BRIBERY IN THE CLASSROOM - The Truth About The Philippines

Pea continues her two-part series on the Philippine school system with a panel of young Filipinas (Ara/Katherine, Felicia, Celine, and Kate) who share firsthand accounts of how bribery, teacher side-hustles, and hidden fees make "free" public education anything but free. The conversation exposes a transactional system where grades can be bought with household items, teachers sell products to their own students, and even graduation comes with surprise charges.

Bribing teachers for passing grades is openly practiced ​

• Katherine says if you're failing, the teacher will privately negotiate: bring four floor mops or a trash bin, and your grade gets bumped from 74 to a passing 75 or 76
• Felicia's teacher required a specific plant — an orchid in a flower pot — in exchange for a passing grade
• Celine never failed, but her teacher still asked her to bring vegetables from the garden in exchange for higher grades — meaning even non-failing students were expected to contribute goods for better marks
• Kate had to bring recycled craft materials like newspaper vases when she failed a subject
• One bundle of bond paper was enough to get grades changed
• Pea calls the whole system "so transactional"

The bribery escalates with price — one teacher only accepted high-value bribes ​

• Katherine's brother (in private school) told her about a classmate who failed a subject with a very strict teacher
• That teacher refused the usual small bribes like floor mops or plants
• The student bought the teacher an iPhone 13 Pro Max — the newest model at the time — and that fixed the failing grade
• Pea's reaction: "Bribery, huh. We are so freaking — we have a broken system here"

Teachers paying students to do personal grooming and chores ​

• Katherine's teacher would ask students during break time to pull her white/gray hairs using a puller
• Other panelists witnessed teachers having students pull lice from their hair, do their toenails, give foot massages, and style/tie their hair
• In one case, pulling lice earned additional grade points
• One panelist's teacher let her skip an assignment in exchange for cash payment — "just pay me" — 250 pesos

Teachers sell products to their own students ​

• In elementary school, teachers sell school supplies (paper, pens) to students, with purchases earning bonus points on grades
• Kate's teachers sold snacks and food to students
• Katherine confirms the same — snacks from teachers
• Felicia's teachers sold accessories like earrings and bracelets
• Prices were reportedly affordable, but Pea notes the obvious conflict of interest: "Why are you selling products to your students?"

"Free" public school education is loaded with hidden fees ​

• Miscellaneous fees, project contributions, and mandatory uniform purchases
• Intramurals require students to pay for their own team t-shirts
• Drama and school programs require students to pay for props and costumes
• Folk dance presentations require students to buy their own costumes because the school won't provide them
• Cartolina (colored paper) and all project materials come out of pocket
• When a superintendent visits, students have to pay for the visitor's food
• Pea recalls personally serving food to visiting officials as a student — "This is slavery, just kidding"
• Celine thought the food was for the students but discovered it was only for the VIP visitors
• Graduation has its own fees: ribbons, printed invitations to attend your own graduation, and venue costs

Tuition and salary realities reveal why Filipinos leave the country ​

• Public school (Ara): free tuition but heavy fees on top; teachers earn only 23,000 pesos/month (~$460)
• Private school (Katherine): 14,000 pesos/semester (28,000/year) for accountancy, plus additional fees; accountants earn about 35,000 pesos/month (~$700)
• University (Felicia): free tuition under the Free Higher Education Act; marketing graduates can expect around 45,000 pesos/month (~$900)
• Private school (Kate): about 5,000 pesos per exam period, totaling 20,000-21,000/semester (40,000/year) for radiology technology; rad techs earn between 23,500 and 81,000 pesos/month
• Celine: also free tuition; teachers start at 23,000 pesos/month

Having a degree doesn't guarantee a relevant job ​

• Graduates often end up as call center agents, 7-Eleven workers, or department store staff earning minimum wage
• Pea emphasizes this is why the Philippines exports so many nurses, teachers, and OFWs (overseas Filipino workers)
• She pushes back on the stereotype that Filipinas are purely "career-oriented" gold diggers: "Most of us are very very traditional — we want the role of being a housewife and a mother and we're not afraid to be that person," but economic reality forces women to earn degrees just to land jobs at malls like Robinson's and Ayala

The video ends with one of Pea's signature comedy skits ​

• A fake "Filipina bot" customer service call where a guy calls tech support about his Filipino bot model ("Tempo 2000")
• The bot activates its "temper routine" when he looks at another female bot, gives silent treatment for hours, and takes cash from his wallet
• The tech suggests the "scamming subroutine" is hardwired into newer models
• They offer to trade her in for a Western model — the "Karen 2023" is so cheap "they're practically giving it away"

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