Prez Edsel Arceo's Blitz Trip to Pinas

by Willie Vergara

For UP Beta Sigma-International President Edsel Arceo, it was a short, but productive Philippine trip. He had no other agenda or purpose but our beloved fraternity.
 

Day 1, Feb 8: Immediately the next morning after he set foot at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, he had a tete-a-tete with Central’s Immediate Past President Rolly Reyes at his Santa Maria home with Brods Raffy Hidalgo and Tatang Vergara also present. Rolly called it a gathering of “brods na walang kadala-dala”, meaning “our work in the frat goes on in spite of the many difficult and at times frustrating hurdles that come our way”.

Right before sunset, Brods Edsel and Tatang were shuttled towards the home of another Betan Titan Eding Hizon, who had his house warming at Visayas Avenue, QC. This newly renovated house now includes the addition of a third floor and a special elevator for seniors. Indeed, as phoned by Eding, Founding Father Rico Arranz with Tita Sol and a special nurse were waiting for us at the lobby so we could join the party together. There we saw a lot of Eding’s and Barb’s relatives and friends. Among the many attendees were Brod Milton Mendoza and wife Marilou.

Founder Rico was already very weak at the time, but little did we know that he had only a few weeks to live and that this would be the last time Tatang would see him alive.

Day 2, Feb 9: Edsel, together with new Central President Jojo Alejar, his batchmates Rudio Oviedo, Joel Paredes, and Cris Michelena, and Willie Vergara visited the residents at the Diliman Tambayan. Edsel gave an informal talk about his pet Targeted Recruitment Program (TRP) before 17 brods present, including most of the officers headed by UP Diliman’s Grand Princep.

The group proceeded for some drinks at Busters Bistro (Eat, Drink, Play) owned and operated by Brod Caloy Agulto.

Day 3, Feb 10: Edsel, along with Brods Dr. Buddy Quililan (Central BOT), Joel Paredes (Central Vice President and International BOD), Poti Aparato, Dante Agulto, Meng Canlas and representatives of the resident brods met with the officials and staff of Barangay U.P. Campus led by Barangay Captain Isabelita Gravides. They finalized the logistics and other preparations needed for the 9th Tito De Santos Community Service Program's "Free Deworming for Children & Free Medical Checkup for the Elderly." A sumptuous lunch was served by the Barangay after the meeting.
 

Day 4, Feb 11: Edsel attended his Batch Party, Haribon 73D. All but one of Haribon’s living members arrived at Busters Bistro – Cris Michelena, Joel Paredes, General Rico Salapong (ret), Dante Agulto, Dr. Ed Aldana, Edsel and Rudio Oviedo. Absent were Houston-based Aris Macasero (and, of course, deceased batchmate Dodong Castillo). Special guests of the event included Brods Rolly Reyes, Randy Malayao, Rene de Rueda, Boyet Fernandez, Bino Aguinaldo, Pat Roman, Rey Bello, Rex Bugaring, Raffy Tomeldan, Meng Canlas, Ron Justo, Poti Aparato, and resident brods.

Day 5, Feb 12: Brod Joel Paredes, Brod Rene De Rueda (International Council of Advisors and Central Past President), and Edsel went to Brod Secretary Mon Paje at his DENR office to pay him a courtesy visit and to inform him about details of the forthcoming fraternity activities.

Day 6, Feb 13: RGR’s reliable pilot Roy picked up Edsel and Tatang and shuttled them to Baker Hall at Los Banos, where they were met by several UPLB resident brods who were preparing for their annual Mixed Martial Arts event. Thereupon, Central Prez Jojo Alejar hosted a sumptuous dinner and booze held at a restaurant in midtown Los Banos. Present were Brods Douglas Mondonedo, Ambo Lapis, Paolo Hernandez, Edsel, Tatang, Ed Rivera, Henry Adornado and Jojo Alejar and four Sigma Betan Sisters. The Sigma Betans had to leave a bit earlier because they had to prepare for their annual fund-raising activity.

The group that included Brods Joel Paredes, Ed Rivera, Edsel and Tatang later joined the resident brothers at the Baker Hall, who temporarily interrupted their post-MMA meeting for a brief fellowship with the visiting alumni brods.

Day 7, Feb 14:  The OBBF Valentine Party 2015 was held at an upscale housing development in Taguig called Mahogany 3. It was the third time Tatang had been to that place in as many times he visited the Philippines since 2010, a first time for International Prez Edsel Arceo and the second time for Central Prez Rolly Reyes. Edsel expressed admiration not only for the group, but for the individual accomplishments of the members as well.
 

*Web note: to read the OBBF Valentine Party full article, click here.

Day 8, Feb 15: The Tito de Santos Community Service Program is Edsel’s major agenda in this particular visit. He has been traveling to the Philippines several times in the past in order to help organize and conduct this outreach activity that has been a tradition of Edsel’s home chapter – The UP Beta Sigma Southern California. Edsel and a group of about 20 Betans proceeded to Busters Bistro right after to celebrate yet another successful project.

*Web note: to read the 9th Tito de Santos Annual Community Program full article, click here.
 

Day 9, Feb 16: Topacio and Tagle Testimonial. Proposed by International Vice-President Noli Nolasco and unanimously approved by the UP Beta Sigma-International Board of Directors, President Edsel handed over an award to National Scientist Brod Dean Ted Topacio on a testimonial held for him and for Comelec Commissioner Brod Lucenito Tagle. This very well-attended affair was held at the Department of Agriculture. Among the attendees included past presidents of Central, the current Board of Trustees led by President Jojo Alejar, Founding Father Rico Arranz, Agriculture Secretary Procy Alcala, DENR Secretary Victor Ramos and several generations of Betans. This was the last activity of Prez Edsel before going back to the USA.

[Note: We did not receive all the requested inputs for this event, so our apology for the late coverage. -- N. Bituin] 

Sec. Vic Ramos delivers testimonial for Dr. Ted Topacio, to read testimonial click here

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