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| How can we be so certain what parcels of land will no longer be needed in the future? |
Really? Aren't all these, in point of fact, disadvantages of long term lease? However, aren't there already in existence multiple extension/satellite campuses of higher education operated by Adventists all over the Philippine archipelago and Southeast Asia? How many secondary and tertiary schools are presently operated, and counting, under the NPUC educational system umbrella?
Why sell, why build a satellite campus at Clark [Tarlac]? Have they not thought of using what they already have for the industries and developments nearby? The PUC here in California with less students now and into the foreseeable future than AUP has decided not to sell their land in prime Napa wine country.
This, of course, is to their absolute advantage. A commercial hub that in all likelihood will compel small business owners to either close shop or rent/lease space from them. My overall impression is it tends to favor the idea of selling - to Alveo Land's advantage. Yes, s-e-l-l. S-E-L-L. Purchase. Sale. S-A-L-E
15 + 5.1 + 35 = 55.1 hectares
Having decided to sell/lease part of AUP land, rather than putting those parcels of land on the market, opening the same to bidders, why must the negotiation be limited to Ayala/Alveo Land in particular?
Comment:
Are 55 hectares "definitely not needed for future expansion"?
165 less 110 = 55 hectares which is one-third [55+55+55] of the property!
165 less 110 = 55 hectares which is one-third [55+55+55] of the property!
Revelation 12:3, 4 "... behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven"
What parcels of AUP land do Alveo Land Developers want and what's their objective?
- 15 hectares of AUP's southern boundary abutting the Diezmo River.
- 5.1 hectares of commercial area along the Sta.Rosa-Tagaytay Road
- 35 hectares east connecting 1 and 2.
Total: 15 + 5.1 + 35 = 55.1 hectares
That is 1/3 of 165 (55+55+55) Revelation 12:3, 4Advantages to Alveo Land Developers: (1) They will have legal right of way and authority to develop land connecting their Santierra property to Sta Rosa-Tagaytay Road onto Ayala Westgrove Heights.
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(2) This, of course, will be to their absolute advantage. A commercial hub that in all likelihood will compel small business owners to either close shop or rent/lease space from them.
|
Consequences/Disadvantages to AUP: Instead of a Christian educational hub, a house of prayer for all nations, AUP will essentially be surrounded by businesses owned by large corporations. AUP will also have (1) ceded access to its natural geographical southern boundary, the Diezmo river; 2) relinquished right of way to more than half of its property that's situated along the Sta-Rosa-Tagaytay Road, while entrance and exit shall be confined to a small strip of retained property northwest of the campus; (3) surrendered a large swath of farm land the northeastern portion of which lays adjacent to a road that connects the Sta Rosa-Tagaytay Road to Nuvali Blvd; and stretches southward to join the Diezmo river below
(4) Instead of a Christian educational hub, a house of prayer for all nations, AUP will essentially be surrounded by businesses owned by large corporations. What will AUP look like ten, fifteen years from now?
(4) Instead of a Christian educational hub, a house of prayer for all nations, AUP will essentially be surrounded by businesses owned by large corporations. What will AUP look like ten, fifteen years from now?
Comment: I watched the Presentation the second time and understood that there is no other options available because the move was to "make available for sale to Alveo Land the 25 hectares and develop the 10 hectares." IF THE PROPOSAL WOULD HAVE BEEN TO SEEK PROPOSALS FOR THE 35 HECTARES THEN THAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT. The land is sold and we don't even know the price???? WE can never compete with Ayala who has large cache of cash at their disposal. THIS VIDEO PRESENTATION IS BEING SENT TO US TO SOFTEN THE IMPACT OF SHOCK FROM OUR ALUMNI.
Under an Ph80M a year Lease earnings if we use that as the earnings at a capitalization rate of 12% per annum, the sales price should be PH666,666,667.00 for the 25 hectares. I wonder what kind of offer they are going to get from it? Under the premise of the presentation that is going to be Ph26,666,667.00 per hectare. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW GREAT OUR ADMINISTRATION PERSONNEL ARE IN THE NEGOTIATION. The assumptions used in the presentation are questionable at best. There should be basis (hard facts) to make those assumptions.
