Upsilon Sigma Phi North America, Inc.

The Upsilon Sigma Phi is the oldest Greek-letter fraternity in Asia. Formed in 1918, it has no chapters outside the University of the Philippines.

It was formally organized on November 19, 1920 in a meeting held at the Metropolitan Restaurant in Intramuros. Four months later, on March 24, 1921, the Greek letters ΥΣΦ standing for the initials of the name “University Students’ Fraternity” was formally adopted. In the same year, the fraternity also completed its organisation with rituals prepared by Graciano Q. Rico, motto (We gather light to scatter), colors (cardinal red, old blue), and flower (pink rose). The head was known as the Illustrious Fellow and the first honorary fellow, University Regent Conrado Benitez, was inducted into the Fraternity. He wrote the Upsilon Hymn which later would be sung before and after every formal meeting.

The Upsilon branched out to Los Baños and established a chapter there. It extended its reign of interest beyond campus, to include national issues of the day, notably the attainment of Philippine independence.

During World War II, some members took the field. Among the Upsilonians who gave up their lives were Wenceslao Q. Vinzons (former UP Student Council President, youngest delegate to the 1934 Constitutional Convention, and Governor of Camarines), Agapito del Rosario (Mayor of Angeles, Pampanga), and Jose Abad Santos (Secretary of Justice and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court), all of whom were executed for refusing to swear allegiance to the Japanese Empire.

Others stayed behind; most noteworthy of these was Jose P. Laurel (President of the Republic of the Philippines), who put his life at risk in protecting the interests of the Filipino people while suffering rebuke from his detractors who accused him of collaboration.

The administration of President Ferdinand E. Marcos saw Upsilon members lead opposing sides in the leadership of the Philippines. With the administration was Marcos, former Senate President Arturo M. Tolentino, former Chief Justice Querube Makalintal who after his retirement would be elected Speaker of the Batasang Pambansa, and Batasan Speaker Nicanor Yniguez among many others. Leading the opposition were former senators Benigno S. Aquino, Jr., Gerardo "Gerry" Roxas, Gil J. Puyat and Salvador "Doy" Laurel.

Waging an ideological war from the mountains were members with the left such as Melito Glor and Merardo Arce. After their deaths, the New People's Army Southern Luzon and Mindanao Commands would, in their honor, be named the Melito Glor Command and the Merardo Arce Command respectively. Fighting for Muslim rights and greater autonomy were Senators Ahmad Domocao A. Alonto and Mamintal A. J. Tamano.

Upsilonians in Governments

Source: Wikipedia information about Upsilon Sigma Phi. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Upsilon Sigma Phi".