To the Theresians in bikini from a true-blue Theresian
By Raïssa Robles
So the universe seems to have crashed all around you.
The entire school knows who you all are and the whole world has been told of your folly (thanks to the foreign wires).
I’ve just heard that one of you is even contemplating suicide.
Don’t. Please let me tell you why.
When I first heard of what had happened to you, I immediately thought – poor parents. To have labored for years just to see their daughters graduate. And then to have that joy taken away, all because snapshots – of them casually holding beer and cigarette while clad in bikinis during a fun family outing in the sun – were unwittingly uploaded on the social networking site Facebook.
But I can also understand the good nuns of St. Theresa’s and how cleverly they bind all their students to a contract to behave a certain way.
Seeing these pictures of the girls wearing their baggy, shapeless STC uniforms brought back a flood of memories. The skirts always had to be worn below the knees – the lower, the better.
But I know that come school bell time, a number of girls would always roll up their skirts at the waist and turn them into mini skirts before sashaying outside the school gate into their waiting cars and waiting boys who seem to clutter the perimeter like pigeons on a wire.
I was amused when I read that the STC School Handbook now contains an explicit prohibition against “posing and uploading pictures on the Internet that entail ample body exposure.”
What does that mean exactly? Perhaps the nuns could be more explicit and say – no bikinis, no two-piece apparels with the navel exposed and the neckline plunging, no transparent or translucent blouse showing undergarments like Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City.
As for the other rules like no smoking, no drinking, and no “engaging in immoral, indecent, obscene or lewd acts,” those rules were always there.
For some girls, the rules against smoking and drinking are there for breaking. It’s part of growing up. I recall, some of my classmates sometimes smoked inside the chemistry lab with the only male teacher in the entire high school.
But they are none the worse for it today. In fact, some of them are leaders in their profession.
I take exception though, to the idea that wearing a bikini falls under “engaging in immoral, indecent, obscene or lewd acts.”
In that case, all the noontime TV shows would have to be banned by our society.
But I can very well understand why the school authorities defied the court and barred the students from taking part during the graduation. The issue had become public knowledge. The nuns did not want to risk the possibility of the girls being applauded or booed by the audience. It would have ruined the entire graduation and would have grossly undermined their authority to impose discipline on the entire studentry.
That said, the nuns underestimated the parents of the girls, that they would fight for their right and the right of their daughters to walk up the stage and receive their diplomas. By the way, is the penalty clear in the School Handbook that these kinds of transgressions are punishable with non-participation in the graduation?
As for the girls and her friends, they wrongly assumed that Facebook is private.
Nothing on Facebook is private even if your settings are private – meaning, only for your family and close friends. Pictures ALWAYS have a way of leaking out into the public domain.
And please remember, girls, never upload or write anything on the Internet that you would not want your future employer or boyfriend or husband to read. It is very difficult to erase anything that you have put out there on the Web.
Before I close, let me share with you a secret that the nuns haven’t told you. It has to do with why they have all these strict rules of behavior that seem to date back to the Middle Ages.
Looking back at my own 12 years in STC, I realize that the good nuns hammered at academics and required everything else to be sublimated to that.
And it’s a good thing. Before they came along, girls’ schools in the Philippines had merely emphasized catechism and rote learning. But the nuns of STC actually demanded that we learn to use the sexiest part of our body – our brain.
Keep your chin up, girls. One day, you will laugh about this and the pain will be gone.
Painful things have a way of turning out to be blessings, if you let them. One of my classmates in STC got pregnant and the nuns made her drop out of school. We spoke about her in hushed tones as we secretly followed her pregnancy and her giving birth to a daughter.
Years passed. We lost touch. But thanks to Facebook, we found her again and had a reunion. She proudly showed us pictures of her lovely daughter, now grown-up.
What I’m saying is, this is not something you would want to kill yourself for.
Life will be wonderful, you’ll see.
pinay710 says
BLESSED PALM SUNDAY TO ALL!! RAISSA AND FAMILY, OPM MEMBERS AND TO EVERYONE AROUND THE WORLD. THIS THE START OF EASTER!! LET US PRAY THAT WE MAY SEE THE TRUTH !! GOD BLESS US ALL!
kardozoo says
STC_cebu_girls
rochie says
nangiti ako dito pero hindi ko alam kung paano magre-react….
kardozoo says
i’m not sure if it is a form of sarcasm or something. if you do a specific search of IMAGES on Google for “STC cebu girls”, an array of images appears. this one caught my attention aside from the girls in bikini with faces edited. it said STC_teachers_in_bikini then declares ” o ano wala bang papalag?”
rochie says
@Kardozoo, looks like a genuine pic but maybe this is an illustration of what the last sentence in my comment at April 1, 2012 12:42pm says.
i am quite amused because my elem group (5 boys, inc my hubby, and 6 girls) will have a 3-day frolic in boracay in early may. as early as now, we are kidding each other as to what to wear on the beach- and we are already 60ish. i don’t want our picture to look like the one in your link because our children might raise a howl. baka pigilan na kami ng mga anak namin na bumarkada sa mga childhood friends namin. hehe!
kardozoo says
that would at least be worth a good laugh! just kidding…
i bet there are proper outfits for such an occasion. fashion designers are not necessarily forbidden from venturing into this area. neither is it considered taboo. in fact i saw one recently it was about Caribbean cruises. they featured outfits which i thought was pleasant despite the models’ being advanced in years. it’s just a matter of taste, i guess…admittedly. not everyone has that. and they definitely ain’t bikinis.
good luck on that one!