I rest my case. God bless you.
Dionicio Rivera
Comment:
Please, to be honest, let's not even think of leasing any parcel of AUP land. To lease essentially means, though this may/may not be included in the contract, the right to buy. When the time comes the lease ends, and the lessee decides to buy, on whose terms will the price of the property be determined? By lessee or lessor?
Briefly, there's a difference between leasing land to a developer and leasing an existing building to renters or potential buyers. It's not unusual for contracts, notarized, mutually agreed upon and drawn in good faith to be broken, not adhered to and disregarded. So, arbitration seems in order. Or, based on past experience, we end up with an expensive lawsuit with subsequent appeals to a higher court the end of which may not be in sight for years to come.
Posted comment:January 15, 2018 at 1:49 PMThere's a saying in Tagalog: "Naghangad ng kagitna, isang salop ang nawala!" Meaning, we may lose more than we expected to gain. There's a lesson we should have learned from the Eternal Gardens fiasco and the failed Joint Venture Agreement. I believe it's best to keep, maintain what we already have and be content with all 165 hectares of AUP
Why sell, why build a satellite campus at Clark [Tarlac]? Have they not thought of using what they already have for the industries and developments nearby? The PUC here in California with less students now and into the foreseeable future than AUP has decided not to sell their land in prime Napa wine country.
Comment:
The proposed Use of Idle Lands report is one-sided and tells only half of the story. It's a half truth, in other words. Is it not timely our Sabbath School Bible Study Guide this quarter deals with Stewardship and begins with dire warnings about the danger of materialism? Why are we hung up on using a business model supplied to us by land developers? Why has Land Reform in the Philippines not made significant progress? Go figure.
Where did the idea come from we should pattern our use of land/space after the University of Alberta? Are we really serious about recruiting and providing the best Christian education for as many as 10,000 students in one location on a single campus? To my knowledge, those who were involved in developing a Master Plan for our school envisioned a full capacity enrollment of around 2,000 students. Am I wrong? What does our Adventist philosophy of education have in common with the UofA? Do they require a work-study program for all students enrolled in the university? Are the majority of, if not all, registered students expected to live on campus in residential homes conducive to small group worship/fellowship as well as personal devotion?Comments:
From: Romeo Mangiliman <mangilimanr@yahoo.com>
Date: October 29, 2017 at 2:36:18 PM PDT
To: Dionicio Rivera <drrivera77@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: AUP Land Proposal
Date: October 29, 2017 at 2:36:18 PM PDT
To: Dionicio Rivera <drrivera77@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: AUP Land Proposal
Dear Brother Dioni,
Greetings from NPUC!
I read your letter and your proposal is good and I pray to the Lord that He will give us wisdom to make decisions that will be good for His church. Right now I am inMalaysia
God bless you and keep on praying.
In His Service,
RT Mangiliman
Greetings from NPUC!
I read your letter and your proposal is good and I pray to the Lord that He will give us wisdom to make decisions that will be good for His church. Right now I am in
God bless you and keep on praying.
In His Service,
RT Mangiliman
On 29 Oct 2017, at 7:38 PM, Dionicio Rivera
<drrivera77@gmail.com> wrote:
Pastor Mangiliman good morning.
There is urgency in this email, first I am
using my cell phone to contact you since I left my laptop at the Loma Linda Gym
last night after our NLASAAA Convocation, second I am writing from another
email because my AOL account had been hacked.
I represent a group of investors who would
like to send a proposal who would like to lease about 50 hectares of land that
the AUP is wanting to sell to the Ayala Corporation. As you can tell this is an
alternate offer from what you have on the table. I purposely did not include
Dr. Gayoba in this email.
First, my group is not yet fully organized as
a legal entity in the US and
also in the Philippines Philippines
Here is the concept of our proposal.
1. We want to save the AUP land from being
sold to outsiders outright. Leasing it for 50 years and then the ownership
reverts back to the denomination is better than outright sale. You loose the
ownership forever on a sale. In our proposal you gain all the buildings and
infrastructure built on it after the end of 50 years.
