On the 23rd of March, four journeys bound only by the warmth of brotherhood converged at the Diamond Ballroom of the Diamond Hotel; four stories that were each years apart, yet brought together by a bond quite strong within every Phi.
Led by hosts Javier Miguel Dela Cruz Cabatan Φ2012 and Vincent Elvin Tabamo Garduce Φ2012, the program kicked off at around nine in the evening as guests were finishing up what remained of dinner. After a quick invocation led by Timothy Carl Francisco Uy Φ2012, the outgoing Superior Exemplar, Antonio Miguel Padilla Dela Paz Φ2008B, addressed the audience with words that fittingly set the tone for the rest of the night. As Brod Tomi finished his speech to the sound of much applause, the hosts ushered on stage the first honoraries of the night.
Despite having recently emerged from the turmoil collectively known in history as the Marcos Era, 30 students of the UP College of Medicine willingly braved the odds 25 years ago, that they may be considered worthy of the Most Venerable Fold. Led by their batch leader, Dr. Allan Raymond Delos Santos Tenorio Φ1987, these young men eventually comprised Phi Batch 1987, known famously as the Gallerians. In commemoration of their quarter of a century of undying commitment to the Phi Kappa Mu, members of the batch were honored as Silver Jubilarians during the night’s festivities. Representing the batch were Brods Manuel Thomas Ilano Colmenar Φ1987, Jose Joven Valenzuela Cruz Φ1987, Orville Cortez Ocampo Φ1987, Nicanor Cesar Bruno Syquia Montoya Jr. Φ1987, and Genlinus Dator Yusi Φ1987, all of whom were presented plaques and medals that the younger generations of brods looked upon in admiration and envy.
The spotlight then shifted to the Brods who were about to take leave from the College. The task of going through all the motions expected for one to be considered a graduate of the UP College of Medicine is no easy feat. From the countless lectures of the first two years of medical school, to the endless hours of hospital work in the last three, much has been demanded of the generations of doctors that have passed through the College’s hallowed halls. Joining their ranks were the fourteen Brods of UPCM Class 2013 who, for the breadth of their medical schooling, have faithfully served the Fraternity in their capacities as resident Brods; as such, a portion of the program was dedicated solely for the clinical interns. To begin, Dax Carlo Go Pascasio Φ2006, Brother Prior of Phi Batch 2008B, prepared a video message dedicated to the batch that he helped usher into the Fraternity some years ago. The crowd was then treated to a montage of videos both made for and by the graduating brods. Each intern was given a medal that they may keep as a memento of a night they shan’t soon forget.
As the night’s main event approached, solemnity took over the festive mood that had previously taken hold of the guests. The moment had finally arrived. Last October, eleven young men who previously put pen to paper, gentlemen forged from the same fire and cast from the same stone, took part in an enterprise that would have seen them fit to be called a Phi. Taking a road that was anything but smooth, plagued by challenges that constantly held them under duress, these brave few marched on, undaunted, undefeated. Finally considered worthy by the Brods, these young men were hence known as Phi Batch 2012, Exta D’yiz. The night was their celebration, their tribute to the light that forever burns against the darkness, to the Fraternity that welcomed them with as much warmth as could be asked for. The road uphill had finally been trudged. Tonight, the Fraternity formally inducted Brods Francis Louie Malabanan Alcachupas, Jose Nicolo Domingo Antonio, Jose Joaquin Herrera Arroyo, John Harvey Monzon Beza, Javier Miguel Dela Cruz Cabatan, Jose Jaime Lorenzo Claudio De Rivera, Jairus Adrian Ramos Flores, Vincent Elvin Tabamo Garduce, Ryle Sigfried Ong Li, Angelo Maria Mendoza Salonga, and Timothy Carl Francisco Uy into the Most Venerable Fold.
Phi Batch 2012 Extra D’yiz with their Brother Prior, Dennis Raymond Leoncio Sacdalan Φ2010
Keeping the ball rolling, the hosts then invited on-stage the members of both the outgoing and the incoming Executive Councils. From the very first Executive Council way back in 1933, a year was all that was given for those at the helm of the fraternity to make an impact on the history of the Phi Kappa Mu. It really was quite fitting, then, that as their proverbial clock struck 12, the members of the outgoing Executive Council, led by Antonio Miguel Padilla Dela Paz Φ2008B SE 2012-2013, were awarded plaques in recognition of a year filled with innumerable successes . With much pride, they then bestowed upon their successors mantles of leadership that have since represented the best kind of service one can render to the Fraternity. With heads held high and joy bordering on the ecstatic, Superior Exemplar Jose Antonio Tan Paulino Φ2009, Vice Superior Exemplar Mark Terence Pua Mujer Φ2010, Brother Prior Jojiemar Salonga De Pano Φ2011, Standard Bearer Clemens Lee Mocorro Sabitsana Φ2011, Brother Custodian Kevin Ivan Penaverde Chan Φ2011, Brother Scribe Jose Carlo Marcellana Artiaga Φ2010, Senior Guardian of the Temple Mikhail Gopez Amante Φ2011, Brother Recorder Ryle Siegfrid Ong Li Φ2012, and Junior Guardian of the Temple Jose Nicolo Domingo Antonio Φ2012, graciously accepted the duties placed upon them by their predecessors, taking their oaths and cementing their place at the head of the Fraternity. Chosen among the best, it is quite apparent that for another year, the Phi Kappa Mu Fraternity will be under good and capable hands.
To bring the night to a close, Superior Exemplar Jose Antonio Tan Paulino called for a toast that was then followed by the Fraternity Song led by the youngest brod, Timothy Carl Francisco Uy Φ2012.
Phi Kappa Mu Fraternity Picture
Phi Batch 2012, Extra D’yiz, would like to thank the following Brods for attending this year’s Induction Ball: Manuel Bautista Agulto Φ1969A, Jose Castillo Gonzales Φ1969A, Ricardo Mendoza Salonga Φ1969A, Mario Ballesteros Geronilla Φ1969B, Venancio Petate Garduce Φ1976, Jose Senoi Gumayan Gulmatico Φ1976, Abdel Jeffri Abubakar Abdulla Φ1977, Bernardo Dimacali Dimacali Φ1978, Teodoro Kintanar Gonzaales Jr. Φ1978, Jack Domingo Gonzales Arroyo Jr. Φ1979A, Peter Bautista Bernardo Φ1980, Adrian Estanislao Manapat Φ1980, Edwin Chiong Reyes Φ1980, Orville Cortez Ocampo Φ1987, Nicanor Cesar Bruno Syquia Montoya Jr. Φ1987, Jose Joven Valenzuela Cruz Φ1987, Jessie Noel Vargas Conjares Φ1987, Genlinus Dator Yusi Φ1987, Emmanuel Silva Prudente Φ1997, Eduard Malaca Alfanta Φ1998, Carlo Josemaria Diño Rubio Φ2002, Oliver Brian Sy Oliva Φ2003, Gerald Marion Maramag Abesamis Φ2005, Jaifred Christian Felicida Lopez Φ2006, Anthony Sebastian Montuno Φ2006, Dante Barbado Salvador Jr. Φ2007 and Alberto Mañibo Ong Jr. Φ2008B.
