August 21, 2013 President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III The President, Malacanang, Manila Dear Mr. President: We are the concerned parents of students enrolled in Holy Angel University, a 7-hectare Catholic university in Angeles City with over 17,000 students who are affected by an on-going labor strike of teachers and employees. The strike broke out last week, starting August 15, 2013. Holy Angel University is announcing regular classes despite the on-going strike of teachers. Our children are worried about their academic status in the University. Some of our children are scholars. There were so many information of getting failure due to absences, suspension or even expulsion of our children. We tried to look at the picket tent of the teachers infront of the school and saw that they are determined to proceed with it to voice out their issues on CBA deadlock which they emphasize on 70% incremental proceeds requiring transparency of recomputation. Our children who are scholars are being asked to sign waiver for their scholarships if they will not attend their classes despite the NOT normal situations in the campus. How can our children attend their school if the campus is covered by picket lines? How can our children attend their school if they see their teachers outside the campus on labor strike? We were also told that most of their classmates are no longer attending classes as a show of sympathy to their teachers. That is why it is discouraging to see the campus with mostly empty classrooms. The school told us they are hiring part time substitute teachers who are temporarily replacing teachers on labor strike. But the numbers of parttimers cannot possibly fill in classes of almost 17,000 students. Also, we heard that these substitute to strikers do not have the expertise as told by our children who tried to attend classes. Our children were made to do several classroom assignments and film showing without actual discussions. We are paying for learning not time wasting activities, mostly film showing and assignments. So they end up walking out of their classes and not wanting to attend anymore. The streets surrounding the campus are filled not only with employees and teachers on strike but with students who are showing support to their teachers. We heard that there were also some initiatives that the Church did about it through the help of our good bishop Pablo David and Cardinal Antonio Tagle. But it all did not work out. The school said they cannot give their employees documents for recomputation. The teachers continue with labor strike. There were several times that it almost look like an EDSA rally on the streets from pictures we saw on facebook. As concerned parents of over 17,000 students, we are asking who can help us resolve these problems that had affected so many of us parents, even business establishments surrounding the schools whose clients are mostly students are probably feeling the economic effect of it. Jeepney drivers and tricycles are now mostly empty because majority of their commuters are students. Some of the parents of almost 17,000 students are already planning to transfer their children to another school if this will not be resolved soon. What will happen to our children who are currently scholars who have no choice but to stay in this situation because we cannot afford the tuition in another school? We still cannot see the end of it soon. We ask our National Government: Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, and Department of Labor and Employment to end it the soonest possible time. Our children are the ultimate victim of this situation. Our dear President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, you are our only hope. Sincerely, Concerned Parents of Holy Angel University Angeles City, Pampanga
Posted on: Wed, 21 Aug 2013 00:37:07 +0000
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