2. The purpose of the use of the land benefits
the AUP and the denomination as a whole. We will build the following: a)
A level 4 hospital that will meet the requirement of DOH for the use of the College of Medicine Philippines
Pastor Payoyo’s comment when I was talking to
him yesterday is their need for housing in Northreast Luzon. Those are the
things that we want to work in partnership with you. They were successful in
what was set up in Mountain Provinces before.
The operation of those complexes of course
will involve the Union and AUP. Once our
formal proposal is submitted we would like to form a committee composed of your
group and our group to set the concept design, master plan and the policies and
procedures how the assets will be utilized according to denominational policy
and guidelines.
When we submit our formal proposal it will be
accompanied by an earnest money to legitimize the offer.
Thank you very much, I would appreciate if you
can keep this information to yourself in the meantime. We would have enough
time to inform your team when we are fully organized as a legal entity doing
business both in the US and
in the Philippines
Sincerely in God’a
service.
Dionicio Rivera,
MBA, LNFA
President
Northern Luzon Adventist
Hospital
Artacho, Sison, Pangasinan
The strategic move seems reasonable except the premise of the Hospital concept is misguided. BUILDING A LEVEL 2 HOSPITAL WILL NOT ALLOW THE AUP MEDICAL STUDENTS TO DO THEIR TRAINING. It has to be Level 4 or Tertiary hospital. I have to look at the regulation again, it used to be called Tertiary then it became Level 4 or vice versa. BUT A LEVEL 2 WILL NOT CUT IT. 10% of its bed capacity must also be allocated for the indigent care. That is easy to do, build some clinics in around the university and make sure Accounting gathers all data expenses and Census visits will meet that requirement.
Selling any land is not the best option. I AM GOING TO MAKE A PROPOSAL HERE BUT THE PROBLEM IS I DON'T HAVE THE PERSONAL CAPACITY TO BACK UP MY STATEMENT SO YOU MAY JUST CONSIDER THIS AS A HOT AIR BALLOON PROPOSAL.
It is my belief that gathering would be investors to LEASE THE NEEDED LAND TO BUILD THE HOSPITAL FOR 50 YEARS AND THEN DONATE THE BUILDING AFTER 50 YEARS IS A BETTER OPTION BECAUSE INVESTORS GET THEIR MONEY BACK AND THE UNIVERSITY GETS A HOSPITAL FREE AND CLEAR AND THE LAND OWNERSHIP REVERTS BACK TO AUP.
The land area shown in the Presentation is too small. The whole frontage along the Santa Rosa/Tagaytay Road should be made available. You need Pharmacy store, Medical Supplies Store and other services auxiliary to the Medical Complex. The rents on those properties can be allocated directly to AUP, but the Hospital should have a say in the development.
The premise on the University managing the hospital is a double trouble for the Educational Institution. The Leadership of the Educational Institution should be separate from the Leadership of the Hospital. They are not to be incorporated under one leadership. One would suffer depending on the strength of the Leader. The focus of education is different from the focus of medical.
[snip]
Dionicio Rivera
Comment:
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... it looks like, that the number of people in attendance in the said Constituency meeting DOES NOT HAVE A QUORUM. This becomes a problem and can be challenged by anyone. IF I REPRESENT THE ADMINISTRATION, I WOULD READ THE CONSTITUTION AGAIN AND THE MINUTES OF THE CONSTITUENCY MEETING. WHO DECLARED THAT THERE WAS A QUORUM. Who is supposed to be the PRESIDING OFFICER IN A CONSTITUENCY MEETING. AGAIN, THE CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS SHOULD SPELL IT OUT.
DON'T GET YOURSELF IN HOT WATER. A RESTRAINT IN MOVING TOOOOO FASTTTTT IN THIS MATTER IS NECESSARY TO AVOID EMBARRASSMENT LATER ON.
Thank you.
Dionicio Rivera
Comment:
"The consultation yielded the following points:... not to sell land unless...the best option is to lease..."Consultation with whom? Those present for the special constituency meeting?
However, it was later revealed that:"The constituency also affirmed the recommendation to offer for sale the 15 ha strip of land along the Dismo River to Alveo Land..."
