Celebrities speak up on Ateneo bullying incident

By: Krissy Aguilar - 5 years ago

MANILA, Philippines — As videos of a bullying incident in Ateneo Junior High School (AJHS) made rounds online, many celebrities have aired their opinions on the issue.

One of them was Grammy-nominated singer Lea Salonga who said in a Facebook post on Saturday: “Plenty of inflamed netizens have reacted, and lamented the seeming indifference of school officials due to the supposed well-connectedness of this boy’s parents.”

“I think we all agree that the school needs to take much swifter action with regards to this boy’s pattern of behavior (there are allegedly more victims, and more videos), as well as with this boy’s accomplices, and that the bully’s parents need to come down hard on their kid,” she said.

The singer also had a message for victims of bullying: “Don’t be defenseless anymore.”

Meanwhile, she advised parents that “it might be a good idea to enroll your child in a self-defense class (aside from TKD, there’s jiu jitsu and karate, as well as other forms of martial arts that might be fun as well as useful).”

The reason for this is to be “ahead of the game” when someone tries to mess with your son or daughter. However, she reminded to “never instigate, only defend.”

“No parent should ever have to feel the terror the victims’ parents must feel, sending their beloved into what that child considers a place of dread rather than a hallowed hall of learning,” Salonga added.

Television host Robi Domingo also spoke up on the bullying incident in a tweet Friday.

“I have seen the video regarding the bullying. I am not happy about it,” he said.

I have seen the video regarding the bullying. I am not happy about it. I was also a victim of that kind of incident before. Tell me, what should we do to these people who feel that they own the campus?

— Robi Domingo (@robertmarion) December 21, 2018

Domingo also admitted he was once a victim of bullying, saying, “I was also a victim of that kind of incident before. Tell me, what should we do to these people who feel that they own the campus?”

Singer Kyla, on the other hand, expressed how the reactions from a bully’s action is out of anyone’s control.

Your actions have consequences. If you bully someone, except a reaction from people. You can’t control and dictate that. That’s a lesson that needs to be learned in that circumstance..

— Melanie C. Alvarez (@Kylareal) December 21, 2018

“Your actions have consequences. If you bully someone, [expect] a reaction from people. You can’t control and dictate that. That’s a lesson that needs to be learned in that circumstance,” she wrote in a tweet on Friday.

She added: “It really broke my heart when i saw the videos. It’s sad. As a parent, you want to bring your kids to a school where you know they will be safe and away from any bullying.”

It really broke my heart when i saw the videos. It’s sad. As a parent, you want to bring your kids to a school where you know they will be safe and away from any bullying.

— Melanie C. Alvarez (@Kylareal) December 21, 2018

Meanwhile, singer and actress Tippy Dos Santos reminded how “bullying a bully won’t stop the cycle of hatred and violence.”

Bullying a bully won't stop the cycle of hatred and violence; people on social media have to stop being so mean and reckless. Not all negative and hateful thoughts have to be aired out for everyone to see. (doesn't mean you can't have bad thoughts, just doesn't have to be public)

— Tippy Dos Santos (@tippydossantos8) December 21, 2018

She reminded people on social media “to stop being so mean and reckless” in a tweet on Friday.

“Not all negative and hateful thoughts have to be aired out for everyone to see. (doesn’t mean you can’t have bad thoughts, just doesn’t have to be public),” she added.

The viral video showed a student of AJHS appearing to verbally and physically taunt another student inside the school’s premises.

The Ateneo administration has vowed to dismiss or expel the student if found guilty of grave misconduct. /je