By Rafael Antonio Cabrera Tupas Φ2017B
The warmth of brotherhood is always felt, regardless of where the loyal sons of the Phi Kappa Mu meet. It knows no distance nor does it care for time; all who bask in it are brothers regardless of origin or their age. As it was done the year before, the brothers of the Phi Kappa Mu made their way southward to the islands of the Visayas as they met with the Alumni brods currently practicing in the region.
The trip began with a new destination: the seafood capital of the island of Panay, Roxas City. Upon the brods’ arrival, they broke fast at the home of brod Abundio Asis Balgos Φ1976, a resident of the city of Roxas and joined him as they visited the famous Pan-ay Church, home to the largest Catholic Bell in all of Asia. Afterwards, they went for a cruise down the scenic Palina River, where they also shared lunch together. Swimming and fellowship followed at one of the resorts in the City. As the night came upon the loyal sons of the Phi Kappa Mu, they shared another meal, now joined by Brod Emman Yatco Muñoz, Jr. Φ1950, the table filled with some of the most sumptuous local cuisine the Island could offer. The night ended after another period of fellowship with a beach party at the beach house of Brod Abundio Balgos. 
Waking up before the break of dawn, the brothers broke fast before travelling south from the City of Roxas towards the Province of Iloilo, the capital of the Western Visayas Region. Before entering the Metropolis carrying the namesake of the province, the brothers took a detour through the city of Passi. There they shared lunch with Brod Ramon Salva Guerra, Jr. Φ1977, before spending time at his resort. As the afternoon came, the brothers finally made their way to the City of Iloilo. While renowned for its rich history, the brothers were treated with a fellowship as lively as the city’s burgeoning nightlife, as they were warmly welcomed by Brod Jose Senoi Gumayan Gulmatico Φ1976 and Brod Henry Pedregosa Tupas Φ1983. Dinner was shared at the Club 21 KTV located at Smallville, the hub of Iloilo City’s late-night scene. After dinner, a night of fellowship and brotherhood followed, the halls echoing with joyous songs of Filipino classics. 
On the next day, the brothers toured the City of Love, Iloilo, visiting its famous tourist spots and Churches and stopping by the famous Biscocho House to taste the province’s famous biscocho. By noon, they shared lunch with brod Manuel Juanico Posecion Φ1966 and brod J Edgar Winston Cruz Posecion Φ1986. They toured the West Visayas State University Medical Center with brod Jose Senoi Gumayan Gulmatico Φ1976. As the sun began to set, they took a ferry across the sea towards the island of Negros and to the City of Bacolod, home of the lush culture of the Negrense and the vast fields of sugarcane that once fueled the Sugar Industry of the Visayas. Although weary from the trip, the brothers shared dinner with another loyal son of the Phi Kappa Mu: brod Rodolfo Pacheco Nonato Φ1974, joined later by Harold Louis Esguerra Trinidad Φ1995B, Emmanuel Silva Prudente Φ1997, and Leopoldo Jose Maria Lopez Picazo Φ1999 followed by a night-time tour around the city.
The next day, they traveled to the city of Cadiz to the Lakawon Beach Resort, a small paradise found in the Island of Lakawon, a few kilometers away from the Bacolod mainland. The brods spent a day enjoying the beautiful tropical scenery of the Island as they toured. Dinner soon followed when they arrived back to the mainland, with brods Harold Louis Esguerra Trinidad Φ1995B, Emmanuel Silva Prudente Φ1997, and Leopoldo Jose Maria Lopez Picazo Φ1999 hosting a night at the Brewery.
Early morning saw the brothers travel up to the Highland resort of Campuestohan with brod Harold Louis Esguerra Trinidad Φ1995B, known to be a popular summer getaway with its almost theme-park feel. After enjoying the whimsical sights and the riotous rides, and conquering the almighty obstacle course, the brods enjoyed lunch before they made their way back to Bacolod to share one last meal with the alumni brods. 
That same afternoon, they took to the skies on their way to the City of Cebu. Once there, they had dinner at the residence of brod Albert Lim Rafanan Φ1987 SE 1991 – 1992 joined by brods Dennis Momongan Tudtud Φ1975, Victorio Laurente Naranjo Cajita Φ1977, Teodoro Kintanar Gonzales Φ1978, Romero Argos Villar Φ1978, Teodoro Javier Herbosa Φ1979, Axel Adolfo Ares Sucalit Φ1979, and Rodolfo Jose Vitug Abalos Φ1980. Oslob was the destination for the next morning, as the brods experienced whale-watching at Oslob with brod Axel Adolfo Ares Sucalit Φ1979. Travelling back to Iloilo City, they shared another night of fellowship and food with brod Teodoro Kintanar Gonzales Φ1978, and then toured the Maayo Medical Clinics in Cebu with brods Arthur Yu Dy Φ1979, and Rodolfo Jose Vitug Abalos Φ1980. 
That night marked the end of 5 days of sharing the warmth of brotherhood, and as the loyal sons returned to their respective residences, they went about their day to day business, knowing that despite their busy schedules, the warmth of brotherhood was always there to fuel the flames of fellowship and camaraderie across the sea and across the generations of the loyal sons of the fraternity. As the brods departed from the beautiful Islands of Visayas, they bring with them unforgettable memories to a trip of a lifetime, smiles as bright as the summer sun and hearts reignited with the flames of the PHI fellowship.
Three cheers to our gracious hosts in Roxas City: Emmanuel Yatco Muñoz, Jr. Ф1950 Abundio Asis Balgos Ф1976; In Iloilo City: Manuel Juanico Posecion Ф1966, Jose Senoi Gumayan Gulmatico Ф1976, Ramon Salva Guerra Ф1977, Henry Pedregosa Tupas Ф1983, J Edgar Winston Cruz Posecion Ф1986, Carl Dwight Resquites Demetria Ф1998; In Bacolod City: Rodolfo Pacheco Nonato Ф1974, Ricardo Paulo Jayme Yusay Ф1989A, Harold Louis Esguerra Trinidad Ф1995B, Emmanuel Silva Prudente Ф1997, Leopoldo Jose Ma. Lopez Picazo Ф1999; And in Cebu City: Dennis Momongan Tudtud Ф1975, Victorio Laurente Naranjo Cajita Ф1977, Teodoro Kintanar Gonzales Ф1978, Romero Argos Villar Ф1978, Arthur Yu Dy Ф1979, Axel Adolfo Ares Sucalit Ф1979, Rodolfo Jose Abalos Jr Ф1980, Albert Lim Rafanan 1987, SE 1991-1992; And our event head, the Venerable Preceptor, Gabriel Paulo Candongo Orosco Ф2017A. Thank you brods, for the warmth of brotherhood outshines even the sunniest of skies. ‘Til the next summer outing! 
