A YOUNG Filipina made news in 1950s when a battle ground was named “Rustie Hill” after her and was adopted in the war maps of Korea. A college student, she was sent as a singer by the Philippine government to bring Christmas cheers to the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK).
Later the singer would evolve to be a much-acclaimed character actress in television, stage play, and movies whose acting career spans more than five decades to this day. Dr. Rustica Carpio first appeared in Ishmael Bernal’s Nunal sa Tubig in1976. This would soon be followed with more than 50 other films in her more than 30 years in the industry.
She is a respected authority in drama and theater. She was a Unesco fellow in Dramatic Arts at the National School of Drama and Asian Theatre Institute in India and through Sining Silanganan Drama Group which had a performance tour of China in 1983 and Russia in 1984.
Dr. Carpio has also distinguished herself as academician, writer, and translator. To her credit are over two hundred fifty (250) articles, critiques, reviews, poems, plays, and short stories published here and abroad, and over a dozen books on literature, speech, and communication.
Thrice a dean (Student Affairs at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, College of Languages and Mass Communications at Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), and later of the Graduate School also at PUP; today, she lectures and serves as consultant to various universities in Manila.
For her accomplishments, Dr. Carpio is a recipient of over 50 national and international honors and awards. Dr. Carpio continues to receive accolades for her contribution in Philippine cinema. Last year, she was named Best Actress for her performance in Ano Ang Kulay ng mga Nakalimutang Pangarap besting younger performers, while the Philippine Movie Press Club nailed her place in the industry with an Ulirang Artista Lifetime Achievement Award.
Hugging the news more recently is Police Officer 2 Mariano Perez Flormata Jr. of the Philippine National Police Aviation and Security Group, for winning the 2014 Mister International in the pageant held in Seoul, South Korea on February 2015.
Perez bested 42 other contestants for the title. He is the ninth Mister International and first Filipino to win the title. Aside from going back to his military post, Neil is trying his luck in showbiz via acting in some TV projects.
A dedicated thespian and a determined police officer, Carpio and Perez may have reached and enjoy their celebrity status. Yet they humbly acknowledge to have been molded by a modest university in Quiapo, Manila — the Manuel L. Quezon University (MLQU).MLQU: Home of Champions and Topnotchers
Established by several eminent lawyers and justices namely: Leoncio B. Monzon; Lorenzo M. Tañada; Arsenio P. Dizon; Carmelino G. Alvendia; Jose B. L. Reyes; Manuel O. Chan; Anselmo S. Claudio. Accordingly the School of Law was born whose first batch of graduates practically dominated the bar examinations period. Every year since then, MLQU is producing top bar exam passers who eventually become the biggest names in the country.
Three of them held the position of Secretary of Justice in the person of Justice Ricardo C. Puno Sr.(1979-1984), Justice Sedfrey Ordoñez (1987-1990) and Justice Artemio Tuquero (2000-2001) while Justice Isagani A. Cruz went on to become associate justice of the Supreme Court.
Jose Melo (current Supreme Court Justice) and Jose Vitug (Former Supreme Court Justice), both students of Justice Puno also made a name in the Philippine law. Others who have gained fame in the practice of law are: Atty. Benjamin Tabios, Justice Alicia Sempio-Dy, Justice Nicolas Lapena, Atty. Norberto Quisumbing, Justice Manuel Pamaran, Justice Hilarion Aquino, Justice Roberto Abad, Justice Perlita Tirona, Justice Jose Vitug, Judge Jesus F. Guerrero, Justice Ruben Reyes, Justice Renato Dacudao, Atty. Ma. Luisa Dizon-Villarama, Justice Martin Villarama Jr., Justice Venecio Escolin, Justice Serafin Camillon, Justice Nicolas Lapena Jr,. Justice Luis Victor, Justice Enrico Lanzanas, Justice Ricardo Ilarde, Justice Ricardo Lagman, Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, Justice Jose Hernandez, Justice Samuel Martires, Atty, Conrado Vasquez, Atty. Medwin Dizon and Atty Danilo Lopez.
Meanwhile, MLQU graduates who made notable achievements in the government service are: Alberto Romulo (Foreign Affairs Secretary); Benjamin S. Abalos (Commission on Elections Secretary ); Blas F. Ople (Former Labor Secretary and Senate President); Voltaire Gazmin (Defense Secretary), Lilia de Lima (Department of Trade and Industry undersecretary) Rosalinda Baldoz ( Department of Labor and Employment Secretary ); Jose V. Yap (Governor, Tarlac); Magtanggol Gunigundo (Former Chairman, PCGG); Obet Pagdanganan (Secretary Department of Agrarian Reform) ; Sedfrey A. Ordoñez (Ret. Secretary of Justice); Wigberto Tañada Former Senator); and Congressmen Rodolfo Albano Jr., Pangalian Balindog, Fredrick Abueg. Silvestre Bello III, Antonio del Rosario, Samuel Pagdilao and Reynaldo Umali.
Not to be forgotten are the names of Police Senior Inspectors John Gary Erana. Max Jim Tria and Rennei Tayrus, who served the country with their lives being part of the Philippine National Police’s Special Armed Force “Fallen 44”.
With the foregoing, MLQU could be described to be a school for achievers and future heroes. This is so because as a learning institute, MLQU concentrates on training nationalistic, competent, educated and upright Filipinos imbued with a spirit of selflessness and committed service to society, through quality education and training.
Founded in 1947, MLQU follows the principles of the great Manuel Luis Quezon, president of the Philippine Commonwealth, considered as the father of social justice, who is best remembered to upholding nationalism to fuel progress in the country.
NSJBI: Filipinos’ Dream Builder
In October 2014, real estate developer New San Jose Builders, Inc. (NSJBI) acquired the MLQU and started to enhance the school’s facilities and to build new batch of topnotchers. With the sole purpose of providing quality yet affordable education for Filipinos, NSJBI also commits to retain the school’s legacy.
“We commit to help build that legacy that we want to retain for MLQU. We are building the legacy of excellence, the legacy of greatness, and the legacy of becoming an outstanding institution,” NSJBI co-chairman and MLQU president Dr. Isagani Germar said.
NSJBI is a Filipino-owned company which focuses on the vision of building every Filipino’s dream, understanding his struggles and sharing his values. Established in 1986, the company continues to strive to give fellow Filipinos more reasons to have a sense of pride by building homes that they can call their own.
Aside from building homes and developments that last – current residential properties are Victoria Towers and brands in Manila, Quezon City, Makati and Taguig – NSJBI’s projects showcase history, artistry and craftsmanship of Filipinos.
In particular, NSJBI takes pride in being the developer of the world-class Philippine Arena, nestled in Bulacan. Moreover, NSJBI is also the contractor and developer of Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar – a premiere historical destination in Bagac, Bataan.
For MLQU, NSJBI has continually provide and rehabilitate facilities for students. In fact, NSJBI’s expertise gave MLQU’s latest milestone: being the first university in Manila to tap solar energy for its power needs.
Not far in mind is the university’s continuous molding and teaching students to be the best that they can be by enhancing its educational standards and curriculums to be able to produce new sets of topnotchers in the near future.
This May, MLQU and its graduates will have a grand time of their life reminiscing the glorious days of their beloved university and take pride in what it has become.
On May 22,2015, MLQU will be having its Grand Alumni Homecoming to be held in Edsa Shangri-La Hotel at 5:00 PM. For more details and information, call Raymond at 09193116875 or Dolly 09176654198.