What does "affirmed the recommendation" mean? Re-affirmed a previous action to sell, maybe? More important, since that body of water constitutes our natural geographical southern boundary, aren't we giving away our right of access to the Dismo River? Alveo Land developers must be laughing out loud!LOL!
My comment on the planned sale of the 15 hectares along the Dismo River is not too much on the land itself, although there are housing structure there already, but on the access to the RIVER itself. Fronting the river gives you access to water. WATER IS THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE LAND. If that is my land, I would not sell that even if they price it 5 times more than the average price within the vicinity. JUST ASK THE QUESTION, WHY DO THEY WANT THAT PARTICULAR LAND???? IS IT OBVIOUS?
Just my $0.02 worth.
Dionicio Rivera
Pacific Union College (PUC) is a private liberal arts college located in Napa Valley, California. The campus is located in the upper valley town of Angwin, eight miles north of St. Helena, California and within the Howell Mountain wine appellation. It is the only four-year college in Napa County. It is among the top ten employers in the county. A coeducational residential college, it serves an almost exclusively undergraduate student body, the overwhelming majority of which live on campus.
WikipediaComments:
I just hope that those concerned will take time to have a special season of prayers asking God for wisdom and for the Holy Spirit to impress each one which is the best way to go.
I just hope that history won't repeat itself!
Violy Palma
What’s the use of our opinion when the board already decided to sell the land? It is not a good idea to sell the idle lands ;it will be a big mistake. Look for some other options on how we can build the AUP Medical Center Level 4. Do not sell the land. Create a separate planning committee that would fundraise for the next ten years. Seek the counsel of GC, SSD before making such decision. Long term lease is better than selling the idle lands. We need strategic planning that would make use of the idle lands into profitable business venture and still keep the title of the lands. Yes, creating satellite campuses is a good idea that was envisioned years ago but we need to find the means to purchase it without selling the lands at AUP.
Edwin ArabaIf I remember it right, there was AN ACTION by the AUP BOT in 2014, "Not to sell any AUP Silang lands." Was there any action to rescind or revoke that action before a recommendation was made to sell any AUP LANDS?
I was very strong on this concept of "NO SELLING OF AUP Lands". I will re state what I had expressed at the BOT meeting in 2014, NO SELLING OF AUP LANDS IF THE DREAM OF AUP IS TO EXPAND ITS STUDENT POPULATION MAYBE TO 15 THOUSAND or more. It was then voted that NO there would be NO SELLING OF AUP LANDS.
Edna B. Domingo
MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 2018: WEATHER FOR TODAY: PARTLY CLOUDY; 4 C; FEELS LIKE 2 C; HUMIDITY: 100%; POSSIBILITY OF RAIN 20%; RAIN: 0 mm; SUNRISE: 8:02 A M; SUNSET: 4:42 P M;
A M: Ang ganda ng sikat ng araw ngayon at wala nang FOG; Ching forwarded to us a video report of the AUP idle land for sale/lease kuno; pero approved na pala ng AUP Board! Luto na pala ang sinaing, eh bakit magtatanong pa kung saan kukunin ang bigas at paano lulutuin ng Macao? How involved were the alumni around the world before the AUP Board approved the sale/lease of these properties?
Questions:
1) What is the status of the ownership of the portion of the AUP property along the Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road? 2) Is it true that the AUP property is still 165 hectares or, less? 3) What is the status of the subdivision lots already claimed by a developer? Does Mr. Meneses ring the bell? 4) Can a 120-bed capacity hospital compete with the other hospitals already well established nearby Nuvali and Paseo de Sta. Rosa? How will the medical, nursing, and medical technology students train if the proposed hospital would only have very few patients? 5) What happened to the vision of the school leaders that PUC-AUP would be an agricultural school?
6) Should not the blame be put to the present Union and AUP leaderships for having a large portions of the property remain idle? 7) Are we following the Bible principle of not being unequally yoked together with unbelievers? No mention is made on the Report that the Holy Spirit was invoked.8) What is the rationale for selling 25 hectares and leasing the 10 hectares? Why not sell all the 35 hectares? Is something questionable being hidden from the church members around the world? Look at Question Number 2. 9) What happened to the property [Malitlit] along the Southern Luzon Expressway (SLEX)? 10) Do we still remember the case of Eternal Gardens? How much did the Church profit from its transaction?
