Mrs. Sicat still in power

We really can’t fully understand as to why Mrs. Sicat is still in power. It was proven that she is the MOST CORRUPT OFFICIAL in AMA Makati. Noon at ngayon – she displays an animalistic behavior we cannot tolerate no more. Makapangyarihan nga naman. But we believe that her evil works will soon vanish. She posted instructions in every classroom for us students not to give money to our professors, but this is just a trick. Ano ang ibig niyang iparating sa amin? Na nanunuhol kami para lang makapasa? Ano ang ibig niyang iparating sa mga professors? Na tumatanggap sila ng bayad para lang kami ipasa? She has the guts, but she has no integrity to do that.

She wants to appear as an angel – an angel of darkness.

Has Sicat Resigned? Or was kicked out?

Mrs. Sicat, the school director of AMA Makati, was absent from office for the last few weeks. It was rumored that she was suspended by the Head Office for two weeks. Well, for us, two-week suspension is NOT enough. It is not enough for the evil deeds she has done against the students, against the faculty members, against her fellow employees of AMA Makati, and against her bosses in Panay Avenue, Quezon City.

As of this writing, the wind told us that she was not connected anymore with AMA Makati, that is, she is no longer its School Director. The phrase “not connected” seems to be ambiguous. It is not yet clear whether she resigned from office, or was finally kicked out by her superiors. Whether or not she voluntarily resigned, the NEWS IS GOOD. In other words, that is GOOD NEWS. That is the effect of the KATAS NG FIELDTRIP SA SUBIC. She was the one who benefited most of that event. She was the one who contacted the travel agency and got commissions. She then again manipulated school activities such as that. She connived with some faculty members. Unfortunately, she failed this time. Good job for the Head Office. We thank you for your impartial investigation, even though Mrs. Sicat’s husband has familial ties with the top administration. Many will rejoice. Justice has prevailed indeed.

We are hoping that this is not just temporary. And we are hoping that the wind did not tell us lies.

Mrs. Sicat should submit her resume to AMA Cubao. They need a School Director there. Watch out!

Problem in getting transcript of records

Message sent from moonchild_ivs@yahoo.com:

I graduated from AMA Makati Campus May 2004. Because of some circumstances, I wasnt able to get my TCG. February 2008, I went to the office of the registrar, at the now newly built AMA Makati Campus building to finally get my TCG and diploma. I was told to come back, its not yet prepared. A contact number was given should I wish to follow up.A week before March 2008, I called to follow up, and Karen told me that I should I can get the docs I need. But when i got there, only my diploma was given, printed only at the time i got there, TCG is still not ready. Nawawala daw. Bumalik na lang ako ng Sabado, March 29.

But I was leaving for the province on the 27th and will need to stay for some time, So I said my uncle will get the documents for me. My uncle went there and came back empty handed. Uncle said Karen told him that  she will just hand-carry my TCG to our address, since that’s on her route going home. (how very convenient, but is that the school’s protocol?)

May 2008, and i had my sister follow up, since I was still in the province. Result is still in the negative.

Its now October, and when i followed-up via telephone, Karen passed me to a certain Jonas, who asked me, questions regarding my TCG (who would’nt give me his lastname, or direct contact number) He gave off an impression of efficiency and told me that I should go to their office, on a Saturday, Oct 11, look for him, so i could finally get my TCG. But having endured several times of going there and leaving empty handed, I called their office to make sure, that what i needed is indeed ready. To my dismay and several attempts of phone calls, nobody was answering the phone.

I admit that I should have gotten my TCG as soon as I graduated. My fault. But what the hell is wrong with the
‘high-tech, high standard’ policy that the resistrar’s staff is so very inneficient? Hindi ba nila masabi na my problema po, wag na muna kayo pumunta. I kept asking that Jonas, was there a problem, you couldnt give my my TCG, di ba dapat nala-store na ang record nun sa computer, wala daw. Kunin na sa sabado, e kahit telepono, di nila masagot. Ano, pupunta ako dun baka wala palang tao.

AMA management, ano ba naman yan, baka dapat bago kayo mag-expang ng mga campus at learning centers, i-train niyo muna ang staff niyo ng a basic courtesy at efficiency.

