On the evening of November 18, 2013, a large crowd gathered at the Bellagio Square in Ermita, Manila as the Phi Kappa Mu Fraternity and the Phi Lambda Delta Sorority proudly introduced their newest members to the UP Manila community in a night also featuring the musical talents of the Itchyworms, Taken By Cars, the Phi Band, the A-Band, the Epimers, Autosave, and the Phi brods and sisses themselves. “One Big Phi 2013: Yield! Give in to the Beat” was truly one night for the books.
Livening up the evening were the witty commentary and timely jokes of Brods Julian Que Arguilla Φ2013 and Van Euldem Diaz Battad Φ2013 and Sisses Natasha Abela Φ2013 and Vea Santos Φ2013.
The A-Band of UPCM Class 2018 opened the evening with A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton. The Epimers of UPCM Class 2016 soon followed, taking everyone on a musical trip with songs such as Overdrive by the Eraserheads. Autosave, a band composed of members of the UP Musician’s Organization, then treated people to an original composition. Happy Hector, a band featuring brod Ryan Julius Angeles Bañez Φ2002 on bass, swept the crowd off its feet with songs like Mariposa.
Not to be outdone, the resident body of both the Phi Kappa Mu Fraternity and the Phi Lambda Delta Sorority took to the floor to present breathtaking performances, with the LU4 brods and sisses, who affectionately call themselves Starex, taking the lead with the first dance. Next up were ICC brods and sisses, led by Kevin Ivan Penaverde Chan Φ2011 entertained everyone present; electrifying the audience with their moves. The PHIs from the Clerks’ class came soon after, captivating everyone present. The PHI Interns present then took to the floor proving that aside from excellence in their hospital duties, they also can dance and have fun.
The PHI Band also showed its mettle as its numerous members rotated every few songs, ensuring a widened diversity of styles. This year’s line-up of the PHI Band introduced four new brods and two new sisses to the group in Lorenzo Abednego Bobadilla Adre Φ2013, Van Euldem Diaz Battad Φ2013 on guitar, John Vincent Usita Magalong Φ2013, Dominic Leandro Fernandez Milla Φ2013 on guitar, Ryuichi Peralta Nakamura Φ2013 on drums, Jasper Paolo Ramos Viloria Φ2013 on vocals, along with sisses Mica Pimentel Φ2013 on vocals and Vea Santos Φ2013 on guitar. They mesmerized the crowd with hits such as The Ordertaker, First of Summer, Lucky, Idlip,and Mr. Brightside.
The main events of the night began with the presentations of the newest batch of sisses, AmpliPHI, as their party-themed audiovisual presentation displayed the fun-loving side of the batch, and their dance number endeared them to all who were present. Not long after, the newest batch of brods, the Eightieths played its introductory video, which elicited laughs from the audience. They then lit up the night with a medley of dances which made them leave the stage to a standing ovation from the crowd.
As the program neared its end, the crowd was treated to live performances of the popular local bands Itchyworms and Taken By Cars which made almost everyone rush towards the Bellagio Square stage to better enjoy the show.
In light of the recent devastation caused by Typhoon Yolanda in Central Visayas, the Fraternity and the Sorority allotted part of the proceeds of this event to the PHI Relief Operations. They were able to prepare 400 bags filled with relief goods which were then immediately sent to the typhoon-stricken areas.
This night would not have happened without Timothy Carl Francisco Uy Φ2012, and Vincent Elvin Tabamo Garduce Φ2012 as event heads. Truly, this was an event that will live long in the memory of all brods and sisses, and showed the world just how big PHI is – and how much more it can be.
