On several occasions we see groups on young people (usually sporting the same fashion) hanging out in public parks and other places. Sometimes these groups are seen walking the streets late at night or engaging in some other activity. On my part I would not hesitate to conclude that most (if not all) of these groups are the fraternities our city government is currently on the task of regulating.
In 1995, around 13 years ago, I fell victim to a fraternity initiation. I was with some friends in City High. We were playing around during morning recess (around 9AM or so) when I noticed a person clad in a black coat standing a few meters from where we were. Naiveté getting the best of us (we were high school freshmen. What can we do?) we continued on our playful banter until this person came down and grabbed me on the face. His tobacco-smelling hand completely smothered me as he flung me around so I would be facing him. Accused of throwing stones at him, I vehemently denied his accusation and even spoke words I really shouldn’t have. Had I been any wiser I would have known that I actually offered him a challenge. He charged at me, fists flying in all directions with one of my friends (Andro Salinas… son of Ptr. Art Salinas of BCFBC) getting hit squarely on the face. The next thing I knew is that we were in the bathroom and I was getting pounded. I was able to place a few hits but come on, what chance does a twelve year old have against someone two times bigger than I am, with his gang looking on and preparing to jump in should someone come to my rescue? When he finally satisfied himself with my broken face, he ran and escaped through an opening which is now the overpass between City High and UC. Carpenters building a two-storey building nearby gave chase but were attacked with rocks his companions brought with them. They fulfilled their purpose and escaped without harm. It was only when I got older that I realized that it wasn’t a random act of violence. It was a fraternity initiation. That knowledge just made my moment of vulnerability even more painful. The NBI got a few suspects but I was later told that I couldn’t make a positive identification so no one was charged.
Twelve years later, at around 9PM or so (see the irony here?) I again fell victim to a would-be fraternity free-for-all. I was on my way up Session Road, Yellow Cab side when this person in your typical hip hop fashion came up to me, forcefully pushed me and said something really forgettable (old age is catching up on me). But moments before that I already noticed him through my peripheral vision (it’s not a super power. Everyone has one.) surrounded by his group. So when he came up to me I just looked at him at walked on. I constantly maintained my cool, walked on and carefully planned an escape route while occasionally looking behind me should I be followed. Even with my size and ability I don’t dream of single-handedly taking out a whole gang like we see in the movies. That was a challenge, plain and simple, thinking that I would retaliate and throw the first punch so he can tell the police that I started the whole thing. He probably was getting initiated into a fraternity and had to prove his worth by picking a fight and holding his own. Had I been as naïve as I was before, I would have accepted it and would have ended up sprawled on the street (you can’t expect total strangers to come to your rescue.), running bleeding or worse, dead. I don’t know, am I the perfect target to a fraternity initiation? Or was I just at the wrong place and at the wrong time for at least two occasions in my lifetime? I’ll never know. All I know is that there are groups here which desire nothing but to hurt others and gain respect out of fear.
A fraternity is a group of people having the same ideals, beliefs and interests. Being given a negative connotation the term has been associated with gang wars, hazing, violence and crime. It is in fact a brotherly relationship which should have been a very positive thing. It is synonymous to a fellowship; a civic organization; a barkada (without the negative influence) or even a family in our own non-legal jargon. But for what purpose do young people join fraternities or plain street gangs? They do it for mutual protection, because they themselves feel unsafe when they are on their own. They do it for belonging because they do not have their own identity without their gang. They do it for acceptance because they themselves are rejected by society or their families for causes due to their own fault or due to circumstances we can never have control over. And some do it because of the wealth they gain by reason of the various crimes they commit because they are too lazy to work or are too impatient to wait. Come to think of it, these people are not to be feared. They are to be rescued. We can see here the effect of moral depravity; the degradation of the family. This is the effect of racism, cultural insensitivity, corruption and lack of sincere bonds between people. Even in my own environment, friends of mine have been beaten to a pulp just to gain initiation. What kind of sick, twisted and corrupted form of brotherhood do they wish to create when they humiliate, hurt or induce into wrongdoing those who wish to become a part of their so called “botherhood”? During the course of my growth I have known people who were robbed, stabbed, mauled and even killed by these groups.
What I learned from experience and observation is that we are assured of eternal security because of our salvation through Christ, but just because we have that blessed assurance does not mean that it’s okay to be careless. “Kung oras ko, oras ko…” is a popular saying among us. Just because we know that this life is temporary doesn’t mean that we take it for granted. Let’s not take our personal safety and wellbeing too lightly. The Father has provided us with able minds and hearts to determine which is right and wrong. Never venture out into the world thinking that no harm can come to you. God said that we should not fear those who can harm the body but not the soul, but fear rather who can destroy both body and soul. So do not fear them. But do not be careless either. Evildoers will not think twice about doing you harm should they pick you as a target among hundreds of random people. The logical thing to do is not to be a target in the first place.
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