My Stupid Mouth: October 2007

Dear fellow Theresians,

I want to share with you what happened to my cousin Janthina Pamela "Janpi" Oliveros, daughter of my tita Osang Jopson - Oliveros (HS 77). Janpi is a 4th year student at STC. She has been consistently on top of her batch the past 3 years, and the top candidate for valedictorian until this case.

I am sharing this with everyone because I feel that she was not given due process by the high school administrators. As a former Theresian, I cannot just sit and not do anything about what they did to Janpi. The Theresian community including the alumni ought to know about this. Although she's not interested to go back to STC anymore, I feel we have to do something to stop this from happening again to another student of our dear alma matter.

Please take note that Janpi, #1 in the batch is class president, model student, dance prod director, etc. Alison Bayle her classmate is #6 in the batch. She is the daughter of Mrs. Teresa Bayle HS Principal. She is a goddaughter of Mrs. Sacdalan and a some of the 4th year HS teachers.. Who wouldn't think this happened because they are desperate for Alison to be valedictorian. OR ELSE WHY NOT GIVE JANPI HER DAY IN COURT?

Please read on, this is her account of the story.

I am Janthina Pamela Jopson Oliveros a 4th year student of STC. I have been accused by the high school administration of committing forgery. The whole process was very traumatic for me. I am writing this letter to present my side of the story in the hope that these things would not happen to any other student again.

It was last March 2007 after classes had ended that Mrs. Guinevere Sacdalan, the coordinator of PEHM and head of the Young People Management office, called us for a two-day planning session to prepare for our dance production. The director, costume designer, script writer, and music in-charge of each class were called. During that planning session we chose the music for our production, made the costumes designs, assigned the sectors to represent, and finalized the order of presentation for the Family Day. Everything was done except for the dance itself.

Last August, I asked my PE teacher Mrs. Josefina Yalong if I could borrow our costume designs because we, the directors for the dance production, were already asked to assign the character and costume for each person in the class. When I got the costumes during dismissal time, almost half of the class were still inside the classroom. They saw the costume designs for the first time and there were a lot of violent reactions: they said it was ugly, it was not appropriate, the skirts were too short, there should be no sleeves, they don't want to wear shorts, etc. They wanted almost all costume designs to be changed by our costume designer Dianne. I said to them that it couldn't be done anymore because Mrs. Sacdalan had already signed each costume design. Someone from the group shouted "Edi i-forge" other classmates suggested "I-scan nalang!" "I-photo copy!" I was in a hurry to go home that time because it was raining so I just said, "Cge bahala na kayo diyan" and
left the costume designs with my classmates because I was assured that Dianne would keep the costume designs since it was she who made those. Classes were suspended the next day, and we had a long weekend. Sunday night, I even texted Dianne so she wouldn't forget to bring the costume designs because I was already going to submit them to Mrs Sacdalan. The next day during homeroom period, our class adviser Mrs. Rhodora Formalejo gave us time to discuss about our dance production. So I got the designs from Dianne and went in front of the classroom to show it to the class. While showing the designs, I noticed that two costumes were already changed just as what my classmates suggested the previous week. I just continued showing them, and since not all of my classmates were there the previous week when I first got the costumes, a lot saw the costumes for the first time and there were violent reactions again. Alison Bayle, the daughter of our principal, and script writer of our
class, even wanted another costume to be changed but I said it couldn't be done anymore since a lot of the costumes were already changed. Someone from the class asked to see the designs so I gave them, and the designs were passed around the class. Some of my classmates, especially our choreographers, were already talking to Dianne asking her to change and alter the designs once more. Since Dianne was seated beside one of our choreographers, Isabelle, she was forced to adhere to the changes they wanted. During recess time, I saw Dianne inside the classroom busy doing something. A lot of my classmates were walking around the classroom, so I went to look at what Dianne was doing and I saw that she was busily cramming another costume. After she finished drawing the costume, she forged Mrs Sacdalan's signature, and smudged it with ink. I was just standing there watching her, and I said "Dianne, masyado ka na mahahalata nyan." It was so obvious since she even smudged the
forged signature. So I got the design and tried to rub it off but it was done with ink so there's nothing I could do about it. I was called by Mrs Sacdalan after recess, so I hurriedly got the costumes and placed it on her desk in her office. I didn't tell her that our costume designer changed and forged her signature since I didn't want Dianne to be the one punished because she was just forced by the class.

