Ugnayan ng Pahinungod

The Uganayan ng Pahinungód Manila stands at the University of the Philippines’ institutional commiutment to volunteerism and public service. Established to embody the spirit of the Oblation, our mandate is clear: to mobilize students, faculty, staff, and alumni in extending knowledge, skills, and compassion to underserved communities.

As the health sciences center of the UP System, our programs emphasize health missions, community education, and service-learning initiatives that directly respond to the needs of the marginalized sectors. Through medical missions, training modules and immersion programs, we bridge the gap between academic expertise and grassroots realities.

Over the years, our volunteers have reached far-flung communities, provided essential health services, supported teachers and learner, and stood alongside families during times of disaster. These outcomes reflect not only the generosity of our volunteers but also the transformative power of service in shaping both communities and the university itself.

The Uganayan ng Pahinungód Manila continues to uphold its vision of a university in service of the nation. By nurturing a culture of selfless offering, we reaffirm that true excellence is measured not only in scholarship but in the lives we touch and uplift.

Dr. April B. Llaneta, MOH, FPCEM

The Ugnayan ng Pahinungód, the official volunteer service program of the University of the Philippines (UP), was established in 1994 under the leadership of then-UP President Emil Q. Javier. It was born out of a vision to institutionalize volunteerism within the university, ensuring that UP’s tradition of academic excellence is complemented by a deep commitment to public service and national development.

The term Pahinungód comes from the Cebuano word for “oblation” or selfless offering, symbolizing both the university’s iconic Oblation statue and its enduring ethos of service to the Filipino people.

To embody this vision, the Board created the Ugnayan ng mga Pahinungód / The Oblation Corps (UP Volunteer Service Program). This initiative represents UP’s institutional commitment to mobilize faculty, staff, alumni, and students in volunteer work directed toward areas of greatest need—both geographically and substantively. The word Pahinungód, widely used across the Visayas and Mindanao, is the closest Filipino equivalent of “oblation,” a concept long associated with UP through the monument that signifies the youth’s offering to the nation, present in all UP campuses.

The Ugnayan ng Pahinungód Office further operationalizes this mission by implementing the provisions of Republic Act 9418, which integrates volunteerism into the curriculum of higher education institutions.

Mission
Prepare and nurture a corps of volunteers committed to provide leadership in the undertaking and implementation of community oriented programs complementary to the Teaching, Research and Extension functions of the University

Vision
UP in the service of the underserved communities of the nation through volunteerism

Selfless Service- embodying volunteerism as a genuine offering of oneself for others
Compassion with Excellence- Aligning UP’s tradition of honor and excellence with empathy and service