The U.P. Beta Sigma Fraternity was the first post-war fraternity in the Philippines - a brotherhood transcending the barriers of regional origins, creed and social status. It is currently one of the largest fraternities in the country in terms of the number of established university based and alumni chapters.
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The U.P. Beta Sigma Fraternity is the first post war fraternity in the University of the Philippines (UP). At the University of the Philippines in Padre Faura, honor graduates from different schools converged. From U.P. High, Jesus Jayme led a group who called themselves the "Gay Varsitarians". Nicanor P. Jacinto headed a group from Ateneo de Manila and De La Salle. They were known as the UP's 20. Daily, the two groups, off from their classes, would sit on the steps of the old Cancer Institute Building. Bound by their common pursuit of excellence in their studies, they gained a deep respect for each other's opinions. Camaraderie was easily established. Jesus Jayme was the one who first talked to Professor David Wico about organizing a fraternity. Tiyo David suggested the merger of the UP 20's and the Gay Varsitarians. To comply with the minimum requirement, then, of 50 members for a fraternity, the united group initiated 10 additional members. They adopted the name U.P. Beta Sigma Fraternity (Brotherhood of Scholars). On July 14, ten days after the declaration of the country's independence from the U.S., the first set of officers were inducted in solemn ceremonies. Jesus Jayme was charter president. Nicanor P. Jacinto Jr. was vice president.
The name was derived from the Greek letters Beta (β) and Sigma (Σ) which stands for "Brotherhood of Scholars". Scholastic excellence, one of the core ideals of the fraternity, was a requirement to qualify for membership in the old days.
The second chapter to be established was in UP Los Baños on August 13, 1950 with sixty-two original members for the Colleges of Agriculture and Forestry. Rodolfo Ylarde was its first President.
At the onset of its genesis, the fraternity carved its own distinctive imprint on campus life. Brod Melecio "Rico" Arranz Jr. won the first gold medal of the first Inter-Fraternity-Sorority Oratorical Contest in 1947, with the piece "True Friendship'. Beta Sigmans demonstrated their intellectual prowess as they, with predictable and somewhat boring consistency, made the "Dean's List" of their respective college community. The attainment of scholastic honors. The Beta Sigmans also captured important posts in the university and college student councils. In the '50s, through the determined and united effort of the Fraternity, Brod Teodoro R. Padilla was elected president of the U.P. Student Council. During this period, Beta Sigmans also controlled major campus organizations and publications. Sabino Padilla was editor of the Philippine Collegian. Vicente Mendoza was editor of the Philippine Journal. Benjamin Santos edited the Philippinensian. Philip S. Chua, now a cardiac surgeon in the USA, was editor of The UP Campus Journal and a science columnist of the Philippine Collegian.
Raoul Victorino was president of the U.P. Oratorical and Debating Club. Fortunato C. Gupit headed the U.P. Dramatics Club. The precocity in the campus was manifested in the Bar examinations of that period. Sabino Padilla was no. 2; Vicente Mendoza and Don Ferry were both in the top five. The Fifties was also the time when Johnny Moreno composed the Betan songs: the Beta Sigma Hymn, the Betan Marching Song, the drinking songs, and those ditties which would resound and float in the air whenever Betans would gather.
During the '60s, the Fraternity consolidated its grip on critical campus posts. Brods Lito Imperio and Jaime Yambao successively held reign of the editorship of the Philippine Collegian. Photos taken by the artistic eye and consummate skill of Solomon Carpio adorned the pages of the Collegian. The ROTC Corps of Officers, where Brod Horacio 'Boy' Morales ruled as Corps Commander, and where all officers were Betans.
In the written arts, the Sixties was a period of fecund creativity. Erwin Castillo, Toti Que, Cris "Jun" Icban, Edmund Sicam, Frankie Llaguno, Vic Ramos and VicTirol wrote and were read.
The Beta Sigma School of Martial Arts (SOMA) was established by Johnny Chiuten in the early 60's. It has been a tradition of Betan resident students since then to learn Martial Arts as a form of discipline and physical conditioning.
The famous Beta Sigman icon Malmon was created by Bearnardo "Banz" Bañez in the late 50's. A character with bristling beard, ever-scowling eyebrows, and bald head made his appearance in the UP campus.
Since then, Malmon has become a part of the Beta Sigma tradition, accompanying the fraternity as it voyaged through the economic and political waves of the times.
The decade of the '70s brought the winds of the First Quarter Storm. This was the time of student activism.
