Declaration of Peace and True Brotherhood
Alpha Phi Beta Fraternity
University of the Phlippines College of Law
27 October 2011
True brotherhood is founded on peace, not war; love, not violence.
For far too long, violence in different forms has plagued the fraternity system in the Philippines. Far too many young men and women have lost their future, and some have lost their lives, to a vicious culture of brutality, contempt, terror, and hate. Through many decades of darkness, Greek-lettered organizations have shown themselves to be the true barbarians.
We deeply regret, to this very day, our own contributions to the culture of violence. In 1966, life in the university ground to a halt after weeklong gun battles in campus — the first and most notorious of its kind. In 1998, Alexander Miguel Icasiano succumbed to our then cruel and grueling initiation rites. In 2000, Den Daniel Reyes perished in battle, surrounded and outnumbered. Our brothers have paid the price in years of youth lost, paid the price in prison, paid the price in blood.
We have had enough, and we no longer want to be part of it.
In mid-September this year, without provocation and without cause another fraternity ambushed one of our brothers. Four nights ago, this same group attacked again, treacherously breaking the agreed truce. Betrayed in this manner, we are outraged. Yet, we choose to be the better men. We choose not to retaliate. We choose to break the cycle of violence.
The Alpha Phi Beta Fraternity was established in 1939 by the best and brightest of that generation. Our founders envisioned a fraternity of scholars and leaders committed to the nation, to progress, and to social justice. We have strayed often from this path, and we have paid for it dearly.
Today, in 2011, we resolve not to repeat the same mistakes. We choose to reaffirm our values and honor our rich legacy. We endeavor to tread a new path of peace and to write a new chapter in our history.
We urge all fraternities in UP to join us in this journey of peaceful coexistence, mutual cooperation, and collaboration for the common good.
We call for the formation of a Council for Inter-Fraternity Relations that shall serve as the mechanism for nonviolent conflict resolution. For this purpose, we request the Student Legal Aid and Action Committee of the University Student Council to facilitate consultations on a possible peace mechanism forthwith.
We ask our alumni, the UP Barkada, and the Administration to help us carry out timely and effective interventions and to facilitate this new regime of cooperation among fraternities.
Enough is enough. It is time to let go of past grudges and petty grievances. It is time to renounce fraternity-related violence once and for all. We owe it to our family, to our nation, and to ourselves.
As we forge a new, peaceful future, may Wisdom prevail.
SGD.
Ricky A. Sabornay
Lord Chancellor
Alpha Phi Beta Fraternity
UP College of Law
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