Upsilon Sigma Phi


The Upsilon Sigma Phi is the oldest Greek-letter organization and fraternity in Asia. It has only two chapters: the combined U.P. Diliman/U.P. Manila chapter and the U.P. Los Baños chapter. Membership to the fraternity is exclusive and is by invitation only. Its members are called Fellows or Upsilonians.
Its vast network of influential alumni both in public service and private enterprise has led several publishers to cite it as the most prominent and influential fraternity in the Philippines.

History

The Upsilon Sigma Phi was founded in 1918 by twelve students and two professors from the University of the Philippines, Manila. It was formally organized on November 19, 1920 in a meeting held at the Metropolitan Restaurant in Intramuros, where the fraternity elected its first officers.
Four months later, on March 24, 1921, the Greek letters "ΥΣΦ", standing for the initials of the name "University Students Fraternity" were formally adopted. It also adopted its themes, rites, and motto "We Gather Light to Scatter"; all influenced by freemasonry.
"The modern history of the Philippines is deeply tied to that of its state university, the University of the Philippines; and the history of the University is intricately entwined with that of its oldest and most prestigious student organization: the Upsilon Sigma Phi.
No complete story of my country can be written without touching on the crucial roles that the University of the Philippines and the Upsilon Sigma Phi have played in shaping the Philippines – for both the University of the Philippines and the Upsilon Sigma Phi were committed to using the gift of knowledge to serve and transform society."
— Ponciano G.A. Mathay, Oil Regulatory Board Chairman

Early years (1920-1941)

Its early years set its tradition of exclusivity where invitations for membership are given out only to individuals who served in leadership positions, or individuals which the Fraternity deemed in possession of leadership potential or regarded as excellent in their respective fields.
On campus, thirteen of its members chaired the UP Student Council from 1930-1949. Its members were prominent contributors in campus publications, a number of whom served as Editors-in-Chief of the Philippine Collegian and the now defunct annual publication, The Philippinensian.
During this time, then UP Student Council President Wenceslao Vinzons earned himself the title of "Father of Student Activism" when he, together with members of the Fraternity, led demonstrations before the Philippine Congress to protest the insertion of a provision in the appropriations act that gave lawmakers a salary increase.
Three Upsilonians were later elected to the 1934 Philippine Constitutional Convention which created the 1935 Constitution of the Philippines: Wenceslao Vinzons, Conrado Benitez, and Jose P. Laurel.

World War II (1942-1945)

Upsilonians took key roles during World War II. Among those were Wenceslao Vinzons, Agapito del Rosario, and José Abad Santos, all of whom were executed for refusing to swear allegiance to the Japanese. Meanwhile, Jose P. Laurel, as President of the puppet Philippine government during the Japanese occupation, protected the interests of the Filipino people through bureaucratic resistance; all the while suffering rebuke from his critics who accused him of collaboration with the Japanese.

Post-War (1946-1960s)

U.P. Manila campus was destroyed during the Battle of Manila, warranting the whole university's administration to be relocated to the UP Diliman campus. Prominent landmarks in the Diliman campus such as Palma Hall, Melchor Hall, Quezon Hall, and the Church of the Risen Lord were all constructed under the vision of University Architect and Upsilonian Cesar Concio. Through the efforts of the UP Alumni Association headed by Upsilonian Hermenegildo Reyes, the fraternity helped raise funds for the construction of the bell tower called the "Carillon" which still stands today as another prominent landmark. Meanwhile, a chapter in U.P. Los Banos was established; it was also the first Greek-letter organization in the campus.
During the same period, the fraternity hosted the Cavalcades, a series of stage plays and musicals that began on campus and eventually toured nationwide. Profits from "Aloyan" and "Hanako" plays were used to help finance the construction and furnishing of the Church of the Holy Sacrifice. These productions were purely an Upsilon endeavor led by writer Teddy Yabut and musicians Dick Zamora and Manuel Martell. One of the Fraternity's productions, Linda, casted then 17-year-old Pilita Corrales. Martell would later twice win in the Palanca Awards in the 1970s.
Under the term of Upsilonian Eric De Guia as UP Student Council Chairman, the UP Student Union building in the Diliman was renamed Vinzons Hall in honor of hero and martyr Wenceslao Vinzons.

