WE exist. UP Mindanao exists. There?s no other way to start this article but to scream that we exist. If you?ve not been here, well, read on and feel what it?s like to be in the premiere university down south.

Chow time

If you?re the kind of person who can?t calm down without eating something, then you?ll find UP Mindanao a paradise. Food stations and snack bars abound all over the campus.

The school canteen, managed by Ate Marichu and her wacky crew, will never cease to excite your taste buds with its good food at rock-bottom prices. Try the pork binagoongan and chicken mandarin (only P20 per serving!)

For those in a hurry, Malou?s refreshments, conveniently located beside the university dorm, offers your favorite quickies, from sandwiches to noodles, iced tea to chocolate drinks. It also offers photocopying services.

If you like pancit canton in massive quantities and smoothies in tall glasses, Ling?s snack bar is the place to go. It?s also a good place to hang out if you like to be in harmony with nature, since you will be inside one of several bahay kubo standing underneath big trees. Just be on the lookout for bees.

Mobile tindahans also roam the campus grounds, offering everything from Selecta ice cream and kwek-kwek.

Campus fashion

Of course, one?s freedom of expression extends to clothing as well. UP and Mindanao, being melting pots, boast of diverse cultures, identities and fashion trends.

Going to school is no different from going to the beach here in UP Mindanao (except that we do not carry with us inflatable floaters). Everyday is summer, which means nearly everyone is up to wearing shirts, shorts and flip-flops.

Dump your shoes, because they suffocate your feet. They?re only useful when it?s PE time.

Whatever the brand may be, flip-flops are a staple here in UP Mindanao, since they easily match just about any outfit. Whether you?re running late or walking slow, flip-flops will never fail to take you to your destination. Plus, they?re really good for trekking from one building to another.

Colorful graphics dominate on campus. They?re everyone?s favorite, being simple, fun and very comfortable apparel, especially on hot days. Same goes for shorts. Stash some sunblock in your bag and you might as well head off to the beach.

Fun and more fun

Studying is fun. Don?t laugh.

But if you don?t like to study, you can hang by the administration building atrium to soak up on wi-fi.

Chatting with your friends?or just about anyone?is fun. You can even chat and laugh with some of your professors during vacant hours (they?re good at converting the stuff you discuss in class into jokes). Picking on someone is fun. Bullying is fun, sometimes. But everyone?s discouraged to do that because it?s bad.

When all else fails, resort to studying. Studying is fun.

More stuff await to be discovered here in UP Mindanao. Yes, we exist.

Do you want to tell us about your school? E-mail Ls_2bu@inquirer.com.ph.