Piggy Bank

Ginulantang tayong lahat ng pinakamalaking isyu na sumampal sa lipunang Pilipino ngayong  taon, ang isyu ng Pork Barrel System at kung paano ito kinukurakot ng mga pulitiko. Napakaraming Pilipino ang nag-react sa isyung ito, ngunit ano nga ba ang Pork Barrel System? Para saan ba at ano nga ba ang mga silbi nito?

PORK BARREL by Jezzamine Garcia

Ang Gobyerno ng Pilipinas ay nahahati sa tatlo: Ehekutibo na pinamumunuan ng Pangulo, Lehislatura na binubuo ng Senate of the Philippines at House of Representatives, mas kilala sila sa tawag na mga Senador at Congressman, at ang huli ay ang Hudikatura na binubuo naman ng mga hukom. Bawat departamento ay may kanya-kanyang trabaho, ngunit dahil ang ating topic ay tungkol sa Pork Barrel, ang ating tatalakayin ay ang mga espisipikong kapangyarihan ng Lehislatibo at Ehekutibo na syang may malaking kinalaman sa pagbuo at pag-gastos ng Pork Barrel.

Taon taon ang ating Pangulo ay nagpapasa ng National Budget o General Appropriations Act (GAA), na s’yang nagtatalaga nang perang dapat gastusin ng gobyerno ng Pilipinas para sa naturang taon. Ang GAA ay sinusuri ng Lehislatura. Ang pagsusuri ay ginagawa upang malaman kung tama ang pag-a-allocate ng pangulo ng pera mula sa kaban ng bayan. Pagkayari ng pagsusuri ay ilalabas ang mga pondong ito sa pamamagitan ng Lump-sum appropriations, (paglalabas ng pondo ng hindi naka-itemize o nakatakda kung saan gagamitin) at ibibigay sa iba’t-ibang departamento. Ang mga departamento naman ang magde-desisyon kung paano nila ito gagastusin, na syang nagbibigay ng katangian disretionary sa ‘pork’. Ang Ehekutibo at Lehislatura ang may pinakamalalaking pork barrel na natatanggap taun-taon.

Ang isa sa pinag-uusapan ngayon ay ang Congressional pork barrel o ang Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). Bawat senador ay nakakatanggap ng Php200 Million para sa kanyang pork barrel at Php70 Million naman para sa mga kinatawan. Ang milyon-milyong pisong ito ay mga perang dapat na gastusin sa kanilang constituencies o mga nasasakupan. Ngunit dahil sa anyo ng ‘pork’, ito ay madaling napapaikot at nananakaw. Bilyung-bilyon piso ang nawawala sa kaban ng bayan kada taon dahil naibubulsa lang ng mga kongresista. Hindi pa ‘yan ang pinakamalaking rebelasyon na dapat nating malaman. Ang PDAF ay walang sinabi sa Presidential Pork Barrel.

Barya lamang ito kung tutuusin. Kaya kung ikaw ay galit sa mga senador at congressmen  baka mas lalong uminit ang ulo mo pag nalaman mo na ang executive pork ay umaabot ng Php500 billion hanggang Php1.3 trillion. Ang ‘pork’ na ito ay dapat ginagamit sa mga bagay na gustong pagtuunang pansin ng Pangulo, pero nakapanlulumong isipin na ang pondong ito ay naitatago sa mata ng publiko. Halos imposibleng i-audit ang pondong ito sapagkat karamihan dito ay nakapaloob sa pondo ng mga departamento. Kakatwa na mayroong pondo militar na nakapaloob sa budget para sa edukasyon at kalusugan na naitatago sa pamamagitan ng maligoy na pagpapangalan.

Sa disenyo, mapapansin na ang pork barrel ay bukas sa korapsyon at medaling maabuso ng mga pulitikong nais magpayaman. Dahil dito, kami sa Viewpoint ay naniniwala na oras na para alisin ang dekadenteng sistemang ito sa bansa. VP

You're Dismissed

“A PEN Student’s words carry weight. He is honest, trustworthy, and has consistency in words and actions.” – Integrity, PEN Values, the PEN Student Handbook Tertiary Level

illustration by Melanilene Balot 

It is examinations season once again, and we students must face tons of schoolwork. To top all this off, there is once again the threat to succumbing to the temptation of every student’s ancient frenemy – cheating.

