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Lingap Tanghalian: Nourishing Iskolars ng Bayan Across the UP System
The Lingap Tanghalian Project is a student meal assistance initiative of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) designed to support financially challenged Iskolars ng Bayan. Rooted in compassion and alumni solidarity, the program provides daily nutritious meals to students so they can focus on their studies with dignity and peace of mind.
Originally launched as Lingap Hapunan in 2023, the initiative evolved into Lingap Tanghalian, a midday meal program that continues to grow in scope and impact.
On October 13, 2025, UPAA, in partnership with the UP Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (OVPAA), the Office of Student Development Services, and campus student affairs units, formally relaunched Lingap Tanghalian in University of the Philippines Diliman and University of the Philippines Los Baños.
Thirty student beneficiaries began receiving daily lunches from October 13 to December 19, 2025. Meals were sourced from partner establishments, ensuring consistent and nutritious support throughout the semester.
As the program progressed, the impact steadily grew:
Final breakdown:
These numbers reflect more than statistics, they represent daily relief for students balancing academic demands with financial constraints.
On January 26, 2026, UPAA officially expanded Lingap Tanghalian across the UP System, launching it alongside the Living Expenses Assistance Program (LEAP) via Zoom.
The expanded program now includes:
Fifteen recipients per campus now benefit from meal assistance. Most receive one lunch per school day, while UP Manila beneficiaries receive two meals daily. The program duration has also been extended to nearly four months (January 26 to May 15, 2026).
In total, 237 students across the UP System are expected to benefit from Lingap Tanghalian and LEAP combined.
Lingap Tanghalian demonstrates how alumni giving translates into immediate, practical support for students. By addressing basic needs such as daily meals, UPAA helps ensure that financial hardship does not hinder academic performance.
From a campus-based initiative to a systemwide program, Lingap Tanghalian continues to embody the UP spirit of service, solidarity, and shared responsibility.
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