Bullying in the Philippines is widespread in schools and over the Internet,

with a study that states that about 50 per cent of Pilipino students are
bullied in school. Bullying can easily affect both the bully and the victim,
and that’s why the government in the Philippines is working hard to crack
down on it. The latest measures include the signing the anti-bullying act of
2013, which criminalizes any act of bullying or cyber bullying that happens
in the country. Read on to learn about bullying in The Philippines.

Cyber bullying in the Philippines

The affordability and availability of personal computing has allowed for an increase in
cyber bullying across the world, and the Philippines is no different. Cyber bullying is the
use of digital media to be unkind to others. This can include sending messages through
social media, e-mail or text message, in order to make the victim feel uncomfortable,
powerless or threatened.
Cyber bullying can also include hacking others’ social media accounts in order to steal
secrets or assume their identity for the same purposes. With children and teens more
connected than ever to their mobile devices and computers, this can make them
vulnerable to bullying all day – at home, at school and anywhere else.
Cyber Bullying in The Philippines has become a major issue. The Philippines is
considered the 4th country to search for cyber bullying over the Internet.
As well as specific anti-bullying legislation, The Philippines also have specific laws
governing cybercrime. One piece of legislation that addresses this area is the Cybercrime
Prevention Act of 2012. This controls acts such as:

 Cybersex, or the wilful engagement, maintenance, control, or operation, directly

or indirectly, of any lascivious exhibition of sexual organs or sexual activity, with the aid
of a computer system, for favour or consideration.
 Child pornography, as defined in the Anti-child pornography Act of 2009.
 Illegal access, or access to some part or the whole computer system without
having the right to.
 Identity theft.
 Password theft.
 Computer-related forgery
 Cybersquatting, or the acquisition of the domain name over the internet, in bad
faith, to profit, mislead, destroy a reputation, and depriving others of registering the
same subject to certain subjects.
This controversial piece of legislation was not welcomed by everyone. According to some
journalists, lawyers, bloggers and politicians, the law gives too much room for
interpretation which gives the government great control over the life on the internet and
social media. Furthermore, the law does not only punish the person who was responsible
for the act, but also will affect the people who accepted and agreed on it like sharing the
content by tweeting, sharing updates, videos, and photos. The penalty can go up to 12
years in prison and the maximum fine of one million Philippine pesos ($20898) for each
incident.

School bullying in the Philippines

A survey that was recently conducted showed that one in two Filipino children have
witnessed violence or abuse in their schools. It was also showed that students in the
schools of Philippine witness the different types of bullying including name calling,
teasing, exclusion, or forcing the victim to do things.
The Department of Education in the Philippines reported more than 1,700 cases of child
abuse or bullying in schools for the years of 2013 and 2014. However this number is
decreasing. The decrease may be due to an order in 2012 known as DepEd Child
Protection Policy. This states the policy and guidelines for the child protection in schools
against abuse, exploitation, violence, discrimination, and bullying.
The 2012 DepEd Child Protection Policy not only
takes care of the violence targeted towards the
children but it also looks at the family.
Information is then referred to school
administrators and teachers.
The House of Representatives in Philippine has
approved a bill that requires all elementary and
the secondary schools to adopt policies that
prevent bullying or any other kind of violence in
the schools. This bill requires the schools to
include the anti-bullying policies. The schools then
submit to the Department of Education after six
months upon the effect of the law, and any
incidents should be reported immediately, and in
case of absence of the policies in any school, there
is a sanction that falls on the school’s
administrators.

Bullying has been recognized as a major threat to the younger generation in almost every country in the
world. Despite the beauty and charm of this developing country, the Philippines has struggled with
bullying issues for years. School bullying, workplace bullying, sibling bullying and cyberbullying all
plague Filipino society.
In the 2013-14 school year alone, the Department of Education (DepEd) in Manila documented over 1,700
bullying and child abuse cases, even after passing anti-bullying legislation. Fortunately, 60% of these cases
are currently resolved.
According to Secretary of Education Armin Luistro, bullying in Philippines can take on a number of
forms to include peer bullying, gender discrimination, physical violence, public ridicule, sexual harassment
and psychological abuse. When it comes to tackling bullying issues, Luistro feels that “Bullying and other
forms of violence in schools should be viewed not just as a school problem but as a societal problem as
well.”

