First part of the i-Witness documentary entitled "Mabuhay si Brod!"
24 September 2007
During the four Sundays of September, along festive Taft Avenue, thousands have taken the bar exams to become lawyers and future leaders of the country.
Hazing victim Cris Mendez had dreamt of going to law school and someday passing the bar. Instead, he was buried on the first day of the bar exams.
In the intense month of taking the bar and soul-searching over Cris's death, I-Witness’ Howie Severino explores UP Law, the nation’s leading law school -- now known for fraternities that produce both leaders and killers.
Unable to find the suspected fraternity, Sigma Rho, Howie spends time instead with the frat’s archrival, Alpha Phi Beta. Some of the APB brods were convicted for the 1998 hazing death of Alex Icasiano and spent up to two years in prison. One brod talks movingly about the stigma of being an ex-convict in law school.
Was there justice? Could this be a road map for Sigma Rho? Howie asks the mother of Icasiano, the APB neophyte who died. She describes the hard path to the conviction and ultimately forgiveness, and her relationship with the frat today -- which counts two Supreme Court justices and rising stalwart, Senator Chiz Escudero, in addition to her son among its proud roster of brods.
In a moving scene of the documentary, Mrs. Icasiano meets Cris Mendez’ mother for the first time to offer her condolences.
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