MoreIf I may, just to make a little review, ten (10) hectares were given away by PUC to the former tenants of the Arambulo-Carpo property as a form of compensation. It was announced in one of the PUC Faculty Meetings. And yet, the video report says the AUP property is 165 hectares, still. So, the administration is saying lesser than half truth. Has AUP won the case filed against AUP by the descendants of Arambulo/Carpo of falsely occupying the land that was not sold legitimately to AUP? If not, why will they build a hospital on it? Erwin
MoreComment:
Correct me if I am wrong but I feel very strongly that selling or leasing a piece of land already occupied by more than 50 AUP faculty and staff is crazy. While the said "idle land" is barely included in the 55 hectares for sale/lease.
I will answer one question at a time by re-posting your questions in BOLD letters:
1. Please, to be honest, let's not even think of leasing any parcel of AUP land.- I was involved in another Conference in making presentation not to sell a parcel of land a school owns. In the constituency meeting we (those opposed) were able to convince the Constituency not to sell and a vote was taken. We won. But several weeks after the vote was taken, the conference personnel continued their negotiation with the would be buyer and we (those opposed) threatened to file an injunction to individuals conference officers and the Conference itself. That sale did not materialize. But after another administration, the land was eventually sold. We were not very vigilant. This is the problem we have with our institution. There should be a STATEMENT FROM THE HIGHER UPS, that no assets be sold at any cost or price especially when the asset was donated by someone else. However, this is also the rules with regards to DONATIONS. When a donation is made, the right to the title is pass on from the Donor to the Donee. For the Donor to watch the whereabouts of the Donated items is not PROPER. Another classic example, a top surgeon donated delicate instruments to the hospital (NLAH) and every time he goes to the Philippines, he goes to the Operating Room and wants to see his equipment donations laid out in the table. One time, that was brought to my attention and we had a conversation with the Donor. The question was asked? Is the item donated or was it it loaned? The answer was Donation. I explained the process of passing ownership from Donor to Donee and he was not so happy. I have another current situation now in NLAH, where one room is not being used because the Loaner did not want to have other doctors to use his equipment. We will settle that issue soon. WARNING!!! Was the Baesa Campus a classic example to a Donation with string attached? That there was restriction that it cannot be sold?
2. To lease essentially means right to buy, correct? Read the fine prints. Some contract essentially says, Lessee has the right to purchase the subject property and such right is to be exercise upon the passing of an event, such as number of years and Lessor will not unreasonably withhold the exercise of that right. The terms (price, unit price or additional premium or deduction on the price), may or may not be included in the original contract.
2. To lease essentially means right to buy, correct? Read the fine prints. Some contract essentially says, Lessee has the right to purchase the subject property and such right is to be exercise upon the passing of an event, such as number of years and Lessor will not unreasonably withhold the exercise of that right. The terms (price, unit price or additional premium or deduction on the price), may or may not be included in the original contract.
3. In the end, on whose terms will the price of the property be determined? That depends on the contract written during the negotiations. Watch the word negotiation. Who is more interested to sell, or more interested to buy? This will determine how savvy the administration is at the moment. TO AVOID THIS KIND OF ARMS LENGTH DEAL, A BROKER HAD TO BE HIRED AND THE BOARD AND OR THE CONSTITUENCY WILL LAY OUT THE DETAILS OF THE CONTRACT SO THAT WE AVOID THE SECOND GUESSING AT THE END.
Now, here is my comment: IT LOOKS LIKE THAT THERE ARE TWO OPPOSING PARTIES HERE. One party wants to Sell/Lease and the other party wants to restrain the Sale/Lease. LET ADMINISTRATION/BOARD/
My comment on the matter: It looks like, that the matter was brought to a Constituency meeting. The picture I saw labeled as Constituency meeting has very few attendance, DOES NOT CONSTITUENCY MEETING HAVE A QUORUM??? Are we members of the Constituency? Can we request for minutes of the Constituency meeting??
