In the evening of August 24, 2013, banters and cheers filled the penthouse of the MediCard Lifestyle Center in the heart of Makati as doctors from all over the world, of different generations and of various backgrounds gathered for what figured out to be a night of merrymaking. Neither incessant rains nor the consequent flooding could dissuade them from giving in to the call of brotherhood. It was only proper, as the Phi Kappa Mu is celebrating 80 strong years as the Most Venerable Fraternity of the UP College of Medicine!
At around 6 pm, the resident brods started welcoming alumni, young and old, to the event. The host, MediCard Philippines president Brod Nicanor Cesar Bruno Syquia Montoya Φ1987, was with them in making sure that everything was in order. Early birds included the pioneer of neuroradiology, CT scanning and MRI in the Philippines, Brod Benjamin Dimaano Adapon Φ1953, and the very first neuro-ophthalmologist in the country in Brod Timoteo Baltazar Jimenez Φ1946. Brod Jose Santiago Eustaquio Φ1937 also graced the brods with his presence as he continues to prove to be an expected presence in the gatherings of the recent past.
Trays of appetizing food and bottles of exquisite spirits brought by the brods were lined up at the balcony for everyone to share. The program began when Brods Angelo Maria Mendoza Salonga Φ2012, Jose Nicolo Domingo Antonio Φ2012, and Jose Joaquin Herrera Arroyo Φ2012 called the room to order, as Brods were finishing up their meals and wrapping up for the meantime their individual conversations.
Brod Jose Castillo Gonzales Φ1969A then presented an update regarding the status of the Phi Residence Hall. Immediately after addressing the crowd, even Brod JoeGon was surprised to find himself approached by brods who readily pledged their assistance for such a purposeful undertaking, and by those who volunteered to help out more.
The selection of a new Board of Directors for the Phi Kappa Mu Alumni Association was included in the night’s agenda. Arriving at the end of his tenure, outgoing Phi Kappa Mu Alumni Association President Jose Jonas Dino Del Rosario Φ1986 oversaw the election of his successors. Chosen were Brods Gil Martinez Vicente Φ1977, Bernardo Dimacali Dimacali Φ1978, Jubert Pasion Benedicto Φ1987, Nicanor Cesar Bruno Syquia Montoya Φ1987, and Christopher Mallore Enriquez Calaquian Φ1991. The newly elected officers then decided among themselves who was to take on Brod Jonas’ mantle as alumni president. Deservedly, Brod Gil Martinez Vicente Φ1976 emerged victorious, and was proclaimed president with immediate effect.
Brods Maloy Calaquian ’91, Nicky Montoya ’87, Gil Vicente ’76 and Bernie Dimacali ’78 were chosen to head the Alumni Association.
Just as the excitement stemming from the recently concluded elections was dying down, brods were then regaled by video presentations prepared by Brod Ryle Siegfrid Ong Li Φ2012 describing what has been and what is yet to come in celebration of the Fraternity’s 80th year.
As the program came to a close, Brod Orville Cortez Ocampo Φ1987 took the liberty of acknowledging the presence of brothers coming from other countries. Brods Arsenio Gonzales Buendia Φ 1964 SE 1968-1969 (Oklahoma City, OK), Henry Caoili Echiverri (Warrenville, IL) and Ernesto Serrano Rivera Φ 1984 (Roseville, CA) represented the many brods in the US in this night’s celebration.
PHI International. Brods Bong Rivera ’83, Henry Echiverri ’77A and Archie Buendia ’64 SE ’68-’69 live and practice in the USA.
Brod Orville then called forth every PHI in attendance to sing the hallowed Fraternity Song. Led by Brod Jose Santiago Eustaquio, Jr. Φ1937 and Brod Arsenio Gonzales Buendia Φ1964 SE 1968-1969, the gathering hall shook as voices representing the various eras of the Fraternity throughout its existence rang as one. It was a sight to behold; it was a memory worth cherishing. Truly, the brotherhood that is the Phi Kappa Mu is very much alive within every PHI.
The night ended in the warm fellowship of the Fraternity as one would recall only the laughs, cheers and songs when thinking of what has passed. With the overwhelming success of this event, every PHI went home looking forward to the Anniversary Ball on the 17th of December 2013.
