The Culture of Abuse and Violence

Since 1954, when the first hazing casualty was documented, at least 58 victims have reportedly passed away as a result of initiation ceremonies or hazing by fraternities and training facilities. The recent death of an Adamson University student John Matthew Salilig, at the hands of his presumed fraternity “brothers”, should serve as a wake-up call to everyone, particularly those having a relative enrolled in higher education in the Philippines. As a matter of fact, Salilig’s story is prompting other previously silenced individuals to speak out about how members of their own families were also victims.

in 1995. Even after RA No. 11053 was passed and revised in 2018 to include harsher penalties for hazing, the number of hazing-related fatalities continued to rise. Every time a particularly heinous case of hazing reaches the headlines, some lawmakers call for a complete ban on fraternities. A prohibition is expected to be established this year due to the practice’s fatal effects on Salilig and other fraternity applicants. Fraternities and other groups of a similar kind, however, never had a shortage of recruits despite the increasing reported deaths and fatalities. It’s not merely that they fulfill the intrinsic human need for belonging. They are also among the most dependable ways for an ambitious student to make the connections necessary for future success in the corporate sector, the government, and the professions.

Students, in my opinion, should not join fraternities and sororities, and if they do want to join fraternities and sororities, they should think about the initiation rites that will occur to them, if it is too bad and against the Republic Act 8049 or Anti-hazing law.

The purpose of these fraternities and organizations which is to empower brotherhood and lend a hand to those who are in need has to be emphasized in order to avoid those who abuse their power and position. The appeal of it is actually based on the aspirants’ understanding of the Filipino society. Only the change of the Philippines’ feudal culture will urge the fraternities to reform and put an end to the violence that many of them commit.

Yet those guilty for the hazing death of John Matthew Salilig and who have likely also harmed others should get the punishment they deserve, if only to show that the leniency murderers, abusers, torturers, and plunderers enjoy in our nation doesn’t apply to them. Lastly, the Anti-Hazing Law has to be amended and its deficiencies addressed. It is only possible to assume that both will lead to a decrease in the number of people who are victims of the culture of violence and impunity that disturbingly characterizes Filipino society as a whole.

As an editor-in-chief and student leader, I believe that hazing should be prohibited in our school since it is not only embarrassing but also hazardous, as demonstrated by the death of John Matthew Salilig.

Dear President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,

The Philippines is an agricultural country and according to the latest census of the Philippine Statistics Authority, we have 5.56 million farms covering 7.19 million hectares. The agricultural sector employed a total of 7.46 million males and 2.4 million females since 2019. With millions of Filipinos relying in this sector and with underlying issues faced by the agricultural industry, it is with plea that it is about time to appoint a full-time secretary for agriculture.

We have piling issues in the DA from the shortage of onions, egg prices are on the rise, sugar crisis, which affects the poorest of the poor. We are not questioning your capacity to lead this sector but appointing a secretary who is equipped with experience about agriculture will show a greater trust not just to your administration but to the Department of Agriculture as a whole. A full-time secretary who will devote his time for the welfare and development of DA.

We know that having you as the DA secretary is symbolic affirmation of your concern for the sector but you have bigger issues of the country to worry about and let others lead the DA. Someone who is hands-on, someone who can actually solve the problems, someone who is not distracted with other roles.

It is about time Mister President.

With utmost respect, THE DOVE PUBLICATION

Caring for the bullied

Bullying cases in the Philippines are so high that the nation ranked first among 70, leading to the realization that many of today’s youth are suffering, and that affects their characters and performance. We cannot just stand by and let this continue, but we should consider each of us a solution to stop it.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian noted that the World Health Organization (WHO) found that 40% or 4 out of 10 children aged 13 to 17 years old have suffered bullying, and when he asked Bernadette Madrid of the Child Protection Network Foundation in a Senate Hearing if it can be safely concluded that 17.5 million students underwent bullying, she answered in the affirmative. Countless children are being mistreated, mocked, attacked, and degraded and face severe consequences of bullying.

According to United Nations Children’s Fund, bullying causes lack of self-esteem, lack of concentration, poor academic performances, and potential psychological health problems such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal attempts, social shyness and fear of new communities. The youth are supposed to enjoy and learn in school, instead of undergoing these conflicts that are affecting their well-being and putting their that a bully’s actions reflect their experiences at home, that they are also struggling, which means they need care as well. In terms of bullying, as an education institution’s problem, a research study by the learners of the Bestlink College of the Philippines shows that victims of this issue cannot focus well in their quizzes and tests, exert less effort on their projects, and cannot do well in their performance tasks because it is hard for them to socialize.

To put an end to it, the Republic

Act No. 10627 or Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 must be strengthened, more guidance counselors should be hired in schools that render full service in counseling to learners and act as parent or guardian to them, and these bullied learners will be taken care of, and guide them too how to resolve their conflicts, and let them experience having quality time instead of fighting. With this innovation we will find ourselves at the bottom of the 70 countries with most bullying list.