Letter to the Editor: Parents’ complaint against music teacher

Dear Editor,

I want to share with readers of Philippine Sentinel how my children were treated by their music teacher and his wife. During one school holiday, members of a Community Band (to which they belong) were invited to the house of their music teacher. They were instructed to bring their own packed lunch. At lunch time, my son started to eat the food that he brought. The teacher’s wife asked one student to collect $5.00 from each person in the band to buy KFC.

She told my son to share his food with others but his packed lunch was enough for only one person. My son did not say anything. The wife became angry. She yelled at my son and told him to leave the house. My son was deeply embarrassed. At the end of the day, I was asked to pay $5.00 as contribution for lunch. Per original instruction, my son brought his own lunch, so I questioned why I should pay anything.

My daughter was also a member of the band and a student of the music school. During one music festival, she was not allowed to sing with the group. The wife prevented my daughter from singing minutes before her number. My daughter wept. At a Wollongong concert, they literally crossed out her name in the program which was later distributed to the audience.

He instructs his younger students to teach other old/new students in the music school. He collects $30.00 from the new students, gives $5.00 to the student-teacher and keeps $25.00 for himself. These young student-teachers are not even certified to teach. He uses the students for his own benefit.

The teacher collects $5.00 from each student every Sunday and during school holiday practices for electricity. There was no such provision in the contract.

The controversial white socks

While practising on stage before the start of a concert in Wollongong, the music teacher made sarcastic remarks on the colour of the socks that some students were wearing. My son was wearing white socks instead of the prescribed black. Band members usually wear white socks during concerts. The teacher instructed the parents to buy black socks at a local shop just 10 minutes before the start of the concert. I said, “my son’s socks are not even visible because his pants are very long and baggy.”

The teacher asked my son why he was wearing white socks instead of black. My son was giving his reason when, the teacher’s wife said: “Huwag kang maniwala sa kaniya, sinungaling siya.” (Don’t believe him. He’s a liar.) The band members heard her comment. My son was embarrassed and he cried just minutes before the concert finally started. He was forced to wear ladies black stockings. One of the parents went out to buy black socks for all the students who weren’t wearing the correct colour. Parents who were present that night were annoyed with the teacher and his wife’s attitude toward the whole situation. It was indeed a very stressful night!

The wife always reiterates, “Do not listen to your parents.” She tells this whenever there is a meeting after a band practice.

Name withheld upon request

(Editor’s Note: We made several attempts to establish contact with the music teacher but we were unsuccessful. At different times of the day, during the past few weeks, the teacher’s telephone just kept on ringing. We also sent the teacher an email from the information on his business card but the email bounced. We sincerely hope that the person concerned gets to read a copy of this complaint. The Sentinel shall be glad to print his unedited response in the next issue. The content of the above letter was confirmed by two other parents who were present when the incident happened.)

Any reaction to the above letter is welcome and should be sent to