MANILA, Philippines - Thousands of nervous high school seniors are taking the University of the Philippines College Admission Test or UPCAT this weekend with high hopes of making it to the country's premier university.

Last year, over 71,000 took the UPCAT -- the highest number so far in the history of UP -- but only less than 13,000 passed.

How many will make the cut this year?

Here are some photos from the first day of the qualifying exam. The photos were taken by Nathan Gatpandan and Amber Gonzales.