STA. LUCIA INITIATES A COMMUNAL EFFORT

were tasked with their respective activities: Ma’am Sharon Lucero and Sir Eduardo C. Betco for Damath; Ma’am Melinda T. Rosete and Ma’am Kath Manalili for SUDOKU; Sir Ivan Inumerable for ‘Your Face Sounds Familiar’, Ma’am Ma. Victoria S. Urbien; Ma’am Melissa C. Ting; Sir Glenn de Guzman for Mathematricks; and Sir

The winners of the Wellness Dance Contest from Grade 8–Einstein carried out their winning performance while the Galaw Pilipinas champions from 8-Archimedes also showed their performance to the audience. A trophy and certificate were then presented to them after their performance.

Other performers at the event included the Likhawitan and Pop Solo champions. SLHS-KWERDAS also performed the National Anthem, and the song “Jopay” by Mayonnaise for their first ever special performance.

Winners from the var-

Rene ious contests like Likhawitan, Poster Making, Card Making, Pop Solo, and Laro ng Lahi were also awarded during the culminating activity. The Laro ng Lahi included Dodgeball, Luksong Lubid, and Patintero. arangay Sta. Lucia initiated a clean-up drive on streets around Sta. Lucia High School particularly Diego SIlang St., A. Dela Cruz St., and J. Luna St. on April 25, 2023. Ma’am Marissa F. Duka wished for a clean-up drive to maintain cleanliness and lessen the pile-up of debris that could cause disturbance at the school.

Rubik’s cube final round occurred to end the activity, where all four of the fastest cubers in all grade levels competed. Davie John Francisco from 9-Carnation is victorious and still managed to be the first to finish, even though he dropped his cube during his solve.

The event was led by MAPEH teachers Sir CJ Durante and Ma’am Czirish Tubil as the Masters of Ceremony. The activity successfully concluded with a closing message from Ma’am Filda Sobremisana.

The program truly highlighted the Lucians’ talents, skills, and passion for the arts, singing, and dancing.

“Dahil na rin sa kahilingan ni SLHS Principal Dr. Marissa Duka na malinis at maalis ang mga tambak na kahoy, basura, atbp., sila po ay humingi ng tulong sa ating Kapitan Ruel S. Marpa kasama ang Kagawads MWF Kgd. Mike, Kgd. Wendy at Kgd. Frank. Agaran po itong inaksyunan at nagsagawa ng Clean-up Drive Operation sa paligid katuwang ang masisipag na street sweepers ng ating barangay,” Barangay Sta. Lucia wrote in their post.

The Department of Sanitation and Cleanup Works of Quezon City (DSQC) also participated in the clean-up drive.

The SLHS Supreme Student Government extended their gratitude to Hon. Ruel S. Marpa and to DSQC for participating in the clean-up drive.

This year’s MAPEH

When a person has the authority to cause another person’s pain, suffering, and harm, what terrible animal instinct takes over? Fraternity members congregate and appear to revel in the strength and pleasure of sadism as they torture and beat another person to death. It occurs frequently in public colleges like the esteemed University of the Philippines, as well as in the socalled Catholic universities of this country. Another tragic hazing-related fatality has been making news recently, perhaps in mocking of Republic Act No. 8049, also known as the Anti-Hazing Act of 1995, as amended by RA 11053 of 2018. This law outlawed hazing in all its forms.

However, hazing continues to take place throughout the country despite the existence of this law. Some contend that hazing is a fundamental component of Filipino culture and serves as a means for groups to form bonds and camaraderie. At the same time, others contend that hazing is an unacceptable form of bullying and abuse that shouldn’t have a place in society.

A young student at Catholic Adamson University, John Matthew Salilig, was brutally and savagely murdered on February 18, 2023, by his fellow students after suffering 70 blows to every part of his body during a crazed frenzy of continuous beating with wooden paddles during a hazing ritual of a fraternity initiation.

After John Matthew Salilig was murdered, 15 suspects were found. It was discovered that they had attempted to cover up their murder. After carrying the body of the 24-yearold deceased chemical engineering student to a student’s car, they drove to the back of a subdivision, where they buried their victim in a shallow grave.

After the Salilig case came to the limelight, the Public Attorney’s Office disclosed Ronnel M. Baguio’s case, who was declared dead in December 2022. He joined Tau Gamma Phi while studying at the University of Cebu. Baguio reportedly incurred injuries from the initiation that eventually led to his death.

This leads to the question: what kind of upbringing creates young monsters, and what kind of careless idiocy causes them to disregard the existence of a law that forbids hazing and other aggressive, abusive, and demeaning ini- tiation rites and imposes severe fines?

Isn’t it ironic that there are still an alarm- ing number of fraternity-hazing cases in “child-friendly” educational facilities nationwide? As this law boasts its power to bound hazing in metal chains, is it enough to combat hazing, or has the government officially become a playground of washed-up celebrities, retired athletes, and “well-mannered” politicians?

Our country had already seen many gut-wrenching fraternity-hazing cases. Leonardo “Lenny” Villa, who died in February 1991 at the hands of the Aquila Legis Fraternity, was one of them. Most of the suspects in his case even became lawyers despite their involvement in his death.

With this, take a look and find out where the application of “child-friendly school” is. Many of us have seen them displayed around school premises. The Department of Educa-

Kennevic C. Dela PeNa

Hanz Louise F. Delos Santos tion’s (DepEd) mission even states that “Students should learn in a child-friendly, safe, and motivating environment”. Can you say that it is really “child-friendly” or is it just a counterfeit display of a school’s “safe and motivating environment” just to say they comply with DepEd’s mission?

Holding perpetrators accountable for their acts, and efforts should be made to stop hazing from occurring again, as well as supporting the victims to deal with the damages they’ve done. This should’ve been the entire point and the true exhibition of the power of this law. It is the reason why this law exists in the first place, and its given power to bind it in chains isn’t powerful enough to combat it.

While there are frater- alliah mayjohn p. rivera

Juliana Rose C Salonga

Photojournalists

Justin T. tabuzo nities and sororities that aren’t like the ones mentioned above, students should stop interacting with fraternities and sororities and start preventing hazing rather than merely responding to it. They should exist to form a brotherhood, not to encourage violence against other people. We act as though it is now. b. asoma, Kent Wynne

Hazing is a complex issue that requires a multi-faceted approach. It is important to continue raising awareness about the dangers of hazing and to enforce laws and regulations that prohibit these activities. At the same time, efforts should be made to promote alternative forms of team-building and socialization that do not involve violence or intimidation.

With that, look back and think: is the law not powerful enough, or is hazing that’s too much to handle?

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