The "Hayaan Mo Na Lang" Solution

APEC’s fundamental golden rule “RESPECT” has always been promoted to be practiced by all students. “No Bullying Allowed” signs are also attached to the school gate as a firm reminder to students as they enter the school grounds. Every first week of the school year, during orientation, students are informed that certain actions will result in a certain level of warning. School rules are also in the student handbook for all to practice. All these efforts to promote good moral conduct and if violated face a consequence. 

 

Personally, I have been a victim of many bullying cases. Especially when I was still in Grade 7 (I am now in Grade 11). This bully I had was narcissistic enough to decline all my charges, as a child, I didn’t have that much evidence to give as the only thing I was thinking about was “This person is abruptly crossing my boundaries, I have to tell the teacher to help me.” That’s what I thought. The office did take action and gave my bully a warning, however, nothing seemed to change as this bully still kept disturbing me even after my report to the office, worse, he was doing it in front of our adviser and the adviser seemed to not care.

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This bully of mine, until now, 5 years still in APEC is still having cases that get progressively worse by each student’s report. I am saying this in a non-exaggerating way, almost all of my batchmates hate him and have sent a report to the office against this bullying behavior, and every report, it always concluded with “Hayaan mo na lang.” It was always that phrase, it was always that solution, a solution that never really solves anything. Even if my batchmates send a thousand reports against this bully, nothing ever changes, it will always be a “Hayaan mo nalang.” solution. 

 

The office’s duty proclaims the student’s well-being is one of their priorities, however, never really practiced that often. They can neglect bullying incidents and yet gives you a level 1 slip when they catch you in a civilian outfit entering the school premises or not wearing an ID. With all that, as from what I’ve observed, my batchmates just grew hateful towards the bully and also, to the office.

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Tragic, but it’s unfortunately not uncommon. It is quite a controversial phenomenon that happens to all schools. No matter how many pampering words they say in assemblies, they do take a blind eye. The Philippines topped 70 out of all the countries for youth bullying with 7 out of 10 Filipinos experiencing this issue in the school grounds and 60% of these students are 13 to 17 years old, still in high school. Even with the Anti-bullying Act of 2013, the number of cases for bullying still do increases year by year.

 

If only we can just easily solve problems with “Hayaan mo na lang.” would all social problems in the student community vanish? I hope so, I hope the world worked like that too.