The salutatorian of Sto. Nino Parochial School in Quezon City was delivering her graduation speech when school teachers and administrators interrupted and asked her to stop.
A YouTube video of the Salutatory Address of Krisel Mallari during the 13th Commencement Exercises of the school on March 21 is being shared by netizens on Facebook.
Her adviser took the microphone from her and thanked her as she was delivering her speech but she still pushed through. In the end of the video, the school principal and the director approached her and it was only then that Mallari left the stage.
According to Mallari, the school did not give her a fair fight. “Matagal na pong hindi patas ‘yung labanan.” “Hinihingi ko po ‘yung computations ng grade ko pero ‘di po nila maibigay,” she said.
She also admitted that the speech she delivered was not the prepared and approved by the school. Her unapproved speech contain “injustices” she had been through and issues about the alleged cheating incident in school.
Update: In a statement posted on Facebook, the school said Mallari was stopped from delivering her speech because it was not the “welcome remarks” originally submitted to them.
“Panuntunan ng paaralan na lahat ng talumpati ay kailangang aprubahan ng paaralan. Sinabihan si Krisel Mallari na kapag ito’y kanyang nilabag, hindi siya papayagan sa kanyang talumpati,” said the Catholic school.
The school also pointed out that Mallari’s speech cannot be categorized as a “welcome speech” and was meant to damage the reputation of the batch valedictorian.