Understandably, students are distressed by the fact that they must study for practically all their subjects at the same time. It doesn’t help that deadlines for projects, group works, and other academic requirements fall on the same date. Yet, this is no excuse to resort to such devious measures.

Most of the students do not realize the gravity of their actions. Moreover, the lax attitude of the school personnel and the teachers themselves only serve to aggravate this matter. In fact, the whole community’s outlook serves to make the campus a potential breeding ground of cheaters. We do not want this to happen to our Araullo, beloved.

On the other hand, the PHINMA Education Network formulated the PEN Values to guide their students in their day-to-day actions and interactions. These values are Integrity, Professionalism, Commitment, Competence, Teamwork, and Innovativeness. Ironically, some students fail to comply with the very first value.

The List of Offenses and Corresponding Categories (p. 17-19, PEN Student Handbook Tertiary Level) provides very harsh punishments to those who breach the school standard for Academic Integrity.

For Plagiarism, (1.1) or the use of published information without providing proper recognition to the original author, is punishable with outright dismissal or expulsion on the first offense. For Cheating on Any Graded Work, (1.2) the first offense is punishable with Suspension for three (3) academic days, for which he will incur absences. For the second offense, the offending student shall face dismissal or expulsion. In all cases, the student shall receive the lowest possible score in the graded work concerned.

These are very stringent guidelines, indeed. Sadly, no one seems to take these seriously. If we are to preserve PEN’s mission of preparing the students for global competitiveness, this matter must be addressed immediately and cogently.

For us students, on the other hand, we must start taking our schoolwork seriously. This is a way of preparing ourselves for the real world outside of the campus. When you are already an engineer or a computer programmer, you cannot expect to copy a blueprint or a source code and just get away with it: There are very serious consequences for offenses against intellectual property. As an accountant, you cannot rely on others to do your work for you. For a future teacher, you will serve as a role model for your future students. For a future policeman, you are to be an enforcer of the law and a protector of the people. College is simply the preparation for life, and the more you sweat in time of peace, the less you bleed in war.

Examination results will not dictate your success in the future. Your attitude in life will. So the next time you are tempted to cheat, remember that your actions today will resonate in the future. You carry not only your name but the name of your alma mater as well. Years from now, you will be able to pride yourself for not cheating even in the face of temptation. After all, we are PEN Students, and we can face the examinations with Integrity in all our haggard glory! Dan Kevin Roque

Mula sa Putik

Ayon sa isang creation myth, o alamat, ang tao ay nagmula sa putik na hinulma ng mga kamay ni Bathala, iniluto sa hurno, at binigyang buhay ng Kaniyang hininga. Ayon din rito, tayong mga Pilipino ang produkto ng tamang pagkakaluto.

Artistic interpretation of Mula sa Putik
Illustration by Jezzamine Garcia

Ayon sa isang creation myth, o alamat, ang tao ay nagmula sa putik na hinulma ng mga kamay ni Bathala, iniluto sa hurno, at binigyang buhay ng Kaniyang hininga. Ayon din rito, tayong mga Pilipino ang produkto ng tamang pagkakaluto.

Nitong nakaraang ika-16 hanggang ika-17 ng Agosto ay idinaos ang taunang ILAW Camp 4.0 (Inspire to Lead, Aspire to Win) ay iniluwal ang bagong lupon ng mga lider-kabataan sa ating Pamantasan at sila ay kinilala sa pangalang “Batch Putik”.

Campers after one activity that required them to roll on mud.
(Photo Credits to Abril Layad Ayroso)

Ang ILAW Camp ay isang proyekto ng CSDL na pinangasiwaan ng Pilipinas Natin katuwang ang AUSSG at ilan pang mga volunteer. Layunin nitong hubugin ang mga mag-aaral at ihanda ang bagong henerasyon ng mga lider-estudyante sa mga pagsubok na ibabato ng buhay. Itinuturing na ang ILAW ay ang bautismo ng apoy sa larangan ng pamumuno sa Araullo. Ilan sa mga lider na nagmula sa programang ito ay ang kasalukuyang Pangulo ng AUSSG na si G. William Villegas at ang Punong Patnugot ng ViewPoint na si G. Dan Kevin Roque.

