Saplina: Teaching Discipline

A Sociology Project

By
Cedric T. Corro Faith L. Bernardes

Saplina Whips are first of all, used by humans to exert control over animals and humans through pain compliance, which is the use of painful stimulus. By hitting them with the whip, the animal or human in turn obey the instigator in fear of being hit again. Pain compliance is used to direct the actions of a subject-- pain being inflicted less when obedience has been achieved. This provides incentive to the subject to do what is told to be done. During a time in the history of the country where the Filipinos were under the rule of the Spanish colony, whips were likely introduced to the people as way to use their fear of pain against them. In Cebu, the whip was called saplina. The Saplina or whip is an instrument used by the early Spanish educators as a form of corporal punishment to their students. It is made of a stingray's tail. Stingrays are known to be gentle creatures, but tend to retaliate when threatened. A stingray's tail can cause a nasty, painful and ragged wound, but even more worrisome are the venomous spines which run along the stingray's back. The ikog sa pagi (stingray's tail) had been a very popular material for making whips because of its reputation to be lethal and sturdy. Stingrays were also abundant in Philippine seas which is probably also a reason why makers produced whips out of the material. An example of a saplina can be viewed in the museum in Cebu Normal University. Among the relics in the Spanish section, the saplina sat with the novenas, books, and other objects that were family to tradtions and culture introduced in the country. Due to the years of the specimens in the section, the colors of the objects almost have the same brown, aged look. One could hardly notice the saplina among other objects, being slender and thin. In the pictures the saplina looks more like a dried coconut leaf's midrib than actual ikog sa pagi. It is also apparent in the picture that despite the age of the object, it still seems to be very intact. As we looked closely into the whip, we have noticed that its surface is not smooth, in contrary to our belief that stingray tail may be smooth. The tail is actually textured, with a jagged surface that suggests the additional pain a person would receive once hit by the saplina. Its length must have been a meter long, or more, which appears thinner in the end, assuring the user of that crackle from the end of the it when whipped on a surface. The length also suggests that the stingray which once had this tail might have been quite big, which in turn says something about the teacher who purchased or used it. The caption/title card beside the saplina states that a teacher used the whip to punish pupils who had cimmitted exteremly serious offenses.

Significance and Meaning Whips had been used by people through inciting fear to the ones they use it on, enabling the subject to obey the instigator's commands. During the Spanish period, the saplina or whip was used by teachers to discipline students. Education during the Spanish rule was not very well noted. Education used to be only available to Spanish settlers in the country, but later became accessible to the rich families of the Philippines. By royal decree in the late 19th century however, public schools were eventually opened to cater to a bigger population. Since the schools were governed by friars, teaching the Christian doctrines was one of the priorities, followed by arithmetic, science and Latin. Education appears to have been a mode to spread Catholic teachings more than a means to promote critical thinking and curiosity. The Spanish friars always believed that Filipinos can never be better than them or Spanish students, therefore imposing a strict discipline to Filipino students, which means applying corporal punishment. In its original sense, discipline is systematic instruction given to disciples to train them as students in an activity which they are supposed to perform, or to follow a specific code of conduct or order. Discipline plays a big part in education. An undisciplined child is a stubborn child, and therefore a pain to teach. In an era where people were expected to abstain from unnecessary behavior and habits, discipline was highly endorsed and looked upon. The usage of whips to punish students who deviate by hitting them with it has become a custom during the period-- a means to discipline a student. This kind of punishment also became a means for parents to control a child throwing a fit. The word discipline carries a negative connotation because of this. The saplina or whip has been a symbol of corporal punishment. It is significant to education because it is known that to be able to learn, a person has to have the enthusiasm and determination to do so. Determination is not easy to come by, therefore one must be disciplined before being able to focus, and in turn, to be able to learn. The Spanish, together with their beliefs and technology, brought this means to discipline the Filipinos, but most of all, to cause fear to the people they have conquered. In recent years, although corporal punishment is frowned upon by the society, it is still obvious that superiors still hold their subordinates' fear against them, even if not through physical pain. Despite banning the use of anything to inflict pain on students, discipline is still exercised in schools, but through positive reinforcement. Enforcing discipline to students has come a long way since the Spanish era: From corporal punishment and the usage of whips and sticks to taking note of a child's potential.

Photographs of the Saplina