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35 Years Growing with the Brods
by Cris Michelena 73-D
Hard rain that late
Friday afternoon of September 9 had got everyone worried about the
attendance. Fridays in Metro Manila were already notorious for its
after-hours traffic and the rain would make that much worse.
But true to form, promptly even before seven pm, UPBSF,
Inc. VP Rolly Reyes and ever-reliable Founder Rico Arranz with Tita Sol on
his arm came to join the small group of resident brods and resident LCs
already gathering for the 35th Anniversary of the Beta Sigma Ladies’ Corps
at the Bahay ng Alumni in UP Diliman. The alumni were pleasantly surprised
at the newly air-conditioned main lobby hall and atrium of the Bahay that
was the venue for the night’s activity.
The resident brods had a good thing going, coming out
in droves of about a dozen Men in Black to greet and welcome the incoming
elder alumni, first at the exterior entrance to the building, and then
once again in the entrance to the hall. The resident LC, so stunningly
pretty in their small black dresses and resplendent with smiles were also
busy bussing and cooing, getting everyone settled comfortably.
The elder alumni brods gravitated naturally to the
table reserved for the Brod Speakers for the night, UPBSF, Inc. President
Rene De Rueda and Founder Rico. Noel Rivera and former GP and Trustee Ron
Justo came in, followed by LC alumna Joy Lacanilao now Tan, the LC
inducting officer for the night. VP Rolly then broke out his Walker Black
and the party was on!
Trustee Joel Paredes took a little time out from his
heavy book-writing project to honor the LC’s invitation, as usual full of
his fast-breaking stories and funny anecdotes, mixing in with the younger
resident brods seamlessly.
Former GPs and now Trustees Nugget Aquino and Rupert
Ambil joined in. Elder brother Alan Ambil completed the Ambil threesome
for the night with Rupert and statuesque youngest sister Rica, herself an
inductee for the night and now VP of the UP Beta Sigma Ladies Corps.
Caloy Agulto and his older brother Dante with his son
Charles, now also a brod, made up the other Tabets family threesome for
the night.
Lovely young alumni LCs Claudia, Cely, Nicole and many
others sprinkled the audience. LCs from other chapters, Jane and Haydee
and many more, also came in attendance, adding to the sparkle and warmth
of the evening. It was a great convivial and friendship-infused night.
Brod Butch Madarang soon came in solo, and so did Botit Reyes, straight
from a hard day at DND and hungry as a wolf.
By 8, the place was packed. The sumptuous dinner
prepared by Caloy Agulto’s Gerardo’s, spiced up by the lechon that VP
Rolly and Trustee/Legal Counsel Ying Palafox had donated (cut up expertly
and, mercifully for us, in small bite-size pieces) was a surprisingly good
fusion of European and Filipino dishes. The service was impeccable and the
food very satisfying.
Then followed the soothing serenade rendered by
neophyte LC Corina delos Reyes, a budding member of the Concert Chorus,
accompanied by classical guitarist Brod JP Aguiluz, son of Lyceum alumnus
brod Cocoy Aguiluz. It was a wonderfully professional and heart-felt
performance.
With everyone relaxed after the songs, LCs Rica Ambil
and Cheska Aguiluz took over as MCs.
Sarah Louise Mendoza, Project Head of the celebration
itself and current Secretary of the UP Ladies Corps, opened with a recount
of her origins as an LC member in UP Baguio who had come to UP Diliman and
found the camaraderie with LCs and Brods in these lowlands had brought her
“home.”
UPBSF, Inc. President Rene followed with a message
extolling the “35 years of Beauty, Service, Leadership and Commitment” to
the Beta Sigma that was the homecoming theme of the LCs for the night and
happily introduced the Guest Speaker, Founding Brod Rico.
The Founder was his usual amiable self, admittedly
noting that the brods had not been honored with the service of the
“beautiful Ladies Corps during my time, which was obviously my loss,” he
stated. He ended with a query and a call. “Why have not the Beta Sigma
honored the lovely Ladies Corps with a formal recognition of their service
to the fraternity up to this time? I call on the brotherhood to do so
soon,” he challenged smilingly.
An Audio Visual Presentation, compiled by Rica and put
together by Kuya Rupert to rollicking music, bore this out. With
photo-entries and contributions from LCs from UP Baguio, GAUF, FEU, UE and
many others, it essayed the LCs’ continuing mutually-supportive
relationship with the brods.
Through Free Medical Clinics, Damayans, Operations Tule,
Big Brother and other frat and LC projects through the years and in
various chapters, it showed the lovely young LCs hand-in-hand with the
brods in service, in joyful and friendly congress. Ever-smiling,
ever-enthusiastic, beautiful!
And then the LC beat us to the punch with Rico’s
challenge. They officially honored Trustee and current Diliman GP Brod
Josh Caringal and his Chamberlain Brod Miel Udtohan with certificates of
appreciation for their support this past year. The Chamberlain is the
official liaison to the LC.