Ilan sa mga aral ng ILAW ay nais naming ibahagi sa kapwa namin mag-aaral. Pangunahin na rito ang kultura ng pag-ibig at pagtanggap. Ang sabi sa ilang pag-aaral, ang isip raw ng tao ay likas na nakakiling sa negatibong mga bagay, at sa totoo lang, mas madali nga namang humanap ng kapintasan. Ngunit may nararating nga ba ang ganitong kaisipan? Bakit hindi sa halip na mamintas, tayo ay tumanggap? Sa halip na mamroblema, tayo ay magbigay-solusyon?

Ano ba talaga ang tatak ng isang mabisang pinuno? Nasusukat ba ito ng galing sa pagsasalita? Nakakatulong ba dito ang pagiging maganda o gwapo? May idadagdag ba ang talino sa bisa ng isang pinuno?

Ang mga nabanggit na katangian sa naunang talata, maganda man sa teorya ay walang gaanong kinalaman sa pamumuno. Pinakamahalaga sa mga pinuno ay hindi ang mukha, utak o boses, kundi ang puso.  Ang puso ng isang pinuno ay hindi kayang kalimutan ang kapwa nya estudyante. Ang bukas na puso ng isang pinuno ay kayang tanggapin ang sarili at ang kanyang kapwa, ano man ang mali sa kanyang mukha, utak o boses. Ang bukas na puso ay kayang iwaksi ang masamang nakasanayan.

Noon ngang nakaraang ika-6 ng Agosto, sa ginanap  na rekognisyon ng mga RSO, ay hinamon tayo ng Pangulo ng AUSSG na si G. Villegas na sa halip na tanungin natin kung ano ang magagawa ng ating paaralan para sa atin, itanong natin kung ano ang magagawa natin para sa ating Pamantasan.

May kasabihan nga: ad astra per aspera. Mula sa putik patungo sa mga tala. Ang mga negatibong nakagawian natin ay nagsisilbing putik na bahid sa ating pamumuno at nagkukubli sa ating tunay na kinang. Tayo na at magpanibagong-bihis. Nawa, tayo ang magsilbing mga ilaw para sa mga taong nakapaligid sa atin.

Malayo pa ang ating lakbayin. Mahirap ang mga landas na ating tatahakin. Mahina tayo. Maliit. Ngunit kung ating bubuksan an gating puso at sabay-sabay na kikilos, may pag-asa pang ating maibangon, hindi lang ang ating paaralan, kundi maging an gating Bayan mula sa putik nitong kinasasadlakan. Dan Kevin Roque

Viper Manifesto

Front Page of Viewpoint

(Illustration by Melanilene Balot)

“The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The ones who see things differently.” – Craig Tanimoto It is very hard to convert a non-believer; to agitate and activate a passive, apathetic person. Especially, since the medium by which we reach the studentry is through writing. It is very easy to ignore a piece of paper that your fellow students labored for. And that has been Viewpoint’s story in the past year. Despite all our efforts to reach the consciousness of the studentry, we have often been seen as renegades. Loose cannons. The crazy ones. From the very conception of Viewpoint, it has been maligned – we were called de facto, unofficial, underground, and a lot of other things. Every time we publish an issue, our opinion is condemned. There came a moment when even our silence is vilified. All because we see things differently. Just because we stir things up, because we want change. Sadly, we were thought of as people who are not proud of the institution that we belong to. Seeing something wrong with the system and commenting on it doesn’t qualify us as prodigal sons and daughters of our alma mater. We just want to see improvement in the state of our beloved University. The system is not the institution, and the institution is not the system. And while it is easy to doubt why we do this – why we say the things we say and do the things we do – let us remind everyone that if not for our drive to serve our fellow Araullians, we would have given up long ago. It is so much easier to just fade into the background. To be an ordinary student. Any pompous, self-serving propagandist could not have weathered the storms we have faced as a publication. To clarify a few points, we reiterate what we have stated in our CEGP incident report: We do not see ourselves as anti-administration, instead we see ourselves as a pro-students. It just so happened that there are points where the two philosophies go in different directions. Also, we do not seek personal benefit from what we do. We wish only to contribute to the pride of the Araullian community, to add to its already rich and wonderful heritage of student-leadership and excellence. So here we are. We remain standing and strong, despite many attempts to silence us. That alone is proof of victory – not our victory, but the triumph of democracy, of our inherent right to freedom of speech and expression. And we will remain strong, as long as there are student interests and rights to protect. As the AUSSG’s credo goes: “For the student’s rights, we remain!” True universities are places of light and learning; places that foster critical thinking and encourage free thought and speech; places that value the individuality and dynamism of its students. Thus, we proudly claim that our existence is a proof that our beloved Araullo qualifies as one of them.Dan Kevin Roque

