U.P. Sigma Beta Sorority

Davao

The history of the UP Sigma Beta Sorority, UP Mindanao (Davao) Chapter is a showcase of the strong bond and respect between the alumni members of the UP Beta Sigma Fraternity and UP Sigma Beta Sorority, generated by the long and blissful relationship between these two organizations.       

It was in mid-1996 when the idea of putting up a Beta Sigma chapter in UP Mindanao (Davao) was conceptualized by the UP Beta Sigma Fraternity Alumni Association, Davao Chapter, under the leadership of Brod Sebastian ‘Anggie’ Anglionto, UPLB’57.  Although there were several alumni UP Sigma Betans in Davao, the Sorority did not have any formal association at that time.  They would however, meet from time to time together with some alumni Brods to reminisce and enjoy time and again the companionship and Betan camaraderie .  

Brod Anggie always prodded the young alumni Brods to start the Beta Sigma chapter in the then very young UP Mindanao campus.  Incidentally, Brod Anggie as the President of the UP Alumni Association, Davao Chapter, was also at the forefront in the advocacy for the establishment of the UP Mindanao campus a few years back.  Hence, in early-1997 Brods Elcid Ablang, UP Ilo-ilo’89 and Antipas ‘Jojo’ Criador, UPLB’81 went to the UP Mindanao dorm at the BPI compound in Calinan, Davao City to look for qualified applicants.  These two Brods met a Beta Sigma Ladies Corp (LC) transferee from UP Ilo-ilo who helped them identify a prospective applicant.  Unfortunately, the said applicant did not pass the Betan standard (he already had failing marks in school).  The LC, Mia Depalobos, instead helped these two brods identify and recruit other students.  Several orientations were held thereafter but sadly after 2 semesters, only one was qualified to be a Beta Sigman – Eshir Ismael.

The Brods then laid to momentary rest the desire to put up a Beta Sigma Chapter and instead focused on recruiting for the Sorority – starting with Mia Depalobos.  Actually, Mia was more inclined on forming the Beta Sigma Ladies Corp (LC).  But because of the imposing salesmanship that these two brods did, Mia was eventually convinced to join the Sigma Beta Sorority.  Mia recruited a close friend, Gaye Florendo.  

When everything was set, the alumni Brods were then informed and through Brod Anggie and a few  others (Brods Percy Caneda, UPLB’64, Julius Valdez, UPLB’69, Danny Abad, UPLB’74 to name a few), the elder Sigma Betans were called to fore.   Sis’ Siony Garcia (UP Diliman), Baby Violan-Robillo (UP Diliman), Jinky Yap-Morales (UP Diliman), Sis Jovit Marasigan (UP Los Banos) and Grace Yabut-Criador (UP Los Baños) were the active ones and heartily gave their services.  Mia and Gaye were then introduced to and oriented by these elder Sigma Betans.   

Sis’ Jinky and Baby had contacts then with the UP Sigma Beta Alumnae Association based in Manila (members of which come from LB and Diliman chapters only).  There were discussions if they (alumnae) could just be the ones to initiate and start the resident chapter.  Sis Jinky then recalled that somewhere in the UP Sigma Beta Constitution it is stated that only resident sisters may initiate and put up a chapter.  Finally, they agreed to jump start the establishment of the Sorority in UP Mindanao and raised funds for the fare of 2-3 UP Diliman resident sisters. 

Sis Jinky contacted the alumnae association for them to take care of the arrangements with the UP Diliman resident sisters. However, the trip of the UP Diliman resident sisters was thrice postponed because of their hectic academic schedules.  In one Betan gathering/dinner at Harana (an infamous resto for inihaw na manok in Davao City), Brod Jojo suggested that they contact the UPLB Sigma Betans instead.  The elder Sisters agreed and Brod Jojo contacted the UPLB MIS – Sis Eliza Cadiz-Tetangco ’93 (wife of Brod Jonas Tetangco ’93).

The trip to Davao was reset twice and when their schedule finally permitted, Sis Kaitlin Legradilla-Macalalag and Sis Sharon Rose Catapang-Montalvo flew to Davao City on October 24th, 1997. The Alumnae Sisters met them at the airport and they stayed at the house of Sis Baby Robillo.

They then immediately went to work – indoctrination was done on Friday and Saturday and final rites on Sunday. Thus, Sigma Beta Sorority in UP Mindanao was born on October 26, 1997 with the charter batch, Pinctada ’97 – Sis Mia Depalobos and Sis Gaye Florendo.  

Thereafter, T’nalak ’98 batch followed and later Diwani ’98, which completed the minimum number of members required by the University in order to be recognized. The Sorority was officially recognized in 1999 with the following members:

1997-b Pinctada
Depalobos, Mia
Florendo, Gayedelle

1998-a T’nalak
Josue, Thea
Llamas, Katrina
Malicsi, Sharon
Pabia, Joan
Pangilinan, Maypril

1998-b Diwani
Alcala, Ruby Ferda
Cervo, Anna Charina
Cunanan, Althea Joyce
de Parroco, Anna Faith
Esparcia, Janis Louis
Maniquis, Judy Eloisa
Racoma, Candice Zennia
Vanzuela, Reya Vanessa

UP Mindanao (or UP Davao) Sigma Beta is the 4th chapter in the UP system: founded in 1932 in UP Diliman, 1950 in UPLB, and 1996 in UP Ilo-ilo.  The first set of officers was elected on August 1998 with Sis Anna Charina S. Cervo (Diwani ’98) as the first MIS of the chapter and Sis Althea Joyce R. Cunanan (Diwani’98) at the helm of the newly founded Alumnae Association.