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!