UP Sigma Beta Sorority celebrates 80th anniversary

MANILA, Philippines - The UP Sigma Beta Sorority, the first sorority organized in the University of the Philippines, is celebrating its 80th founding anniversary beginning February. Various commemorative activities, in and out of campus, by resident sisters and alumni members are being undertaken in all four chapters of the sorority in UP Diliman, UP Visayas, UP Mindanao and UP Baguio.

At the Diliman campus, the Sigma Beta Sorority will mount a photo exhibit entitled “Breaking the Norms” at the UP Palma Hall Annex Lobby from March 13-19. The exhibit will feature women going beyond traditions and societal expectations. Capping the exhibit will be a book launch on a compendium of laws on women’s rights and welfare.

The Sigma Betans also joined the launching of a book on the Negritoes of the Philippines entitled “The People of the Bamboo Age: A Socio-Ecological Model” at the Alliance Francaise de Manille, Makati City on Feb. 28. The book is authored by Reginald Zell, husband of Sigma Betan Eloy Zell.

Other activities held include a “Sigma Beta Fun Run” at the UP Academic Oval on Feb. 26; a Corregidor Day Cruise on Feb. 28; and planting of Palawan Cherry Blossoms saplings at the UP-NCPAG grounds. A donation of benches to the UP-NCPAG, the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP) and the UP Library will be held today, March 1.

The UP Sigma Beta Alumnae Foundation has also launched a fund-raising activity to generate resources for its outreach projects for depressed and calamity-stricken areas and for its expanded scholarship program to enable more deserving women students of the University of the Philippines to finish their college education.

Highlighting the Sorority’s 80th anniversary celebration is the Grand Orchid Ball to be held on Saturday, March 3, at 7 p.m., at the Manila ballroom of the Manila Hotel.

For more information, members of the UP Sigma Beta Sorority may contact the programs committee c/o Sis Mailin Barua-Yap (0918-9447352); Sis Ida Austria-Marco (0917-8541838); Sis Baby Modar-Soliman (0906-3754669); and Sis Bessie Barua-Callejo (0917-5352377).