IMPORTANT READ ON THE ANTI-HAZING LAW (R.A. No. 8049)

ALLOWED INITIATION RITES

Those that have prior written notice to the school authorities or head of organization seven days before the conduct of such initiation. The written notice shall contain the following:

1. Period of the initiation activities which shall not exceed three days.

2. Names of those to be subjected to such activities.

3. Undertaking that no physical violence be employed by anybody.

WHAT ACTS ARE PUNISHABLE

All acts so long as it caused physical injuries at the very least.

WHO ARE THE PERSONS LIABLE

1. Officers and members of the fraternity who actually participated in the infliction of physical harm shall be liable as principals if the person subjected to hazing suffers any physical injury or dies as a result thereof.

2. Owner of the place where the hazing is conducted shall be liable as an accomplice when he has actual knowledge of the hazing but failed to take any action to prevent the same from occurring.

3. Parents shall be liable as principals when they have actual knowledge of the hazing conducted in the home of one of the officers or members of the fraternity but failed to prevent the same.

4. School authorities and faculty members shall be liable as accomplices when they consent to the hazing or have actual knowledge thereof but failed to take any action to prevent the same from occurring.

5. Officers or members of the fraternity shall be liable as principals if they knowingly cooperated in carrying out the hazing by inducing the victim to be present thereat.

The presence of any person during the hazing is prima facie evidence of participation therein as principal unless he prevented the commission of the prohibited acts.

The mitigating circumstance that there was no intention to commit so grave a wrong shall not apply.

PENALTIES PROVIDED

If the person subjected to hazing or other forms of initiation rites suffers any physical injury or dies as a result thereof, the officers and members of the fraternity, sorority or organization who actually participated in the infliction of physical harm shall be liable as principals. The person or persons who participated in the hazing shall suffer:

1. The penalty of reclusion perpetua (life imprisonment) if death, rape, sodomy or mutilation results there from.

2. The penalty of reclusion temporal in its maximum period (17 years, 4 months and 1 day to 20 years) if in consequence of the hazing the victim shall become insane, imbecile, impotent or blind.

3. The penalty of reclusion temporal in its medium period (14 years, 8 months and one day to 17 years and 4 months) if in consequence of the hazing the victim shall have lost the use of speech or the power to hear or to smell, or shall have lost an eye, a hand, a foot, an arm or a leg or shall have lost the use of any such member shall have become incapacitated for the activity or work in which he was habitually engaged.

4. The penalty of reclusion temporal in its minimum period (12 years and one day to 14 years and 8 months) if in consequence of the hazing the victim shall become deformed or shall have lost any other part of his body, or shall have lost the use thereof, or shall have been ill or incapacitated for the performance on the activity or work in which he was habitually engaged for a period of more than ninety (90) days.

5. The penalty of prison mayor in its maximum period (10 years and one day to 12 years) if in consequence of the hazing the victim shall have been ill or incapacitated for the performance on the activity or work in which he was habitually engaged for a period of more than thirty (30) days.

6. The penalty of prison mayor in its medium period (8 years and one day to 10 years) if in consequence of the hazing the victim shall have been ill or incapacitated for the performance on the activity or work in which he was habitually engaged for a period of ten (10) days or more, or that the injury sustained shall require medical assistance for the same period.

7. The penalty of prison mayor in its minimum period (6 years and one day to 8 years) if in consequence of the hazing the victim shall have been ill or incapacitated for the performance on the activity or work in which he was habitually engaged from one (1) to nine (9) days, or that the injury sustained shall require medical assistance for the same period.

8. The penalty of prison correccional in its maximum period (4 years, 2 months and one day to 6 years) if in consequence of the hazing the victim sustained physical injuries which do not prevent him from engaging in his habitual activity or work nor require medical attendance.

The responsible officials of the school or of the police, military or citizen's army training organization, may impose the appropriate administrative sanctions on the person or the persons charged under this provision even before their conviction.

The maximum penalty herein provided shall be imposed in any of the following instances:

(a) when the recruitment is accompanied by force, violence, threat, intimidation or deceit on the person of the recruit who refuses to join;

(b) when the recruit, neophyte or applicant initially consents to join but upon learning that hazing will be committed on his person, is prevented from quitting;

(c) when the recruit, neophyte or applicant having undergone hazing is prevented from reporting the unlawful act to his parents or guardians, to the proper school authorities, or to the police authorities, through force, violence, threat or intimidation;

(d) when the hazing is committed outside of the school or institution; or

(e) when the victim is below twelve (12) years of age at the time of the hazing.

Accomplices shall suffer one degree lower than the penalty imposed upon principals.

(Emphasis supplied)

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Dura lex sed lex (The law may be harsh bit it is still the law), hence, the provisions of this law MUST be strictly applied and the authorities should not be lenient or selective on punishing the culprits. What are our Penal Laws for if they will not be enforced? A life has been wasted, let justice be not wasted as well...

Justice for Marvin Reglos!

Valentine Without You

by Oliver P. Cachapero

It’s Valentine’s Day and yet we are continents away.

No dates, no hugs, no kisses for me today.

Should I feel lonely, should I feel sad, then?

