[PRE-SCRIPT: About the main topic of this post, I do not aim to throw stones about the matters that I am going to say. It’s not criticism, either. Kung may matamaan man, pasensya po. This is just my opinion. If you want to comment, it’s okay.]
You never know when love comes. You never know when the authorities attack.
Ryan, Elsa, Nardo, and Ces [not their real names] are very close, mutual friends. Ryan is a handsome guy and Elsa is a silent yet intellectual gal. Nardo is a computer geek and Ces is a graceful artist. They are very sweet outside the school. They have nice moments together. They listen to beautiful music together. They enjoy together. The fact that they are together make them enjoy together. All of these were quite private before.
Until they started being sweet inside the school.
Ryan and Elsa were usually on the corner of our room, settling there. Since Nardo and Ces are assigned to seat beside each other, they stay on their seats. Right in those places, they do their usual thing. Since January, it seems that their connections become better and healthier and tighter. They became quite sweeter.
The officials and some faculty members of the school have nose for these kinds of things. When it comes to these kinds of friendships, they are meticulous. When they know that there are two people who build connections among themselves, the people involved would go to the authorities [not the police, that’s for sure; I think you know what I mean] and try to explain what happened. Then, life would go back to normal. Like a stage play or any other performance, it must go on.
Sometime in February, a few teachers were starting to notice that Ryan and Elsa were getting closer. Thus, they were called at the office of one of the top officials of the school to discuss this matter. What both sides said? I have no idea.
The same fate also happened to Nardo and Ces, but when that happened to them, Ryan and Elsa were also called. Someone informed the authorities that they stayed in a classroom, doors closed. Since they are very meticulous about this stuff, they went again. This event made Ces quite depressed. Of course, who would not feel comfortable if someone confronts you about it?
One of my classmates raised this argument: it was not stated in the commitment that we signed when we entered in our school that students cannot have mutual or very close friends. Yes, from a debater’s point of view, it’s valid, and it is justifiable. That thing is not stated indeed in the commitment. If it was stated, of course, everyone would follow it.
Here is the bottomline about the case of Ryan, Elsa, Nardo, and Ces. Teenage stage of life is a crucial [and dangerous] one. Friendships and relationships flourish in this stage, and these are private matters. As much as possible, no third party must interfere about it. No one expects a teacher or a high official of the school to try to invade such stuff. Parents may talk about it with their children; however, if this is the case, I don’t know what is. I understand that these four students are in a part of life that they may enjoy or regret. I understand the things about their connections with each other.
High school love my one high school love; Not infatuation or crush; Tunay ‘to s’ya ang buhay ko; Di n’yo lang alam ako’y nagba-blush.
-Sharon Cuneta, ‘High School Life’
The teachers and authorities, however, have a valid point as well. We know teachers as people who have “been there, done that”. They have lots of experience about life, while we are still starting the journey. They guide us to have a better and brighter future. They can tell us that it’s not advisable to have mutual friendships at an early age. They can tell us that we still have much time. They say that we shall put our priorities. We should prioritize studies, they say.
“Donde tu vas, ya yo fui, me sente, me tome una soda, y regrese” (translation: “Where you’re going I already went, sat down, had a soda and returned”).
-Judge Marilyn Milian, The People’s Court
Both sides have valid points. The four students think that no one should interfere with their friendship. The teachers say it’s not the proper time. However, the students are not purely right. The teachers and authorities are not purely right either. The truth, the right is at the middle.
The way to solve this, I don’t know. Consult Charo Santos or file a case on Judge Milian’s court.
*****
On The Other Side: In our school gate, there are two politically-related streamers. At the left side of the gate, you’ll see a congratulatory streamer from a set of politicians. On the other side, you’ll see a story of a known political figure in the province about a candidate. [sigh] Election fever.
I have nothing against these posters. It’s just that the election fever is spreading everywhere, it even reached our school! School gate, to say the least.
Guien's Panorama 