Bullied student ‘chose true sense of dignity,’ parents say

Updated at 10:59 p.m., Dec. 25, 2018

MANILA, Philippines — The parents of the Ateneo de Manila University junior high school student who was seen being bullied in a viral video said their son should not be pitied because he showed strong moral foundation.

Days after the video of the bullying incident went viral on social media, the parents of the bullied student finally spoke up about the issue.

In a statement, the parents said their son “chose his true sense of dignity” when challenged by the bully.

The parents noted that the bully’s definition of dignity “was a far more degrading option.”

In the video, the bully, wearing the Ateneo junior high school uniform, is seen verbally and physically attacking a fellow student.

“Bugbog o dignidad? (Assault or dignity?)” the bully asks one student, prodding the victim to make a choice.

Degrading option

“Our son was asked by the bully to make a choice. From the bully’s own words, ‘Ano ang gusto mo, dignidad o bugbog?’ (What do you prefer, dignity or beating?). But in the bully’s definition, choosing dignidad was a far more degrading option, one that would subject our son to inhumane treatment and abuse,” the parents said.

In the video, the bully also says that if the victim chooses to lose his dignity, he would have to kiss the private part of the bully and his shoes.

Parents’ wish

“Thus, our son chose his true sense of dignity — choosing instead to be subjected to physical assault rather than surrender his self-respect. And that is what we are fighting for. Our dignity,” the parents said.

According to the parents, they wish the public to remember their son as someone who tried to fight back against the bully in a positive way.

The identity of the victim was not disclosed as the parents believed that he “does not deserve to be memorialized as the ‘bullied boy from Ateneo.’”

“We want you to see that he is not a loser and that he does not deserve to be pitied. Rather, he should be exalted for his sense of dignity and justice beyond his years,” the parents said.

The family encouraged other victims of bullying to stand up and keep their dignity.

“Let every bully know that there is justice, and that crimes against the innocent will not prosper. Let every bully know that there is a God who favors the humble and the weak,” the parents said.

“With this [we] say to all the children who had been bullied, and to all the parents whose child had been pushed against the wall, ‘Never give up!’ Let your voices be heard. Let us not give up the very essence of our being. Our dignity,” they added.

Ateneo on Monday kicked out the bully, reportedly an interschool taekwondo gold medalist, after a “thorough investigation.” /je /pdi

READ: Ateneo kicks out bully student after ‘thorough investigation’