Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa @ 31

ON THE 31st anniversary of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa (PLMun) this week, I extend my warmest greetings and best wishes to PLMun President Dr. Raymond Arcega, President Emeritus Dr. Ellen Presnedi, the PLMun Board of Regents headed by Mayor/Congressman-elect Jimmy Fresnedi, the department heads, faculty and staff and the student body.

It is a proud moment for me, having municipal council, the municipal watched the institution grow from a government formally sought the three- course polytechnic college in approval of the DepEd to be able to 1991 to a multi-course university duly open and operate a community college. accredited by CHED. We made arrangements with Pedro

Sometime towards the end of 1990, E. Diaz High School ( PEDHS), then the Muntinlupa People’s Economic headed by recently retired Muntinlupa Council (PEC), led by businessmanSchool District Superintendent journalist Joe Leuterio, conducted Dominico Idanan, for the temporary a survey of job opportunities in use of some of PEDHS’ classrooms. Muntinlupa. The PEC found out that Dr. Idanan graciously acceded by majority of those being hired in designating one school building to be the factories and offices were nonused by the MPC college freshmen from Muntinlupa residents. Company 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily. officials explained that resident job We drew from the rich reservoir applicants for supervisory positions, of incumbent and recently retired did not have college degrees. For Muntinlupa teachers to form the first non-supervisory positions, those with teaching staff of MPC. Mr. Simeon college units were preferred over Bumanglag, my former grade school high school graduates. We responded teacher, became the first dean of the by establishing the Muntinlupa college. Another recently retired Polytechnic College (MPC). teacher, Mrs. Felicidad Perez, also

On May 29, 1991, thru a resolution joined. Mrs. Perez, as many alumni sponsored by Councilor Ruffy Joaquin recall, composed the MPC- PLMun and unanimously approved by the hymn. Mayor/ Congressman- elect

Jimmy Fresnedi also joined the faculty, teaching Philippine government and constitution during the early years of MPC.

With the help of local businesses, we did a quick library buildup sufficient to meet DepEd requirements.

We had three initial course offerings – liberal arts, teacher education and criminal justice. The third course was especially relevant for employees of the Bureau of Corrections and

of the local police force. On the very first registration day, I was gratified to see one of our local traffic policemen, in full uniform, filling up his registration application.

Fortuitously, PEC did the spadework to establish the college even ahead of the municipal council resolution. In less than 6 months after the PEC jobs survey, we obtained our permit and we were ready to operate in time for the opening of classes in June of 1991.

Two years later, as the student population grew, we decided to move the campus to the second floor of the Contessa Building in Barangay Poblacion. In 1995, MPC moved to its present wide open-space campus adjacent to the Muntinlupa National High School.

In March 2003, the city government, t hru a c i t y council resolution authored by Councilor Raul Corro, applied for the conversion of MPC into a state university, henceforth to be named as Pamantasan ng

Lungsod ng Muntinlupa (PLMun).

Over the years, both the student population and course offerings have increased, enabling MPC to apply for university status. From an initial enrolment of 309, the student population has grown to 12,000. PLMun now offers courses in elementary and secondary education, computer science, criminology, commerce, marketing and management, associate in computer technology, and liberal arts. Its graduate school offers MBA, MaEd and master in criminology. Moving forward, PLMun is exploring new frontiers. PLMun is tying up with the Ospital ng Muntinlupa to be able to offer a medical degree program. Another offering in the pipeline is a law degree course.

I am proud that MPC, now PLMun, has improved the lives of countless Muntinlupeños who are now doing their own share in uplifting others. Incidentally, most of the pioneer students took up Philippine government and constitution under Mayor/ Congressman- elect J i mmy Fresnedi.

Dr. Reynaldo Samson was an outstanding student leader during his time and is now a member of the faculty of PLMun. Dr. Ester Añonuevo-Dungca, the first valedictorian of MPC, is now a high value faculty member of Soldiers Hills Elementary School. Maricel Labra, who shared scholastic honors in the first graduating class, went on to become the head of the early education center in Muntinlupa. She now heads the Muntinlupa City government’s asset management group. Dr. Buena dela Cruz is principal II in Bayanan Elementary Unit 1. Dr. Mylene Marasigan-Vallejo is focal person for academics in MNHS senior high school. Dr. Jonel Joaquin is now principal in Gulod Elementary School in Batangas. Dr. Michael Landrito is principal in CCA National High School – Las Piñas. Dr. Zoren Pepito Gubalane is now senior education program supervisor, DEPED Muntinlupa.

The others – Angelio Malacad, Eufracio Macalalad, Gerardo Aro, Cecilio Tomas, Julius Bernados, Jonathan Villamor, Catalino Maglinao, Robert Mandap, Arnaldo Mendoza, Jr. - later assumed senior positions either in the Bureau of Corrections or in the Philippine National Police./