The Fraternity's sensitized political nature moved with the new challenges. Many a Betan fought in the streets. When martial Law was declared many Beta Sigmans went to the mountains, and took arms against an oppressive and unjust political regime.
The decade of the '70s and the '80s saw the rise to prominence of the founding members of the Beta Sigma Fraternity.
They were in business, in finance, in the judiciary, in the dental, medical, and veterinary professions, in construction, and in the academe.
In the campus, the Fraternity, with vigor and enthusiasm, sponsored events that mirrored the activist temper of the times. It initiated civic projects such as the Free Medical Clinic and Operation Big Brother.
The mid-80s was the unraveling of the country's political and economic fabric. Filipinos sought new options and fresh alternatives. The air was humid with uncertainties, electrified by the distant rumblings of a coming turbulence.
Betans marched in the streets to dramatize their respective concerns. At great risk to their own selves, they gave generous support to brods who stood and fought for alternative causes.
In the mid-'80s the pent-up feelings of a people long suffering under a rule of oppression poured forth in a torrent of humanity to bring down the old dispensation.
There were many a Beta Sigman who faced down, at EDSA, the armor and the armaments of the previous administration.
Immediately after the EDSA Revolution, the Fraternity organized policy conferences. Through various fora, it explored national issues.- Beta Sigmans organized volunteer task forces to help infuse the bureaucracy with fresh outlooks and perspectives.
Together with the people, Beta Sigmans fought hard to expand the democratic space that was bitterly won.
The Fraternity's actions were duly rewarded.
Many brods are in positions of power and influence. Brod Pepe Abueva is President of the University of the Philippines. Brod Teddy Padilla is a justice of the Supreme Court. Many brods hold sway, in sensitive posts in Congress, the executive branch, and, in the judiciary.
In the media, in banking and finance, in industry, in the military, and in the professional and service areas, Betans are there.
Currently, the U.P. Beta Sigma Fraternity stands as one of the leading fraternities, not only in the confines of UP, but in most universities throughout the Philippines. In the words of its founding President Jesus Jayme,
"The fraternity, and its growth into a powerful and moving campus force...into the global brotherhood that it is today, is our accomplishment. I recall that the UP Beta Sigma fraternity was originally organized to foster close brotherhood and loyalty and challenge its members to academic excellence and social consciousness".
It also has alumni associations based all over the US, Canada, Europe, Middle East, East Asia, Australia & Oceania.
Government Agencies:
Department of Agriculture (DA) Proceso Alcala - 2010 - ____
Department of National Defense Voltaire Gazmin - Secretary, 2010 - ___
Local Government:
RAMON. R. DE ROMA - Provincial Board Member, Province of Laguna
VINCENT V. ALVAREZ - Municipal Councilor Muñoz, Nueva Ecija
LOUIS W. ALANO - Governor 1986-1988 Province of Basilan
AQUILES C. UDARBE - Mayor 1986-1988 Magsingal, Ilocos Sur
RUBEN L. UMALI - Mayor 1986-1998 Lipa City, Batangas
APOLINARIO L. MALABANAN - City Councilor 1986-1987 Lipa City, Batangas
RICARDO A. BARTOLOME - Mayor/OIC 1987-1988 Los Baños, Laguna
ROBERTO V. OLIVA - Vice Mayor 1987-1988 Los Baños, Laguna
OSCAR R. LAWAS - Municipal Councilor 1988-1991 Los Baños, Laguna
EFREN L. ALVAREZ - Mayor 1992-2001 Muñoz, Nueva Ecija
CRISOSTOMO B. VILLAR - Municipal Councilor 1998-2001 Pagsanjan, Laguna Vice Mayor 2004–present Pagsanjan, Laguna
NARCISO M. RUBIO - Mayor 1998–present Lantapan, Bukidnon
RICHARD S. BROWN - City Councilor 2004 - 2010 Isabela, Basilan
FLORO T. TADENA - Mayor 2004–present Sto. Domingo, Ilocos Sur
ENRICO R. CORVERA - Mayor 1998-2007 Nasipit, Agusan del Norte Vice Governor 2007–present Province of Agusan del Norte
RAYMOND C. PRESTOZA - Vice Mayor 2010 - __, San Nicolas, Pangasinan
SPORTS: Inrternational Chess Feedaration (FIDE) - Florencio Campomanes
MEDICINE: Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS - ("BetanHeart") UP-Diliman '55; Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus, Indiana, USA; Chairman, Cardiac Surgery, Cebu Doctors' University Hospital (1997–2010; Chairman, Filipino United Network - USA (www.FUN8888.com)