Role of Anti-Bullying Legislation in Filipino Schools

Anti-bullying legislation has helped promote bullying awareness among Filipino society. This is a major
step in putting a stop to bullying and protecting young people in the country. The Anti -bullying Act of
2013 also helped to promote the development of Child Protection Committees in schools, a vital part of the
DepEd’s Child Protection Policy (CPP) to keep young students safe in their learning environment.
School CPCs are comprised of six members to include the school’s principal who acts as chairperson, a
guidance counselor, a teacher representative as chosen from the school’s faculty club, a student
representative selected by the school’s Supreme Student Council and a representative from the local
community, preferably a barangay (district) council member.
Under the Anti-Bullying Act, all schools in the Philippines, both public and private, are required to put no -
bullying policies in place to handle issues with this abusive behavior on school grounds. No -bullying
policies serve various purposes. First, they provide teachers and staff with a means of identifying and
dealing with bullying behavior in school. Bullies know their abusive actions will not be tolerated and that
there will be consequences for their behavior. Next, bullying policies encourage students to report bullying
behavior knowing that they can count on teachers and staff to provide the help and support they need.
According to Luistro, “… 93 school divisions in seven regions have their respective pool of trainers, who
are expected to roll out and to capacitate school personnel in handling child abuse and bullying cases.”
In addition to peer bullying, some students suffer from bullying at the hands of teachers who embarrass or
demean them in front of their class. Students who perform poorly, for example, may be chastened or
insulted before their peers. No-bullying policies include not tolerating bullying from teachers in Filipino
schools. Teachers who humiliate students in public or private face the risk of administrative sanctions by
their school as per the DepEd’s Child Protection Policy.
Part of the responsibility of the DepEd is to educate school principals, teachers and staff about child
protective policies by conducting special forums, seminars and consultations. Parents, teachers and other
adults in the community are encouraged to report school bullying incidences to a school’s CPC so they can
instigate an investigation and act on victims’ behalf.
The Philippines’ Anti-Bullying Law of 2013 makes schools responsible for reporting criminal bullying
behavior to local police for prosecution. If schools believe perpetrators should be charged for crimin al
activity under the country’s Revised Penal Code, they are obligated to notify police and the bully’s
parents/guardians so disciplinary action can be taken.

Bullying in the Filipino News

Tragic news reports of school bullying cases help to draw public attention to the problem with bullying in
Filipino schools. Stories in newspapers, TV and online depict examples of bullying from the primary
school level all the way through university.
In October of 2013, 9 year old Fred Aston Mendoza of Tanong Elementary School in the district
of Malabon was so brutally beaten by classmates that he had to be hospitalized. The assault caused internal
bleeding in the boy’s liver resulting in the need for surgery. A month later the young boy died of his
bullying injuries. Ironically enough, this incident of primary bullying occurred a month after Filipino
President Benigno Aquino III initiated the Anti-Bullying Act.
In the bullying case of 14 year old Derrick, a high school student, bullying centered on his choice of sexual
orientation. Classmates would insult him online or slam him via texts due to him being gay. Because texts
came from phone numbers Derrick didn’t recognize, he wasn’t sure who his attackers were. This caused
him a great deal of anxiety and fear. At one time, the abuse escalated to such a point that Derrick skipped
school for several days. Sadly enough, Derrick had to cope with this ordeal pretty much a lone as he didn’t
feel confident telling his parents he was a victim of high school bullying.
Many young people cope with school or cyberbullying alone, especially when so called friends are
instigating or joining bullying attacks. Student victims often lack confidence in parents or teachers to
intervene on their behalf. Studies show that kids who are bullied don’t do well keeping these abuses to
themselves. Many wind up committing self-harm acts or resorting to suicide to escape from their troubles.
The widespread use of the Internet and social media make Filipino youth easy targets
for cyberattacks. Facebook is such a popular medium in the Philippines that virtually everyone with
Internet access uses Facebook to connect with friends. Like millions of fellow Pinoys, 27 year old
Raymond Malinay, a university student in Manila, confessed to being a Facebook fanatic. Little did he
know that his passion for connecting on Facebook would one day lead to a
vicious cyberbullying prank that would malign his character and ruin his reputation.
In July of 2012, Malinay discovered someone had stolen a picture from one of his Facebook albums,
altered the photo and made it appear as if he had HIV. The picture was then recirculated online, going viral
on Facebook almost instantly. The bully even posted a false statement claiming Malinay was being sought
by the AIDS Society of the Philippines for knowingly spreading the disease. In 2 days, the photo had
gotten 4,000 shares and was being viewed in countries as far as the U.S.
Public response was quick and vicious with netizens condemning Malinay without even knowing all the
facts. The young university student was bombarded with such hateful comments as “You will burn in hell”
and “I hope you die; your body will burn in hell.” Malinay responded, “I really don’t know where the issue
came from, I don’t have enemies… I’m not gay.”
Shortly after the photo was displayed, Malinay went to a hospital affiliated with the AIDS Society to get
tested for HIV in an effort to refute the allegations against him. The test results came out negative, proving
the entire episode was a lie. Nevertheless, the damage to his character and reputation had been done.
By sharing these stories with the public, reporters help create greater awareness of bullying problems in the
country.

