“Once an upsilonian, always an upsilonian.” This is how i would describe myself. I joined the fraternity when i was just starting college, that was 30 years ago. And here i am today, a bit older and maybe a little wiser, but definitely remains the same committed upsilonian.

Looking back, i cannot help but reminisce the good old days i have spent with the group. I truly enjoyed college life in the comfort of brods and sis whom i can depend upon in a place far from home. Home for me then was San Francisco, Agusan del Sur. I was a freshman engineering student in the University of Visayas in Cebu when i first joined UPS. Brods and sis to me are just like family whom i can spend time with in times of joy and sorrow. They are truly a support system to me.

At the UV chapter, I had the honor to serve as grand archon for 2 consecutive years from 1980 to 1982 when i completed my studies. Notable among the achievements my chapter did during that time was the sharp increase in the number of active members in the chapter. We brought our number up to 50. . . the more the merrier. We successfully registered ourselves with the school’s department of student as among the recognized fraternity in the campus along with the Alpha Phi Omega, Alpha Sigma Phi and Sigma Epsilon. And in the process, we also got registered with the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) which was a requirement of the school for recognition. It was an important landmark to us to get registered. I tell you, it was never an easy job. It was martial law time.

"Engr. Joel B Ortiz" Topnotcher of 1982 Engineering Board Exam -1982

During our time, we were determined to excel academically. It was our best opportunity to disprove the common belief that fraternity and sorority activities interfere with studies and oftentimes become a deterrent rather than a help to students. True enough, we learned to balance our academics and our fraternity. Student life was made fun. I think it is worth mentioning that our chapter had the largest population of academic scholars among the frats in the campus and even brought honor to the school by producing 2 cum laudes and a magna cum laude who also topped the civil engineering licensure exam in 1982.

Finishing college did not stop me from being an upsilonian. In my hometown, I kept myself connected to the group and joined community service activities. In whatever way and whenever possible, I stay in touch with brods and sis wherever i go.

Me, Brod Bong, Brod Rey(now resides in Australia) and Brod Bebot - 1990

I would like to share some memorable moments i had with brods and sis in some point of my life. I treasure the bike tour that i had with 3 other brods around Camiguin Island in the summer of 1990. With me then were brods Bong Bandong,  Bebot Ananoria and Rey Montaos (now in Australia).

Me and my family also experienced a generous reception at the home of Brod Ric Fuentes in Sydney, Australia. During our stay in Oz, my family also met Rey Montaos which was truly a reunion. I would like to specifically mention that these brods and their respective families helped us make our stay in that country comfortable and memorable. I told myself that wherever i go, as long as i connect to my UPS brothers and sisters, i can always be taken care of.

I would even go to the extent of extending my thanks and gratitude to Brod Ric for acting as a second father to my eldest son who is now staying with his family in Sydney while doing his graduate studies at UTS Sydney. This is a real testimony of how UPS brods has helped me, in whatever way.

Me and my family with Bro. Ric's family in Australia - 2002	My eldest son with Brod Ric in Sydney, Australia -2008

This is my little story as an upsilonian. I know the rest of the members have their own little story, too, even more colorful than mine. We would love to know them through this website. Write your story, post them in our website and let’s have fun telling our stories to each other. This is our site, let’s make use of this.