Shifting Grounds

Artistic depiction of the Dynamic Learning Program.
(Illustration by Kenneth Garcia)

 "Life belongs to the living, and he who lives must be prepared for changes.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 

It is yet another brave new school year for Araullians – yet another year to face the challenges of academic life; another year to hone our talents and skills; another year to prove ourselves anew. Some of us will be stepping into new responsibilities; others will be facing new challenges. But now, there is at least one change we must all share – the launch of the Dynamic Learning Program (DLP).

The Dynamic Learning Program is a new approach to education that is student-centered; meaning, the emphasis is given on the ability of the student to learn. It is the University’s countermeasure to the conventional approach to education – one that is teacher/instructor-oriented.

And yet, despite its well-meaning goals and aspirations, DLP is receiving flak from all sides: Some students think that the DLP is a way for the University to cut costs or that they are de[rived of the service they deserve, the professors (lead facilitators) are stressed by trying to fit the discussion of one topic into the twenty-minute timeframe they are given, and some of the assistant facilitators complain that DLP takes so much of their time, or that some of the lead facilitators are abusive of their student assistants.

These complaints are indeed alarming at first, but when one takes a closer look, it is the common flaws that come to light when implementing a new policy or program, especially one on such a large scale.

But before we doubt this new program’s efficacy, we must first look deeper: the DLP is a program that looks into the individual learning capacity of the students (a good example is the reading laboratory employed for the English program on reading). It encourages students to rely on themselves, and not on the spoon-fed ideas of their teachers. Truly, it creates a dynamic atmosphere within the classroom. Moreover, the value of perseverance, responsibility, and hard work instilled in the mind of the learners.

On the other hand, the speaking skills and class participation (i.e. recitation) are not given priority in this approach. If this need is not provided for, the students’ communicative competence can be negatively affected. We must remember that students have different learning preferences; therefore in order to cater the learners’ need, other learning skills should also be considered.

DLP is initially conceived as an answer to the shortage of teachers in the public school system. And while we want to hope for the best for our fellow Araullians, the implementation of this program in a private higher education institution remains doubtful. Dan Kevin Roque

Please Pangulo

President-elect William Villegas, 3rd year AB Political Science student.
(Illustration by Kenneth Garcia)

Eleksyon na naman. Sa wakas, nagka-eleksyon ulit dito sa ating Pamantasan. Isa lang ang ibig sabihin nito: umiiral pa rin ang demokrasya. Pero hindi ang eleksyon ang mahalaga, hindi ang pagpili, bagkus ay ang mga magaganap pagkatapos ng pagpili.

Lahat naman ng mag-aaral ay may mga hinaing at mga kahilingan, kaya naman talagang mahirap maupo sa posisyon ng kapangyarihan dahil sa’yo mapupunta ang lundo ng pag-asa at mga hiling nila. Pero magdadagdag lang ako ng kaunti sa’yong mga intindihin.

Sa iyong pag-upo sa pwesto at panunumpa sa katungkulan, tinatanggap mo ang tiwalang ibinigay sa’yo ng mga kapwa mo mag-aral. Hindi ito simpleng seremonyas lamang upang maging pormal ang iyong panunungkulan. Ang unang hiling ko sa’yo ay manumpa ka ng gamit ang iyong puso at hindi ang iyong bibig.

Ang pag-upo sa pwesto ay parang pagtuli lang. Hindi isang pukpok lang ang pagiging pangulo. Mahabang gamutan yan. Sana’y kaya mong manindigan sa mga pangakong binitawan mo at tiisin ang batikos at sakit na ibabato sa’yo Kailangan mo kasing ipakita na matapang ka, sapagkat ikaw ang tutularan nila.

Alam naman naming na may ambisyon ka, kaya ka nga tumakbo, ‘di ba? Ngunit sana, hindi lamang ambisyon ang tingnan mo. Maraming Araullian din ang nag-aambisyon: nag-aambisyong makatapos ng pag-aaral, mapaglingkuran nang tama, tanggapin ang dapat ay sa kanila.

