Graduates of University of the Philippines (UP) are generally held in high esteem. There is a certain ‘mystique’ that UP graduates are the best, if not among the cream of the crop. Hence, they used to populate the government service, private sector and civil society organizations. There is even a bravado argument that there are only two schools: (1) UP and (2) Others. This article presents an insider’s perspective about five factors that contribute and/or associated with such a UP mystique. While UP graduates may be considered as still among the best, other schools have closed the gap – albeit considerably. Hence, such a UP mystique may not last very long, if at all