Sino ang panalo? Ang bully or ang api?
“Shayne” told this writer that a child in their boarding house always gave him a hard time.
“Ralph grabbed my toys and when I asked him to give them back, he punched me,” Shayne said.
There were times when Ralph pushed Shayne and called him ugly names. But, it was found out later that Ralph’s father physically and verbally abused him. So, the boy bullied by his father has become a bully to another child.
Even adults are not spared from bullying. Just last week, 50-year-old parent was verbally abusing his 30-year-old son. At times, her “requests” to do household chores were delivered in a negative tone. It was enough to make the son feel hurt, defensive and irritable. He expresses his anger by answering back or shouting at his children.
A bully can think of all kinds of ways to make another person feel hurt, afraid, uncomfortable, or just plain miserable. It can be physical, verbal, or emotional. Often bullies torment a victim over a long period of time, increasing the victim's sense of fear and distress.
Bullying is very prevalent in the home, the school and social media.
BILL VS. BULLYING
House Bill 5496 or the Anti-Bullying Act of 2012 defines bullying as “any severe or repeated use by one or more students of a written, verbal or electronic expression, or a physical act or gesture, or any combination thereof, directed at another student that has the effect of actually causing or placing the latter in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm or damage to his property.”
Prohibited are acts that create a hostile environment at school, like punching, pushing, shoving, kicking, slapping, tickling, headlocks, teasing, cyber bullying, among others.
The bill also provides that a school should make a bully undergo rehabilitation together with his/her parents.
MOVIE ON BULLYING
To educate elementary and secondary school students about bullying, Exogain Production will hold a premiere of the movie “Larong Bata” in Iloilo City on September 14, 5 p.m. at SM Cinema 6. Ticket is at P150.
The movie will demonstrate the roles of the perpetrator, the target and the witnesses in the bullying situation; demonstrate the ways by which people’s inaction can exacerbate the situation; create an understanding and empathy for the target of the child who bullies; and to inspire the victims of bullying to become more dynamic and encourage positive consequences.
MOVIE SYNOPSIS
The film “Larong Bata” (Bullying) is an omnibus story about family relationship, school violence, physical and verbal abuse.
It stars Melai Cantiveros, Jason Francisco and Makisig Morales and directed by Niel Tan.
It tells the story of Marlon a pathetic student but excellent in class who is regularly picked on by his classmates and even cyber-violated by using a cellphone to film the attack.
Dessa, a 16-year-old girl and a victim of child molestation, is being relentlessly bullied by three of her classmates as she tries hard to improve on herself.
Amy, a junior high school student on the other hand is a social climber trying her best to please everyone but ended up being hated and despised.
Gelo, an elementary pupil with average skills suffers emotional pain after a series of physical and mental abuse by his classmate and former basketball teammate. One final incident of bullying sends him over the edge and leads him to almost commit an act of violence that stunned the entire school community.
The whole story is presented comically, highly amusing and entertaining for minor audiences but the message of bullying is emphasized and addressed.
PROCEEDS
The movie premier’s ticket costs P150. The proceeds will be donated to KKK (Mga Kaibigan ng mga Kabataan May Kanser) for the chemotherapy treatment of poor Ilonggo children with cancer./Marie Katherine Villalon