P30,000 kinurakot ni Sir Orly

This is one of the emails sent to us at mayarroyo@rocketmail.com… We are posting it here. We do not know if this is true but it is worth to read on.

Si Sir Orly ay inosente kung titingnan,

pero demonyo sa kaloob-looban.

Nanghingi at nanghihingi ng kaperahan

simula’t sapol pa man.

Sa halagang 100 pesos

hiningi niya sa mga estudyante

Ay kanyang ipinagbili

Kaluluwa niya at budhi.

Para daw sa NSTP

At sa pagrerenovate ng helipad

Estudyante ng NSTP humigit kumulang sa 200

Times 100 pesos, pagkalaki-laki.

Ngaun naman ay nanghingi

P30,000 pesos sa estudyante

Makapangyarihan nga naman daw

Department Head na si Sir Orly!

ILOVEYOU virus

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMA_Computer_University

In 1999, a student from AMA Computer College Makati named Onel de Guzman submitted a thesis proposal for the creation of a computer program that will hack into computer systems and extract vital information, particularly Internet Service accounts.^[5] The proposal was unanimously rejected by the College of Computer Studies academic board. De Guzman was scheduled to complete his studies in 2000 and an academic subject called “THESIS A” was one of his final requirements before graduation. After AMA’s graduation day on May 3, 2000, an email trojan called ILOVEYOU spread all throughout the globe and caused delays in several online transactions. The “ILOVEYOU” virus unleashed a flood of e-mail that hit at least 45 million users in at least 20 countries, according to one estimate. The virus started with “ILOVEYOU” in the subject line, but several variations appeared soon afterward, including one masquerading as an e-mail joke and another as a receipt for a Mother’s Day gift. The virus both replicates itself and steals the user names and passwords of unsuspecting victims. The e-mail replies from angry virus recipients to the creator passed through a U.S. e-mail address, “isp-adm@mail.com“, which then forwarded them to the two Access.Net (Philippine Internet Service Provider) e-mail accounts used by the virus creator – “spyder@super.net.ph” and “mailme@super.net.ph“.^[6]

The virus, according to Guinness World Records, was the most widespread computer virus of all time.^{[citation needed]} The virus was traced to an apartment room in downtown Manila. The tenant was Onel de Guzman. Guzman was invited by the Philippines’ National Bureau of Investigation for questioning. De Guzman, in an interview, admitted spreading the virus “by accident”.^[7]. In reaction to the news, AMA expelled de Guzman from AMA Makati and considered him as “drop-out” for life. The NBI charged De Guzman for violation of Republic Act 8484 or the Access Devices Regulation Act on 1998.^[8] But due to lack of sufficiency the Philippine Department of Justice dropped the charges as there was no clear laws regulating the World Wide Web. Due to this incident, June 14, 2000, Republic Act 8792 known as Philippine Electronic Commerce Act of 2000 was signed.

Political affiliations

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMA_Computer_University

Amable Aguiluz V was Joseph Estrada‘s political endorser in the 1998 Presidential elections.^[9] AMA was the first educational institution to award Joseph Estrada with a degree of Doctor of Humanities honoris causa.^{[citation needed]} Aguiluz used the AMA campuses in various political rallies and forced students to attend as part of their academic attendance record.^{[citation needed]} In 1998, Estrada appointed Aguiluz as Presidential adviser on Information and Communication Technology and on 1999 as chairman of the Presidential Commission on Year 2000 Compliance. Aguiluz brought officials of AMA into the commission and many business leaders criticised the commission from being an extension of AMA.^{[citation needed]} Aguiluz resigned from the Commission in November 1999 due to a controversial purchase of equipment by the commission from a subsidiary of the AMA Group of Companies.

