As parents, we send our children to school with trust—trust that they will be guided, protected, and taught with compassion and care. Sadly, a public high school in Cebu betrayed our trust.
It is the story of how my child, a Grade 7 student during the 2024–2025 school year at Barrio Luz National High School, became a repeated target of bullying—and how the system failed us.
Ignored Years of Bullying
The bullying started when my son was in Grade 5. One classmate, Daniel Pacaña, punched him in the face and stomach multiple times. My son came home crying, but I tried to stay calm. I told his Grade 6 teacher the following year that Daniel had already bullied my son the year before.
Her response shocked me. She said, “Maybe they were just playing or bumping into each other. That’s normal.” I raised the issue twice, but she gave me the same response each time—no intervention, no accountability.
We tried to move on, hoping things would improve.
But in Grade 7, they were classmates again—and the bullying resumed.
Our First Report to the School
Just a week into Grade 7, I visited the school and spoke with several classmates of my son, who said that Daniel had bullied him again. The adviser, Ruby Ann Rodrigo, witnessed the incident but took no action. When I spoke to her, she only mentioned that the student smoked in the restroom, showing no urgency or concern for the well-being of my child.
That same day, I reported the issue to the principal and emphasized that the bullying started in Grade 5. They assured me that they would contact the bullies’ parents and arrange a meeting where I could speak with them directly. I agreed and waited, but nothing happened. There was no follow-up, no parents’ meeting, and no meaningful resolution.
When schools repeatedly fail to act, the damage extends beyond the bullied child. Parents begin to lose confidence in the people and institutions responsible for keeping students safe. If you’d like to understand why this happens and its long-term effects on families, read our guide on Why Parents Lose Trust in Schools After Bullying Is Ignored.
More Bullying, Still No Action
A week later, it happened again. My son was crying. He had been hit again by another classmate. Upon returning to the school, I discovered that the teacher had observed the incident but took no steps to address it. I confronted her again. She offered nothing more than another vague and noncommittal response.
Enough. I turned to DepEd.
Turning to DepEd – and the School’s Backlash.
I emailed DepEd Region 7—Cebu and explained everything. The school did not schedule the promised meeting or provide a meaningful update until the Department of Education (DepEd) became involved. The school later called me in for a meeting with the principal and four teachers.
Instead of discussing solutions, they focused on questioning why I contacted DepEd. I stated that I had previously informed the teacher and the principal, yet the matter remained unaddressed. They directly replied that I should’ve waited longer.
Their final decision was to transfer my son to another section, saying there were “too many bullies” in the class and removing them would create an imbalance.
Why was my son—the victim—being forced to adjust again?
A New Section, More Problems
My son moved to a different class under the supervision of Maritess B. Revoltar, but the situation did not improve.
During the second week of January 2025, the teacher requested a meeting with me. In the middle of our conversation, she asked my son to read a book aloud to us. Afterward, she bluntly said, “He can read, but he doesn’t understand what he reads.” I was stunned and hurt, especially because she seemed to assume he didn’t know how to read at all, when in fact, he reads clearly and understands what he’s reading.
She is a teacher, someone who receives a monthly salary to educate and uplift students, and yet this is how she chooses to treat them. Instead of encouraging learning, she was quick to judge, even saying it directly to my face without empathy or concern. It made me question how such an attitude helps children grow or feel supported in the classroom.
She then listed all the projects my son allegedly failed to submit. I insisted he submit them, especially the soap carving project. I pointed it out on her table. She admitted it was his but said he had never told her the project belonged to him.
Despite my proof, they still failed my son.
I asked, “Did he fail the entire semester?” She answered yes, even before the second semester had begun.
The timing made me wonder whether reporting the issue to DepEd had affected how my son was treated. Whether intentional or not, it left us feeling that our concerns were not being handled fairly.
“We Can’t Control Bullying”
Hearing those words was deeply discouraging because parents expect schools to take reasonable steps to prevent violence and protect students.
That was the moment I fully understood what we were up against.
It wasn’t just a matter of one or two students. It was a systemic issue—a culture of indifference and shifting blame. As we spoke with other parents and community members, we realized that our experience was not an isolated incident. That made us question whether the issues we encountered reflected broader challenges within the school.
Lessons Every Parent Can Learn From This Experience
This experience taught our family that having anti-bullying policies is only the first step. What truly matters is how schools respond when those policies are put to the test. When reports are delayed, dismissed, or handled without meaningful action, the consequences extend far beyond a single incident.
While every school is different, our experience highlights why accountability is essential. Parents place enormous trust in teachers and school administrators to provide a safe environment where children can learn without fear. When that trust is broken, families can lose confidence in the very institutions responsible for protecting their children.
Our experience also raised concerns beyond bullying. When I asked about repeated teacher absences, I learned that my son’s adviser had been absent for an entire week, while other teachers were also frequently absent. Combined with how our concerns were handled, these experiences left us questioning whether students were receiving the consistent guidance, supervision, and support they deserved.
Republic Act No. 10627, also known as the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013, places a legal responsibility on schools to implement anti-bullying measures, investigate reported cases, maintain proper records, and respond promptly to incidents affecting students. These safeguards exist to protect students, but they are only effective when implemented consistently and fairly.
According to UNESCO, bullying can have lasting consequences on students’ academic achievement, school attendance, mental health, and overall well-being. These findings reinforce why schools must respond promptly and consistently whenever bullying is reported.
Every student deserves to feel safe, respected, and supported at school. If your child experiences bullying, document every incident, communicate your concerns in writing, and follow the proper reporting process. If the issue remains unresolved, do not hesitate to seek assistance from the appropriate education authorities. Speaking up may feel difficult, but remaining silent allows harmful behavior to continue.
This article reflects our family’s personal experience during the 2024–2025 school year. Every family’s situation is unique, and not all schools respond in the same way. By sharing our story, we hope to encourage greater awareness, accountability, and meaningful action so that no child has to endure the same experience.
To fellow parents: You are not alone. Your voice matters. Every child deserves to learn in an environment where they feel safe, respected, and protected. Speaking up may be difficult, but it is often the first step toward meaningful change.
- The Struggle Against Bullying in Philippine Schools
- 10 Biggest Problems in Philippine Education
- Barrio Luz National High School: Why Parents Are Concerned
