It’s been particularly wet in the Philippines this week because of tropical storm Danas (local name: Falcon). As floods rise in some parts of the country, so do social media posts from students incessantly asking if classes are suspended. These school closure announcements are rarely creative but one private institution in Mandaluyong City is now viral after posting theirs in perhaps the best way their students will understand — through a meme.
The Lourdes School of Mandaluyong’s announcement on Tuesday was pretty straightforward.
“Following the announcement from the city government of Mandaluyong, all classes are suspended tomorrow, July 17, Wednesday, due to expected inclement weather. Stay safe, Masters, and use your free time wisely. Pray also for the safety of those without sure shelter. Pax et bonum!” it said.
But what the caption lacked in creativity, they made up for in the accompanying photo — a humorous take on a depiction of a gospel story. Seeing as Lourdes is a Catholic school for boys, this is very on-brand.
https://www.facebook.com/LourdesSchoolManda/photos/a.190356538176013/479702452574752/?type=3&theater
It’s a scene showing Jesus calming a storm while he and his apostles are on a ship. They edited it so that Jesus is declaring “No classes!” in Filipino and the men surrounding him saying what many students were probably thinking.
“I was just about to ask,” the guy on the left says. Two men on the right side of the photo, meanwhile, are having their own conversation. One says “The mayor tweeted [class suspensions] early today,” and the other replies, “Hopefully, always.”
It’s really no fun explaining jokes, but here’s a breakdown anyway for those not in the Philippines.
This is a commentary on how some mayors declare class suspensions late, sometimes on the day itself, even when the weather is clearly not letting up. Students and their parents usually have their eyes glued to the TV or their phones while awaiting suspension announcements. It’s become such a regular event that the hashtag #WalangPasok (No classes) has become a de facto search term and signal for class suspensions used by the media and netizens.
Based on the comments on Lourdes School’s post, many were not just pleased that the city government announced the suspension ahead of time; they were amused by the meme too.
As of this article’s posting, it now has 1,200 likes, more than 800 shares, and more than 200 comments.
“This is so good. So extraaa,” Facebook user May Sevilla said in English and Filipino.
“Whoever made this announcement, you are a genius,” Rafael Vicho said.
However, some didn’t quite get the meme.
One netizen thought the man saying “hopefully, always” was referring to classes always getting suspended because of the rain. However, the school clarified that they meant they hope the mayor would aways announce suspensions early.
One netizen, on the other hand, took offense at using Jesus in a meme. While responding to the school’s campus minister Jose Eduardo Mayo, Facebook user Eijay Valerio de Paz said he thought the meme was inappropriate for a Catholic school to post.
“I hope that this be brought to the attention of your school head, for his appropriate action. I hope he values respect concerning the faith especially the image of the Lord,” he said.
But Mayo, who is part of the Capuchin religious order, does not see anything wrong with the meme and said: “These memes remind us that while we have [a] deep reverence for God, He can have a sense of humor and He can smile.”
Preach, brother!
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