THE Southern Philippines Institute of Science and Technology (SPIST) has apologized to blogger and transgender woman Sass Rogando Sasot, as well as the parents of their students over the “inhumane stoppage” of a graduation ceremony on June 3, 2022 over failure to comply with the conditions set by the venue owner.“What transpired yesterday was beyond our control. We are deeply sorry for the inconvenience it caused, and we understand your frustration because you’ve waited for this event but suddenly, the thrill and excitement was lost,” SPIST president and chief-executive-officer Dr. Erlinda Manzanero said in a letter dated June 4.Manzanero said they will hold the people liable for ruining the solemnity of the graduation rites; dampening the excitement of the graduating class, their parents and guardians; and stopping the guest speaker, Sasot, to deliver her speech for some “unlawful reasons.”Manzanero also deeply apologized to Sasot over the incident.“No words can express how much we were hurt by the unexpected turn of events in relation to our invitation to you as guest speaker at our Senior High School Graduation Exercises Batch 2022,” she said.“I wanted to convey our sincerest apology to you for the unprofessional reception we both got from COG (Church of God). We are hoping that SPIST may continue to have a harmonious relationship with you,” she added.On June 3, Friday, while Sasot was addressing the graduates of the Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMMS) and Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (TVL), employees of the Church of God World Missions Philippines, the owner of the venue located in Dasmariñas City in Cavite, turned off the lights and sound system until she was escorted off the stage.In a statement, COG senior Pastor Bishop Anthony Velasco said they informed SPIST of their condition before they approved the rental of the venue.Among the conditions were that “we do not allow LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) to perform a special number or even be a guest speaker on our podium or ministry pulpit.”Velasco said the school was given the option to change venue and the down payment will be returned, or to change their speaker.“Early Friday morning, our church administrator initiated a talk to the school staff because we feel that there is a breach of trust already. We laid down openly to them what is going to happen if they will try to violate our religious belief. That if our belief is disrespected, we will have no choice but to turn off the lights and sound system as our final recourse to keep the sanctity of the pulpit,” he said.“Praying that the school will comply and RESPECT our belief which has been communicated multiple times. This last and drastic option has been clearly communicated to them because we really CANNOT ALLOW OUR PULPIT TO BE DESECRATED. We expected that this final verbal agreement will be RESPECTED by the school and by the guest speaker, but it turned out otherwise,” he added.Velasco said he is taking full responsibility for the incident.In a statement, Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla cited section 4 of the provincial ordinance, which he said considers it unlawful to discriminate any person and/or group of persons on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity and expression or those who belong to the LGBTQ community.“What a shame! This is not what Cavite is all about. This is not what the Southern Philippines Institute of Science and Technology is all about. This is not what the present and the future is all about,” he said.“This is about people who use the shield of their faith to spread hate and bigotry where a church should be about compassion and tolerance,” he added.Remulla said he is on the side of the whole LGBTQ community on this matter. (SunStar Philippines)