USJ-R amidst the scandal

Dignified, virtuous, and true- and I never expected less.

The official announcement of the University of San Jose- Recoletos made by Father Enrico Peter Silab, OAR, last February 7, 2013, regarding the scandal and video that that has been widely publicized and has hit the web, was indeed a statement.

It was short, but it served its purpose. It was said with tact that whoever heard it would stop and think. The kind of statement that would make you ponder, the type that would make you delete the scandal in your phones, the sort of statement that would make you rethink if you would share the said video to your neighbor or not.

It didn’t tackle much on the emotional side or even appeal on one person’s conscience. It didn’t even ask you to have pity on her or include her on her prayers. No.

What it did was briefly acknowledged the wrong, and showed with determination, how USJ-R would make everything right. Not erase or cover up what has happened, but resolve what has been deemed a problem.

Since our time, USJ-R never compromises its principles and never settles for anything less than its morals. It never condones wrong doings and never ignores anything that can degrade its standards. One might say the school is a little bit too proud, but nevertheless its pride has been its mark in becoming one of the best schools there is.

But what was heard on the USJ-R statement was something else. It is far from the familiar righteousness it displays; it is far from the usual “too mighty and proud” façade. What we can tell from the announcement was a school not ready to abandon its student, a school too tough to let scandal like this crumble its resolve. And on top of that, it added a new ingredient- unity.

USJ-R made it sure that students, officials, faculty, and alumni would stand together and face the scandal together. It made certain that with what has happened, embarrassment will not be felt, pity will not be experienced.

After all the news, the frenzy and the fuss, as a Josenian, I do not feel anything but pride. I am so damn proud of what Father President said. I am so thrilled with the decision of the school and was so touched with his statement, “The incident does not define what and who we are. But it does present us with the opportunity to show to the rest of the world that we are courageous in dealing with issues such as this.”

This time, UJS-R taught us lessons outside its four walls, lessons that can indeed mark our personality. It taught us that life therefore is not righteous, but growth in righteousness. So it is all up to us on how we live it. And it is not how many bruises we get from the battles we fought, but on how we heal and stand again.

Forward, adelante!