Fostering brotherhood

While we were on our way home from a town in Northern Cebu for a quick getaway with my family, we were stuck in a traffic jam. I initially thought it was because of an unmanaged intersection. It turned out that a part of the lane was occupied for a funeral procession. There's nothing really new about that, but what made it odd were men in white with bandanas around their heads and a paddle in their hands. They constantly slapped the paddle against their palms while walking, as if trying to intimidate those who are not part of their clique.

I was told then that fraternity fosters brotherhood. It forms a certain type of bond that others cannot find in ordinary groups. The price to pay to enter this unique and rare circle is also expensive. Either you are pledged by another person, usually a relative who is also part of the group or you enter of your own will.

Many times fraternities have denied that they have initiation rites such as a hazing activity in order to join them. In fact, they present themselves as a group that cares for the community by doing clean-up drives and donating to compensate for whatever the government lacks. However, it is rather a gray area with the information that is present now.

They found a student buried in Cavite, dead after an alleged hazing activity with a fraternity. This raises again the discussion on whether groups like this justify their existence. Sometimes I often question why the element of pain is needed in order to be part of an exclusive group. We can also tread the analysis by looking at the word “brotherhood” where equates to being family members. Families don't hurt each other, you are also not hurt when you enter a family.

This issue has been going on since the 1950s, yet it keeps on coming back to haunt us. I feel for the family who has lost their child, brother, someone who is so dear to them. It is definitely not worth a life and certainly not worth the pain. We can also choose to take part in something big without risking our lives and without pain.

The authorities will have to circle back to finding those involved on that night of the said gathering where the crime was committed. In Cebu, the police are also looking for an alleged instructor of a university who was said to have taken part in another hazing incident. It's time the community evaluate the existence of these so-called brotherhoods and if their rites are really necessary.

As the Salilig and Baguio families turn to authorities to seek justice, I only wish that this would serve as a reminder. Men, who mostly run these fraternities should also ask themselves if they are willing to harm their family members just to prove their worth. I'm sure nobody in their right mind would say yes.