| The Sigma Rho Fraternity | |
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ΣΡ
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| Founded | 1938 University of the Philippines College of Law |
| Type | University |
| Scope | University of the Philippines |
| Motto | Seekers of the Right |
| Colors | Maroon and Green |
| Symbol | Fraternity seal |
| Chapters | None |
| Headquarters | Quezon City, NCR, Philippines |
| Homepage | http://www.thesigmarho.org |
The Sigma Rho Fraternity is a College of Law-based fraternity of the University of the Philippines and reputed to be the pioneer in law-student fraternities in Asia. It maintains its singular existence with resident and alumni brods. The two letters of the Greek alphabet are its emblems for the stature of the brods as "Seekers of the Right".
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The Sigma Rho Fraternity was formally organized by 12 law students of the University of the Philippines (U.P.) College of Law in 1938. It was initially composed of UP College of Law students. It received formal recognition from the U.P. administration in 1939. Among the founding ("Charter Members") of the Sigma Rho was Luciano Salazar (who went on to co-establish with classmate Alexander Sycip, the biggest law firm in the Philippines, Sycip Salazar Law Offices, and serve as a member of the Agrava Fact-Finding Commission in 1983 to investigate the assassination of former Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr.). The Charter Adviser was then professor and later Court of Appeals Justice Magno Gatmaitan. In the 50's, it eventually expanded its membership base to undergraduate students from UP Manila. The Sigma Rho fraternity has its headquarters in UP Diliman with resident brods, and chapters in the archipelago and abroad, mainly, U.S.A., with its alumni and non-resident brods.
The Sigma Rho Fraternity recruited mainly students from the University of the Philippines College of Law, and also from other colleges of the University of the Philippines. The head of the Sigma Rho Fraternity is called the Grand Archon, from the Greek word archos, meaning "Judge" or "Ruler", hence the words "Monarch" (Mono + Archos) or Patriarch (Pater + Archos). As he is anointed in a jealously guarded democratic process, his word is the law. The first Grand Archon elected in 1939 was George V. McLure, an American Law student of the U.P. College of Law.
The Sigma Rho Fraternity is not a single institution but a fusion of two entities - one among resident brods in UP, and the other among alumni and non-resident brods widely dispersed in the Philippines, USA, Europe and other places who are of different ages, occupations and political persuasions. They are held together as a close and united community of mutual help and support which even extend to immediate families. The rationale is that whoever they are and whatever they achieve are owing to their being Sigma Rhoans. Such bond has held currency in virtue of the Sigma Rhoans' pledge of brotherhood - to stand by a brother Sigma Rhoan all the way. Upon that binding oath, the fraternity's worthiest lesson and message are its brand of friendship among all brods - never deserting a friend in need. To serve a friend is to serve the Sigma Rho. The commitment goes forth with the rallying summons: "For the Sigma Rho, Fight!"
Sigma Rho has been accused of a number of fraternity-related violence in the University of the Philippines. Three most notable incidents involved Dennis Venturina, Niño Calinao and Cris Mendez. In December 1994, Dennis Venturina, a Sigma Rhoan, died in a riot between Scintilla Juris and Sigma Rho. On February 19, 1999, Niño Calinao, a senior journalism major was shot dead by suspected Sigma Rho members. Calinao was mistaken for a member of the rival fraternity Scintilla Juris, which clashed with Sigma Rho members in a riot a week before the killing.[1][2]. Both incidents happened inside the University of the Philippines-Diliman campus.
Cris Mendez, a 20-year-old graduating UP student allegedly died during an initiation rite with the fraternity on August 27, 2007.[3] Mendez was rushed to Veterans Memorial Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival. Quezon City police investigators found out that Mendez was a victim of hazing due to “bruises all over his body, particularly on the back of his arms and thighs.”[4]
Ramon Magsaysay Awardee and former Senate President Jovito Salonga has resigned as member of the Sigma Rho fraternity because of this incident. In a statement sent to the Inquirer, Salonga, one of the most prominent Sigma Rhoans, said that he was resigning “because of recent events in which Sigma Rho has been involved.”[4]
Among its notable members are: