Our Pamantasan Mahal hymn serves to reach our “star”
Toronto-Canada
December 4, 2021
One cold morning here in Toronto, I found myself humming our alma mater hymn-- Pamantasan Mahal--right inside my little room. Then, I was singing it afterward, with its lyrics silently touching my well-being.
In the next few months, I’ll be turning 72, and at this old age, since graduating from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila in 1971, I have not forgotten a single word of its lyrics.
Singing this song brings back nostalgic memories; my batchmates would sing this school hymn on special occasions.
The birth of this Pamantasan Mahal can be likened to the birth of a poor newly-wed couple, in the sense that they virtually had nothing at all when they first delivered their first baby—the PLM itself.
When the PLM first opened its door to the 586 first batch of Manila's poor but deserving students in 1967, the school itself lacked so many things.
At that time, all we had was the old Manila High School building; there were not enough facilities, an almost empty library, delayed salaries of the professors and school staff.
And the uncertainty or the big question of whether the school could still operate in the next semester because of not having enough funding from the city government of Manila.
To dramatize the dire need for the school’s financial support, we had to stage rallies before the City Hall to prod the councillors to secure the PLM's funding.
In short, we started our schooling at PLM even without the alma mater hymn.
I remember it was only a few months after the PLM’s opening in 1967 when we, for the first time, learned and sang the Pamantasan Mahal.
Former Manila Mayor Antonio J. Villegas wrote the lyrics of that song, and then he presented it to the school’s board of regents in 1968. Prof. Felipe de Leon composed the music.
The singing of the Pamantasan Mahal brings the feeling of oneness, a sense of belonging, pride and loyalty to our alma mater.
After we have graduated from the PLM, our hymn still serves as our guide in reaching for our "stars," trying the reach the heights of our careers, standing proud and tall that we are the alumni of that prestigious university.
And even though we have come from low-income families, we've survived life's adversities thru the help of our beloved alma mater: The PLM.
When we reflect on the lyrics of the Pamantasan Mahal, we can genuinely say that we've internalized the very essence of the song's wordings—we will offer our love and respect to our alma mater. We’ll use our wisdom and talent to take us all to prosperity. And as her seeds, we have made a solemn vow that we will fulfil her dreams for us to be dignified men and women, beaming with greatness.
At this time and age, with the kinds of technology in our midst-- Facebook, Facetime, Zoom--let’s set a time and date and join hands together, all of us, PLM alumni, spread worldwide, and sing Our Beloved "Pamantasan Mahal."