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"Brotherhood of Scholars Program" reported by Norman Bituin, 10-31-09
As part of our National Chapter's (UPBSFAA) "Brotherhood of Scholars Program", two lucky resident brothers, Danilo Si, UP Diliman'08a and Kim Montaniel, UP Baguio'08d, who have excelled in their studies and are cum laude candidates, were selected to be the recipients of a free trip to the US during their semestral break. Danny is a senior taking up B.S. Education and has plans to continue at the College of Law. Kim is a junior taking up B.S. Nutrition. Both are enrolled in Diliman. They will arrive on Nov. 1 and depart on Nov. 11. The UP Beta Sigma Southern California Chapter will host them to a series of planned tours, get-togethers and activities during their stay. They will also get a chance to meet and savor the Northern California hospitality, and maybe some rollicking music by the UP Beta Sigma NorCal Chapter's "Band of Brothers", when UP SoCal Vice GP Edsel Arceo and company drive them to the Bay Area next weekend.
Even with a letter of endorsement from UP President Emerlinda Roman and a letter with a planned itinerary/schedule of activities from UP SoCal Chapter GP Dr. Frank Mamaril, the residents' visa applications were initially denied by the US consul. Filing a request for review, with their persistence and with the alumni brods' good counsel and advice, on their second interview on Oct. 26 their visas were finally issued. Their airline tickets from PAL were given to them at the UPBSFAA Secretariat Office. A despedida party followed on Oct. 30 at Brod Gilbert Sison's Stall in front of ABS CBN in Quezon City.
As we get ready to post this in our website, Brods Danny and Kim are probably now airborne over the Pacific. In addition to being a great incentive for the residents to achieve academic excellence, this could be an attractive and innovative recruitment point by the UP Beta Sigma resident membership. Brod Poti Aparato of the UPBSFAA Secretariat sent this picture of the streamers that had been placed in the strategic areas in the campus.
Notice Annotation in US visa: "Brotherhood of Scholars Program, Beta Sigma Fraternity, Los Angeles"
Below is the itinerary for Kim and Danny that was provided by UP SoCal to the US Consulate. We will be regularly updating this article and posting new pictures as they happen from their arrival on Nov. 1 thru their departure on Nov. 11. Be sure to check this article again and see how our resident "dorbs" (that's the current tambayan lingo for "brods") are doing in the Golden State.
**Important Notes: 1. Dan and Kim have expressed their gratitude to Brods Kim Cabatit'82 and Bitoy Sison'80 who proposed and executed their trip to the US plan only in mid-September and worked it out to completion, despite the initial visa problem, in record time. According to them, Kim Cabatit generously paid for their round-trip tickets. 2. Dan is also thanking the Beta Sigma Northwest Chapter headed by GP Cosme Santiago'67 for the scholarship they have provided him in Diliman. He augments his scholarship money by tutoring (Dan is BSE Math major) to meet his monthly expenses and needs. 3. The residents will capitalize on the interest generated in the campus by the "Brotherhood for Scholars Program" to solidify the positive image of the UP Beta Sigma Fraternity and incorporate this project as part of their recruitment strategy. Dan said there was quite a number of impressed onlookers when they were putting up the streamers. One student's comment: "Ang yaman pala ng frat niyo".
