The Upsilon Sigma Phi, founded in 1918, is the oldest fraternity in Asia. Based in the University of the Philippines, it has had an unbroken and singular association with the premier state university. There are no chapters outside of UP Diliman and UP Los Banos. The fraternity counts among its ranks, Benigno 'Ninoy' Aquino and former President Ferdinand E. Marcos.
During World War II, some members took the field. Among the Upsilonians who gave up their lives were Wenceslao Q. Vinzons (former UP Student Council President, youngest delegate to the 1934 Constitutional Convention, and Governor of Camarines), Agapito del Rosario (Mayor of Angeles, Pampanga), and Jose Abad Santos (Secretary of Justice and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court), all of whom were executed for refusing to swear allegiance to the Japanese Empire.
Others stayed behind; most noteworthy of these was Jose P. Laurel (President of the Republic of the Philippines), who put his life at risk in protecting the interests of the Filipino people while suffering rebuke from his detractors who accused him of collaboration.
The administration of President Ferdinand E. Marcos saw Upsilon members lead opposing sides in the leadership of the Philippines. With the administration was Marcos, former Senate President Arturo M. Tolentino, former Chief Justice Querube Makalintal who after his retirement would be elected Speaker of the Batasang Pambansa, and Batasan Speaker Nicanor Yniguez among many others. Leading the opposition were former senators Benigno Aquino, Jr., Gerardo "Gerry" Roxas, Gil J. Puyat and Salvador "Doy" Laurel.
Waging an ideological war from the mountains were members with the left such as Melito Glor and Merardo Arce. After their deaths, the New People's Army Southern Luzon and Mindanao Commands would, in their honor, be named the Melito Glor Command and the Merardo Arce Command respectively. Fighting for Muslim rights and greater autonomy were Senators Ahmad Domocao A. Alonto and Mamintal A. J. Tamano.
The passion for quality and the unwavering conviction to give only the best of oneself in all endeavors for the achievement of noble and unselfish ideals, that is excellence. The Upsilon Sigma Phi takes pride in its diverse membership who lead the way in various fields of endeavor.
Making waves in the medical profession are former health secretary Enrique M. Garcia, TOYM winners Higino C. Laureta and former UP Manila chancellor Alfredo T. Ramirez, Polymedic founder Victor R. Potenciano, Rodolfo L. Nitollama of the Philippine Orthopaedic Association, Manuel Carlos Tan Jr. of the Philippine Society of Otorhinolaryngology, and UPMASA president Antonio B. Donesa among others.
In the arts, there are architect Cesar H. Concio, film director Eric "Kidlat Tahimik" de Guia and film producer Tony Gloria of Unitel Productions, historian Serafin D. Quiason Jr., literary greats Sinai C. Hamada, S.P. Lopez, Renato D. Tayag, Federico S. Mangahas and Raul R. Ingles, baritone Gamaliel R. Viray and tenor Lemuel G. Cuento, theater directors Behn Cervantes, Tony Mabesa and Alex Cortez,and visual artists Ed Soller, Rodolfo Ragodon, and Efren V. Zaragoza.
Also in the illustrious roster are bank presidents and chairmen Arsenio M. Bartolome III, Jose R. Katigbak, Federico C. Pascual, Carlos A. Pedrosa, Ramon Z. Abad and Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, former finance secretaries Edgardo B. Espiritu and Pio P. Pedrosa, NEDA secretary Dante B. Canlas, former Central Bank governor Alfonso T. Calalang and deputy governor Leonides S. Virata, and presidents of the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines Jose O. Desiderio Jr., Romeo M. Liamzon, Ramon S. Melencio and Vicente G. Puyat.
In sports, Olympians include Teodoro P. Malasig (Berlin 1936), Teodoro V. Kalaw Jr. and Manuel V. Valdes III (Munich 1972) and Raphael "Timmy" Chua (Athens 2004). Nereo Andolong and Rene R. Cruz were former presidents of the Philippine Olympic Committee.
Loading...
5:37
Upsilon Sigma Phi 90 Yearsby upsilonsigmaphi19183,257 views
All Comments