BRIDGING THE GAP
On the column article, "Bisayan Wedding Culture"
The article in question "Bisayan wedding culture" was an offshoot of a project in Visayan history and culture that I assigned to my students. The project was a compilation of traditional Bisayan beliefs and practices through interviews with the old folks, particularly their grandparents. One list that was submitted, supposedly from interviews, was on Bisayan wedding culture that became the basis for the said article.
I wish to state here that there was never an intention on my part to impinge on the rights of the original authors of the said article. It was honest mistake considering that I was not even aware of the existence of the said article on the website and the Manila Bulletin not until my attention was called by the editor of The News Today when the letter of complaint came. In all honesty, I never suspected that the said list submitted to me was possibly copied from the internet or from the newspaper by my student because I made it very clear that the information should be gathered from the old folks through interviews. This, of course, is a painful lesson for me not to trust in the sense of honesty of some students.
In this regard, I wish to apologized to John and Benette Rana, the authors of the said article, for the inappropriate use of their work. Indeed, I am sorry for the wrong done.