Reflections of Sisterhood
I was invited to join the Sigma Beta sorority by a friend from the College of Music. One had to be a scholar, with above average grades, to join Sigma Beta. One's average should not be less than "2" in every subject. Since I was a university and later a college scholar, this was not a problem. I then examined what Sigma Beta stood for. I found out that values espoused by Sigma Beta coincided with my own personal values.
Our "initiation" took place at the lawn of my friend's house, which had a swimming pool. It culminated with a meaningful and emotion-filled candle light ceremony. Basking in the golden glow of our sisters' candles, we neophytes were welcomed into the fold of the Sigma Beta Sorority.
UP then was an equalizer. It recognized only academic excellence, not social status. It did not matter where a student came from— from a waterless barangay in Sulu or from an elite village in Makati. What mattered most was whether one did well in academic work. I wonder—is UP still an equalizer today? As an academic institution, we seem to have lost ground, if surveys are to be believed. Further, there are more well-off urban youth in UP Diliman as compared to rural youth.
My advice to resident Sigma Betans - be the best that you can be. Every student in UP is a "Iskolar ng Bayan" since the UP is a government-funded academic institution, thereby subsidized by the people's money.
Sigma Betans, as well as all UP alumni, should help make UP maintain its pre-eminence as the Center of Academic Excellence as well as strengthen its relevance to the needs of our country.
Senator Santanina Tillah-Rasul ΣΒ '51
Tillah-Rasul, S. (2012). Courage and Beauty, Wisdom and Grace: UP Sigma Beta Celebrating the First 80 Years. UP Sigma Beta Sorority: A souvenir program. Manila, Philippines.
Reflections of Sisterhood
I became a Sigma Betan in 1955 and I recall my Sigma Betan days at the Diliman campus with pride, joy and fondness.
To be a member of the UP Sigma Beta Sorority is, indeed, an honor. One is invited and chosen for one's beauty, talent, charm, integrity of character and interesting personality. I felt elated to be among this group of women.
Our sorority was well-known in the University. Pictures of our officers, our roster of members and our activities were always featured the Philippinensian yearbook and in the Philippine Collegian almost weekly. We were an important part of the UP community, both in academe and social-cultural milieu.
Aside from my educational attainment, my acquired leadership skills and enhanced self-confidence gained during my stint as officer of the sorority facilitated my tasks as the official hostess of the Philippine Ambassador to the United States. Meeting foreign dignitaries and the organizing activities from a simple meeting to banquets were accomplished with no difficulty at all.
My involvement in various socio-civic affairs of the sorority also inspired me to engage in charitable works. Up to the present, I am active in religious organizations and nongovernmental organizations doing philanthropic work and am the charter president of a women international organization, the advocacy of which is focused on fighting violence against women and children.
I also developed lasting friendships with my batchmates that until now, we still get together in lunches, dinners or family events. Respect and warm companionship characterize my relationship with the sisters, young and old alike. Equality exists among the sisters. Everyone is treated fairly and squarely, not according to one's social status or rank in the society. Thus, up to now, the bond of Sisterhood is stronger than ever.
Elma Alma Maceda-Calleja Σβ ‘55
Maceda-Calleja, E.A. (2012). Courage and Beauty, Wisdom and Grace: UP Sigma Beta Celebrating the First 80 Years. UP Sigma Beta Sorority: A souvenir program. Manila, Philippines.
Reflections of Sisterhood
1961 was the year that I became part of the UP Sigma Beta Sorority as a nursing student on the UP Diliman campus. During my time, we were a large batch of 30 applicants, and I could never forget how unique and memorable our journey together was - from the processing period until the day of our final rites. I remember the time when we bought high-heeled shoes from Shoemart in Quiapo along with red lipstick in preparation for our final rites in Pampanga. Everyone was excited as it felt like we were going on a field trip because we all rode in one big bus, and at the same time there was a bit of nervousness as we didn't know what would be in store for our final rites at the duck farm in Pampanga.
Sigma Beta has given me so many blessings such as precious memories, a loving sisterhood, and lifelong learning which I still apply until the present day. I am also deeply grateful for Sigma Beta because, through the sorority, I met the love of my life, who became my husband, and now the father of my children. As college students, Brod Diego Martinez and I would go out on simple dates like bowling, watching movies, and listening to music records at the university library music room.
