Remembering the Black Valentine

"“Alma Mater your name and your story
We raise our glad voices to thee
We will strive for the name and the glory
Of the M and I ant T…”

If
you’re thinking about Clear’s Black Valentine ad/promo, it’s not about
it. It’s all about what happened exactly 3 years ago, when every
student, instructor and personnel who loves our school wore black. It
all started on the 2nd week of February. The preside… (Hindi ko masabi,
may pumipigil sa akin… putang ina!!! Di siya bagay sa posisyong iyon,
mas bagay itawag sa kanya tuta…) of our beloved Alma Mater has a new
message for everyone. And that message infuriated each and every single
student, alumni and probably, most of our
teachers/professors/instructors of our school, whether they are alumni
or not.

Our school, ever since his boss took over, had undergone
a lot of changes. In 2001, the “Quarterm” (4 terms in one year) has
been implemented. It is supposedly to help our school to become a
college (as if the school is not already a college…), then a
university. It will also help with some accreditation that is based on
U.S., so that if the students from the school decide to go study there
for college, the units that the students took here will be credited.
But their catchphrase is that supposedly, it will help us to graduate
quicker, and it will save a lot of money in the future. Yeah right, as
if hindi sila nagtataas ng matrikula… There were no hearings or
dialogues regarding this, they just implemented it. But because we
wanted to graduate to the school known as “the best school in
engineering and architecture,” we just accepted it silently, regardless
of its possible consequences.

Second, the addition of a “College
of Nursing.” What the?! Oh well, another addition so that we can become
a college, later, a university. Just like our tradition of being
passive to issues, we did not give a damn about it. We just wanted to
study and graduate in Mapua Institute of Technology.

Ok now,
back in February 2005, there was this message that another change will
happen. To put it simply short, they have decided to ultimately change
the name of our school, and once again, for the college/university
status. Well, they said that the college of engineering, architecture
and information technology will still bear the name. It will just be
under the “Malayan Colleges.” All documents regarding this will also
need to be changed. All hell breaks lose.

February 12, 2005,
there was a dialogue regarding this. But what the fuck, it’s not even a
dialogue. They just told the students it’s for the good of all. After
these years, their reason is still the fucking same thing, just like
the changes they did. We already accepted the fact that we pay almost
P100,000.00 per year so that we could study and graduate in Mapua. And
now, the dust has been settled for us to see whole scenario behind
these changes. The changes they made in the span of 5 years were not
for the school. It’s just for their fat asses so that they can make
more money.

February 14, 2005, instead of us having Valentine’s
Day parties and dates with our loved ones, we did something that we
never thought we will do. Mapuans, who were known to be pacifists in
all history changing activities of this damned country, did not attend
their classes, and instead, staged a rally. Yep, we staged a rally
against the ********* Group of Companies, because of what they did to
our school. And to show our seriousness that we don’t like what they
are doing anymore, almost each and every one of us wore black that day.

I
never thought that in my whole existence, I’ll be joining in this type
of activities. Actually, I hated it. It only makes the situation in the
Philippines worse. But after this, it changed my opinion about it. It
was a nice experience. After the 1st rally, I did not attend most of my
classes anymore. Just some “make-up” classes during Sundays. Everyday,
I just went to school wearing black, just to attend the rallies. Most
of my remaining days during the term were spent on rallying and getting
photographs about it, whether it’s around Intramuros or in Makati. And
those photographs were posted around the world of cyberspace so
everyone can see it.

It’s nice to let your voice be heard. I
don’t want to enroll and study in Malayan Colleges. After high school,
my first choice was to study and graduate in Mapua. I took other
college entrance exams, but Mapua is my first choice. When I learned
that I passed the entrance exam, I did not hesitate to enroll there.
The only thing that bothered me was my grades in high school. It might
be not enough for me to enroll in Mapua. But thank God, it’s more than
enough.

