Around GMA

Article Inside Page

Sparkle actor, model, and former volleyball player John Vic De Guzman called for kindness in the wake of the controversy surrounding the NU Nazareth School players' viral post-match taunt against the UST Junior Golden Spikers on December 8.

NU defeated UST in four sets (25-22, 25-19, 23-25, 26-24), but instead of celebrating their win, the team earned the ire of netizens, especially after videos of them mocking UST went viral on social media.

The National University-Nazareth School has since issued an apology over this matter. Their statement read, “NU Nazareth School sincerely apologizes for the behavior shown by some of our high school volleyball players after the recent UAAP match against UST.

“Those actions, however, were condemned by the school, noting the conduct was unacceptable and contradicts the values of respect, humility, and love that NU Nazareth teaches.”

RELATED CONTENT: Get to know John Vic De Guzman, the Kapuso hotlete who's making waves in acting

John Vic, who played for the College of Saint Benilde during his collegiate years, posted a lengthy message on Facebook and reminded everyone that the players of NU are still young and prone to make mistakes.

He then advised his followers to refrain from relentlessly bashing these kids and urged them to show compassion instead.

“Marami sa atin—lalo na kaming mga atleta—ang nakapanood ng mga video tungkol sa laban ng high school boys' volleyball. At alam ko, ramdam nating lahat ang bigat at halo-halong emosyon sa dulot nito. Lahat ng reaksyon ninyo ay totoo, at lahat ay may pinaghuhugutan.

“Pero sana, bago tayo magbato ng salita, subukan nating balikan ang sarili nating pinanggalingan. Tayong lahat ay minsang naging bata rin—nangarap, natakot, nagkamali, napagod, nasaktan. At sa murang edad nila ngayon, marahil nararanasan din nilang lahat iyon… habang pinipilit mahalin at unawain ang sport na unti-unti pa lang nilang hinahawakan,” the former national athlete noted.

In addition, the Sparkle talent stated: “Sa kabila ng lahat, sana ang mas mamayani ay ang pagkalinga. Ang gabay. Ang pag-uunawaan. Ang pagtulong para umangat, hindi para lalong mawalan ng lakas ang mga batang umaasa pa lang sa atin.

“Hindi ko ikinakaila—marami rin akong pagkakamaling dinaanan. May mga oras na pakiramdam ko, wala na akong patutunguhan. Pero may mga taong hindi ako iniwan; tinuruan nila ako, dahan-dahan, at buong puso, kung bakit mahalaga ang respeto, disiplina, at pag-angat sa ibang tao. At iyon ang klase ng pagmamahal na sana ay maibalik din natin sa susunod na henerasyon.

“Dahil bawat batang manlalaro… may baon ding kwento. May mga sakripisyong hindi nakikita. May takot na hindi nasasabi. At may pangarap na baka mabasag kung tatahakin nila ang landas na puno ng panghuhusga imbes na paggabay.

“Alam kong iba-iba tayo ng saloobin at pananaw. Pero sa huli, iisa lang ang puso natin—ang makita ang ating industriya na mas nagiging tahanan, hindi larangan ng tapatan."

Before ending his post, the actor-model emphasized, “Higit sa lahat, sana piliin natin ang pagmamahal. Sana piliin nating magtulungan. Let's spread love and be kinder every day.”

RELATED CONTENT: PHILIPPINE VOLLEYBALL HEARTTHROBS