Teacher Fell In Love with Her Student and the Rest is History
Based on the True Story of Evelyn Chua
This was based on the True Story of Evelyn Chua — Qua vs CLAVE GR 49549, August 30, 1990
Facts
Evelyn Chua-Qua was a teacher at Tay Tung High School in Bacolod City. She was employed therein since 1963. In 1976, a sixth-grader named Bobby Qua was enrolled under her class when a dispute arose. It was a school policy back then to extend remedial instructions, and Bobby was one of the students who were part of Evelyn’s remedial class in school.
This situation continues, and the couple thereof fell in love. On December 24, 1975, they got married solemnized by Ilo-Ilo City’s Judge. Hon. Cornelio G. Lazaro. Evelyn was thirty years old while Bobby was 16 years old. Mrs. Concepcion, the mother of Bobby gave advice to the marriage. Furthermore, their marriage was ratified following their religion solemnized by a priest.
Complaint
On February 4, 1976, Bobby, her husband, filed a complaint with the Department of Labor in Bacolod City an application for clearance terminating the employment of Evelyn on the ground of “For abusive and unethical conduct unbecoming of a dignified school teacher and that she continued employment is inimical to the best interest and would downgrade the high morals of the school.”.
Reversed Decisions
Without any formal hearing, Executive Labor Arbiter Jose Y. Aguirre rendered a decision terminating Evelyn’s employment. On October 7, 1976, Evelyn petitioned to reverse the decision and granted by the National Labor Relations Commission unanimously on December 27, 1976. Evelyn was reinstated with back wages. However, after her reinstatement, the Minister of Labor, on March 30, 1977, modified the decision, awarding Evelyn with 6 months of salary as financial assistance only.
Upon the decision of the Minister of Labor, she, Evelyn appealed to the Court that no sufficient proofs were adduced to show that she committed serious misconduct or breached the trust reposed on her by the employer, or committed any of the other grounds enumerated in our existing jurisprudence.
Issue
Whether or not there is substantial evidence to prove that the antecedent facts which culminated in the marriage between the petitioner and her student constitute immorality and/or grave misconduct.
Ruling
The Court finds no substantial evidence of the imputed immoral acts; it follows that alleged violation of the Code of Ethics governing school teachers would have no basis. Tay Tung High School failed to show evidence that she, Evelyn, took advantage of her position to court her student.
If the two eventually fell in love, despite the disparity in their ages and academic levels, this only lends substance to the truism that the heart has reasons of its own which reason does not know.
In termination cases, the burden of proving just and valid cause for dismissing an employee falls on the employer. His failure to do so finds that a dismissal is unjustified.
However, their marriage ends miserably. On December 6, 1978, the Court ruled their marriage NULLED. Tay Tung High School ordered to pay Evelyn 3 years of back wages without any deduction or qualification.
This is based on the True Story of Evelyn Chua — Qua vs CLAVE GR 49549, August 30, 1990
