The past few months have been the graduation season in the Philippines, and multiple graduation photos with lengthy captions flooded everyone’s feed on social media. While many students take this opportunity to look back at their academic journey, there are some who decided to take a more creative route. However, it all came back with a tsunami of backslash.
Ciely Mendoza decided to poke fun at her past groupmates in the University of the Philippines. The broadcast communication graduate took to Twitter to share a photo of her wearing her Sablay while carrying two garbage bags with the label, “groupmates”.
“To everyone whom I had to carry,” Mendoza captioned the photo referring to her lazy and unreliable classmates.
Para sa mga binuhat ko ? pic.twitter.com/qWY3xsq51g
— Ciely Mendoza (@CielyMendoza) June 20, 2018
Mendoza’s photo got the attention of netizens and it immediately went viral gaining over 106,000 likes and 12,000 retweets as of press time.
One of Mendoza’s former classmates, Jasper Escuro, stood with the UP graduate and thanked her for leading her group when they had to present a dance number for their Physical Education class.
“I’m one of her groupmates sa isang class. Yes, I am thankful kay Ciely. It was my last sem when I had 4.0 standing for this PE. She led us for our final output, which is a group dance. Thanks to her, I got a sweet 3 and I was able to march last year. Ngayon, engineer na ako,” Escuro said.
I'm one of her groupmates sa isang class.Yes. I am thankful kay Ciely HAHA. It was my last sem when I had 4.0 standing for this PE. She led us for our final output, which is a group dance. Thanks to her, I got a sweet 3 and I was able to march last year. Ngayon, engineer na ako.
— Jasper Escuro (@JasPursuer) June 21, 2018
However, not everyone had the same reaction. Many called her out for being ‘boastful’ and ‘insensitive’.
Hi, just wanna ask if you ever thought of considering your groupmates' feelings when they see this pic? Hehe
— Frederick Serafino (@fredserafino) June 21, 2018
Sobra nakakalungkot lang talaga. Ako yung nababahala para sa kanya!!! Galing na galing sa sarili e.
— Jamil (@Jamil74539889) June 21, 2018
Ang epal neto at mayabang para i-label ang groupmates na basura! Mas basura ka sa ginawa mong pag mayabang actually. Hindi nakaka creative at all. Insensitive ka.
— Rob Salvador (@robsalvador13) June 21, 2018
So it is valid to call them trash, right?
— nturbela (@NTurbela) June 21, 2018
Hambog.
— ? Jhoa Kim (@jhoakimem) June 21, 2018
Nevertheless, there were others who defended Mendoza.
What’s the fuss? If you guys know how frustrating it is, you’ll understand her anw.
— Bitch I’m not Bill Cosby (@ttakoyakee) June 21, 2018
Just last sem, I asked my prof multiple times if I could work on my own research bc my groupmates weren’t contributing.
But hindi ako pinayagan. I was forced to put up with them and work my ass off to compensate.
Hindi necessarily tanga yung nagbubuhat. Gusto lang namin pumasa.
— SheaIea Iral ?? (@ssiral_) June 21, 2018
HAHAHAHAHAHAH siguro ung mga na offend kasama sa pabigat sa grupo ????
— Dj (@Dj_martin04) June 21, 2018
kung insensitive siya sa pinost nya, pano pa kaya yung mga groupmates nyang hindi tumulong ?? pic.twitter.com/BxIJLiWLHz
— sui (@soelogy) June 21, 2018
may na-offend nanaman pala sa photo na to. Can't we all just congratulate her na kahit nahirapan sya magbuhat ng groupmates nya eh she just took it lightly and made fun of the situation kesa magalit. Most likely nakakatawa din 'to for her groupmates. Congrats fellow iska! 🙂
— Katrina ? (@chibin05) June 21, 2018
Through separate tweets, Mendoza said that she posted the photo for the sake of a good laugh.
I’d like to thank the many friends and strangers who have messaged, comforted, and defended me. It’s truly heartwarming to see people look out for me. You guys have made this experience super fun and humbling. ?
To more healthy and insightful discourse!!!
— Ciely Mendoza (@CielyMendoza) June 25, 2018
Take a chill pill, everyone! No need to dig too deep and analyze the wacky photo HAHAHA pic.twitter.com/5V6296Rhvd
— Ciely Mendoza (@CielyMendoza) June 21, 2018
“It was my simple way to poke fun at all the stresses my past groupmates have caused me — from the sleepless nights to the extra work I had to put in, on top of everything [that’s] on my plate. I simply wanted to channel my prior frustrations with something lighter, something my friends and I can laugh about,” she said in an email interview with Coconuts Manila.
