Administrators at Santa Monica National High School (SMNHS) faced the media on Thursday, February 26, to address a wave of public criticism regarding school discipline and a growing infrastructure crisis.
The “Mega School,” which enrolls over 4,300 students, recently became the center of a digital firestorm following a February 20 flag ceremony where a teacher was recorded threatening to burn students’ “baggy pants” along with an old flag.
Principal Mary Genevive Berezo and Head Teacher Joey Huerte addressed the viral remarks directly. Huerte admitted that the ultimatum was “medyo harsh,” but urged the public to look at the intent.
“If you look at the context… it’s just a reminder lang. Parang tough language of love for the students,” Huerte said, adding that there was “no direct pin pointing of names… so walang humiliation.”
He offered an apology to parents who felt aggrieved, noting, “pardon po doon if the parents misunderstood the context of what I said kasi tayo po ay nasa Filipino norms and values.”
The incident has highlighted the extreme mathematical strain on the school’s human resources. While the school maintains 171 teachers for its 4,300 students, a statistically fair ratio of 25:1, the support system behind them has effectively collapsed.
The administration revealed that for the entire student body, there is only one guidance counselor.
“Minsan tanghali pa lang nakatulala na siya kasi sobrang dami,” Berezo remarked, describing a staff member overwhelmed by the impossible 4,300:1 ratio.
This figure stands in stark contrast to the Department of Education’s (DepEd) ideal target of 500:1, as outlined in the DepEd-DBM Organization and Staffing Standards (DepEd Order No. 77, s. 2010). Under these rules, SMNHS should have at least nine (9) guidance counselors. Instead, the school is operating with an 860% deficit in mental health and disciplinary support.
This gap is a reflection of a national crisis; while the law mandates these positions, the requirement of a Master’s degree for a Salary Grade 11 entry-level pay scale has left thousands of slots vacant across the country. This is the same starting salary as a Teacher I, which only requires a Bachelor’s degree. Because the “return on investment” for a Master’s degree is so low in the public sector, licensed counselors often choose private practice or work abroad.
As of late 2025, the Department of Education (DepEd) confirmed that there were over 4,000 vacant plantilla positions for guidance counselors nationwide. Many universities report “zero enrollees” in Master’s programs for this field, creating a massive supply-and-demand gap.
Beyond uniforms, Berezo revealed that her primary focus since arriving has been a “silent epidemic” of student suicides. The school has been disturbed by several incidents in the past. Berezo linked these tragedies to the influence of social media.
In a direct response to these concerns, the school launched a strict “No Phone Policy” on campus. The administration and parents believe that excessive social media usage and the “immersive atmosphere” of online contents central to the forming of suicidal thoughts, defending the ban as a protective shield for student mental health.
Furthermore, Berezo explained that the outbursts from staff stem from “frustrations among school personnel” struggling to maintain order in a facility bursting at the seams. She described a claustrophobic classroom setting where rooms are bisected to hold 40 to 50 students. “Halos hindi na magkarinigan… the purpose of the teacher is just to get their attention kaya gumagamit po kami ng lapel,” she explained.
The investigation into campus conditions also confirmed a “sanitary divide.” Officials admitted students are relegated to “rancid” plywood latrines while faculty use standard restrooms.
This disparity is reportedly due to a total lack of permanent utility staff, as workers “come and go,” unable to handle the waste produced by thousands of people. Consequently, the burden of cleaning has fallen to the students, a decision faculty labeled as a “practical lesson” in accountability.
To address the neglect, PTA President George Mosteiro announced that a portion of this year’s ₱1,000 one-time PTA contribution would be earmarked for the renovation of student restrooms.
Berezo concluded the briefing by insisting the school exists to “guide, educate and protect” its students, but challenged critics to bring proof of abuse directly to her office rather than posting anonymously.
“Wala sa labas ang solusyon. Andito sa atin,” she said.
