This boy is now dead.
A boy not even out of his teens has met his untimely and utterly premature demise.
He. Is. Dead.
Sometimes, the death of strangers often trigger the appearance of an echo chamber. We forget the finality of the death at the cessation of life. Cris Mendez’ time is now up. He has been lost forever. And those responsible have chosen to be silent.
There is no such thing as exaggeration in this case. The boy truly is dead. He is dead. Death came slow and painful as his kidneys probably struggled to keep up with the excess myoglobin that seeped out of his bludgeoned muscles. With each sickening hit, his body started to shutdown. He couldn’t take all that they could give. He died fighting the blows that would’ve sealed his future. He died bearing punishment in a scale so unimaginable. We’re not sure if he asked for help, pleaded for his life or begged for mercy, but one thing is sure – Cris Mendez is now dead. He has breathed his last. That’s it for him – nineteen years.
Who wouldn’t feel for his parents? They must’ve worked real hard to get their son to what many consider as the best university in the country. They dreamed and fought for his best interests. You could almost imagine how happy they are that their son is now just a few months away from graduating. After four years of schooling, time away from home and the pains of separation and financial burdens, the catharsis that graduation brings promised an amazing resolution.
Who wouldn’t feel for his friends? At 22, I’ve only lost a friend once and I still see it as an unnatural event. People our age are not supposed to die. A college senior definitely leaves a lot of people who knows him. There was definitely no goodbye for this case. It was a slow ordeal for Cris, and he surely suffered long and hard before he gave up the fight, but his friends had no idea that they were never going to see him again. They probably feel cheated by fate. They will NEVER hang out with him again. It’s done. The boy is dead.
I think this image is justified. Despite the reservations of JM Tuazon, I think it’s still very telling and quite justified. Can you name another university with a fraternity violence/ hazing problem that is so grave that is results to the senseless deaths of young men? Most of us are not naive to believe that no fraternities exist in other schools that supposedly don’t allow the existence of fraternities, but why are the deaths limited only in the UP System?
People against the all out ban against fraternities often cite the dangers of underground organizations and the potential for abuse as the arguments against the proposal. At the the present, there are plenty of sleeper cells and chapters that exist in schools that don’t necessarily allow them, but why aren’t they killing people left and right? Why are the deaths almost always linked to those people who belong to the university-accredited organizations?
It’s an embarrassment. The institution that is supposed to reflect the country’s highest level of academic excellence and all-around brilliance has its hands in blood. It’s administration has been left impotent in dealing against the practice of hazing and has just chosen to tolerate the violence and count the bodies like sheep to the rhythm of wooden paddles hitting raw muscle.
Banning them will not do anything.
People will still recruit.
People will still join.
People will still die.
As disparaging as this sounds, I do agree that it is a risk. And those who undergo the process are aware of the possible harms (including death). Like a mixed martial arts expert seeking respect, glory and personal gain, certain people gravitate towards this type of lifestyle. They know what they’re getting into. We can raise our arms in protest, but these kids will continue to die. These kids will fade into the sunset without justice being served.
Yes, we’re sad now. Some of us are even angry and disgusted. But here’s the deal:
Fraternities are here to stay and there is no way to make sure that they will never haze new recruits again. It doesn’t matter if there’s a law against it. It will be skirted and ridiculed many times over before we see a conviction. These brazen teenagers will take the risk and use their bodies as their wager. You can’t change people. People will do what they want to do and that’s all there is to it.
As for today, we’re all sad that a boy is dead. And sadly, that’s all that we can do.
Other articles:
- Ang Lalaking mukhang bao ang buhok
- Another Hazing Death in U.P.
- The true barbarians of UP (UPDATED)
- Put a Stop to Fraternity-Related Violence NOW!
- On Cris Mendez
- And you dare call us “Barbarians�!!
- The Truth is Risky Business
- Hazy over Hazing
- Cris Mendez, DEAD — Justice for the Boy, When?
- Para kay Cris Anthony Mendez
- Put A Stop To The Barbaric Practice Of Hazing
- Justice for Cris Mendez
- Why I Wore Black Today
- Criz Mendez, Dead — Justice For The Boy, When?
