Discipline, Formation, and the Future of Our Youth

There is an old saying in many Filipino households: “Ang disiplina ay hindi panakit, kundi paghubog ng mabuting pag-uugali.” Discipline is not about inflicting pain but about shaping good character. For generations, Filipino families have relied on clear boundaries, respect for elders, and a strong sense of responsibility to raise children who understand right from wrong.

Yet today, we face a troubling reality. The fatal shooting incident at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City on June 23, 2026, which allegedly involved two minor students, has shaken communities across the country. The tragedy claimed three lives and left thirteen others injured. As authorities continue their investigation, the incident has prompted many Filipinos to reflect on the challenges facing today’s youth and to ask an important question: Have we lost the balance between preserving our traditional values and providing the support that young people need in a rapidly changing world?

Education Secretary Sonny Angara has announced a comprehensive review of campus safety protocols. While stronger security measures deserve careful consideration, this moment also invites us to examine the broader social conditions that shape children’s development. Having served both as an academic studying social development and as a former public administrator involved in policy implementation, I believe this is an opportunity to reconnect our educational policies with the cultural and moral foundations that have long guided Filipino families.

For many Filipinos, formation began at home. We grew up with routines that taught responsibility and accountability. Many households displayed a pamalo not necessarily to be used, but as a visible reminder that actions have consequences. We were expected to come home on time, greet our elders with mano, complete household chores, and respect family rules. These practices were not simply about obedience; they cultivated pananagutan—a sense of responsibility.

Schools reinforced these lessons. Students cleaned their classrooms, worked diligently to earn good grades, accepted correction as part of learning, and understood that privileges followed responsibilities. Whether in academics, sports, or the arts, discipline was viewed as preparation for adulthood, fostering resilience, self-control, and respect for others.

Today’s environment, however, presents new challenges. Many young people face pressures that previous generations did not experience in the same way, including increased exposure to social media, post-pandemic adjustment difficulties, and growing mental health concerns. Anxiety, depression, and other emotional challenges are increasingly recognized among adolescents, while access to counseling and psychological support remains limited in many schools and communities.

Research has also shown that while consistent discipline is important, harsh or violent punishment can have unintended consequences, increasing the risk of aggression, fear, or emotional withdrawal. Preserving the value of discipline therefore does not require preserving every disciplinary method of the past. Rather, it calls for approaches that combine accountability with guidance, structure with compassion.

Two well-established perspectives help explain why this balance matters. Social learning theory suggests that children learn behaviors by observing the people around them, while ecological systems theory emphasizes that child development is shaped by the combined influence of family, school, community, and government. Traditionally, these institutions reinforced one another. Today, however, those connections are often weaker, making it more difficult to provide young people with consistent guidance.

My experience in public administration has taught me that policies are most effective when they reflect both evidence and cultural realities. Improving school safety should certainly include reviewing security procedures. At the same time, long-term prevention also depends on strengthening guidance services, expanding mental health support, fostering healthy school climates, and encouraging meaningful partnerships among parents, educators, local governments, and communities.

The tragedy in Tacloban also raises broader questions that extend beyond physical security alone. As authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident—including how firearms became accessible to minors—it is equally important for society to examine how we can better identify and address conflicts, emotional distress, and other risk factors before they escalate. Rather than focusing solely on reacting after violence occurs, we should strengthen systems that promote prevention and early intervention.

The path forward should not force us to choose between tradition and modern approaches. Instead, we should integrate the strengths of both. We can preserve the Filipino value of disiplina while emphasizing guidance instead of fear. We can continue teaching paggalang while also helping young people develop emotional intelligence, empathy, and constructive conflict resolution skills.

This requires action on several fronts.

Schools should strengthen counseling services, train teachers to recognize signs of emotional distress, and establish accessible channels for students to seek help before problems become crises. Local government units, law enforcement agencies, barangays, and community organizations should work closely with schools to promote both safety and student well-being.

Families also remain central to this effort. The pamalo as a symbol of discipline can give way to consistent communication, reasonable boundaries, positive reinforcement, and parents who model the behavior they hope to see. As the Filipino saying reminds us, “Ang halimbawa ay mas makapangyarihan kaysa sa utos.” Example remains more powerful than command.

Finally, access to mental health care must become more equitable. Many schools continue to face shortages of guidance counselors, while many families cannot afford professional psychological services. Government, civil society, and the private sector should work together to expand access to affordable and timely support so that children and adolescents receive help before problems become overwhelming.

The tragedy in Tacloban serves as a painful reminder that while society evolves, the need for strong values and meaningful formation remains constant. We need not abandon our traditions. Rather, we should strengthen them by ensuring that discipline is accompanied by understanding, responsibility by compassion, and authority by genuine care.

Ultimately, the question before us is not whether discipline still matters—it certainly does. The question is how we prepare the next generation to choose what is right not because they fear punishment, but because they understand responsibility, respect the dignity of others, and possess the resilience to face life’s challenges with wisdom and compassion.

True progress will come not only through stronger laws or tighter security, but through rebuilding the partnership among families, schools, communities, and government that has always been the foundation of a healthy society.