Joy then led the induction of officers and new LC:
Athena Cruz, President; Rebecca Arianna Ambil, Vice President; Sarah
Louise Mendoza, Secretary; Roxela Cerda, Treasurer; with fellow new
inductees Francesca Aguiluz, Felice Alvarez, Jhona Shannen Bajar and Maria
Anna Corina Delos Reyes. A toast of red wine (in caring deference to the
seniors, I guess) was raised to honor and congratulate all of the young
inductees.
In her closing, LC President Athena Cruz revisited the
Ladies Corps’ commitment of service to the Beta Sigma. Recounting how it
had been formally borne out of the UP Beta Sigma during this writer’s term
as GP in 1976, “like Adam’s rib, it is a part of and partner to the Beta
Sigma,” she said. Through these 35 years, it continues to prove that it is
worthy of the calling and all that it stands for.
With moonlight beams streaming in from outside through
the all-glass sides of the atrium, fellowship began among all the
attendees. Hoorays and congratulatory whoops rose up to the rafters.
Souvenir pendants of UP Beta Sigma were bought and sold, and the beer
began to flow. Botit, still wanting to stay and celebrate even further,
was turned over to GP Josh with care and a brotherly toast.
Congratulations once again to the UP Beta Sigma Ladies
Corps for a great and truly successful celebration! And to all the Ladies
Corps in all the chapters! May your tribe, our tribe, increase!
Cheers!
Rejoinder From an LC
by Cecille Mercado-Ambil 11:33pm Sep 9 (Facebook)
Last night was indeed a night to remember. Every LC's heart was deeply
touched by the gesture made by Brotherhood of Scholars founder Rico Arranz
who sought for a resolution to be passed by the alumni board acknowledging
the contributions of the Ladies Corps. He further added that no longer
shall there be sins of omission from the fraternity. And like a cherry on
top of an already sumptuous dessert, an honorary membership to the Corps
was conferred to Mrs. Solita Arranz for like an LC, she stood by the brod
in all his endeavors for the fraternity. Big thanks go out to the resident
and alumni brods and LCs, and brods and LCs from other chapters. Their
presence truly defined the meaning of commitment. The Corps has really
gone a long way and like UPBSF, Inc. President Rene said, let our
membership and existence be relevant to the times.
The late 60s and LC Beginnings
by Willie Vergara
The concept of a UP Beta Sigma Ladies Corps started out as a spontaneous
movement in Diliman, though very informally, during the late 60s. We just
called them “Ladies Corps” in a very loose sense, and I even doubt if all
of them called themselves as such. More appropriately, they were “barkada
ng mga Betans”. This movement was basically in response to the need to
balance our university life with our over-engagement in booze and street
fights. Boi Wico aka "Mr. Blue" (we used his house in organizational
meetings towards LC establishment), the other “Mr. Blue” Reyna and Rolly
Balingit (we overused their cars for this purpose), Rudy Soliman (the
original “Mr. Wonderful”), Bobby “Ahas” Manansala and some of his
Barkadang Cubao were at the forefront of this recruitment binge. “Ahas”
strategically positioned himself right in front of the Ladies’ Room, slyly
applying his deadly “kamandag” on many pretty ladies who were coming out
of the LR. Unbelievable but true, several UP coeds who graduated from
exclusive girls’ high schools (Maryknoll, Santa Theresa, St. Scholastica,
Holy Spirit, etc.) joined the LCs. No other criteria but Beauty and Class,
sosyalan lang, at pagtulong sa pulitika sa kampus. I vividly remember
that, together with these pretty ladies (mga ilang brods ang na perslab),
we supported Brods Jelly "Big J" Nacino and Rudy Angala for
Councilors-at-Large, Boy Paterno (of Scintilla Juris) for UP Student
Council Chairmanship, and that some leaders of SJ proposed to join us if
we agreed on a special initiation for them. We held our first party with
the LCs at the home of Botit Reyes, previously regarded as a fighting
arena of sorts where many brods were felled by the “loving” fists of Yong
Afable J.
The Early 70s: Coming of Age
by Gabby Moraleda
The year was 1972. Student activism was at its
peak at UP. It was months before martial law was declared and as expected
the fraternity was in the fore front of campus politics. We supported
Jaime Galvez Tan (former secretary of health) for Student Council
President who was running against Manny Robles, an Alpha Phi Betan, backed
by Malacanang. Anne Marie King, sister of brod and then Grand Princep Alex
King, was running for University Councilor. We forged new political
alliances with the nationalist groups taking on well-known, well financed
fraternities and “the establishment”. Amidst the shout of “makibaka huwag
matakot” – and against all odds, the tall order was to win.
“Going against the regime” was the call to action – the popular mood.
“Ibagsak ang dictaturang Marcos” was the catch phrase and campaign battle
cry and we were banking on the nationalist sentiment to win the elections.