A Realistic Look at Bullying in Philippines

In addition to bullying incidents highlighted in the news, bullying surveys and studies by schools, private
organizations and government agencies help paint a realistic picture of the abusive behavior students
endure by bullies in school and online. The following bullying statistics are from studies from various
sources across the country conducted over several years.

 According to a recent DepEd report, approximately 31 bullying incidents are reported daily in
Filipino schools.
 “A total of 6,363 cases of bullying in public as well as private elementary and high schools were
recorded in 2014,” said Cebu Representative Gerald Gullas, Jr., “up nearly 21 percent versus the 5,236
documented in 2013.”
 As this figure was based on reported bullying incidences, it could actually be higher, seeing as
many students don’t report their abuse due to fear of retaliation.
 Approximately 228 accounts of “child abuse” were reported in schools in 2014.
 In its 2012-13 survey, the DepEd reported that 80% of “child abuse” cases pertained to bullying
(1,165 incidences out of 1,456)
 Of primary bullying and high school bullying incidences reported in 2009, cursing, ridiculing and
humiliating acts were most prominent
 A Cyberbullying Research Center survey reported that approximately 20% of Filipino students
ages 11-18 were bullied online in 2014.

How to Deal with Bullying

Although CPC’s, no bullying policies and laws against bullying are good measures to prevent bullying in
Filipino schools, bullying experts feel more can be done to protect Filipino youth from bullying abuse.
Schools need long-term solutions to their bullying problems, i.e. a program that outlines how to stop
bullying before it ever starts.
When discussing ways to eliminate bullying behavior, experts felt that education could be the key. Parents
and teachers need to teach children moral values that depict acceptable and unacceptable behavior both at
home and in the school environment.
At home, parents can discuss how bullying affects their family through such activities as teasing,
gossiping, hitting, ridiculing, etc. In school, teachers can incorporate bullying into their school lessons and
curriculum, outlining characteristics of bullying behavior such as aggression, imbalance of power, verbal
and physical abuse and social exclusion. Rather than look the other way when bullying occurs, schools can
put a spotlight on the problem and tackle it head on.
Anti-bullying policies help to establish procedures for handling bullying behavior in school and that’s
good. Schools, however, can go one step further by teaching kids that bullying is unacceptable conduct,
not just in school, but anywhere in Filipino society. By building a case against bullying and getting
teachers, parents and students behind their no-bullying stance, schools can be a force for good in creating a
safe and productive learning environment.

