The Betan DNA
Rolly G. Reyes
UPD - Spirit Of '66

 
When I bump into somebody from somewhere who asks this question to me - "What is it like to be a UP Beta Sigman?" For me that is the easier question. The harder one is -  “Why are you a Beta Sigman?"

I always react with a strange emancipated smile, my mind quietly shifting to a panoramic view of my younger days, provoking reflections of my Greek-lettered past. It immediately generates a quantum of vivid images of my adolescent life roaring in vigorous succession.
 
Why am I a Beta Sigman? The search engine of my battered cerebral drive will ultimately rewind and ask - "What is the UP Beta Sigma Fraternity?"

It is hard to define our brotherhood.
The molecules are embedded, well entrenched. It defies logic, and even gravity at times.
We are what we are and it’s futile to describe how we feel about it.
The microfarad pulses that it generates all over our body seems endless and repetitive.
Refusal to explain its meaning may construe arrogance but the pride that we have being a Betan is inexplicable, its values manifold. And true.
 
Mere mention of the words "Beta Sigma”, “brod”, “‘tol”, or “kapatid” swiftly ignites a facial glow that can easily be identified by the immediate members of our families.
“Ah, sigurado kausap ni Daddy yung mga brods nya.”
Why this observation? The transformation in our muscle and skeletal functions is an easy betrayal. We laugh hard, expletives in atmospheric decibels, poking rehashed jokes to each other, friendly taps and brotherly embrazos, and other noisy banters that can compete with that of a marketplace.
 
We also cry a lot. When we hear the news of a fallen brother, we shed tears whenever we say goodbye. We comfort the families and share their griefs. We frown with disbelief upon hearing a brod is not feeling well or terminally ill. We help with whatever we can share, big or small..
 
So there. Being a Betan brother is being family.
Why am I a Beta Sigman?
For me, it was a choice. A good one and the best one. Primed by my personal curiosity as a neophyte, I had to develop the quest for things that I wanted to achieve by myself. I had to learn and I had to make choices. I had to decide on how to live my life. Joining the fraternity was the pivotal point of my transformation from boyhood to manhood. From innocence to maturity. From doubtfulness to certainty.
 
I disagree with anyone saying that the fraternity is just a “college” thing. Our Betan Credo ia a way of life. It is compleat. It obligates us to be "good and noble men" for life. No expiration.
This is the Betan DNA.
If reborn in another life, I will definitely make the same choice.
That of being a member of the noblest congregation of all.
The UP Beta Sigma Fraternity.

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