GOVERNMENT-run colleges have never been better.
What used to be ignored and often-belittled community schools have vastly improved.
The ones in Angeles City and neighbor Mabalacat City are blazing trails. They have become primary choices for higher education especially for low to middle income families.
The City College of Angeles City (CCA) just broke ground for its new P50 million building. Funded by Pagcor, the new edifice will have 20 classrooms. It is expected to bring more comfort and convenience to the rising number of students of CCA.
During the groundbreaking, no less than Pagcor Chairman and CEO Andrea “Didi” Domingo took time out from her busy schedule. Unmindful of the continuing Covid scare, Domingo went out of her way to honor the people of Angeles City with her presence. The event also coincided with the 87th birthday of Apung Tarzan Lazatin.
In her speech, Domingo recalled the times she was with the Apung Tarzan, father of now Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin while in Congress as representatives of Third and First Districts, respectively.
She recalls the goodness and hardwork of Apung Tarzan with all his initiatives in the House of Representatives. She also made mention how cool and calm, even brokering peace for whatever tussle she created among their peers in Congress.
Domingo also praised Mayor Pogi for his no letup job for the people of Angeles City. Pursuing education is one hallmark of a good local chief executive, especially when it is free or subsidized. Mayor Pogi, who recalled his father’s initiatives both in Congress and at the City Hall, is pursuing the legacy of his old man.
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The Mabalacat City College (MCC) has been scoring big too.
Not just in academic aspects but even in its physical appearance. The buildings have been tweaked. What used to look like prison blocks of provincial jail now looks like a hotel with its new garnishments.
But more than its physical and academic or curricular improvements, MCC has been serving well during this pandemic with its offering of remote education through its Digital Hubs (DigiHubs).
The idea of having digital hubs or DigiHubs, as committed by Mayor Cris Garbo in his State Of the City Address last year, is attributed also to President Mich Ong and members of the MCC Board which is also chaired by the mayor.
Great minds at work there in MCC. It was an idea that was ahead of its time, in the same vein that the City Government gave laptops to teachers way before the pandemic was also a pro-active program.
The DigiHub project of MCC was just meant to help in online learning for its students who does not have wifi in their own homes. Unexpectedly, it has gained recognition as it won among 156 entries in the SEAMO (Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization) Congress three months ago.
The MCC is also a nominee in The Times Higher Education or T.H.E Awards in Asia.
Like the Oscars to the movie or film industry, T.H.E Awards is for the higher education sector. MCC has been shortlisted in two categories, namely: Outstanding Support for Students and Technological or Digital Innovation of the Year.
The awards consider the response of learning institutions to the global pandemic. To be in the shortlist alone is already an honor as we share same stage with the crème of the crop like the National University of Singapore and Yonsei University in South Korea. It is also an outright prestige for MCC as it is THE only Philippine school that made it to the shortlist.