RE : EXPLORING THE IDEA OF UPGRADING THE CAPACITY AND STATUS OF THE “FELIMON AGUILAR MEMORIAL COLLEGE OF LAS PINAS CITY” INTO A CITY-OWNED UNIVERSITY WITH ITS OWN COLLEGE OF LAW AND OTHER ALLIED COLLEGES.
M A B U H A Y :
Peace!
First of all, I congratulate your joint public leadership for the excellent but silent educational accomplishments of the City-owned FELIMON AGUILAR MEMORIAL COLLEGE of Las Pinas City in memory of the Great Old Man and the Great Leader of Las Pinas City, Hon. Felimon Aguilar.
I am writing you to explore the idea of proposing to your respective offices to study the feasibility of upgrading the capacity and legal status of the said City-owned College into a City-owned UNIVERSITY with its own College of Law and other allied Colleges.
As of now, there is only one (1) College of Law in Las Pinas City, i.e., the University of Perpetual Help Rizal (UPHR) College of Law, which charges school fees of almost P30,000.00 per semester, a huge amount which the future law students coming from the low-income and middle-income families of Las Pinas City find very difficult to sustain, especially the ordinary employees of the Las Pinas City Hall, the Las Pinas Hall of Justice, the Las Pinas City PNP Police Station, the other pillars of the local justice system, and those employed with small and medium firms in the City, who have their own dreams of improving their careers and economic condition thru a law degree and other higher forms of higher education that only a duly accredited University could offer.
There is no fair competition in the City to the UPHR College of Law insofar as Legal Education is concerned. The City Government must thus come in this regard.
I conversed today via SMS text messages with the City Legal Officer, Atty. Z. Abellera, on this matter, but, although he did not outrightly reject the idea, he stated that two basic problems would immediately pose a challenge to the City in this regard, i.e., (a) space and (b) funds. Personally, though, I feel that if there is a will, there is a way, and the City Council, assisted by the technical planners, the engineers and the financial advisors of the City, could successfully find a way to study the feasibility of elevating the capacity and legal status of the College into a University, in cooperation with the consultants of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). They can also sit down with the Mayor the City of Pasay (Hon. Pewee Trinidad, who is a former IBP PPLM Chapter President) and the current President of the PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG PASAY, which has its own College of Law under Justice Manuel Pamaran as the Law Dean, for initial technical advice and guidance.
I know that this idea is a strategic and long-term matter that needs careful and deep planning, consideration and funding, and, of course, a very firm commitment from the leaders and the institutions of the City. It is good, though, to start studying the idea at this early time. There is no substitute for being forward-looking and pro-active, and with a long-term vision for the good of the City. I know that the attainment of the educational vision and mission of the City holds a very special place in your hearts.
The IBP PPLM Chapter and the LPBA, where I am involved as a leader, and my own self and my law partner Atty. Myrna Mercader, both of us being local Bar leaders, law professors (FEU) and trial lawyers, will surely be happy to render free consultations to your offices in this regard as part of the pro bono performance of our civic duties as lawyers and as Filipino citizens. Just let me know when you need us and we will be glad to help anytime. (You may also involve the Judges in the exploration and studies of the idea, considering that some of them are also legal educators, especially the RTC Executive Judge, Hon. J. Vibandor).
Thanks and God bless.
Sincerely,
Atty. MANUEL LASERNA JR.
