The new fraternities were formed in the 1960′s as a response to students yearning to join a peaceful fraternity outside the violence and intense rivalry among the old fraternities. But old fraternities were jealous as a result of their waning numbers and began picking on the new ones that threatened their existence. At first, the new fraternities were passive on the abuse of the old fraternities. But patience and cool heads can not always prevail when there is too much abuse to take. The new fraternities struck back and the rest is history as we know it.

Then Martial Law came, the old fraternities bonded into groups which tend to support the government as most of their alumni members are identified with the dictator. From the old fraternities, I can vividly remember that Beta Sigma was not among them that supported, one way or another, the dictatorship. In the campus politics, old fraternities are identified with dictatorship (or just stayed passive) while the new (1960′s)fraternities with Beta Sigma stood steadfast against the dictatorship.

When the dictatorship was overthrown, the different groups of alliances of fraternities also changed. Some 1960s fraternities allied themselves with old ones, and vice versa. But one thing I noticed, if a member of a fraternity joins the political elite of the country—alliances are made for convenience and drastically changes the shape the political scene in the campus in accordance with the dictates of the alumni members.

I just hope that the old frats should change their outlook on other fraternities and make amends with them. Otherwise, the cycle of violence will just go on and the wounds of hatred goes deeper beyond repair. I am so ashamed to be called a christian with all these fraternity violence happening in my alma mater.

I was one of the most naive ones who thought that college life will be much easier if I belonged to the greek lettered group than alone. The main problem was, they didn’t like me. With that in mind, I packed my things and kept going in the direction that my province-based parents expected me to go.

Thanks for your article, sir. It did bring me back to that dark time of self-doubt and self-recrimination, but it made me smile also, as I realize that I was saved from what-could-have-happened-to-me.

I do hope many more UP students read this.

The death of Cris adds yet another chapter to UP’s history of pointless fraternity violence. Another promising ‘iskolar ng bayan’ dying for membership to a so-called respectable and influential fraternity raises questions on what is truly the role of this kind of organizations to society and to the self.

But bear in mind, fraternities and sororities are not all the same. Let us not judge so hastily.

As a member of a nationalist and alternative sisterhood, we stand together in condemning the barbaric acts of hazing and frat wars. We should mobilize the youth into becoming more responsible and critical citizens of this country instead of lining them up as punching bags. We do not mold future leaders by taking away their right to live and stripping away their potentials.

Fraternity and sorority members, let us prove them wrong by serving society and fighting the real demons of the prevailing oppressive structure that has tolerated hierarchy and abuse to the weak.

Break away from the tradition! Rebel for the worthy cause! If we are to die, it is better to pass away as heroes and not just victims… Let us recall the victims of political killings who had served the people selflessly and fought courageously for till the very end. These are those we should look up to and not the known frat or soro alumni in their comfy seats in the administration.

On joining frats and soros, choose and act wisely, isko…

Align with an organization which would not leave you for dead but would advance your character and productivity through a life-long brotherhood and sisterhood and unified commitment to serve the people.

NOTE: Thank you so much for your very cool classes at CMC, Sir Teodoro! I really loved your enlightening lectures but unfortunately it did not really reflect on my midterm grade for Journ ethics during my last year as undergrad. But it’s better acted out than just written, right? haha… More power, sir!

Wouldn’t it be great if UP can rise above all this strife and get the students to respect human rights? Wouldn’t it be great if UP students can see themselves as part of a greater fraternity that fights social injustices and the rights of others.

There are so many things worth dying for… a fraternity is not one of them..

ABJ
UP 1988