10 November 2009

Dr. Imelda P. Macaspac Principal IV Pampanga High School City of San Fernando Pampanga Re: Expression of resentment Dear Madam: It has come to my attention that last Thursday, when my mother, Mrs. Emerita Capati-Ermitao, went on sick leave, you had Ms. Marites D. Bayani, Department Head of the MAPEH and her immediate superior, relay a message to her. In so many words, you had suggested that it was your avid wish to see her retire, and as I have validated, this suggestion was conveyed in a manner brimming with contempt and spite as though your writing off my mother like a piece of unserviceable equipment was the most natural thing for you to do under the circumstances. Quite frankly, I would have understood if no word of concern or sympathy came from you. But for you to have informed her of your sentiments at such time and especially in the said manner was, to say the least, reprehensible. How so? I can rattle off a good number of cogent reasons. But for fear of prolixity, I will cite only two, as follows: One, the imperative of common decency should have inspired you to ferret out first why my mother was absent last Thursday; moreover, your moral duty as her superior should have impelled you to ask, at the very least, how she was doing (if you could not bring yourself to wish her perfunctorily a speedy recovery). In short, your act smacked of crass insensitivity. How would you have felt were you similarly situated? Would you appreciate being made to feel unwanted or unappreciated at a time when you are suffering from a temporary affliction? Two, the coercive element embedded in your message was subtle but no less malevolent; by making it known to her that you expected her to quit on account of her presumptively compromised productivity, you singled her out for persecution and laid out the groundwork for the prospective build-up of a case of constructive dismissal. In short, your act reeked of sheer prejudice. Do check my mothers 201 records first and see for yourself whether or not she has ever been reprimanded for malingering or failing to perform her teaching duties so that you may gain some perspective. Do check her health records, too, if you are so inclined, and see for yourself whether or not her recent sickness truly warrants the unsolicited, misguided prescription you gave. And one more thing: Do re-examine your apparently stereotypical notion that seniority (in terms of age) is necessarily synonymous to obsolescence and by implication, dispensability; as it is, most people are blind to the fact that lives (be it professional or otherwise) can be kept abloom despite the inexorable advance of time.

In writing this missive, I hope to have sufficiently impressed upon you my resentment with a view to precluding the repetition of your act. Of course, you may choose to disavow the act or explain it away; it is up to you; but I will have you know that my resentment is anchored on unimpeachable testimony. Perhaps, it would be best that any subsequent messages you have for my mother be committed to writing and not be merely relayed orally through channels so that with my guidance, she could make proper responses legally and otherwise. Gusto po lamang sana naming masigurong mapaninindigan ninyo ang anumang sasabihin ninyo. Thank you. Yours sincerely,

Nolivienne C. Ermitao Director IV COSSO & PHRC Office of the Executive Secretary Malacaang, Manila (02) 736-1445/49

3621-B Kalinga St. Bacood, Sta. Mesa Manila (02) 716-8881

cc: Ms. Marites D. Bayani Head Teacher IV, MAPEH Ms. May B. Eclar Superintendent Division of City Schools