The Marcos Presidency (1965-1980s)

Administration

Members of the fraternity played active roles on all sides of the political scene during the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos, himself an Upsilonian. In the administration, notable Upsilonians were Senate President Arturo Tolentino, Cabinet Secretary and former UP President Onofre Corpuz, Batasan Speaker Nicanor Yniguez, Central Bank Governor Alfonso Calalang, industry magnate Roberto Benedicto, Ilocos Norte Representative Roque Ablan, Jr., and longtime National Bureau of Investigation Director Jolly Bugarin. Representing the administration in international affairs, Bugarin would later become the only Filipino President of the International Criminal Police Organisation ; Tolentino would be the Head Philippine Delegate to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and Gautier Bisnar would serve as the Chief Delegate to the Malaysian-Philippine Talks on the Sabah Claim.

1971 Constitutional Convention

Thirteen Upsilonians were elected to the Philippine Constitutional Convention of 1971 which created the 1973 Constitution of the Philippines: Sotero Laurel as President Pro-Tempore, and Juan Liwag, Richard Gordon, Domocao Alonto, Enrique Belo, Mateo A.T. Caparas, Estanislao Fernandez, Augusto Legaspi, Tocod Macaraya, Ceferino Padua, Jose Suarez, Jose Yulo, Jr., and Juanito Remulla, Sr. as delegates. Juanito Remulla, Sr. would later become the longest sitting Governor of Cavite, while Mateo A.T. Caparas would also later be Chairman of the Presidential Commission on Good Government and the first and only Filipino president of Rotary International.

Congress

Upsilonians in the Senate were vocal critics of the Marcos administration: Ninoy Aquino, Gerry Roxas, and Doy Laurel. Senator Ninoy Aquino would found Lakas ng Bayan ; Senator Doy Laurel would found the United Nationalist Democratic Organization, a political multi-party electoral alliance that advocated the preservation of democracy and ouster of the administration, while Senator Gerry Roxas would Co-Chair UNIDO and serve as National President of the Liberal Party. Upsilonians fighting for Muslim rights were Senator Mamintal A.J. Tamano, and former Senator Domocao Alonto in the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines. Upsilonian Juan Liwag was also a Senator.
Another Upsilonian, Gil Puyat, would also become Senate President immediately after Arturo Tolentino.

Judiciary

During the same period, two Upsilonians: Querube Makalintal and Enrique Fernando would serve as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Five Upsilonians, Nestor Alampay, Ramon Fernandez, Vicente Ericta, Hermogenes Concepcion, Jr., and Estanislao Fernandez would also become Associate Justices of the Supreme Court. Estanislao Fernandez is also a former Senate Minority Floor Leader.

Campus

Meanwhile, UP President and Upsilonian Salvador Lopez would oversee the transformation of the campus into the bulwark of militant freedom, culminating in the First Quarter Storm. In the arts, Upsilonian Behn Cervantes founded the UP Repertory Company to "combat the censorship that was in place." His most successful film, Sakada, revealed the deteriorating conditions in the haciendas and won the Dekada Award for Best Film of the Decade.

Opposition and the 1986 People Power Revolution

After Senator Ninoy Aquino's assassination in 1983, Doy Laurel led the opposition together with Ninoy Aquino's widow, Corazon Aquino. It would culminate in the People Power Revolution.
From the left, Upsilonians Melito Glor and Merardo Arce became commanders in the New People's Army. After their deaths, the NPA Southern Luzon and Mindanao Commands would, in their honor, be named the Melito Glor Command and the Merardo Arce Command, respectively. The two commanders would also be commemorated in the Bantayog ng mga Bayani. Meanwhile, Upsilonian Antonio Tujan was the Secretary General of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Antonio Tujan is also the founder of the IBON Foundation and a current member of the Advisory Group of the United Nations Development Cooperation Forum.
Meanwhile, in the fight for Press Freedom, Upsilonian Jake Almeda Lopez was the general manager of ABS-CBN where Upsilonian broadcaster Angelo Castro Jr. would later become News Manager and the creator of TV Patrol. Alto Broadcasting System, the precursor to ABS-CBN, was founded by Upsilonian Antonio Quirino. In print media, Upsilonian Armando Malay was the head of WE Forum, an anti-Marcos newspaper.Immediately following the People Power Revolution, the Constitutional Convention of 1986 was convened. The Convention included five Upsilonians appointed by President Corazon Aquino: former Senator Domocao Alonto as Assistant Floor Leader, and former Speaker of the House Jose B. Laurel, Jr., Yusup Abubakar, Jose Suarez, and Christian Monsod as Commissioners. Monsod would later be appointed by the new President as Chairman of the Commission on Elections.

