Images on the Wall, Litters on the Floor, Shards of Window Glasses
by Jose Angelo Lorenzo S. Gomos
The Case of Juanito
Juanito is a teenager with hopes and dreams of a brighter future. He has a family to belong to and friends to spend time with. But like most youths in the country, Juanito has his personal angst, problems, and issues. This angst is hidden in him and he needs to find ways to let it go. These problems may have developed from his internal longings – desires which he finds impossible to achieve. These issues might have resulted from his relationships with friends and reflections of the realities in the society.
And so, for Juanito to release all this frustration cultivating within him, Juanito decides to join a group with members who share his reality. This certain group has goals which often deviate from the norms of society and may cause trouble to others. Juanito’s decision is unwavering. That is why when the group members task him to do an illegal act for his initiation, Juanito is determined to do it.
In the middle of the night’s consuming darkness and dead silence, Juanito faces a wall before him. Despite the dim flickering glow of the lamppost protruding on the sidewalk, he can clearly see the unstained whiteness of the wall. He gazes at the pure surface, reads the sign posted in clear metal plate, “Post No Bill”, and clutches the cylindrical red spray paint in his hand. He turns back and looks at the stern faces of the group members. The leader of the group nods his head, signifying for Juanito to do what needs to be done. Juanito faces the wall again. Prompted and focused, he unhesitatingly shakes the spray paint and with it, marks the wall with his desired words.
Juanito has vandalized a property.
Vandalism and its origin and types
Vandalism is a crime that involves the destruction of a property (whether public or private) by will or instruction. It is considered an illegal act if the owner of the property did not prescribe the perpetrator to cause the damage or if the owner did not have any knowledge upon the perpetrator’s intentions to destroy the property. It is a crime commonly done in urbanized cities where infrastructures are erected and population is increasing.
Vandalism gained its term from the East Germanic Tribe, the Vandals, when they invaded the ancient city of Rome, defaced the temples, looted the citizens’ treasures, and ransacked most of the city’s properties. In the present, vandalism is evident in rallies, rebellions, wars, and terrorism. As perceived today, most people view vandalism as equated to markings, paintings, drawings, and random blotting on walls. But vandalism is not solely limited to these. It also encapsulates shattering windows, breaking chairs or tables, cutting trees without permission, slashing the tires of another person’s vehicle, egging homes, dismembering a public statue, and littering filth on public ground.
According to Sociologist Stanley Cohen, there are seven different types of vandalism. These are: acquisitive vandalism, peer pressure, tactical vandalism, ideological vandalism, vindictive vandalism, play vandalism, and malicious vandalism. For acquisitive vandalism, the perpetrator is guilty of looting or stealing an item. In the case of Juanito, he vandalized due to peer pressure. Tactical vandalism is in relation to acquiring money or property. Ideological vandalism is the type that delivers a message (be it a warning from a terrorist group or a request from activists). Vindictive vandalism is for revenge and play vandalism is a consequence of games. Lastly, malicious vandalism is the damage that resulted when a person aggressively releases his rage in a public setting, often breaking things within reach.
As an influence, as an art, as a hindrance to education
The causes of vandalism can be political, societal, or psychological. In a research conducted by Vernon Garth Esau at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in South Africa, vandalism is done due to lack of parental supervision at home, peer encouragement, and the influence of the general portrayal of vandalism in the media.
In some cases, vandalism is fabricated and labeled as an act of freedom of expression. As noticed by the countless graffiti art found in public walls in highly urbanized cities such as that of New York, most especially in Harlem, vandalism by painting and drawing does not serve the purpose of damaging the property but instead, beautifying and adding color to the surroundings.
However, in Cagayan de Oro City, vandalism can be seen almost everywhere, most particularly in areas least visited to. It can be sighted on walls that make up narrow alleys and on cemented fences along darkened streets. PO1 Rosielyn T. Mediante from the Police Station 1 located at Amphitheater, Divisoria, remarks, “Vandalism in the city is mostly a result to group affiliation, much like initiations.”
In Xavier University, vandalism is also an uncommon occurrence. It is found on ramps, cubicles in restrooms, and elevators in some of the campus’s buildings. Joseph Bibal, a professor from the university’s Philosophy Department, posts on a Facebook group, “Clearly vandalism [per se] is evil since it creates dirt and is unnecessary in an academic institution.” His views on vandalism is reflected by the research done by Esau in which it states, “It (Vandalism) could cause learning to collapse, since it infringes on the right of learners to be taught clean, well-kept school buildings, and to develop their full potential.” The research also adds that vandalism demotes the school’s healthy learning environment.
Vandalism and the policies prohibiting it
As a way to cease this crime, an act was proposed by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV in the Philippine government in 2009. The act was called, “The Anti-Vandalism Act of 2009”. This act entails the definition of vandalism as a crime to society and the penalties rendered once the crime is committed. The penalties include payment and duration of time in prison, depending on the severity of the crime and the number of offenses made. For the first offense, the penalty includes a payment of Php 5,000; for the second, an amount of Php 8,000; and for the third, a fine of Php 10,000 and a period of imprisonment not less than 30 days but not more than a year. The judge will be the one to measure the perpetrator’s time in prison, according to the gravity of infraction.
In Cagayan de Oro City, “The Anti-Vandalism Task Force” was implemented by Police Chief Inspector Lemuel Gonda in 2013. As the head of the city’s police operations, this task force will endeavor to immediately arrest persons or individuals committing the crime of vandalism on any public or private properties in the city.
Since most cases of vandalism in CDO are done by youths, PO1 Rosielyn T. Mediante modifies ways to prevent the furtherance of the crime in the city. She states, “Ang mga iskwelahan ug uban law enforcers puwede mag conduct ug symposium regarding vandalism.”
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Vandalism is a crime that has existed for generations and is often affiliated with wars and conflicts. In the present day, vandalism by painting and drawing on public walls is regarded as an art – a form of self-expression and a product of an artist’s creativity. For gangs and fraternities, it is practiced as a form of initiation to test the courage of the initiate or the applicant in similarity with the case of Juanito. But despite its modern fabrications and acceptance, vandalism will forever be labeled as a crime. Any property, whether privately owned or publicly displayed, does not deserve to be destroyed, devalued, and mutilated. Anything that holds a purpose is not worthy of losing its purpose by the action of someone else.
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Sources:
www.senate.gov.ph (“Anti-Vandalism Act of 2009”)
www.allfreepapers.com (“Outline Vandalism”)
www.123helpme.com (“Vandalism”)
www.sunstar.com (Super Balita; “Anti-Vandalism Task Force gitukod”)
En.wikipedia.org (“Vandalism”)
www.popcenter.org (“Controlling Vandalism: The Person-Environment Duet by Arnold P. Goldstein”)
Answers.yahoo.com (“Psychology Behind Vandalism”)
www.middleearthnj.wordpress.com (“Vandalism”)
“The Influence of Vandalism in Schools on Learner’s Academic Performance” by Vernon Garth Esau
