Keep Calm and Stop Bullying

Which would hurt most? Physical pain or emotional pain?

Surely, no one wishes to be bullied. But bullying just seems to be a trend nowadays. It appears to be one of
the hobbies of other people.

Bullying is an indirect or direct act of belittling someone else, or making them feel inferior. It is generally
defined as the act of using force or threat to cause harm to impose domination against an individual or group. It can
be verbal, emotional, physical or cyber. It includes teasing, name-calling, using mean words, gossiping or making up
rumors, threats, hitting physically, stealing and even damaging property. It is important for people to understand
when they are bullying or being bullied because it can lead to serious, life threatening consequences.

Just like what happened to a 9-year old boy who died on August 9, 2013 at a hospital in Pili, Camarines Sur.
He was allegedly a victim of bullying at school. Realina Bruca, mother of John Joseph or JJ, said she noticed how
her son suddenly became weak and had bruises on his body last August 2. When she asked her son of what
happened to him as to why he had those, he can barely speak. So she came to ask one of her sons classmates
who recalled how JJ was bullied after getting into a fight over a chair. According to the said classmate, he was
harmed physically while their teacher was out. Two of his classmates, a boy and a girl, punched and twisted his right
arm which became swollen and infected.

His mother said they had no money for a check-up, which was why she only took her son to a doctor four
days after he became sick. His situation deteriorated and the infections from his right arm spread internally. He died
of complications of his bruises which then led to cardiac arrest.

This was one of the reasons why President Benigno Aquino III signed a law against bullying to ensure that
the Filipino youth are raised in a free from violence environment.

Aquino enacted Republic Act 10627 or the Anti-Bullying Act last September 12, but the palace announced
the development only on the 18
th
of September. Republic Act 10627 not only includes written and verbal
intimidation, but also threats conveyed electronically such as through text messages and over the Internet.

Under the new law, teaching institutions in the elementary and high school level are mandated to adopt
policies to prevent and address acts of bullying. The new law provides for disciplinary administrative sanctions
against an alleged bully and required the perpetrator to undergo a rehabilitation programme to be administered by
the school. Parents will also be encouraged to participate in the scheme.

Unfortunately, the new law against bullying came too late for John Joseph Bruca. But still, it is of help for the
current victims of bullying as well as to those in the future. Of course we hope that bullying wont already occur in
the future, but to make it happen is surely a long process of educating and continuously informing people about
bullyings consequences.

Bullying incidences have been normally dismissed as part of growing up but recent studies showed that
victims of bullying often suffer from psychological disorders. Four out of 10 children in Grades one to three, and
seven out of 10 in both Grades four to six and high school have experienced some kind of violence in school.
Bullying is indeed a symptom of a deeper problem which should never be tolerated. The school is the childrens
second home so their safety there must be well-ensured.

With this case, we can never conclude that physical pain is much more painful and risky than emotional. For
me, those two are even. It is said that words have powers. It can hurt people and wound our hearts by merely
saying it. Humans hearts are fragile, no matter how strong and tough they look on the outside. It is advisable and
better to use our words wisely.

There are so many people present in the world. But then just one or a few of them are bringing us down.
This is a sad and painful reality. It is not good to fight back but it is not good to continuously ignore harassment
either. But one things for sure. The people who are talking behind your back and bringing you down, it just simply
show that youre above them. Bullies must realize that. Bullying wont do them any good after all. Its better to keep
calm and stop bullying. No one deserves to feel worthless.