ATEACHERS’ group on Tuesday hit back at actress Rosanna Roces for allegedly insulting teachers at the ABS-CBN’s noontime talent show, Showtime. The Teachers Dignity Coalition headed by Benjo Basas said it was “very ironic and unfortunate that Roces, one of the judges in the show, uttered insulting words against teachers, whom it described as ‘the most important people in schools.’”

Roces uttered harsh words during the ABS-CBN show on January 7, when a contestant from Calamba, Laguna could not answer her question regarding the origin of Jose Rizal’s name.

“You should cuss your teacher. I used bad words against my teacher when he could not give me the answer. Yes, teachers who could not tell the truth are shameless. You are from there [Laguna] and you do not know [the answer]!” Roces told the contestant.

Basas said that by asking the contestant to curse his teacher, Roces was actually asking him to curse all educators in the country.

He also said that Roces added insult to the “already injured” teachers by asking students not to be contented with what were taught by the books and teachers because teachers were just “repeaters.”

“They are merely teaching what was taught them. They are not teaching what should be learned by the youth,” Roces said.

Basas said Roces’ first two comments might be true in a given context.

“However, we could not pardon the third, which gives the entire message of the remark; teachers do not have the capacity to critically analyze the teaching and learning process,” he said.

A day after the incident, the show’s management removed Roces as one of the judges. The Movie and
Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) had already ordered a 20-day suspension of Showtime for the controversial comments of Roces.

“We believe that Miss Roces’ statements do not reflect the views of the program, the hosts and the station,” Basas said, as he called for the lifting of the suspension.

He said that the group sympathizes with the production staff, hosts, other judges, contestants and the viewing public that had been affected by the controversy generated by Roces’ comments. He noted that the program was being watched by millions of youth.

“We believe that the suspension of the entire show for 20 days is too much for a penalty and should be lifted immediately,” Basas said.

He said that the show management had shown enough responsibility by acting ahead of the MTRCB by removing Roces as a judge.

The teachers’ group also urged TV personalities to refrain from uttering any offensive language and gesture and be more considerate of the culture and belief of other groups and sectors while trying to entertain the public.
JAMES KONSTANTIN GALVEZ