During our time, couple theme songs were not yet a thing. But for us two, our favorite song to sing and dance to was and always will be "The Twelfth of Never." It has been eight years since the day that my beloved husband left this world but just as the song says, "I'll love you till the poets run out of rhyme, Until the twelfth of never and that's a long time." The sorority had taught me that beauty is not only seen in the face but is also present in one's mind and heart. Inside and outside the sorority, we see everyone as equals.
This made me appreciate the charity and outreach work that we do as sisters because we treat everyone equally and with respect.
My message to the current and future resident sisters is to love the sorority and acts of kindness with care for other members of the community, not just your fellow sisters. For me, Sigma Beta is not only just a sisterhood in the university, but a big family name that we pass on from generation to generation.
Jane Cecilio-Martinez ΣΒ '61
Cecilio-Martinez, J. (2022). UP Sigma Beta Sorority 90th Anniversary: Celebrating the past, Inspiring the future. UP Sigma Beta Sorority: A souvenir program. Manila, Philippines.
Reflections of Sisterhood
I am the only girl of three children, and the middle child. I was the apple of my Dad's eyes, a great advantage over my male siblings. I was the darling of the family, except to my two brothers who envied my "privileged status" so much that they kept away from me. They left me by myself except when they were teasing me. Thus, I grew up to be shy and feeling insecure. I always wished I had a sister who I could play with, and who would protect me.
When my aunt Belle Hernando invited me to join the UP Sigma Beta Sorority, I did not hesitate—I immediately said, "Yes!" It was an opportunity to have not only one— but so many sisters! What a joy it was for me!
Being a Sigma Betan made me develop as a person. Having so many sisters with different backgrounds, I developed my interpersonal skills. Through my participation in Sorority activities, shy as I was, I discovered I could be a leader.
My experiences as a Sigma Betan prepared me to handle exceedingly well the tasks required of me at the workplace, contributing a lot to my ascent of the corporate ladder.
Desi Fermin-Tomas ΣΒ '69
Fermin-Tomas, D. (2012). Courage and Beauty, Wisdom and Grace: UP Sigma Beta Celebrating the First 80 Years. UP Sigma Beta Sorority: A souvenir program. Manila, Philippines.
Reflections of Sisterhood
I never wanted to join any sorority— I was focused on getting a degree in four years, finding a job after, and earning enough money to help three more siblings get into college. But I could not refuse Sis Desi Fermin's invitation to a "meeting" of sisters where she said, "You could just observe how we do things and decide later if you want to join." So, I went to the "meeting". As soon as I entered the room, and the door closed, one sister did something that made it impossible for me to get out of that room without being a "neophyte" - simply because I cannot turn my back to a challenge.
In less than three weeks, after singing my lungs out from the UP campus all the way to San Fernando, La Union, hunched with three other neophytes at the back of then MIS Dulce Guerero's pink Beetle (Dulce was driving beside Linda Florentino at the front seat), I was a newly minted Sigma Betan. After two weeks, Dulce and Linda took me to a beauty parlor in Cubao, (quiet, clean and pristine then) where they had my waist-long hair lopped off to a "panggap" Farrah Faucett cut, my eyebrows plucked and my probinsyana resistance to make up thrown to the trash. These twin towers of the Sigma Beta also threw me into editing the "Cattleya".
After that, everything was possible. I was off to the CAS Council, the UP Student Council and the Philippine Collegian, through bonfires, jug-a-lugs, fairs, rallies, acting in Anton Juan's plays, strumming Joan Baez on the guitar, discos, concerts, dorm serenades, hot pants and minis... with Ka Errol, Beta Sigmans and other frat boys, crushes, secret affections and heartbreaks ... Oh, so many stories to remember and share...
Let it suffice to say that in and with Sigma Beta - my journey was fearless with so many fearlessly loving sisters who made me change, welcome change, and seek change to find the best of me. Life, after all, is a journey of mastering change - and we follow in the footsteps of those who earlier discovered the irrevocable truth that only in embracing change can we become one with life's ceaselessly renewing energy.
Thank you, Sis Desi, Sis Dulce and Sis Linda, and all of you, Sisters, who have been and still are part of this Sigma Betan's wonderful adventure... with all those boys we loved before! (haha!)
Marilyn Barua-Yap ΣΒ '70
Most Idyllic Sister '73-'74
Barua-Yap, M. (2012). Courage and Beauty, Wisdom and Grace: UP Sigma Beta Celebrating the First 80 Years. UP Sigma Beta Sorority: A souvenir program. Manila, Philippines.