The Fifth Republic (1987–2018)

Under the new Constitution, Upsilonians that gained prominence in the public service include Doy Laurel, Senator Sotero Laurel, Executive Secretary Catalino Macaraig Jr., Congressman Gerardo "Dinggoy" Roxas Jr. and longtime Quezon City Mayor Mel Mathay, among many others.
Upsilonian Doy Laurel would later be appointed as the chairman of the Philippine National Centennial Commission in the run-up to the Philippine Centennial of the country's independence. Upsilonian Dionisio dela Serna would also serve as Deputy Executive Secretary.
For EDSA II and preceding impeachment trial, Upsilonians took again key roles with the prosecution being led by Congressman Joker Arroyo and the defense headed by former Solicitor General Estelito Mendoza. Afterwards, Congressman Wimpy Fuentebella, an Upsilonian, would file an impeachment complaint for betrayal of public trust and corruption due to the alleged improper swearing in of the new President.
Later, Upsilonian Roman Kintanar, the longest serving Director of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, was conferred the Philippine Legion of Honor. The title of National Scientist would also be conferred to Upsilonian Ricardo Lantican for his achievements in plant breeding. Lantican would be the fourth Upsilonian in the Order of National Scientists, after economist Jose Encarnacion Jr., Bienvenido Juliano, and Onofre Corpuz. Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Romulo Davide, an Upsilonian, would also be inducted into the National Academy of Science and Technology, the country's highest recognition and scientific advisory body. Davide would become the eighth Upsilonian inducted into the prestigious body.
Upsilonian human rights lawyer Joker Arroyo, who previously served as Executive Secretary to President Aquino, founded the Free Legal Assistance Group, and founded the Movement of Attorneys for Brotherhood, Integrity, and Nationalism, would also become Senator.
During the same period, five Upsilonians Florentino Feliciano, Emilio Gancayco, Jose C. Campos, Camilo Quiason, and Josue Bellosillo are appointed as Justices of the Supreme Court. In addition thereto, Upsilonians Dante Canlas, Willy Gaa, and Gen. Gregorio Catapang became Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority, Ambassador to the United States of America, and Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, respectively.
In the University of the Philippines, Upsilonians Alfredo Pascual and Danilo Concepcion are appointed as the 20th and 21st President respectively, serving from 2011 up to the present.
Meanwhile, Upsilonian Ivan Henares was named one of The Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines for 2012. Henares is the first awardee for the category of Heritage Conservation. He serves as the 23rd Upsilonian who has been named into the TOYM. The Fraternity has also been recognized as a National Capital Region finalist in the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations Awards. TAYO, co-founded by the National Youth Commission, is the country’s premier institution that recognizes and supports the outstanding contributions of youth organizations to the country.

Centennial Year (2018-present)