Rochie says
Thanks….
rochie says
this piece made me recall my first year of teaching at maryknoll ( now miriam). that was my baptism of fire. a third year class loudly BOOED me as i passed through their classroom because they had advance knowledge that i will be replacing their sociology teacher who opted to teach world history to fourth year students instead. i love both subjects, so to me then, it doesn’t matter where I will be assigned. i was shaken, like a singer who sang off key in a concert , but the difference was that i was not the one who was off key. it was the other teacher who chose another subject to teach. i was fine with any assignment, in fact, i even accepted Scouting and Health, so that i could work full time. it’s just a matter of preparation, i thought. anyway, i kept on coming to their class on the appointed hour, and in time, i felt accepted. but what struck me was that girls, the teen-age ones, the no-longer-a-child-not-yet-a-woman types, could be so bold in their actions. and that was the mid 70’s. what more now, when freedom was the key word of everyone.
if i were with the faculty of STC today, i would probably support the sisters. what 15-16 year old girl enrolled in a catholic school, in her right frame of mind and counseled by her elders, would publish her picture in a bikini on facebook where vultures come and go to look for their prey? in fact, even if a girl that age were from a public school, publishing her bikini-clad picture might invite more horrors than honor. it will be a lot different if the girl were a lot older. then, her only problem would be if she has the “K” to be in a bikini.
welscua says
I am a graduate of exclusive for boys school. My barkadas and I almost didn’t graduate due to fraternity, exam leak, boycott of parade-in-review and other misdemeanor. Our priests/layman and educators did their best to discipline and understand us. Eventually, they allowed us to graduate and even mentioned that those so-called high school crooks and craps will be the one coming back to their alma mater years from now. After more than 25 years, I am happy to see my old barkadas united in attending homecoming and very active in our alma mater’s sports and fund-raising activities. Where are the good guys?
rochie says
I notice this too. i also taught in a local catholic school here in my province for 13 years. the ones inviting me for reunions and other alumni activities are those who i considered “students with problems” back then. the good guys help, too, but the more active ones are the non-achievers, in terms of academics.
gelina says
I agree with this so as with the statements of WELSCUA….its always the trend that non achiever graduates of a school could give much time and service to their alma mater. It actually disappoints me…
Alizarin Viridia says
six E in grade school will also remember ERAP.
cecil says
I think under the DepEd rules, graduating students can not be expelled anymore.
elpidio meneses says
Much ado for nothing . School administrator should devote their time, effort and resources to improve the learning standard of their institution. In addition, they should earmark a portion their profits to the welfare of abandoned and unwanted children wandering in the city streets for their intrasigence to family planning contributed greatly to these children’s sufferings.
tricia says
As a former Theresian, I am proud to attest to the very good educational standards of STC. They also have a very good Social Orientation Program, allowing their students to look beyond the comforts of their homes and be kept abreast of the socio-economic and political situation in our country.
celised says
the r c church does not practice what it preaches. it is the biggest money making organization in the world. help the poor they say, but their school is just for the rich…
raissa says
also for middle class.
olive g. says
GOD ALONE IS ENOUGH
Let nothing upset you,
Let nothing startle you
ALL THINGS PASS;
God does not change,
Patience wins
all it seeks,
Whoever has God lacks nothing
GOD ALONE IS ENOUGH.
……St. Theresa of Avila, Spain
raissa says
That’s one of my favorites, actually.
Helped me through the darkest of times.
But I like it better in Spanish –
Nada te turbe;
nada te espante;
todo se pasa;
Dios no se muda,
la paciencia
todo lo alcanza.
Quien a Dios tiene,
nada le falta.
Solo Dios basta.
olive g. says
Hi Raissa,
n o s t a l g i a – – – – –
here’s the –
ST. THERESA’S COLLEGE SONG
I. Come Theresians and acclaim
St. Theresa’s glorious name,
Grateful hearts their tribute bear
Loving lips shall sing for her
For she stands, among the rest
As the greatest and the best.
Chorus:
Dearest home we stand for you,
Far or near our song rings true
(our song rings true)
And our theme fore’er shall be,
(shall be)
“St. Theresa, hail to thee” (2)
St. Theresa, St. Theresa
Hail, hail to thee.
II. Come let’s sing our sweetest song,
Sing it well and loud and long,
For the dear old college walls,
For the old familiar halls,
For our Alma Mater’s sake
Bright and glad our song we’ll make.
happy singing – – –
raissa says
Yabang natin, ano –
“For she stands, among the rest
As the greatest and the best.”
Peggy Vera says
Raissa,
I don’t know exactly when it happened, but the lyrics of the STC song were changed — particularly those two lines you quoted. However, when we had our Golden Jubilee (I’m STC-Cebu HS ’57), and we did our yearbook (I was fortunately in charge), we printed the STC song with the original lyrics with a footnote that acknowledge that there had been a change, but we were printing it as we had known it.
Actually, we claimed it is really true “she stand, among the rest, as the greatest and the best.” — notwithstanding this latest brouhaha on the Facebook posting and disallowance from the graduation march,
Rockangel915 says
This is a reminder to the school for their failures.
If the students failed to comply or to obey certain rules of the school…
it only means that hindi nila masyadong naituro or naipa-unawa sa mga bata ang kahalagahan ng pagsunod sa mga turo or teaching ng school.
This is a sign that they need to re-evaluate iyung work nila, saan sila nagkulang o nagkamali….bakit sumuway ang mga bata sa rules nila…hindi ba nila naipaliwanag ng maayos ang batas nila….bakit hindi nila na-instill sa mga bata ang pagiging conservative at mahinhin sa lahat ng oras…kahit nasa bahay na sila o nasaan pa man sila…
instead of imposing harsh punishment na hindi akma sa nagawang pagkakamali ng mga bata…
in fact i believe that these kids didn’t know what they did wrong kung hindi pinalaki ng school admin. they could have been more discreet in informing this kids of their mistake and they could be more considerate and forgive these kids and give them lesser punishment.
In fact, sa mga bawat pagkakamali, dapat warning muna ang ibinigay nila.. pag inulit, second warning or fine. third, capital punishment….
eh parang first offense pa lang ng mga bata, wala ng due process, nakapagdesisyon agad na hindi sila pwedeng um-attend ng graduation. tsk..tsk…
chona says
hindi kaya mas dapat sa magulang isisi ang ganyang bagay? the parents should instill to thier kids the importance of following the rules and regulations. dapat kasi huwag kunsintihin ng mga magulang ang pag uugali ng mga anak . discipline should come from home 1st and foremost. wla naman sigurong problema ang school nung mga bata na yun kahit maghubad pa sila sa beach as long as hindi lang nila pinaglantaran sa madlang people. kahit pa sabihin nila nakaprivate ang fb account nila. its next to impossible na hindi makikita ng ibang tao once nagpost ka dun.
