A lot of people do not realize the personal struggles of fratmen. Mine is unique but I'm sure that all have come to a point when they realized a lot of things and have reformed. To others, it could be too late.
I will start my story as a fratman here and how I was able to survive 10 long years in and out of the university. It is to give you a glimpse of my own struggles in there where the young are supposed to be trained as future leaders of our society.
This is not to justify the existence and present culture of fraternities. Rather, this to help all people, especially fratmen, realize that they have missed and overlooked a lot of things.
MY CHILDHOOD
I was born in Iloilo City from a family of artists. As the eldest in the family, I was given more attention and privilege. I was just an average student who never had experienced a fight since I was a child. If there was, I was the one bullied and I just cried. The bullies are of two kinds. The sons of the rich and the sons of the poor. I am from a poor family and I was bullied. But because of my art the bullies befriended me and asked me to draw for them. I became their friend.
My grandmother was a very religious woman. She was the one who introduced me the Holy Bible and always brought me to the Cathedral to attend two masses -one in Latin and one in Hiligaynon. Bored, I counted the pews each time we go to church.
But this grandma of mine was also a strong woman. She was the one who spent for my Karate and Kung Fu training. But I never had a fight all those years. What I have learned in martial arts was just used as a form of discipline and exercise. Besides, Bruce Lee was so famous and the idol of almost all. Later I found myself always sparring in our high school gym with my two classmates. One became my frat brother but he's more courageous than me.
Still, I never had experienced a fight. I only hit the concrete columns with my palms and arms every time I and my "master" go around downtown. Besides I never bullied anyone because I am loved by my parents. I was the model for my siblings, especially in art.
I have no plans then where to study for my degree. I want to be an artist so Fine Arts was my first choice. But my Dad said there's more money in Architecture.
One day Dad brought me to the University of the Philippines. I took the exam and passed. But I never planned nor wanted to study there. It was his choice for me. And during that enrolment time that someone approached me to join the frat.
To be continued...
I will start my story as a fratman here and how I was able to survive 10 long years in and out of the university. It is to give you a glimpse of my own struggles in there where the young are supposed to be trained as future leaders of our society.
This is not to justify the existence and present culture of fraternities. Rather, this to help all people, especially fratmen, realize that they have missed and overlooked a lot of things.
MY CHILDHOOD
I was born in Iloilo City from a family of artists. As the eldest in the family, I was given more attention and privilege. I was just an average student who never had experienced a fight since I was a child. If there was, I was the one bullied and I just cried. The bullies are of two kinds. The sons of the rich and the sons of the poor. I am from a poor family and I was bullied. But because of my art the bullies befriended me and asked me to draw for them. I became their friend.
My grandmother was a very religious woman. She was the one who introduced me the Holy Bible and always brought me to the Cathedral to attend two masses -one in Latin and one in Hiligaynon. Bored, I counted the pews each time we go to church.
But this grandma of mine was also a strong woman. She was the one who spent for my Karate and Kung Fu training. But I never had a fight all those years. What I have learned in martial arts was just used as a form of discipline and exercise. Besides, Bruce Lee was so famous and the idol of almost all. Later I found myself always sparring in our high school gym with my two classmates. One became my frat brother but he's more courageous than me.
Still, I never had experienced a fight. I only hit the concrete columns with my palms and arms every time I and my "master" go around downtown. Besides I never bullied anyone because I am loved by my parents. I was the model for my siblings, especially in art.
I have no plans then where to study for my degree. I want to be an artist so Fine Arts was my first choice. But my Dad said there's more money in Architecture.
One day Dad brought me to the University of the Philippines. I took the exam and passed. But I never planned nor wanted to study there. It was his choice for me. And during that enrolment time that someone approached me to join the frat.
To be continued...
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