Known for its excellence as the Philippines’ premier engineering and technological institution, Mapúa University (MU) has long been a breeding ground for technical innovators. Often associated with hard hats, drafting tables, and circuit boards, the Mapúan community has been consistently branching out into wider horizons, defined by camera lenses, storyboards, and festival spotlights.

Years ago, local television screens frequently asked viewers how far PHP20 could go. Back then, it was a lighthearted inquiry about a sweet ice cream treat on a sweltering afternoon. Today, the modern working-class Filipino asks a much heavier, more daunting version of that question—not about a single coin, but about their entire monthly paycheck.