After lunch, Mrs Sacdalan already knew what Dianne had done, and Dianne was called for in the office. She was made to write an incident report, and she wrote a short report that says it was I, the director of the class, who forced her to change and forge the signature. I was also called to Mrs Sacdalan's office. While on the way to the office I asked Mrs. Yalong our PE teacher what the problem was. Mrs.Yalong showed me the drawings of the costumes which were changed and told me the signature was forged. Mrs. Yalong asked me what happened. I did not immediately tell them what happened because I was afraid. But when our guidance counsellor Miss Karen talked with me I told her what happened. I was then asked to tell everything to Mrs. Sacdalan. I couldn't remember all the details and all the events that had happened at once. The events were slowly coming back to me as I was trying to recall them when I was asked to tell the story for about three times that one
afternoon. I stayed in Mrs. Sacdalan's office for almost 5 hours.

Dianne and I were never called to the office again. After about two weeks, Mrs Sacdalan already gave me a letter for my parents. They were asked to come to STC and talk to Mrs Sacdalan. After two weeks they were called again, and after one week they were called for the last time.

Excerpts of the incident reports which Dianne and I wrote were read to them and they were shown the drawings of the costumes which were changed. They were told that an investigation was underway and that they would be called again.

During the second meeting with my parents, they were told that Dianne was consistent in blaming me and that the administration committee decided that Dianne and I were guilty of forgery. My parents asked whether there was an attempt to make Dianne and I issue our statements face to face in order to flesh out the truth regarding who really asked her to change the costumes. Mrs. Sacdalan said it was not part of their procedures. My parents replied that it was part of due process. My parents also questioned why there were no witnesses interviewed regarding what really happened and why the class was not called to a meeting to really get to the bottom of things. My parents said that majority, if not the whole, class knew most especially the class officers. They also questioned why I was charged with forgery when I did not actually forge any signature and why Dianne and me were meted the same degree of penalty. My parents also questioned the gravity of the penalty on
Dianne and me when it was not done to defraud or cheat the school; but we merely yielded to peer pressure. They asked why it was only the two of us being punished and not the whole class. They even suggested that the penalty should be appropriate to the infraction such as disqualifying the class from the dance production and relieving me of my role as director, and not to judge our whole conduct. My parents also said that my behaviour for the last ten years in STC should have been considered in meting out a penalty. Mrs. Sacdalan said that these would be considered and that they would be called to a meeting again. After a week, they were called to a meeting and were told that the decision was final. My parents felt that all the points they raised were not even considered. And my father threatened to bring the case to court.

The administrative committee of the high school department had made their decision to give me a failing grade in my conduct grade for forgery. That would mean I would lose all the awards and recognitions until I graduate. When I learned that Dianne blamed everything to me, I talked to her and told her that isn't it, it was not I who forced her to change the costumes and forge the signatures? I even have witnesses, classmates who can attest to that because they were there when it happened. Dianne affirmed that it was not my fault. But Mrs Sacdalan claimed to my parents that Dianne was consistent in her statements that it was I who made her change the costumes and forge the signature.

During the months of August and September after the incident happened and while the investigation was supposedly still underway, my PE teacher was already spreading false stories about me in the faculty room. Mrs. Yalong claimed that I admitted to doing everything and that she felt betrayed. Mrs Sacdalan would make indirect remarks about me during meetings with the directors, choreographers and costume designers such as " O baka mamaya may palitan na naman kayo diyan." I also learned that the admin even made a new rule that students with failing grades in conduct cannot compete in inter-school contests. And for the past year I was already trained and I already competed and won in several contests. My math teacher-trainer was disappointed by this new rule since he already had competitions in mind where he would let me join.
I cried a lot since the whole case began. I dreaded going to school, hearing the side remarks, the false stories and accusations being hurled against me by some of my teachers. After the final decision was made, our family talked about what happened. I cried and told them I do not want to go back to STC again. We discussed all the options and they allowed me not to go to school while they were exploring the options available and while they try to have an audience with the school directress and the provincial superior of ICM.

