CHIEF TORRE: Takbo Laban sa mga Bully

 

"Actions speak louder than words." - St. Anthony of Padua  

A bully is someone who repeatedly and intentionally uses intimidation, threats, or aggression to hurt, control, or humiliate another person, often one who is perceived as more vulnerable. This behavior is not a one-off argument, but is deliberate behavior that hurts or upsets someone over time.  It can be physical, verbal, social or cyber.

What is the etymology of the word? The real origin is muddy at best.  The word "bully" appears to have Dutch and German roots, in the mid 16th century, evolving from the word "boel" which means "lover" or "friend." Indeed, its earliest meaning was positive.  According to the Oxford English dictionary, it was a "term of endearment and familiarity." In the 17th century, the word began branching off into creapier meaning that are closer to today's bullies.  "Bully" started to mean "a blustering gallant swashbuckler" and even "protector of a prostitute." Slowly, the word darkened in meaning and by the time of the late 18th century,  "bully" was defined by the  Oxford English dictionary as "a tyrannical coward who makes himself a terror to the weak." 

Indeed, a bully is a terror to the weak and a terror to society. Yes, bullying is considered a societal evil because it is repeated, aggressive behavior that causes physical, emotional, financial, and social harm, and its negative effects can last into adulthood.  It is a social problem that thrives on power imbalances and can occur in many areas of life, including school, workplaces, government and online. 

The Philippines faces a growing education and economic crisis due to rampant school bullying, with research showing that bullying significantly undermines student achievement and could cost the country significant economic losses annually. There are many academic papers and scientific studies that point to this sad reality.  Dr. Michael Abrigo of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) presented in April 2025 the findings of his study  "School Bullying Contributes to lower PISA Achievement among Filipino Students .  In the study, Dr. Abrigo estimates that bullying-related setbacks could lower the GDP by 0.05 to 0.08 percentage points annually translating to losse of approximately Php 10 to Php 20 billion. This loss is almost equivalent to the Department of Education's (DepEd)  2024 budget for textbooks and computerization programs, which amount to Php 12 billion and Php 8 billion, respectively.  

How rampant is bullying in the Philippines? The school bully is very much alive and kicking, still making the lives of victims miserable, 11 years after Republic Act No. 10627, known as Anti-Bullying Law, was passed in 2013.  Based on data from DepEd, the number of reported bullying cases in public schools  surged from 1,158 to 20,172 in five years from 2013 to 2018.  The  2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)  report of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) indicated that 43% of girls and 53% of boys in the Philippines reported being bullied, which is significantly higher than the global average of about 20% for both genders. 

What can we do?  Society can combat bullying in the Philippines through comprehensive anti-bullying prorams in schools, consistent policy enforcement, and fostering a culture of kindness and respect from the community level up. In the community, we can promote open communication, educate the public, support victims, and encourage positive modeling.  In educating the public, we can raise awareness through community-wide campaigns about the signs of bullying and the importance of empathy. 

Community-wide campaigns are large-scale, highly visible activities. In the Philippines, with the running boom or running era  much talked about in traditional media and social media , the fun run is a highly visible activity that can effectively help in the campaign against bullying by creating an inclusive, community-oriented environment that fosters empathy, confidence and social connection. These fun run events provide platforms for raising awareness, promoting positive values, and challenging the power dynamics often associated with bullying. 

Truly, the Bicolano Penguin  believes that a fun run is an effective and practical platform to raise awareness about the evils of bullying and of the need to stand up against it. That is why  my son and I  joined the  CHIEF TORRE: Takbo Laban sa mga Bully last Nov 16 in Greenfield City, Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Actually, it was my sister who registered but since she was unable to join due to a fever on that Sunday morning, I claimed her race kit and ran with her bib.    

This Nov 16  Takbo Laban sa mga Bully fun run is a brainchild of  Gen. Nicolas Torre III, the former PNP Chief who has a distinguished track record in public service in general, and in police work in particular. Gen. Torre is no stranger to challenging the power dynamics associated with bullying. Majority, if not all Filipinos, know this.  Even Artificial Intelligence (AI) agrees that Gen. Torre has actively challenged power dynamics associated with bullying, even making it the focus of his personal advocacy after this tenure as top cop.    

YouTube  link to the interview of One PH network with Gen. Torre on his personal experience about the subject of bullying.  