But unfortunately for us, we’re just students. We are
powerless against a Chinese tycoon, who according to his minion, we
should be thankful for because of his “contributions” to our school,
even though we paid for it, who calls himself a Filipino (yeah right),
and last, but not the least, who probably has the backing of the most
powerful ma… woman in the country.

Some of the faculty and
students who lead us were brought down, one by one. Even I, just a mere
student who takes photographs of some of the events, was included. I
was put on watch list and my Multiply and Friendster accounts got
hacked, where most of my pics are posted. There’s no doubt on the
masterminds of the hacking.

gory pic at your own risk

In
order for the chaos to subside, through our Corrupted/Crappy Student
Council (CSC) who were allegedly bribed, the bastards have suggested a
compromise that the full implementation will be done after 5 years
(well, in 1-2 years by now), and that our documents will have no hint
of Malayan Colleges. Most of us, including myself, unwillingly agreed
to that compromise. We are already in a lose-lose situation anyway. I
know back in my mind that it’s bad for the future generations. But at
the same time, in the current situation, that option might better for
us. We will still manage to graduate at Mapua rather than that cursed
college. It might be a selfish act, but we still wanted to graduate in
Mapua, per se. But what the fuck, the batch who immediately managed to
graduate after the mess had their fucking diplomas, transcript of
records and other documents tainted by the name “Malayan Colleges.”

Just
like almost every rally, the activists are always on the losing end.
Well, some of the faculty members were fired. The student leader was
kicked out as well, together with other different students. We did not
win the fight. After the events, those who were lucky came back either
to study or teach. Other instructors have resigned. Ironically, there
are other instructors who were forced to stay, because of some
implications that the students they handle “might pass their subjects.”
And later, “unauthorized formations” are prohibited. The students can’t
even speak against anyone in the higher offices that easily, because
those who want to complain are being threatened. The official
publication is under some sort of surveillance. There is some sort of
news blackout and censorship with issues regarding the anomalies and
other hocus-pocus that happens inside the school. There was this
instance that the distribution of such paper was put on hold, because
the headline was about a humongous tuition fee increase, and
incidentally, the incoming freshmen are also enrolling by during those
times (NTB april 2007 issue, continueation at p. 5).
New enrollees signed an enrollment contract that contains “they are not
allowed to speak their grievances” per se. And the worst thing of all,
we realized the whole truth. Since December 2004, Mapua Institute of
Technology does not exist anymore. They just “shot down” Mapua, and
created something known as “Malayan Colleges” masking on the identity
“Mapua Institute of Technology.” All these time, we were transferred to
another school that’s using the name of our former school, and all
these time, we enrolled to a school that we never wanted to enroll in
the first place.


I wanted to switch schools, but it is
already too late for me. I was already a few units left before my
graduation (but unfortunately, I had this subject that took me 1 year
to complete…) and if I switch schools, it will be another burden for my
folks, since I’ll almost start from scratch once again.

There
was this feeling that somehow if I did the right thing, to study in
Mapua. I’m asking questions what might have happened if I study
somewhere else, like UST, or better yet, in PATTS or Airlink. Maybe,
I’m already having a good career in the airline industry. Somehow, I
also like to be in that type of industry. Up to this day, I’m still
asking those types of questions, if I should have studied somewhere
else, where I won’t get disappointed.

And while typing this, I’m
still thinking of those changes. I still question the need of that
accreditation. The instructors have already spoken when it was
introduced. It’s not good for everyone. Up ‘til this day, they are
still upholding their opinion about it. For me, there’s no need for us
to study in the U.S.A. anymore. Why would they apply for such
accreditation, whose only purpose is for some of our units to be
credited when we study there? Seeing the situation in the Philippines,
where college education is very costly, what would make them think that
we will enroll in the U.S. as well? That accreditation is not really
needed in my opinion. You don’t need to study college in the U.S. so
that you can be successful. Look at Bayani Fernando and
diosdado benidao.
They were alumni of Mapua, and they are damn rich. They did not study
in the States just to become rich. If they managed to study there, it’s
because they are already rich, and did not even use some accreditation
for it. The education they gained by studying in Mapua is already
enough to make them rich here or around the globe.