Utang mo sa kanila ang pag-upo sa pwesto, kaya utang na loob, PAKINGGAN MO SILA! Tama na ang pagbubulag-bulagan. Alam nating may mga reklamo ang mga kapwa natin Araullian, bigyan natin sila ng tinig, Palayain mo ang utak mo sa pagkakakulong. Masahol pa sa mangmang ang mangmang na magmamarunong.

Ano nga ulit yung plataporma mo? Kailangan ng Araullo ng mga programang papakinabangan talaga ng mga mag-aaral at hindi yung pampabango lang ng resume mo. Kailangan namin ng mga programang masaya; baka maburyong ang mga mag-aaral. Sabi nga sa English, “All work and no play makes Juan a dull boy.” Pero sana yung kasayahang may katuturan naman.

Huwag mo nang balikan ang pagkakamali ng nakaraan, huwag mo na silang batikusin pa. Huwag ka na rin mag-isip ng dahilan sakaling pumalpak ka; ang pagdadahilan ay para lang sa mga taong ‘di kayang harapin ang katotohanan. Maniwala kang kaya mong baguhin ang sistema, pero huwag umasa sa himala dahil wala pang nananalo sa lotto na hindi tumataya!

Mabuhay sa’yo! Ngunit ngayon pa lamang magsisimula ang iyong tunay na laban. Dan Kevin Roque 

Whitewashed Truth

Whitewashing (Illustration by Kenneth Garcia)

“We are willing enough to praise freedom when she is safely tucked away in the past and cannot be a nuisance. In the present, amidst dangers whose outcome we cannot foresee, we get nervous about her, and admit censorship.” – Edward M. Forster, English essayist

The 120-day temporary restraining order (TRO) on Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 shall expire on February 6. We may not feel the effect of the Act at this point of time, but our youth leaders and bloggers think otherwise. In fact, the Supreme Court started hearing oral arguments regarding a number of RA 10175’s vague and unconstitutional provisions from these petitioners’ lawyers last January 15. While the Act aims to stop child pornography, cybersex, illegal access (hacking), identity theft, cybersquatting and other computer-related offenses, some of its sections clearly violate our most precious right: the freedom of expression.

Section 4 of RA 10175 includes libel, damage of an individual or organization’s reputation through publicized malicious statements, as one of its punishable acts. Anyone can cry foul and file a libel case, whether that person is innocent or guilty of what he is being accused of. Would this mean that we cannot openly assess a corrupt public servant anymore, for he can claim that he is being defamed? In addition, Section 5 (a) says that people who aided in the commission of a cybercrime shall be held liable. This would turn a netizen who retweeted a libelous statement into a cybercriminal, too.

Where is the freedom here then? Yes, the Act wants to protect Internet users from rampant cybercrimes but at the same time, its good intention tries to cover up its faulty parts. How do we exercise democracy if such law represses the very right that establishes democracy: public opinion?

Also, RA 10175 does not truly intend to punish but instead, it wills to whitewash issues plaguing the nation. Why exert so much time and effort to catch criminals online when we still cannot catch the real-life ones? Why punish people who kill reputations when we still cannot punish those who killed others many years ago? Is it not better to make the real world crime-free, not just its virtual counterpart?

We Filipinos have already defeated Martial Law, a period of our history that nearly killed the same freedom that is once again being threatened today. We may not be facing soldiers and tanks and tear gas, but we will be facing a fiercer and darker enemy: an unseen hand that will choke our freedom of expression to death if we allow it to. Ultimately, RA 10175 will conceal what is really happening in our country. If we allow the Act to have power over us, our socio-political issues will be buried deep, along with our freedom to clamor for these issues to be resolved. 

Repression is a crime; to be repressed is a choice. It is either we remain apathetic and suffer the consequences, or fight for what is duly ours. Ma. Gladys Repollo

Long Overdue

“Old habits die hard” – Mick Jagger

The first semester of S.Y. 2012-2013 ended with students and parents flocking in front of the Accounting windows to settle their dues, making one of the most secluded areas in the campus a blockbuster hit. The long line meant rows of chairs and an extension of standing people all the way to the Admin Lobby. However, the line is not the only thing that has raised eyebrows and tempers; it is also how long a transaction takes to get done. It seems that receiving payments and issuing receipts require much time that a student spends as much as 3 hours waiting for his or her turn. It came to a point that a movie screening was held to make it less of an ordeal. We have just seen the longest and slowest-moving line in years, which still continues until this semester. What could have contributed to this scenario?