"In the coming years, we will remain true to our motto: "We Gather Light to Scatter". Year in and year out, our resident chapters in the campuses of the University of the Philippines will continue to recruit bright and talented students from diverse disciplines and hone their potential as future achievers." — Alfredo Pascual during "The Fellowship of Lights Centennial Ball."
On July 25, 2018, Upsilon Sigma Phi was recognized for "its significant contributions to numerous civic and humanitarian causes, as well as the dedication and commitment of its members to public service and nation-building." The year 2018 was also declared to be the "Year for the Celebration of the Centennial Anniversary of the Upsilon Sigma Phi." In the same year, the fraternity inaugurated the "U.P. Promenade", a 120-meter walkway equipped with internet and Wi-Fi capable facilities available for the use of every student and faculty member of the Diliman campus. The other flagship centennial project, "The Kapit-Kapit Monument", which depicts 14 individuals with their arms locked in solidarity, is located at the Los Baños campus.
In the University of the Philippines, the positions of University Student Council Chairperson in the campuses of Diliman, Manila, and Los Banos were held by three Upsilonian students simultaneously in 2018. Upsilonian Atty. Danilo Concepcion remains as UP President, while Dr. Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr., another Upsilonian, is still the U.P. Los Banos Chancellor.
In the current 18th Congress of the Philippines, the Fraternity has secured two seats in the Senate: Dick Gordon, who is also currently the Chairman of the Philippine Red Cross, and Kiko Pangilinan, who is also currently the National President of the Liberal Party.
Meanwhile, in the House of Representatives, seven seats are currently held by Upsilonians: Gani Amatong, Boying Remulla, Victor Yap, Roman Romulo, Rimpy Bondoc, Arnie Fuentebella, and Martin Romualdez. Martin Romualdez is also the incumbent Majority Floor Leader of the HoR, the National President of Lakas–CMD, and President of the Philippine Constitution Association.
In the Local Government Units, Jonvic Remulla is serving as Governor of Cavite; Dennis Socrates is serving as Vice Governor of Palawan; Jay Rodriguez is a Board Member in Palawan; Ping Remulla is a Board Member in Cavite; Jovi Fuentabella is a Mayor in Camarines Sur; Vince Soriano is a Mayor in Laguna; Zaldy Laudencia is a Councilor of San Fernando, La Union; Jay Quitain Jr. is a Councilor of Davao City; Rhichie Brown is a Councilor of Pasig City; and Cocoy Lopez is a Councilor in Laguna.
Three Upsilonians are currently serving as diplomats: Carlos Sorreta as Ambassador to Russia, Julius Torres as Charges d'Affaires of the Embassy in Iraq, and Jaime Victor Ledda as Ambassador to The Hague, Netherlands. Jaime Victor Ledda is also the current Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Asian Group Coordinator.
Also, Upsilonian Jesus Melchor Quitain is currently serving as Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President. He has previously served as City Administrator of Davao City and is said to be influential in Malacañang and is known for writing the State of the Nation Addresses.

Controversies

In 1954, an alleged neophyte died during an appendix operation. Thereafter, a committee formed by the Philippine President concluded that medico-legal findings failed to show that hazing had contributed to his death. However, the report also stated that the beating he received prior to the operation weakened his physical condition.
On November 14, 2018, members were reportedly involved in an altercation with another fraternity. The next day, a car chase allegedly took place. Six days later, on November 20, 2018, an anonymous Twitter account posted screenshots purported to be from a chat between members of the fraternity showing hate speech. Numerous organizations called for accountability and abolition of the culture of hegemonic masculinity and elitism within the fraternity's ranks.

Membership

Members of the Upsilon Sigma Phi are called Fellows or Upsilonians.'''.Membership is by invitation only and is exclusive to male individuals in the University of the Philippines Diliman/Manila and Los Banos campuses. Selection is based on an individual's leadership positions and potential success and prominence in their respective fields. Owing to its rigorous screening of invitees, its alumni roster consists of a diverse roll of successful members in public service, industry, medicine, military, and academia among others.
In government alone, the fraternity has produced three Philippine Presidents, two Vice Presidents, fifteen Senators, fifteen Supreme Court Justices, sixty-five House Representatives, nineteen Governors, four Solicitor Generals, six Armed Forces of the Philippines Generals, one AFP Chief-of-Staff, one Governor of the Bankgo Sentral ng Pilipinas, and one Interpol President among the numerous more that have led executive departments and agencies, judicial incumbencies, local government units, and other constitutional offices.
Beyond public service, its roster includes a number of National Scientists, National Artists, and pioneers in business, research, and medicine.
Its vast network of tightly-knit influential alumni both in public service and private enterprise has led several publishers to cite it as the most prominent and influential fraternity in the Philippines. Notable people known to be Upsilon Sigma Phi fellows include: