Filipino-American sportswriter Pablo Torre has drawn flak from netizens for wearing a UP Sablay over his tuxedo at a red-carpet event in Los Angeles.
Torre, a journalist for ESPN, shared a photo of himself on Twitter wearing the University of the Philippines (UP) academic regalia at the Gold Gala event on Thursday.
The Sablay is a loose garment that features ukkil, geometric elements, and the University’s acronym “UP” written in baybayin, a Philippine script. Graduates of UP wear the Sablay during academic ceremonies and functions.
Torre is a Harvard graduate, whose parents and grandparents attended UP. The journalist said he wore the Sablay to honor his Filipino heritage.
However, many netizens were not impressed by his fashion choice. They said that he was disrespecting the UP culture and etiquette by wearing the Sablay without earning it. They also said he was misusing the Sablay as a costume, not an academic dress.
Some netizens even questioned his knowledge and appreciation of UP and its history. They said that he should have worn something else to represent his Filipino roots, such as a barong or a pin.
On Instagram, Torre also revealed that the Sablay he was wearing was actually his father’s. He said that his father graduated from UP in 1972 and gave him the Sablay as a gift.
The UP Office of the University Registrar has issued guidelines on the use of the Sablay, stating that it should be used only during academic functions and activities, and that formal clothing should be worn with it, such as a barong in beige, ecru, or cream and black pants for men, and knee-length or midi-dresses and formal shoes for women. It also said that due respect should be given to the Sablay as the official academic costume of the University.
UP has not provided a statement on the matter.