In 2001, Aguiluz switched affiliations to Gloria Macapagal Arroyo because Estrada was jailed and Aguiluz was afraid to be handed the same fate.^{[citation needed]} Aguiluz’s father Amable Aguiluz Sr. was Diosdado Macapagal‘ s friend and Aguiluz Sr. served as Chairman and Auditor-general of the Commission on Audit in the 1960s.^[10] Arroyo was invited to AMA’s sponsored political rallies. In 1995, Arroyo attended a political rally in AMA when she ran for re-election as senator. Arroyo attended all graduation rites for AMA from 2002 to 2005. ^[11] Arroyo cited AMA for not participating in cause oriented and student activist groups. ^[12] Arroyo appointed Aguiluz as Presidential Adviser for the Middle East. ^[13]

Hello Garci Scandal

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMA_Computer_University

The 2005 Hello Garci scandal, also known as the 2004 Presidential election rigging controversy, is one of the controversies against the President Gloria Arroyo. AMA, using its income from the university, commissioned four related SWS national public opinion surveys dated October 22 and 27, 2005. ^[14] These questions are:
1) The Congress and Senate are just wasting money and time in their investigations regarding jueteng and the Garci tapes, 2) The opposition does not have a clear plan for the country. Its only objective is to bring down the current administration, 3) Often, news on television, on radio and in newspapers are purely negative and are no longer helping the country, 4) In spite of the accusations being hurled against Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, she still continues to implement good reforms.
Many militant groups and opposition politicians questioned the survey questions. The results of the survey are:

• On the first test statement, about half (54%) of Filipinos agree, while a fifth (22%) disagree, and another fifth (20%) are undecided. The net agreement is +32, indicating moderate agreement;
• On the second test statement, 37% of Filipinos agree, while 28% disagree, and 31% are undecided. The net agreement is +9, indicating a split opinion;
• On the third test statement, 41% of Filipinos agree, while 29% disagree, and 28% are undecided. The net agreement is +12, indicating a slight agreement.
• On the last test statement, 37% of Filipinos agree, 34% disagree, and 26% are undecided. The net agreement (% agree minus % disagree) is +3, indicating a split opinion.

Accreditation Issues

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMA_Computer_University

On November 12, 2004, 23 Philippine nursing schools were disqualified, including AMA Computer College, Makati. CHED chairman Rolando dela Rosa ordered these schools to close. The 23 schools were not granted permits (upon recommendation of Technical Committee for Nursing Education (TCNE) and regional offices) because they failed to comply with these requirements: a qualified dean, a compliant curriculum, a faculty staff with masteral degree in nursing, a base hospital where students can hold their actual training. A few weeks after, dela Rosa resigned after AMACC appealed the case to President Gloria Arroyo ^{[15] [16]}.

Many of the offered courses in most of the AMACC and ACLC small branches are not accredited.^{[17] [18]} There was this case of electronics and communications engineering students were not allowed to take the board exams because their course were not recognized by the Commission on Higher Education.

Dasmarinas school takeover

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMA_Computer_University

On June 2, 2003, close to 50 persons what were described by eyewitnesses as “goons” entered three of Immaculate Conception Academy (ICA)’s five campuses in Dasmariñas, Cavite. In affidavits submitted to the court, school officials said that despite their pleas, the men wantonly took computers, air-conditioning units, speech laboratory equipment, various appliances, vehicles, and a total of PhP 208,000.00 in tuition collected that day. The men did all these upon the orders of Judge Dolores Español of the regional trial court in the neighboring town of Imus. Before the year ended, the Supreme Court reprimanded the judge, for ordering the confiscation of school properties without properly notifying ICA and its chief executive officer, Dr. Paulo C. Campos. Español’s order was cancelled and nullified, and she was eventually stripped of the civil case involving ICA.

It stemmed from a case that the AMA filed to acquire the school. At the time, the school already had a total of around 4,000 grade school and high school students in five campuses in different parts of Dasmariñas. In a rapidly industrializing town where real estate is at a premium, each ICA campus reportedly measures no less than five hectares. Its biggest branch, occupying a 10-hectare area that’s visible from the highway, was also near a property that AMA was renting.