Of course, we can quickly point out that the cashiers are not doing their job well. Classic behind-the-glass stories of these people surfing the Internet and chatting idly while at work come out faster than showbiz gossip. Also, Araullians complain that they are not exactly warm and accommodating when dealing with them. Aside from this, the usual excuse of glitches in the school management system (SMS) also plays a part in the lengthy transactions. Instead of speeding the process up, the SMS has proven to be a culprit in slowing things down with its constant technical troubles. The quality of service does not seem to welcome profits and stakeholders (students, parents), driving them away instead. 

On the other hand, students can also be blamed for the congested lines. We are given three terms to pay for our tuition fees and yet, most of us choose to procrastinate and settle dues towards the end of the semester. This has led to weeks of clearing old accounts and shelling out more money for completion forms. What does this say about us? Some might argue that no one can really anticipate when financial difficulties will arise but then again, it might just be that we are not responsible enough to perform our duties as Araullians. If this habit persists, it might infect our attitude towards our studies, and in the long run, our work.

AU-PHINMA and its children appear to be taking opposite directions when it comes to all aspects of university life.  However, in this matter, both appear to be at fault in giving their best for quality service, which is crucial in providing quality education. What can we do to meet halfway and realize this?

We all know what to do. It is already long overdue. Ma. Gladys Repollo

Silence spoils FREEDOM

Encouraging free thought is one of the indicators that a university is an excellent ground for developing talent. A university should be a place of learning and light, after all. However, here in Araullo University-PHINMA, students do not enjoy the kind of freedom they deserve for a variety of reasons.

Primarily, it is due to the fact that we, as an entirety, have developed an apathetic and conformist culture that has permeated our very soul, making us think that we only deserve what we get, forcing us to settle for second best. In the plainest of words, we believe that we are not worthy of being among the top, that we cannot compete with others and actually win. This culture is one of mediocrity: we are given freedom, but our silence and inaction merely spoils it.

We have become a conglomeration of people pleasers, trying to suck up at every opportunity: Freely giving false praises, but afraid to voice out honest criticism for fear of persecution. We have developed this defeatist attitude that we cannot do anything about the realities we suffer everyday, because we think we are small. Being a school proud of producing nationally recognized student-leaders, it is sad that at the very basic level of the studentry, we still have this deep-rooted problem of indifference.

What is the root of this culture? From my standpoint, I see this situation beginning with trivial experiences of disappointment, frustration, and hassle. Through the years, these daily experiences accumulated, eventually frustrating us as a whole. Indeed, it is easy to see that this culture is long in the making, taking years of build up and sedimentation to congeal until it has become the way of life we are used to. Breaking this culture will take long as well, maybe even longer than it took to form.

Even now, there are some students who try to voice out their concerns, but most of us are prevented from doing so by the stereotype that those who complain are but rebels; mavericks who do not understand the harmonious flow of the system. There are these students who exert serious effort to involve others in leadership and community development. Even our own university, through the thrusts of different departments, encourages us to be a part of these various programs geared to equip us with life skills. But the studentry is simply disinterested.

Until we, the students, actively seek the means and the power to wield our freedom effectively, we will be ever in the shadow of doubt. We will be limited by all sorts of fears at every turn, believing that the boogeyman is lurking at every corner. We are inheritors of a great past, heirs to a legacy of successful and prominent student leaders. The university is here to help us, but we must first accept that offer of assistance. What we, the Araullians of this era, really need is courage: the courage to try and take the lead. Dan Kevin Roque

Life Can Be Better

AU-South Plan

The Philippine Investment-Management (PHINMA) Group of Companies remains true to its mission of creating a better quality of the Filipino life. Phinma’s brand of excellence has been creating waves in the business sector for the past 56 years; the vision of three optimistic gentlemen for the country is gradually building our destiny of being at par with the rest of the world. When the Group acquired Araullo University in 2004, Novo Ecijanos were given the opportunity to share the PHINMA dream, and make it real as well.

As we extend Hawak Kamay to everyone, we move forward to an era where studying in the province is no longer a cheaper alternative but a primary choice to make our lives better. Indeed, Araullo University-PHINMA has come a long way from the humble class of 27 law students in 1950. Ma. Gladys Repollo

As read by COO and SVP Ms. Ana S. Chua during the AU-South Campus Groundbreaking.