The GP / Residents Summit
July 15, Valley Golf, Antipolo
by Dan Galoso '65
[Photos from Willie Vergara]
The GP/Residents Summit held at the Bahay Ng Alumni on July 15, 2016 was a
shining example of what "REAL" brotherhood is all about. It was a classic model
of the synergistic partnership of the UP Beta Sigma International and the UP
Beta Sigma Central.
Successful events like this do not happen in a vacuum. Nor do they happen
overnight or in an instant like "magic". Gatherings like this require foresight
in planning, masterful execution, quick and responsive management and a
tremendous love for and appreciation of the Fraternity.
Getting the brods from Mindanao, Visayas, Baguio, Los Banos and Diliman
assembled in Manila at a certain date and time required a good amount of
financial resources. Plane fares, transportation to and from the airport, food
and lodging, venue rental, food, drinks and snacks during the Summit itself and
transportation to Valley Golf Club for the Fellowship Night necessitated not
only cash but also demanded magnificent coordination and logistics management.
There are had been a number of brods who made the milestone event possible:
-- Alexis "Dogs" Dogwe and Diliman GP Jace Cuachin – organizers
-- Frank Cornejo (Executive Director, Bahay Alumni)
-- Ernesto "Togi" Igot (Maryland, USA)
-- Levy del Rosario (MidWest, USA)
-- Dionisio "Jun" Battad (Melbourne, Australia)
-- Bong Beredo (Stockton, California)
-- Bobby Pascual (Salinas, California)
-- Kiko Delmendo (Vallejo, California)
-- Jay Jay Jayme (Vancouver/Pilipinas)
-- Joel Paredes and wife Mercy, who provided board and lodging for many
participants
-- UPV Beta Sigma Alumni President Inan Obaob, who organized the
UPV-based brods in Metro Manila in order to take care of the UP Visayas resident
brods
-- UP Baguio Ninong BOD Dennis Belmonte herded the Baguio resident brods
like a good shepherd
-- International BOD Brod Randy Malayao was at the forefront in
advocating plane fares initially for Davao-based based brods, then later for
Iloilo-based brods
-- And all alumni present and shared words of wisdom during the Summit -
International President Noli Nolasco, Bong Beredo, Prof Joe Lalas, and
International BODs Randy Malayao, Dan Galoso, Dennis Belmonte, Ike Araneta.
There were others unmentioned here, but I'm sure you know who you are.
So many items were discussed during the 7-hour Residents Summit (working
merienda and lunch to maximize time available). These topics included:
-- Image Building within all 5 campuses
-- Recruitment Targets/Strategies/Approaches
-- Defining what it means to be "Brotherhood of Scholars"
-- "Fraternity of Choice" in operational terms
-- State-of-affairs in each campus: politics, campus environment, other
activities
-- Commitment to a “No-Rumble Policy”
The actual Summit was skillfully moderated by Brod Willie "Tatang" Vergara.
There may be some of us who may be wont to impose our views in the false belief
that we know it all. But not Tatang. As an experienced moderator he was never
manipulative nor judgmental. In fact, he consistently encouraged all the
participants to open up and fully participate in the discussions. You could just
see and feel the enormous respect among the brods and it was amazing to
experience it.
This landmark event attracted the attention of many respected alumni brods. Here
are some of the responses:
From DEAN TED TOPACIO:
Hi Brod Tatang and all the concerned UP Beta Sigma Alumni Leaders at the
Summit,
Congratulations and kudos to all the brods who contributed financially and
spiritually to the success of the summit. Of course the leadership of the Big
Brothers indeed helped a lot.
As you said let us wait for results. The seeds were already planted, it will
take time to grow and bear fruits. With leaders like all of you and with Brod
Noli, who delivered an inspiring speech, the fruits will be golden! Cheers!.
From DENR SEC VICTOR RAMOS:
Well done, Tatang. All your skills from DAP have been productively used for
this leadership seminar. You should do it yearly in all campuses -- Brod
Tatang's Leadership Camp.
From BROD BENJAMIN “BING” GARCIA (UP Mindanao):
If the leadership camp is a motion then I second it. Kudos to Brod Tatang
and all the other Brods who supported this activity. More power. ANSWER OF SEC
VICTOR RAMOS: Yes Brod Bing. I move... Also, we will both contribute
financially. Sama din ako sa Iloilo at Davao.
From BROD POPOY CASTANEDA (Sydney, Australia):
Beloved, congratulations to you and the brods who made the event possible.
The frat needs it I heartily endorse your plan to conduct this on a regular
basis... This will enhance the quality of our young resident brods which would I
am sure enhance the image of the Frat. Later it might even be a come on for
others to join the frat.
At this point may I suggest that the frat as a whole be involved specially in
financing it. I suggest we welcome voluntary contributions from the
different alumni chapters of the UPBSI be solicited any amount from the
brods. This will make us feel us the old guards still a part of the fraternity.