Rockangel915 says
Agree, parents were partly to blame…
however, in my opinion, iyung mga ginawa ng bata ay personal, they were permitted by their parents and it’s their private life shared only to a few. very common among the kids today.
How the school managed to get a copy of their photos were questionable.
but still, since they obtained such personal and private info illegally without the consent of the parties involved, they must be considerate enough in giving punishment to these kids.
Ang kaso, nagbigay na agad sila ng mabigat na parusa, na-expose ang mga pictures ng bata na dapat ay private dahil sa sobrang pakikialam ng school na ito sa private life nila, mas lumaki ang gulo, mas nalagay sa kahihiyan ang mga bata. sasabihin na kaya hindi pinayagan um-attend ng graduation ay dahil sa baka mapahiya which i find it absurd since sila ang nag-expose sa mga ito sa kahihiyan.
they could have done this more discreet and slap them with a lesser punishment na hindi na kailangan ibandera sa madlang people.
parang ang dating, they want to publicly humiliate this kids para lang matuto…tsk.tsk…so unreasonable.
joaquin says
So unreasonable talaga. Pero bakit kapag madre and nabuntis or pare ang nakabuntis, sobrang tago ng catholic church. The catholic church is full of hypocrisy. Priests and nuns vow to live a life of obedience, poverty and chastity. On the contrary, they wallow in wanton luxury, lalo na yung mga may ari ng big private schools na ang tuition ay kaya lang ng mga hari at reyna. Chastity/ bwahahaha, tell that to the marines’ obedience-maybe yes, para hindi sila mapahiya sa mga ginagawa nila sa loob ng kumbento.
ciel says
Hindi naman talaga unreasonable eh. Ba’t ba kinokompara mo ito sa ibang issue? this is an independent issue.
Rockangel915 says
Unreasonable iyung punishment.
ilang years na pinaghirapan ng estudyante, doon nila binase ang parusa. they are catholics at higit sa lahat, mga nuns pa sila…
wal bang puwang iyung konting konsiderasyon or iyong pagpapatawad para sa kanila para i-crucify nila ang mga bata?
they never thought na their decision can take someone’s life?
ano kaya ang mararamdaman nila kung natuloy ang pagsu-suicide ng isa sa mga batang ito?
maghuhugas kamay sila gaya ni poncio pilato?
ciel says
paano naging “hypocrite” ang pagbibigay ng tamang disiplina sa mga taong naliligaw ng landas? | kapag ba nakakasala ang tao di na ba rerespetuhin ulit? priests/nuns are also humans who are also capable of sinning.
Joamortin says
Ok sana kung tamang disiplina. Pero tamang disiplina nga ba yung hindi sila isama sa graduation? Wala na bang ibang paraang ng pagdidisiplina?
Papayag na lang ba tayo na pag nagkamali ang mga anak natin eh ang parusa eh capital punishment agad. Maraming lumalabag sa mga school rules, yung iba kick-out pa ang parusa pero di pinapansin ng media o tao. The fact that this issue is popular is not because of the violation but because of the punishment. HS graduation rites is once in a life time, gugustuhin ko pang ma kick-out sa school kesa hindi isama sa graduation rites.
Winter says
We know the rules and we know the consequences of our actions. They are graduating high school students, not nursery kids.
Why is it the failure of the school when the girls broke the rules? What about the remaining population who obeyed?
The pictures were private, and it seemed that their parents were consenting. If one girl should start co-habitating with another man, with her parents’ consent,would that be okay? Should their personalities outside the school be any different from their personalities inside it? Wouldn’t that be hypocrisy? If academics is all that we learn from a school, we should all then just read the prescribed textbooks?
Rockangel915 says
@Winter…but they shouldn’t be judge that way.
it’s a private matter…it becomes public when the school intervened.
even if these girls break any rules, they should have been more considerate and forgiving dahil iyan ang itinuturo nila sa mga estudyante nila.
give them punishment equal to their mistake…
but don’t rob them of their right to march or attend their graduation…
i don’t argue kung sa paningin ng school ay may mali o may kasalanan ang mga bata…. pero mas concern ako sa degree ng ginawa ng school, sa penalty of punishment na ibinigay nila.
and this things could have been done in private or in discreet na hindi na kailangang sumingaw pa within and outside the school premises…
this issue should have been settled between the students, their parents and the school administration….bukod sa kanila dapat wala ng iba pang nakaalam…not even those studying in STC…
problem is, hindi kinontrol ng school ang situation.
they made it public. they exposed these kids in public humiliation….
mas naging obvious dahil na-ban ang mga student sa graduation.
it’s really sad that those people who always preach about forgiveness are the very persons who cast the first stone to this children.
i don’t know kung bakit hindi ninyo maintindihan…
i guess, kapag nagkakamali ang mga anak nila, pinapalo at ginugulpi ninyo…
nut for me, physically abusing them, subjecting them to humiliation, hindi ko ginawa sa anak ko iyan….at kahit kanino…dahil i know how to forgive.
Rockangel915 says
*or, not of
*not….typo error
Rochie says
Most likely the source of the pictures or info were some of their classmates and/or teachers themselves. I remember a third year girl in mid 70s who was expelled because her provocative picture appeared in an ad for a bar in quezon av. It was reported to the prefect of discipline by her classmates and an investigation was done. Apparently, the girl was a gro at night and an exclusive school coed by day. We were informed by the principal about the whole thing so that we may be guided accordingly. Nobody protested. Even the parents of the girl accepted the verdict. It was as simple as “you can work and study at the same time, but choose the kind of work you will engage in.”
