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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO BETANS   

 

As the sun vastly shines in different world, it was October 1990 when a group of visionary alumni betans officially formed the Beta Sigma Fraternity Western USA Chapter.  The purpose and vision of the chapter is to continue to uphold the Betan Pinciples.  Western USA Charter Grand Princeps Andy Apostol of San Beda College, officially appointed Brod. Bob Astudillo of Philippine School of Business Administration as San Diego Coordinator.  Brod. Bob was the key factor and with the advised and support of Brod. Mario Matusalem, MD of Far Eastern University (Arts), Brod. Bob made an effort to locate all Betans residing in the San Diego County area.  Many responded to his announcements and personal call, on May 15, 1993 the constitution and by-laws was ratified, the San Diego Betans became officially independent and no longer part of the Western USA Chapter.  The San Diego Charter Grand Princeps was Brod. Redentor Badel he is also founding brother of Philippine College of Commerce Chapter. 1994 was a very prestigious year not only to the Beta Sigma Fraternity of San Diego, California, USA Chapter but to all the Chapters as well.  The State of California officially recognized this chapter as a non-profit service organization and the first Beta Sigma chapter to be duly registered and recognized by any States in North America.  GP Tor, with support from Brods. Bob and Titus Morales of PSBA and Dingdong Lopez of Trinity College and all chapter grand princeps, he chaired the compilation the First Beta Sigma North America Directory, which we call black book. It was also the first Greek letter organization that has been approved to join the prestigious Council of Philippine-American Organizations (COPAO), the umbrella organization of all ethnic groups in San Diego County.  GP Tor and Brod Bob declined the offer for a position in the Council to give more time to fraternity affairs.  Brod. Bob was elected as a Board of Director of COPAO on September 1997, the youngest to serve that two-term year position.  He was assigned as Chairman of Membership Committee of COPAO, which comprises about 120 different ethnic organizations. The 1997-1999 COPAO Chairperson was University of the Philippines, Sigma Beta Aurora Cudal. While still in its infancy, GP Tor and Brod. Bob were the first Beta Sigmans and first frat men in San Diego County to receive US Congressional Award on May 15, 1994 for public service.  This award is given to a person who has achieved distinction in community service.  The San Diego Betans in the military service also took time off from their military duties to render public service.  May 15, 1994 with its first year anniversary fraternity ball celebration; a Service Awards was given to Brods. Mario and Bob.  Achievement Awards was also given to Brod. Bonifacio Esperanza, MD, of FEU-Medicine, a Navy Captain and to Brod. Pacifico Gangan, MD, of FEU-Medicine, who had furthers studies on Ophthalmology at University of California San Diego. GP Tor gave a True Betan Award that night to Brod. Florendo Joya, MD of FEU-Medicine for his courage and determination. The military Brods. Michael Santos of FEU-Arts, Arthur Coloma of University of Baguio, Ruben Torres of Mountain State Agricultural College, Baguio City and Jun "Generoso" Ordillano of FEU-Arts were involved in the Annual Christmas in July sponsored by the military base.  This energetic chapter also coordinated and involved themselves with the quarterly Philippine Consulate (Los Angeles, CA Office) outreach program to San Diego County.  The outreach program served the Filipino community with their passport, visa, income and travel taxes and any legal problems concerning immigration.  Thus, on October 1995, at San Francisco, CA fraternity ball, another U.S. Congressional Awards for public service were given to San Diego Betans Mike Santos, Art Coloma, Ruben Torres and Miguelito Vidamo of Lyceum University.  We also recommended Northern California Chapter GP Wilfredo Sarino of PSBA and Western USA Chapter GP Jesus Lopez of PSBA for this prestigious award. The San Diego Betans are not only energetic in public service but also in sports.  They won two successive Western Region Basketball Tournaments on 1995 & 1996 thus; worthy of being called the "Dream Team".  The members of the team are Brods. Egay Ragunton, Jerome Gamboa, Jeff Gamboa, Ruben Torres, Jun Tuason, Bob Astudillo, Tor Badel, Mike Santos, Lito Vidamo, Art Coloma, Butch Baniqued, Mario Matusalem and Jun Campos.  Placed first in 1997 Bowling Tournament, which was held at National City, Ca. but dropped to third, placed on Basketball on the same year.   The San Diego Chapter has its "Manila Connection" through Brod. Pacifico Gangan, MD (SD Charter member).  Brod. Chito coordinates the chapter's scholarship program and other school projects that will benefit the less fortunate but deserving student/s.  Thereby promoting its good name and intention not only to the students, school but the community as well.  This youth service under our Youth Service Committee, the public/community services were not the only projects initiated by the San Diego betans.  Philanthropic project is being planned and soon to be coordinated with our Manila Connection. The San Diego betans also planned to sponsor the First International Student Chapter at San Diego State University and planned to further branch to University of California, SD.  These alumni coordinate and collaborate with the AB Society (or could be translated to Andres Bonifacio Samahan).  