily alongside with other UP students and protesters, at the same time a pioneer member of the Ilocandia Forum, a coalition of Ilocanos from different sectors, such as the academe, clergy, judiciary, business, and labor, among others. Imbued with a deep sense of nationalism and genuine selflessness, UPN members fought long and hard for the release of political detainees, including its very own former presidents and founding members.

At the turn of the decade, however, present realities caused the organization to realign its focus to academic and socio-cultural endeavors. It has retained such orientation up to this day.

Through years of unrelentless service, passion and commitment, UP Namnama has successfully established a solid regional presence—covering the provinces of Abra, La Union, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, and the city of Baguio—and never looked back. The organization's flagship activity, the Annual Sirib Quiz Show and Saririt Cultural Festival, is, without exaggeration, regarded by the participating schools as an institution in the educational events map of whole Ilocos. Moreover, UPN currently enjoys the recognition from its fellow geographic-based and ethnolinguistic organizations from UP Diliman as the bastion of outstanding students of Ilocano lineage in the campus.

Apart from its noble history and many unparalleled feats, UP Namnama also draws pride from its resident members and almost a thousand alumni, who include multi-awarded broadcast journalist Jessica Soho and former University Student Council chairpersons Jose Fernando Alcantara and Kristian Michel Ablan, just to name a few.

On January 2014, UP Namnama was able to open new doors as the UP Namnama Baguio Chapter was established in UP Baguio. Stronger than ever, both chapters defined a milestone on June and July of the same year as they simultaneously launched the Suro: Annual UPCAT Review to the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Abra with over 300 participating students all-in-all.

And in November 2025, a new home for the Ilocanos in UP Manila was established as UP Namnama Manila chapter was established there.

Now on its 52nd year, UP Namnama will remain steadfast in serving the Ilocanos.

From 1974, to now, and into the future:

Agbiag ti nasirib ken nabannuar a puli!

Officers

Executive Committee A.Y. 2025-2026

President: Therese Turqueza (Laoag, Ilocos Norte)

Secretary-General: Rachel Castillo (Laoag, Ilocos Norte)

Executive for Internal Affairs: Lloyd Ramirez (Sarrat, Ilocos Norte)

Executive for External Affairs: Gabrielle Andrei Rico (Santo Tomas, La Union)

Executive for Finance and Logistics: Karylle Anne Madriaga (Currimao, Ilocos Norte)

Executive for Education and Culture: Jasmine Anne Estrella (Batac City, Ilocos Norte)

Executive for Creatives and Publicity: Luce Melegrito (Caoayan, Ilocos Sur)

Executive for Alumni Relations: Drake Roneale Panlaqui (Baguio City, Benguet)

Activities

Sirib ken Saririt

An academic and cultural festival held annually in the provinces of Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Abra and Benguet.

This is the flagship event of the organization wherein contests are held for elementary to senior high school students and help them excel in academic and extracurricular activities.

Suro UPCAT Review

A series of lectures, practice examinations, and career talks to prepare Ilocano students for their entrance tests on their prospective degrees and colleges of choice.

Sagot Namnama

An outreach activity committed to facilitate academic development and social awareness among the Ilocano youth.

Announcements

Sirib ken Saririt 2026 Provincial Eliminations

𝗜𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗢𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗘 (𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟭𝟬)

𝙎𝙩𝙖. 𝙍𝙤𝙨𝙖 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙃𝙞𝙜𝙝 𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡

𝘚𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘵, 𝘐𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘰𝘴 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦

𝗕𝗘𝗡𝗚𝗨𝗘𝗧 (𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟭𝟬)

𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝘽𝙖𝙜𝙪𝙞𝙤

𝘎𝘰𝘷. 𝘗𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘙𝘥., 𝘉𝘢𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘰 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺

𝗜𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗢𝗦 𝗦𝗨𝗥 (𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟭𝟭)

𝙎𝙩𝙖. 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖 𝙒𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝘾𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡

𝘚𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢, 𝘐𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘰𝘴 𝘚𝘶𝘳

𝗟𝗔 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗡 (𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟭𝟳)

𝙇𝙖 𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙃𝙞𝙜𝙝 𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡

𝘚𝘢𝘯 𝘍𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰, 𝘓𝘢 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯

𝗔𝗕𝗥𝗔 (𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟭𝟳)

𝘼𝙗𝙧𝙖 𝙃𝙞𝙜𝙝 𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡

𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘥, 𝘈𝘣𝘳𝘢

𝗣𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗔𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗡 (𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟭𝟴)

𝙐𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙖𝙣 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙃𝙞𝙜𝙝 𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡

𝘜𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘯, 𝘗𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯

See Also

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Instagram: @up.namnama

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