    

  Google it and Gemini AI will enumerate the key aspects of Gen. Torre's stand against bullying: personal advocacy and official initiatives.  Following his exit as PNP Chief, Gen. Torre has focused his efforts on a personal anti-bullying campaign. He has shared that he has been a victim of bullying since childhood, even as a high ranking officer, which inspired his advocacy.  For his official initiatives, as PNP Chief, he directed police commanders to be vigilant against street crimes and bullying as schools reopened, and announced that bullying cases could be reported through the emergency services (PNP 911 hotline ).  And of couse, who would forget the bullying brouhaha in July 2025 when Gen. Torre bravely and rightfully stood up to what he described as a "bully" in response to challenges from acting Mayor Baste Duterte of Davao City.  This included a challenge to a fistfight, which Gen Torre turned into a charity event to emphasize the message of standing up to bullies.  He stated that being in power does not give one the right to bully those with less power.  

Definitely, Gen. Torre has street cred when it comes to advocating against bullying.  That is why come the morning of Nov 16, the fun run assembly area of the Takbo  Laban sa Bully was filled with hundreds of registered runners, if not thousands, many of them believing in what Gen. Torre has to say against the societal evil that is bullying. Many came and join the fun run organized by Gen. Torre. Many came from all walks of like and from all shapes and sizes.  Not only that, there were quite a number of corporate sponsors visible in the area. 

Arriving early, the Bicolano Penguin (aka Mangrove Loving Penguin) with son Marcel had time to have a picture at the main photo tarp.   

Gen. Torre arrive early too and gamely had photos with the participating runners  

Participants have discipline in lining up to have a photo with the good general.

Selfie with Gen. Torre

 

Corporate sponsors of the Chief Torre: Takbo Laban sa mga Bully included  Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs 

Fitbar is also one of the corporate sponsors.

Part of the Fruitas Holdings, the Balai Pandesal brand was visible at the Chief Torre:  Takbo Laban sa mga Bully.

Sampling some of the free Mega Tuna products

Selfie with the Race Director Josoel Sabile. The apple does not fall far from the tree. He is the son of my favorite Race Director Jose Sabile who handles fun runs advocating for the Indigenous People   

Gen. Nico Torre giving a speech at the  program before the start of the fun run . He emphasized  that the primary purpose of the fun run is to raise awareness against bullying. 

Photo by Popography13y showing the huge crowd of runners that joined the CHIEF TORRE: Takbo Laban sa mga Bully 

A Man of Action. Gen. Nico Torre is a true runner. He started running when he was still in high school in South Cotabato province. He has finished a full marathon (42kms) twice already.   Looking at the track record of Gen. Nico Torre in his long time service at the PNP, one can reasonably  deduce that he is a man of integrity and character.  He is a reliable and trustworthy individual who consistently aligns his actions with his strong moral and ethical principles.  Such a person is effective  in "getting things done" because the consistency, accountability and reliability foster trust and collaboration with others.  Love him or hate him, Gen. Torre gets things done.  

And for this Takbo Laban sa mga Bully last Nov 16, he sure did. People, including the good general,    surely enjoyed the  fun run.  Here are photos to prove the fun in the run. 

Gen. Torre shooting the breeze with the runners as they await the gun start 

     

A disciple of  punctuality, Gen. Torre checking on his watch to make sure the gun start is on time.    

The 10km runners are off to the races.  Gen. Torre is at the thick of things. 

Next batch of starters  are the 5km runners.  Again, Gen. Torre joins them. 

Gen. Torre with the 3km runners.  He is an energizer bunny all over the place. He is having fun like the rest of the runners. 

The CHIEF TORRE: Takbo Laban sa mga Bully was open to all. Runners brought their young kids. Starting them young on the value of an exercise lifestyle and healthy respect for others.   

Toddlers and  infants even had their share of the fun with their moms and dads. 

A pet dog joining in the fun. 

Mangrove Loving Penguin in the house. 

Finish line up ahead with the bouncy beat of the drummers egging on the runners. 

Proud of our finisher medals. Proud of our advocacy against bullying.  

By and large, the CHIEF TORRE: Takbo Laban sa mga Bully is a success.  

Success for the organizers led by Gen. Torre and his team. Success for the participating runners who had their fill of sweat and happy hormones on that Sunday morning.  Success also for the advocacy  as more and more people are becoming aware of the evils of bullying and more and more people, like Gen. Torre, are active in  the anti-bullying campaign. 

The anti-bullying advocacy needs more people like Gen. Torre.  Men and women of action who, consciously and unconsciously, are living the sage words of St. Anthony of Padua: ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS; LET YOUR WORDS TEACH AND YOUR ACTIONS SPEAK.   

God bless to the CHIEF TOREE: Takbo Laban sa mga Bully.  Gen. Torre promised that there will be another Takbo Laban sa mga Bully next year.  He will sure to make it happen and we will be sure to join.