by Gabriel Paulo Candongo Orosco Φ2017
Phi Dagupan, as it was called ever since, has been a yearly tradition of the Phi Kappa Mu Fraternity and the Phi Lambda Delta Sorority. With the goal of turning away from the busy life of UPCM and UP PGH to enjoy each other’s company, it has also been a great opportunity for the younger batch to meet brods and sisses from Dagupan and Pangasinan.
On the morning of June 4, 2017, our brods and sisses arrived at the municipality of Asingan, Pangasinan where our brod, Jose Mayo Villanueva Viray, Φ 2017 along with his family hosted a morning breakfast at their residence. While eating the sumptuous breakfast prepared by the Viray family, the brods and sisses mingled and enjoyed one another with chats and laughter as they share their Phi Dagupan experiences in the past years. During our short stay at Viray’s home, we felt the warm hospitality of Pangasinenses when brod Jose Mayo Villanueva Viray, Φ 2017 and his family were accommodating to all 54 brods and sisses.
From breakfast at Asingan, they then went to Dagupan for a lunch at Ciudad Elmina by our brod, Dominic Leandro Fernandez Milla, Φ 2013, sis Patricia Marie Tan Fernandez, MD Φ 2011B, Class 2016 and their family. The brods and sisses enjoyed luscious seafood recipes from the Casa Fernandez Events Place. Not only are the seafood fresh, they are also deliciously decadent. A type of banquet you can hardly find in cities like Manila. Aside from enjoying the bountiful seafood, the brods and sisses also bonded and enjoyed through singing karaoke songs. Not only did they showcase their talents in singing, they were also dancing and jamming to the rhythm of karaoke songs. It was evident on the faces of our brods and sisses that this is the kind of break they needed from the hectic schedule of Manila. After everyone enjoyed the lunch and the karaoke, the brods thanked their gracious host for that morning, brod Jose Mayo Villanueva Viray, Φ 2017 and brod Dominic Leandro Fernandez Milla, Φ 2013 followed by a Frat Song led by brod Andro.
After the short yet memorable stay at Ciudad Elmina, the brods and sisses headed to El Puerto Marina Resort in Lingayen, Pangasinan. The four beach houses where they were accommodated were only a meters away from the shore. The brods started playing ultimate frisbee at the beach, where they endured the heat of the sun as well as enjoyed the intense yet fun way of playing frisbee. The brods eventually went swimming after the ultimate frisbee.
The next stop for our brods and sisses in Phi Dagupan would be a dinner at Kuya Max in Dagupan City. The dinner was hosted by brod Zenaides Tactay Wi, MD Φ 1972, SE 1975-1976 and sis Jennifer Ann Reyes Mendoza-Wi, MD Φ 1972, Class 1976; sis Maeva Guinang dela Cruz-Lalas, MD Φ 1969, Class 1972B, brod Juan Antonio Maximiano Regalado Escano, MD Φ 1992 and brod Jeffrey Michael Viloria Wong, MD Φ 2006. While dinner was served, brods and sisses savored the deliciously prepared seafoods of Dagupan while reminiscing the fun that they had and how this day could not get any better. One of the hosts, brod Jeffrey Michael Viloria Wong, MD Φ 2006 shared a few words and welcomed all to the Province of Pangasinan, then brod Victor Cesar Inciong Ubaldo, Φ 2015 initiated the blessing of the food before we partook in it. After dinner, the brods thanked their gracious host for tonight followed by a Frat Song led by one of the hosts, brod Jeffrey Michael Viloria Wong, MD Φ 2006. The dinner may be over, our stomachs may be full of the delicious recipes, but the night was far from over.
After dinner, the brods and sisses went back to El Puerto Marina Resort for a night of fellowship at the beach. The host prepared drinks for everyone and there were games in place. The night was young but the brods and sisses enjoyed themselves as they were engaging in friendly games and chatting around the bonfire. For hours, the brods and sisses feasted on the company of one another while dancing to the music. The night was full of learnings, sharings, toasts, and laughter as they savored the warmth of brotherhood and sisterhood. It was truly a fun way to cap a fun and satisfying Phi Dagupan day.
The next day they had their breakfast at El Puerto Marina. After that the brods and sisses arrived at Jam Sweet Jam Restaurant for a lunch hosted by brod Zenaides Tactay Wi, MD Φ 1972, SE 1975-1976 and sis Jennifer Ann Reyes Mendoza-Wi, MD Φ 1972, Class 1976; brod Juan Antonio Maximiano Regalado Escano, MD Φ 1992 and brod Jeffrey Michael Viloria Wong, MD Φ 2006. The new batch of brods introduced themselves to brod Zen Wi and his wife sis Jennifer Wi who were both Superior Exemplar and Sister Superior Exemplar respectively. It was an honor to meet an amazing Phi couple who showed their hospitality by hosting the lunch for their brods and sisses especially to those who were their first to come to Dagupan. The lunch was filled with memories and stories of brod Zen Wi, sis Jennifer Wi and brod Maxie Escano as they share their experiences in the Fraternity back when they were in the college.
On that same day, two of our brods and sisses were celebrating their birthdays. Brod Zen Wi and sis Marien Fershell Joemir Babar SiaoΦ2017 class 2021. The celebrants gave a short message and thanked everyone for the wonderful surprise. The Superior Exemplar Kevin Romeo Sangel Lucas, Φ 2013 and Sister Superior Exemplar Natasha Bernadine Guytinco Abela, Φ 2014, Class 2018 gave a short speech and thanked all our gracious host for their generosity and hospitality. They both hoped that Phi Dagupan would always be a yearly tradition for brods and sisses to bond and enjoy as well as to visit our brods and sisses in Pangasinan.
Finally, the whole Phi Dagupan experience culminated by acknowledging all the gracious hosts for the 2-day trip and all the alumni who were present. Before they part ways, the final Frat Song for the entire Phi Dagupan was led by one of the hosts, brod Jeffrey Michael Viloria Wong, MD Φ 2006 and capped by shouting “sons of Hippocrates!”.
Three cheers to our gracious hosts: Zenaides Tactay Wi, MD Φ1972, SE 1975-1976 and Jennifer Ann Reyes Mendoza-Wi, MD Φ1972, Class 1976; Maeva Guinang dela Cruz-Lalas, MD Φ1969, Class 1972B; Juan Antonio Maximiano Regalado Escano, MD Φ1992; Jeffrey Michael Viloria Wong, MD Φ2006; Patricia Marie Tan Fernandez, MD Φ2011B, Class 2016; Dominic Leandro Fernandez Milla Φ2013; and Jose Mayo Villanueva Viray Φ2017!
Three cheers to our event heads, Venerable Preceptor Manuel Sabalo Vidal Jr., Φ2014 and Sister Amica Aeterna Maria Inez Banson Herbosa Φ2016!
All for PHI!
