HS salutatorian lauded amid school censorship

HS salutatorian lauded amid school censorship

Photo via Krisel’sFacebook Fanpage

By Anne Marxze D. Umil

MANILA –The National Union of Students in the Philippines (NUSP) commended high school salutatorian Krisel Mallari for siding “with justice, truth and accountability” and speaking out about the injustice in her school.

A video went viral showing Mallari being cut-off while delivering her speech during graduation rites at the Sto. Nino Parochial School (SNPS) in Quezon City.

The NUSP said that while the SNPS administration vilifies Mallari’s speech as unfit for the occasion and unapproved by the school, the group strongly believes that there is no venue more appropriate to voice out her plea for justice than her “welcome message.”

“The commencement exercise and her welcome speech then became not merely traditional school-officiated exercises but alternative avenues to speak for justice,” the group said in a statement.

KRISEL MALLARI with family after graduation.
Graduation picture via mb.com

In her speech, Mallari talked about the lack of justice in her school and how she was victimized by the school’s dirty politics in relation to honors and awards.

A copy of Mallari’s unapproved speech was also uploaded in the social media along with the video. In her speech she said in Filipino: “Many people choose to be blind to a dirty and dubious system. But I refuse to be one of them. I fought for what I think is right and I stood for it as a determined and God-fearing Filipino.”

At the end of her unapproved speech, Mallari said, “Let me finish this in style and say my last words in the vernacular language of the world. I am Krisel Mallari, a Filipino citizen who would rather choose to fail with honor, than win by cheating. Adios!”

Meanwhile, the NUSP said the injustices, lack of transparency and censorship had pushed Mallari to “deliver a heart-felt, genuine speech, even if this was ‘unapproved’ by school administrators. It would be an understatement to say that we should understand why she delivered the said speech, especially in the light of the school’s censorship.”

“This censorship is not alien to Filipino students. In fact, censorship is part of the school’s fascism and repressive ways to curtail students’ constitutional and democratic rights.”

“Checking students’ commencement speeches does not simply mean checking the syntax and grammar of speeches… school officials screen, not check, speeches to ensure that nothing against the school will be manifested by the students,” said the NUSP.

The group added that censorship has always been coupled with the violent use of authoritative power, such as what can be seen with the adviser, director and principal not only interrupting but ultimately hindering Mallari from continuing with her plea.

Netizens expressed support and commended Mallari’s bravery. Some said they had the same experience.

VIDEO of Krisel’s speech on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqUMWRbgv-o

Bulatlat.com