Anti-Bullying in schools: Launched 1^st in PH S.Y 2012-2013

Just a funny photo from my fb... (acting lang...) :D

Bullying is defined as an act of aggressive behavior with intention to hurt another person either emotionally, verbally, or physically. Considered as number one non-academic issue of most students and educators today, and now comes the first in the Philippines to launch specific guidelines against any child abuse in schools.

Last January, the House of Representatives has approved a bill requiring all elementary and secondary schools to adopt anti-bullying policies. This is the House Bill 5496, the Anti-Bullying Act of 2012, that seeks to promote greater awareness of bullying and how it can be prevented. With this, the Department of Education issued on May 3, 2012 a child protection policy and guidelines to be implemented effective this school year.
The protection policy stipulates that any form of physical, verbal, mental and emotional abuse against children, whether by school personnel or their peers, shall be addressed and sanctioned accordingly. According to DepEd Undersecretary Alberto Muyot, that the bill is a great help for students and parents to be more empowered against abuse and violence in schools.
In the said bill, schools are required to include the anti-bullying policies in the student handbooks and to include the posting of its details in school websites and school walls. Schools shall submit their anti-bullying policies to DepEd within six months upon effectivity of the law. The victims are encouraged to account incidents within 48 hours, and for the investigation to be carried out by school administrators within 72 hours. Bullying incidents in schools have to be reported to the division superintendents, and in turn shall report to the Education Secretary; and the DepEd must surrender a report on bullying incidents to the appropriate congressional committee and inflict sanctions for neglect of duty on school administrators who fail to implement anti-bullying policies. DepEd will first try the "psycho-social intervention" in bullying cases.
In a survey conducted by the DepEd, 50% of students have experienced corporal abuse in school, while 74% claim they have been victims of bullying. When minor bullies other students repeats the same offense after DepEd's interventions, school authorities may now resort to sanctions such as suspension and community service.
DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro said this is the first time that specific guidelines against child abuse in schools have been laid out. He believes teachers can come up with other ways to discipline students. The Department ties up with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and other organizations to deal with the issue. Anti-Bullying Act of 2012 is a great help for schools to create an environment for children to build up their full potentials for their future.

Just a walk to remember...

I was standing in front of my classmates as I was reporting about courtship in our sociology class subject last semester of this school year. My teacher asked me: have you experience being courted by a girl? Hesitantly, I said yes and all my classmates were teasing me.

One evening on bonifacio street, I was walking alone heading my way home. I forgot the exact date but I'm certain it was august. A group of friends were talking outside an establishment. I didn't mind them because I'm busy with my cellphone. A girls was whistling. She kept on whistling not until I turn my attention to her. I was hesitant to approach her because she might have mistaken me for someone else. She said it was me and made a “come here” sign. As I went near, I came to realize they are my schoolmates and I know one of them, so, I concluded we are in the same program. The girl who whistled told me that it was actually her classmate asking my cellphone number. I was shocked. I never expected her bravely asking my number just for her friend.

I was home after that certain conversation. She texted and thanked me for not being selfish of my number. A thought came out from my naughty mind, like how about playing a game with her. She confessed that it’s her who got a crush on me and just using her classmate to hide the awkward feeling when she asked my number. Texting moments began. I dont know and cant explain the feeling. Wow... she courted me! I was like flying like a G6! Anyway, after a couple of days she insisted in her text messages that she wanted me to be her man. The text messages are still in my inbox.

My point is, letting your feeling be expressed to someone you really like is not bad at all but it should come with at least giving yourself a descent image towards the person. I am talking especially to women who are in the same boat with the girl I am referring to because boys are boys and let us not go deeper beyond that words.

She became my girlfriend. We go dating and spending time together. She was still sixteen years young and I'm 21 years old. I knew she loves me but I doubted if my feelings for her. I was still in the process of learning to love her that time. I was afraid I might go beyond my limitations. And I realized something. She was so young and maybe she was just blindfolded and carried away by so called infatuation. On my part , im being unfair to her. We celebrated our first monthsary and a week after, I decided to break our relationship because I can no longer bear the guilt because I know love does not exist. It was all a one sided love. I don't want to break her heart but I did. I ended up my relationship with her and I did it because I have these reasons: I don't want to take advantage of her, she was too young for love. I don't want to destroy her dignity and the future ahead of her. And I failed learning to love her, I don't wanna be unfair.

Up to this time, she keeps on texting me and communicating in any way. She liked almost all my status in facebook. I can feel her obsession in me. But I know where to stand and that is letting her grow maturely and stay away from her. It was really the first time I encountered such a girl in my life and I know somehow along the way, it will never be forgotten. It will remain a good experience for a man like me.

We should set our minds in accordance with our conscience. Let us not be blind folded with our wants rather we should also consider the side of the other and give favor just because we don't want them to suffer the consequences.