It was part of the best prudence we exercised when we choose not to identify in our column the name of the fraternity involved in the hazing case we amplified here last Wednesday. For even without mentioning the fraternity's name, our inbox was flooded with e-mails both from here and abroad, majority of which came from the fraternity members themselves.

For this issue, we shall give way to the reactions of the fratmen who called us by names. Well guys, severe criticisms like those come part of the territory. We have no qualms publishing your reactions, no matter how harsh these are. It's part of our daily bread and we do not have an iota of hallucination to write only about the flowers and the cherry blossoms that blooms abloom. Here are some of our choice cuts but we still omit the name of the fraternity. Here they come and be sure to make the sign of the cross before reading further.

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We start with this rather diplomatic reaction from a certain Ric Mabolis of New Jersey, USA: "Good day to you. I'm an alumni (sic) of this fraternity that you're saying but thanks (sic) a lot of not mentioning the name of the frat in your column. First of all I would like to inform you that the said fraternity is not ragtag and not founded in boondocks or hinterlands. To know more on our organization, please log on to this website (omitted). This fraternity and sorority is proudly Collegiate Filipino. As an alumnus, I'm not glorifying activities like this, I know the anti-hazing laws, but I think that's the problem in most of the College Greek Organization. As a journalist you should know what had happened the past years to all other initiations of other frats and sors, because its a tradition, its hard to control the members of doing so specially to a remote chapter. Hazing has been performed not only to College Frat or Sororities, Its done even in the PMA, ROTC, CAT, etc. Even to different LAWYERS frat. As a college grad I think you know what is a fraternity. May be you don't know our Frat because we never figure in any frat war, never accept out of school youth in our ranks and we never rush membership. In short we're not GANGSTERS, we are a duly registered SEC organization and has professional/military alumni all over the Philippines and some parts of the world. Well, on your comments we can't blame you on your sentiments, but please give us your due respect. This thing happened not only to us but also to other organizations because of uncontrollable initiation. Everybody is aware of the anti-hazing law, but still the members in each place are the real one that holds the rites. Mostly, all fraternities have problem being recognized because of stricter guidelines in every school, but not all. Our objectives is good and pro community. So far I don't know the position of our organization because I'm not the spokesman nor officer and of course.

I'm aware that our Organization was involved on this tragedy. Before this was (sic) happened, their (sic) was a memorandum already from the top hierarchy that the initiation has been suspended all over the Philippines many months ago. I'm not confirming nor denying that our organization was involved on this tragedy because I'm an alumni member already. I respected you as a journalist so please don't say bad comments to the whole organization. This email message is not official nor representing the whole organization but commentary only to your column as a member alumni. Thanks and more power to you."

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Then we go to an itchy reaction from one Ruel Ferdinand Gallo, a staff nurse of Addenbrookes Hospital. We received two e-mails with the same content: "Mr. Bantugan: I think the better way of facing or tackling any incedent (sic) in our society is to address the problem itself, the person or group of persons involved and not to use your influence to comment especially give unfair and unjustifiable remarks to the entire society. The fraternity that you we're trying to name in your column, the fraternity that you mentioned that perhaps "founded in the boondocks or somewhere in the hinterlands of the province or somewhere else" is one of the FRATERNITY of our country that produces ALUMNI and PROFESSIONAL like me. A FRATERNITY that was embeded (sic) into my veins to bring prestige to my family, my country and into this fraternity. A FRATERNITY that produces PRIVATE BUSINESSMAN, PRIVATE EMPLOYEES,GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS,HIGH RANKING POLICE OFFICERS AS WELL AS ARMED FORCES OFFICERS,TOP PMA GRADUATES,LAWYERS and others. Therefor (sic), using such words addressed to the entire organisation (sic) instead of certain individual or groups in your locality is a practice of unprofessional journalism and an act of abusing such influence which may originates from BOONDOCKS AND HINTERLANDS wherever you may came from". (Sir, it is admitted that we are from the boondocks and hinterlands, of our dreams -DAB).

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But here's one fratman who could not hold his verbal calisthenics. Engr. Bryan P. Toledo of Al Khobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia wrote: "Mr. Bantugan: I am very much appalled by the words you used in your column. The members of (omitted) didn't wish for the tragedy to happen. Accidents do happen and we are ready to pay whatever it may cost to correct the mistakes done by our brothers and sisters in Bohol. I want you to know that (omitted) is not a "ragtag???" ORGANIZATION. (As a journalist you should be skillfull (sic) in using adjectives but I am disappointed with you!) What would you feel if I will tell you that I also didn't hear in my entire life your Bol-anon-same-like-bandera weeky newspaper? Shameful! As I go through your column, it is more than a photocopy of the anti-hazing law than the journalism that you are engaged with. In short, shameful copy cat! We are aware of the anti hazing law and we don't need your meaning less (sic) explanation about it. Please practice professional journalism or if these are new to you, web can provide you a wide range of searchable sites for explanation! As salam alaikom!" (Engineer, salak matulam wara abrikatu. We are only trying to amplify the law and we could not do otherwise but to quote the law without engaging in plagiarism. If you do not find it meaningful, it could perhaps be to other readers. As to our newspaper format, we leave that to the sound discretion of our editors - DAB).

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Finally, here's one titillating reaction from one Franklin Sopaj (reverse of Japos). But for the record, we did not say that the fraternity members are gangsters. What we said was that the city mayor is getting rid of gangsterism in the city. Here's his e-mail: "This is in the connection with what you had written on (sic) your column sa Bohol Chronicle.

We're deeply sorry sa aksidente na nahitabo pero dili man sad angay nga tawagan mi nimu ug mga gangster, for your information we are a registered organization under the SEC. Lupig pa man nimu sila Cristy Fermin ug Boy Abunda kung maka-criticize ka, mura man pud ka ug mao,. ga-jamajama lang ka." (Franklin, doy, we're sorry too if we can't please everybody).

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