People defined by their quests | Inquirer Opinion

People defined by their quests

02:07 AM March 19, 2014

Letter-writer Carlos Erwin Fajardo picks a good target: the heads of four of what he calls “the so-called top schools”—(“by what standards?” he asks parenthetically).

This writer advances the observation that the aim of corrupt practices is the accumulation of money. Having graduated from a Catholic college in the late 1950s, I can say that in my commerce course we were never taught how to be corrupt.

But, alas, we were given the impression that the “successful” graduate of our school was one who was financially successful. The alumni the school usually pointed to as “successful” were the ones who were prominent in business and eminently wealthy. Nothing wrong with that. Perfectly the success standard of the day.

Article continues after this advertisement

However, a very thin line exists between the desire for financial gain and the tendency to be greedy. Apparently, this failure to draw the line oftentimes stimulates the inclination to cross that line, and thus are born the alumni that the schools headed by the Pontius Pilate-like heads of the University of the Philippines, Ateneo, Miriam and La Salle.

FEATURED STORIES

Add the view that UP has been “infiltrated” by prestige-hungry high school grads from the three other “prominent” schools and countless other high schools. A school is defined not only by its administrators but also by its students and their culture, who are in turn defined by home- and school-grown sets of values, which, in this particular context, is defined by a quest for wealth.

A corrupt school alumnus is no different from one who is not corrupt. It’s just a question of the degree each seeks to enrich oneself. What’s to prevent an alumnus from allowing the appreciation of wealth and prestige to degenerate into greed?

Article continues after this advertisement

That, sad to say, our dear alma maters seem to have left out of their thrusts.

Article continues after this advertisement

In the case of La Salle (DLSC at the time), I recall that its envisioned end-product was a “Christian gentleman.” What, pray tell, is the university’s present-day aim? And what was DLSC’S idea of a Christian gentleman?

Article continues after this advertisement

Fajardo’s piece was a good read. Keep them coming!

—BOBBY G. KRAUT, [email protected]

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

TAGS: ATENEO, La Salle, Miriam, Pontius Pilate, University of the Philippines

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.