Should I feel envious of my dating friends?

No of course! I’ll just stay home today.

When you come home, we’ll make everyday a Valentine’s Day.

The best I can do is to blow you some kisses for now.

I’m pretty sure these kisses will reach you somehow.

I love you, dear, always will, always have.

Sending this poem from Philippines with love.

P.S. Started composing this poem on February 13 at 12:01 A.M. – finished it at 12:31 A.M. Well, when you are inspired and motivated, things get much easier. Oh! The power of love.

Jeremy Lin – Legend In New York

What’s all the buzz, not just around the NBA but around the world, about this young kid named Jeremy Lin? Never heard? From what mountain have you been all these days?! Can’t get enough of it? Well, I hope this would be a nice read coming from the self-acclaimed number one Jeremy Fan in the Philippines.

Facts About Jeremy Lin

Jeremy Lin is an American citizen who traces his roots from Taiwan. His stardom in basketball started in his senior year in high school when he led his team upset a nationally ranked high school team. He wanted to go to UCLA to continue basketball program in college but he was not lucky enough to be recruited. He, then, chose Harvard which nevertheless does not grant athletic scholarship. He was a standout basketball player for Harvard during his entire four-year stay there. He graduated from Harvard with a degree in Economics and a 3.1 GPA.

His Journey to the NBA

He was one of the hundreds of hopefuls who entered the 2010 NBA Draft. Unfortunately, he was not drafted by any team. He worked his way out during the training camp and he was offered a partially guaranteed contract by the Golden State Warriors in July 0f 2010. Lin did not showcase well enough his talents with the Warriors since the team was loaded with pretty much talented guards. He was waived by the team in December of 2011. Three days thereafter, he was signed by the Houston Rockets. A day before the new season starts, that is, the day before Christmas, Lin was once again waived by his team. He never played for the Rockets.

His Journey to the Broadway

At the start of the season, Jeremy Lin was not with the New York Knicks, and the Knicks surely doesn’t need him. But when the team had major problems with their guards and their only healthy and consistent guard, Iman Shumpert, went down with an injury, the Knicks was forced to sign a reliever guard in Jeremy Lin. Nevertheless, he was still considered as the 12^th option of the team. He was not part of the rotation. He was assigned to the D-League thereafter where he recorded an impressive triple double in a win. He was recalled by the Knicks after three days.

When the Knicks guards – Iman Shumpert, Toney Douglas and Mike Bibby – were playing awful basketball in strings of games, beleaguered Knicks Coach, Mike D’Antoni, was forced to use Lin as a reserve point guard against allstar Deron Williams and the New Jersey Nets. Unexpectedly, Lin had 25 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds in 36 minutes leading the Knicks to a win to snap a losing streak. But prior to that, Lin went scoreless against the Celtics the day before recording 1 turnover and 2 fouls in 6 minutes. Literally, after the Nets game, Lin went from zero to hero.

Birth of a Star

After his impressive game against the Nets, Coach D’Antoni started Lin in their next game against a strong Utah Jazz team. Lin picked up where he left off scoring new career highs 28 points and 8 assists in 45 minutes in a win. The next game against the Wizards, Lin broke again his previous career high in assist recording 10 while scoring 23 points for another win. Lin became an instant phenom in the NBA and around the world. But many still had reservations on his success saying that this circus won’t last long, he just having a good stretch of break. Lin silenced all his doubters when he pounded the heavily favoured Los Angeles Lakers for a whopping 38 points and dishing out 7 assists in 39 minutes. The Knicks never trailed the game and they cruised past the Lakers from start to finish, thanks to Lin’s amazing decision making with the basketball. And this settled once and for all that a star is born in Jeremy Lin.

The Success Behind Jeremy Lin

Jeremy Lin is for real. He has a very high basketball IQ, he makes decisions very well and he makes his teammates better. He plays pick and roll as good as John Stockton and Steve Nash. He can drive to the basket, beat his man off the dribble and beat taller guys with his speed and wit. He helped his teammates define and discover their roles. He excels well in the coach’s system. He plays defense with a couple of steals. He is down to earth, recognizes and appreciates his teammates and never forgets to thank his Creator. This guy has all the ingredients to become the subject of a best seller biography book.

Funny Facts About Jeremy Lin

*When he was signed by New York for 10-day contract, he transferred to New York without any future plans as his contract might expire after 10 days, hence, he lived with his brother and he slept on a couch. Now, he has all the credits to buy his new condo, or who knows, his own mansion.

*Moments before the game against Lakers, Kobe Bryant was asked about Jeremy Lin. Kobe said “Who is this kid?” Lin outmatched Bryant and singlehandedly beat him and the Lakers. I’m pretty sure Kobe knows this kid now.

*Jeremy Lin’s #17 Knicks jersey had been sold out in New York City.

*Asia has added Knicks game in its national television. Asia is now being taken by storm by Lin’s success in the NBA, first since the Yao Ming era.

*Hundreds of titles have been given to Jeremy Lin, the most popular are the following: Linsanity, Legend in New York, Linning and Winning, New York got something to Lin on, Sleeping Dragon, Hidden Dragon.