Tell it to SunStar: Clearing out fallacies

LAST week, I contributed an opinion piece expressing my sentiments regarding an unfortunate ordeal two years ago.

Now, some readers have put me out of context. They completely misunderstood the point of that piece which was, frankly, very clear. IN NO WAY was I attempting to attack the school whatsoever. I was merely recalling my experiences, formulating a solution, and handing out some constructive criticism on what should have been done.

Let me be clear—and I have mentioned this in that same piece—that from preschool to eighth grade, there was no problem in the school. My time there was priceless. I enjoyed every activity, every song, every game, every moment. What marred my final two years there was my traumatic experiences with a few “misfits.” That experience DOES NOT REFLECT on the uniqueness and greatness of the school, nor does it define it.

Despite the experience, however, I also mentioned in that piece that certain “saints” got me back on track. Aside from those “saints,” there have been numerous teachers—old and new—who have been with me through those tough times. They’ve witnessed me triumph and struggle and have supported me regardless. They undoubtedly molded in me the values that make me the person I am today. These same teachers LOVE THE SCHOOL as much as I do and are striving their hardest to continue the legacy passed on by the school’s beloved foundress. They are also carrying on the values and customs that make the school stand out.

What strikes me the most is the brotherhood that the students have. I could see it in a number of the alumni I would encounter. Chances are, if you are either a current or former student there and you meet another one whom you have not known prior, the brotherhood that he/she will show you will seem as if you have been close for the longest time.

Apart from that, I also appreciate how the students uphold their patron saint’s motto, “Ora Et Labora.” I could see how they sufficiently balance prayer, academics, and extracurricular activities. This, again, is all thanks to these aforementioned teachers for making sure that their students understand the essence of keeping the motto. They, indeed, are likewise SAINTS in their own way.

The best quality of the school, to me, is it’s being a family-oriented institution. Their foundress was a pioneer of the “no homework on Friday” and “no exam on Monday” policy because this is exactly what she wanted. She wished for weekdays to be workdays at school and likewise weekends to be dedicated to bonding time with the family.

Teachers are even addressed as “tito” and “tita,” which symbolizes that each and every member of the community belongs to the family. When I address those aforementioned “hero” teachers by those titles, I feel that they are actually relatives and not just teachers alone. This has been a long-running tradition that, surely, everyone in the city knows.

The school even provides students with dedicated “manongs” and “manangs” who are there to comfort and uplift them. During a Tribute To Service program two years ago, I even referred to them as the school’s “unsung heroes.” Nothing would ever be the same without them.

That being said, I truly love the school and have the utmost respect for it. It is just a shame that it has to deal with these “misfits,” who, instead of addressing the problem, are making the VICTIM appear as the culprit, while protecting and glorifying the REAL culprits. I am just praying that the school will no longer have to deal with them because they are only dragging it down with them.

Quoting from the hit song “Man In The Mirror” by pop legend Michael Jackson, “If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make that change.” (Oscar Tan III, a senior high) school student

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