A Mother's Open Letter

**edit** The open letter was published by Jarius Bondoc, a columnist in Philippine Star, last Monday, February 19. Today, February 21, Dr. Paulina Bawingan explained her side through the same column. Here's the link to the online version.


Hello, everyone. I was finally able to access Blogger today, so I am posting the open letter here. I hope you would take the time to read this and share this with other people. Thanks so much!


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A MOTHER’S CRY: WHY ROB MY CHILD OF HER SIMPLE HAPPINESS
(Open Letter to the Association of Science Educators of the Philippines (ASEP)
and Participants of the “National Science Quiz, Fair, Sci-Dama”
held in Baguio City, February 9-11, 2007)


I am writing this letter as a caring and hurting mother to PROTEST the unfairness and injustice committed against my child by ASEP, the organizer of this “National Science Quiz, Fair, Sci-Dama”. Pardon my emotion but I would like to speak out to show my child how we care for her, that we are willing to fight if necessary to correct any wrong done to her.

My daughter, Nadya Patricia E. Sauza, is the First Place winner in the Regional Science Fair (Region 6) and a rightful delegate to this National Science Fair here in Baguio City. She is supposed to present her study, “Biodiesel from Waste Animal Fats in a Meat Processing Plant,” a research project that has earned the praise of DOST office in our province of Aklan.

Unfortunately, Nadya is a victim of unfair and unjust treatment, of a decision devoid of compassion, by this event’s organizers. She was robbed of a simple joy of joining a National Science Fair.

ASEP struck out my child as participant in the Science Investigatory Project (Elementary Level) without the courtesy of informing her or her coach. When we asked why, the chairman of the Science Investigatory Project - Elementary Level (whom I understand is a DepED NCR Director) and members of the panel of judges, Dr. Lloyd Ordonia and Dr. Paulina Bawingan, told us that ASEP cut Region 6’s delegates from four to two. But why Nadya, we further asked. They said it’s the result of “PALABUNUTAN”! What is this, a game of chance? Where is due process here?

Worse, the organizers did not inform my child or her coach that she was not part of the contest anymore. The judges let my child undergo the prejudging process “so as not to disappoint her.” Why deceive the child? Is it because the organizers are ashamed to tell Nadya in her face about their decision? (We were told about the patently heartless decision and other information surrounding it only after we persevered asking, and only after the science congress has already ended at around 4:45PM yesterday.) Tinanggalan na ng karapatan sa kompetisyon, binola-bola pa!

Let it be clear that we don’t mind not winning the contest. We only wanted Nadya to have been given a fair chance to join the competition and to present her study to the panel of judges. She deserves this right as a First Place winner of Region 6.

My child worked very hard for her research study. She conducted the research and experiments from June - September 2006. We, her parents, her school, her teacher/coach and her consultants from Aklan State University, supported her all the way—morally, financially and by being there when she needed us.

Her hard work was rewarded when she won in the Aklan Division and Regional Science Fairs (Region 6).

In preparing for the national event, we supported her for the training and logistics. We spent extra hours to hone her skills. We traveled long hours spending hard-earned money just to reach Baguio.

ONLY TO BE BARRED FROM JOINING THE SCIENCE FAIR! Where is compassion in the decision? How my heart melted when I saw Nadya in tears as a result.

The chairman of the Science Investigatory Project (Elementary), blamed DepEd Region 6 for sending more than two delegates so they have to resort to “PALABUNUTAN” to trim the number.

Assuming, without conceding, that DepEd Region 6 is at fault, WHY PUNISH OUR CHILD?! Why not call DepEd Region 6 and resolve the matter bilaterally? Or why not choose the two regional first place winners? (The judges said they did not know who the first placers are. Then why not ask?) Or better yet, why not let the four Region 6 delegates join the contests for the sake of scientific discovery and for the sake of giving simple happiness to our young children?

We will go home hurting as we cry for justice! Nadya will surely be traumatized by this experience. But I will tell her to understand her elders, to keep on thirsting for knowledge despite the damage they have done to her. Hopefully, this sad episode in her young life will not kill the enthusiasm for learning in her. We will tell her that, in our hearts and minds, she is our champion. And that nobody, not even the organizers of this “National Science (Un)Fair” can rob her of that.


ESTER E. SAUZA (Sgd.)
Mother of NADYA PATRICIA E. SAUZA
Baguio City
February 11, 2007

(NOTE: Nadya, 12, is a Grade 6 pupil of Starglow Center for Academics and Arts in Kalibo, Aklan. She is a consistent top student in her class. Among the latest awards she received are the following:

» First Place in Region 6 Science Investigatory Research - Physical Science Category, December 8, 2006.
» “Most Outstanding Elementary Pupil of Region 6” by Private Schools Administrators Association of the Philippines (PRISAAP VI), Feb. 7, 2007.
» Highest Pointer Student Journalist (Elementary Level) during the Regional Schools Press Conference 2006. She won First Place both in Newswriting and Photojournalism (December 2006). She is currently in Baguio for the National Schools Press Conference.
» She represented Aklan in the Regional Super Quiz Bee- Mathematics placing 6th.

We hope that her sad experience in Baguio will not break her spirit and harden her heart.)