UP Brods Gung-Ho in Cagayan de Oro National Convention

It was a weekend to remember in Cagayan de Oro.

When Brod Rene de Rueda called on a strong presence of the UPBSFI in the Beta Sigma National Assembly convention in the south, several alumni brods readily agreed to participate.

So as early as Friday (15 October) morning, the first batch of UP alumni brods led by Brod Rolly Reyes took the 7:55 Airphil Express flight to the south. Brod Hector San Juan hosted us at the VIP Hotel which his wife Eileen manages.

Hec and Brod Nilo Punzalan welcomed us at the airport, but after bringing us to the hotel they left for Bukidnon since Brod Hec was coordinating the Beta Sigma golf tournament. Later we learned that Brod Nilo was declared winner in the game that they played at the old Del Monte golf course.

When the convention officially opened later in the day, we already have a big attendance. No less than Brod Voltaire Gazmin, the country’s defense chief, was the keynote speaker for the evening affair.

Brod Vic Ramos, who had been a regular fixture in recent national assembly gatherings, took the cudgels as the UP group’s leader. Of course, the early birds were the “Pilgrims” led by Brod Ben Abon. (Take note these are the brods who have vowed to gather at least twice a year in Hec’s farm in Bukidnon for a four-day pilgrimage to reminisce on our life at the tambayan, highlighted by a non-stop drinking spree of Ginebra San Miguel gin – and its now popular variant GSM).

Before the program can start, Ben and his original “pilgrims” -- Cris Michelena, Jojo Alejar, Douglas Mondonedo, Ambo Lapiz, Ed Cheng, Danny Abad, and Joel Paredes occupied the air-conditioned café for a marathon drinking spree near the convention site. By that time, brods Jobas Diaz, Butch Madarang, Nugget Aquino, Norman Dumalag, Glenn Sanchez, Nanding Quililan and Roger Ramirez (who now resides in Carmen town near Butuan) had already registered as official delegates and joined the group. It was also a reunion of Brod Rolly Reyes and his kabatch Brod….Dancel of the Spirit of 66.

Brod Alan “Patatas” Posadas later came with his group from CARAGA region. Of course, Brod Ben “Pococoy” Albarece, former mayor of Manolo Fortisch, played an active role in the gathering, being one of the main organizers as de facto head of the Misamis –Bukidnon Assembly, which hosted the gathering.

Then Brod Rene de Rueda arrived and he was the popular choice of the brods to lead the invocation. It was also Brod Rene who led the UP brods during the whole day convention on Saturday.

Brod Volts Gazmin received a standing ovation when he talked of how government would want to restore peace not only in Mindanao, but throughout the country in the present dispensation. He was also given the distinction of being the “oldest neophyte” before becoming a Betan. Asked to react on his speech were Brod Vic Ramos and Brod Joel Paredes, having known Volts since their Malacanang days in the Cory Aquino government when Volts was the head of the Presidential Security Group, and Joel as the president of the Malacanang Press Corps.

Defense Secretary Volts Gazmin

But it was Brod Joey Onias who really surprised the group, having hurdled a 40 hour flight from Brazil and Jakarta before proceeding to Manila and Cagayan de Oro just to join the gathering .Brod Joey is the vice president for finance and handles global business development for the Salim Group of Indonesia.

The official convention at the Grand Caprice near Limketkai Mall elected as president of the assembly Brod Ismael Tumaru, the mayor of Aparri and an alumnus of the UERMM with Dan Noveno (SBC) as Executive Vice President.

Brod Procy Alcala, the country’s agriculture secretary, keynoted the convention proper, emphasizing the need for Brods to initiate their own projects to engage his Department in ensuring food security for the country. Brod Procy also reiterated his commitment to rice self-sufficiency by 2013 and will support all the Brods’ efforts in these areas.

Agriculture Secretary Procy Alcala

Brod Rene de Rueda also read the speech of Brod Ramon Paje who could not make it due to a pressing assignment from the President.

Brod Vic Ramos was well-applauded as he spoke on the Fraternity’s commitment to the national agro-forestry efforts in support of Brod Mon Paje’s National Greening Program. Mon was Undersecretary when Vic was at the helm of the DENR.

Joey Onias, taking the honor of being a resource speaker in the convention, talked on how his training as a Betan helped him grow from poverty to success in the global financial world. Now with busy setting up his group’s businesses in Brazil, he will soon train his eye homeward to support Brod Procy’s agricultural program. His group is involved in PLDT, Meralco, Smart and other high-tech industries in the Philippines today.

As a group, the UP delegation affirmed the Fraternity’s commitment to honor the Anti-hazing Law and called for the support of the Assemble, which was readily given. Brod Cris Michelena also called for the implementation of the Declaration of Solidarity signed in 2004 (under Brod Mon Paje’s Presidency).

Brods Cris and Joel also joined Brod Bensaudi Tulawie’s call to step up recruitment to preserve the gains of the Fraternity. The Assembly also adopted the resolution proposed by Joel to support the legal battles of UP Visayas Brod Randy Malayao, who continues to languish as a political detainee in Cagayan Valley, now for more than three years.

Founder Brod Rico Brod Rico Arranz was later honored after being the guest speaker during the fraternity ball, which capped the two-day gathering, wherein he reiterated his call for the establishment of a permanent office for the whole Fraternity. He also announced that the UP BSFI is also on the way to setting up a Frat House.

The night was capped with Brod Joey Onias (UP Baguio) hosting a small private stag party at his suite in the Koresco Golf Resort and Hotel. Va-va-voom!

Brod Rolly missed that and was unable to document the night’s proceedings since he had to rush back to Manila to attend to his ailing father.

The UP brods continued with their weekend sojourn on Sunday with the “traditional” visit to Brod Hec’s farm in Bukidnon. Brod Ben declared at the farm that the next “pilgrimage” will be on February 7,-11, 2011. The Brods will not just be going to Hec’s farm for a wild boar and/or deer safari, but will take a side trip to the volcano island of Camiguin.

This is timed to coincide with the next Tito De Santos Free Medical Mission and an invitational trip to Cagayan Valley to be hosted by BOT Brod Vic Valdepenas, President of UnionBank, who owns a farm estate near Tuguegarao. Brod Vic will take us all in a tourist bus he just acquired.

Finally, the brods were treated to a hearty lunch by Brod Vic Pizarro in his family’s posh Xavier Estate Clubhouse near the CDO airport. It was already Monday and we were all happily and massively hung over.

Masaya kaming lahat!