BIG BROTHER

BIG

BROTHER

Kim Libarnes Illustration by Christine Mae Alferan

I remember when I took shelter behind the beloved love fats of my mother and used it to my defense—a human shield, capable of serving justice against the big neighborhood bully who wouldn’t return my basketball even after several minutes of screaming ambi ba! I, with swollen eyes ready to burst into an embarrassing scene of tears and whines, was saved with just seconds to spare as mother, with one hand on mine and the other squeezing the rosy ear of the now-pleading tormentor, drags the latter towards his home in another episode of David vs. Goliath guest featuring my superwoman who saved, yet again, my bum from a busted gut and possibly one or two black eyes. Two fingers were enough for her to silence Ramon, while I struggled using all ten of mine just to try and grasp his bat-like arms.

Flash forward some 20 — maybe 21 years after and we come across bigger bullies, not just your typical wedgiegiving, locker-stuffing, wet-willie fingering jocks that take delight out of beating you around but the real deal; from teachers that harass, buy-and-sell scammers, and even down to underwearstealing ex-girlfriends. Unfortunately, not all bullies are scared of our mothers. This danger paves the way for a gap, a void that is yet to be filled by a shield, a pillar that provides safety and reassurance to the oppressed.

With modern technological advancements upon us, millennials and Gen Z alike can now seek refuge behind substitute prosecutors, cutting through the hassle of filing complaints in the turtle-paced offices that shroud our justice system. This, with the likes of Facebook confession pages such

as SumbongCarlos, and Batang Elitis, and even go-to complaint desk and internet-hit Raffy Tulfo in Action, have become the trend of the so-called ‘alternative justice,’ with quick-paced action as its biggest upside. That results in not only a calmed mind but an avenue for the path of righteousness to take its place.

They are all over social media; confession-style accounts have become a part of students’ freedom of speech. They’re a hit for a reason—anonymity, erasing the fear of retribution. Anonymity provides a mask that conceals each person’s identity, crucial in defending oneself from the wouldbe consequences of standing up against Goliaths. The likes of SumbongCarlos and Batang Elitis have revealed more than just truths, but crucial revelations that shake up the minds of the student body. A simple Facebook message to the page and there you have it, behind you, an army of social media warriors backing you up, their personal experiences as weapons, charging their way and defending your case as if they were a union of attorneys ready to push a verdict against bullies. Leaving no trace, you become shrouded in mystery—the anonymity it leaves serves as a shield assuring safety and protection, and for those used to being pushed around in the dirt, these two are the bread and butter that keeps their head at ease.

For those with a little bit of boldness in them, Idol Raffy may just have the right drink for you. With over 8.7 million Youtube subscribers, Raffy Tulfo in Action’s reality-based frenzy of societal dilemmas reflecting the unfortunate circumstances of the humble Filipino is not only a viral delight to netizens but is also reflective of how speedy this alternative justice system is compared to a trip to the local police station’s help desk. Online scammers? Cheating housewives? Ipa-Tulfo yan! Idol Raffy’s method leans more on the sympathy for the oppressed, toward the emotional and subjective basis of justice, with Tulfo as the middleman in sorting out both sides, meeting them halfway in an attempt to fix the problem. With some cases a bit peculiar than normal, it’s no wonder my weekends are spent on some good Tulflix and chill.

For now, it may be just a band-aid solution to a bigger problem. The inability of our justice system to truly embody its role casts a heavy note. No matter how entertaining, these alternatives must not be the future norm of how we deal with society’s villains and offenders who take no shame in their roles as the bullies, hindering our nation’s economy and progress, unafraid and undaunted by the law. For now, SumbongCarlos, Batang Elitis, and even Idol Raffy serve as our justice crusaders, heroes that are there for the oppressed Juan and Juana — a big brother that stands up for us. TC