CEBU CITY, Philippines - Classes at a church-run school in Barangay (village) Talamban, Cebu City, were postponed during the first day of school on Tuesday as parents protested a sudden change in the school’s administration.Tensions rose at the San Isidro Parish School as parents were barred entry into the school around 7 a.m. for protesting the replacement of the school’s former principal, Sister Maria Esterlita Lauros, and two other sisters under the congregation of Saint Teresa of Avila. While the parents were eventually allowed entry, continued protests prompted the school to suspend classes by late morning. Students resorted to playing or eating while waiting for word from the school administration. By noon, they were told to go home and return Thursday while the school management resolved issues raised by parents. Around 150 parents signed a protest against the replacement of Sister Lauros, Sister Marlina Caverte, former assistant principal; and Sister Fely Aserto, the school cashier. The protest, however, was not clearly defined as parents still had to agree on what moves to take. The parents claimed that the three sisters were transferred without a formal order. The sisters are now with the Daughters of Saint Teresa of Avila school in Talisay City, Cebu. Father Edu Ventic took over Lauros’ position. He declined to talk to reporters on Tuesday. A letter addressed to Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal from Sister Maria Socorro Amor, Superior General of the Daughters of Saint Teresa of Avila, indicated that the three sisters were transferred on Vidal’s orders. The letter was shown to the parents and teachers on Tuesday. In the letter, Amor said she talked with the three sisters about their transfer before classes started. But the transfer did not sit well with parents. A mother who has two children studying at San Isidro said she and other parents planned to file a petition with the Archdiocese to reinstate Lauros. The mother, who asked not to be named, said she supported policies that Lauros implemented, such as lower tuition. Parents were concerned that Father Ventic may undo the changes Lauros started. “We parents want to know the reasons why Sister Ester was transferred,” she said. “We were caught by surprise; we were not told about it.” Allan Go, a father of two students at San Isidro, described Lauros as “pro-poor.” “If a parent can’t pay this month, she’ll allow it next month. She’s easy to talk to,” Go said. He said Ventic has a history of raising tuition during his stint as director of Saint Joseph’s Academy in Mandaue City. “We can’t judge him this early, but we also heard that when he gets mad, bad words come out,” Go said. Glenn Caverte, a high school teacher of San Isidro Parish School and younger brother of Sister Caverte, said the three sisters did not expect their pullout from the school just days before classes started. He said that while Sister Lauros was informed of the transfer, she was surprised that it was implemented so soon. Glenn said that Lauros told him about her impending transfer, but asked that the teachers and parents not be told about it. Glenn said Lauros did not question her transfer. “She left because she wanted to avoid trouble. She said (her superiors) might blame her for it,” Glenn said. | 