University of the Philippines Beta Sigma Fraternity Brotherhood of Scholars Program Itinerary Prepared for Kim Ramil Montaniel and Danilo Si
Sunday, November 1, 2009 Arrival in Los Angeles, California Welcome dinner and drinks 8pm at Hooters Anaheim Housing accommodations provided by Brod Hermie San Luis Mr. Hermie San Luis 2838 Shefield Place, Fullerton, CA 92835 Cell Phone: (714) 493-5258 E-mail: jhermsanluis@yahoo.com
Monday, November 2, 2009 Visit relatives and friends in Los Angeles, California
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 Tour of Knott’s Berry Farm sponsored by Brod Mando Enrico Mr. Mando Enrico 5642 Burlingame, Buena Park, CA 90621 Cell Phone: (714) 920-070 E-mail: arenrico@aol.com
Wednesday, November 4, 2009 Tour of universities in Los Angeles (CalTech, Occidental), Historic Filipinotown, Cathedral of Lady of the Angels and Calle Olvera with Brod Bernie Bacosa Mr. Bernie Bacosa 104-1/2 E. Randolph Street, Glendale, CA 91207 Cell Phone: (818) 817-1527 E-mail: bbacosa@yahoo.com Dinner 7pm hosted by Brod Mando Enrico at his Buena Park residence
Thursday, November 5, 2009 Tour of Disneyland and California Adventure sponsored by Brod Edsel Arceo Mr. Edsel Arceo 22374 Lavender Bell Lane, Woodland Hills, CA 91367 Cell Phone: (818) 632-2183 E-mail: arceo321@aol.com
Friday, November 6, 2009 Tour of Universal Studios sponsored by and accommodations by Brod Art Martin Dr. Art Martin 428 Santa Anita Avenue, Unit 202, Burbank, CA 91501 Cell Phone: (808) 207-34892 E-mail: artmartin1967@yahoo.com Watch NBA game, Los Angeles Lakers vs. Memphis Grizzlies, at Staples Center sponsored by UP SoCal Chapter
Saturday, November 7, 2009 Tour of Hollywood and Kodak Center; visit animal hospitals owned by Brods Dr. Ed Cornelia and Dr. Carling Taguinod with Edsel Arceo and Nonoy Bautista UP SoCal General Meeting 7pm hosted by Brod Ago Romero Mr. Ago Romero 8481 Periwinkle Drive, Buena Park, CA 90620 Cell Phone: (714) 264-2405 Email: agograffx@adelphia.net
Sunday, November 8, 2009 Tour of San Francisco with Brods Edsel Arceo, Nonoy Bautista and Ed Rivera Visit Stanford University with Brods Cyrus Fagar and Ike Araneta Get-together 7pm with UP NorCal Brods hosted by and accommodations by Brod Ike Araneta
Monday, November 9, 2009 Tour and breakfast at Google sponsored by Brod Ike Araneta JC-SOMA Training (Pronus-Supinus and Arnis de Cadena) conducted by visiting Brod Jopet Laraya 10am-3pm at his daughter's residence at 18418 Kingsdale Avenue, Redondo Beach, CA 90278 Get-together 7pm hosted by Brod Norman Bituin Mr. Norman Bituin 1111 Summitridge Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765 Cell Phone: (909) 815-1374 E-mail: nmbituin@msn.com
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 Tour of Getty Museum and LA County Musuem of Art with Brod Bernie Bacosa Happy hour at Don Cuco in Glendale
Wednesday, November 11, 2009 Despedida lunch 12 noon hosted by Brod Boi Wico Mr. Boi Wico 854 N. Hall Lane, Placentia, CA 92670 Cell Phone: (415) 489-8675 Email: moondoggie65@hotmail.com Return flight to Manila, Philippines, 10pm
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The "Dorbs" Have Landed *** Day 1: 11-01-09 Sunday ***
PAL Flight PR102 arrived as scheduled at LAX on Nov.1, Sunday at 6:45p. Brods Edsel Arceo, Nonoy Bautista and Art Martin were there to meet Kim and Dan. Before bringing them to Brod Hermie San Luis' house, first stop was dinner and beer (though the dorbs couldn't, under 21) at Hooters at Anaheim. Some of the brods came to join the fun. Trying hard to finish it up Kim said at his half-pound, "Ang kapal ng American burger".
WELCOME to U.S.A. Brods Kim Montaniel, UPB'08d & Danny Si, UPD'08a!!
Edsel, Kim, Danny, Nonoy & Art
Hooters Gal "filled up" Kim and Danny... with burger, fries and buffalo wings (whaddya think?)
*** Day 2: 11-02-09 Monday *** [Free day with LA relatives]
*** Day 3: 11-03-09 Tuesday *** Knotts Berry Farm
*** Day 4: 11-04-09 Wednesday *** Caltech, founded 1891: 2010 US News - ranked 4th Best College in USA and in Engineering
Occidental College, founded 1887: 2010 US News - ranked 33rd Best College in USA
...where one Barack Obama was a freshman in 1980
Cathedral of the Lady of the Angels
Historic Filipinotown
Calle Olvera, birthplace of LA: Pueblo de La Reina de Los Angeles, 1781
Dinner get-together at Brod Mando Enrico
Enjoying the Hooters pics at Norm's laptop
Drinking wine with Ed Cornelia. And Dan gets thick "USA" jacket from Mando. Tamang-tama raw sa San Francisco.
Tawanan ng sinabi ng photographer na i-tuck-in ni Kim ang tiyan
Thanks to Hermie San Luis for the housing accommodations!