Importance of Modeling Good Behavior

Positive peer pressure can do much to improve a school’s culture and raise students’ moral standards. Even
schools that have had a long history of bullying can be changed by students being good role models.
Schools should encourage and recognize students who exude good behavior in c lass, such as being
respectful to teachers, being considerate to classmates, volunteering with school projects and tutoring
younger students.
Adults should also make an effort to model good behavior. Teachers should treat students with dignity and
respect rather than laugh or insult them for their lacks. Parents shouldn’t get into shouting matches with
teachers during conferences or make idle threats – all of which occurs in Filipino schools.
Moral values that promote loving, respectful behavior begins at home. Parents can start by being good
examples to their children. Studies reveal that bullying is a “learnt” behavior, and many times it’s learned
in the home environment. Kids who are verbally or physically abused at home will more than likely take
this example with them into the school environment.
Filipino parents who cannot or will not take responsibility for raising their kids (absentee parenting) are
contributing to a generation of bullies. In like manner, parents who are extremely lenient and don’t se t
limits or discipline their kids produce the same results. In contrast, kids raised in a disciplined environment
where they are respected and loved rarely resort to bullying; if bullied, they’re more capable of handling
the problem.

Working Together to Eradicate Bullying Behavior

In most Filipino schools, student surveys reveal that bullying is often more prevalent than teachers or
parents think. Students who fail to report bullying incidents are, in essence, covering up the situation in
their schools. By speaking up and reporting bullying activities, victims and bystanders empower school
officials to act. Schools should also not hesitate to share the findings of bullying surveys with their
teachers, students and parents so everyone can work together to remedy the problem.
Some schools fear that exposing their bullying problem will cause them embarrassment and shame. They
don’t want to risk “stirring the pot” of public sentiment against them. Both of these reactions only
aggravate the problem. By disclosing bullying information, schools can rally the help and support of local
communities on their behalf.
Negative bullying facts speak for themselves. Parents and community leaders who want to see an
improvement in their local schools will be open about bullying in their midst so solutions can be found.
Students count on the help and support of responsible adults to protect their welfare and preserve the
standard of their education.
School teachers and staff can also benefit from training that sheds light on why people bully, what causes
bullying, how to recognize bullying signs and how to handle bullying acts. Bullies often have favored hot
spots where they corner their victims such as cafeteria, bathrooms, playgrounds and on school buses.
School officials should be on the lookout for bullying in these areas and be quick to intervene once
bullying starts.
Parents also need to be more in the know about bullying in their kids’ schools. By organizing semi nars and
programs about bullying for parents, schools can draw them in to help resolve bullying problems. To
eradicate bullying from schools, all sectors of society need to be involved. Students should have various
resources at their disposal when they need help with bullying issues.

Modern Abuse: Internet Bullying in Philippines

In addition to traditional bullying, modern technology has given rise to a more dangerous means of abuse –
that which is conducted online. In an international cyberbullying survey conducted by Reuters in 2012 in
which 18,000 people in 24 countries were polled, 80% of participants reported that Internet bullying w as a
major threat in their home country.
Drs. Sameer Hinduja and Justin Patchin, members of the Cyberbullying Research Center and authors of the
book Bullying Beyond the Schoolyard: Preventing and Responding to Cyberbullying, define online
bullying as “willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other
electronic devices.” Victims of Internet bullying can be targeted through mobile phone text messages, chat
sites, social media, emails and blogs.
In a country like the Philippines where a large majority of the population enjoys the perks of modern
technology, it’s no surprise that online bullying is a problem. Several years ago, the country was dubbed
the “Texting Capital of the World” due to the billions of text messages Filipinos sent annually. Today, the
country is known as one of the most social nations on the planet, according to operasoftware.com.
Opera’s 2015 State of the Mobile Web report reveals that more Filipinos use their mobile Internet
connections for social networking than any other reason.
Web statistics from SocialBakers.com showed the Philippines ranking in 8 th place on a worldwide scale
(2012) for Facebook users, with over 27 million Filipinos using the social site. Filipino youth between the
ages of 13 and 17 comprise 20% of the country’s Facebook population.
Despite the improvements modern technology has brought to a developing country such as the Philippines,
it also has its drawbacks. Over the years, social sites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and others have
proven to be a ‘virtual playground’ for cyberattacks. Through social media, cyber bullies have been able to
expand their reach in spreading hurtful and hateful messages. As Facebook is one of the most popular
social sites among Filipino students, it’s no surprise that Facebook bullying has taken its toll in the lives of
young people around the country.