All schools have a mission and a vision. In the case of STC, maybe the girls’ act did not fit very well with their “vision” of what their ideal student/graduate should be.
suzette says
Bit late my comment ,but still i have to say this, hindi po 1st time ang violation ng mga batang ito. guidance record can attest to this. hindi rin po totoo n walang due process pinatawag po ang mga magulang ng mga batang ito at nagkaroon po ng kasunduan ang dalawang panig. hindi po totoog ang sch ang nagkalat nito. Sisters instructed the whole sch community not to say anything regarding this in order to protect the student. But the parents is the one who give the story to media. you can check all the local newspaper here in cebu . And yung pong picture , na post po yan sa FB kumalat sa buong campus at halos lahat ng graduating student have seen it. even me i saw it . May ginawa nga po ang kampo ng mga studyante na yan na kung pinatulan lang ng mga graduating studyante at mga magulang e mas lalong malaking gulo. But because parents of graduating students and student s are smart enough not to entertain their motives so kaya sila lang din ang nagsuffer. Sana po huwag tayo masyadong mapang husga huwag po nating ibatay ang ating mga opinion sa kung ano lang nababasa natin . Sana po mas maging mapanuri at maingat tayo at maging patas tayo sa ating mga opinyon. Kung titignan po ninyo at babasahin ang student hand book dapat po sa na di sila makakgraduate for having a failing marks, but parents , student and school seat , talk and have an understanding and both parties agreed and signed the documents are being notarized. STC believes its over and closed . But days after the story is already in the media. Lots of article day after day but only parent and student version being published why , because STC protect the name of the student .Until now the name of student and their parents still unknown but how about the name of STC , please think. During the graduation rite majority of graduating student are preapred to protest if the 5 student will join the rites. Majority of batch 2011-2012 are behind the school decision because they believe on what STC stands for. We parents set rules and regulations, standard etc. in our own home. When our children not obey or do wrong we punish them because we believes it is the right things to do. It is the reason why school have their student hand book to guide the student. School cant just punish the student right away. They have to consult and follow their school handbook where in the parents and students agreed and signed every start of the school years. Not like us parents we just think , talk then punish them , sometimes parents don’t even think , and talk they just punish their children. Me too knew how to forgive but my children have to ask for it , they have to learn to accept their mistakes and face the consequence of their action . In that way i teach them how to become more careful and responsible. Remember children of today were different from us yesterday. Wearing bikini is not an issue here even a two years old can answer nothing wrong with that. But I ask you now, its okey na ang anak mong babae 16 years old eh magsuot ng damit na nakikita na under garments na pagala-gala sa mga public street. Okey lang ba sa yo na ang anak mong babae at the age of 16 eh nagpupunta na sa bar nakikipag inuman , naninigarilyo at nakasuot ng kung ano lang. If your answer is YES IT’S OKEY , like what one of those parent says. I respect you but hope you respect mine and my answer is NO……
Nenita M; Rafinan says
Hi Rozette,
Over ka nman, sino ba nman ang 16 years old pa lang nakikipag-inuman nasa magulang na iyon? Naninigarilyo bahala na nga ang mga
magulang na magsabi sa mga anak nila. Mas mabuti pa nga ang advice na lang sa mga kabataan, kasi lalong pinagbabawalan lalong gagawin iyan. Ang important let them aware an ganito, ganyan. Kasi as
a mother pagbawalan mo man iyan hindi nakikita gagawain din iyan.
Kaya better explained to them the consequences mas lalong maiintindihan nila. And so what ano naman kung magsuot ng bikini? Masama ba iyon? Noong ipinanganak tayo ala tayong saplot. Why make false about it? Noong unang panahon ano ba ang ginawa ng simbahan? Read your history? Ang church sa mayayaman lang iyan.
ciel says
could not agree more winter. tamang tama ka.
David says
I thought the issue was girls on a family outing, at the beach, wearing beach wear that seemed to be “fitting” and were severly reprimanded for it. If a frog had wings, would he bump his butt everytime he took a hop? Are all frogs praying for wings.. How did you get to cohabitating with another man from wearing beach wear? What about the frog.
David says
sorry, my reply was intended @ winter’s comment above
netty says
I would be really offended by this putting the blame on the parents, if I am the parent. The children are very precious to the parents and would not deliberately put them in harm’s way. Para na rin sinabi natin sa mga anak natin na huwag na silang huminga
Dazed_32 says
Ma’am Raissa stated in this article, to wit:
“The issue had become public knowledge. The nuns did not want to risk the possibility of the girls being applauded or booed by the audience. It would have ruined the entire graduation and would have grossly undermined their authority to impose discipline on the entire studentry.”
IMHO, I think a simple, but clear, opening reminder from the dear nuns for everyone to remain silent and to avoid unruly behavior during the graduation ceremony will be sufficient in preventing any unnecessary booing or applauding from the audience.
Anyway, if I was the parent of one of those girls, I would also be offended if somebody started putting the blame in me for my child’s present predicament. In the first place, if I, as a parent of one of those girls, do not give as much as a little drop of care for my child, then I would have not enrolled said child at the STC. Your parenting techniques may have worked wonders for you, but it doesn’t necessarily follows that it will work for others as well.
And I do pity those girls. Graduating from high school is a significant milestone in one’s life which is solemnized by participating in the graduation ceremonies. Yung pagkapahiyang inabot ng mga girls na yan at a very young age, I highly doubt that they will not be scarred for life.
Rockangel915 says
@Dazed, yeah you’re right….they will be scarred for life.
Thanks for th incompetence of the STC admin in handling this issue.
Mas lumala at lumaki ang issue dahil sa kapalpakan nila.
Kung natuto lang silang patawarin ang mga batang ito at bigyan ng konsiderasyon, baka wala tayong pinag-uusapan na ganito ngayon.
They could have subjected those kids to just pray the rosary the whole day or have them clean the whole church in their area….mas pinakinabangan pa nila…
kung iyung mga kriminal na pumapatay, kapag umamin sa pagkakasala, binibigyan ng mas mababang parusa, ito pa kaya na hindi naman krimen ang mga nagawa?
Rasec says
Raissa , nice title and reminder for growing ups, the key here is doing the right thing after screwed up, Im glad the the other girl did not commit suicide for it could be devastating to her family…For the CJ Im sure he made a terrible decision…
raissa says
I would just like to share with you guys a very cool thing that just happened.
My hubby right now is in Italy, on a road from Rome to Positano.
He just signaled me for some Facetime on my ipod. He’s using an Ipad.
He’s in a van which has wifi.
I could actually see the Italian countryside. And felt like I was in the van with them.
Later, when he gets to Positano, we will Facetime again and I will actually be able to see it.
Kulang na lang – beamer – to beam people from one place to the other.
