What: Greek Lettered Organizations
By Bonn Troy Boñola
Recent events have been popping out endlessly with regards to the latest outcry against the fraternities’ and sororities.It caused fear and terror to the people; unfortunate for us. It started with the hazing incident of a fraternity that ended tragically. And now, the bombing incident in the just finished bar exam at DLSU is now creating a buzz. Fraternities, sororities, or the Greek-lettered organizations are now given the limelight; and us – the frat men and women.
Those events surrounding the fraternities’ and sororities’ are mere isolated cases. They are not likely to happen again. And above all, they are news, and news’ are the exceptions in the society. Yes, they are facts, but they do not define something or anything; and definitely, they are not always the truth.
A fraternity/sorority exists on the premise that humans, by nature, are social being and needs companionship with his fellow man. A fraternity/sorority provides a structure, and an environment in which close friendships can flourish, bringing each of the fraternity/sorority members closer to themselves. It is not the only organization in which a man/woman might mature and develop lifelong friends, just one of the many in which minds are shaped and imaginations flourish within its settings. The fraternity/sorority, not unlike any other human institution, encourages its members to make a commitment to something other than themselves, such as participating in charity events, be of service to the community and the people, events to benefit the homeless, raise money for the poor and commit themselves to learn about one another. As a man/woman makes these commitments to a fraternity/sorority, the fraternity/sorority provides a structure within where these commitments can be acted out, in such things as rituals of pledging and initiation.
A fraternity/sorority creates a bond beyond friendship, beyond companionship, lifelong camaraderie and opportunities. It is a brotherhood and sisterhood of humans with the same ideals and goals. It is an institution created as a tool of guidance for its members.And its setting procreates a space for growth and development as an individual and as a member of the society.
Though, along the years it gained negative perceptions due to the “rituals” that they do and act. But those “rituals” are only one of the many different ways of expressing a fraternity/sorority’s ideals, aspirations and purpose of being. Those ideals and purpose of being differs with every Greek-lettered organization. Some of them are purely for the service to the people; others are for the protection and preservation of the environment, while others are for academics, the arts, self-development, and protection of what’s right.
I, for one, am a proud member of a fraternity and sorority which aims for the protection and preservation of the environment, and self-development. And I never will regret nor resent joining this Greek-lettered organization. I’m proud of our roots, and our sense of being.
But most people perceive that men and women who join such organizations are “bugoy” and some even say, dangerous.
But I know we are not what some people negatively perceive who we are.
Fraternities and sororities are not harmful and unsound. They only got hold of such negative perceptions because of the young uncontrollable vehement minds of some members who acts foolishly and stupidly. But in general, fraternity and sorority members are commendable members of the society. They are reputable, charitable, and selfless. We are not that righteous nor angelic, and much more saintly. But we are only good people who made a commitment to something outside of ourselves. Though it’s hard, but it’s worthwhile… and fun.
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the author mentioned apo and his beloved fraternity in the printed copy of this article…. and why those names are no longer mentioned in the website archive? will someone please explain?
What exactly do you want to happen in the online copy? Nga dapat naa pud ang ngalan?
I think tungod ni kay mireklamo ang APO nga ginganlan sa printed copy. The printed copy, local ra ang scope. Ang online, worldwide. So ganahan ka nga nganlan napud online?
Pero I think mas safe nga dili na. Revisions happen bisag sa national daily newspapers sa ilang online copies.
Wachoothink, Amaranth?
the author is misleading its readers, somewhat implying all negative perceptions on fraternities is due to negative issues concerning APO.
Mas misleading tingali nga gipatoo sa mga frat ang mga katawhan nga dili na sila manghazing, when in fact manghazing gihapon. I have friends who were subjected to hazing last school year.
Naay negative perceptions kay di man pud malimod nga tinuod gihapon. Tinuod man pud nga nahitabo tong gimention sa article. Ibalik na lang to ang ngalan, author oi.
knsa imo friend nga gi hazing?
misleading para sa imo kay wala man ka kabalo kung unsay nahitabo sa mga frat. wala mi naga expect sa inyo nga dili mga frat members ug soro members nga mka sabot sa among mga struggles kung g.unsa namo pag wala sa hazing. pero im sure mmka sabaot ka if ur one of us.
missy, we r very sure that hazing is not a part of our fraternity anymore.. all i can say to u with regards to ur friends is that the fraternity that they have joined is not ours, the ALPA PHI OMEGA. . . maybe they have joined a one-day survival fraternity and that’s not our style.
the events mentioned in the article somewhat history…. the media has long been silent on the issue and you are calling those events as recent?
Hmmmm! News? Bahaw na man na… misleading and bias! Copy paste the original release on the archive.
author are you there to answer our complains?
Author is corrupt.
This article was written during the height of those issues which occurred on the first half of 2011; and unfortunately, only published now.
I throw you back a question, how can you say that it is misleading?
misleading because somewhat u r judging APO, that is very simple. in ur article which stated that “it started with the hazing incident of APO that ended tragically” and the bombing incident which is until now unproven or under investigation can create a negative perception from the reader and that is very misleading in our part.
i understand the content of ur article and in fact i like it. but one thing that offended me/us was the name u’ve mentioned which it is not supposed to.
wala kang alam !! your taken your defination in a website i read it !!
dapat ang ginawa mo kumuha ka ng mga respondents mu ng mga tao na hindi kabilang sa mga fraternty o sorority !! wag kang basta kumuha sa iba at ung” breaking the tradition”?? mo redundancy lang un sa isa mu parang walang pinagbago
walang kwenta 2ng website ng amaranth nagihintay ako ng reply wala lang!! gumawa pa kau!!! tapos pagnabasa nyu 2 un na ang pagreply nila gaing nyu ariba