We learned that to strengthen their case against me and attribute a "motive" they twisted facts about what happened during our 4 th year retreat last July. They invented the story of how I was told to inspect the bags of my class and list down those who brought cell phones, which was not allowed during STC activities. They said that I listed the names of all my classmates who brought their phones but purposely left out my name. They claimed that this angered my classmates and to make up I relented to changing the costumes and forged the signatures for the dance production.
But this is not true. What really happened was our Religion teacher Mr. Valencia made a surprise inspection of some of our bags and temporarily confiscated the cell phones of some of my classmates. After the retreat our class adviser Mrs. Rhodora Formalejo called us one by one because she said she felt that there was something wrong or there was an issue with the class. She asked us who brought their cell phones during the retreat. I and my classmates who brought their phones admitted to it. Mrs. Formalejo replied, " O sige sa atin-atin na lang iyon tapos na naman."
I also learned from my classmates that Alison Bayle was spreading gossips and bad things about me to my classmates while I was absent. She was also telling my classmates that Mrs Maria Teresa Bayle our principal was able to talk with some alumni who, she claims, told her that my mother was telling the alumni that I was being forced out of STC.
We also learned that right after the last meeting between Mrs. Sacdalan and my parents, a faculty meeting was called. We learned that our principal and the admin painted a bad picture of me before my 4th year teachers and that because of this, most of my 4th year teachers are angry at me even though I didn't do anything to them. We also learned that Mrs Sacdalan asked my PE and Music teachers to lower my grades for the 2 nd quarter.
We still hear that the gossips and the bad mouthing about me inside the faculty room continue.
I am so devastated by what happened and what is still happening. I really dread going back to STC. For weeks after the incident happened, I would drag myself to school every morning. It's as if everything I worked hard for, for the past 10 years I've been studying in STC was all gone in a snap. I've never had any infraction since Prep, and with that one incident, my life in STC was crushed. I couldn't take it anymore. I have been absent for two weeks, and I didn't take the quarter exams. But my two-week break from school did not lighten my feelings. How can I go back to STC knowing that the principal, the head of the Young People Management office, and majority of my 4th year teachers are angry at me and are bad mouthing me inside the faculty room?
Nevertheless I am still grateful to STC. I have been a scholar during my last three years at high school for being the top of the batch. More importantly, I enjoyed my first nine years at STC and I learned a lot. It has taught me to be responsible, to be concerned about our less fortunate brothers and sisters, and to be God-fearing. It has helped shaped me into who I am today and it has given me the opportunity to develop as a person and as a leader. But what happened is very traumatic for me. I have talked with my classmates recently to clarify the false stories being told about me, to thank them for their support and cooperation, and to tell them that I have enjoyed my time with them. It broke my heart seeing them cry and I cherish the hugs I received from them. Now, I just want to move on and to leave these things behind me. - Janpi Oliveros

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I am not trying to ruin STC by coming out with this story. I just cannot afford to have STC's good name and reputation be ruined by some individuals with personal interests. And of course I feel the alumni ought to know about what happened.

Janpi is okay. She has taken college entrance exams in UP, Ateneo and DLSU. My tita has confirmed with DepED that to be eligible for college she just needs to pass the univ entrance and have a high school diploma. She is going to be home schooled til she gets a diploma.

Our family regret that Janpi will not graduate in STC. Too bad because she's supposedly my tita Osang's 1st daughter to graduate from STC HS and supposedly a valedictorian at that. Her elder sisters Celina Pia and Katrina Gianina went to STC grade school but graduated in Phil Science HS and QC Science HS respectively.

Why didn't they make those involved come face to face to settle the issue? It was really just a simple case which they used to bring Janpi down.

What would you do if you were in our shoes?

-Joyette Jopson HS96

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Results are out!

Monday, October 29, 2007

Ray of Light

Sunday, October 21, 2007

STC (Stop The Crap)

Sunday, October 14, 2007

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