Guy With A Blog says
I think science is hard at work at the beamer since Star Trek, and maybe even before Trekkies knew what to call themselves.
Facetime in moving van – coolness. Great that you and Alan are able to do that. :)
raissa says
I just saw Vesuvius.
sparrow says
Wow! Positano! Amalfi and Positano are the places I wanted to go back to. Lucky him enjoying Italy.
raissa says
YES.
J.A. says
Wearing bikini is NOT a SIN. Mga iha.. laugh it out. Here in abroad we even have a nude beach… we don’t care if they want to show it off, after all, it is only skin. The church might not like bikini …I call it HYPOCRITES! How can they judge you, they can’t even help themselves.
What is important now is your heart.. love your parents and study well. magtapos kayo sa pag aaral.. please.
My Two Cents Worth says
So true. “Wearing a bikini is NOT a SIN.” If you were in a nude beach then the RULE there is, you have to be nude i.e. naked. The wearing of garments is a NO-NO. Because the RULE is to be nude. However, in a CATHOLIC LEARNING INSTITUTION, the WRITTEN RULE is that you cannot be in a garment that “entail ample skin exposure.” That is the rule. If you can be naked in a nude beach, that means you have the intelligence to follow rules. It should be a no-brainer then to understand that the rules of one’s learning institution – to which one implicitly agrees with the moment one enrolls and attends classes – have to be followed. When a person agrees to follow a rule because it pleases him/her to follow it but will not follow rules that he/she deems is unpleasant … I call them HYPOCRITES! How can they judge others?
clementejak says
Venus and earth are two different planets, what is allowed in Venus may not be allowed here on earth.
cecil says
Not everything was reported in the newspapers. There shots of the girls in very compromising positions. It wasn’t just about the bikinis, they were also drinking and smoking. These girls are still under-aged.
Mike Lirio says
I’m a big fan Ms. Raissa! I showed to my 3 daughters this particular article!
raissa says
Thank you.
But pls tell your daughters to have fun and not mind their mistakes so much.
jaybeat67 says
“snapshots – of them casually holding beer and cigarette while clad in bikinis during a fun family outing in the sun – were unwittingly uploaded on the social networking site Facebook.”
– from his statement are the young girls only to blame? i suppose there were elders with them. I remember a classmate in HS who was slapped by the father for smoking…….
el bobo de camino says
Nice piece, Raissa, I’m sure you’ve just prevented one from sinning!
martial_law_baby says
I also came from a Catholic school and they are consistent for being inconsistent. My quesion on the STC issue is, if the penalty for their act was non participation to the graduation rites, what would have been the penalty for a 1st, or 2nd or 3rd year with the same offense? I would agree that the girls should have been reprimanded if they violated the school regulations. But denying them graduation rites, was that necessary given that they were asked pa daw to attend to a retreat? Isn’t it that the penalty for minors should have been formative instead of oppresive? Why deny them something that they have worked hard on, for at least 10 years. And look at other Catholic schools in our country. UST was able to break its own rules just to give TJ Corona his doctorate degree. Pinagtatanggol pa nila yung ginawa nila. And you can’t hear howls of protest from Ateneo when the classmate of TJ Corona themselves were already attesting to the fact that he was lying for claiming to receive academic honors in his elementary days. In both instances, TJ Corona is claiming something which is not righfully his. So where are your values now? Hypocrites.
clementejak says
C’mon Baby, definitely this will not be in the media if these kids are not graduating.
conventgraduate says
enjoyed this piece. brought great as well as not so great memories. especially liked your advice: bear the pain and move on, make something good happen out of this bad. schools have their rules albeit some rules are broken even by the school itself.. what to me is important is that there is no discrimination in applying the rules, that there is no special treatment if the student is a cj or the child of a big benefactor/donor. the UST rule being broken because it was a CJ is what makes it stink.
raissa says
thank you for reading.
Ella Tovara says
Ms. Raissa, Good Advice I hope the girls and all those will read your blog and put it in thier hearts and minds.
Mabuhay po kayo!
Marvien De Leon says
Mas matakot po tayo at mag-alala kapag nakita natin yung mga teenage girls na maligo sa pool or beach wearing PAJAMAS!
Broken Arrow says
MISTAKES OF YOUTH AND FINISHING AN INSPIRED LIFE
To the girls affected, it’s not how you start the game but how you end up in the finished line. Every great biography goes though that phase. Smoking and wearing a bikini for a teenager are signs of self expressions especially for someone going through the teenage phase. My wife went though that phase but she is the healthiest woman I know today. The best wife any man would ever have, the best mother for my daughter.
Any mistake and learning from it is meant to make us a better caring person the next moment. There is in the mistake a powerful transformative moment It gives to the “sinner” a perspective similar to what St. Paul suffered, from spiritual pain to spiritual gain. The mistake gives to the committer an understanding of how it is to be on the “dark side” and a compassionate attitude to someone similarly situated. It gives to the committer an ability to share the path of expressing the best life despite the mistake. It is when the committer decides to go beyond the mistake and embraced a new life, a new way of thinking this time motivated by the urgent need to be of service to someone and with courage to share your best talents with your mistake serving not as something to block you from expressing your best life but something that others may find a commonality with you.
It is our brokenness that bridges connections to the pain of others. It is in the shared pain that allows authenticity and integrity to effortlessly come out of our souls and be reflected in how we relate to another. It is in our integrity of knowing we cant be perfect but still aspire to live our best life that our talents are released to fulfill why we are here in the first place. In world history, the good Christ touched great lives in the mistake they committed and with surrender allowed the Holy Spirit to renew and empower them, St Teresa de Avila included.
You’re in good company my dear girls, from hereon, move on with the lessons and live your best life. See you in the finish line. Godbless.
timmi says
tama ka raisa, nothing is really private in facebook. the girls themselves did not keep their photos private. they shared them with their friends, and then, their friends shared them to their other friends, and then their other friends shared them to yet more of their friends, until (I’m presuming) it become almost like wild fire at school that circulated and did its rounds. naturally, admin has to step in and the rest is history.
Guy With A Blog says
This incident brought back memories. Laugh trip going in my head right now.
