FORMS OF BULLYING AND ITS EFFECT AMONG FILIPINOS AGES 12 - 16 YEARS OLD

A RESEARCH PAPER SUBMITTED TO MS. MULINAWE OF LOS BANOS NATIONAL HIGH

GRADE 10 – ALBAY

MARCH 2019

By

Kenneth Luke I. Balais

Maxene Figuracion

Justine Cupon

Daisy Banasihan

Wencie Jabes Banasihan

Rex Gatchalian

Ian Gabriel Palmero

Micaella Mae Bobadilla

Pamela Victoria Escobin

Yasmine Eusebio

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Introduction

Bullying is when people repeatedly and intentionally use word or action against someone or a
group of people that cause distress and risk to their well-being. Bullying is not the same as
conflict between people like having a fight or disliking someone, it can cause emotional and
psychological damage to the person. Bullying can be a form of physical attack or electronic act
using different online sites. Nowadays, bullying has been evident to most teenagers because of
too much exposure to different social media sites. ​(Limo, 2002)

All children may experience and witness bullying at any age. Bullying may result to different
negative outcomes including impacts on mental health, emotional instability or even suicide.
Victims of bullying may experience anxiety, loss of self-confidence and self-respect. Bullying
can be done offline nor online at any given case and can be experienced by anyone. Every child
must be guided through consultation and therapy to avoid mental and psychological issues.

Bullying has been a debatable topic for many years. The percentage of encounter of bullying
were lot a lower back 90's from now. Many has encountered bullying in Secondary/Highschool
level, and many had seriously resulted to suicide. Basically, because the kids around them
either make fun of who they are or how they want to live their lives. ​(Gorgones.,2013)

According to the consolidated report of Department of Education (Dep Ed), bullying cases on
elementary and high school of both private and public schools on 2014 rose by 21% or a total of
6,363 cases, compare with the 5,236 on 2013. This translates to 31 daily bullying cases from a
divisor of 201 school days. The statistics was disclosed by Rep. Gerald Anthony Gullas Jr., a
member of the House committee on basic education. ​(Sonnie.,2015)

This study identifies the form of bullying through online and offline ways. Different arguments
were presented by examples that have been viral recently whether this was online and offline
bullying.

This would help the educators and parents to have a deeper awareness on how to seriously
handle the cases of bullying to their kids. This may also help students or teenagers address
effectively the effect of bullying to their mental and psychological stability.

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Thesis Statement

Bullying has been alarming most especially to teenagers ages 12 -16 years old here in the
Philippines since it can be done through online and offline practices. Victims experienced
negative effects on their lives which causes anxiety, loss of self-esteem and self-confidence.
The help of the parental guidance and school officials will lessen the pain in every teenager who
are experiencing bullying through proper guidance and support.

Purpose

The purpose of this study is give awareness to every student, parents, and teachers regarding
the greater effect of bullying to young Filipinos. This also serves as an opening study to avoid
bullying to be experienced by any student or teenager through knowing the practices, causes
and impact.

Objectives

This research aimed to:

1. Identify the forms of bullying among young Filipinos ages 12 - 16 years old.

2. Determine the effects of bullying in the lives of young Filipinos ages 12 - 16 years old.

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PERCENTAGE OF BULLYING TO 12 - 16 YEARS OLD IN THE PHILIPPINES

Eighty percent of teenagers aged 13 to 16 have been cyberbullied through social media,
according to a 2015 survey by child-care nonprofit Stairway Foundation Inc. The survey, the
results of which were released Wednesday, was the second study carried out by SFI “to
address a gap in data concerning Child Online Protection (COP) in the Philippines.” About
1,268 school children aged 7 to 12 and 1,143 aged 13 to 16 were covered in the survey
conducted in the National Capital Region; Silang, Cavite; Zamboanga Sibugay; Bayawan
City, and Bacolod City, Negros; Cebu City; and Tuy, Batangas. While 80 percent of
teenagers are cyberbullied through social media, 60 percent of their counterparts in the 7 to
12 age bracket suffered the same abuse. The survey also showed that 30 percent of
children aged 7 to 12 and 40 percent of 13 to 16 were aware of peers who endured
cyberbullying. The survey also said three out of 10 children aged 7 to 12 were bullied
through threats, two were oppressed through photo editing, one were humiliated or had their
private conversations exposed, and three were either excluded or impersonated through
fake accounts. In teenagers, photo editing had affected three out of 10 students, while two
out of 10 were either humiliated or threatened. One out of 10 also said they were bullied by
having their secret conversations exposed, while two suffered impersonation or had
experienced exclusion. ​(Alambau, 2016)

Since bullying is getting higher every single year most specifically to the younger generation
it creates a big effect to every child. It gives an impact to their attitude, mindset and social
responsibility. According to the random survey conducted in some teenagers here in Los
Banos, 8 out of 10 teenagers ages 12 - 16 years old who were bullied are affected mentally,
emotionally, and socially. Effects are identified through their actions in social interaction like
they will not participate in class, will not be socially involved with their peers, will not join any
activities or worst will lead them to loneliness. With this, their academic performance was
also affected and also their social growth and development.

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Fig. 1: The social and mental negative effects of bullying to teenagers ages 12 - 16 years old in Los Banos

ONLINE BULLYING

The most common way of bullying nowadays is CYBERBULLYING which uses the internet and

digital communication devices. This is a way of online harassment done by posting negative

messages or picture to social media sites against the victim since youth are not properly

monitored by parents or authority, cyberbullying is increasing and affecting wider scope of

younger Filipinos.

