Kapuso actress Yasmien Kurdi has temporarily turned to homeschooling her daughter, Ayesha Soldevilla, following allegations of bullying at her previous school.
The issue first came to light in December 2024, when Yasmien shared on social media that Ayesha had been targeted by her classmates.
According to the actress, the situation began when Ayesha failed to respond to group messages about a Christmas party while she was on vacation.
Yasmien alleged that a group of seven to nine students surrounded Ayesha, blocked her from leaving the classroom, and even recorded a video of her without consent, causing her to experience anxiety and paranoia.
Read: Yasmien Kurdi narrates how her daughter experienced cyberbullying
A SHIFT TO HOMESCHOOLING
On February 3, 2025, Yasmien gave an update on her daughter's situation, revealing that Ayesha had enrolled in a homeschooling program under Seibo College Foundation, Filipino Catholic School that applies an ungraded system of education.
"Thank you, Ms. Tanya and Ms. Grace, my former high school teacher and principal from Angelicum College, for supporting Ayesha and providing her with a safe space and environment," Yasmien wrote.
"We have chosen homeschooling for now under Seibo College Foundation while Ayesha is in continuous therapy with Ms. Lou."
She also expressed gratitude to schools and individuals who reached out, including religious figures and educators who offered support for her daughter.
"We truly appreciate all the schools and people that reached out to us. Father Motti, I’ll visit you soon! Let’s catch up!
"And Father Edzel, thank you for your prayers and guidance; we love you! Dra. Annie, Jaypee, at sa lahat ng nagmamahal maraming salamat! Special thanks also to Ms. Jaime, Ms. Day and all the wonderful teachers of #SeiboCollegeFoundation
"Mahal namin kayo! Maraming Salamat po and God bless you always!"
Read: CSA: "No bullying" incident involving Yasmien Kurdi's daughter
CSA Denies bullying allegations involving Yasmien Kurdi's daughter
Colegio San Agustin (CSA), where Ayesha was previously enrolled, issued a statement denying that any bullying took place.
Its legal representatives, Atty. Joseph Noel Estrada and Atty. Willard Yung, stated that the incident was misrepresented and was merely a discussion among students about Christmas party preparations.
CSA asserted that they took immediate action to address the concerns of both students and parents.
They urged Yasmien to cooperate in resolving the issue through proper school channels, in line with the Department of Education’s (DepEd) guidelines.
Additionally, the school cautioned the actress against publicly sharing details involving minor students, emphasizing the importance of protecting their privacy and preventing unnecessary public scrutiny.
Here's the statement in full: "It is unfortunate that an incident among minor students have been blown out in the public.
"At the outset, there appears to be no bullying that happened on December 10, 2024, but rather a situation where students were discussing about Christmas party preparations."
"The school has immediately addressed the matter among the students and parents involved.
"The school is handling the matter with caution, circumspect, and confidentiality because the students involved here are minor children.
"We encourage the parents, especially Mrs Soldevilla, to cooperate with the school so that matters can be resolved within the school mechanisms in place pursuant to its policies in compliance with relevant DepEd Orders.
"We also caution Mrs. Soldevilla to refrain from sharing information about the minor students as this tends to put them in a bad light, embarrassment, and even ridicule, not only in CSA but in the eyes of the public.
"While we assume good faith in the public actions and statements of Mrs. Soldevilla, these may have unintended consequences on the students involved including her own daughter.
"We acknowledge that she is a public personality and perhaps used to public attention, but the other parties especially the minor students value their privacy and hence deserve respect too.
"CSA supports raising awareness on bullying, but also mindful that the drawing or seeking unnecessary public attention does not help at all in the formation and correction of students and in eventually resolving their conflicts.
"The school environment is a place where there's constant interaction among students, which results almost always to emotions of joy, even frustration and anger.
"The undue branding of bullying of these interactions might result in disruptions in students' learning and growth.
"We therefore reiterate our request for circumspection and trust that the school is handling the matter in proportion to the seriousness of the incident brought to its attention."
Read: Yasmien Kurdi claims daughter Ayesha is being bullied in school
Yasmien stands by Ayesha
Despite CSA’s denial, Yasmien, her husband Rey Soldevilla, and their family stood firm in their claims.
She detailed Ayesha’s experiences with bullying, including the alleged existence of an online hate club specifically targeting her daughter.
"I am not surprised that the parents of the bullies have come to their defense," Yasmien stated.
"But twisting the events and making it seem like a regular student meeting, while questioning my daughter's behavior, is absurd."
She also addressed speculations that Ayesha was being singled out because of her celebrity status. Apologizing to her daughter, she vowed to protect her at all costs.
"You have to go through all of this because I am your mom," Yasmien wrote.
"But I will always be here for you. I will protect you with all my life."
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