How relevant is Sen. Benigno S. Aquino ‘50 to young people today, most of whom were born after his martyrdom in 1983? Several brods guested on “Heard on Thursdays” on RX 93.1 last August 20 and talked about the life and heroism of Ninoy Aquino in “The Ninoy Aquino Legacy: What does Ninoy mean to today’s generation?” Listen to the show below.

Guests included Ilocos Norte Board Member and former chairperson of the UP Diliman University Student Council (USC) Michel Kristian R. Ablan ‘00, UP Diliman USC councilor Mario C. Cerilles ‘07, former USC Diliman councilors Ivan Anthony S. Henares ‘98 and Victor Lorenzo “Bikoy” Villanueva ‘07, former UP Manila USC chairpersons Albert Francis E. Domingo ‘04 and Chrysanthus “Bojit” Herrera ‘06, former UP Manila USC vice-chairperson and current external vice-president of the San Beda Law Student Government Ezekiel Joshua L. Villena ‘05, Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP) awardee and former UP Medicine Student Council chairperson Benjo A. Delarmente ‘05, former UP Junior Marketing Association vice-president Gregorio Angelo “Gelo” Villar ‘05 and UP Law Order of the Purple Feather member Jerwin James C. Lim ‘07.



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The Upsilon Sigma Phi is one with the Filipino nation in commemorating the martyrdom of Sen. Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. ‘50

Visit “The Life and Heroism of Ninoy Aquino” in UP Manila
The Upsilon Sigma Phi invites you to a photo exhibit commemorating the martyrdom of Sen. Benigno S. Aquino at the UP Manila CAS GAB Lobby. The exhibit celebrates the late senator and Upsilonian’s life and contributions to the Filipino people.

Watch the premiere of “The Last Journey of Ninoy” at Rockwell Cinema 4
Unitel Productions and the Benigno S. Aquino Foundation invite you to the special premiere of “The Last Journey of Ninoy,” a full-length documentary-drama on the final eight days of Ninoy Aquino’s life—as told through the final interview of the late President Cory Aquino. The documentary-drama is produced by Antonio “Tony” Gloria ‘65 of Unitel Productions.

The premiere will have three screenings—7 p.m., 9 p.m., and 10:30 p.m.—on the 26th anniversary of Ninoy’s assasination: Friday, August 21, at Cinema 4 of the Powerplant Mall Cinemas, Rockwell Center, Makati City. Tickets are priced at PhP 300. All proceeds from the premiere screening will benefit the unfinished projects of President Aquino at the BSAF. The seats for the screeenings in Cinema 4 are limited—and will go quickly—so please reserve/book your tickets early at the cinema ticket counters (tel. 898-1440, 898-1437).

Don’t miss “The Last Journey of Ninoy” on the ABS-CBN Network
“The Last Journey of Ninoy” will be broadcast on August 23, 10:45 p.m. on TV (the ABS-CBN TV network with ANC, Channel 2 and TFC) and through live Internet video streaming.

Independent filmmaker Eric “Kidlat Tahimik” de Guia ‘59 is this year’s recipient of the highest award given by the University of the Philippines (UP) to a media practitioner, the UP Gawad Plaridel. De Guia received the award for his outstanding contributions to independent filmmaking last July 10 at the Cine Adarna of the UP Film Institute.

Kidlat Tahimik was chosen for his excellence in the art and craft of cinema, as well as for pioneering efforts in introducing Philippine independent filmmaking to the global audience. His independence as an artist is reflected in the non-commercial nature of his films, inspiring budding Filipino filmmakers to follow his example and to listen to their “inner duwende (dwarf).” Last October, De Guia received the Gawad Urian Lifetime Achievement Award for Filmmaking. Congratulations brod!

Just a few days after reaping awards at Cinemalaya Cinco, “Dinig Sana Kita” by independent film director Michael Francis E. Sandejas ‘91 received an invitation to the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival 2009. Congratulations Direk Mike!

Update: Congratulations to Mike Sandejas ‘91 on his Best Film (Deaf Category) win at the 2009 Brussels International Independent Film Festival. Watch Dinig Sana Kita on December 15 as part of Upsilon Month 2009!

