RELIGION and BUSINESS

by Dune River, PUCA ‘71

RELIGION and BUSINESS DO NOT MIX. Abuses and failures have been ignored and left unpunished due to the common denominator called, “RELIGION”. As stewards for God’s business RELIGION’S only role is to exercise good governance based on its values. Leave the business of BUSINESS to others! If any future development has to happen at AUP after an extensive feasibility study a committee composed of knowledgeable people in their respective fields should be formed to explore options.

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During my short visit at AUP in January, 2012, I made several observations I would like to share.

1. After making a few inquiries public records show the University has no SITE DEVELOPMENT PLAN. With the existence of current structures built “everywhere” it will be quite a task to maximize its land use. Apparently there was such a SDPlan during the Roda administration that was never implemented. Maybe someone from AUP can tell its whereabouts.

2. Orientation of buildings seems odd, including the football field. The road networks appear disoriented at “tabi-tabingi” in addition to the poor quality.

3. Apparent lack of planning did not consider how AUP should look like in 50 years since its acquisition. Yung bang, “napakaluwag pero napakasikip”.  If you are driving from CODentistry to the Women’s Dorm the roads are narrow and wavy (alon-alon) and your car can land in a ditch! COD seems to have the worst location due to its proximity to the Women’s Dorm where all the “sinampays” are visible to view!

4. Biggest problem I see is the parking! Someone forgot that the country will be exploding in numbers and the economy will gain ground and people can readily own vehicles. Or was the “planning” the belief that we would not reach 2012 since “God will be coming soon”? Did planners not realize the advent of big utility vehicles and vans, Fortuner, Innova, Starex, etc, and thinking bicycles and motorcycles only will be the norm of transportation? The absence of lack of parking is evident during Saturday services where cars are parked in the streets and football field. The rotunda which is the center of it all has sprouting not-so-important structures like the Security Department and common Comfort Room at the back.

5. Quality of work and maintenance are sub-par. Mapapansin mo ang mga “retoke”. It doesn’t look like professionals did the work but some “mom & pop” construction operations. I hope they did not run away and another contractor hired to finish the job! There’s a saying, “you get what you paid for”. I did not see any building that stood out in quality. I know beauty is subjective but not in this case. It is evident.

6. The Main Gate appears to be in a precarious location. You will experience difficulty in crossing. Fairly dangerous! The City should have been involved in the planning. Cracks appear on the structure. Possible cause is the settling foundation. For a structure that massive the base must be in good ground. It is like a post with one free end (cantilever). The forces of nature (wind) acts at the highest point and the forces of nature (earthquake) acts highest at the lowest point putting unequal pressure at the base. If not on firm ground the ground would settle unevenly underneath the foundation causing cracks to be formed on its structural members. Usually it will show aesthetically but the more important part is structurally which cannot be detected by plain visualization of external features.

  

No doubt AUP has an excellent location envied maybe by others but the structures do not accentuate its location. Leaders must not rush into construction, let alone completion without proper planning just to be able to show their “trophies” under their administration. IT IS A WASTE OF TIME, ENERGY AND MONEY THAT AUP DOES NOT MUCH HAVE. And most of all the frustration of the Alumni who now have second thoughts of giving to their Alma Mater! IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT AUP PUT THE QUALIFIED PEOPLE TO MANAGE ITS INFRASTRUCTURES.

  

Although filled with frustration regarding my observation I walked away with my head shaking but it was not going to deter me from my main objective….Leslie’s Bulaluhan and the view of Taal Lake.