Saturday, March 10, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
On Hazing
On February 25, 2005, I was able to survive fraternity hazing... Then again on May 6 of the same year... Pledges were many in our chapter and to my amusement I hazed them. I acted as a Master Initiator for a petitioning chapter, and eventually became a Grand Chancellor of our chapter, and I hazed pledges all throughout until one pledge almost collapse in-front of me, telling us for the first time that he has heart ailments. I thought to myself, if this pledge died right there, we're fucking dead. So I stopped but my fraternity continues to do so... And I can't blame them.
Fast forward to present-day, on my blog post and tweet, I have observed that there are already 12 recorded hazing deaths since the time I joined a fraternity. What's bullshit about it, is that most fraternities deny that hazing is part of the initiation process (never squeal). But more bullshit are coming from schools, denying that there are fraternities operating inside their campus and/or forcing students to sign waivers not to join fraternities as if it is hazing prevention. Bullshit from the government is of course inevitable, every time a high-profile hazing case come up, the blame goes to the lack of "teeth" of RA8941 The Anti-Hazing Law with the promise to study and make changes. But nothing has been done.
The Blame Game
The number one to blame are the hazing victims themselves. Hazing is almost self-inflicted, pain may not be welcomed, however it is consciously received, over and over again. Second, would be the fraternity, hazing rules must be in strictest adherence. Lastly, I blame the society in general, the schools and the lack of research and support groups for fraternities, hazing, and other similar topics.
WWOJD? What Would OJ Do?
To be continued....
Fast forward to present-day, on my blog post and tweet, I have observed that there are already 12 recorded hazing deaths since the time I joined a fraternity. What's bullshit about it, is that most fraternities deny that hazing is part of the initiation process (never squeal). But more bullshit are coming from schools, denying that there are fraternities operating inside their campus and/or forcing students to sign waivers not to join fraternities as if it is hazing prevention. Bullshit from the government is of course inevitable, every time a high-profile hazing case come up, the blame goes to the lack of "teeth" of RA8941 The Anti-Hazing Law with the promise to study and make changes. But nothing has been done.
The Blame Game
The number one to blame are the hazing victims themselves. Hazing is almost self-inflicted, pain may not be welcomed, however it is consciously received, over and over again. Second, would be the fraternity, hazing rules must be in strictest adherence. Lastly, I blame the society in general, the schools and the lack of research and support groups for fraternities, hazing, and other similar topics.
WWOJD? What Would OJ Do?
To be continued....
Incomplete List of Fraternity Hazing Deaths in the Philippines
Re-post from:
http://hazingpreventionphilippines.blogspot.com/2011/09/philippine-hazing-deaths.html
1. Gonzalo Mariano Albert of Upsilon Sigma Phi in 1954
2. Ferdinand Tabtab of Alpha Phi Omega in 1967
3. Mel Honasan of Beta Sigma in 1976
4. Arbel Liwag of Beta Sigma in 1984
5. Lenny Villa of Aquila Legis in 1991
6. Joselito Hernandez of Scintilla Juris in 1992
7. Mark Roland Martin of Epsilon Chi in 1995
8. Alexander Miguel Icasiano of Alpha Phi Beta in 1998
9. Marlon Villanueva of Alpha Phi Omega in 2006
10. Cris Anthony Mendez of Sigma Rho in 2007
11. Jan Angelo Dollete of Alpha Phi Omega in 2007
12. Chester Paulo Abracias of Tau Gamma Phi in 2008
13. John Daniel L. Samparada of Tau Gamma Phi in 2009
14. Elvis Sinaluan of Scout Royal Brotherhood in 2009
15. Noel Borja of Tau Gamma Phi in 2010
16. EJ Karl Intia of Alpha Phi Omega in 2010
17. Daniel Lorenz Jacinto in 2010
18. Ronel de Guzman of Tau Gamma Phi in 2011
19. Nor Silongan of Tau Gamma Phi in 2011
(Content from various news organizations)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Adding the latest victim...
20. Marvin Reglos
- 1st year Law student at San Beda College
- Pledged Lambda Rho Beta Fraternity
- Died February 19, 2012
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
The Art of Flight: 7 Tips for a Hassle-Free Check-In
For Domestic Travel in the Philippines
1. During the passenger season, to avoid the long queues, take advantage of the web check-in offered by major airlines and be there 3 hours before the flight for there are still long queues on the airport entrances. If it's not passenger season check-in allowed until 45 minutes before the flight.
2. Don't have check-in baggage? Look for the express lane!
3. Smile and greet the clerk at the check-in counter which are often female hotties. Be courteous and friendly but unfortunately, company policies prohibit them in giving out of personal contact information.
4. You need not to show the printed plane ticket at the counter. However, identification cards with name and photo are required for check-in. Membership IDs are often accepted and in some cases, credit or ATM cards or other documents that only have a name without a photo may be accepted. But save yourself the hassle and bring an ID!
5. If a credit card was used to purchase the plane ticket, show the credit card upon check-in. If the owner of the credit card is not a passenger, have a photocopy of the credit card used and also a copy of an ID of the credit card owner.
6. For maximum seating comfort: Ask to be seated on the window seat of the spacious emergency exit row or the row in-front of it.
7. To avoid glare from the sun: If you are flying northbound, between 6am to 11am ask be seated on the left side of the plane, 1pm to 4pm ask for the right side. Flying southbound, between 6am to 11am ask be seated on the right side of the plane, 1pm to 4pm ask for the left side. (See map for the geographically challenged)
Bonus Tip: Check-in baggage has a maximum weight allowance. To avoid penalty fees when your baggage is more than the maximum, look for fellow passengers that has a few or no check-in baggage at all, be friendly and ask nicely to check-in altogether so you would have additional baggage allowance.
1. During the passenger season, to avoid the long queues, take advantage of the web check-in offered by major airlines and be there 3 hours before the flight for there are still long queues on the airport entrances. If it's not passenger season check-in allowed until 45 minutes before the flight.
2. Don't have check-in baggage? Look for the express lane!
3. Smile and greet the clerk at the check-in counter which are often female hotties. Be courteous and friendly but unfortunately, company policies prohibit them in giving out of personal contact information.
4. You need not to show the printed plane ticket at the counter. However, identification cards with name and photo are required for check-in. Membership IDs are often accepted and in some cases, credit or ATM cards or other documents that only have a name without a photo may be accepted. But save yourself the hassle and bring an ID!
5. If a credit card was used to purchase the plane ticket, show the credit card upon check-in. If the owner of the credit card is not a passenger, have a photocopy of the credit card used and also a copy of an ID of the credit card owner.
6. For maximum seating comfort: Ask to be seated on the window seat of the spacious emergency exit row or the row in-front of it.
7. To avoid glare from the sun: If you are flying northbound, between 6am to 11am ask be seated on the left side of the plane, 1pm to 4pm ask for the right side. Flying southbound, between 6am to 11am ask be seated on the right side of the plane, 1pm to 4pm ask for the left side. (See map for the geographically challenged)
Bonus Tip: Check-in baggage has a maximum weight allowance. To avoid penalty fees when your baggage is more than the maximum, look for fellow passengers that has a few or no check-in baggage at all, be friendly and ask nicely to check-in altogether so you would have additional baggage allowance.
Monday, January 2, 2012
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