A Concerned Mother's Open Letter to ADMU: "I have been 'Cancelled' so many times especially by your community.."

Photo credit to Nikko Buendia | Facebook

Sa sandaling inihayag ang resulta ng nagdaang halalan noong Mayo 9, bagama't hindi pa man opisyal, lumutang agad ang mga panawagan para sa mga 'academic walkouts' at suspensiyon ng mga klase.

Nanguna diumano sa panawagang ito ang University of the Philippines (UP) Office of the Student Regent kung saan kanilang ideneklara na "No classes under a Marcos presidency” at inutusan raw ang mga mag-aaral na magwalk-out.

Photo credit to UP Office of the Student Regent | Facebook

Di nagtagal, sumunod rin diumano ang mga student council at kolehiyo tulad ng Ateneo de Manila University, Far Eastern University, University of Santo Tomas, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, at Colegio de San Juan de Letran, bagama't hindi ipinahiwatig kung ang kanilang mga desisyon sa pagsuporta sa panawagan ng UP ay pinahintulutan ng mga opisyal ng paaralan.

Noong gabi ng halalan, ang mga organisasyon na karamihan ay binubuo ng mga kabataan ay nagkampo sa Liwasang Bonifacio sa Maynila, at diumano ay nagsagawa ng rally sa labas ng tanggapan ng Commission on Elections (Comelec) sa Intramuros.

Photo credit to Sanggunian ng mga Mag-aaral ng mga Paaralang Loyola ng Ateneo de Manila | Facebook

Samantala, kabaligtaran naman ang anunsyo ng Universidad de Manila (UdM), kung saan kanilang binalaan ang mga mag-aaral nito na ang pagsali sa mga naturang walkout ay maituturing na isang "grave offense".

Sa isang memorandum na kanilang inilabas sinabi diumano ni UdM President, Felma Carlos-Tria ang mga patakaran nito matapos makatanggap ng impormasyon tungkol sa mga grupong nag-iimbita sa kanilang mga estudyante na mag-walk out.


“Joining the call for walkout, if committed by a student, is a violation of the Student Manual, and such is defined as an act of participating in unauthorized off-campus extracurricular activities as an individual or as a group; classified as a Grave Offense and punishable by dismissal or expulsion pursuant to the Student Manual,” ayon diumano memorandum.

“Any student who will participate in any case in said walkout will be subjected to disciplinary actions in accordance with the Student Manual,” dagdag ni Carlos-Tria.

At tulad ng panawagang ito, nagpahayag rin ang ibang magulang ng kanilang saloobin at hindi pagsang-ayon sa 'academic walkouts'.

Isa rito ang isang concerned mother na si Nikko Buendia, nagpakilalang magulang ng isang homegrown Atenean mula prep at ngayon ay senior highschool sa Ateneo de Manila University.

Photo credit to Manila Bulletin 

Nag-post ng isang 'open letter' si Buendia para sa unibersidad noong nakaraang linggo upang ipahayag ang kanyang pagkabahala sa panawagan ng nasabing paaralan.

Sinabi niya na ang pagsuporta sa walkout ay nag-uudyok at nakakaimpluwensya sa mga kaisipan ng kabataan na maging bulag at labanan ang tinuturing nilang kaaway.

Photo credit to Nikko Buendia | Facebook

Mayroon rin daw siyang kapwa magulang na nagpapahayag ng kalungkutan at pag-aalala tungkol sa kung paano naiiba ang pag-uugali ng kanilang mga anak at natuto nang lumaban sa kanila.

“I have co-parents reaching out to me and expressing grief and concern about how their children are behaving differently and against them. One has even left home to be with her like-minded peers to heal the grief over the defeat of a candidate,” ani Buendia.

Ang post niyang ito ay trending ngayon online at umaani ng mahigit 20k reactions, 4.2k comments at 9.2k shares.

Narito ang kanyang viral Facebook post:

"AN OPEN LETTER TO THE Ateneo de Manila University …

My son is a Homegrown Atenean … from prep and currently a senior in your university. I have witnessed how you, through your curriculum, teachers, and school extra curriculars, actively inculcate in your students the values of truth, justice, and honor. As a Catholic institution, the paramount principles imbedded into young minds should be that of generosity, humility, and love … the very traits Christ taught through his actions.

I am an Ateneo parent who has been vocal about my beliefs and have been "cancelled" so many times especially by your community. But this election season has revealed an even more extreme persona that seems to have taken root in your students. I have coparents reaching out to me and expressing grief and concern how their children are behaving differently and against them. One has even left home to be with her likeminded peers to heal the grief over the defeat of your candidate … Mind you these are not only coming from Uniteam parents supporters but also from Pink parents supporters as well.

The very educational institution that has professed the values of faith, hope, and love, has represented the opposite. Instead of encouraging students to seek the truth wherever it may lead, you have imposed your own version of the "truth" on them. Instead of creating an atmosphere of love, you have stoked the flames of hatred towards a perceived "enemy". Instead of preaching kindness, you choose to inspire an intolerance for others' beliefs and choices. Instead of celebrating the joy of academic discovery, you have created a culture of holier-than-thou” mindset amongst your flock isolating those who sees differently. Instead of standing up for the weak and downtrodden, you have remained quiet as your "flock" turns on those with differing views.

Your partisan stance has encouraged young impressionable minds to blindly take up your "cause" against the "enemy". History has many instances that the youth are the easiest to be molded into a terrifying mob. And it is apparent what you … along with other Catholic institutions … are building. This road will not lead to heaven.

I am blessed that my children are mentally and emotionally strong, able to withstand their peers' online harassment , derision, and bullying … and come out with joyous resolve to stand by their own decisions. My concern lies with those children who are more vulnerable than them.

NIKKO BUENDIA
A Concerned Mother"

Source: Nikko Buendia | Facebook