However we knew this was not enough and our backs were against the wall.
We knew we had to mobilize. And what better way to do this than to
organize a cadre of talented and sweet ladies to campaign for our cause
and candidates. The criteria for recruitment was beauty and brains.
Amidst this backdrop, the UP Beta Sigma Ladies Corps was coming of age.
Among the early members were girlfriends and the lovely ladies from
distinguished high schools namely frat sweethearts Mariles Daza, Quinna (Pajaro)
Nacpil, and Julienne Cocjin; Jennifer Paul de Santos, MaryAnn (Perlas)
Moraleda, Harlean Pascual, Baba Samson, Candy Villarama, Sheila Abon ,
Cynthia Trinidad, Cecille Curameng, Riza Baldoria, Cynthia (niligawan ni
Botit), MaryAnn (Abejo) King, Mila Borra, Maryann “Taquia” Eustaquio,
Eileen Basbas, Iou Valenzuela, and so many others.
We won the elections but “lost the student council” because martial law
was imposed and the council was ordered closed. Student elections stopped
for the next 6 years.
As such, we thought the LC would fade away. It did not. Its activities
took on a new dimension such as support for frat activities, medical
assistants during I’s (initiation) and unconventional ones such as lookout
during the dreaded R’s (rumble). In time some of the relationships became
permanent as husband and wives – simply said, may mga nagkatuluyan.
*NOTA
BENE: For more photos, please visit the Mother Chapter website (http://upbetasigmafraternity.com)
by clicking the Mother Chapter website logo (top center) at the Features
page.
History of the UP Beta Sigma
Fraternity Ladies Corps
by Laureen Escobar
“We were recruited as a bunch of
‘barkadas’ to assist the UP Beta Sigma Fraternity in various projects”
Since an official historical account
of the UP Beta Sigma Fraternity Ladies Corps has never been written, I am
herein attempting to document our early beginnings to the best of my
knowledge.
Let me preface this narrative by saying that according to the brods, there
was an informal network of ladies who assisted the brods in the late 60s
and early 70s. They were also referred to as the Ladies Corps of the
fraternity. As far as I know, they never sought official recognition from
the University.
My memory of those heady years may be clouded by the passage of time so I
ask that you please excuse any omissions of names and events.
It started in early 1976 when the UP
Beta Sigma Fraternity was suspended in the University. Then GP Cris
Michelena assigned a committee to recruit and organize a ladies corps to
assist in carrying out the fraternity’s programs. The committee was headed
by the late brod Sammy Lazo, and composed of (among others) brod Manny
Goyena, brod Lem Michelena, brod Robie Feliciano and brod Butch Madarang.
My twin sister Eileen and I, met Sammy through our mutual affiliation with
the UP Filipiniana Dance Troupe. He learned that we had a loose knit group
of friends who were our co-residents at Ilang-Ilang dormitory. Sammy took
his committee members to the dormitory to recruit us to join the Ladies
Corps that they were forming.
Butch did practically the same thing by recruiting ladies in UP Manila.
Lem and Manny drafted the first LC constitution and obtained official
recognition from the University. The fraternity was then able to push
through with campus projects under the name of the UP Beta Sigma
Fraternity Ladies Corps.
The recruitment effort spread and succeeded in gaining more members. We
started off by hanging out and partying with the brods. Soon, the more
dedicated ladies started participating in the fraternity’s activities,
such as concerts, stage presentations, sports activities, fund raising
projects and participation in campus politics.
In the official University application papers, Eileen was listed as the LC
President. Unfortunately, I cannot remember who else were listed as
officers. I do recall that the following ladies (in no particular order)
were with us during functions and events of the fraternity in 1976:
Eileen Escobar-San
Juan (married to brod Hector San Juan)
Laureen Escobar
Fe Marissa “Marius”
Mercado
Cristina Malferrari
Cynthia Villaraza
Maybelle Tiro (deceased)
Helen Arciaga
Eileen Tiro-Basbas (married to brod Gilbert Basbas)
Vivien Minoza-Garcia (married to brod Adolfo “Dopoy”
Garcia)
Mae Michelena-Cruz (married to brod Napoleon “Nap”
Cruz)
Helen Unson
Ces Pajaro
Aileen Luat-Beredo (married to brod Bong Beredo)
Iou Bulan-Valenzuela (married to brod Jun “Vale”
Valenzuela)
Cel Conde-Esmade
Julie Santos-Hernandez
Victoria “Richie” Aurelio-Marsocci
Grace Diligencia
Bing Alarcon-Isungga
Bubut Panganiban
Beth Campaner
Iris Potestas
…future ladies answered the call… and the rest, as they say, is history…
As I stated earlier, this is all
based on my recollection and may contain some inadvertent errors. Please
understand that any omission or mistake is unintentional. I request all
members of the Ladies Corps to add to this attempt in writing our history.
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