Vidal: Fraternities distort sense brotherhood

CEBU’S  influential retired archbishop calls the sense of belonging fostered by fraternities and sororities “distorted.”

Archbishop Emeritus of Cebu Ricardo Cardinal Vidal in his book entitled “Distorted Sense of Belonginess,” said the practices of fraternities and sororities distort the idea of brotherhood by using their groups as a tool of exclusion and attaining position of power.

“In reality one does not need to belong to a sorority or a fraternity. He or she is their hostage, someone they can use in order to accomplish selfish agenda or attain selfish ends,” Vidal wrote in his book “You’re Still Young, I’m Old… A conversation with the Youth of Cebu.”

The 81-year-old prelate, instead, encouraged young people to satisfy their hunger for companionship in Jesus.

“The Christ-centered community has only Christ as its reason for coming together. It is never exclusive because its mission and reason for existing is to reach out in service to others,” Vidal said.

“It does not compete with other groups, and never resorts to violence to attain its ends. It never glorifies  revenge or in harm that is meant for a fellow member, or for anybody else,” he added.

“Its members may be excluded or cast away but that was Jesus’ experience too. Jesus became a welcome committee of one for the unwashed and unwanted of his time,” he said.

A 26-year-old former head of one of Akrho’s chapters in Cebu, Troy Canturias admitted that most young people join the fraternity due to “peer pressure” and “sense of belongingness.”

“There were some who were pressured to join the fraternity because their friends are already members of the group and they’re not,” Canturias told Cebu Daily News.

By joining a fraternity, he said one can establish a network of friends, not only in Cebu, but other parts of the country as well.

The former fraternity leader who presently works as a travel sales agent, admitted the stigma  of fraternities.

“When my clients see the burn mark on my wrist, I have been told ‘maayo gani nadawat ka anang imong trabaho. (you arelucky to be accepted in your job).’,” he said.

“Fraternities are not entirely negative. Our by laws says it plainly: We promote love, unity, brotherhood, courage,” he added.

He said they used to donate P10 each and come up with around P500 in their chapter every week.

Canturias said they used their savings for feeding programs, civic welfare activities, and team building.

He said members who need money for hospitalization or in case of death of a loved one can borrow money from their funds.

Richard Buscayno, a long time leader of Akhro said they strive to promote fraternities as organizations that promote positive activities and community responsibility.

“We do have worthwhile projects like blood donation, feeding programs, giving school supplies to children and promoting the arts like painting,” Buscanyo said. /Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol