Ok. I'm two years away from the academe but it will not stop me from being concerned.
Henry Sy Sr. has built a conglomerate from a shoe store. Juggling between the first and second spot, he's considered the richest man in the country. Of Chinese descent, Sy has ventured into malls, real estate, cinema and many more. From what started as a small name in Manila is now seen in more than 70 locations nationwide. Yes, you may clap.
The UP Professionals School, being erected in Taguig, aims to house educational programs on an advanced level. It will be a new melting pot of knowledge that may prove UP's premiership once more. Considered as the state university, UP is technically still a public school - the veracity of which is washed down by private investments and purchases from private entities like the Ayala group. Nevertheless, keeping that aside, no one can question the brand of education UP gives and the institution has produced alumni who became institutions themselves.
Last year, Henry Sy Sr., through SM Investments, bought a majority of shares of National University. Also, a building was erected on what used to be a field on De La Salle University-Manila - named after him. Now, the UP Board of Regents has agreed in naming UP Professional Schools after the business giant. After the infamous renaming of UP College of Business Administration after Ceasar Virata, it seems naming buildings has been a trend and issue to the academe.
How do we name a building or a landmark? There are really no guidebooks to that. Name it anything you want, if you solely own it. One of the issues in renaming UPCBA is that the university is still owned by the government and is therefore owned by the public. Law provision talks about the legality of naming a public building after someone without due process. Yet, the UP BoR approved it. No question on the process done.
Another reason is that Ceasar Virata is a known crony of Ferdinand Marcos during his reign. UP, which symbolized the seat of activism and anti-Marcos - even had the famous Barikada -, is now naming one of its buildings after a cabinet member of the very person it resisted in the 70s.
So how do we really name a building? For me, it's like branding. You name it for the reason that the name will represent the building - what it is and what is it for. Dr. Fe del Mundo Hospital is no doubt should be an institution of pediatrics. Philippine General Hospital should be the hospital that caters to all Filipinos. Vinzons Hall in UP is aptly named after the young Wenceslao Vinzons. It's hard to see a Henry Sy Sr. School when in fact, he doesn't represent an institution of education. It's like naming a hospital after our current president or a multimillion highway after the father of a president.
It's sad that if you don't have the money or the power, you will never get your name immortalized, no matter how you yourself is already an institution. Very few of our educational institutions are named after real educational institutions. Same is true with other industries.
In a third world country like ours, the few have the wealth, the power and the influence. We get what we do not deserve.
Henry Sy Sr. has built a conglomerate from a shoe store. Juggling between the first and second spot, he's considered the richest man in the country. Of Chinese descent, Sy has ventured into malls, real estate, cinema and many more. From what started as a small name in Manila is now seen in more than 70 locations nationwide. Yes, you may clap.
The UP Professionals School, being erected in Taguig, aims to house educational programs on an advanced level. It will be a new melting pot of knowledge that may prove UP's premiership once more. Considered as the state university, UP is technically still a public school - the veracity of which is washed down by private investments and purchases from private entities like the Ayala group. Nevertheless, keeping that aside, no one can question the brand of education UP gives and the institution has produced alumni who became institutions themselves.
Last year, Henry Sy Sr., through SM Investments, bought a majority of shares of National University. Also, a building was erected on what used to be a field on De La Salle University-Manila - named after him. Now, the UP Board of Regents has agreed in naming UP Professional Schools after the business giant. After the infamous renaming of UP College of Business Administration after Ceasar Virata, it seems naming buildings has been a trend and issue to the academe.
How do we name a building or a landmark? There are really no guidebooks to that. Name it anything you want, if you solely own it. One of the issues in renaming UPCBA is that the university is still owned by the government and is therefore owned by the public. Law provision talks about the legality of naming a public building after someone without due process. Yet, the UP BoR approved it. No question on the process done.
Another reason is that Ceasar Virata is a known crony of Ferdinand Marcos during his reign. UP, which symbolized the seat of activism and anti-Marcos - even had the famous Barikada -, is now naming one of its buildings after a cabinet member of the very person it resisted in the 70s.
So how do we really name a building? For me, it's like branding. You name it for the reason that the name will represent the building - what it is and what is it for. Dr. Fe del Mundo Hospital is no doubt should be an institution of pediatrics. Philippine General Hospital should be the hospital that caters to all Filipinos. Vinzons Hall in UP is aptly named after the young Wenceslao Vinzons. It's hard to see a Henry Sy Sr. School when in fact, he doesn't represent an institution of education. It's like naming a hospital after our current president or a multimillion highway after the father of a president.
It's sad that if you don't have the money or the power, you will never get your name immortalized, no matter how you yourself is already an institution. Very few of our educational institutions are named after real educational institutions. Same is true with other industries.
In a third world country like ours, the few have the wealth, the power and the influence. We get what we do not deserve.
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