Independent film director Michael Francis E. Sandejas ‘91 made another appearance at the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival this year with the film “Dinig Sana Kita.” Sandejas’ full length feature film entry won three awards at Cinemalaya Cinco 2009 namely the “National Council for Children’s Television Award,” “Audience Choice (Full Length)” and “Best Musical Score.” Sandejas dedicated his Balanghai trophy to deaf people, entreating producers to do more stories about the deaf most of whom, he said, “lead interesting lives.”

“Dinig Sana Kita” (If I Knew What You Said) is a love story between a deaf boy who loves to dance and a rocker girl who abuses her hearing. Crossing paths in a Baguio camp that mixes deaf and hearing kids, the two find that they have a lot in common including a passion for music. The film was also the second most watched film in the festival. In the short film category, “Wat Floor Ma’am” also by Sandejas, was among the ten finalists.

At the 2006 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, Sandejas’ entry “Tulad ng Dati” won the “Best Film,” “Best Sound” and “Best Editing.” Congratulations Direk Mike!

Rev. Benedick R. dela Cruz ‘05 was ordained a priest of the Congregacao de Sao Carlos (CSC), a Filipino congregation of Old Catholic Clergy, at the Holy Family Parish in Imus, Cavite last July 4. Three other Upsilonians were previously ordained priests of the Roman Catholic Church. Congratulations and best wishes Father Brod!

The Upsilon Sigma Phi Alumni Association (USPAA) and Resident Fellows are sponsoring the book launch of Bintao: Ang Buhay at Kamatayan ni Wenceslao Q. Vinzons on Friday, June 19, 2009, 5:30 p.m. at Balay Kalinaw, U.P. Diliman. The book includes the three-act historical play with the same title by Efren M. Yambot ‘60, together with his own historical notes and a brief biography of Wenceslao Q. Vinzons ‘30. Senator Richard J. Gordon ‘68 wrote the foreword for the book.

The play Bintao was staged as a musical at the University of the Cordilleras in Baguio in January 2008, with Leonides C. Bautista ‘62 as producer. The University of Baguio and University of the Cordilleras sponsored the same, in commemoration of the centennial of the University of the Philippines.

Vinzons was editor of the Collegian and president of the U.P. Student Council during his undergraduate years. He later became the youngest delegate to the 1934 Constitutional Convention, and outstanding governor and congressman of his province Camarines Norte. He founded Young Philippines, the only genuine opposition party during the heydays of President Quezon. Vinzons also founded and headed the Vinzons guerillas, the first guerilla group in the Philippines to resist the Japanese Imperial Army.

The play Bintao is the second of two full-length historical plays by Yambot to be produced. The first was Macario Sakay: Kilabot ng Sierra Madre, which was staged by the Upsilon Sigma Phi in 1972 at Philamlife Theater in Manila, and Abelardo Theater in Diliman.

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) on May 27 decided to give the national athletes full and direct representation to the country’s top sports governing body’s general assembly and executive board. 2004 Athens Olympian Raphael Matthew “Timmy” Chua ‘02 was appointed to the executive board. Chua was chosen by peers at the POC Athletes’ Commission to represent the athletes in all POC affairs until the 2012. Congratulations brod!

Dr. Gemino H. Abad ‘55, University Professor Emeritus in English and Comparative Literature, is this year’s recipient of Italy’s most coveted literary prize, the Premio Feronia – Citta di Fiano 2009 under the foreign author category. The prize will be conferred on July 11 during the Nomination Ceremony at the historic Castle of Fiano Romano outside Rome. The Premio Feronia was established 16 years ago by the Associazione Culturale Allegorein and gives awards in four categories: poetry, narrative, criticism and a special award to a foreign author. Congratulations brod!

Several resident fellows graduated this year with distinction. Lordan Lorenz S. Angeles ‘06 (BS Psychology) graduated magna cum laude. Jan G. Orocay ‘06 finished cum laude. Francis Carlo T. Argente ‘98 (BS Landscape Architecture) received the Philip Recto Design Excellence Award for Best Thesis in Landscape Architecture. Marco Gregorio L. Lainez ‘05 received the Order of the Purple Feather medal, the official honor society of the College of Law. While former Illustrious Fellow Michael Arthur C. Sagcal ‘98 received the Gonzalo Gonzales Award for Most Outstanding Law Intern, Prize for the Best Paper in Environmental Law and a citation for being an editor of the Philippine Law Journal. Outgoing Diliman USC chairperson Herminio C. Bagro III ‘02 (BA Philosophy cum laude ‘05) got a citation for leadership as head of the USC.