Marlou Arizala and Bimby Aquino are the ones who experienced Cyberbullying. Which people in

social media bashed them based on their physical appearance or behaviors. With these

incidents, their personal lives were affected through having them anxiety and have lowered they

self-confidence. As what stated from different news, Marlou Arizala had decided to do major

surgical operation on his physical appearance because of the negative comments he is getting

like, “panget”, “halimaw” or “malas”. With this kind of treatment from fellow Filipinos, he decided

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to change his whole identity from Marlou Arizala to Xander Ford. With this kind of bullying, it

affects his self-respect and emotional aspect.

In line of this, it is one evidence that social media has been the most influential medium for all,

most specifically to the teenagers. They vent out their sentiments, opinions and emotions

through their own social media accounts just like what Marlou did on his personal Instagram and

Facebook account. Since this has been the wider and most influential medium, bullying through

Facebook, Twitter or Instagram were also trending. It becomes easier for the bullier to do

negative comments, photos, and bad arguments. These practices are done through giving bash

or negative comments, creating memes, viral edited photo or video, or worst they will also threat

someone through online. Which the study shows, that most of the female teenagers ages 12 -

16 years old are the one who are mostly experiencing this kind of online bullying. Since it has

wider scope than offline bullying it has a greater and faster impact to the personal development

of the bullied.

The survey also said 14 percent of pre-pubescent children preferred to talk to their friends about

their online problems, 6 percent would head for their siblings, 5 percent would seek their

teachers, and 15 percent would never talk to anyone. Among teenagers, 33 percent would

confide in their friends, 10 percent would talk to their siblings, only one percent would seek their

teachers, and 22 percent would rather keep mum. Of those surveyed, only 50 percent of

children aged 7-12 and 40 percent of children aged 13 to 16 said they are comfortable with

letting their parents know about their online activities. ​(Alambau, 2016)

Since most of the teenagers has their personal space in their online accounts, they tend to keep

their experiences on them instead on consulting it to their parents. And since it creates rapid

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and higher effect on the teeanagers, it is also important to be fully aware about our actions

online.

Fig. 2: The practices done in online bullying

OFFLINE BULLYING

Offline bullying is an attack to someone through physical and verbal abuse. School bullying is

also increasing since students nowadays are exposed from different backgrounds and

influences in school. Bullying can be described as victimization and intimidation of students by

their fellow peers since this can be reportedly done by threatening verbal cursing, teasing and

most common with physical attacks it may result to deeper psychological problem.

Students from Ateneo de Manila University and Sacred Heart in Lucena, once experienced

bullying through physical and verbal abuse. A student from Ateneo, Joaquin Montes got viral

because of what he did to his classmate. He used his Taekwondo practices to attacked most of

his fellow students and to off his abilities and dominant act against them. The most viral was the

“Bugbog o Dignidad” video, where he was giving his classmate to choose physical attack over

his dignity. Since the boy chose his dignity, Montes did several attacks through kicking to his

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classmate. Another incident was on the group of female teenagers from Sacred Heart in

Lucena who seriously did spanking and curing to their classmate.

Offline bullying is not just done through physical abuse, sometimes, verbal abuse is one of the

most powerful tool to hurt someone’s feeling. Most of the students experienced higher impact

through cursing and smart/brain shaming. Through the random survey from the teenagers in

Los Banos, most of the students received the words of ​“Bobo” and “​Tanga” from their fellow

students. With these, some of them felt embarrassed and will just believe on what other people

are saying. Through cursing, teasing or worst is physical attack, teenagers had lowered down

their self-confidence and self-respect. When this happens, they will also be socially and

mentally affected which may result to low performance in class or will even lead them to suicidal

act.

Conclusion:

Since bullying can be done online and offline it is important to monitor and help the younger

generation to guide them accordingly. Bullying in whatever form has lasting negative effects on

the development of a person. This is predominantly considered as a serious issue that should

be controlled or mediated by teachers, counselor and parents. Policies and practices may help

the youth discover their responsibilities as responsible peer and internet user.

Since we already have a law against bullying which is named as RA no. 10627 or the

Anti-Bullying Act which protects every child on the practices of bullying. This law should be

taken seriously by every parents or educators to which they can guide and help every child to

understand the situation of bullying. Also, to prevent this kind of act, we as teenagers should

also be aware and educated about our manners through using social media sites and even

personal interaction with our peers.

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Bibliography:

Alambau.ph: (2016). ​80% OF YOUNG TEENS IN PHL EXPERIENCE CYBERBULLYING –

​ ww.Alambau.ph
SURVEY. w

Dela Cruz. (2017). Cyberbullying in the Philippines.

Limo, S. (2002). ​Bullying among teenagers and its effect

Pujalte, J. (2011) ​Bullying Basics. ​Manila Bulletin.

Sonnie. (2015) ​Statistics: Bullying Cases Up by 21% In Philippine Schools

Witkus, S. (2012) ​Cyberbullying among Filipino Adolescents.

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Survey

Name: (Optional) Grade at Sec:

1. Ano ang pambu bully para sayo?

a. Sinasabihan ng mga masasakit na salita/minumura

b. Pisikal na sinasaktan

c. Iba pang kasagutan

2. Kapag ikaw ay nakaranas nang pambu bully ano ang nararamdaman mo?

a. Gustong mapag-isa.

b. Nalulungkot.

c. Ayaw makisama sa klase

d. Nawawalan ng gana makihalubilo sa mga gawain

3. Anu-ano sa mga sumusunod ang naranasan mong pambubully mula sa Facebook?

____ Ginawan ng memes

____ Nagpakalat ng nakakatawa o nakakahiyang video o picture ko.

____ Binabantaan, minumura o pinagsasalitaan ng masama

____ Wala sa nabanggit

4. Ano ang nais mong gawin mula sa mga nambubully sayo?

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

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