Leadership Training for Diliman and Los Banos Brods:

With Love from Me to You! Happy 65th!
Joe Lalas 69C

It was the most nerve-wracking lecture that I have given! It was not in a conducive lecture hall at UP Diliman College of Education for students and faculty but it was in an off-campus hotel meeting room in Los Banos along Laguna de Bay for resident and alumni Brods. It was not obvious to my supportive audience – both residents and alumni brods because I’ve learned the art of projecting my teacher voice and conveying a professorial level of confidence to anyone listening. But it was challenging --- how to model professionalism as the guest speaker, circa 2011, as well as how to portray my typical life as a Beta Sigman of the late 60’s and early 70’s. But I did it! We had a few laughs, I supposed the young Brods learned something, and I had a great time!

Leadership Training for the resident Brods? What is it? How do we go about it? It was after the Pacquiao-Mosley fight when great ideas were generated. My batchmates Rudy Niones and Cedric Gloria, Alex Ramirez, and I went to Chocolate Kiss, an on-campus UP Diliman restaurant, to have merienda while many other Brods went to the University Hotel to enjoy some drinks. I asked for help and Cedric, Rudy, and Alex had a ball giving me ideas to cover. As I thanked my consultants, I also would like to thank all the Diliman and Los Banos resident Brods and the alumni Brods who were present at the training. It was Jojo Alejar, Joel Paredes, Los Banos GP Raymond Juan, and Diliman GP Josh Caringal who coordinated the event. I attached here my powerpoint presentation*  – from a humble neophyte to a professional adult with some general explanation and suggestion.

*Web note: at bottom of page

Supportive alumni, l-r: Joel Paredes, Ambo Lapis, Douglas Mondonedo, Jojo Alejar & Rey Juan

My brief personal impression? First of all, this was something new and unique. I know we had Dual Meet in the past but to have Brods from both campuses to have dinner and listen to a lecture from another Brod about a dry topic such as “leadership training” was mind-boggling. What? Why? How? However, I was very impressed with these young Brods. They planned a nice dinner, a program, and they were attentive, receptive, and asked a few questions! When I even asked for a guitar to play some Betan songs, someone drove a motorcycle to pick up a new guitar from the music store! The venue was perfect—a nice hotel owned by an alumni Brod.
 

The event concluded with a time-honored traditional chug-a-lug at a nearby restaurant also owned by another alumni Brod. I have included some photos – dinner, presentation/discussion, and chug-a-lug. As you enjoy the photos, you will see that nothing has changed! Beta Sigma spirit reigns! Once a Betan always a Betan! As I reflected that night with my eyes closed on our drive home to Diliman (with brods Rey Juan and Joel Paredes who were both consumed), I couldn’t find an objective explanation why the evening was full of brotherly love! Why are we, UP Beta Sigmans, the way we are? It sounds corny but to me at that moment, it was a beautiful rhetorical question (well, after an evening of chug-a-lug, it was a super feeling). Magical, yes, magical! How UP Beta Sigmans, regardless of batchyear, connect with each other is really magical! I salute to the Founders of our Fraternity and to all our Brothers! At this 65th year anniversary of UP Beta Sigma, I would like to borrow a line or two from Bob Dylan, that -- may we always be “courageous, stand upright and be strong” and may our Betan Spirit stays “forever young.”

click to open>> Leadership Training (Powerpoint Presentation)
 

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