I was disheartened to hear that one of the girls wanted to commit suicide. It’s NOT worth it. Raissa said it best, you WILL laugh about this eventually. But you need to go through it and you need to realize why the nuns reacted the way they did. It IS. a Catholic school so I would expect no less “intrusion” into personal lives , that seems to be par for the course. (I will admit being shocked hearing some accounts here in the Comments that priests are actually “cool” to hang out with.)
On a related topic, it’s nice to know that STC has produced writers like Raissa and Jessica Zafra. :)
Maria A. says
Also, Patricia Evangelista of Rappler.
Jherskie says
much ado over kids na naka-bikini sa beach?? HYPOCRISY at it’s finest.
what do they expect? girls all covered up while having fun at the BEACH?
and no, there’s absolutely NO REASON why this should have been an issue in the first place. IT’S A BEACH FOR ******* SAKE!
anyone who says likewise is either left out or a hypocrite. end of the story.
also: toddlers and prepubescent girls also wear two piece bikinis, and you don’t have this kind of brouhaha.
eye says
Is this then the culmination of years in STC … humiliation for all the world to see … for the girls or the nuns?
and how about the defiance of the TRO? Is that the perfect example the “good nuns” want to teach their wards and the public …
Nenita M; Rafinan says
Hi Jherski,
You are correct, what is the problem of wearing bikinis or two piece here in France they have
beach, that you can go naked; What they are making false about it? We ae born NAKED.
What is the problem. CATHOLIC IS HYPOCRITE;
Nenita M; Rafinan says
I don’t really understand why they are making big false about wearing bikini that Nun she must adjust this time the new technology is how the world turns we don’t go
back 500 years! Really catholicism is hyprocrisy.
Nenita M; Rafinan says
Iyan na ang sabi ni Rockangel na ang akala ko ba ang diyos mapagpatawad iyan ba ang catholic schools sa ngayon. Iyan na ba ang ibig sabihin ng catholism.
Ang pagkakaintindi ko ng religion na iyan about Jesus ang panginoon ay mapapatawad, ay bakit ganoon ang mga madre na iyan they are such cruel, no consideration at all. Iyan ba ang mga aral na tinuturo ng mga catholic schools.
Batayan ba iyan ng pagiging catholic ng isang tao or gusto lang nilang gumawa
ng sariling batas.
desper says
There is no problem wearing bikinis!
Wear one and walk Ayala Ave. on a busy hour. Justify it with “we are born naked” when apprehended!
Aremem says
I symphatize with the kids but I agree with the School punishment. The punishment is a form of discipline and it should be implemented to make this kids better, the lower years and the next generation to follow. Parents should help the school, they should also be aware with their childrens conduct in and out of the school. Parents always enroll their kids in a fine school, a school they trust and believe because of academic, guidance and security. Parents should be the first one to know and should be aware about the school policy and restrictions, to constantly remind their kids. Even Hilary Clinton emphasize how difficult it is to take care of a child and it’s true…It Take’s a Village. Lucky for us Filipino’s we are surrounded by our loving relatives who taught us values and respect and ready to help in times of needs. Though sometimes I found their logic pre-historic, still they care and i listen. Knowing right or wrong is each individuals decision, and these graduating kids can easily influence and emulate the younger ones. The School Decision is correct, they know that letting go for this one will open the Pandora’s Box for other mischiefs. Generation, technology and fads always change but let us use it in a better way even following simple rules. Move on, become better and one day you’ll find out..It was a good early morning call that made you succeed and the Best!!
JCS says
I don’t agree that they will laugh at this one when they grow up, it can possibly a ghost for some and they will haunt them for the rest of their lives , being pregnant is different with somebody posting a picture it like comparing apples and oranges
JCS says
and beside you really cant tell if your unfortunate friend/classmate that she is indeed doing good and okabout it,
cmon para naman tayong bago ng bago minsan sinasabi natin maganda kahit na pangit exp natin para sabihin lang sa iba na OK tayo , pag nagkikita kita nga mga friends or classmate minsan payabangan ng narating
JCS says
I think the school administrator wont give up the white flag that is why they defy the TRO , I just hope they wont Jailed for doing that
Loud Too says
Oh its jail indeed. Its a direct violation of the LAW. No religious beliefs can shield you there
desper says
Have you seen the contents of the TRO? TRO is one thing and not able to enter the compound for the ceremony is another thing. That may not have been addressed in the TRO.
For the sake of argument:
Some of the audience booed the girls when their names were called to receive their diplomas.
In retaliation to spite the crowd, the last girl, instead of bowing to the audience, openned-up her toga and exposed her undies or wiggled her bottom.
Would it be acceptable?
eye says
No I haven’t seen the defied TRO … but I’m with you desper … I would be one of those girls who would do just that …
STILL can’t get over the finality of this punishment … so they failed in their conduct according to the STC standards but passed academically … that doesn’t say much about the wholesomeness of the whole STC curriculum …
desper says
For everyone’s information, the girls are allowed to graduate, they were ONLY not allowed to attend the grauation ceremony!
desper says
For everyone’s information, the girls are allowed to graduate, they were ONLY not allowed to attend the graduation ceremony!
Johnny Two III says
You have great imagination! You wish!
Ducky Paredes says
That’s the way the law should work. But, someone please ask the judge who issued the TRO why he did not send the nuns to jail. One of our problems with the Law in this country is that many times napapaki-usapan ang mga hukom. Then, paghindi sumunod ang TiniRO, wall naman pals slang magagawa!
Don’t blame the nuns. It just tired out that they’re smarter and have more balls than the judge!
kob says
I think some of the younger girls in stc were just about ready to follow the example given by the senior girls, maybe even do better. they’re impressionable at that age. children always wanted to have more friends, the more the better, be famous, be seen and have more hits in facebook. thankfully, the nuns put their feet down. I bet the nuns are extra careful. don bosco school for boys is not far from stc and some of the boys there are really good looking, rich and worth flirting. he, he.
Maria A. says
I came from an exclusive girls school and I and see both sides of the coin. I understand both the position of the school and the sentiments of the parents/teenagers. Not knowing the entire story, it is difficult to judge though.
