Dear UP Alumni:

UP is celebrating its 100 years! We invite all UP alumni to give back to the University that has nurtured us. The UP Padyak Project was launched at the UP Diliman Campus to make a concrete contribution to the University on its Centennial celebration initiated by the UP Mountaineers. Responding to the threat of environmental crisis this project aims to promote bicycling as means of affordable transportation and lessen dependence on fossil fuel-driven vehicles. It also promotes health and fitness in the campus community. The greater goal is to make UP a model community for bike commuting for other communities to follow.

We have placed initial structures for students to use bicycles in the campus. These reconditioned bikes have step-through frames and outfitted with distinctly-designed Padyak logos; the bikes designed not for speed but for safety, comfort, visibility and function. Sculptural bike racks designed by UP alumni artists depicting Filipino and UP culture (e.g. kalabaw, fishballs, alibata, etc.) shall soon be placed in selected academic buildings not only for Padyak bikes but for all UP bike commuters to use. For more information, please explore our website, www.padyak.org.

Students avail of the bicycles by becoming members of the project at a highly affordable rate, which will cover part of the costs of an easy-rider bicycle, training, access to bicycle racks and cable locks. This Summer 2008, the we enlisted the help of around 10 student volunteers to test the bikes, the routes and other mechanism of the project plan, and we have been receiving positive feedback both from the riders and the UP community. We now have more than 50 students who are signed for the 1st semester 2008-2009.

Initial funding of the project came through donations from UP Mountaineers members and alumni. To push this project to full realization, we appeal for your donations. One bike costs around P4,000 while one bike rack and its installation cost about P6,000. For donations of ANY AMOUNT, please contact us by writing an email to: padyakbikes@gmail.com or send a text message to Jojo Gutierrez (UPM 88) at 0916-600-1225 or Luisito Cruz at 0917-537-2690.

We believe in your commitment to supporting the cause of environmental protection, and helping the University of the Philippines campus become a model for other campuses and communities in this effort. Please support the UP Padyak Project.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely yours,

THE UP PADYAK PROJECT

UP Mountaineers Members and Alumni

Dennis Lopez
President, UP Mountaineers

Bernice Varona
Vice President for External Affairs
UP Mountaineers

UP Mountaineers Alumni representatives:

Carlos Joselito Y. Gutierrez
UPM Batch 88

Luisito V. Cruz
UPM Batch 88