School calls for ‘circumspection’ amid alleged bullying of Yasmien Kurdi’s daughter
MANILA, Philippines — A private school has issued a statement through its legal counsels calling for “circumspection” amid the alleged bullying incident involving actress Yasmien Kurdi’s daughter.
The Colegio de San Agustin-Makati on Tuesday, December 17, issued a statement on the alleged bullying incident involving Kurdi’s daughter, Ayesha. It was issued by legal counsels Joseph Noel M. Estrada and Willard T. Yung on behalf of the school.
The school said it was “unfortunate” that the alleged incident was “blown out” in public. It said that there “appears to be no bullying” that occured on Dec. 10, 2024, but rather it was a “situation” where the students were discussing about Christmas party preparations.
The statement said that Colegio San Agustin-Makati (CSA) has immediately addressed the matter among students and parents involved.
“The school is handling the matter with caution, circumspect, and confidentiality because the students involved here are minor students,” the statement read.
It addressed the actress as Mrs. Soldevilla, Yasmien’s legal name. She is married to pilot Rey Soldevilla.
They called on Yasmien and the other parents to cooperate with the school to resolve the issue within its mechanisms and in compliance with the Department of Education policy. It also asked the actress to refrain from sharing information on the minor students because it “tends to put them in a bad light, embarrassment, and even ridicule” not only with their school but also in the eyes of the public.
Yasmien posted about bullying on Facebook on December 11, where she wrote how her daughter was allegedly bullied.
“Today, my daughter was targeted by a group of students in her class because she was unable to keep up with group messages about their upcoming Christmas party while we were out of the country. Surrounded by seven to nine students, Ayesha was blocked from leaving the classroom and was denied her food and recess! In other words she was ganged up on,” Yasmien wrote on Facebook on December 11.
The actress neither mentioned or specified which school her daughter attends, nor mentioned a student’s name in particular.
The school’s statement continued that it assumed good faith in the public actions and statements of Yasmien, but noted that there may have “unintended consequences” on the students, including the actress’ 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,” it added.
It ended the statement by repeated its request for circumspection and giving trust that the school is handling the issue “in proportion to the seriousness of the incident brought to its attention.”
Yasmien has not posted anything new about the issue or the statement as of press time.
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