I agree with your message and would like to add a few thoughts. Back in high school, there were girls with disciplinary problems – smoking, drinking, tattoos, pregnancy, drugs. There were many who wrote them off. However, many years later, I see now that they’ve done so well with their lives in spite the challenges. A tattooed friend became a spunky litigation lawyer. My friends who got pregnant early turned out to be devoted moms. Some of my friends who drank, smoked or did drugs told me that they’ve left all of that behind. They are now successful businesswomen. What you were in high school will not define who you will be. Don’t give in to the people who would like to label you. Instead, show them your true worth.
Girls, you still have your college graduation (and post-graduate, if you so wish) to look forward to. Work hard in college so you’ll have a memorable graduation ceremony to look forward to.
JustAnotherGuy says
Yeah because being a devoted mom is a GREAT career that will feed your children!
Maria A. says
Hi @justanotherguy,
To be sure, I’m not condoning the early pregnancies. I’m just saying they rose above the difficult situation they were in. They didn’t let the stigma dictate their lives for them.
It might interest you to know that one of the girls I was talking about not only became a devoted mom but went on to study in UP law and became a successful corporate finance lawyer. There was tremendous support from her parents of course, who helped her a lot financially and emotionally. She never failed to acknowledged that it was a mistake but she learned a lot from it. What I admired was her determination to prove wrong those who were quick to brush her off.
Maria A. says
Hi @justanotherguy,
I think the sarcasm is uncalled for. I’m just sharing my experience about my friends who were once in the shoes of these STC girls. To be sure, I’m not condoning the early pregnancies. I’m just saying there are people who rose above the difficult situations they were in. They didn’t let the stigma dictate their lives for them.
It might interest you to know that one of the girls I was talking about not only became a devoted mom but went on to study in UP law. She is now a successful corporate finance lawyer (I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s earning much more than you!). There was tremendous support from her parents of course, who helped her a lot financially and emotionally. She never failed to acknowledge that she made a mistake but she learned a lot from it. She said that her life would have been so much easier if she didn’t have a child to care for throughout college and law school but she did not shirk from the responsibility.
Like many things in life, you deal with the consequences of your actions. Her having a child to care for at an early age meant goodbye to parties, gimmicks, outings and all the tomfoolery we all went through in college. Instead, she worked doubly hard to excel and graduate on time. In law school, she was a working student. Her path was definitely more difficult than most of ours but one can’t help but admire her determination to prove wrong those who were quick to brush her off and her refusal to give up her dream, despite all odds.
araceli says
Being a devoted mom IS a great accomplishment.
Kabalyero01 says
simply lang ang gusto kong ipaabot sa inyo mga “hija” – naalala pa ba ninyo ang Panatang Makabayan:
“I love the Philippines. It is the land of my birth. It is the home of my people. It protects me and helps me to be strong, happy and useful.
In return, I will heed the counsel of my parents. I WILL OBEY THE RULES OF MY SCHOOL. I will perform the duties of a patriotic, law-abiding citizen.
I will serve my country unselfishly and faithfully. I will be a true Filipino, in thought, in word, in deed.”
whatever will be your station in life 10 years from now i wish you can still reach out of the true meaning of being a Filipino.
You have to move on now!!!
Guido says
Go, go, go, girls..Go naked even, and show those nuns what it sometimes takes to be a woman…
raissa says
Ah, the beholder speaks.
zeus a. salazar says
Ano ka, sinisuwerte?
Nenita M; Rafinan says
Hi Yes, go, go girls show to the world that u have nice body beauty is an ART di ba?
Bakit ninyo itatago ang beautiful na katawan ninyo. Show it ? kaya mali iyang mga madre na iyan. Dapat bigyan ng lesson.
nelson ongpauco says
yan ang napapala natin sa kapapanoond ng american movie at panggagaya sa mga kano wala tayong orighinality pati na ang mga game show dancer ay halos hubad na gaya ng mga dancer noon ng wowowie na kung sumayaw ay pakajotkajot pa pati na rin ang sayaw ni michael jackson na hawak hawaak ang kanyang alam nanatin na ginagaya ng mga pinoy ..pati ng rin ang batas at ugali ng mga tao sa america ….siguro pagnakakita sila ng mga naghihiraman ng asawa ay gagayahin din nila dahil karamihan ng artista ay kung sinosino ang mga asawa at kabit na ganagayan ng mga tao..papayagan kaya ng mga magulang ang nude resort .kung may magtatayo nito dahil dito sa america ay marami kang mapupuntahan kahit nude3 beach marami dito ….noong bago ako dito ay maynapuntahan ako at ang mga pilipino ay akala mo ay mga nakawalang aso .hindi marunong ng desenteng kilos …sapalagay kaya ninyo ay papagan ito ng gobyerno at mga magulang na katulad ng estudiaanteng nakabikini??????
Elena Lemi says
Had been in an exclusive girls school from kindergarten to high 1. Brought up by the nuns w/ very strict rules. In our time mas grabe. Then I went abroad to continue my studies but also with the nuns but a coed 1. This time it’s an American School kaya much more freedom but the strict rules are still there.
Now with this, my opinion is at present, everything is different but we still have to abide the rules of our alma mater whether we like it or not. Maybe the girls see nothing wrong but remember you are in an exclusive school who will strictly implement their rules.
Am very neutral about this. For the school, they will preserve their honor of implementing their rules. For the girls, they see that their freedom is being trampled on. My advice is just go on w/ your life because it’s still a long way from here.
To tell you frankly, I did not attend my graduation because I came back home on an ieergency. I was not able to go back for my graduation rite due to martial law. Just go on with life to the fullest for life is too short nowadays.
iceman says
just because they are nuns, they should follow the law. what they did in defying the TRO is unlawful. it sets a bad precedent to our justice system.
but more importantly, i think they should be jailed for causing such major damage on the psychological health of these young minds they were entrusted to mold.
Hannah says
interesting…
•It’s not true that the school banned the girls from attending the graduation rites simply because they posed in bikinis. The girls were not in a beach. They were inside a hotel room. The photographs were obscene and sexually provocative. STC said it could release the photos but chose not to because they want to protect the dignity of the five students. This matter was purely internal until the students filed a case in court.
