Kim Chiu’s ‘Hello UP, ’Eto na ’ko!’ becomes an Isko and Iska rite of passage

From TV screen to campus grounds, this famous line is the ultimate UP student rite of passage.

With UPCAT season done and aspirants now submitting their pertinent documents, the future scholars are waiting for their chance to finally “Kim Chiu” their way into UP.

For years, Kim’s iconic “Hello UP! ‘Eto na ‘ko!” scene has become a staple among UP aspirants and newly admitted Iskolar ng Bayan. What was once just a cute teleserye moment has since become a playful rite of passage for students finally getting the chance to step onto the campus they once only dreamed of.

The scene comes from the 2012 ABS-CBN teleserye “Ina, Kapatid, Anak,” where Kim’s character Celyn Buenaventura arrives at UP Diliman and excitedly greets the university’s iconic Oblation. More than a decade later, the moment continues to circulate among students, particularly during UPCAT season.

The appeal is simple: after months of reviewing, waiting, and hoping to see that sweet “Congratulations” on the portal, finally standing in front of the Oblation feels like the perfect time to channel Kim Chiu. And, for those who already made it, recreating it becomes a celebration of finally getting there.

And the journey deserves to be celebrated.

But the journey doesn’t end at the Oblation. The best part of the ritual is what comes after the photo.

The moment may be a celebration of finally making it into UP, but it can also serve as a reminder that getting in is only the beginning.

To become an Iskolar ng Bayan is to carry a responsibility beyond simply earning a degree. UP’s students are given an education meant to be placed in the service of the people, with honor and excellence.

So go ahead, take the photo. Say the line. Have your Kim Chiu moment. You’ve earned it. But, once the celebration is over, remember why you wanted to be there in the first place.

Because after saying “Hello UP! ‘Eto na ako!”, the next question is no longer “Will I make it into UP?” It becomes, “How can I serve the people?”

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