MANILA, August 13, 2012—Fraternities or frats must stick to their noble objectives of fostering brotherhood among members and peers without resorting to physical violence, say youth leaders.
Peter Eric Pardo, youth coordinator of Parañaque diocese and a Law graduate pointed-out that fraternity per se is not bad because it was formed to foster brotherhood among law students.
Pardo said an incident like death due to hazing happens when frat activities are not registered as a legal activity because Law schools cannot monitor these kinds of actions beyond the prescribed activities for fraternities.
He emphasized that it is paramount to change some misconceptions about fraternities as many regard membership to a fraternity as a route to a successful life in university and to a profitable career in Law later on.
Pardo said students do not have to be members of fraternities to succeed in their studies, even without it, he said a student can survive.
“To change the notion of fraternities and use its real objective which is to establish brotherhood among peers is the best way to avoid physical violence,” Pardo said further.
For Roselle Cortes, a 3rd year San Beda Law student and the youth coordinator of the Diocese of Novaliches, entering Law school is an exciting experience because students are able to meet new friends and above all, it satisfies a hunger for learning.
“But early this year, it was heartbreaking to see the videos on the death of a fellow Bedan due to hazing. And just two weeks ago, another neophyte student died. Why should that be the case? Would-be-lawyers are the one’s breaking the law,” Cortes lamented.
She pointed out the death was unreasonable, pointless and no logic at all. A Law student must be others-centered, inspiring and God-glorifying, she said.
Late July, the National Youth Commission (NYC) condemned the hazing incident in San Beda College of Law where a first-year law student was brought to a hospital in Cavite and died from alleged hazing injuries.
Marc Andrei Marcos was the second law student from San Beda College of Law that had fallen victim of hazing this year, following the first incident last February wherein Marvin Reglos also suffered the same fate.
Marcos was laid to rest last August 5 at Ramos Memorial Park in Tarlac. (Jandel Posion)
