I MUST admit it’s difficult to raise children especially if they’re boys. Boys are more persistent and thus harder to control.

They tend to explore and move from one place to another more frequently without notice. Most importantly, they seek friends for brotherhood.

And so to make sure they find the right friends, I offered myself to my two sons as their buddy early on.

As ‘friends’, we played ‘cops and robbers’, basketball, badminton, and all games that could boost our friendship and camaraderie.

I laughed at all their jokes, shared meals with them in all possible occasions and made sure there was ‘gimik’ when they get bored.

Now that they’re both grown-ups, we’re still friends. And their friends are my friends too. This is important to keep me in the loop.

When they call or text me, I would say: What’s up bro? Their replies are amazing. They would crack up jokes before asking for something – money, pasalubong, shoes, shirts, or even flowers for the girlfriend.

Yes, they’re very demanding friends. But it’s okay. On top of being their ‘bro’, I’m their dad who’s not going to let them down.

I guess strong family bond helps keep our children away from destructive fraternities that offer false brotherhood.

Boys who are assured of love, protection, and belongingness by the family are more likely to resist temptations to join fraternities.

But even a strong kid could fall prey to hazing if fraternities resort to coercion and other ways that make victims feel they have no other choice.

By all means, the government should do its part in putting an end to hazing. President Marcos’ remarks on the latest hazing incident in the country should prompt authorities to get to the bottom of the case.

Marcos vowed to deliver justice for Matthew Salilig, the 24-year-old chemical engineering student from Adamson University who allegedly died of hazing.

Marcos gave the assurance, as he sympathized with Salilig’s family.

“I extend my sympathies to John Matthew Salilig’s family during this extremely difficult time and assure them that justice will be served,” he said.

Marcos lamented that hazing rites continue in pursuit of brotherhood.

He said hazing is never an option, as it only incites violence.

“John was a child, a brother, a friend, a classmate and a son of this nation, with a bright future ahead of him. It is not through violence that we can measure the strength of our brotherhood,” Marcos said.

“There should be no room for violence in our student organizations which our children consider family, and in our schools which they consider their second home,” he added.

Salilig was recently found dead in the city of Imus in Cavite province.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla already directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct a parallel investigation into Salilig’s death allegedly due to hazing.

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