‘Maraming Salamat UP’: Mang Larry's Isawan In Diliman Campus Closed After 42 Years
They've been serving some of the best isaw and BBQ on campus since 1984.
Published on Feb 21, 2026
(SPOT.ph) Since its birth in 1984, Mang Larry’s has been a UP Diliman icon for its perfectly grilled pork BBQ and isaw. Its main branch on E. Jacinto Street is sadly now closed, following a Quezon City court order.
Mang Larry's UP Diliman closure
The court ordered the isawan to vacate the area after owner Laurencio Convencido Jr. lost a civil case against the university. Said ruling in UP's favor was initially issued in 2023, and made final and executory on September 2024. According to the Philippine Collegian, official student publication of the University of the Philippines Diliman, the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 40 ordered Laurencio to pay not less than P47,500 for “unpaid rental arrears” plus around P9,000 in interest from October 2021, and P5000 for monthly rental for the use and occupation of the property from November 2021. Laurencio was also ordered to pay a P1,000 case filing fee, reports Tinig ng Plaridel, the official student publication of UP Diliman's College of Media and Communication.
Mang Larry’s allegedly did not receive a notice prior to the eviction being carried out, Laurencio’s son Angelo Convencido told Tinig ng Plaridel. They were surprised to find the Quezon City anti-squatting task force in their area on the morning of February 20.
“‘Yung mga letters, parang ‘di naman dumating sa’min, ‘yun din pagkakaalam ko,” he said. “Nagde-demand din kami ng letter from our lawyer din. Kaso wala… ‘yun yung pagkakaalam ko, na walang natatanggap.” In previous letters sent to them they made sure to respond quickly, he added. “Ngayong umaga, nabigla kami, ayan may [taga]-City Hall na anti-squatting… i-eevict na talaga kami.”
Jerwin Agpaoa, UP Diliman’s Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs, eventually explained to them what was happening. “Naging malinaw naman, saka hindi na namin kailangan makipagtalo. Makikipag-coordinate na lang kami,” said Angelo.
UP asserts that its charter prevents university assets from being sold without legal authority. On the other hand, Laurencio’s wife Elizabeth Convencido was earlier quoted in Tinig ng Plaridel saying the land was already sold to the Quezon City government in 2019, and that they were paying rent to the city. Mang Larry's, however, has issued an official statement on Facebook just this past noon denying the existence of a Deed of Absolute Sale, contrary to posts on social media.
Mang Larry's shared a heartfelt message to their many regulars in a separate Facebook post. “Sa loob ng maraming taon na palipat-lipat, minsan kami ay lumaban, pero ganun talaga, merong nananalo at merong natatalo. Ganun pa man, maraming salamat UP sa pagkakataon na makabenta at mabuhay ang aming pamilya.”
“Sa aming mga customers, maraming salamat sa suporta at sa mga magagandang memories sa aming main branch. ‘Wag kayo mag alala patuloy ang aming pag lingkod sainyo. Hanggang sa muli sa aming bagong main branch!”
Mang Larry’s Magiting street and UST branches remain open.
For more information, check out Mang Larry's Isawan: The Famous Isawan in UP's Facebook page.
For Trish, food is as much a source of pleasure and fuel as it is an outlet for creativity; a medium by which stories can be passed on; and a way to connect with others.