The Upsilon Sigma Phi is waging a new war—not against another fraternity, but on poverty.
Last May 1, 2005, while various groups joined the universal fight against poverty and oppression by rallying in the streets for better labor conditions, Upsilonians decided to express their solidarity with the masses in another manner. On that hot and steamy labor day, Upsilonians chose to use shovels, barettas, and pick axes to move dirt and stones for a nobly productive end—the construction of communities.
The Upsilon, through the initiative of the Upsilon Sigma Phi Alumni Association (USPAA), decided to team up with Gawad Kalinga (GK), a multi-sectoral partnership that helps build communities for the poor throughout the country.
According to USPAA President Danilo Gozo, the Upsilon’s partnership with GK is an unequivocal statement that the fraternity has joined the ranks of those who have stopped complaining about what is wrong with the country, and instead do something about it. Gozo adds: “We are also hoping to influence our resident brods to shift their orientation from a culture of violence and change it to a culture of excellence. We can do that if we immerse ourselves with the less privileged among our people and help them improve their lives and their dignity.”
What makes the Upsilon-Gawad Kalinga partnership historical is that the Upsilon Sigma Phi is the first fraternity in the country to venture into a partnership with the likes of GK.
GK National Vice Chair and RP Deputy Executive Secretary Jose Tale signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Upsilon Sigma Phi Alumni Association Chairman Claudio B. Altura and President Danilo A. Gozo.
Fraternities were once noted as cultivators of responsible students who eventually became leaders in their fields, such as politics, business, and academia. But for some years now, the image of many university fraternities has been stained by violent frat wars and hazing, so much so that some opine that most fraternities are no longer socially relevant. The Upsilon, the oldest fraternity of university students in the Philippines and in Asia, is no exception to the stigma that fraternities are no different from street gangs.
In order to break away from the sullied reputation of fraternities and highlight the Upsilon’s distinguished tradition of service to the country, the Upsilon leadership, through the efforts of its alumni, decided to refresh the fraternity’s commitment to socially-meaningful endeavors. The first step in this thrust is the Upsilon’s collaboration with GK.
The community building partnership with GK is also an opportunity for the Upsilon to demonstrate its concept of brotherhood. While other fraternities may choose to rumble, the Upsilon works to clear rubble and lay the foundations of homes. While other greek letter societies may initiate its members through hazing, the Upsilon tests the mettle of its neophytes through their participation in building homes—and giving hope.
It may not be long before the Upsilon-GK partnership is emulated by other fraternities. It may well be the formula for reviving wide respect for fraternities in general. As one Upsilonian put it, “Perhaps time will come again when being called a fratman will not label a brother with the shame of violence and hatred, but with the honor and prestige of being committed to pursue economic stability and political maturity, not only in the Republic of the Philippines, but also in the rest of the world.”
