U.P. Beta Sigma Fraternity of Southern California

Visayas Alumni Chapter

UP Visayas (Iloilo) Beta Sigma Celebrates 25th Anniversary

by Randy Malayao

[Photos by Diody Fadullan]

Beta Sigma alumni and residents from UP and nearby campuses, converged in Hotel Del Rio Iloilo City to celebrate UP Visayas' 25th founding anniversary on 30 August 2014. Dubbed as the SAGA OF MEN, the affair was keynoted by one of the fraternity's Brod Rico Arranz. Heads of Beta Sigma Regional Assemblies in Panay and Negros, UPV Sigma Beta Sorority were also in attendance.

The coffee table book, SAGA OF MEN 25 Years of Excellence, was also released.

UP Visayas Founding Batch BIGKIS was initiated by Brod Anthony Buyco, Brod Bonifacio Boying Liwag, and Brod Greg Banacia. Of the 17 applicants, only 15 survived.

Members of the Batch 1989 - Bigkis - are as follows:
Alama, Ulysses
Ablang, Elcid Adrian Maximo
Batang, Zenon
Chua, Victor B
Evano, Noel (later expelled)
Evasco, Nomer M
Ilagan, Lauro C
Malayao, Randy Felix P
Medado, Neil Apollo
Nazareno, Froilan
Razon, Jose Ramom III A
Rico, Rene B
Romena, November A
Tattao, Emerson Jr A
Yap Dennis

Tracking the members of Batch 89.
Notables:
Alama, Ulysses - Founding Batch GP. one of the scholars of Cardinal Sin, part-time student part-time employee of UP when he joined the UP Beta Sigma Fraternity. He used to be a staff of the TRV Sardinella of the Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanology, he is now a curator of the UPV Ichthyology Museum. Just returned from Japan on a study mission.

Ablang, Elcid Adrian Maximo - used to be with The Louis Berger Group; he is now with Mindanao Expo, a private NGO, forging partnerships with business groups in Manado-Davao business corridor in Southern Philippines.

Batang, Zenon - he graduated cum laude and joined the UPV Faculty. He became a Monbusho scholar and received his Master's in and Phd in Marine Biology at Japan's Kagoshima University. He is currently a topnotch marine biologist at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia.

Chua, Victor B. - a private enterpreneur, used to be involved in black tiger prawn farming and cotton industry but has since shifted to real estate.

Evasco, Nomer M - the only artist in the batch, he has his own art studio in Sorsogon.

Ilagan, Lauro C. - a militant LFS leader in his college days, used to be BAYAN Sec Gen of General Santos, now working with his mother Gabriela Congresswoman, Luz Ilagan. He is also managing the family's business enterprises in Davao.

Malayao, Randy Felix P. - peasant organizer for years, until his abduction and detention in 2008; he was imprisoned for almost 5 years on various trumped up charges that include the Cong. Aguinaldo killing; he now serves as consultant to the GPH-NDF peace process.

Medado, Neil Apollo - an aquaculture specialist, he is an area manager of San Miguel Corporation - Feeds Division.

Nazareno, Froilan - also an aquaculture specialist, he used to be one of the execs of San Miguel Corporation - Feeds division, he retired early to put up his own fisheries business in General Santos City.

Razon, Jose Ramom III A. - he joined Beta Sigma as Master's student at UP Visayas; he used to be with BFAR, he is now an exec in a private company.

Rico, Rene B. - used to be one of the execs of RC Cola, now he has put up his own private business in Bataan province.

Romena, November A. - he earned his Master's degree from Belgium's Free University of Brussels. He could probably head the research division of BFAR. Paging Brod Sec Proceso Alcala and Brod Bong Tayamen.

Tattao, Emerson Jr A. - a career officer of BFAR and now heads the provincial station in Isabela. He was recently awarded as Outstanding BFAR personnel for his feat in producing the highest volume of fingerlings of tilapia in the entire country.

Yap, Dennis - used to work as an exec in a local fish processing company, he is now in Dubai as business exec. He is married to Mimi Santos, the current UP Visayas Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, with whom he has 3 sons - not ordinary but super kids - international math olympians all - the eldest is now with University of Asia and the Pacific; the 2nd is attending Phil Science High School, and the youngest is a super genius at Westbridge school.