Parents should lead the way

I agree with the position taken by  Joan Largo, lawyer  of St. Theresa’s College that parents are “indispensable partners of the school in carrying out its vision” and that the school and parents have the same goal of  forming the child to become “whole, mature, happy and to live  responsibly in society.”

Largo further asserts that this is a covenant that the school and the family agree upon.

To emphasize her point,  Largo cited a recent Supreme Court decision in  Libi vs. Intermediate Appellate Court Sept. 18, 1992 where the High Court  highlighted  parental  responsibility and held that parents are and should be held primarily liable for criminal offenses committed by their minor children who are under their legal authority or control.

Largo cites the anti-Child Abuse Law, Republic Act 7610 in relation to Art. 59 of Presidential Decree  603  which says that parents who cause or encourage their children “to lead immoral or dissolute lives” are criminally liable for child abuse.

I spent my early school years up to grade 2 in St. Theresa’s College and witnessed how the nuns running the school  instilled discipline among the students. As a Theresian, I am shocked  by the offenses committed by the young high school students as narrated to me by Atty. Largo.

The initial media reports about the students being  seen in bikinis in a beach outing did not completely describe  the offense committed by the students.

From Largo, I learned that the students were also photographed in a bar drinking liquor, smoking and in a provocative position. One girl was  showing off her bra. That is why I was in a quandary at the first report that STC barred the students from participating in the high school  commencement exercise because of  Facebook pictures showing one in a bikini at a beach party.

I thought  there must have been  more to it  than a  bikini.   School authorities had called the attention of these girls before.

Well, it is hoped that the controversy would be resolved to the satisfaction of  the students, parents, school and alumnae. As a Theresian, I  hope and pray that the matter is resolved amicably.

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The  threatened demolition of houses  of settlers in sitio San Miguel, barangay Apas should be everybody’s concern.

The latest effort by the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) in asking the Office of the Solicitor General to intervene didn’t gain ground  as the judge just took note of a lawyer’s manifestation about the OSG move  without granting its motion to postpone the demolition.

In the interest and welfare of Apas settlers, it would be best for  government officials to consolidate their  efforts in helping the residents.

Individual efforts will just confuse the judge and the occupants. Matters could have been  simplified if parties seeking to help the Apas occupants who are about to be evicted from the land got their act together, especially the two rival political camps  –  BO-PK and the mayor’s office.

It’s about time they set aside  partisan politics in the Apas situation.  No one has the right to criticize the efforts taken by one group over the other because  both  camps are sincere about helping to resolve the problem.

They should unite on this issue and continue their political battle in another arena.

I also hope that whatever the court decides in the end, the  occupants will find it in their hearts the humility to transfer and occupy a relocation site especially if ownership of the property is settled with finality.

I encourage them to exhaust all efforts to stop or postpone the  demolition.  And let us refrain from resorting to violence just to stop  this.

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The result of the Filipino Intelligence Test showed a lower passing percentage for public school students in Cebu City.

However, it’s  wrong to blame solely the students or   factors like extra-curricular activities of Sinulog parade rehearsals.

Part of the blame should go to  the quality of high school teachers. I think the Cebu City  government should come up with a program to retool teachers in view of the  K+12 program of the Aquino administration which starts in earnest in June.