Role of the Internet in Cyber Attacks

Internet access is what makes cyberbullying possible. Countries with high connectivity rates such as the
U.S., Canada, Australia and the Philippines are more susceptible to cyberbullying than those with low
Internet availability. Currently, one third of the world’s populace has online access on a regular basis,
according to a report from the International Business Times. As this figure rises, chances
are cyberbullying attacks will rise with it.
Online bullying encompasses a wide range of harmful activities ranging from ridicule to cyber stalking and
identity theft. By reviewing a basic Internet Safety course, young people can beco me more familiar with
the different types of online bullying they can fall prey to if they’re not careful. These include:

 Gossip
 Slander
 Exclusion
 Impersonation/Identity theft
 Harassment
 Cyberstalking
 Flaming (Online fights)
 Trickery (deceiving someone to reveal secrets and exposing these online)
 Cyberthreats
Cyberbullying Statistics Tell the Tale
Cyberbullying statistics tell the tale of where the Philippines stands in its fight against Internet bullying. A
2012 online survey conducted by ASK, a group of professional advocates, strategists and keynote speakers
who dedicate their services to Filipino society, revealed the following facts about cyberbullying in day to
day living.

 Of adults 18 years and over, 53% said they had been bullied; 47% of minor children (17 and
under) confessed to being bullied
 More female participants were bullied than males (57% vs 43%), regardless of their age
 The types of bullying most often experienced by victims were attacks on their reputation,
appearance and personal opinions. The most common attacks were posting doctored images, circulating
private videos and spreading lies.
 The platforms most often used for bullying activities were Facebook, mobile phone and blogs
 Of victims who reported the abuse, most confided in friends. Parents and siblings were distan t
second and third choices.
 79% of victims said they were bullied by a single person; 21% were victims of groups of bullies
It was interesting to note that photo-shopped images were a popular means of online bullying in the
Philippines as it illustrates how creative bullies are becoming. Identity theft is also a
common cyberbullying tactic. Young people are notorious for posting personal information online,
especially on social sites. Cyberbullies use this information to cause all kinds of problems.
As Facebook is the #1 social network in the country, it’s not surprising that it was named as the platform
used most often for cyberbullying. Cell phone bullying is also quite popular, as bullies can send malicious
texts day or night. The fact that Filipino victims were more open with friends about bullying problems
shows they trust their friends more than their immediate families.

Outcome of Cyberbullying
According to the Nemours Foundation, the outcome of cyberbullying is always bad. The negative effects
can be felt both in the present and future of a young person’s life. It’s not unusual
for cyberbullying victims to be susceptible to fear, anxiety, depression, self-harm and suicidal thoughts.
The younger the victim, the more vulnerable he or she can be to cyberattacks.
Students who have been bullied often lose their ability to focus on studies, become fearful of attending
school and isolate themselves from family and friends. Parents who notice a change in their kids’ behavior
should investigate to see if bullying is the cause.
As so many Filipino kids and teens socialize online, parents should have some awareness of what they’re
kids are doing and with whom. An open line of communication could save a tween or teen’s life. The link
between Internet bullying and behavior problems at home and school is quite strong. Cyberbullying can
play on a young child’s mind, causing him or her to feel ‘all is lost.’ The psychological effects
of cyberbullying have led many young people to take their lives.
A study conducted by Kimberly J. Mitchell and Michele L. Ybarra, experts in the long term effects
of cyberbullying victims, showed that teens who wouldn’t normally act in an aggressive manner in a
traditional bullying setting may feel less inhibited online. These experts say, “The anonymity associated
with online interactions may strip away many aspects of socially accepted roles, leading the Internet to act
as a potential equaliser for aggressive acts.” The fact that online bullying can be so difficult to trace makes
it easy for bullies to be as obnoxious or hurtful as they like.

Who Can Be Targeted for Cyberbullying?

