How a Manila teacher got new TV (and irked DepEd)

The Department of Education (DepEd) regularly reminds public school teachers and officials of its “no-collection” policy, but now comes a teacher in Manila who received “donations” to her classroom courtesy of parents whose children were failing in her class.

Mary Anne Villanueva recently got a brand new “TV set with a sound system” to replace the old unit in her room at Juan Luna Elementary School in Sampaloc, according to eight mothers who complained to the Inquirer.

Earlier in the school year, the music and arts teacher also charged “fees” from students for her “photocopied lectures,” they said.

In the second week of March, they said, Villanueva gave failing grades to 44 Grade 5 pupils from different sections for not submitting projects on time. She then met with the students’ parents, seeing them in her room in three groups, to discuss the matter.

One mother, who was with the first group, recalled: “We went to her room because she wanted to see us. When we asked her what we could do about the grades, Villanueva walked around the room and said, ‘What else can you give me? I already have everything here.’”

“But she kept looking around until one of the parents saw her old TV—the old, bulky type—and said, ‘How about a new television set, ma’am?’ Villanueva said, ‘OK, I want a 43-inch (model).’ She even gave us the specifications.”

During the meeting with the second group, one of the parents from the first group was still in the room and explained that her batch had decided to give Villanueva a TV set “as a special project.” Sensing that a consensus was already reached in the first meeting, those in the second group no longer objected.

It was during the meeting with the third group that Villanueva “suggested the inclusion of a sound system,” the mother added.

According to the mothers, the parents from all three groups passed the hat around for the purchase of the TV, contributing P100 to P400 each. But the collected funds were enough only for a 32-inch model, plus a set of speakers.

They said Villanueva then made them write and sign a letter saying the TV was given to the school voluntarily. “We didn’t agree to that because she really asked for it,” a mother from the second group said. “But some parents signed the letter just to avoid further discussion.”

Villanueva, when reached by the Inquirer for comment, confirmed receiving a TV set for her room—but maintained that it was given by the parents “voluntarily and they insisted on giving it to me as a donation to the school.”

She stressed that the donation was not for her personal use. “I only have good intentions. These are all for the school and not for me.”

Asked about the photocopied lectures bought from her by the students, she also didn’t deny this but said “they insisted on photocopying” the materials.

As for the 44 failing students, Villanueva explained that they did not pass the fourth grading period but that she had “no intention” of giving them failing marks in the final computation of grades. “I just didn’t want to tell them that they would pass even if they weren’t able to submit their projects. I just wanted them to work hard for their grades.”

Aside from the TV, Villanueva also received a “foldable iron ladder” from another mother whose son got a failing grade in the second grading period. “She asked for the ladder so she could easily reach the cabinets,” the mother told the Inquirer.

Again, Villanueva maintained that the parents (not just one) “insisted” on buying her the ladder. “It was their idea, not mine.”

The Inquirer interviewed Villanueva in the presence of the school principal, Meriam Collantes. Until that moment, Collantes said, she was unaware that Villanueva had received a TV set and a ladder for her room courtesy of the parents.

“Ibalik mo ‘yan (Give them back),” Collantes told Villanueva. As the teacher tried to explain, the principal cut her off: “Hindi ka pa nadala (You never learn).”

The eight mothers agreed to talk to the Inquirer on the condition that they remain unnamed, fearing a backlash that can affect their children. They all come from low-income households in Sampaloc.

Told of their story, Education Secretary Armin Luistro encouraged the parents to file a formal complaint. “There is a no-collection policy. Teachers are not allowed to collect or solicit (donations) and definitely not for equipment, even if used for school purposes,” Luistro said.

It was not the first time for Villanueva to earn the ire of parents in the community. In 2014, a criminal complaint was filed against her by the parent of a boy whom she allegedly hit on many occasions, but it was later dismissed by the city prosecutor’s office. That same year, she faced an administrative complaint filed by parents whose children were dismissed from the school choir.