by Raphael Alfonso Javier Dy Santos Φ2021 and Justin Daniel Davis Serfino Φ2021
In the strange new normal the world has found itself in, many were left uncertain about the future and what it holds. Despite these odds, seven individuals found themselves brought together in pursuit of a common goal: Brotherhood. Fortunatos, the Italian word for ‘lucky’ is a reference to their number as well as the luck they share in becoming the newest brothers of the Phi Kappa Mu. Despite the unconventional online setting, they manifested the drive to prove themselves as worthy brothers who are driven to continue on the great legacy of the Most Venerable Fold.
The first of the seven is Jonas Angeles Aquino (Jonas). He was born and raised in the town of Lubao in Pampanga. He is a graduate of BS in Industrial Pharmacy from UP Manila and is a registered pharmacist. One of his life goals is to serve the underserved regions of his province. This Fortunato believes in the words of Gandhi that the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. During his free time, he enjoys watching TV series and listening to different genres of music. He is artistic, straightforward, and loyal. He considers himself lucky to meet the other six Fortunatos and the rest of the brotherhood.
Luck propels one to encounter countless opportunities but hard work and determination ultimately determine fate. The second of the seven Fortunatos comes from the City of San Pedro, Laguna. Mitchell Jared Cruz De Silva (Mitch) has always believed that continuous effort is the key to unlock the greatest fortune. Having graduated from UP Manila with a course in BS Public Health, he has always been a determined individual who endeavors to perform his best in anything he is given. In his spare time, you will probably spot Mitch playing DOTA 2, watching clips on the DC universe, or simply hanging out with his turtles. Above all, he considers empathy as the greatest skill one can ever have. As he takes on and receives his great fortune of becoming part of the fraternity, he hopes to become a person who will always be there for his brothers and a future physician who will forever be in the service of others.
Seemingly born with luck already on his side, the third of the bold Fortunatos is Vincenz Constantine Tankiang Ferrer (Vincenz), a BS Psychology graduate from UP Diliman, whose blue and maroon blood has steered him towards a career of life-long service. A typical city boy, Vincenz enjoys walking the streets of BGC in the early morning, lounging in the movie theater after a hard day, and ordering take-out at midnight. A firm believer that chance must always be seized, Vincenz will surely be the first one to speak up and excitedly introduce himself the first time, making sure to involve everyone in the room. His hobbies span from watching anime and TV series to playing football or badminton on a shady afternoon. As he has done so for his five siblings, he is eager to unconditionally support his Phi brothers throughout medical school and the years after. Vincenz believes that Philippine medicine and Phi Kappa Mu Fraternity are indeed faced with great difficulties brought by the pandemic. Nevertheless, he is wholeheartedly proud and poised to charge into these uncharted times alongside his newfound brotherhood and Phi spirit.
“Your life is as good as your mindset, so always look at the brighter side of life.” A person who remains to have an optimistic outlook in life, the fourth of the seven Fortunatos is Jerico Mari Causing Manlapid (JM). He is a graduate of BS Public Health from UP Manila. He has roots in Iloilo and South Cotabato but was born and raised in Pasig. Being a quick learner and having a certain knack for thriving and staying calm under pressure are the qualities that JM has in spades. To add more to the mixture, he is a spontaneous, genuine, and caring person who talks the talk and walks the walk. If you are up for laughs, you can rely on JM as he goofs around and does the silliest of things, although he may seem intimidating and serious at first glance. Like his idol Cristiano Ronaldo, JM has always believed in himself, and his desire to succeed is stronger than his fear of failure. Once he sweats, he’s in the game. JM believes he was fortunate enough to be part of something great—the long and lasting brotherhood of the Phi Kappa Mu—and wishes to share all his skills and knowledge with his Phi brothers.
“Life is too short to be sad, so be happy,” says Raul Vicente Orosa Recto Jr. (Raul), the fifth of the seven Fortunatos. Also a graduate of BS Psychology from UP Diliman, Raul’s always been known to be the extroverted, friendly, funny, and happy fellow in the group. He hopes to radiate this positive attitude in the fraternity as well. His hobbies include playing football, singing, playing the guitar, and on his free days, SCUBA diving. Raul also looks forward to exploring his artistic side by learning how to paint. Although born and raised in Manila, Raul’s family comes from Iloilo, Lipa, and Taal Batangas, as well as Baliuag, Bulacan. He considers his family to be the most important thing in life, and he now deems the fraternity to be part of it as well. Throughout this whole experience, Raul was grateful to have found brothers in the time of COVID and hopes to be able to contribute and enjoy the brotherhood that is continuously fostered in the Phi Kappa Mu.
The sixth of the seven is Raphael Alfonso Javier Dy Santos (Raja). His personality revolves around keeping life authentic when expressing himself. He graduated with a BS in Biology from the Ateneo de Manila University. He hails from the chilly mountains of Antipolo City where he grew up surrounded by luscious green surroundings. The scenery around him has instilled in him an everlasting admiration for nature that he hopes to advocate within the brotherhood. He is currently aspiring to either be an orthopedic surgeon or a pathologist. His hobbies include playing the guitar, playing football, and skin diving. He is an avid fan of John Mayer, any food that includes noodles, and miniature schnauzers. He believes the manifestation of his luck as a Fortunato was finding a safe space where he and his batchmates were embraced with open arms and hearts amidst the uncertain times brought about by the pandemic.
The last of the seven is the batch leader, Justin Daniel Davis Serfino (Justin). A shy but friendly and easygoing person, he is a Filipino-American born in New Jersey and raised in Arizona. He attended Arizona State University where he graduated with a BA in Psychology. Justin is the first natural-born American in his family, and he is very passionate about his Filipino-American identity and culture. He hopes to bring his past experiences and unique perspective to the Phi. He plans to specialize in Emergency Medicine in the future and looks forward to experiences with the fraternity that will help him become the best doctor he can be. His life motto is John 16:33, permanently tattooed on his left arm. It reminds him that despite life’s ups and downs, one must always remember to believe in oneself and in God that things will end up okay. When he has free time, he enjoys playing video games, making videos, listening to music, and dabbles in dance. As a Fortunato, he considers himself lucky that despite physical distance, he was able to form a genuine bond with his fellow Fortunatos and brothers in the Phi Kappa Mu, knowing that their brotherhood will only get stronger with time.
With luck on their side, the Fortunatos have come forth as the newest Phi brothers in this post-pandemic world. There were moments of doubt during their journey, but in those times they picked each other up and got through those moments together. Through the circumstances and challenges they faced, they have learned and exemplified one of the core beliefs of the fraternity: that no matter the time nor distance, Brotherhood transcends all. With these experiences behind them and the lessons of the Most Venerable Fold imparted upon them, they will continue to command their own luck as brothers of the Phi Kappa Mu.