Digital technology has made it possible for people to communicate 24/7 via their laptops, tablets or mobile
phones. In fact, most people find it difficult to separate themselves from their mobile
devices. Observations from Hinduja and Patchin conclude that today’s young people are virtually addicted
to their mobile phones and computers, making them that much more susceptible to cyberattacks.
Young people, however, are not the only ones that suffer from cyber bullies. Even Filipino celebrities such
as Sarah Geronimo and Kim Chiu have been in on the act. It’s not uncommon for a celebrity to be the
target of online identity theft. People use their personal info and photos to create bogus accounts to bully
others. There are even bullies among the stars as well.
The Filipino clique Ampalaya Anonymous composed of such famous personalities as Angel Locsin,
Bianca King, Cristine Reyes and Bubbles Paraiso gained notoriety in 2010 for ganging up on actress
Pauleen Luna on Twitter. Since then the group has undergone various name changes although many of its
members remain the same. Chinese Filipino actress-model Kim Chiu also hit the news for allegedly
partaking of cyberbullying activities with some friends.
According to Dr. Virgilio Binghay, a professor of Sociology at the University of the Philippines
Diliman, cyberbullying and identity theft is a type of “crab mentality” – a term used in the Philippines to
describe individuals who try to pull others down for being more popular or successful than them.
Cyberbullies fall into this category of degrading others to fulfill their personal agenda.

Workplace Bullying in the Philippines

In some cases, bullying doesn’t end when students graduate from school. Many Filipinos face bullying
problems at work. Although workplace bullying is not a popular topic of conversation, it’s quite prevalent
in countries all over the world. In the Philippines, examples of office bullying can be found in a wide range
of settings. By learning to recognize the signs of workplace bullying, Filipinos can take action against
harassment and intimidating acts.
The distinction between “strong management techniques” and bullying can often be difficult to detect.
Sometimes supervisors make comments that appear critical but are actually intended as constructive
feedback. If employees are treated unreasonably, however, that’s another story. Unreasonable treatment
that’s intent on causing workers mental or physical harm should be reported as bullying.
Such treatment may include:

 Being subjected to shouting, insults or curses

 Being the topic of ugly rumors or lies
 Being ostracized or ridiculed for mistakes repeatedly
 Having work sabotaged by colleagues or boss
 Getting disciplined or penalized without cause
 Being robbed of credit for work done
 Being refused advancement or promotion when warranted
 Physical or sexual abuse on the job

Impact of Workplace Bullying

Workplace bullying affects everyone – victim, colleagues, supervisors and the company itself. Bullying on
the job is rarely a secretive act. Fellow workers often witness bullying behavior and wonder if they may be
next.
Office bullying can cause victims to experience health problems they never had before. The stress and
pressure of being bullied can cause high blood pressure, heart problems, insomnia, migraine headaches,
ulcers and more. Bullying can also lower the morale and work performance of those who witness the
bullying behavior. Hostile environments are rarely good for business.
Resolving Bullying Issues at Work
Victims shouldn’t take workplace bullying lying down. They have recourses they can follow to remedy the
problem. If talking to the bully(ies) doesn’t work, victims can report bullying behavior to their supervisor
or HR department. It helps for victims to keep a record of bullying incidents to prove their case, in the
event supervisors ask for evidence.
Many corporations today recognize the dangers of allowing bullying to continue in their environment. In
addition to lowering morale, bullying incidents can lead to worker discontent, absenteeism and even loss of
good personnel. Companies that want to retain good workers and keep their reputation intact will take
bullying matters seriously when reported. Serious bullying acts could even be a violation of a company’s
code of conduct, giving victims better footing in getting issues resolved.
In some companies, bullying may be associated with office politics. Supervisors may use bullying tactics
to intimidate employees in an effort to get them to work harder. Supervisors who use fear and intimidation
as their motivation to increase work production seldom get the results they want. Such actions only
produce discontent and dissatisfaction among workers and loss of employee trust and loyalty. Although
office bullying is an occupational hazard that many Filipinos face in their job, it shouldn’t be considered
part of the normal business culture.

