June 6, 1:28 p.m. – MANILA Mayor Alfredo Lim received the Quadricentennial Service Award at ceremonies marking the opening of Academic Year 2011-2012 early today.
Fr. Rolando de la Rosa O.P., Rector of the University, said the award was given to Lim for exemplifying “the meaning of self-giving,” for being a “model of truly conscientious public service,” and for transforming Manila “from a ‘sin city’ to an evolving cultural landmark.”
De la Rosa cited Lim for providing ample lighting and “disciplining” sidewalk vendors on streets surrounding the campus, improving police visibility, and closing beer houses near the campus.
“[The award] could serve as a challenge for me to work harder,” said Lim, who studied at UST 65 years ago as a third-year high school student.
Lim said that while he only studied for a year in UST, he was also proud to be a Thomasian. The mayor, citing this Thomasian education, said he was against the reproductive health bill and abortion.
The yearly award is given to Thomasians or non-Thomasians who had rendered service to the Thomasian community. The first Quadricentennial Service Award was given last year to lawyer Rafaelito Garayblas, executive secretary at the Office of the Mayor of Manila. Reden D. Madrid
Good to know that Mayor Lim’s efforts in the city of Manila is somehow paid off
Mayor Lim, I am so proud of you! You deserve the award. It makes me even more prouder to learn that you are our fellow Thomasian forever!
Seriously?
Mayor Lim a truly conscientious public servant? Manila an evolving cultural landmark?
How has Manila been evolving? Neighboring cities such as Taguig, Makati, Marikina, Cubao, San Juan etc. are growing and developing while Manila is only growing filthier and more congested. Old residents are moving out while squatters keep moving in.
“Providing ample lighting and “disciplining” sidewalk vendors on streets surrounding the campus, improving police visibility, and closing beer houses near the campus.” – He’s the mayor. Isn’t that what he’s supposed to do? And it isn’t like he did those things exceptionally well. The lights along Espana are hideous, and most parts of manila remain in the dark (napakadaming ilaw na hindi naman umiilaw); sidemain walk vendors and beer houses remain in plenty! (at kelan ba naging hindi?); and honestly I don’t see any noticeable difference with regard to police visibility.
Why does the University keep giving awards to people like Mayor Lim? Lucio Tan? Vicky Belo??? Are these the people our dear University wants us to emulate? Why are they giving them awards??? It makes me sad.
The awards given by the university were all substantial. If there’s anyone who object is an isolated case. It doesn’t mean that if the university gave awards to certain people, we are “required” to emulate it. It’s “us” who will decide who to emulate.
Besides, I like Mayor Lim than former Mayor Lito Atienza who really sucks. Its a sad fact that the people of Manila voted for Atienza to serve all 3 terms that are allowed for a Mayor.
More Power to Mayor Lim!!!
Let us not lower our standards.
The fact that former Mayor Lito Atienza was a poor mayor doesn’t make Mayor Lim a good one.
Universities ought to be a beacon of light and truth especially in a country like ours where hope so very rarely manifests itself.
Perhaps there are those who do believe that Mayor Lim, Vicky Belo, et al. are truly great men and women, great Filipinos, who by virtue of their great and noble contributions to our society earned the right to be honored by our historic pontifical and royal catholic university. Perhaps there are those who believe that the likes of Piolo Pascual, et al. ought to be immortalized in a multi-million peso 10-meter high bronze and glass monument. But there remain those who question these decisions, and think it all for show.
When all the masks have been removed, are we honoring people worth honoring? Our university’s history is rich with great men and women: saints, martyrs, heroes, statesmen, presidents, national artists, philosophers, poets, great writers and authors; who were a part of our history. We can look back at the 400 years of our university and be proud of the people that were part of it, e.g. Jose Rizal, Manuel Quezon, Juan Nakpil, etc. but fast forward 400 years into the future, when future thomasians look back, sino sino mga makikita nila? Sina Papa P?
Has our notion of greatness become so greatly diminished?
I find this an appropriate moment to post this link:
http://www.getrealphilippines.com/agr-disagr/17-4-smallness.html
In the hopes na meron ding mainis, meron ding magalit, meron ding ma-motivate.