“The commencement exercise and her welcome speech then became not merely traditional school-officiated exercises but alternative avenues to speak for justice.”
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Bulatlat.com
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 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.
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.
Nothing could've been any more rude and immature than the gossip that they've made about Krisel Mallari #speakup
— Angeline (@Angeline_Medina) March 24, 2015
I had a clsm8 who has a similar situation with Kristel Mallari. But unlike her, my clsm8 won the battle. Her school is now closed
— MarkJason Baldelobar (@akOoSibalDe) March 24, 2015
On Krisel Mallari's speech incident:
Why did the school authorities stops Krisel's Speech? "Freedom of Speech"
— Nelson J. Obal, Jr (@AgentNels) March 23, 2015
More salute to Kristel/Krisel Mallari. We need more like her. ??
— SHAYLA JOY AQUINO (@sjdaquino) March 23, 2015
To you Kristel Mallari, I salute your bravery. I hope I did the same way a year ago. Let's just prove them wrong. ????
— frances camille borj (@fcamilleborja) March 23, 2015
I don't know the whole story behind Kristel Mallari and her school but bravura her speech. Delivering it in tagalog added more angst to it!
— Don Tomás (@DonTomasMapua) March 23, 2015
What they've done to Kristel Mallari is a violation of Article 3 Section 4. Kaya nga may freedom of speech eh! Shame on that school! Kainis!
— Dianne Dimaguila (@aaahhh_yaaan) March 23, 2015
We salute Krisel Mallari for her bravery. May this serves as a lesson and an inspiration for us to be just and right. pic.twitter.com/O514urZoWC
— Feelings (@textposts) March 23, 2015
I am a proud teacher but I support Krisel Mallari 's bravery. I knew those favoritism moves, I was once a student nd I hate that kind of act
— CARROTVICE (@jeerylle) March 23, 2015
That girl, Krisel Mallari, has shown what bravery is all about. She has a bright future ahead of her. No medals suit her strong character.
— Reymund Virtusio (@mondvirtusio) March 23, 2015
Here is the full text of Mallari’s unapproved speech:
“A pleasant morning to my fellow batchmates, to my teachers, guests, welcome to the 13th Commencement Exercises. Sa okasyong ito ay pinipili kong magsiwalat sa wika na aking kinagisnan, ang wikang Filipino o wikang Tagalog.
Taong 2004 ng una akong umapak sa silid-aralan ng eskwelahang ito, upang mag-aral. Ngayon, makalipas ang labing isang taon, ay narito ko sa inyong harapan upang ibahagi ang aking karanasan at magbigay-aral.
Sa bawat taon na lumipas ay puspusan ang pag-aaral na ginawa ko sa eskwela, naniwala ko sa patas na labanan. Sa pagtatapos ng school year na ito’y isang hakbang nalang ang layo ko sa finish line, ngunit sa pagdating ko rito’y naglaho ang pulang tali na sisimbolo sana sa aking tagumpay, naglaho nga ba o sadyang kinuha?
Maraming tao ang nagbulag-bulagan sa isang sistemang marumi at kaduda-duda. Ngunit di ko ito tinuluran, ipinaglaban ko ang sa tingin ko’y tama, nanindigan ako bilang isang Pilipino na palaban at may takot sa Diyos. Chismis, isang piyesta ng chismis ang inabot ko ng pinagmukha nila akong masama. Ganun talaga minsan, pag umayon ka sa kung alin ang tama, ikaw pa ang lumalabas na mali. Di na nga nila pinakinggan ang iyong hinaing, nakuha ka pa nilang laitin. Kung sinasabi niyong wala akong acceptance, marami ako niyan, pero pano kong tatanggapin ang isang bagay na di naaayon sa katotohanan. Para san pa ang aking dedikasyon sa pag-aaral at hustisya kung di ko naman ito ipaglalaban.
Sa kabila ng nangyari ay masaya padin ako, tulad nga ng laging sinasabi sa teleseryeng Dream Dad, “Maganda ang buhay”, kaya bakit ako mag-aaksaya ng oras sa kanila kung mas maraming mas kapaki-pakinabang na bagay ang pwede kong gawin. Ngayon ay may piling indibidwal akong gustong pasalamatan, ito yung mga tao na sumuporta sakin sa kabila ng eskandalo na idinulot ng ipaglaban ko kung ano ang sa tingin ko ay tama.
Una sa lahat, gusto kong pasalamatan ang Diyos, isa siyang ama, kapatid, kaibigan na naging sandigan ko sa lahat ng pagkakataon, sa hirap at ginhawa. Sa aking ama, dad salamat, salamat kasi ni minsan ay di mo kami sinukuan, salamat kasi naniwala ka sa kakayanan ko, salamat kasi ipinaglaban mo ko kahit pa sumama ang tingin sayo ng iba, salamat kasi ikaw si Ernesto Mallari, ang haligi ng tahanan na nakukuha paring magpatawa kahit alam ko na sa loob niya ay nahihirapan na siya. Sabi nga sa isang pelikula ni Robin Williams, “You are the world’s greatest dad”.
Sa aking ina, isang napakalaking thank you, siguro nga’y madalas akong makulitan sa’yo dahil sa madalas mong pangangaral, paulit-ulit nga siguro ang mga sinasabi mo, pero ma, yan ang tunay na dahilan kung bakit the best ka, dahil di ka tumitigil na pangaralan kami pag alam mong naliligaw kami ng landas. Talaga ngang totoo yung kataga na “Mother knows best”.
Sa pinakamaganda kong ate, Ate Kat, salamat kasi ikaw ang pinaka nakakaintindi sa mga hilig at pinagdadaanan ko bilang isang babae, ikaw ang aking selfie buddy, church buddy, at shopping buddy na pinagkakatiwalaan ko ng mga sikreto. Sa napakatalino kong kuya, Kuya Kerwin mainitin ang ulo mo, medyo mayabang ka nga siguro, at medyo tamad mag-aral; pero ang di alam ng marami, busilak ang puso mo, salamat kuya, sa pagturo sakin na manindigan pag alam kong ako ang nasa tama. Sa napaka-cute kong kapatid, salamat Kristine, ikaw na siguro ang pinakamatuturing kong tunay na BFF. Julia, Clang, Katrina, Faye, Dane, Nico at sa iba pa, napatunayan niyo sakin na tama ang katagang “quality over quantity”, siguro nga’y di kayo karamihan, pero alam ko na bawat isa sa inyo ay maaasahan at mapagkakatiwalaan ko, kaya salamat!
Sa mga teachers na napalapit na sa aking puso, Ma’am Factora, Mam Calanoga, Mam Amil, Mam Garcia, Mam Restor, Mam Castillo, Mam Acacio at Sir Francis, nagsilbi po kayong pangalawang magulang ko, salamat po. At siyempre pa, sa mga taong bumabatikos at nagbibigay ng negatibong komento sa akin, isang napakalaking thank you, kayo ang dahilan kaya’t mas pinagbubuti ko pa ang pag-aaral, tulad nga ng sinabi ng basketbolistang si Dwyane Wade, “My belief is stronger than your doubt.”
Panibagong kabanata ang aking haharapin, bilang isang accountancy student sa University of Santo Tomas. Panibagong hamon na nakangiti kong haharapin. At para sa ating lahat mga kapwa ko graduates, ito’y isang mahalagang kabanata kung saan natin gagawin ang pinakamahalagang mga desisyon sa ating buhay. Kaya naman good luck sa inyo, at good luck din para sa kinabukasan ng paaralang ito.
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!”