•STC did not hack the facebook accounts of the girls, contrary to the insinuations of many news articles. Some STC students who didn’t like the photos reported the matter to the school admin. The school has always reminded the girls to uphold responsible use of social networking sites for their own protection and security. To ensure the students’ adherence to this, the student handbook prohibits “posing and uploading pictures on the internet that entail body exposure.” [In addition, some acquaintances saw the photos, which means these photos were not private.]
taken from http://attyatwork.com/academic-freedom-and-the-stc-bikini-girls/#more-2313
David says
Two wrongs do not make a right, if you consider wearing beach wear to the beach a wrong. Anyway girls, if in life, you have a TRO filed against you, remember it is ok to ignore that TRO just like the Nuns did. They are afterall the ones who “taught” you a lesson in values. NO, do not ignore laws, just joking, rise above that. Girls you have to consider the source. Your graduation rites were stolen from you, pure and simple, by a few over zealous members of a school administration. Others will try to spin it or sugar coat it, but still it hurt you. Your loss is miniscule however compared to theirs. Laugh about it as you rightfully should and move on. May I attach an article which I found a bit thought provoking in an effort to demonstrate how petty of an issue, wearing beach wear to the beach really is. All things are relative. You girls do not need to shield yourselves from any wrong doing. Not only what we are teaching students, on how “fitting” it is, or is NOT, to wear beach wear to the beach, but perhaps some priest may also take a lesson on rules far larger and more becoming than from an educational instution. It is called the institution of society. Look on the bright side, maybe the Nuns really were protecting you girls from other horrific and creepy elements in society.
http://www.pinoyexchange.com/forums/showthread.php?t=95098
.
kardozoo says
oh really, and how would you define ‘obscenity’ and ‘sexually provocative’?
i think those are highly relative things. there is no basis for this as a public statement. you cannot withhold the photos because they are the basis for sound decisions. one cannot form opinions by mere hearsay. it just makes you a ‘tool’.
what is provoking for the religious may not be necessarily so for the general public. if it aroused prurient desires in them then that is their problem.
the term provocative would also be in the same class. not all women are blessed with features that can really provoke. like they say, its either you are born with or without it. there’s nothing you can do about it.
desper says
If you are at STC, you have to follow what’s STC’s definition of “obscene” and “provocative”.
It is not the general public’s definition. If that is your norm, go to liberal-minded or money-minded schools who are open to accept them
Loud Too says
Do they also have a separate meaning for TRO?
Are they not under the same law that governs all?
Di porket di sila nagbabayad ng tax eh di na sila under ng constitutions of the Philippines?
Loud Too says
Talk about following the rules when they themselves broke a law? Ano ba tinuturo nila sa studyante nila, its ok to break the law because you are a catholic?
desper says
Have you seen the contents of the TRO?
Please don’t drag religion or affiliation into this mess because it is not whether one is catholic or not.
kardozoo says
indeed, ‘mrs. crumplebottom’ has her own set of values. its a reality one has to live with.
araceli says
To settle the question of whether or not the photos were obscene, maybe either the school or the girls should publish the photos once and for all.
kardozoo says
yea, can i friend you girls on FB?
Loud Too says
I think I need to think of a new school… outside of the catholic fanaticism that gripes of hypocrisy
archangel says
I never thought you studied in STC. Are you a cebuana Raissa?
raissa says
STC QC
Elena Lemi says
As I had said b4 am not siding the school or the students concern. I am also what you call a rebel in my time but we need to choose a path. Whether we be successful or not but it depends on each & everyone’s ability. Just go on w/ life. Mahaba pa yon no,
apat says
I really think this school needs to come into the 21st century, ok have rules for kids whilst they are in school once they are outside the gates it’s their lives.
How can the wearing of a bikini be so bad it’s a fact of life and if you look most kids of today look to America for fashion and the way of lifethat is lived in the STATES, they see themselves as an offshoot from there.
As for the nuns well we do not live in a century that castigates people for minor things that happen in life and unfortunately religion in this country is all to powerful I have listened to nuns castigate people because they did not marry in a catholic church or because they have lived together for years but never got married, and then they have the cheek to say that all persons should give 30% of their hard earned cash to the church or they will be damned in hell WHAT UTTER GARBAGE
desper says
@apat: Can you please confirm or clarify your statement re: “As for the nuns . . . they have the cheek to say that all persons should give 30% of their hard earned cash to the church or they will be damned in hell”?
Can you please be specific? This is the first time I’ve heard about this claim against the nuns or the Catholic Church!
wawa says
ano rin po ba masasabi nyu tungkol naman po sa isang catholic school na pinagbabawal ang paggamit ng cellphone saloob ng campus.Isa rin po itong catholic school.
Nenita M; Rafinan says
Hi! Wawa,
Mali naman iyan kung pati cell phone sa loob ipagbabawal. What i want to say is sa loob ng classroom closed okay, I agree! pero sa loob ng campus that’s wrong. invasion of privacy na
iyan; of course pag may class all cellphone must be closed, kasi kung mag-ring iyan makakadisturbed naman. pero kung wala na sa loob ng classroom okay na iyan, puwede na
itong open.
kardozoo says
marami sa mga students ay ‘absent-minded’ kaya nakakalimutan i-silent mode o i-off” ang cellphones. ito kadalasan ang kinaiinisan(pet-peeves) ng mga teachers habang nasa classroom. para walang gulo, pinagbabawal itong dalhin.
reasonable naman ang patakaran na yan kung nasa classroom pero hindi yata sa campus.
uzisero says
the issues are simple:
1. was there due process when the school decided to impose the sanction?
2. did the school take into account the possible reactions of the parents and how it would affect the outcome of this situation?
i am neither pro or against these girls.
Danniel says
For those who are still not in the know about the due process:
The students were made to explain the pcitures, in their own penmanship. After their explanations were deliberated upon by the school, their parents were shown their explanations, were informed of the school’s sanctions, and they (parents) agreed on the punishment. I think they signed a document as well.
raissa says
i would like to see the actual photos.
kardozoo says
confessions done without the presence of counsel are not valid admissions. they do not constitute as a valid waiver of rights. thats just what basic due process requires.
yes, i would like to see the photos and decide for myself.