“Haha sana ‘di na lang kami nag-college sa DLSU.”

(Haha we wish we didn’t go to DLSU for college.)

After venting their dismay and rage on a Facebook post, the newly established organization Bestfriends Against Boyfriends, Yo (BABY) has recently been under the Lasallian limelight with their online rant reaching almost 3,000 likes and reactions.

The viral post—directed at the Council of Student Organizations (CSO), the body responsible for the disapproval of the organization’s accreditation—has been tagged by many students as major “sadboi vibes” and “boy bestfriend typings”, establishing BABY as the epitome of the current generation’s men.

‘Life is so unfair’

To ensure that all male students are compensated with both platonic and romantic relationships, BABY establishes its presence within the Lasallian community as a group for those who are brimming with “unrequited love” and yearning for intimacy.

“It all started in a Discord server,” says BABY President Miguel Elizalde (II, BSIT), who recalls how their organization was formed. He elaborates that the server was initially for brotherhood bonding and leisure activities, but everything changed when they discovered a commonality among the group: they were all labeled as boy best friends at least once in their lifetime—a role they never got out of.

Brought about by its implementation, 10 organizational mandates cite the responsibilities of all partners associated with the members of the organization. Some of these include wearing revealing attire, tolerating vices, eating at improper schedules, violating curfews, and not seeing people exclusively.

For Elizalde, these regulations allow the students to promote an environment where unrequited relationships are addressed, “Eh kasi naman, ganito lang kami—hindi kami pogi, hindi kami mayaman, paano nila kami magugustuhan? Sino ba naman kami diba?”

(This is all we are—we are not handsome, we are not rich, how can they like us? Who are we to be liked in the first place?)

“‘De, oks lang haha, wala naman problema kung wala kaming makakasama sa buhay. Okay lang naman mamuhay mag-isa nang walang kasama tumanda,” BABY Vice President Joaquin Alegria (II, BS-IE) remarks.

(No, it’s fine haha, it’s okay if we won’t have anyone else to keep us company in life. Growing older without company to live life with isn’t a problem.)

Setting differences aside, both came to the conclusion of prioritizing the student body that seeks validation from those who are emotionally unavailable.

Baka may magalit ah

Last March 19, CSO announced that BABY cannot be a DLSU-accredited organization. However, according to Elizalde, the exact reason for the rejection was not explicitly divulged by the council. He then raises suspicions that there is something going on behind the scenes.

“Ewan ko, nakakaloko eh. Ginawa naman namin lahat. Sinunod naman namin ‘yung processes. Ang tagal pa nga ng hinintay namin tapos ganito lang? ‘Di porket sanay kami mareject, ganito na. Saan ba kami nagkulang? Nireject ba kami dahil ganito lang kami?” Elizalde cries. “When are we going to hear them say, ‘Go, BABY!’”

(I don’t know, it’s just very frustrating. We did everything we could. We followed all the processes. We even waited for a long time, and this is what we got? Just because we are used to getting rejected doesn’t mean it should end like this. Where did we lack? Were we rejected just because of who we are?)

On the other hand, CSO denies Elizalde’s allegations of politicking behind the rejection. They assure that the organization’s accreditation went through careful and strict screening procedures and that the decision they have come up with is free from any biases.

“We always make sure that every organization that goes through our screening is treated fairly and equally. Every one of them undergoes an intense degree of scrutiny in order to make sure that they deserve accreditation. Unfortunately, it seems that it isn’t the time yet for BABY,” 47th CSO Chairperson Lorenzo Mercado explains.

In spite of this, BABY’s president speculates that an officer from the Mari-Union, whose relationship with CSO is unclear, is behind the rejection. He accuses the said officer of influencing CSO to go against their organization, saying that it is part of her plan of “taking revenge” on him.

“Look. Hindi ko alam bakit ka nagkakaganyan. Saan ba ako nagkamali? I took care of you. Ayokong lumalabas ka na manipis ang damit mo. Ayokong gumagala ka nang sobrang iksi ng shorts mo at wala ka pang cycling. Pinapaalalahanan kitang kumain sa tamang oras. I promised you na I’ll never leave you no matter what happens. Pero ikaw ‘tong nagkaproblema,” Elizalde says.

(TL;DR: Elizalde gaslights the Mari-Union officer.)

Elizalde affirms that they will be protesting against CSO’s rejection. He also called out CSO publicly in a separate Facebook post.

“CSO, kung ano mang problema niyo, sana maayos natin ‘to. Sorry kung may pagkukulang man kami. Gusto lang naman namin na mapabuti ang kalagayan ng mga kasamahan natin sa Lasallian community. Please, kung nagkamali man kami, hindi na namin uulitin.

 Magbabago na kami. We can start all over again,” he pleads.

(The writers were too tired to translate the paragraph due to headaches caused by the interviewee. The publication apologizes for the inconvenience.)

Okay lang naman

Despite their remarks filled with disappointment, Alegria discloses that the University Student Government has offered advance enlistment advantages for BABY’s officers in hopes of resolving the growing issue, increasing the organization’s optimism to be officially acknowledged as an organization.

“We’re just simple people lang, lowkey. Sino ba naman kami to say no [to the offer], ‘di ba?” He states while looking down and connecting his index fingers. Agreeing with the former, Elizalde follows the same actions.

(Who are w…sorry, pagod na rin ‘yung writers haha sana ‘di na lang kami pinanganak sa mundo.)

Once accredited, BABY plans to open its all-male community to female students and accept girl best friend applications. “We want to be inclusive, and every guy needs a girl best friend,” Elizalde explains, stressing that they will be training the future female recruits on how to be better at giving comfort. BABY, like other organizations aspiring for accreditation, has shown promise with its distinct assets and principles. However, what sets the “sadboi” club apart are not these features but their self-awareness and bravery to admit their incompetence with every “Sorry, gan’to lang kami.”