by Ace Alfabeto PHI '09

Last July 11, 2011, the Phi Kappa Mu Fraternity hosted PHI International, a yearly freshmen invitational dinner at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Manila. In another showcase of Excellence, Service, Leadership and Brotherhood, the Fraternity of the UP College of Medicine was formally introduced to the men of UPCM Class 2016. Dressed in formal attire, brods from all over Manila and even some from abroad, took time to travel to Manila for this annual gathering; an opportunity to share the Warmth of Brotherhood to those outside our fold.

PHI Alumni present in the event were brods Hawthorne Ma. Nejal Bañez Φ1962, Romeo Pilotin Ariniego Φ1967, Luisito Rosales Maaño  Φ1969A, Mario Ballesteros Geronilla Φ1969B, Carlos Lee Chua Φ1972, Edgardo Guillermo Gonzales Φ1973, Abundio Asis Balgos Φ1976, Gil Martinez Vicente Φ1976, Abdel Jeffri Abubakar Abdulla Φ1977A, Pio Renato Figer Φ1977A, Crispin Estanislao Quinola Cabanilla Φ1977A Peter Bautista Bernardo Φ1980,  Adrian Estanislao Manapat Φ1980, Edwin Chiong Reyes Φ1980, Virgilio Mison Novero Φ1982A, Rolando Asuncion Padre Φ1982A, Renan Vince Abellara Φ1984b, Benigno Amor Agbayani, Jr. Φ1986, Jose Jonas Dino Del Rosario Φ1986, Jose Anthony Querubin Jocson Φ1986, Jesse Noel Varga Conjares Φ1987, Alwin Alfonso Yaneza Φ1989A, Karlos Noel Rojas Aleta Φ1991, Constantino Tocong Castillo III Φ1991, Andro Jesus Hipolito Fernandez Φ1991, Rommel Fernando Fernando Φ1995B,  Romeo Jalbuena Encanto Φ1997, Emmanuel Silva Prudente Φ1997, Eduard Malaca Alfanta Φ1998, Carl Dwight Resquitas Demetria Φ1998, Jose Carlos Cantillo Estil Φ1998,  Richmond Go Ocao Chang Φ2000, Dennis Roland Solis Lopez Φ2000, Ted Jusay Suaco Φ2001, Ryan Julius Angeles Banez Φ2002, Carlo Josemaria Dino Rubio Φ2002, Martin Miguel Inocencio Amor Φ2004A, Dante Carlo Valdez Valenzuela Φ2004A, Jason Rafael Aspuria Maddumba Φ2004B, John Paul Emerson Serrato Marinas Φ2004B, Alvin Christopher Sy Chu Φ2005, Dax Carlo Go Pascasio Φ2006, and Marc Denver Aquino Tiongson Φ2006.To be surrounded by many of the Fraternity’s luminaries and exemplars, is always a humbling experience.

Brods Hadi Mohammad Isa and Mark Mujer, both from PHI batch 2010, hosted the program and kept the audience constantly interested with their punch lines. Our Superior Exemplar, Leonard Christopher Tenorio Seña, PHI 07, gave a very motivating speech to start the program. Phi International President William Honorato Eclar Romero Φ77, representing the PHI Brods abroad, gave a short message by video. On the other hand, representing the PHI brods in the Philippines, Brod Jose Jonas Dino del Rosario Φ86, the Phi Kappa Mu Alumni Association President, also gave a speech.As a highlight of the program, videos about the Fraternity were presented. These exhibited the Fraternity’s achievements throughout the years, providing concrete examples of the virtues upholded by PHI Brods. Invaluable works of art by Brod Kevin Fernandez, PHI 08B and Brod Kurt Asperas PHI ‘10, who continually hone their talents in video and graphic design. As another addition to the continually growing set of PHI Leaders in Philippine Health Care, Brod Luisito R. Maano was awarded with a plaque of recognition for being recently appointed as Director of the Philippine Orthopaedic Center. He joins other brods in serving the Filipino people with their Leadership, a virtue held in high regard among brods of PHI.

Immediately following this, dinner was served. Everyone was treated to a lavish buffet dinner courtesy of the Pan Pacific Hotel. As our freshmen guests ate their fill, they were introduced to various alumni brods; Doctors and Specialists in different fields. Each shared their own stories and experiences in the Fraternity, be it in med school or beyond. Brods Iggy Agbayani Jonas del Rosario and Jojo Jocson, batchmates from PHI ’86, entertained the crowd with their stories and jokes. The night ended with the Fraternity song sung by all the Brods, young and old; a fitting conclusion to another night of PHI Brotherhood.  Congratulations on another successful event Brods. All for PHI!