My comment on the matter: It looks like, that the matter was brought to a Constituency meeting. The picture I saw labeled as Constituency meeting has very few attendance, DOES NOT CONSTITUENCY MEETING HAVE A QUORUM??? Are we members of the Constituency? Can we request for minutes of the Constituency meeting??
I also remember that either the Administration or and the Board, may be the Constituency have had CONSULTATION. From whom, was it solicited, volunteered like from the Internet like what we are doing now??? THE DECISION HAD BEEN MADE TO MAKE THE LAND AVAILABLE FOR ALVEO TO PURCHASE, THE ONLY LIMITING FACTOR IS THE PRICE AND WHO IS GOING TO MAKE THE DECISION ON THE PRICE? Administration, Board or Constituency? Again read the Constitution and By-Laws. It should spell it out. Otherwise, one person will be acting on an ULTRA VIRES act which make it illegal.
My $0.02 worth too:
My $0.02 worth too:
NOW LET US TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN HELP AUP GET ITS HOSPITAL. That is the focus of the Administration to the point of selling their children (I would phrase it as inheritance) to achieve their goal. GETTING DONATIONS DOES NOT WORK AT THE MOMENT. WE KNOW THAT NOW WITH NORTHERN LUZON ADVENTIST HOSPITAL.
I believe the Division has a what is termed as Capital Development Fund (CDF) and South Central Luzon Conference has one also. If the Division and or South Central will open their CDF for investment for the purpose of lending only to AUP Hospital project, then the problem is solved. Their CDF is controlled by someone who is not open to the needs of the work in our mission field. ONE SMART CONFERENCE PRESIDENT CAN OPEN A CDF AND HARVEST ALL THE FRUITS THIS PRODUCT WILL PRODUCE.
Northern Luzon Adventist Hospital was borrowing at one time, but we never got anywhere with it. There is a lot of money out there that can be secured but we have to pay the cost of money. HOSPITAL in the Philippines compared to the US is in a better position to succeed because of the LARGE BASE OF ITS CLIENTELE. Just imagine, in the Philippines, anyone that has a job is a member of PhilHealth. That is your base. Then you have the OFW (Overseas Foreign Workers) who can afford to pay additional Ph2,500 a day just to stay in a PRIVATE ROOM OR SUITE. In the US we fight to get the Medicare patients. With the OBAMACARE, if your insurance is not covering your care because you are out of network, you are not so lucky. The Insurance Companies divided the country not in terms of State boundaries but NETWORKS where they have a playing field. I HOPE I DON'T GET SICK SOON.
My balae, went to St Lukes in Manila to get operation because her fee to St Lukes is almost half of the price of getting a surgery out of NETWORK here is the USA.. She is not quite 60 to get Medicare.
Have a great day ahead.
Dionicio Rivera.
Dear Pastor Mangiliman,
I've put together most of our conversation in one place so we can simply go back to it and not repeat ourselves. Here:
http://filadnet.blogspot.com/
I believe it's safe to say the overwhelming sentiment of our alumni is for all 165 hectares of campus property to stay in our possession.
"How much land does AUP absolutely need or not?"
Fact of the matter is, we could actually use less than 110 hectares, even as little as 26 hectares like in Baesa, depending on location, plus other relevant factors to consider, could we not? To cite some examples:
21.5 hectares University of Sto Tomas
83 hectares Ateneo de Manila University
493 hectares UP Diliman
1,098 hectares UP Los Baños
It's the wrong question to ask, however. Land developers posed the problem to us, though they already had a prepared solution. Consequently, we were misled to believe it might be to our advantage to lease, though they much preferred we sell to them what they have referred to as "idle lands".
Why do I think it's advantageous to Alveo Land Developers on one hand and disadvantageous to AUP on the other?
What parcels of AUP land does Alveo Land Developers want and what's their objective?Total: 15 + 5.1 + 35 = 55.1 hectares
- 15 hectares of AUP's southern boundary abutting the Dismo River.
- 5.1 hectares of commercial area along the Sta.Rosa-Tagaytay Road
- 35 hectares east connecting 1 and 2.