In 2000, ICA and AMA signed a contract for AMA to lease ICA for around PhP 800,000.00 a month for 10 years. In 2003, Campos received from AMA a total of around Php 4,000,000.00 representing the bond, deposits, advance rental, and various fees. Shortly after, Dr. Campos learned that AMA was suing him and ICA for allegedly breaching their contract. AMA claimed that it was deceived into signing the agreement when one of the buildings being rented out was defective—a fact that, Campos claims, he didn’t hide during the negotiations through an official notice from the municipal engineer. Campos said AMA suddenly “became aggressive and wanted to buy” ICA. He felt that his refusal to sell was what triggered the case filed by AMA.

In Civil Case No. 1662-98, AMA demanded that it be reimbursed for some PhP 4 million that it had paid to ICA as five months’ security deposit and three months’ advance rental. Thus, the court order to confiscate ICA’s properties. AMA reportedly filed the information with a fiscal in Quezon City and was dismissed. It was refiled with another Quezon City prosecutor and was dismissed again. It was then filed with the Philippine Department of Justice, where it was also dismissed. ^[19]

Land lease dispute

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMA_Computer_University

On April 16, 1991, AMA filed with the Regional Trial Court a complaint for suspension as an attorney against Atty. A. D. Valmonte, under Section 27[4] and Section 28,[5] Rule 138 of the Revised Rules of Court. The case was docketed as Civil Case No. 91-1038.

The complaint alleges that sometime in 1983, AMA and Emilio V. Tayao executed a contract of lease over the latter’s parcel of land. The parties agreed, among others, that the period of the lease shall be for six (6) years; that the land will be used by AMA as site for its school; and that it has an option to purchase the property.

When AMA was about to exercise its option to buy the land, Tayao commenced a scheme to frustrate the former’s plan by obtaining a loan from an absent party – the FELN International Corporation (FELN). To secure the loan, he executed three (3) simulated promissory notes amounting to PhP 4,500,000.00 in favor of FELN. The notes were without any consideration. Allegedly, Tayao defaulted in the payment of the loan. So, on July 13, 1989, FELN, through its alleged president Lai Chen Hsung, filed with the Regional Trial Court a fabricated complaint for collection of a sum of money against Tayao, docketed as Civil Case No. 89-4567. FELN’s counsel was respondent Atty. A. D. Valmonte.

On July 24, 1989, Tayao and FELN executed a Compromise Agreement whereby the former will pay the loan on or before July 31, 1989. This Compromise Agreement was approved by the trial court in its Compromise Judgment dated August 8, 1989. Subsequently, FELN filed with the trial court a motion for execution of its Compromise Judgment alleging that Tayao failed to comply with his obligation on time, specifically to pay his loan of PhP 50,000,000.00. The motion was granted. Eventually, the building occupied by petitioner was levied upon by the sheriff.

AMA then filed with the trial court a motion to lift the order of levy and execution but it was denied on the ground that the Compromise Judgment has become final and executory. This prompted AMA to file with the Regional Trial Court a complaint for suspension as attorney against Valmonte. AMA alleged therein that Valmonte committed fraudulent acts by filing a “mock action” for sum of money against Tayao based on fictitious promissory notes. Valmonte’s purpose was to deprive petitioner of its option to buy the subject property which, because of the levy on execution, disrupted the academic operation of its school with 3,000 students. In his answer to AMA’s complaint, Valmote alleged that there was no lawyer-client relationship between him and Tayao. The Compromise Judgment in Civil Case No. 89-4567 has long become final and executory and bars AMA from assailing the same.

On September 4, 1990, the trial court issued an order dismissing the complaint for non-suit and authorized Valmonte to adduce his evidence ex-parte. Petitioner filed a motion for reconsideration which was partly granted by the trial court by allowing counsel to cross-examine respondent. On May 17, 1996, the trial court rendered its decision in favor of Valmonte, ordering AMA to pay the latter PhP 300,000.00 as moral damages and PhP 50,000.00 as attorney’s fees. On appeal, the Court of Appeals, in its decision promulgated on April 20, 2001, affirmed the decision of the trial court. AMA filed a motion for reconsideration, but it was denied by the appellate court in its resolution dated September 6, 2001. AMA filed a petition for review on certiorari before the Supreme Court. The Supreme court denied AMA’s petition and the decision and resolution of the Court of Appeals were affirmed.