Drop The Paddle.

Fraternities and Sororities.
They promise brotherhood/sisterhood, discipline, service and friendship. They promise to help one another at times of need, to be there to turn to when in hardships, to support each other in their endeavors. These are their common promises and ethos. Most Sororities branch out from fraternities, thus making them their female counterparts. They say they do medical missions, livelihood and outreach projects. So it seems.

Sounds great, right? But what's the catch? What does it take to be in this "brotherhood/sisterhood"? Well, let's start with the Fraternities. Most fraternities have initiation rites before you can join their "exclusive" group. First, you have to do EVERYTHING the Frat Masters/Leaders tells you, even if it embarrasses you or makes you commit crimes. Next, you have to pledge your undying loyalty to them even if you don't really know who they are. This includes giving up everything they want you to give, and even destroying their enemies, the other fraternities. Ultimately, they have to "discipline" you, force you into complete submission. This is usually done by Paddling - hitting your thighs with a great paddle until it turns violet and until it bleeds. This is to show "loyalty" to the Fraternity and to show that you are ready to remain in the club in good times or in bad. Now let's venture on the initiations for the ladies. It's quite the same actually, but with a wild twist at the end: RAPE. Their final initiations are to be gang-raped by common upper fratmen and leaders. This is to signify their "complete and utter submission" to the Sorority.

Is this brotherhood? Is this what true friendship is all about? Paddling? Gang-rape? Is this what they promised, what they had planned? I have friends who joined fraternities, and have even proudly shown their "initiation marks". It makes me sick, it makes me really really sick. To think these Fraternities/Sororities even have ethos and by-laws, but they allow this things to happen. Of course, it's an open secret that these things are being practiced. I asked one of those friends if they really allow females to be raped and he responded affirmatively, stating that he has female friends that have undergone such initiation. To add up, there have been recorded deaths by flagellation because of paddling and hazing. Or worse - murder because of turning their backs on the fraternity. There have been frat wars because of the most petty arguments, misunderstandings, or just for plain-old trouble-making.

What's the point of joining a group that doesn't respect you? What's the essence of a friendship that comes with a price? I think Fraternities and Sororities are some of the most non-sensible organizations in this world. They think it's cool and safe to be in a Fraternity/Sorority, but to tell you the truth, they even put themselves in a more dangerous position. We don't need to push somebody to the limit just to know if they are loyal, it's up to them to prove themselves if they are loyal. We don't need a fraternity to have friends, we can make one by being yourself, by being nice. We don't need a fraternity to get support, we can have all the support we want from our family and friends.

WE CAN FROM BROTHERHOOD WITHOUT FRATERNITIES, WE CAN BUILD SOCIETIES WITHOUT SORORITIES. WE CAN HAVE FRIENDSHIPS WITHOUT TESTS, WE CAN BUILD FAMILIES WITHOUT INITIATIONS.

Think. Do we really need to be in these organizations?
Act. Do your part and warn others about the dangers of joining one.
Speak. Speak out and Stand, Let your opinion be heard.
Drop the Paddle. It's not going to help anyone.
This is what i Think. What about You?

Good Night. God Speed.

Next. Part Deux.

*drum roll please* tenenentenen! i won another Essay-writing contest in Letran! :D

Yezzer. :) this is the second time i won a literary contest in College. So darn happy. :)

It started when I was invited and informed of the contest when Murphy Tunay (president of the Letran Computer Engineering Society), held the election of new LCoES officers. He encouraged me to join. I was quite determined to win this one, so i could prove myself if i really deserved to win the first essay-writing contest. Without hesitation, i signed up and prepared myself.

The contest was on March 3, 2009, a tuesday. I was on way to school when Murphy reminded me about the contest. He sent me a group message encouraging everyone to join the essay-writing and poster-making contests to celebrate women's month. Woah, i said to myself, It's women's month? I didn't have the damn slightest clue! Now that he mentioned it, i guess what i'm going to write about is a piece about women, huh? hmmm, that got me thinking, who are the important women in my life? more on that later.

I arrived early at the event, and sure enough, it wasn't ready yet. Promised that it would start at 1:00pm, it started at 1:30pm. Good enough, i thought. Let's get it on then. We were briefed of the mechanics, the criteria and basis for judging. The language medium to be used was either English or Tagalog, but not taglish. The theme was "Women, Breaking boundaries - Past, Present and Future". Then we got ready, got set and wrote.

I wrote about the time my mom cooked the most delish spaghetti meal one stormy night. It made things special even though the storm was raging outside and the lights were out. It sure lightened up the night. And i added my father's teachings, to never ever hurt a woman, to always respect and love a woman. I also mentioned Joan of Arc, Cory Aquino and Emelia Earhart. I emphasized that a woman can change lives, live lives and save lives.

After a couple of days, i was informed that I won the contest. And yes, there was a cash prize. :D the best part of it was the feeling that people actually like what i write :) i'm going to post the essay next time if i get the chance. :) hope that there will be a Next. Part Three and so on. :D

Past. AAM.
Present. Letran.
Next. The World.

I STILL can dream, can't I? :)

Happy Women's month!
God Speed. :)

*special thanks to LCoES and SYL. *