A Call for Unity

From the official Facebook page NO TO THE RENAMING OF MANILA SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL

Dear fellow MaSci-Alumni,

In a meeting last 22 August 2009, the Task Force MaSci (on behalf of the School) and the MaSci Foundation (on behalf of the alumni) have agreed that the stakeholders of the MANILA SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL should unify and synchronize our actions in addressing the issue re: renaming of MaSci to “President Corazon C. Aquino Science High School” by the City of Manila, and by doing so:

- we shall uphold an approach that is “issue-based” rather than “dealing with personalities”;

- we shall maintain our stand, based on facts and MaSci’s reasonable and valid concerns;

-we should find wisdom in observing “respect and sobriety” faced with situations when dealing with the issue and the people concerned, thereby, not giving them any reasons “not to hear and accommodate our concerns fairly”;

-we must be aware and vigilant that the issue is not dragged by politicians into their own personal agenda. At some point, where we might find it unavoidable, let us maintain the dignity of the name of MANILA SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL, by way of accepting help, yet remaining to be “issue-based” and apolitical;

-only those efforts consulted with and sanctioned by the MaSci Foundation with the Task Force MaSci shall be considered the official move of the MANILA SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL in dealing with the issue.

The stakeholders of the MANILA SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL will take a firm stand to defend its name, as we maintain our high regard and respect to our late former President Corazon C. Aquino.

We feel confident that the family of the late President Aquino and the Filipino People will understand our plight.

We are looking forward to everyone’s cooperation and support.

GOD BLESS MANILA SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL !

NOTE:
The leadership of the MaSci Foundation,Task Force MaSci, School Admin and the Student Government of MaSci will attend a meeting today to discuss the issue with DepEd-Manila . We’ll keep everyone posted.

MaSci FEC’s Letter to the Mayor’s Office

August 24, 2009

Hon. ALFREDO S. LIM
Mayor
City of Manila

Dear Honorable Lim:

Greetings in the Mighty Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

It has come to our knowledge that plans are underway to rename Manila Science High School to President Corazon C. Aquino Science High School as per news article written by Pat C. Santos in The Daily Tribune dated August 11, 2009. The alleged plan was practically validated, to the surprise and dismay of the entire Manila Science High School community, when two DepEd-Manila officials, Asst. Superintendent Mauro de Gulan and retired Asst. Superintendent Isabelita Santos, met with Mrs. Flora A. Valdez, our school head, on August 19 to discuss the matter.

We, therefore, would like to seek clarification and verification regarding the veracity of said plan for the enlightenment and satisfaction of the entire MaSci community. Should there be truth in renaming our school, we would like to express, in the strongest possible terms, our opposition for the following reasons:

1. While we greatly honor former President Corazon C. Aquino for her countless and invaluable contributions to our nation, we still deem it fitting and prudent to also respect Manila Science High School as an established institution that has been known worldwide as the pilot science high school in the Philippines. Hence, MaSci must also be regarded as an institution of great historical and national significance for its invaluable contributions in the field of science and technology. Renaming Masci will be a historical blunder. It is, therefore, unfit and distasteful to relegate one to the other. There are many other ways to confer recognition and honor to our beloved former president and we will wholeheartedly support such endeavors.

2. Manila Science High School, without question, is also a part of Philippine history, to wit:

a. Former President of the Philippines Ramon Magsaysay was the first to envision a science high school in the Philippines in his 1956 State of the Nation Address where he underscored the great need of stepping up the development of fundamental and applied research in science and technology which had long been neglected.

b. The Philippine Congress passed Republic Act 1606 creating the National Science Development Board to work with the Science Foundation of the Philippines in advancing scientific and technological research.

c. This was closely followed by RA 2067, known as the Science Act of 1958, which proposed to integrate, coordinate, and intensify scientific and technological research and development to foster invention.

d. In conjunction, the Department of Education implemented RA 1606 by issuing Department Orders 1 and 5, series of 1958 for the launching of science talent research.

e. November 25, 1959 marked the evolution of the first pilot science high school in Manila. This nucleus of a science high school had its beginning in a single-story building in Intramuros.

f. On October 1, 1963, Manila Science High School was born by virtue of Municipal Resolution 426, signed by Mayor Antonio J. Villegas, with its principal Augusto Alzona, the “Father of Manila Science High School.”

g. Manila Science High School moved to its present site in 1966.

Changing the name of our school is a blatant disregard of the painstaking efforts done for the emergence of the first pilot science high school in the country.

3. Manila Science High School, needless to say, has been the pride and torchbearer of the city of Manila as it has heralded recognition and brought honor to our beloved city in the field of academic excellence both locally and internationally.

4. Such plan to rename our school is undemocratic and arbitrary in that parties concerned, i.e. the supposed stakeholders of the school, have not even been consulted. This resulted in dissenting reactions from the members of the faculty and administrative staff, students, alumni, and parents.

We assure your good office that we value the legacy that former President Corazon C. Aquino has bestowed upon our nation. Furthermore, we assure you that Manila Science High School will continue bringing glory and honor not only to the city of Manila but also to our nation in the fields of academic excellence and accountable leadership, which former President Aquino also aimed and worked hard for. We also appeal to your good office that consultations be done – in the spirit of fairness, respect, democracy, and transparency – with stakeholders of our school on any matters concerning Manila Science High School.

Again, may God shower blessings upon you and more power!

For the love and glory of God and our country,

The MSHS Faculty and Employees Club