Malmon Oblation Passed On in Northern California
by Tatang '67

On Saturday, December 16, 2000, we U.P. Beta Sigmans of Northern California unanimously elected BROD GABBY MORALEDA '68B as our Chapter's new Grand Princep. Brod Gabby ran unopposed and the body also unanimously gave him full authority to appoint his new set of officers. In an exceptional show of confidence, the body also unanimously gave Gabby the power to choose the members of the Council of Elders for the next 2 years (supposed to be chosen by election), although such choice would be based on the guidelines agreed on during the October 6, 2000 general meeting/camping at Napa R-Ranch.

Gabby Moraleda has been an institution since he joined the U.P. Beta Sigma in the late 60s, passionately participating in almost every aspect of frat life that included campus street-fighting, working as an officer in various capacities, and as our Betan drinking song goes, Gabby during those times would only "sober up in wood alcohol." He was master of initiations during the time of GP Bonga King.

But unlike many of us who were super-active in the frat during our student days, Gabby finished his B.S. Industrial Engineering not only on time but with flying colors (almost). He went on to pursue higher studies and is an MA Economics candidate at the Ateneo de Manila.

Gabby's work life includes Director/managerial positions at the Development Academy of the Philippines, Farm Systems Development Corporation, Human Settlements Development Corporation and Compumetrics. He now works as a Network Administrator at 4C Council of Santa Clara County.

His passion and love for the frat never diminished even as he struggled during his initial years in America. He was always there, ready to serve. Perhaps one of Gabby's most distinguishing marks is his transformation from a street-fighter to someone whose inner peace and humility you can almost touch. Living up to his faith, his largest contributions to the Chapter are his musical plays during the past two Christmas seasons, for which he has involved his whole family.

Throughout his frat life (late 60s to early 70s), Gabby would almost always be seen with either Brod Pogs Gaspay, his soulmate, or with MaryAnn, one of the pioneer members of the U.P. Beta Sigma Ladies Corps and a member of the famous UP Concert Chorus. MaryAnn prevailed over Pogs, of course. MaryAnn is a computer expert and has been in the field as early as the mid-70s. She was instructor at the National Computer Institute (NCI) at a time when NCI was the only computer institute in the Philippines, and was a Software Development Manager at Compumetrics. She is now Director of Business Systems, Kinetic Systems, Inc. based in Santa Clara. As we put it in Pilipino, 'huwag mong tatawaran...'

Gabby and MaryAnn are blessed with three children, all active in their Ministry AND in the U.P. Northern California Chapter. Their children are Anna, a BS Information Technology student, Katrina, a BS Business Administration student (both at University of Phoenix) and Samuel, now at his Junior year at Wilcox High School in Santa Clara. All five of them contribute to the strength of the Chapter in a big way from script-writing, to stage directing, to multi-media production, to singing, and, in the case of Samuel ... to free golf instructions.

Well, as most of us have been saying a long while ago, "IT'S HIGH TIME THAT GABBY TAKE ON THE REINS." But as he said in his brief speech last Saturday, "I thank all my predecessors, but we can't deny the fact that the UP Beta Sigma Fraternity is all of us..."

With this, I pass on the Malmon to a great leader. My thanks to Brods, Sis and Families will be elaborated in another occasion, for the list is long, extremely long.

God bless.

Willie "Tatang" Vergara