Cary who? Admit it. That was your first thought when you heard that Cary Calimlim ‘93 was an UNO awardee, perhaps one of the youngest to be given the award, if not the youngest.

But ask around and you’ll find he’s been an under-the-radar but ubiquitous presence in the lives of many fellows and even non-fellows long before the award. He is the kind of brod who always finds something in common with you, shows up, gets things done, and does not make a big deal about it. He has even incubated a couple of startups among the brods in agriculture, startups that are now thriving businesses. Who would have known?

Just before he was elected a Trustee of the Upsilon Sigma Phi Alumni Association, Cary assumed the mantle of Chairman of Upsilonians na Pumapalo, one of the oldest and most active group within the fraternity, tightly knit by a common passion for, what else, golf. There is almost no prestige associated with the chairmanship; it is all work, work, and more of the same.

The group's membership spans generations, from fresh grads finding the fairway for the first time to golden jubilarians recycling old jokes. Brods have found the fairway to be a place of fellowship, friendly competition, and, this time around, fundraising.

And Cary? He is poised to take it to the next level.

Tee Time to a Bigger Purpose

“This isn’t just golf,” Cary says. “It’s brotherhood. It’s fundraising. It’s building something bigger than us.”

This year, under his watch, Pumapalo isn’t just teeing off; it is trying to make a significant impact. Cary’s plan: 15 tournaments, two open fundraising events, and a car raffle. Not just any car, either. A BYD Seal 5 DM-i, an electric vehicle that’s bound to turn heads and sell tickets. The goal is to raise ₱5 million, with the bulk going to the Upsilon Medical Assistance Program (UMAP), and portions to support wounded soldiers and the Philippine Eagle Foundation.

The entire campaign is stitched together by a clean, efficient website: www.pumapalo.com, where brods can track standings, view photos, and soon, see transparent financial updates.

But none of that would matter without one particular detail: “He’s footing the bill,” a brod whispers. “He’s paying for the green fees in almost all of the games. So that everything — everything — goes to the cause.”

Cary brushes this off, but it’s true. When he saw the potential to turn friendly golf into a serious source of support for UMAP, he straightaway started building. “I just thought, if we can play anyway, why not make it matter?” he says.

All are Welcome

One of Cary’s first moves as Chairman was to open up the tournaments—especially the fundraising events—to friends of Brods, corporate sponsors, and even non-golfers. Anyone can help. You can buy a raffle ticket, sponsor a hole, donate a prize, or just show up and cheer.

Every participant who joins a tournament automatically gets one free raffle ticket. Additional tickets can be purchased, and the more you buy, the better your odds. The raffle—featuring a brand-new BYD Seal 5 DM-i—will be drawn at the December tournament. The goal is to sell 1,000 tickets.

There’s even a tiered sponsorship system so Brods and their networks can chip in at any level—from ₱5,000 to ₱100,000.

Even if you’re not a golfer, you can still make an impact. You can donate any amount, help sell raffle tickets, or simply spread the word. Every Brod’s involvement—on the course or off it—moves the needle.

“You don’t need to swing a club,” Cary says. “You just need to care.”

He says this with no ego, just conviction. And it’s catching on. Younger brods are signing up in bigger numbers. Some older brods are even playing for the first time. Others are organizing their own teams, pooling funds for sponsorships, and using the events as a way to reconnect.

“We’re building something,” Cary says. “A culture. A rhythm. Something that can last.”

Fellowship on the Fairway

Upsilonians na Pumapalo traces its roots back to 1983. For over four decades, Brods have met on the green, generation after generation. But this may be the first time the group has rallied this hard for a specific cause, under a specific vision, with this level of coordination.

“I’d like to see these events institutionalized,” Cary says. “A permanent fixture on the USPAA calendar.”

Pumapalo os stoll the same, but different now. It feels more intentional. And yet, still grounded in the things that made Pumapalo beloved in the first place: laughs on the course, cold drinks after a round, and the sense that you’re part of something that extends far beyond 18 holes.

A Quiet Kind of Giving

Cary never announces his contributions. He doesn’t call attention to the hours spent planning, the meetings with sponsors, or the back-end logistics. He simply shows up, gives more than he’s asked, and nudges others to do the same.

“I felt a deep responsibility to give back in a meaningful way,” he says. “This isn’t just about golf—it’s about building unity, making a real difference, and living out the values that make Upsilon great.”

Through his generosity, Cary hopes others will follow suit. “Time, money, support—whatever you’ve got. It all helps,” he adds.

The fundraising tournaments culminate in December, when the BYD car raffle is drawn. But win or lose, drive home or walk away empty-handed—every Brod who showed up will have helped move the fraternity forward.

And maybe, in the process, they’ll finally stop asking: Cary who?