Elements of Office Bullying and Harassment

Like traditional bullying, office bullying can be detected by specific characteristics and aspects. These
include:
Use of power – Supervisors may use their position and power to bully subordinates into doing what they
want. In like manner, a tenured employee may use his or her influence to bully those new to the company.
In using power, bullies strive to exercise control over other workers to fu lfill their personal or business
agenda.
Personal animosity – Sometimes personality clashes can lead to bullying due to people not getting along.
People with strong personalities often clash with others due to wanting to be in control. Personal dislike
may have little to do with a person’s job skills or performance. People can perform well and still be
disliked and bullied.
Discrimination – When people are bullied due to their age, gender, race, religion personal appearance or
disability, bullying becomes a form of discrimination, which, in many countries, is against the law.

Anti-Office Bullying Act of 2014

In 2014, two law makers, Reps. Rodel Batocabe and Christopher Co of the party group Ako Bicol made an
effort to bring workplace bullying legislation into the Philippines by filing the Anti-Office Bullying Act of
2014.
“While a law has been passed preventing and addressing acts of bullying in educational institutions,” they
said, “there still prevails bullying and other similar acts in the workplace. These kinds of acts hamper
peace and tranquility in a professional environment and disrupt the delivery of services to the public.”
According to the Batocabe and Co, workplace bullying was overlooked more often than not by employers.
They felt legislation would help restore dignity in the workplace and enforce the rights of employ ees. The
proposed law would cover government and private businesses, forcing them to adopt anti -bullying policies
that combat intimidation and harassment in the workplace.
The bill defined bullying as “any severe or repeated use by one or more employees of a written, verbal or
electronic expression or a physical act or gesture, or both, directed at any person that has the effect of
placing the victim in fear of physical or emotional harm or damage to his property.”
Such acts as cursing, name calling, Internet harassment, spreading lies and rumors, negative comments or
insults concerning personal appearance and physical violence would all be considered bullying behavior.

Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 (Republic Act)

The Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 was designed to protect children and teens from bullying in Filipino
schools. School bullying in the Philippines had risen to such levels that children were in danger of physical
and mental harm. Despite measures to keep their children safe at home, parents worried about ch ild safety
on school grounds.
Some parents considered home schooling as an alternative to sending their kids to school, especially after
seeing the effects of primary and middle school bullying in public schools in their area. The ever -growing
threat of bullying behavior against Filipino children what prompted the Philippine government to step in
with this legislation.

What Constitutes School Bullying?

The Anti-Bullying Act is quite specific in identifying bullying behavior. This eliminates possible
“loopholes” that bullies can use to escape punishment for their errant conduct. According to the Act,
bullying behavior in school – whether physical, verbal or online – is that which results in students
experiencing the following:

 Fear of physical/emotional harm or damage to personal property

 A negative viewpoint of their school as being an unsafe, hostile environment
 Violation of their rights
 Disruption of their studies
 Breakdown of order and security on school grounds
Under the Republic Act, the definition of bullying extends beyond physical actions such as hitting, kicking,
shoving, etc. Bullying also includes behavior that causes emotional or mental turmoil to young people or
behavior that taints their character and reputation. Internet bullying has also been addressed in the Act as
so much damage has been caused through cyberattacks. As most Filipino students have access to digital
technology, they’re quite susceptible to cyberattack. As such, it only makes sense to include cyber offenses
in this law.

Children’s Rights under the Republic Act

Children have the right to study within a safe and secure learning environment. Under the Anti-Bullying
Act, Filipino schools are liable to keep their students safe on school grounds. The Act also protects
students who are attending school programs or functions off school premises. School buses and cars owned
by the school are also covered as are school owned electronic devices. A child or teen who uses a school
computer for academic purposes is protected from internet bullying under this legislation.
The Republic Act encourages students to report abusive behavior that threatens their personal safety or
lowers the standard of their education to school officials. Both victims and witnesses to bullying behavior
are protected by the Anti-Bullying Act. This should give bystanders greater confidence to intervene when
bullies attack or report them to school officials or local police authorities if the offense warrants criminal
investigation.

