No brotherhood could equal a life.

To strengthen the ties

We were all shocked when our school principal, Dr.
Fabio M. Macalling Jr. announced that there are Tumauini
National High School students who were recruited in a
fraternity. Knowing its effects to students, the school principal
made an assertion that no students must be involved in such
activity. This is a serious note that all of us must observe
because it could be matter of life and death.
Fraternity is striking to teenagers for it promotes
brotherhood and camaraderie. Although fraternities are built
with unified goals and aspirations, the way it was formed
involves callous and inhumane processes like initiation or
hazing
In the previous years, we have heard of criminal
cases involving fraternity men.
Anchored to this is the recent death of a UST student
who undergone initiation rites.
Whenever we hear the word fraternity, we always
associate it to the word hazing. Usually, hazing is done by frat
members to assess whether a fraternity applicant is deserving
of a position. However, the act of hazing is inhumane and it
should not be practiced because it does not measure the
commitment of one person to an organization.
between, it is very much needed that Trust and Respect would
be earned but, it is not an alternative to physically, mentally
and emotionally hurt or abuse someone for you to test how
trustworthy he is.
Hazing Incidents causes students to feel at danger especially
that other schools do support Fraternity and/or Sorority. It is
the right of the learners to have peace while having the
treatment of Education. Development is supposed to be
accepted by the students but with the permission given for
doing these cruel and senseless acts, students feel fear and
despair inside the school.
New Anti-Hazing Law seeking stiffer punishments for
Violators is expected to eradicate hazing. Vigilance of parents,
school authorities and students, recognized fraternities, public
information and education will help respond to hazing as a
painful public menace.
No more Horacio-related case. This Issue should not be taken
lightly as well as the punishment that would be given to those
violators. Hazing is not a solution to know whom you can trust
and it is not a thing to endure by the youth just to be admitted
or accepted by the people.

With the expected benefits of joining fraternities like

connections and protection, many hopefuls are willing to
undergo the excruciating initiation. In the past decades, we
witnessed how hazing caused death to hundreds of victims.

Current talks about hazing was triggered with the

case of Horacio Tomas III, a Law Student of UST who
suffered an unfortunate death after the fraternity hazing last
October. It was reported that he voluntarily wants to be
admitted to the schools fraternity, known as Aegis Jvris, and
it was said that it was not the fraternity leaders intention to
kill him. Nevertheless, the fact that they conducted hazing as a
way of recruiting members is more than enough for them to be
punished given that Anti-Hazing law is still existing.

According to Republic Act 8049 or the Anti-Hazing

law under former President Fidel V. Ramos, all hazing
activities must be prohibited. This law is made as a precaution
to the rise of hazing victims in the country.

The said act was also considered as the hope for

hazing victims and their families. Howbeit it did not stop the
brutal rites. On the other hand, it was pointed out by a Former
Law Professor and a Lawyer that amendment is very much
needed in the anti-hazing law and stated that it is an act
regulating not prohibiting hazing. Past cases related to
Horacios was mostly not given justice
Brotherhood and sisterhood are the main point of this
Fraternity and Sorority. Before admitting to the group, you
must go under their hands, following orders and most
specifically enduring the physical, mental and emotional pain
they give.