“Sa Upsilon, hindi kailangan ng dahilan para mag-inuman,” quipped Louis Biraogo ’79. But the brods, on June 27, 2025, found a good reason anyway: to honor the graduates and the recently elected, and to remind everyone what the Fraternity stands for.

The Upsilon Sigma Phi Alumni Association’s Midyear Fellowship, at the Ayala Banquet Hall, Makati Sports Club, showed once again that no matter what decade you joined the Fraternity, the fellowship never fades, and only grows louder with time. The gathering, the brainchild of Chairman Eric Gene Pilapil ’86 and organized by Vice President Raul Paras ’90, brought together brods from Diliman, Manila, Los Baños, and across generations for a night of catch-ups, updates, and reminders of what it means to stand together.

In his welcome remarks, Chairman Pilapil shared the story of how, decades ago, he didn’t realize his last Gen Meet in the basement would be his last as a student, and that moments like these are worth marking properly. He reminded the graduates that they may spend only a few years as residents, but they will spend decades as alumni, never alone because “there is a live army of brods behind each and every fellow.” He also thanked those who helped make the night possible: Mark Comia 2021, Lucas Buenaflor 2023, Bill Dimalanta 2024, LJ Paras 2024, Francis Sobere 2024, Luke Due 2024, Lucas Gabor 2024, Rex Maliuanag 2024, Roque Juan 2024, the whole Batch 2025, Vice President Raul Paras ’90, and Speaker Martin Romualdez ’85.

After the opening, the new graduates from Diliman, Manila, and Los Baños were the first to be called to the stage, recognized not just for completing their studies but for stepping forward as full alumni, now responsible for paying annual dues and working for the association.

It was while they were onstage that Senator-elect Kiko Pangilinan ’81 stepped up to share his story. He recalled being written off by surveys, told he would lose, yet he fought on to the very end. His message to the new alumni was clear: “Never give up. Fight on, especially when it matters.”

The evening then turned to the USPAA’s big programs. The University Students’ Assistance Program (USAP), initiated by the Chairman and led by Brod Tito Mora ’78, was presented as a new way to support fellows in postgraduate studies through loans, temporary housing, and rewards for academic achievement.

The Upsilon Legal Assistance Program (ULAP) was presented next. This is the fraternity’s organized legal aid effort under Brod Lester Ople ’01, who also heads the Legal Committee. ULAP will help brothers who need legal support while giving Upsilon’s lawyers a way to meet the Supreme Court’s Unified Legal Aid Service rule.

Erik Mendoza ’03 gave a short presentation on how fellows can register and update their details in the new USPAAI digital directory, part of the Association’s push to strengthen connections and keep the “live army of brods” just a click away, though, true to the mood of the night, only a few seemed to catch the step-by-step instructions over the happy din.

Midway through the program, the Association recognized the Upsilonians who had been recently elected to public office, honoring them for carrying the Credo into public life. Among them were Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan ’81, Francisco Gabriel “Abeng” Remulla 2015 (Governor of Cavite), Franz Vincent F. Legazpi 2018 (Pinoy Workers Partylist), Martin Romualdez ’85 (1st District Representative, Leyte), Roman Romulo ’86 (Lone District Representative, Pasig), Arnie Fuentebella ’94 (4th District Representative, Camarines Sur), Ping Remulla 2015 (7th District Representative, Cavite), Neil Andrew Nocon ’87 (Mayor, Los Baños), Jay Quitain ’90 (1st District Councilor, Davao City), Jovi Fuentebella 2003 (Mayor, Sagnay, Camarines Sur), Joe Umali 2010 (Councilor, Calapan, Oriental Mindoro), Alfred Vargas 2020 (5th District Councilor, Quezon City), Macky Mathay 2023 (2nd District Councilor, San Juan), and Eugene Fuentebella 2024 (Mayor, Tigaon, Camarines Sur).

Speaker Martin Romualdez ’85, acknowledging the recognition, spoke to thank the brods for their help and support during the elections, saying simply, “We would not be here if it were not because of you.”

Also among the night’s notable guests were Christian Monsod, former Chair of the Commission on Elections; DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa; DOJ Undersecretaries Jesse Andres, Deo Marco, and Nicky Ty; former PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar; and UPAA President Robert Aranton.

Throughout the night, the hosts teased the crowd that the presentations were great — if only the brods could hear them over the noise. The Upsilonians na Pumapalo gave updates on their projects, including a raffle for a BYD Sealion, but that too was half-lost in the sound of old stories being retold at every table.

​​Tito Mora ’78 also announced the launch of the Upsilon Podcast, which will be broadcast through The Upsilon Sun to share stories, conversations, and lessons from brothers across batches.

Ryan Besido ’96 and Krisanto Mossesgeld Bibal ‘98 invited everyone to mark their calendars for the next Global Reunion in Singapore, the first international reunion to be sponsored jointly by the Upsilon Sigma Phi North America chapter and the USPAA.

Before the program wrapped, Charvy Parra ’89 invited the fellows to make good use of the Leadership Center (the “Frat House”) for batch fellowships, family activities like photo shoots, and as a venue for different Upsilon sub-groups to hold their meetings and gatherings. It was a reminder that the fraternity’s spaces are there for everyone.

Treasurer Jojo Santiago ‘89 also gave a report on the healthy finances of the fraternity, not that anyone paid much attention, with the clinking of glasses and laughter from every table.

The President closed the program by thanking everyone who showed up, who shared in the fellowship, and who made the night possible, honoring in particular the Chairman for his steady hand in pulling it all together.

And true to Louis Biraogo’s quip, even after the closing remarks, the brods stayed for another round—or three. The USPAA Treasurer, Robert “Jojo” Santiago 89, brought the house down by belting out Bed of Roses, much to everyone’s surprise. Old stories surfaced, new ones were made, and the noise carried on late into the night.

As Brod Maning Rivera summed it up the day after, “Kudos to the fellows who made it happen: food and drinks overflowing, the hall packed with political and government personalities, icons, celebrities, and our junior brods almost in full force. The glory of our beloved Fraternity goes on and keeps on; each reunion brings new glory. Mabuhay ang Upsilon!”