After months of contentious debate, TomasinoWeb announced on Thursday that it is rebranding as an online dating platform, in a bid to compete with popular apps such as Bumble and Tinder.

Brin Isaac, TomasinoWeb’s president and executive editor, said in a statement that university-wide organizations are not just an avenue for the student’s newfound experiences and growth, but also one to find a potential partner.

“Online dating has become prevalent among young people today. We thought it would be on point if the organization were to rebrand as a dating site,” Isaac said.

According to Isaac, the decision came after more than 120 members signed a petition calling for the rebranding, since many of them regularly use dating sites and are desperately looking for a “significant other” to be with.

“I have received information that many of our members could not wait any longer to look for their ideal partner. This rebranding will definitely give them more opportunities that our rivals do not offer and I think that’s worth the investment,” she stated.

TomasinoWeb Executive Vice President and Managing Editor Jose Ballecer expressed his delight over the rebranding, saying it will only emphasize “commitment, honesty, and love”, which he believed was what the former digital media organization had always stood for.

“I believe it’s high time na for us to go into that direction kasi, you know, lumalaki na ang audience ng dating apps and we want to make the field more competitive. Aminin natin, ‘yan na ang pinagkaka-busyhan nating lahat these days,” Ballecer told reporters.

Officers of the organization voted on the rebranding two weeks ago after members released a manifesto urging them to act on the “long overdue” proposal.

On the other hand, Coleen Abiog, TomasinoWeb’s associate editor, said she strongly opposes the decision and described the move to extend the service as a dating site as another case of “testing the waters.”

“Despite knowing that many Thomasians are active users of online dating services, I’m not confident that this rebrand will gain the approval of the university administration,” Abiog told reporters in a text message.

“I know it feels great to be loved pero, ano ba naman ‘yan? Last time I checked, may tamang lugar ang pagharot,” she said.

Other officers of TomasinoWeb have declined to comment on the rebranding, saying they are “too busy” searching for their potential partner on those platforms.