Wazzup Pilipinas!?
The Philippines has earned the unsettling title of the "bullying capital of the world," a grim distinction underscored by alarming statistics. In the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), a staggering 65% of Filipino students reported experiencing bullying at least a few times a month—far exceeding the 23% average across OECD countries.
This issue, however, is not confined to school grounds. Bullying is a deeply ingrained social problem, affecting children at home, employees in workplaces, and even professionals in academic institutions. It’s a learned behavior, often picked up not just from peers but also from family members, media exposure, and a society that sometimes normalizes aggression as a way to exert power.
Where Bullying Begins: Home, School, and Society
Children absorb behaviors from their surroundings. When they see aggression at home, whether through verbal abuse, harsh discipline, or dismissive attitudes, they learn that dominance and intimidation are ways to handle conflicts. This behavior translates into school settings, where bullying becomes an avenue for power and control.
Meanwhile, excessive exposure to social media, TV dramas, and streaming series that glorify bullying, abuse, and discrimination only fuel this cycle. When aggressive behavior is constantly depicted in entertainment without consequences, it becomes subconsciously acceptable to the younger generation.
The Silent Epidemic in Schools
The Department of Education (DepEd) has long recognized bullying as a major issue. The passage of the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 (RA 10627) mandated all schools to implement anti-bullying policies. However, as of late 2023, a shocking 10,018 public schools still lacked localized anti-bullying programs—a glaring gap in policy enforcement.
Despite DepEd's efforts, bullying has only grown worse over the years, contributing to the increasing number of youth suicides, depression, and school dropouts. Unfortunately, bullying does not always present itself in obvious forms. It can be subtle, systemic, and institutionalized, where even teachers, professors, and deans become perpetrators, making it nearly impossible for victims to speak up.
Why Bullies Don’t Stop: The Misconception of “Losing Interest”
Many believe that ignoring bullies makes them lose interest. However, this assumption is dangerously flawed. Bullies are not necessarily looking for attention; many are simply “killing time”—using others as their emotional punching bags to deal with their own frustrations. Ignoring them doesn’t make them stop; in fact, it can embolden them to escalate their behavior.
The best way to combat bullying is not silence but intervention. Schools need to train teachers to properly educate students on how to respond when bullying occurs. Instead of retaliation, which only fuels the problem, students should be encouraged to speak up and report incidents to trusted authorities.
In 2024, we once reported some teachers at Pasig City Science High School for bullying our daughter, who is actually their fellow teachers and this was done through their group chat. They asked for an incident report from our daughter to get a better overview of what transpired, however the principal never replied to that letter in similar written format and only instructed their English department head teacher to reconcile the teachers involved and did not initiate any other activity to address the bullying. It was not considered a big thing. Imagine our disappointment knowing it was the teachers who does the bullying themselves. It is not a surprise if the students themselves bully each other since the teachers themselves are bullies.
The Overlooked Crisis Beyond Schools
Bullying doesn’t stop at the classroom. It extends into workplaces, government institutions, and even online spaces, where people use their positions of power to intimidate, harass, and manipulate others. In many cases, employees endure workplace bullying because of the fear of losing their jobs, much like students who remain silent to avoid worsening their school environment.
Adding to the crisis, bullying is just one of many deeply rooted issues in the Philippines' education system, alongside corruption, mismanagement, and teenage pregnancy. These problems have been left unaddressed for too long, creating an environment where students are not just unsafe but also unprepared for the real world.
Breaking the Cycle: The Path Forward
The fight against bullying requires a nationwide shift in mindset, policies, and actions. The Philippines needs a more aggressive, multi-layered approach to tackle this crisis head-on:
1. Strengthening Anti-Bullying Policies
Every school, public or private, must strictly implement the Anti-Bullying Act. Policies shouldn’t just exist on paper; they must be actively enforced with clear consequences for violators.
2. Training Teachers, Parents, and Students
Educators should be properly trained to detect, prevent, and handle bullying. Schools must also conduct regular awareness campaigns for students and parents to recognize and address signs of bullying early.
3. Providing Mental Health Support
Victims of bullying often suffer from anxiety, depression, and trauma—sometimes leading to suicide. Schools and workplaces should provide easily accessible mental health support and counseling services.
4. Regulating Harmful Media Influence
The government and entertainment industry should take greater responsibility in monitoring content that glorifies bullying and violence. Social media platforms should implement stricter measures to prevent cyberbullying.
5. Encouraging a Culture of Accountability
Whether in schools, workplaces, or homes, there must be zero tolerance for bullying. Encouraging open discussions, creating safe spaces for victims, and holding bullies accountable are crucial in stopping the cycle.
A Call to Action: The Time for Change is Now
Bullying is not just a phase—it is a systemic crisis that has been left unchecked for far too long. It is too late for many who have already grown up with deep-seated trauma, but it is not too late for future generations.
The Philippines must make a conscious, collective effort to stop normalizing bullying, hold perpetrators accountable, and build a safer, more respectful society—before more young lives are lost to a culture of silence and inaction.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
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