AN OLD FLAME NEVER DIES !

By: Godo Capito '72

Braving the cold and gusty winds of a Chicago winter night, Upsilonians and Sigma Deltans in the Midwest and other parts of the United States and Canada, got together at the Won Kow Restaurant in Chinatown for dinner on Friday, March 13, 1998; then later on moved to the residence of Brod Edwin Palileo '65 MD, in west suburban Oakbrook, to continue celebrating a reunion that has been a long time coming.

Yes, it did seem like all gathered never thought the merry night would ever come to an end, as they sang a repertoire of favorite fellowship songs until the early hours of the morning. Brod Chibu Lagman '63, called in by phone from Vancouver to say 'Cheers!' to the brods and sis's. Saturday found the brods, sis's and their families, at the home of Brod Greg Carpio '64 MD, in southwest suburban Naperville, trading jokes, reminiscing the good, old times during the university years, and otherwise, catching up on each other's life journey. Reg Quitoriano '55 former USP Bossman of the East Coast called while we were partaking of the Lechon, and his contemporaries were washing it down with Chivas Regal [courtesy of Greg & Slats himself]: Diane, Lito, Droks and Slats. At the previous BBB Palileos had 1-2 cases of iced beer for the all of us, Ed himself served Chivas rocks doubles to Diane! Brod Didit Cay '64 MD, wowed everybody when he donned his Palestinian turban scarf during the photo session [it was Godo wearing Didit's turban]. But it was Brod Mat Castro '55 MD, that took the occasion's 'top honors' for delivering the 'hit joke' at the most unexpected time, humbling Brod Gie Nolasco '67, who has been the most prolific joke narrator. But it was Sis Emma Juliano Ramos '53 DDM, who dished out the 'raciest jokes'.

Catalyst of this reunion is the now-legendary organizer Sis Diane Ebro '55 MS. With the prodigious help of Sis Emma, Sis Linda Lagman Hoops '55 PhD, Brod Gie, Brod Edwin, Brod Greg, Brod Drokoy Reyes '55 and Brod Homer Ingles '62, Diane doggedly pursued a long-hoped for reunification of brods and sisters who have settled down in the American heartland.

If there was any doubt among the brods and sis's as to the long-term viability in their personal lives of their old flame, the Upsilon Sigma Phi and the Delta Sigma Phi, respectively, that doubt was laid to rest, at least during those seemingly interminable two days of fellowship.

When Upsilonians and Sigma Deltans get together, political talk is inevitable. This reunion was not an exception. The brods and the sis's chat veered every now and then to the political situation in the homeland. Hopes were expressed that the leadership role of Upsilonians and Sigma Deltans in the Philippines' national affairs will stay its course for some time to come. There was a sense of eager anticipation among those assembled for when Brod Dick Gordon '68, batchmate of Brod Ed Dionisio '68 CPA, who was present, would finally throw his hat in to contend for the country's most powerful office. It was intimated by Brod Didit that his (and Brod Greg's) batchmate, Brod Oca Valenzuela '64 Ambassador, is now essentially the second man at the Padre Faura foreign office. And everybody was elated to learn that Brod Willie Gaa '66 Ambassador, batchmate of Brod Diggie Alvir '66, who was in attendance, is back in New York, this time as the Consul-General.

It was quite obvious that although most of these transnational Upsilonians and Sigma Deltans have been away for many years from the isles of their birth, they still nurtured within themselves a deeply-ingrained concern for the future of the Philippine nation, as well as a healthy appreciation of the unique role that their closely-knit Greek letter organizations have played in governance, academia and business - in fact, in virtually all aspects of Philippine life.

Call it the Upsilon-Sigma Delta curse or blessing, but not matter where they find themselves, whether in a big way or in a small way, Upsilonians and Sigma Deltans are always inclined to lead and and to achieve.

This was made apparent during the gathering by the revelation of Brod Slats Donesa's '52 MD, significant involvement in the lobbying of the US Congress on behalf of foreign-trained medical doctors. It was also evidenced by the successful entrepreneurial ventures of the most senior Upsilonian present, Brod Angel Arambulo '47 PhD, who owns a few pharmacies in Chicago.

As the brods and sis's parted ways Saturday night, any lingering self-doubt that the Upsilon Sigma Phi, and the Sigma Delta Phi, still lives in each of them, respectively, was decisively cast away. They all left for their return trips homebound probably all too aware, and sobered by the thought, that the Upsilon and the Sigma Delta are both like "an old flame that never dies..."

The other sis's and brods who made it to this first reunion of the Midwest chapters of the Sigma Delta Phi and the Upsilon Sigma Phi were: Sis Annette Sese Conrad '62, Sis Doris Reyes Soler '59, Brod Ramon Ayroso '87, Brod Warren Callanta '66 DVM, Brod Rogie Concepcion '66, Brod Edgar Cruz '87, Brod Tito Ejercito '66 MD, Brod Angie Fandialan '60, Brod Lito Millan '57 MD, and Brod Rod Rejesus '88 [son of Sis Belen Morallo Rejesus '57 Ph.D], Brod Jun Mejia '61, and Brod Ed Javier '55.

The sis's and brods who were unable to attend were: Sis Lily Estipona Maniquis '55, Sis Pilar Mercader Nadres '57 or '58, Sis Bunting Feria Verde '65 MD, Sis Terry Templo Vicencio '86, Brod Tony Cruz '52 MD, Brod Danny Jael '64, Brod Boy Martin '66 DVM, Brod Narciso Mindajao '65, Brod Rolly Ravara '67, Brod Danny Senseng '76 MD, Brod Francis Verde '67 MD, and Brod Boy Ylag '67, Alma Ambrosio '52 Ph.D, Alma Saddan '55 Ph.D. Counting spouses and not offspring, there were 43 Brods & Sis during the weekend festivities!

Actually, Sis Dr. Jo Pison Ortiz '54 & hubby Dr. Archie Ortiz were in attendance at the Chinese"Won Kow"Dinner, just like Edith & Angel Arambulo '47 Ph.D. But Dr. Tito Ejercito '66, Solers, Arambulos and Ortiz didn't make it to the Big Black Bull Session at Oak Brook Saturday night till morning and the Lechon Dinner and BBB Session in Naperville Sat. PM till morning at the Palileo and Carpio mansions, respectively. What FUN!

Angie Fandialan '60 former MIF did attend the Friday Dinner & 1st BBB Session. The three USP neurosurgeons were there: Slats Donesa, Mat Castro '55 and Lito Millan that weekend, this usually only happens at a Neurosurgery Conference! Lito flew in, luckily he could call in his post-op medication to his patients, but he missed one Kentucky Friday horse race that one of his horses,"Barefoot Diana" won. He is one of 3 Brods in Indiana, but we count him as from Kentucky where he breeds his horses that race nation-wide. Lito has more hair than who? Three former VIF were in attendance: Dr. Tito Ejercito '66, Dr. Lito Millan '57 and Dr. Slats Donesa '52. Attendance was from MW states, California and Canada!

All of the sisters and brods, as well as their families, who took part in the two-day reunion have expressed special thanks and appreciation for the warm hospitality that was generously provided by Brod Edwin, his wife Maggie and their family; Brod Greg, his wife Vina and their family; and Brod Gie, his wife Fe and their family.