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 president 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.

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 (TNB April 2007 issue, p. 05). 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 Banatao. 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…

P.S. Those written in Italics were the discussions of my not-so-evil half-self, and my very-so evil half-self inside my cranium. Oh, and by the way, if something bad happens to me due to paranormal/abnormal/not normal circumstances, it’s up to you to deduce on the circumstances that will happen to me in that kind of future, just in case. One thing is for sure, he said “kaya naming kayong ipabura sa mundo…”

Bedevilled Writer: Pahabol… RALLY NA ‘TO!!!

Pics of the February 14, 2005 can be found here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here

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