a simple request

It was a black shirt day at Mapua yesterday even though it was Valentine's Day. It was a peaceful protest of the students to retain the legacy of Don Tomas Mapua. Retain the name of Mapua Institute of Technology.

A simple request to the Board of Trustees. However simple, they turned it down. "Malayan it will be," they told us.

We simply cannot accept that. We are the students of the Institute, the pioneer of the engineering field in the Philippines. We are the ones paying them. We should have a part in the decision-making process, too.

We are fighting for the legacy of the name. It is an established name here in our country and as far as I know, overseas. When applying for work here, Mapuans have an edge. Mapuans are known to have better technical abilities and skillful expertise. Mapuans have established their names here and abroad.

Putting MIT under Malayan Colleges cannot be tolerated. Mapua Institute of Technology, just a college of engineering, IT and architecture? No way! Heck, the Yuchengcos are just using us to advertise their insurance company!

Today, no one came to school. It is a boycot to the management. Today, the faculty association and the alumni association will have a meeting with Dr. Vea, President and CEO of the Institute. I hope everything will turn out peacefully.

A simple request. Retain the legacy of Don Tomas Mapua. Please.