Sacramento Vets

Brod Emmy Fajardo, Beta Sigma '57
If the study is true that intelligence of siblings comes mostly from the mother, Emmy surely made the right decision to marry Eppie. They've got three boys, all being established professionals and have done extremely well in school. Easily, these Fajardo children are all "World Class." Need any proof? Watch this: Eric, the eldest, graduated Summa Cum Laude in Biochemistry, entered University of Southern California as an army scholar in Medicine. (It should be noted here that this feat is extremely exceptional.) Eric was later chosen to be Regimental Surgeon at Fort Irwin and was 1995 US Army Physician of the Year. Emmy, Jr. has two degrees: BS Biological Science (University of California) and Master of Science in Physical Therapy (University of Alabama.) He is a practicing physical therapist at Kaiser Permanente Hospital. The youngest, Paul, graduated Cum Laude and later acquired a law degree at University of Santa Clara. Paul worked at Merrill Lynch as stockbroker. He just took the California Bar last July and is waiting for the results. All credit goes to Eppie, a chemical engineer? Hmmm, let's look at Brod Emmy. He was, like many UP Betans in the mid-fifties, a hyperactive campus figure, and assumed numerous leadership roles. Like Brods Narcing Lapuz and Fred Aquino, he was President of the Student Body in the UP College of Veterinary Medicine. Prior to his immigration to the US in the early 60s, he was Dean of the University of Eastern Philippines for five years. Like Brod Billy Monteagudo, (see article on this page) he moved to California in the 70s, although his supervisory experience in his field dates back to 1968. Emmy might as well say, "Actually, Brod, there must be something wrong with that study!"

Brod Billy Monteagudo, Beta Sigma '55
The Lord's evangelist disguised as a Vet Doctor, this is who Brod Bill is nowadays. Together with wife Remy, Bill spends a lot of their time accosting people in their struggle towards conversion into authentic Christian living. They responded to the Lord's calling, through Brod Johnny Regadio, by joining the Couples for Christ last year. Billy is one of those brods who has "arrived" both in his profession and as a family man. His marriage with Remy (a medical technologist at Kaiser Permanente, and has retired from UC Davis Medical Center) is blessed with two accomplished children, Joseph (a self-employed para-legal) and Marie Joyce (a UC Davis graduate of Civil Engineering.) Marie Joyce is presently in Boston, Massachusetts constructing bridges and subways called "Big Dig". Billy immigrated to the US twenty nine years ago with his wife and son. His daughter was born three years after. In his early years as an immigrant, he worked with the United States Department of Agriculture as poultry inspector in Georgia, and later in Alabama. It was here where he was promoted as Inspector-in-Charge and stayed in that position for five years. In 1976, he moved to California and found himself in the company of two other Betans - Brod Emy Fajardo (see article on this page) and Brod Rafael Gemino as a veterinary practitioner. His zeal and his vast experience in poultry and slaughter plants in the State of California earned him his current stature - as Supervisory Veterinary Medical Officer and Inspector-in-Charge of four plants in Stockton, California. Brods Billy and Narcing Lapuz (see article on next page) started a partnership in 1982 and put up their veterinary clinic in Sacramento. Being a typical Betan, Billy likes to reminisce those good old Fraternity days in UP. In a handwritten note to the editor, he said, "My greatest joy as a Betan here in the USA is the camaraderie shown by each brod not only during meetings, Frat Balls and picnics, but in every gathering." Finally, Billy has a dream, which is to lead as many brods into the life of Conversion, Commitment and Commissioning.

Elder Fred Aquino, Beta Sigma '57
Brods in Sacramento might as well tell the pretty ladies and the matrons not to distract dashing Brod Fred Aquino from his spiritual journey. He seems to have found solace in the Lord. Fred was married for 5 years to Dr. Dina Paranada-Aquino. Their marriage was blessed with three children (Jeff, John & Amy), all married now. Jeff, married to Arlene (a co-alumnus of UC Davis) is a research scientist. John, a pharmacist at Kaiser, married Eden, a nurse. The couple are also graduates of UC - Davis. Amy, a California State University - Sacramento graduate, is also a nurse and is married to Matthew Carlstrom. Brod Fred, a grand dad of three, has been holding supervisory positions in his field for many years , even prior to his immigration 30 years ago. Like brods Emmy Fajardo and Narcing Lapus, he was President of the Veterinary Student Body Association from 1960 to 1961, and so far the first and only unopposed candidate of this position in UP College of Vet Med history. After graduation, he became Ranch Veterinarian of the Del Monte plantation, Head of Animal Health Division of the Dairy Training and Research Institute and assistant professor of the UP College of Agriculture in Los Banos, Laguna. He was United Nations Fellow of Veterinary Parasitology and Diagnostic Technique in University of Queensland, Australia and Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organization in Queensland and the University of Manawato in New Zealand. He performed supervisory roles in USDA and in several states for more than 30 years now, and was awarded a Certificate of Supervisory excellence. He is an ubiquitous guy especially among Filipinos in Northern California. (The space available here is not sufficient to mention his numerous involvements!) His proudest moments as a Betan: receiving his Frat pin and his induction as member in 1957, eluding "terror" master Octavio Darius, and his service as GP of UP Beta Sigma, Northern California in 92 - 94.

"Grand Elder" Narcing Lapuz, Beta Sigma '48
How will you call a brod who is Batch 48, 71 years old, and who's always been there in almost every important Betan function? Certainly, Brod Narcing deserves to be called this Chapter's Grand Elder, almost in the category of Beta Sigma's immortal - Tio David Wico. He is married to Gertrudes De Jesus and begot a son and two daughters: Francis, who is now in his senior year at the College of Vet Med; Natalia, who took her B.S. and MBA at the University of Las Vegas; and Anna Marie, a B.S. in Rhetoric and Comm in UC-Davis and now doing graduate work in screenplay writing at UCLA. His stint as Betan can be described as "Full of Firsts." He was the very first Vet Med brod in UP, steadfastly refusing to join older Greek letter societies. This first Vet Med Betan eventually organized the Beta Sigma in his college. He was responsible for getting the first VetMed candidate to run for the highest post in the UP Student Council, and became a Student Council representative himself. He later organized the UPSCA Vet Med Chapter - another first. He was no doubt a big man on campus, and a proven leader. He occupied many other responsible positions in the university. He was officer of the UP Vanquard. He occupied several posts in the frat, and was Brod Pio de Roda's Vice President. (Did you know that we didn't call the head as GP during those years?) He later passed the Board in 1953 - as topnotcher. Being "first" became Narcing's habit, even after college. He was the first Filipino Vet to pass the California State Board exams. In 1956, he was the first Filipino MPH in America, having acquired this in UC Berkeley. He was one of the first who put up the Filipino Center in Stockton. Every Filipino in California should really be proud of Narcing. To us in this part of the US, he is our Grand Elder.