Cheers and jeers to UP

There were two major news related to UP today; they also happen to come from extreme poles of the emotional spectrum. Whatever that is.
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Bad news first. Another promising UP student died due to a fraternity-related incident. I still don't get what it is with frats and pain. True, experiencing shared pain helps create stronger bonds among people, but I don't think it refers to shared physical pain, especially those inflicted by the very people who promised to be your "brothers" in the first place. Collective hardship, unfortunate experiences, common tragedies; it is these stuff that make people bond together. Frats foolishly hope that by bludgeoning people they teach the neophytes how to be strong, to be loyal, to feel the bloody tradition they're hurting themselves to be a part of. I don't know for sure if the neophytes do learn the "lessons" afterwards, but I'm sure one could almost expect the certainty of death. In the words of one concerned UP student, the fraternity may not have intended to kill the applicant. And we all say of course, why would they? The truth however is that they intended to hurt him. Badly. Obviously, hurt him severe enough to cause death.

I hope the fratmen involved in this incident show the notorious machismo their culture is known for and be men enough to face the grieving loved ones and friends of the dead. And the wrath of the greater community who suffered a most senseless loss.
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Now the cheery news. The Philippine Madrigal Singers come home after successfully clinching the top prize in the Grand Prix for Choral Singing held in Italy. They're also the first two win the championship twice (in 1997 then this year). With this accomplishment, the multi-national judging panel have noted that the Madz have cemented their stature as one of the best choral groups in the world.

I remember an orgmate who once told me her experience while she was about to watch the Madz in concert. As the audience wait for the performance to start, she recalled how bejewelled matronas in their splendid plumpness seemed unable to contain their awe of the Madrigals (yes, Jamby's family) for the noble deed of funding such an excellent choral group.

We can't help but feel the depression as we realize how ignorant some members of the supposed alta sociedad are and the tragedy of living in a country where the cultured, moneyed ones say things like that. In a situation where the ruling class is capable of such imbecility, where does the privilege come?

The Philippine Madrigal Singers is not in anyway connected to the Madrigals; the group is a actually a UP-based choral group, known to Diliman inhabitants as the UP Madrigal Singers. They assume the "Philippine" title when they go abroad, or when they serenade a larger audience outside the UP community.

And the Madrigal in their name is not a family name but is instead a reference to their musical setting, their choral arrangement. Look it up in Wikipedia or, if you're in a university, go listen to an art history or appreciation class.

If only the matronas can stop admiring each other's rocks and start, you know, reading.