MANILA – Following yet another death from alleged fraternity hazing, creatives have come up with an online movement that gathers artists calling for an end to the violent, and sometimes deadly, practice.
On June 27, 18-year-old De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde student Guillo Cesar Servando died from traumatic injuries, allegedly due to hazing during Tau Gamma Phi initiation rites. According to fraternity spokesperson Lorenzo Lapak, Tau Gamma Phi no longer practices hazing during initiation rites, and is conducting its own investigation, GMA News Online reported. Despite the country’s Anti-Hazing Law, which seeks to regulate the practice, hazing-related injuries and deaths continue to happen.
The campaign gathers pieces that feature local and foreign comic book characters, from Batman to Panday. “We wanted to use comic book heroes as crusaders for this cause against senseless violence,” said Seven A.D. ECD Russell Molina, who collaborated with MRM Worldwide Deputy ECD Budjette Tan to flesh out the idea.
Rommel Joson – Panday
“Rather than feeling helpless, we wanted to be proactive. We surely cannot instantly change policies but we have the power to create ripples that would drive the debate and discussion forward,” said Molina, who is also a good friend of Servando’s aunt. “That was also a motivation for us to start this project,” he said.
With the line and the hashtag #endhazingnow, artists from different backgrounds were called upon to contribute to the cause by drawing heroes breaking paddles. “Budjette’s line ‘Brothers Don’t Hurt Brothers’ sums up what we wanted to say,” said Molina.
Evil Scientists
Molina explained that the project aims to initiate a dialogue with the youth, who are a big part of comic book creators. “I think comic book creators and artists are in the best position to influence the youth. Through the medium, we wanted to talk to them and make them question the whole concept of brotherhood and the need for violence,” Molina said.
“Right now, we invited friends from advertising, comic books, and children’s book illustrators to contribute, but it would be great if more artists create and share their artwork for ‘Brothers Don’t Hurt Brothers’ so that we can #EndHazingNow,” Tan said.
Contributers so far include Rommel Joson, McCann Worldgroup’s Ace Enriquez and Atan Talas, Publicis JimenezBasic ACD JP Cuison, Robert Sinaban, Publicis Manila creative director Paolo Fabregas, Seven A.D.’s Argem Vinuya and Julio Malantic, Joel Fabonan, Manix Abrera, Kajo Baldisimo, and Evil Scientists.
Robert Sinaban – Hellboy
Molina said that they want to inspire others comic book artists to create their own pieces. “We want to continue the conversation through their work. We also encourage teachers and educators to print out these materials and post them in their schools for their students. Lastly, we invite the youth to challenge the current concept of brotherhood,” he said.