And what
infuriates me is that while we were all fucked up in that
accreditation, in reality, we cannot really use it. Do they think most
of us can afford to study in the States and have our units accredited
there? If you ask me that question, hell no!!! And some rumors spread
that their college in Cabuyao, Laguna will somehow be accredited, and
hopefully, will benefit from it as well, without them sweating and
sacrificing for it.

As for the 2nd change, it was implemented
during the boom of the need for nurses. Well, nurses are still needed.
I really don’t know why they first added a school of nursing instead of
other courses, exactly on the time where nurses are needed in almost
every part of the globe. To their first batch of nursing graduates, God
bless and do well. Good luck alone will not make you a registered
nurse, that’s why I did not wish you any good luck. If you don’t make
good on your board exams, tsk tsk tsk… say bye bye to your school of
nursing.

Well, as for the 3rd change, it all summarizes up one
thing for me. It’s a proof that those bastards only used my school as a
stepping stone to create more money, as well to create a high school
near Malacañang and a college in Cabuyao, to create even more money.
The funny thing is that, we paid for it, and we did not even use it.

Usually,
Valentine’s Day is a special day for your loved ones. But me, I don’t
celebrate it. Aside from me being single (maybe, I’m in love…), it
doesn’t need to be Valentine’s to show your love to your special
someone. You must always do that everyday. Instead, I commemorate what
happened 3 years ago. I always wear black on Feb. 14. This is my way of
commemorating it. I really don’t know if some of my batch mates or
friends from school who fought in that battle still do it, but most of
us promised to wear black on this day.

Nothing will change what
I think or feel about those things. Whatever those assholes say,
nothing’s going to change my opinions about what happened to the
school, because they are crap, what they say are crap, and what they
did to my school is crap. They have failed my expectations,
nevertheless, they failed me. I did my best to do my part of the
bargain, but they did not. I signed a contract that I have to study
well and hard in Mapua Institute of Technology, so that I will graduate
in Mapua Institute of Technology. I have not read anything, or signed
for that matter, that I will be moved to study and graduate in “Malayan
Colleges operating under the name Mapua Institute of Technology.”

It
is nice to fight for something which is worth dying for. I never
thought I’d be fighting and be willing to die for my school, my Alma
Mater. But because we have lost the fight, somehow, the loss still
hurts me. I can still feel the pain of the events 3 years ago,
especially when there are some who already forgot the likes of Armando
Cristobal, Engr. Fe Noche and Engr. Gerard De Leon. Well, maybe they
are new students who were fooled by those bastards. Somehow, I feel
that those who participated will never forget it. Those who remain
there that experienced “Black Valentines” are probably just a handful
of priority batches and batch 2004. Most of the student body is now
composed of students from batch 2005 and later, who did not experience
it. I don’t know if most of batch 2005 and the later batches have any
idea about the events that happened in Feb. 14, 2005, and the later
days. But it hurts me most when I hear some news that instructors give
additional points for students who will wear red on that day. As if
they have forgotten what happen 3 years ago.

Frankly speaking, I
want to move on. But I really don’t know why I can’t move on. I have
already graduated in “Mapua.” I am now working. But still, I don’t know
why I can’t accept those facts.

Even though this has happened,
somehow, I saw a silver lining of some sort in this experience. I found
new friends. I found out that there is a fighter sleeping inside me,
who is now awake and knows how to take huge risks. Before, if the risk
is too much, I won’t take it, but now, I always take it. And for once
in my college life, I proudly raised my forearm, and sung to the tune
of something like “for the M and I and T…”

Well, the fight
happened 3 years ago, but something tells me, it is not yet the end,
and the fight is still not over. Maybe that’s the reason I can’t move
on, because in my mind, it is not yet over… Maybe we only just lost the
battle, but not the war.

Let’s see in 2 years time… But while
time passes by, while doing the usual daily routines in my life, time
after time, I’ll be watching, waiting… for the things to come, for the
things to happen…"