Other graduates from the College of Law are Anthony Raphael V. Jacoba ‘96, former Manila and Diliman USC councilor Paolo Marco R. Mapula ‘02, and Anthony M. Gonzales ‘03. Former Illustrious Fellow Richard Paul C. Sanchez ‘99 and Marzenn B. Igpuara ‘06 received their MBA degrees. Among those who graduated in UP Los Banos are former Illustrious Fellows Ziegfried M. Manahan ‘01 and Lauren Ralph V. Ople ‘05, and former UPLB Perspective editor Samuel Jay C. Pasia ‘05.

A testimonial fellowship was held last Thursday for Manahan, Ople, Pasia and twelve other graduating fellows from UP Los Banos namely: Edwin Emilmar P. Berganio, Jr. ‘01, Sonny Ray J. Frany ‘01, Lester R. Ramos ‘01, Christian C. Collado ‘03, Aldrin H. Garganta ‘03, Jayson M. Punzalan ‘03, John Christopher I. Callanta ‘04, Daniel J. Macusi ‘04, Alden M. Monzon ‘04, Dunn Xendrick P. Vergara ‘04, Karl Genesis F. Batin ‘05, and Arnan B. Araza ‘06.

In UP Diliman, the following also received their diplomas: Joshua Michael P. Benitez ‘04, Venson John R. Domingo ‘04, UAAP gold medalists Raphael Evan A. Grabador ‘04 and Mark Wilson O. Ramiro ‘04, former swim team captain Jonathan B. Villagracia ‘04, former PALS president Jericho C. Cruz ‘04, Ron Daniel D. Bautista ‘05, former JMA vice president Lauro Francis R. Guevara, Jr. ‘05, former NCPAG-SC administrator Jonathan F. Gino ‘06, Jonathan B. Punzal ‘06, and Johann R. Vicencio ‘06. While in UP Manila, Alexander H. Tuliao ‘00 (Medicine), former Manila USC councilors Tristan Jegar P. Catindig ‘06 and Justin Xavier C. Rivera ‘06, and John Fidel N. Labayen ‘06 marched as well this year.

This semester Benitez, Guevara, Julio Miguel C. Galvez ‘05, former JMA vice president Gregorio Angelo C. Villar ‘05 and incoming Diliman USC councilor Mario C. Cerilles, Jr. ‘07 are University Scholars. Galvez, a third year business economics major, finishes this semester with a GWA of 1.0786. In the College of Medicine, Lemuel M. Narcise ‘98 is a College Scholar from the previous semester. Other College Scholars are Jacoba (Law), Catindig, Labayen, Roy Samuel S. Co ‘08, and Tomas Julian R. Santos ‘09. In the College of Law, Jerwin James C. Lim ‘07 is in the Order of the Purple Feather. Congratulations brods!

Independent Senator Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan ‘81 today filed Resolution No. 969 directing the proper Senate Committee to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the Procedure of the Board of Pardons and Parole in granting executive clemency to the mastermind of the Cochise-Beebom double murder case.

Rodolfo Manalili, convicted of the gruesome murders, was granted executive clemency by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo last March 26, 2009 commuting the the double life sentence he was served bt the Quezon city Trial Court and later affirmed by the Supreme Court.

The resolution says that while the power to grant executive clemency is provided under the Constitution, it should involve the exercise of sound judgment and discretion on the part of the President.

Pangilinan adds that there should have been, at the very least, prior exhaustive consultation with the family and relatives of the victims, giving them an opportunity to express their opinion on the issue.

MANILA, Philippines--Fraternity brothers of the University of the Philippines law student who along with his girlfriend was slain by hired killers in 1989 have asked President Macapagal-Arroyo to reconsider her order decreasing the jail term of the convicted mastermind.

In a recent joint statement, the Upsilon Sigma Phi and the fraternity’s alumni association said the commutation of the double-life term of Rodolfo Manalili would allow his release in a few years and threaten the safety of witnesses against him.

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