Schools’ Responsibility Towards Students

Filipino schools have the responsibility to provide a quality education to their students. At the same time,
they’re responsible for preserving the safety of those in their care. Children shouldn’t fear going to school
due to the threat of bullying from teachers or their peers. The Act makes it clear that bullying will not be
tolerated in Filipino schools. By everyone doing their part to prevent bullying behavior, kids can enjoy a
safer school environment.
The Philippines has much to look forward to as a newly industrialized Southeast Asian country. The
country ranked 97th out of a total of 169 countries in the United Nations annual Human Development
Program which measured a country’s quality of life. The assessment was based on the health, education
and income of a country’s population.
Taking into consideration the country’s economic growth and technological advances, it’s only natural that
the Philippines would take interest in improving its educational system. The passing of the Anti-Bullying
Act was the first step toward enhancing the educational standard in Filipino schools. By curtailing bullying
in its schools, the Philippines can protect younger generations from this abusive behavior and ensure they
receive the quality education they deserve.
CYBERBULLYING

Cyberbullying is the use of digital technologies with an intent to offend, humiliate, threaten, harass or
abuse somebody.

Top 9 Tips For Dealing With Cyberbullying

From our research, we found that up to 7 in 10 young people experience cyberbullying before the age of
18… but what is it and who does it effect? Cyberbullying comes in a whole range of different shapes and
sizes and is something that is totally subjective to the recipient. We define cyberbullying as the following:
“Cyberbullying is the use of digital technologies with an intent to offend, humiliate, threaten, harass
or abuse somebody.”
Anybody can become a recipient of cyberbullying, regardless of how old they are or the kind of job that
they do or what their hobbies might be. In fact, it is well documented that a lot of our favourite celebrities
and role models also experience cyberbullying.
The most important thing is knowing how to deal with it. Here are our Ditch the Label expert’s top 9
suggestions:

1. Never respond
Do not reply to anything that has been said or retaliate by doing the same thing back. Saying
something nasty back or posting something humiliating in revenge may make matters worse or even
get you in to trouble.

2. Screenshot
If you can, take a screenshot of anything that you think
could be cyberbullying and keep a record of it on your
computer.

3. Block and report

Most online platforms have this function, make sure you
block and report the offending users to the appropriate
social media platform.

4. Talk about it.

You may not feel it at the time, but cyberbullying affects you in many different ways. You are not
alone. Talking to somebody about bullying not only helps you seek support but it documents
evidence and will take a huge weight from your shoulders.

5. How serious is it?

Asses how serious the cyberbullying is. If it is light name calling from somebody that you don’t
know, it may just be easier to just report and block that user.

6. Report it.
If you are experiencing cyberbullying from somebody you go to school or college with, report it to a
teacher. If somebody is threatening you, giving out your personal information or making you fear for
your safety, contact the Police or an adult as soon as you can.
7. Be private.
We recommend that you keep your social media privacy settings high and do not connect with
anybody who you do not know offline. You wouldn’t talk to random people on the street, so why do it
online? People may not always be who they say they are and you could be putting you and those that
you care about the most at risk.

8. Talk to them.

Sometimes it may be appropriate to request that a teacher or responsible adult hosts a mediation
between you and the person who is bullying you online, if they go to the same school or college as
you. A mediation can be scary but is often incredibly powerful. It is essentially a face -to-face
conversation between you and the person bullying you in a controlled, equal environment. This is a
proactive and effective way to deal with online bullying.

9. Sympathise .
Always remember that happy and secure people do not bully
others. People who bully are going through a difficult time
themselves and will often need a lot of help and support.

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
Tiu, 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.

SFI notes that cyberbullying is "particularly repugnant and complicated" as the Internet "magnifies
the problem in almost every aspect" and invades safe spaces.
"We must make children understand that cyberbullying shouldn't be ignored, and that it is never the
victim's fault... We should also know that cyberbullying is a school concern," it wrote.
- See more at: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/parenting/560886/80-of-young-teens-in-
phl-experience-cyberbullying-survey/story/#sthash.h6PIYRrC.dpuf