Culture of Violence

By Ma. Jesusa F. Constantino

No Pain. No Gain.

                "Kaya na ninyo! Naagian na namo!" This is a common line of most fraternity and sorority members to a new recruit, who undergoes an initiation ceremony.

                A whole new world awaits him/her if he/she passes the "entrance test".

                "Fraternity and sorority is a social, professional or honorary society for males and females respectively," defined Atty. Samuel Lezama, a member of Demolay, a prominent fraternity.

                Mr. Pascual Mondragon, a private high school principal, said of his fraternity experience, "Actually [an] organization is a venue where you can practice the full development of an integrated personality." Mondragon is a member of Beta Epsilon of Siliman University.

                Considering that being in a fraternity or sorority is not just for fun or meeting new friends,  suffice it to say, there's nothing wrong in making fun and meeting people.  What's wrong is the initiation ceremony which is frequently violent and mentally degrading.  Some also say, it includes erotic element, because of this, they call an initiation hazing.

                According to R.A. 8049 or the Anti Hazing Law, Section I: Hazing as used in this act of initiation rite or practice as a prerequisite for admission into membership in a fraternity, humiliating situations such as forcing him/her to do menial, silly, foolish and similar tasks or activities or otherwise subjecting him/her on her physical and psychological suffering or injury.

                However, members who conduct an initiation to a neophyte defend that through hazing they can prove one's endurance and thus develop loyalty to the group.

                A 27-year old member of Scout Royal Brotherhood (SRB), Jumala H. Gatpolintan, said that, "Part sa among initiation kanang pag 'paddle'. Blindfolded na ang mga 'pledge' (the neophyte).  Ang mga number sa paghapak either sa lap, knee or buttocks is based on the book of the group."

                Members of the Akhro fraternity, Jerome Bayot and Blitz Bensolan, revealed in an interview that hazing may come in any form, depending on the different groups.  Some may come in the form of paddling, tedious cleaning, slapping the face, feeding of food mixed in absurd container, and serving seniors.

                Bobe Alave, 39 years old, a member of Beta Sigma Cebu Chapter when asked about his initiation experience, recalled that he received many blows on the hips and thighs.  He was wearing tight jeans, by the time he was finished, the jeans bulged to vast proportion and he could hardly walk home. "Dili gyud ko katindog ato nga time." 

                What's the meaning of fraternity, by the way? Brotherhood, isn't it? Even I ask myself: Would you hurt your own brother or your own flesh and blood? Naturally, the answer is NO.  So they should remove the word fraternity from those organizations and change them to ruffian which is better.

                Now fraternities have to prove themselves so as not to involve in frat wars, rumbles, killings and violence.  They have been facing questionable existence for some years now due to a number of crimes members are linked with.

                Just a few months ago, freshman law student Marvin Reglos of San Beda College became its latest victim.

CONCRETE MEASURES

                On the news about Reglos's death, Senator Merriam Defensor-Santiago, however said in the statement that, "Republic Act No. 8049 must undergo a comprehensive review because it has failed to stop hazing within fraternities, sororities and student organizations since its last enactment in 1995."

                San Carlos City Police Office Operation Officer P/Insp. Roman Salazar, Jr. said that since the time he was assigned in the city, he did not encounter any hazing case.  Based on the records, it was in the year 2001, when a hazing case was recorded in the city.

                Salazar emphasized that they still need to establish a "fratwatch" to monitor fraternity especially on the issue of hazing which caused the death of Reglos in spite of the peace talks last October 2011.

                Interestingly, there are many organizations that do not have some sort of rite of passage for new members.  However, a major difficulty in curbing hazing is the fact that it is very difficult to prove that it exists until somebody dies because of it.  Their wanting so badly to belong makes neophytes not say anything, while some senior members and alumni tend to cover up the misdeeds.

                Gatpolintan (SRB member) admits that cases of extremity during the initiation do breed contempt on the part of the initiates, thus resulting to a twisted kind of revenge wherein the incoming members are the victims. The culture is simply put this way, "Kung gin hapak mo ko ug dos por dos, ang incoming, bunalan ko ug tres por tres."

                This vicious cycle becomes harsher and harsher and would have to be stopped before the finish line is crossed.

Hostility breeds hostility.  The cycle continues.
                The big question could well be asked to the entire fraternity system, "Why do you need to hurt someone to call him or her a brother or sister? What does the fraternity promote, that members have to prove that they are man enough before they can be rightfully admitted to the brotherhood?

                The culture of violence had gotten worse over the years.  But while they only use their fist in the past, today's fratmen use deadly weapons.  The violence that fraternities find themselves in shows that they have not served their function and ceased to be an organization that helps mold the character of students, of transforming them into wholesome and empowered citizens.

                I am not saying that it's necessary to ban fraternities because it plays an important role as institutions that can help enhance student's social skills and serve as training ground that complement what the normal classroom set-up offers in terms of learning opportunities.  But because of the enduring culture of violence, I do not think that they have a role in this society anymore.  I can't see how fraternities can help produce good citizens if they cling to such culture of violence.

                The issue is not about fraternities, but about the lingering culture that is in the system.  What is worse, even in the PNP, this culture is practiced.  Last year, there was PNP Policemen hazing in Laguna. Videos show the victims being forced to eat fistful of red hot chilies by their trainers and ordered to remove their pants and have chillies rubbed on their genitals and buttocks, causing them to cry in pain.

TIME FOR CHANGE

                We should not violate laws of the civil society just to become brothers.  There are more concrete and productive activities.  We should go for positive initiation rites which provide an environment of safety but still offer real challenges.

                Constitutions and by laws of the fraternities have to undergo amendments to conform to the needs of the time.

                Finally, individuals must decide to change behaviors to create the desired organizational culture, though it's the hardest step is change.

                The good news?  Culture change is possible, but change is not pretty; change is not easy and culture change requires understanding and commitment.