One thing I hate about birthdays is when they coincide with expiration of licenses. This year, both my PRC Civil Engineering and LTO Driver’s Licenses expired on my birthday. One of my current projects necessitates me to immediately renew my PRC ID Card or else it would cause substantial delay in securing the necessary government permits. In order to do this I have to personally apply for renewal at the PRC main office at R. Papa corner Morayta Streets in Manila. Trying to squeeze-in some time in an already tight schedule and the thought of having to immerse into heavy traffic in the area make one feel reluctant. However, on the lighter side of things, I would have the chance to visit the university belt after so many years and reminisce the old times.
Many things have changed. I saw the now abandoned building which housed the Ever Gotesco Mall, the only shopping mall at the university belt that time, and a far cry from the big SM Malls of today. But for us back then, it was a totally complete entertainment center. Even Cartimar and Eastern Cinema is no longer there. The old National Bookstore at the Morayta corner Recto, where we used to read books for free is now replaced by Banco de Oro. I did not notice though if Orient Pearl was still there. It is noticeable that FEU has now gained more satellite campus sites in the belt. The old ice cream parlor in front of FEU (I forgot the name) which is my favorite dating venue is nowhere to be found. Nevertheless, what amazed me is that the old Food House at Lepanto St., our favourite lunch hangout, is still there.
The Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) has likewise improved. A second building has been erected to serve the growing number of Filipino professionals. I was impressed by the Express system employed by the PRC in the renewal of PRC ID Cards. For an additional fee of P450 (not bad), you won’t have to wait in long lines. There are special windows dedicated to cater to these express transactions. Forms are color-coded, express forms are colored orange, and hence, employees easily identify express documents and prioritize processing them. This system eliminates the need for ‘fixers’. I filed the application at 9:30am and am finished with the process in 30 minutes. I was then instructed to come back and claim my new PRC ID at 11:30am. That was great! I guess this system is designed for busy professionals who have limited time to undergo such tedious process and have to go back after about a week or so to claim.
With an hour and a half free time, I decided to visit my Alma Mater, the University of the East, which was at my time was the biggest university in the Philippines in terms of student population. It was also the time when UE always topped the board exams for CPA and Dentistry, and when Allan Caidic and Jerry Codinera led the UE Warriors to UAAP Championships.
I entered through the Lepanto Gate. I was not allowed to enter at first even if I told the guard that I was an alumnus of the university, until I told them that I would like to secure an alumni ID. Hence, I was compelled to go to the Alumni Office and get myself an alumni ID for a fee of P200 (not bad) The process was even faster than my PRC ID since I got it after just 30 minutes. Now I can go back and visit with no hassle and could even use the facilities of the library for free.
It was perfect timing for my visit because it was UE Foundation Week, so there were exhibits and Food Bazaars and bargain booths all over the place. I was amazed on how UE has transformed to what I perceived as a global and competitive university. All offices are computerized, gone are the days when you have to fall in very long lines during enrolment. The LMB (Library and Museum Building) is now the PO Domingo Center for Information Technology. The old Secretarial Building is now the College of Computer Science and Studies Building. The place where the old wooden structure which housed the Elementary Department was located is now a beautiful ecological park. The open area in front of the CAS Building was likewise landscaped with plant boxes and benches. The Engineering Building is currently being renovated. I feel elated when I saw that the organization which we formed, the Association of Civil Engineering Students (ACES) is still active and is tied up with PICE.
I can’t help but enter the old small chapel to pray and reminisce the times when Fr. Oesbrock (I am not sure if I spelled it right) says masses with so many students filling up the area between the CAS and Dalupan Buildings.
As I leave the campus where I spent 8 years of student life, from 2nd year high school to 5th year college, I am relieved with the thought that with the new management under the helm of Taipan Lucio Tan, I am pretty sure that the old times will be back and that this university shall be great again....”Tomorrow Begins in the East!”
