VIOLENCE NO MORE

Dear friends, especially the Iskolars ng Bayan,

I am deeply moved by the wonderful, happy, but short life of our ka-Isko, Cris Anthony Garcia Mendez, a 4th Year Public Administration student in the National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG) of the University of the Philippines-Diliman. Quoted from his Friendster account, and a blog:

Picking up a line from a Tagalog movie, he would describe himself as “Parang karinderia na bukas sa lahat ng gustong kumain.” - Touched by An Angel

A friend of Cris shares the story of him described as "Ang lalaking mukhang bao ang buhok"

Quoted from "The Warrior Lawyer":

...This is not the first time a U.P. student has died while undergoing frat initiations and, I fear, it won’t be the last...

...A frat (and sorority) culture is deeply woven into the fabric of the political and social life of U.P. There are dozens of recognized fraternities and sororities in Diliman and other campuses within the U.P. system. There are Greek-letter societies, regional organizations and professional groups, usually practicing secret initiations and rites which, on occasion, can turn ugly and brutal...

...Frats provide a sense of security, belonging and some stature, however dubious , to its members. Many also boast of a formidable network of alumni which one can tap into after graduation...

...But fraternity initiations, as Filipinos understand them, are risky undertakings. Violence is a given. Paddling or the hitting of the legs, usually the back of the thighs, with a wooden paddle, is commonplace. Everyday items, like leather belts and cigarettes, can become instruments of pain. Added to this is the psychological torture and, at times, social humiliation, inflicted on applicants or “neophytes” ...

...Thus, a neophyte is an accident waiting to happen.

Quoted from "Blue Pencil Chronicles":

...This is not the first time this happened. And surely this won’t be the last time. But not if somebody does something to put a definite end to it. Iskolar ng Bayan pumapatay ng kapwa Iskolar ng Bayan. I don’t think there’s any more direct way of putting it.

There clearly is a need to review the guidelines for fraternities in the university. Yes, there are those who really contribute to the good of the nation and become good citizens of the Philippines afterwards, but surely there are also those who contribute nothing but violence and frat wars left and right. It’s scary. The people whom you so sweetly called your “brothers” are the same one’s who will end your sweet life...

As a student and a constituent of the UP System, I deeply fear of having a secure, but short, brutish and nasty life of being in a fraternity (or sorority). Even you have that "circle of friends", you get into the fact that if you were not careful on the choice you have made, you will get into serious trouble that may even make your life the price of these actions; your dignity, your self-esteem, your happiness, your faith, your soul. What's with intoxicating liquor, cigarettes, videoke nights, tambay-tambay, and even prohibited drugs, anyway? What's with contradicting issues between these kinds of organizations? What's with these fraternities and sororities, which make physical and psychological attacks their form of entry?

There is something wrong happening into the "wonderful life" of being in UP. Most, but not all, fraternities and sororities are being condemned of violent forms of initiation. However, students involved in these forms of initiation become voiceless to speak up on how things were done to them and how these affect their whole system of being.

Many say "to be able to graduate in UP, or any other State University, you should be into a fraternity or sorority to have a sense of being in a 'circle' where you can find a sense of 'security' and 'closeness'."

I firmly say this is false. Ma'am Liza, our dorm manager, and a friend, who works in UP Mindanao for a decade or so, said to me that some graduates here in UP Min haven't joined a frat or a soro, but still came out successful and very happy.

Therefore, fraternities and sororities is not necessary to be made as one of your entreés on your buffet table - the things that make up who you are in which other people will be satisfied at.

So, what are these kinds of brotherhoods and sisterhoods truly for?

I was observing the numerous activities and contributions that the recognised brotherhoods and sisterhoods here in UPMin have made. There I was seeing one of these as a great one...
I truly give a two-thumbs-up to the Omega Alpha (ΩΑ) Fraternity and Sorority, one of the youngest frats and soros in UP. I truly appreciate their unity and their form of thinking of a "just society through solidarity (sans the mere violent prospect)". Some of our upper-class ka-CompSci are members of ΩΑ but, they are very, very generous and considerate. Their activities (e.g. booths) during major UPMin activities, are truly beneficial, like the Pencil Drive during the past UPCAT. The pencils that the examinees have had are given to less fortunate children studying in far flung areas.

But still, I give respect to other brotherhoods and sisterhoods here in UP Min, namely:

• Latagaw-Lamdag Society (LLS)
  
• Alpha Phi Omega (ΑΦΩ) International Service Fraternity and Sorority
  
• Beta Sigma (βΣ) Fraternity & Sigma Beta (Σβ) Sorority
  
• Pi Sigma-Pi Sigma Delta (ΠΣ-ΠΣΔ) Confraternity
• Kappa Epsilon (ΚΕ) Fraternity and Sorority
  

*I give the Greek-lettered societies their Greek-lettered initials, as a sign of respect.

However, I still say a BIG "NO" joining fraternities. That is my real choice. I stand firm to it.

Quoted from "The Journal of The Jester-in-Exile"

Bakit kayo tahimik, mga Iskolar ng Bayan?

Papayagan ba nating patuloy na lamang ang karahasang nasasapit ng ating mga kapwa mag-aaral dahil sa mga fraternity?

Kung hindi tayo kikilos, sino pa?

Kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa?

Ang pagtatagumpay ng kasamaan ay dahil lamang sa pananahimik ng mabuting tao. Papayag ba kayo nito?

Oo ang sagot ninyo?

"OPO", hindi lamang "OO", dahil ang respeto at pag-aalaga sa karapatan ng bawat nilalang ay kapakanan natin.

STOP FRATERNITY & SORORITY VIOLENCE!
RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF EVERY STUDENT!

We pray for you, Cris, our fellow Isko. May you be embraced by God's loving arms.

KENNETH

P.S.
Please send more prayers and thoughtful messages to him through his Friendster Account.
See fora on Frat Violence in PinoyExchange and Peyups.