- The Stupidity of Fraternity
- Hazing, A Culture Issue
- Hazy over Hazing
- [para kay cris anthony mendez]
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[...] A boy is dead [...]
Ang sa akin lang, tanggalin sana ng UP ang pagkilala sa kanila. Kung magpatayan man sila–at sabi mo nga'y di natin sila mapipigil–hindi makukulapulan ng dugo ang pangalan ng pamantasang hirang.
I agree. No matter how much effort we put a stop into certain things, kung hindi na kayang pigilan.. hindi na talaga mapipigilan. Naging part na ng history (somehow) ng UP ang fraternities at mahirap ng mabago iyon.
Things can't be changed with a snap of a finger, but I hope that people will slowly realize the (fatal) effects of fraternities in an institution… bago pa man dumami ang ganitong incidents.
People will still recruit.
People will still join.
I agree. University-recognized or not, there will still be recruiters and recruits. These fraternities have their own culture and their own traditions. Recognized or not, fraternities are institutions in themselves.
What others brand as useless violence will only stop if these fraternities stop believing in, subscribing to, and upholding their traditions, values and norms. Will this ever happen? We don't know. And I guess you're right, we're sad and that's all we can do, for now.
DLSU used to have the same culture of violence until several deaths in the early 90s prompted the university to outlaw fraternities.
While it is true that they have simply gone underground, the ban removed any hint of legitimacy to such organizations, leading the fraternities to have more than a criminal gang identity than anything else. As grounds for expulsion, recruitment and open membership has also been curbed effectively.
There are a multitude of organizations in DLSU that are duly recognized by the university. These have effectively filled in any void that fraternities have left.
[...] A Boy Is Dead “Who wouldn’t feel for his friends? At 22, I’ve only lost a friend once and I still see it as an unnatural event. People our age are not supposed to die. A college senior definitely leaves a lot of people who knows him. There was definitely no goodbye for this case. It was a slow ordeal for Cris, and he surely suffered long and hard before he gave up the fight, but his friends had no idea that they were never going to see him again. They probably feel cheated by fate. They will hang out with him again. It’s done. The boy is dead.” [...]
I've often wondered why the UP recognizes frats. Hmm.
[...] A Boy is Dead by Benj [...]
[...] A Boy is Dead by Benj [...]
Unless UP Administration and its officialdom changes itself in terms of taking it upon itself to provide for its student community easy access to more meaningful
organizations, social groups, sports, hobbies, Cris Mendez's death will not be the last case.
I remember, as a UP Freshman, so many years ago,being shy, scared and intimidated, coming from a much smaller school environment (Letran) how tempting it was to be a part of a group.
Fraternities in UP sad to say is left behind in the medieval ages and the culture of violence will not stop until the Philippines progresses out of its the third world existence and their leaders get their act together.
The impunity and disregrad for the law and the selective dispensation of justice will always have an outcome such as the Cris mendez death…. these young brothers are well connected and and even have families that are frat members themselves who will always protect their kind.
Apply the law equally and you will see a reduction in the culture of violence, drastically reduce corruption and you will see people following the law….. jailed criminal in robes and you will see justice served.
Fraternities in progressive nations are not this barbaric and hazing is illegal with school authorities having zero tolerance for such medieval practices.
[...] A boy is dead [...]
[...] A Boy is Dead [...]
"Wala na tayong magagawa kundi maging malungkot na lang para kay Chris." With this kind of self-defeating statement, Chris Mendez and the likes of him died twice.
[...] A Boy Is Dead “Who wouldn’t feel for his friends? At 22, I’ve only lost a friend once and I still see it as an unnatural event. People our age are not supposed to die. A college senior definitely leaves a lot of people who knows him. There was definitely no goodbye for this case. It was a slow ordeal for Cris, and he surely suffered long and hard before he gave up the fight, but his friends had no idea that they were never going to see him again. They probably feel cheated by fate. They will hang out with him again. It’s done. The boy is dead.” [...]