Embroidered UP Sablay. Sabláy (v.) means to place a precious object like a piece of cloth or garment upon one’s shoulder as a gesture of respect. In Bikolano and many Visayan languages like Cebuano, Hiligaynon and Waray, their word sáblay can be translated into Tagalog as sampáy. The sablay draped across the body is part of the official academic costume of the University of the Philippines officially adopted in 2000 after its first appearance in UP Diliman in 1990. Created by a group of professors from UP Diliman, the sablay is inspired by the malong of Muslim Mindanao, a loose garment made from a seamless bolt of cloth.