Every two years, on the off-years of the Upsilon Congress, the fraternity holds an international reunion. On paper, that sounds simple enough: pick a city, book a hotel, gather the brods, and make a few days out of it.

But that is not really what these reunions are for. We already have fellowships that serve other purposes. Bangkaw sa Mindanao, formerly Bangkaw sa Davao, is one of the fraternity’s major regional gatherings. (The name comes from bangkaw, meaning spear—a playful nod to golf, as though one were throwing a spear, bangkaw-bangkaw, with a bit of fun and whimsy added to it.) The hosting alternates between Davao and Cagayan de Oro every two years. Layas Pakadto, for its part, is the Visayas counterpart, driven largely by Roel Castro ‘84’s energy; the generic term is Layas sa Visayas, with the word “Visayas” changing depending on the venue. Those gatherings matter because they keep the fraternity something lived, not just remembered.

A global reunion serves a different purpose. The last one, held in Las Vegas in 2024, showed exactly that. Dubbed the USPNA Global Bente Singko reunion and chaired by Jhovin Poblete ’79, it marked USPNA’s 25th anniversary and drew more than 338 participants, including around 200 Upsilonians from batches 1955 to 2023. People do not cross continents for nothing.

The brods are in Manila, in the provinces, in North America, in Southeast Asia, in Europe, in places where some stayed for work, and others built entirely new lives. In between small gatherings, wakes, golf tournaments, board meetings, and random dinners, there still has to be a moment when the fraternity can look at itself as a whole. That is what the global reunion is for. That is the promise of Pista sa Singapura.

This year’s reunion matters even more because of where it is being held. It is the first global reunion organized outside the United States under the auspices of USPAAI. For a long time, the global reunion had a familiar route: it was consistently held in North America. Now it moves to Singapore, the intersection of global trade.

There is almost always a brod visiting Singapore. Just in the past several weeks, a number of brods have already come through. Over the years, that has made Singapore a natural stopover for fellowship. Those gatherings almost always end up at Krissanto Bibal ‘98’s restaurant, Don Lechon. By now, it is already a ritual. There is a bit of FOMO to it, all part of the fun.

Singapore makes sense because it is accessible, efficient, and safe. Flights, even in these bombed-out times, are manageable. Moving around is easy. A brod can attend the reunion and still make the trip something his wife and children would enjoy if he feels like bringing them along. It is not a hard sell: The city works. It could get a little pricey, but that is why the event is not being held on a weekend; it’s scheduled from July 20 to 22, 2026. That is Monday to Wednesday.

You are not spending half the trip figuring out transport, distances, or whether the place can accommodate both fellowship and family. The venue itself, Paradox Hotel, sits in a part of the city where people can step out and actually do something with their free hours—walk, eat, meet up, or just keep talking somewhere else after the formal program ends.

The first day of Pista sa Singapura starts with registration, cocktails, and a casino-themed welcome night. The second day opens up in different directions: Upsilonians na Pumapalo for the golfers, tours for those who want to see the city, then a Kambingan dinner and fellowship program later that evening. By the third day, the gathering narrows to the Grand Ball, where the reunion takes on its formal shape, including the USPNA board turnover and the handover for the next global reunion. Brothers would need to come in a barong for this event. Then, before everyone flies out, there is still time for one last morning over coffee at Kapihan sa Singapura.

The reunion will also have its own coin system built around three tokens—Uno, Dos, and Tres—all designed by the inimitable Franco Navarro ‘87. They are beautifully designed, but they are not keepsakes, not yet at least. They are meant to be used. At the Pitch and Toss portion of the reunion, two card games will be held: Texas Hold ’Em and Blackjack. In those tables, brods can win or lose their coins. Outside of the tables, brods may trade them or spend them on whisky and merchandise. And when the experience is over, they may even be sold. In that sense, the coins are part of the life of the reunion itself: they move through the room, change hands, and carry value for as long as the event lasts.

A Word of Thanks

A gathering like this does not happen on its own. The fraternity thanks Ryan Besido ’96, who chairs the reunion, together with Tito Mora ’78 and Dominic Gonzales ’84, on the steering committee. It also acknowledges the work of the rest of the reunion team: Robert Santiago ’89, Allen Cristopher Tolosa 2025, Erik Mendoza 2003, Pepito Sevilla 2013, Krissanto Bibal ‘98, John Jeffrey Jottie ‘87, Michael Paolo Ramos ‘99, Rico Villareal ‘86, Cary Calimlim ‘93, Danilo Vilda Jr. ‘93, Amador Macatangay Jr. ‘96, Reagan Mark Riofrio 2000, Jeffrey Jefferson Coronel 2001, Oliver Caile Monteser 2017, Filmeño Sonza 2022, Jean Michael Diosma 2023, and Albert Remollo 2023.

The same gratitude should be extended to USPAAI and USPNA for backing the reunion and helping carry it forward, including Chairman Eric Pilapil ‘86, President Gerardo Sirios ‘89, Chairman Dominic Gonzales ‘84, and President Albert Villanueva ‘84. This is a coordinated undertaking that requires organizational support, committee work, financing, liaison efforts, and formal authority to negotiate arrangements in Singapore.

So why go?

Go because these gatherings do not happen every month. Go because the international reunion serves a purpose that regional fellowships, no matter how strong, cannot fully replace. Go because Singapore is close enough, easy enough, and well put together enough to eliminate most of your usual excuses. Go because the lineup is strong, the setup is thoughtful, and eto ang clincher—the company will definitely be good.