Former students speak out on sexual abuse they suffered in Philippine High School for the Arts

The Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA) is currently embroiled in controversy after several alumni spoke out about the sexual abuse they suffered in the hands of one of their instructors.

In a special report by “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho,” four survivors spoke about their experiences while studying at the school based in Los Banos, Laguna.

John, Michael, and Raymond, not their real names, accused a veteran theater instructor of sexually abusing them while he was their teacher.

“Sa loob ng anim na taon dun, nanggagapang siya habang tulog,” Raymond said. “Naisipan ko rin nang ilang beses na sumigaw pero hindi ko alam kung ano ‘yung pumipigil na gawin ko ‘yun.”

(“For six years, he would climb into our beds as we sleep. I thought of screaming a few times but I didn’t know what stopped me.”)

Michael said that their instructor would be touchy with him, caressing his arms and sides. With John, he approached when the student was in Grade 8 and made a proposition.

“Siya ‘yung nagrequest sa akin kung ba puwede ba kaming mag-sensual friends or sexual friends or intimate friends,” John said.

According to Raymond, their instructor was a good teacher. The students idolized him and he was generous to them. He was good at talking to the students, but sometimes he would encroach on inappropriate topics.

“Tinatanong niya na ‘yung sex life ko. Aware kasi siya na I'm not from a well-off family so parang ginamit niya ‘yun. ‘Yung mga slight gastusin namin siya ‘yung nagbibigay,” he said.

(“He would ask about my sex life. He was aware that I’m not from a well-off family so it’s like he was using that to his advantage. He would provide for some of our expenses.”)

The students said that their teacher would often invite them to his house in Quezon City for rehearsals and sleepovers. He would organize their sleeping positions, put his arms around them as they sleep, and sometimes attempt to insert his hand under their shorts.

They wanted to speak out and stop him, but they were afraid because he was their teacher and he might retaliate with their grades or their evaluations.

“Nakakalito rin kasi 'yung naging dynamic at relationship namin sa kanya. Minsan kaibigan, minsan halimaw siya 'pag gabi,” Raymond said. “Pakiramdam ko nabilog niya utak ko. Ngayon, iniisip ko talaga bang nagtiwala siya sa kakayahan ko bilang isang scholar kaya ganun siya ka-generous o dahil lang ba gusto niya akong manyakin?”

(“Our relationship with him was confusing. Sometimes, he was a friend. But at night, it was like he was a completely different monster. I feel like he deceived me. Sometimes, I think about whether he really believed in my abilities that’s why he was so generous with the opportunities or was he generous because he just wanted to sexually abuse me?”)

The three students eventually found out that they were not the only ones who suffered under that instructor. Theater actor and filmmaker Jerom Canlas also spoke on record about his similar experiences during his student days at PHSA.

“Kapag katabi mo siya talagang mangyayakap siya, ilalagay niya ‘yung kamay niya sa loob ng t-shirt ko, ang siste ko na nu’n ever since maglalagay talaga ako ng unan sa gitna ng paa ko kasi alam ko na e,” he said. “Luckily for me hindi naman siya nag progress into any further.”

(“When you sleep beside him, he’d try to hug you, grope you under your shirt. What I did before was put a pillow in between my legs. I was lucky that things didn’t progress any further.”)

But in November 2021, their instructor passed away. Citing reports, Jerom said he died by suicide as word of his abuses started to spread in the theater industry.

One week after his passing, John and the other victims received a scheduled email from the late teacher, who acknowledged his wrongdoings and apologized for his actions.

But Jerom said that their teacher is not the only offender at the institution.

“Maliban pa doon, mayroon din kaming houseparent sa Makiling. Towards girls very malicious siya. At kinakandong niya ‘yung mga batang babae,” he said.

“At hindi lang po sexual abuse, actually. May ilan ding forms of emotional, mental, verbal abuse, kailangan i-treat siya na big deal siya kasi ang biktima ay minors,” he added.

(“There are other cases of sexual abuse at the school. There’s also this houseparent who’d ask young girls to sit on his lap. There are cases of emotional and verbal abuse at the institution too. We should not take these cases lightly. ”)

VICE World News also reported about this “culture of sexual abuse” after speaking to over a dozen PHSA students, alumni, and faculty members.

Jerom said they seek accountability from the school itself and call for reforms to be done to ensure the safety of the students.

KMJS tried to get the side of the PHSA but they declined to be interviewed. However, they provided an official statement on July 20.

“The PHSA Management would like to express our sympathy to those who voiced their complaints. As these are alumni from past years, with one of them going back from almost 20 years ago, they have been advised to file their sworn complaints with the proper forum such as the school’s committee(s) designated for this task as we are a government agency and abide by Civil Service rules. They can also file their case in court,” the statement read.

The Department of Education has tapped the National Bureau of Investigation to look into the case.

“Ang call talaga ngayon ay matigil ‘yung ganitong klaseng kultura at hindi siya mag continue sa mga future generations,” Jerom said.

(“What we want right now is for this culture of abuse to stop so the future generations won’t have to suffer the way we did.”)

Just this Sunday evening, PHSA issued an updated statement:

This is to inform the public that:

1. The DepEd and the NBI are currently conducting parallel investigations and assisting the PHSA in strengthening mechanisms to ensure the safety of the students of the School.

2. We commiserate with and our hearts go out to the victims. The teacher subject of the allegations was no longer hired by the School in late 2018 and has died last year.

3. The alleged activities took place off-campus and were not sanctioned by the School.

4. For students' concerns and complaints, please email codi@phsa.edu.ph and for those who wish to file charges, please coordinate with the NBI Special Action Unit (c/o Atty Eugene Javier) tel. 86555619 for assistance. —MGP, GMA News

Cases of sexual harassment at schools can be reported to Department of Education’s Child Protection Unit.

For those in need, the NCMH Crisis Hotline is available 24/7 at 0917 899 8727 (USAP) and 989 8727 (USAP).