MANILA, Philippines -- Members of the Batch 1957 of the Upsilon Sigma Phi Fraternity, Asia’s oldest fraternity, started Thursday three days of celebration of their golden jubilee dubbed “Tagay-tagay sa Tagaytay.”
Antonio H. Abad, chair of the ’57 jubilee steering committee, promised a “weekend of fun and nostalgia” for all Upsilonians and Sigma Deltans attending the three-day event, which ends tomorrow.
A host of activities is slated at the Diliman campus of the University of the Philippines UP, Calatagan Golf Club in Batangas, and Royal Tagaytay Resort, Abad said.
Calling themselves “Gold Bond 0057,” the jubilarians will have Batch 57 of the Sigma Delta Phi as co-celebrants.
According to former HUDCC chair and jubilarian Dion dela Serna, Upsilon-Delta Batches ’67 and ’82 are also holding their respective celebrations with Batch ’57.
A celebration of the Holy Mass, tree-planting at the UP lagoon, brunch at the UP Bahay ng Alumni, and a presentation of excerpts from well-loved Upsilonian musical cavalcades Aloyan, Hanako and Linda kicked off the festivities yesterday.
Upsilonians Dick Zamora and Mart Martell wrote the songs, lyrics and scores of the musicals in the 1950s.
Today, the celebrators will hold in Calatagan the Romeo Liamzon Memorial Golf Tournament in honor of the the late Upsilon head in 1957 and Batch ’57’s Illustrious Fellow.
But the highlight of the jubilee will be the presentation of the Gold Fez and Golden Cane to the jubilarians today to be presided over by Abad and Jun Aniag at the Royal Tagaytay Resort.
Abad and Aniag are chair and president, respectively, of the Upsilon Alumni Association. They, together with businessman Vic G. Puyat, will bestow on Martell and Zamora the Fer Bautista Memorial Award.
Dela Serna will deliver the closing remarks after a minute of silent prayers for all the departed Upsilonians and Sigma Deltans belonging to Batch ’57, and the singing of the Upsilon Sigma Phi Centennial Song.
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It was so surreal... While the country was falling apart and tanks broke down the doors of the Peninsula Manila, I was in the Bahay ng Alumni preparing for my harang (My Igorot costume from Narda's served me well, as I played Aloyan the mountain maid).
My mind was not entirely focused the performance; I don't think any of us were a hundred percent mentally present (except for the Golden Jubilarians, who sang and danced the night away. They seemed to metamorphose into teenagers before our very eyes!!). We were discussing politics backstage; one of the cast members vehemently expressed his anti-GMA sentiments whilst others fixed his lapel and bahag, courtesy of Lonsi brod Kidlat Tahimik).
Am so glad we got home safely. This is a night to remember.
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