Though 5 to 10 Filipino-American students echoed their intention to continue what the glorious founders have accomplished, this proposal did not materialized for lack of support from the Beta Sigma Federation of North America Chapters.   Though San Diego Chapter is preoccupied with all its current and proposed projects, they never forget to improve the quality of life from "with in".  Since 1993, the chapter has a Vocational Service Committee.  This committee has and ready to helps a new migrant betans and their relatives on its modest and humble way of finding them jobs through our individual connections.   As the chapter second Grand Princeps (January 1, 1996-December 31, 1997) Jun Campos of Central Luzon State University together with his new set of officer took thy banners high, far and wide.  August 31, 1997 was another great history for the Beta Sigma Fraternity in general and to the San Diego Beta Sigma Alumni in particular, when Congressman Bob Filner of 50th District of California, USA was accepted an Honorary Member to our beloved San Diego Chapter.  It is both an honor for him and us to be the first in America, and a member of US Congress, as a new chapter member.  In turn the U.S. House of Representative gave another Community Service Award to Brods. Jun Tuason of PSBA, Andy Rubio of Philippine Muslim Christian College of Medicine and Nestor Silva of CLSU and to the Chapter as a whole.  The chapter served as one of the benefactor to the Philippine Culture Building at downtown San Diego as per solicitation of the San Diego Filipino-American Humanitarian Foundation.  All programs and projects from the previous administration are still carried.  With these the chapter received another recognition, GP Jun Campos was chosen as one of the Outstanding Community Leaders of San Diego during the Philippine Fair Expo at Del Mar, San Diego, CA. on December 1997. January 1, 1998 to December 31, 1999 is the term of office of the new set of officers led by GP Michael Santos.  This officers deeply wished to create an organization that viewed it self as a part of rather than an apart from the general community.  The Body Walk in coordination with the Brain Syndrome Association of San Diego and the Kiwanis Club of San Diego that made this chapter more visible to the public.  Brod. Winlove Cudal of University of the Philippines was appointed as Assemblyman to California State Assembly representing the senior citizen.  With the same principle, loyalty, dedication and enthusiasm to charity will continue to bring this fraternity in that honorable place in the society. It was in this year that we are superior in sport of basketball not only in western California but the whole North America.  Once again the twin Brothers Jeff and Jerome Gamboa of Saint Louie University shared those MVP awards.  Of course not to forget to mentioned the ever-energetic Brod. Egay Ragunton of FEU-Arts.  Brod. Ramon Samaniego of UPLB is a Marathon Swimmer for the Navy and Marine groups in Camp Pendleton, San Diego CA.  We also enjoyed family get together during our annual camping with California chapters.  But it was in this year 1998 we mourned the lost a worthy brother betan, Brod. Reynard Arquisola of Urios College who joined the Supreme Grand Princeps in his final destiny.  He was one of these prime movers that made this institution known in San Diego County. January 1, 1999-December 31, 2000, this chapter was often branded as opposition to federation affairs so we rather not focus on the past issues with the North America Federation.  This chapter led by GP Rolando Rubio deeply wishes to create an organization with family closeness and involvement.  We pride ourselves in having unique ideas and proposals projects, which gave meaning to the letter F in the word fraternity-which means Family. This chapter continues to coordinate with PSBA Alumni Association and CLSU resident brods. regarding the pending scholarship project and other school projects that will be beneficial not only to the students and school but to the chapters as a whole.  We sent boxes of library books, including sets of encyclopedias to one of public high school in Olongapo City, Philippines.  Boxes of medical supplies were also sent to City of Olongapo. As we prepare to enter the new millennium on January 1, 2001-December 31, 2003 the San Diego betan are not blind in belief in previous administration; with confidence, the chapter re-elected a wide-eyed optimist, GP Rolando Rubio.  He led and shows us to go forth with more courage, dedication, brotherhood, integrity, equality, service and loyalty.  With these traits, we continue to provide financial assistance to the brods. and relatives wherever disperse around the globe for their medical needs.  We believe that charity begin at home and does not stop at home, so we coordinate and collaborate with University of California, San Diego, Community Philanthropic Group for any assistance this chapter could render.  The California Department of Transportation- also approved us to do Adopt-A-Highway Project but still pending on what highway we will be assigned to us. And we spent and enjoyed that annual leisure summer time camping with family and other chapters family.  Aside from the regular basketball, there is a drastic turn in the field of sports from gulp to golf!  Sponsoring the 2nd North America Golf Invitation Tournament. Indeed, this fraternity chapter has passed the stage of being known as school organization of scholars and is currently recognized as an organization with noble objectives. With the chapter's achievements and community involvement, San Diego betans are always proud to say: WE ARE SAN DIEGANS WE ARE BROTHERS WE ARE PROUD WE ARE BETANS  

Brod. Bob Astudillo

BROD BOB A.