The 80th Anniversary Dinner would not have been as memorable were it not for the generosity of our gracious host, brod Nicanor Cesar Bruno Syquia Montoya Φ1987 and the dedication of Venerable Preceptors Kenneth Roy Perez Mendoza Φ 2010 and Kim Paolo Lugtu Lorenzo Φ2010, and brod John Harvey Monzon Beza Φ2012.
MediCard. Brod Nicky Montoya ’87 is the gracious host of the Fraternity’s 80th Anniversary Dinner.
The Fraternity would also like to thank the following alumni for gracing us with their presence:
Jose Santiago Eustaquio, Jr. Φ1937, Timoteo Baltazar Jimenez Φ 1946, Benjamin Dimaano Adapon Φ1953, Arsenio Gonzales Buendia Φ1964 SE 1968-1969, Gonzalo Carino Robles, Jr. Φ1965, Jose Castillo Gonzales Φ1969A, Benjamin Diestro Pajaro Φ1971, David Mequi Cabatan, Jr. Φ1976, Venancio Petate Garduce Φ1976, Ramon Salva Guerra Φ1976, Gil Martinez Vicente Φ1976, Abdel Jeffri Abubakar Abdulla Φ1977A, Henry Caoili Echiverri Φ1977A, Pio Renato Figer Villacorta Φ1977A, Bernardo Dimacali Dimacali Φ1978, Carlos Nicolai Imperial Lasa Φ1978, Jack Domingo Gonzales Arroyo, Jr. Φ1979, Noel De Jesus Atienza Φ1980, Eric Dennis Cu Legaspi Φ1982A, Virgilio Mison Novero, Jr. Φ1982A, Rolando Asuncion Padre Φ1982A, Francisco Tupasi Valenzuela, Jr. Φ1982A, Aris Luke Iguico Dungo Φ1983, Gerardo Dizon Legaspi Φ1983, Ernesto Serrano Rivera Φ1983, Ernesto Antonio Jamias Valdez, Jr. 1983, Alfredo Caasi Calado Φ1984A, Jose Ma. Dionisio Pascual Bautista Φ1984B, Dennis Pestano Serrano Φ1984B, Leonid Viktor Ronquillo Nemenzo Φ1985, Stephen Tanchuan Sowy Φ1985, Felixberto Siy Lukban Φ1985, Jose Jonas Dino Del Rosario Φ1986, Winston Valentin Lopez Villar Φ1986, Jubert Pasion Benedicto Φ1987, Jesse Noel Vargas Conjares Φ1987, Jose Joven Valenzuela Cruz Φ1987, Nicanor Bruno Syquia Montoya Φ1987, Orville Cortez Ocampo Φ1987, Aldwin Alfonso Yaneza Φ1989A, Karlos Noel Rojas Aleta Φ1991, Christopher Mallore Enriquez Calaquian 1991, Constantino Tocong Castillo III Φ1991 SE 1995-1996, Andro Jesus Hipolito Fernandez Φ1991, Harold Louis Esguerra Trinidad 1995B, Emmanuel Silva Prudente Φ1997, Christopher Quiambao Victorio 1997 SE 2001-2002, Eduard Malaca Alfanta Φ 1998, David Vincent Jimenez Antonio Φ 2000 SE 2004-2005, Alduz Inri Surio Cabasa Φ 2000, Alison Eugenio Gocotano Φ2003, John Paul Emerson Serrato Marinas Φ2004B, Alvin Christopher Sy Chu Φ2005, Bayani Sorino Pasco, Jr. Φ 2005 SE 2009-2010, Alvin Anthony Patricio Anastacio Φ 2006, Michael Chua Mo Φ2007, Jon Jefferson Calinao Novero Φ2007, Antonio Miguel Padilla dela Paz Φ2008B SE 2012-2013, Rodolfo Uy Fernandez III Φ2008B, Adynne Martin Corcelles Mallari Φ2008B, Abdelsimar Tan Omar II Φ2008B, Jon Paolo Sandico Pineda Φ2008B, and Joshua Anton Ostoy Yabut Φ2008B
Semper PHI!