From BROD CESAR “YAY” TOPACIO (Hawaii, USA):
Cheers Brod TATANG and all the Brods who made this summit possible and a
success! Yet again another milestone that soon will bear fruits! I share yours
and all the Brods (alumni and residents) vision and optimism and I promise to
help in any way I can.Congratulations and Mabuhay kayo!
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UP Mindanao Thanks
Beta Sigma Fraternity
UP Mindanao Chapter
University of the Philippines Mindanao
Barangay Mintal, Davao City 8022
Philippines
To: UP Beta Sigma Fraternity Alumni Association Central Board and the UP Beta
Sigma Fraternity Int’l
Warm Betan Greetings Brothers!
The Beta Sigma Fraternity UP Mindanao chapter, in behalf of its alumni brothers
would like to express their deepest and warmest appreciation for extending your
help to the four residents, two new alumni Brods, and one Brod reviewing for his
Board Exam to become a licensed Doctor to attend the events for the 70th
Anniversary Celebration of the Fraternity. We are so grateful of the experience
we had during our stay in Manila and with every fellowship gatherings we had
with the Brods.
Meeting and shaking hands with our Brothers from Los Baños in line with the SOMA
Celebration. Exchanging handshakes on our first day and receiving a very warm
welcome from UPBSFAA President Brod Jojo Alejar and as well as one of our
founders of the chapter we represent Brod Antipas “Jojo” Criador and the
residents of Los Baños that made our stay blissful as it is especially when we
greeted each other as the clock ticked 12MN Happy Anniversary all the way until
we reached the tambayan in Diliman during the 14th.
The insights we gained from the Residents Summit will be a significant boost in
improving our recruitment status as well as to strengthen our relationship with
the other Brods. We are looking forward to apply the lessons we learned as the
academic year approaches. Furthermore, we are hoping to have a tighter
connection with the our Brods from all UP Unit Chapters. It is also our greatest
pleasure to meet UPBSFI President Brod Noli Nolasco and Brod Willie “Tatang”
Vergara during the Residents Summit and hearing out his take and advises on the
current situation about the recruitment status of each UP Chapter. Shaking hands
with Brod Randy Felix Malayao who unceasingly helped us also to make our travel
possible and to be able to extend any help he can in circulating our letter
seeking for donors.
Our experience on the Platinum Ball Celebration has also been a prestigious
event for us. Meeting other Brods who excel and are known to their own
professions such as National Scientist Brod Ted Topacio, 16th UP President Brod
Jose Abueva and the well-known Brod Willie Nepomuceno has been an overwhelming
encounter. Shaking their hands would really be a memorable moment for us as well
as shaking hands with all the Brods we met.
Above all, we are so grateful that we were able to bond with the residents from
different UP units and of course with the alumni Brods as well as with our Sigma
Beta Sisters from Diliman and Los Baños and members of the Ladies Corps. We are
glad that we were able to catch up and have “moni sessions” with them.
To wrap everything up, the experience we had was very fulfilling especially some
of us just experienced Manila for the first time. Indeed, we enjoyed the whole
stay and we are looking forward for more fellowships and events like these.
Truly we came back home with memorable bonding moments and meaningful insights
that we are excited to apply. Again, we are so thankful of your support
financially and morally even we haven’t met most of you. Thank you for the
positive response to our call and three big cheers to everyone for a very
successful Platinum Anniversary Celebration!
Mabuhay ang Kapatirang BETA SIGMA!
From the UP Mindanao Delegates,
Adrian Steven Quevada
Grand Princep 2014-A, Proverbs 22:6
Emmanuele Militar
2nd Vice-Grand Princep 2009-C, Cojones
Jinno Raphael Rhett Guttierez
Master of the Rolls 2009-C, Cojones
Max Angelo Echevarria
Guardian of the Coffers 2011-A, Exemplar
Michael Val Angelo Lacsamana
2010-A, Jai Guru Deva Om
Drenzel Christopher Mirambel
2011-B, Invictus
Kevin James Kuan
2013-A, Vendetta
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UP Baguio Thanks
Cheers!
Last month, we celebrated our platinum anniversary through a series of events.
We were able to gather brothers from different parts of the country and also
from around the globe. The Resident Summit was also held and it was successful
and helpful to the residents of each chapter. We have successfully held our
Platinum ball last July 16, 2016 and these series of events required a lot of
money and preparation.
Exactly a month after, we the residents of the University of the Philippines
Baguio chapter would like to inform you that we have not forgotten the help and
support we received from you. We thank you for the support you have given us
especially to Brother Eduardo Garcia, Brother Randy Malayao, Brother Fortunato
Galang Jr., Brother Markfil Tersol and others who helped us in terms of
financial support. In terms of the reservation and accommodation we would like
to thank you all especially Brother Joel Paredes, Brother Willie Vergara, and
Brother Peter Danao.
Without your help brothers, we could not have attended the Resident Summit and
the Platinum Ball. Thank you for everything and God bless us all.
In the spirit of brotherhood, we remain…
Edson Rick R. San Juan
2nd Vice Grand Princep
UP Beta Sigma Fraternity Baguio Chapter
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