Hindi pinalampas ng isang ama ang pagharang ng school sa pagmamartsa ng kanyang anak, na Grade 10 student with honors sa moving-up ceremony nito.
Ang dahilan: Nagpagupit ang anak at lumabag umano ito sa proper grooming code ng paaralan.
Mainit na pinag-usapan sa social media ang insidenteng nangyari sa Partido Mission Academy (PMA), isang private school sa Tigaon, Camarines Sur, noong March 29, 2026.
Sunud-sunod din ang Facebook posts ng amang si Joel Brutas. Nais niyang papanagutin ang school principal dahil sa sinapit ng kanyang anak.
Nakasaad sa profile ni Brutas na siya ay digital creator na may higit 2,000 followers.
Ang insidente ay iniulat ng iba’t ibang regional news networks.
Tulad ng ibang nagsipagtapos, nagbayad din daw si Brutas para sa venue ng moving-up ceremony.
Nakapila na umano sila para magmartsa nang bigla silang lapitan at hindi pinayagan ng school administration.
Nakiusap pa umano si Brutas na kahit hindi na sila payagang magmartsa, pero hayaan silang makasama sa programa.
Pero ang sabi raw ng school, hindi pa rin tatawagin ang pangalan ng kanyang anak.
Napilitan na lamang umalis sina Brutas.
Binanggit din sa report na may isa pang estudyante na hindi pinayagang makasama sa moving-up ceremony sa parehong kadahilanan.
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Ang sama ng loob ni Brutas ay idinaan niya sa Facebook.
Pero wala na ang mismong post kung saan siya unang naghimutok.
Ilang netizen ang nag-post ng screenshots kalakip ng mga larawan na tila kuha mula sa graduation handbook, na nagpakitang “with honors” ang anak ni Brutas, may tatlong special awards, at limang extra-curricular awards.
Parte ng caption ni Brutas sa isa niyang post na mababasa pa rin (published as is): “Shout-out for this school na ON THE SPOT hindi pinayagan na sumali sa graduation ang DALAWANG estudyante DAHIL LANG SA HAIRCUT despite sa pagmamakaawa ng mga magulang!!”
May paalala rin siya sa mga netizens na papanig sa ginawa ng school.
“Sa nagbabalak mag bash, search nyo po muna ang DepEd Order No. 40 s. 2012 and DepEd Order No.32 s.2017 at intindihin ang salitang INCLUSIVE EDUCATION na pinapairal ng deped na sumasaklaw sa lahat na schools including private schools.”
Kalakip dito ang larawan ng before-and-after haircut ng kanyang anak.
Babala niya sa principal, “Get ready Mrs. Principal! Mukhang papaso tayo papuntang MSWD at DepEd District Office bukas!!”
Pagtatapos niya sa post, marahil ay hindi na maibabalik ang pangyayari, pero ayaw na raw niya itong maulit sa iba.
Ang DepEd Order No. 40 s. 2012 ay tumutukoy sa DepEd Child Protect Policy.
Parte ng Statement of Policy: “Pursuant to the 1987 Constitution, the State shall defend the right of children to assistance, including proper care and nutrition, and special protection from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation and other conditions prejudicial to their development.”
Ang DepEd Order No.32 s. 2017 naman ay tungkol sa Gender-Responsive Basic Education Policy.
Bahagi ng policy na ito: “The DepEd commits to integrate the principles of gender equality, gender equity, gender sensitivity, non-discrimination and human rights, in the provision and governance of basic education. This is in line with the DepEd’s mandate to ensure access to quality basic education for all.”
Sunud-sunod din ang posts ni Brutas ng mga komentong pumapanig sa kanya, gaya na lang ng komentaryo ng isang regional anchor at ang puntong sinabi ng isang guro—na DepEd “Master Teacher”—sa Camarines Sur.
Sa post ng huli, inisa-isa niya ang mga “legal principles” na umano'y magpapatunay na “unlawful” ang pagharang sa anak ni Brutas na makasama sa graduation ceremony.
Saad niya: “DepEd Guidelines: DepEd Order 9, Series 2023, which governs end-of-school-year rites, does not list grooming violations as grounds for exclusion.
"Additionally, DepEd emphasizes that disciplinary measures must be appropriate to the offense; grooming issues are generally classified as minor, with penalties like parent conferences or warnings, not exclusion from milestone events.”
Read: VIRAL: Mom in Bataan wears wedding gown on son's graduation day
SCHOOL REACTS
Isang official statement ang inilabas ng Partido Mission Academy, Inc. sa Facebook page nito kahapon, April 2, 2026.
Parte ng pahayag: “As a private school, PMA operates under a Student Handbook agreed upon by learners and parents upon enrollment.
“These policies including grooming and conduct standards are essential in forming discipline, accountability, and readiness for future professional life.”
Direkta nitong sagot sa isyu: “The decision regarding participation in the Year-End Rites followed due process.
“The concerned students were reminded and appropriately reprimanded weeks before the End-of-School Rites, and multiple reminders and opportunities for compliance were provided throughout the school year.
“The decision was neither sudden nor made during the ceremony itself.”
Diin pa ng PMA: “Non-participation in the public ceremony was a final disciplinary consequence for continued non-compliance, which had been communicated transparently to those concerned ahead of time.”
Hindi rin daw binalewala ng paaralan ang pagiging honor student ng bata dahil iginawad pa rin ang mga awards dito.
“We affirm that all academic achievements have been fully recognized.
“Medals, certificates, and special awards have already been awarded and are now with the parents.
“While academic merit is honored, participation in the graduation ceremony is a privilege granted to those who meet all academic and institutional requirements.”
At lalong hindi nito binalewala ang kapakanan ng bata. May proposal ito:
“The well-being of our learners remains a priority.
“In the spirit of care and support, the school has arranged a proposed five-day psychosocial intervention, to be facilitated by licensed mental health professionals after the Holy Week break.
“This initiative will be carried out in close coordination with parents or guardians and only with their full consent, ensuring that the best interests and welfare of our learners are upheld at all times.
Sa huli ay nakiusap ang paaralan na protektahan ang privacy ng minors.
Hati naman ang reaksiyon ng netizens ukol sa isyu. Marami ang kumampi sa ama dahil sa sinapit ng kanyang anak.
Subalit marami rin ang pumanig sa paaralan, lalo pa’t binigyang-diin nitong panay ang pagpapaalala sa kampo ng estudyante tungkol sa mga grooming policies nito.
