Beta Sigma Fraternity
Alumni Association
Ranao Regional Assembly
The Beta Sigma Fraternity
Story By Josie San Pedro
Published : 2006-07-06
Copy write by Brod. Abdo, JME, MPA
Shortly after World War II, the University of the Philippines reopened its gates to admit returning students and fresh enrollees from various high schools. In June 1946, at UP’s main campus (Padre Faura, Manila), two groups of boys swarmed the steps of the Cancer Institute building. Daily, they would indulge in discourse about themselves and the Country’s fate and future. To fellow students and the faculty, they were Porch Lizards, a moniker that would summarily change with ensuing events. Jesse James) led the lively Gay Varsitarians from UP High and Nicanor P. Jacinto, Jr., the congenial UP’s 20 from Ateneo de Manila and De La Salle. Within days, both groups knew they held like aspirations and a shared vision: to excel in academics, win campus elections and contests, and become potent instruments in rebuilding a ravaged nation. Jayme, the visionary, sensed ivy in the bud. He wrote a list and consulted Social Sciences dean David G. Tio David) to organize a fraternity. When told that his list was short of the 50 members school regulations required, Jayme was unshaken. Readily, he struck an agreement, with Wico to take in Jacinto’s boys and invite a few more to fill up the charter roster like late Supreme Court Justice Teddy Padilla. July 14, 1946, the Beta Sigma Fraternity (a.k.a. Brotherhood of Scholars) was born with 56 members. Jayme, the cheerful and persistent initiator, was chosen president. Quickly, the fledgling organization marked excellence “with boring consistency.” It earned widespread admiration and respect with members who repeatedly made the Dean’s List, won oratorical and other competitions, edited the student paper, lorded over campus politics, commanded the Corps of Cadets, and got deeply involved in university affairs and programs. When UP’s main campus moved to Diliman in 1950,the second Beta Sigma chapter was formed at UP Los Baños. On August 13, 62 young men, in simple rites, were granted and membership. A lingering longing, though, lay unanswered for years: Brothers wanted their Fraternity to conform to its Greek-lettered identity. First, the title President was replaced with Grand Prince in 1953, so were those for other offices. The Beta Sigma Credo, authored by Prospero Crescini ‘49, the Betan Hymn, and the 9 Principal Truths were also adopted. Soon, other chapters, like the Manila Central University (MCU), Far Eastern University-Narciso Reyes Medical Foundation (FEU-NRMF), Gregorio Araneta University Foundation (GAUF), University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Foundation (UERMF), and Silliman University (SU), briskly came to being. By 1975, the brotherhood had expanded beyond the Fraternity’s expectations. The national body, Beta Sigma Fraternity Philippines (a.k.a. Today, the Beta Sigma breathes in over 100 colleges and universities nationwide. Alumni associations were also organized, starting 1976, as members finished school, moved abroad, practiced professions, engaged in business, and sat on plum posts in government and the private sector. Many retained the name of their Alma Matter in these fellowships and many more took on the name of the geographic are they lived or had permanent interests in. Hereabouts, the National Assembly responds to the needs of all the Fraternity’s alumni associations, while off shore, the Federation of Beta Sigma Fraternity Chapters flies banners in the Americas, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, and the Pacific Rim. International homecomings and conventions have been hosted in Manila, Los Baños, Cebu, and other parts of the archipelago since 1990. Moreover, Fraternity balls in various places worldwide are enjoyed by Beta Sigmans all year round. For the brotherhood of scholars, progress is invariably excellence and unity. For the Beta Sigma Fraternity, the best is but a whistle and a whisper away. The objectives:
a) Promote the vision of the founding brothers of the Fraternity to produce a brotherhood of scholars in universities and produce members
who are assets to society;
b) Encourage the formation of Beta Sigma Fraternity on different campuses and of Alumni Associations in various places; and
c) Have a uniform Charter which will cohesively bind and be adhered to by all Beta Sigmans in schools, colleges and universities and in alumni
associations in the Philippines and elsewhere in the world.
