GMA Brandtalk
Tracking
Archives
Filtered By: Lifestyle
Lifestyle
UP's beloved Beach House Canteen set to close down
Photo courtesy of "Huwag Isara ang Beach House naming Mahal" Facebook page
Despite online petitions to save the Beach House Canteen, the beloved fixture inside the University of the Philippines campus is set to close down on July 9.
"(On) Thursday, Kuya Elmer of Beach House was served a five-day notice to vacate the premises beside the UP Main Library," read a post on a Facebook account set up to save the Beach House, "Huwag Isara ang Beach House naming Mahal."
There will be no more Beach House as we know it by Wednesday next week, July 9, 2014. Again, there is no legal recourse. The courts have long decided with finality... Now, we beg..."
Located at the Sunken Garden near the Main Library, the Beach House Canteen gained renown among students and outsiders for its affordable pork barbecue, among other dishes.
The famous pork barbecue goes well with itlog na maalat, talong, at kamatis. Karen Galarpe
News of the impending closure met with disappointment from supporters of the canteen.
"UP has to preserve its institutions, kasama na ang beach house. It is part of UP culture. Relocate! dont just evict! Hindi ba nakatikim ng bbq ang mga taga korte? Or hindi sila taga-UP kaya hindi nila naiintindihan. Walang sentimental at gastronomic value sa kanila. Boo!" wrote commenter Olivia Estrada.
Last January, a petition was launched on Change.org to stay the decision to close down Beach House.
The petition started by Tina Balajadia sought to save the Beach House, which the signatories said has become a part of UP Diliman life.
"Sana'y maipagpatuloy ito nang maranasan rin ng mga darating na henerasyon ng mga mag-aaral sa UP ang pagkain sa Beach House," it said.
Last February 20, the Facebook page shed light on why the UP administration was pushing for the canteen to close.
"UP said it is unsanitary to have a canteen very near a drainage system as it might affect the health of the students eating there. This they posit after 28 years. Beach House opened in 1986. UP already won its eviction case against Beach House. The same decision was upheld in an appeal.
There's no beach by the Beach House but you get a view of the UP Sunken Garden. Karen Galarpe
"UP gave Beach House the option to enter into a bidding process so that it can be moved to another location in any of the colleges in the campus.
"The problem with such an arrangement is that it costs P720,000 exclusive of rent for two years to be a new UP concessionaire.
"So how much will a barbecue cost then?" - Joel Locsin/JST, GMA News