That is 1/3 of 165 (55+55+55)
Advantages to Alveo Land: They will have legal right of way and authority to develop land connecting their Santierra property to Sta Rosa-Tagaytay Road onto Ayala Westgrove Heights.
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| This, of course, is to their absolute advantage. A commercial hub that in all likelihood will compel small business owners to either close shop or rent/lease space from them. |
Disadvantages to AUP
The university will have (1) ceded access to its natural geographical southern boundary, the Diezmo river; (2) relinquished right of way to more than half of its property that's situated along the Sta-Rosa-Tagaytay Road, while entrance and exit shall be confined to a small strip of retained property northwest of the campus; (3) surrendered a large swath of farm land the northeastern portion of which lays adjacent to a road that connects the Sta Rosa-Tagaytay Road to Nuvali Blvd; and stretches southward to join the Diezmo river below. We would lose our freedom of movement.
4) Instead of a Christian educational hub, a house of prayer for all nations, AUP will essentially become surrounded by businesses owned by large corporations. Small business owners will be compelled to either close shop or set up shop by renting or leasing space in one of these Commercial Centers.
4) Instead of a Christian educational hub, a house of prayer for all nations, AUP will essentially become surrounded by businesses owned by large corporations. Small business owners will be compelled to either close shop or set up shop by renting or leasing space in one of these Commercial Centers.
Once deals have been agreed upon and contracts signed, what will be next, do you think? Is it too far fetched to imagine us or Alveo Land soon building a wall to fence their common border. Why? Prevent seemingly innocent incursion. Protect themselves and ourselves from unwelcome intrusion.
In sum, before it's too late to change direction, after the fact when we have lost our freedom of movement, let's think of better ways to develop our seemingly excess land - that developers want us to believe AUP does not absolutely need.
Lito
P.S. How about NPUC moving its headquarters to a section of the 55 ha? Publishing house, too? Health Sciences complex, of course. Land in Puting Kahoy is still cheap. Market value is reportedly between Php 8k and as high as Php 15k per square meter.
Dear Pastor Mangiliman,
Your thoughtful response is much appreciated. Thank you so much.
You wrote: "As of the moment, none of the talks about selling portion of AUP land is final yet. Negotiations are ongoing yes, but we are looking at all angles and the possible repercussions our decisions may have on the University. In the meantime, we need to address the following:
- The need to raise half a billion to finance the hospital
- The need for more faculty and staff houses
- The need to secure the property now occupied by squatters
- GC advises us to open extension campus
My reply:
1. Php half-billion = Php500 mil = @ US$10mil construction cost of a level 4 training hospital. I assume this will be built by phases over a period of years, around 5 years up to twelve, rather than in one day. In the meantime, funding to upgrade the AUP Health Service to level 2, should be doable and within AUP's capacity to undertake and complete within a short period of time.
2. Eventually, alongside plans for a level 4 training hospital, the need for adequate housing will include hospital employees and medical school personnel. Let's view this requirement as an opportunity for AUP, with support from the NPUC and alumni, to develop what have been referred to as idle lands according to our Adventist philosophy of education, of wholeness and healing. We have so much land on which to build. Why should we hand over our multi-billion fixed asset to land developers whose primary motivation is driven by their desire for profits, the acquisition of more wealth and its concentration in a few individuals?
3. Rather than looking down on squatters as a problem and viewing them as a threat, how about changing our own attitude so we can relate to them as fellow human beings created in God's image whose needs don't differ much from the rest of us? How many squatter families are we dealing with and the amount of money and/or land required to satisfy their demand? I'm sure land developers have this figured out..
4. Assuming, without granting, there's a genuine need for an extension AUP campus, is there not a better way for us? Rather than letting of a huge chunk (a third) of AUP land so we can acquire another property in a different location? Fact of the matter is aren't there already in existence multiple extension campuses of higher education operated by Adventists all over the Philippine archipelago and Southeast Asia? How many secondary and tertiary schools are presently operated, and counting, under the NPUC educational system umbrella?
This should be sufficient for now. More in another thread regarding alternatives to Alveo Land Developers.
Joselito Coo, BA '67
