MIT passes diamond mark
March 2000
The New Builder
The arrival of the new millennium left an important mark on MIT’s history as the institute commemorated its 75th founding anniversary last January 17-22.
With the theme “At the forefront of academic excellence in science and technology to face the challenges of the new millennium,” the week-long festivity was capped by exhibits, sports competitions, technical sessions, music festivals and other events like the annual search for the Mr. and Ms. Cardinal.
A eucharistic mass was celebrated at the Sta. Rita Chapel, after which, a program was held at the gymnasium to formally open the affair. The MIT Bandwar, a showcase of alternative musical acts from the institute, concluded the first day of activities.
It was followed by two nights of musical festivities as MIT was rocked by pop and pop-alternative bands like Side A, Sandwich, the Teeth, and Parokya ni Edgar.
The Search for the Mr. And Ms. Cardinal 2000 highlighted the fifth day. The diamond jubilee week was concluded with a Grand Alumni Night held at the gym.
MIT’s administrative officers, with the assistance of the Central Student Council and the Student Affairs Office, spearheaded the diamond jubilee celebration.
Opening Ceremonies Held
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the future. The future is here, the future is now.”
This was the significant remark of Ambassador Alfonso T. Yuchengco, new chair of the MIT Board of Trustees as he delivered his inspirational speech during the opening ceremonies for MIT’s Diamond Jubilee Week at the gymnasium last January 19.
The said event included a tribute as well as the presentation of the plaque of recognition to founder Don Tomas Mapua. Likewise, Oscar B. Mapua Jr., former executive vice president and Mrs. Adelaida Lim-Perez, then member of the Board of Trustees, presented Mr. Yuchengco the first page of the charter symbolizing the turnover of the administration. This was followed by the closing remarks given by the new president, Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea.
“We have just witnessed a very historic event, significant not only to engineering schools but also to the Republic of the Philippines because we are able to develop engineers,” pointed President Vea.
The affair was concluded through a chorale of the songs If We Hold on Together and the Alma Mater.
Boombastic Sedans in Y2K carshow
Ear-blasting woofers and exceptional hood designs wowed Mapuans as the CarShow 2000 took place last January 20-21 at the MIT grounds.
A crowd-drawer in MIT’s 75th Foundation Anniversary, the show was participated by car enthusiasts from MIT and professional owners from different colleges in Metro Manila.
Day one was the competition for the sound pressure level (SPL), where a Nissan Cefiro owned by Gue NG won the 251 dB-up category. Mark Anthony Dumlao’s Honda SIR Vtec was the loudest in the 0-250 dB class, while KAI AudioWorks’ Honda CRV conquered the 4-subs group. Two fully digitized decibel meters were used in measuring the pressure levels inside the cars.
Equipped with two flat TV’s and 25 cm woofers, a Ford ClubWagon was adjudged as the crowd’s favorite. Owed by Jimmy Mercado, the 4x4 sedan has an audio set-up amounting to P500,000.
Other winners of the competition were: Toyota Corona by Manchester Uy (Best in Paint, Engine Display), Mazda Speed by Dexter Daquigan (Best in Interior), Honda Civic V-Tec by Dante Rei Daquigan (Best in Racing Modification), and Honda Civic V-Tec by Jason Ryan Chua (Best in Show).
Organized by the Mechanical Engineering Student Council (MESC), in cooperation with Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers (PSME), Society of Manufacturer Engineers (SME) and JKA Ground Force, the two-day event was sponsored by Ryan Audio, KAI AudioWorks, dB Dragracing, KIT Audio Gracifad Creation and Adams Technical Supply.
Judges in the competition were Engrs. Cornelio T. Rodriguez, Teodulo A. Valle and Joselito L. Necesito.
Local bands storm MIT
In line with the diamond jubilee festivities, local and school bands gathered together in a 3-day epic gaiety of maximum entertainment.
Day one featured Bandwar 2000 before a jam-packed crowd at a newly constructed MIT quadrangle last January 17. Organized by the Study Organization Leading to Integrated EE-ECE-CoE Development (SOLID) and the Student Catholic Action (SCA)-MIT Chapter, the event was composed of some of the top 16 bands in MIT.
Choc’lit, with their rendition of Build me up (Buttercup) and Absolute Reality, won the contest in electrifying fashion. The band was comprised of Benibaldo Mapa Jr. On key-boards and vocals, Michael Chua on guitars and vocals, Joseph Navata on bass, and Chris Diamante on drums.
Cash prizes and a front act slot for the day-three concert were awarded to the winner.
On the second day of the celebration, leading pop group Side A kicked butt through a show of 25 pop and contemporary renditions last January 18 at the gymnasium.
Presented by the PE department, the concert showcased the band’s musical versatility as they rendered their original songs as well as those by Ronan Keating, Sugar Ray, and New Radicals among others. Serving as the front act were the Mapua Cheerleading Squad, some members of Mapua Music Society (MMS) and folk singer Jackie A.
Day three of the affair was the hottest as three of the country’s premiere rock bands came together in one night of pulsating live-wire music. MMS in cooperation with Youth for Christ (YFC) and the CE-EnSE Student Council presented alternative bands Sandwich, The Teeth, and Parokya ni Edgar in one musical showcase. The concert, billed as Sandwich Palaman Itlog, dazzled Mapuans with classic performances by the groups at the gym last January 19.