By Atty. Antonio P. Pekas
everywhere. ”
The source of the main information here are the children of one of the pioneers in putting up a business college in Metro Manila. They became my clients due to the usual problem of landowners in the city– squatting. As I learned from them, running a college is big business. There is a lot of money in it.
In one of our lunch meetings, they said that our local tycoons or taipans have discovered the humongous amounts to be made from the sweat, tears and blood of parents.
Thus, National University (NU) is now controlled by the Sy family of SM and BDO fame, among other numerous companies. The university has now become famous in the field of athletics. It won’t be long before they will be hitting the leader board for academic performances. They know these are the best advertisements for institutions of higher learning.
Lucio Tan of course will not be left behind, or was he ahead? His family members are now the controlling interests behind the University of the East (UE).
Far Eastern University is controlled by a family owning a conglomerate of business companies. And from Google, it appears that the scions of the late Henry Sy have some interest in it, too. How about the family of the late Presidents Aquino (mother and son)?
Mapua University is now controlled by the owners of RCBC and the Ayalas who brought into the pot several of their colleges and universities. If memory serves it was De La Salle University which first implemented the trimester concept in the 1970s. Now Mapua went beyond and they now have quad sems every year. Every quarter, students’ parents have to scrape the bottom of the barrel to pay the semestral tuition fees.
Mapua has several partnerships or working cooperation with several US universities. They also offer some trailblazing courses and programs. You can obtain a master’s degree in business in four years, for instance.
In the local scene, we know that the owners of the big universities around are some of the richest families in the city.
But let us go down to the single proprietorships level. Several educators are financially making it by opening preschool or kindergarten schools. Some of them have several branches while others opted to expand by offering higher elementary grades. The next of course are the high school grades.
Soon, hopefully, there will be more homegrown college owners to add to the list of the existing ones in the city.
The good thing about being in the third world is there are many business opportunities everywhere.
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