UP Betans for the ages, of all ages Seated: Art Martin'69, Rolly Balingit'69, Bernie Bacosa'71, Kim Montaniel'08, Danny Si'08, Mando Enrico'63. Standing: Norman Bituin'65, Boi Wico'65, Ed Cornelia'58, Ago Romero'68, Hermie San Luis'59, Edsel Arceo'73, Aman Carolino'71, Carling Taguinod'57, Ed Rivera'68, Nonoy Bautista'60.
*** Day 5: 11-05-09 Thursday *** Disneyland
*** Day 6: 11-06-09 Friday *** LA River Bank
Betans in tough East LA
Relaxing at horse boarding stables in Atwater Village near LA River Bank
Hollywood sign
Universal Studios
Staples Center, home of NBA world champs Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Memphis Grizzlies, 114-98
*** Day 7: 11-07-09 Saturday *** Hollywood
Lambot ba, Kim?
Visit of DVM Brods' animal hospitals
At hospital of Dr. Carling & Chit Taguinod, UPD'57
At hospital of Dr. Eddie Cornelia, UPD'58
UP SoCal general meeting at Ago Romero
Vice GP Edsel Arceo presides at meeting
Brods Kim and Dan, using Powerpoint, make their "SOFA" ("State of the Fraternity Address")
UP Diliman residents give certificates of appreciation to UP SoCal brods
Dan and Kim with their young-looking Ate's (hindi Tita's, di ba dorbs?)
Next stop: San Francisco, here we come!
*** Day 8: 11-08-09 Sunday *** Tour of San Francisco
Stanford University
Dinner get-together at Ike Araneta
Jug-a-lug time for Kim and Dan
Atty. Dave Villegas assures Dan of stipend if he continues to College of Law
Dan and Kim make their "SOFA" ("State of the Fraternity Address") while Edsel Arceo shows website article in laptop
UP Betans for the ages, of all ages Brods, 1st row: Val Palattao'72, Nonoy Bautista'60, Kim Montaniel'08, Dan Si'08, Bobby Pascual'68, Willie Vergara'67, Pogs Gaspay'68. Ladies, 2nd row: Jean Delmendo, Julie Cavestany, May Gaspay, Cheng Valdez, Mercy Villegas, Harlean Pascual, Tanya Araneta. Brods, back row: Vee de Vera'67, Ed Rivera'68, Ike Araneta'71, Edsel Arceo'73, Kiko Delmendo'72, Nol Banzon'68, Frank Morales'74, Dave Villegas'55, Jimmy Madrasto'71, Titing Valdez'61, Cyrus Fagar'69, Gene Samson'66, Ding Cavestany'65.
*** Day 9: 11-09-09 Monday *** Tour and breakfast at Google c/o Ike Araneta
Dinner get-together at Norman Bituin
Birthday celebrants Art Martin (Nov. 9) and Kim Montaniel (Nov. 19) blow candle
Dr. Jopet Laraya'63, DVM (5th left) from HK gave arnis lessons in the morning. All the brods extend their best wishes to our Grandmaster Johnny Chiuten'60.
For Dan and Kim, just two more days and counting...
*** Day 10: 11-10-09 Tuesday *** Getty Museum
LA County of Museum of Art
*** Day 11: 11-11-09 Wednesday *** Despedida Lunch at Boi Wico
Return flight to Manila - PAL Flight PR103, 10pm
"Parting is such sweet sorrow..." -- Shakespeare
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**Comments:
Brods, ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Brods, ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Brods,
At about 5
25 am, Philippine Time, PAL PR103 successfully landed
on NAIA Centennial Terminal. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ First day at Hooters, I told Dan and Kim that they're "okay" being not at all shy, they talk in a familiar way, and so they're simply easy to like. At the despedida lunch, I mentioned to them that there is that instant bond and closeness among us; that there's no age, status, religion or any other barrier; and that we are all equals. As we were walking out of Boi's house getting ready for their packing up to the airport Edsel, their constant chauffeur, said maybe partly in earnest and partly in jest, "Nami-miss ko na nga itong dalawang ito". I felt the same way. And I think the reason is because we could see a part of us in them when we were their age with our love for the frat and the brotherhood. Truly, the Betan spirit lives. Norman Bituin, 11-12-09 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Edsel,
Thanks for SHARING Kim and Danny with us. As you can see from the expressions from everyone's faces, there was a lot of pride and hope. Even the wives, especially Harlean. The brods were articulate, intelligent, and respectful, and at the same time sanay din sa "alaskahan". Thanks again brod, we appreciate you, Nonoy and Ed making the trip all the way up here to introduce the brods Kim and Danny to UP North.
To a greater and united UP Beta Sigma. Cheers! Ike 71b, 11-10-09
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