Below is an update on the ongoing discrimination case of the Department of European Languages, College of Arts and Letters, University of the Philippines Diliman involving Ms. Hender Gercio.
Feel free to comment and share your opinions. ANONYMOUS COMMENTS WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED.
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This is to continue where I left off in my last post. After the arbitration meeting I had with Ms Dominique "Nikki" Del Corro (my teacher) and Mr Wystan de la Peña (the department director) last 18 February 2011 (Friday), where Mr de la Peña verbally informed me that he cannot require Ms Del Corro to address me as female in class (i.e. using female pronouns, female forms of address, female adjectives), I requested to be furnished a written copy of his decision, in order to have the case reviewed by higher authorities.
His reply was finally handed to me on 23 February 2011 (Wednesday) by a staff of the Office of the College Secretary. Below are the letter's contents.
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22 February 2011
Ms. Hender Gercio
B.A. European Languages
Through: Teodoro Maranan, PhD
College Secretary, CAL
Dear Ms. Gercio:
Thank you for coming to the office last Friday, 18 February 2011, to thresh out issues you raised in your 07 February 2011 letter.
With the conversation that ensued in the presence of one of your teachers and in the face-to-face exchange we had, I deem I have already provided a response to your letter of 07 February 2011.
Truly yours,
Wystan de la Peña
Chair
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I was rendered speechless, needless to say. Five days of waiting, for two sentences? Where was his ruling? His explanation/s for his ruling? His source/s of information?
I expected something more substantial than "I deem I have already provided a response." So I wrote back, and now while waiting I keep my fingers crossed, and try to dodge as many "he" bullets as possible.
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24 February 2011
Prof. Wystan de la Peña
Chairperson
Department of European Languages
College of Arts and Letters
University of the Philippines Diliman
Dear Sir:
I was surprised by your response to my request for a printed and signed copy of your decision regarding my complaint against Ms. Dominique "Nikki" Del Corro. Before I left your office last February 18 (Friday), I thought we had already agreed that apart from your verbal ruling, you would also furnish me a tangible copy of the Department's stand on the matter.
Documentation is essential in every formal meeting. Although I recall the "conversation" and "face-to-face exchange" I had with you, they would not suffice as a reference when I escalate my case. I would not risk misrepresenting yours or the Department's views. Although in hindsight I should have insisted that the meeting be recorded, I am convinced that it remains to be my right (under the freedom of information) to obtain the meeting's proceedings, or at the very least your official decision in print.
Therefore, I implore you to exercise transparency, efficiency and accountability, values that this State University holds dear, and provide me with the written copy of the Department's decision at the soonest possible time. Thank you in advance.
Sincerely,
Hender Gercio
BA European Languages
Student Number 2xxx-xxxxx
Email: xxxxxxx@up.edu.ph
Mobile: 0928.xxxxxxx
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