15/11/2025
Knights and Ulphans
History of Sigma Upsilon - Upsilon Lambda
1973 A year after the Philippines archipelago WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS was suspended, the whole country was under MARTIAL LAW of then PRES. FERDINAND E. MARCOS.
At Bukidnon, a province of Mindanao island at the southern part of the archipelago, the CENTRAL MINDANAO UNIVERSITY is located. And this is the school where SIGMA UPSILON - UPSILON LAMBDA Fraternity & Sorority was organized underground.
The fifty (52) students who conceptualized the group did not intend to organize a fraternity. Nobody among them knew what a fraternity was. Their ideas [were] to solidify a group TO HELP ONE ANOTHER IN TIMES OF NEEDS & PROTECT ONE ANOTHER IN TIMES OF HARM. (Named the group "UNITY OF LIVES ASSOCIATION"). The 52 students all boys were discussing their bad feelings and sad experiences at SUNRISE MENS HALL DORMITORY� as harassment of senior students to the new students was so rampant.
The only professional person among the group MARFORI AGUS, a teacher who listened to the sad experiences of the boys all freshmen then. The group was filled with enthusiasm and were determined to unite when a suggestion to form a group was carried out at ROOM 207of the dormitory.
Their minds were focused [on] polishing the conceived idea, UNITY. But one thing overlooked was the determination & sincerity of everyone for the cause. Finally, a series of exchange paddling was approved by the group, a test to measure [everyone's] determination and sincerity.
Some places of importance in the foundation of the group are; MT. MUSUAN (Musuan Peak) about four (4) km. Northeast of the campus, & the [heart-shaped] LAKE APO, about twelve (12) km. Southwest of the campus. On the other hand, the places of the series of exchange paddling where [were] done at; CMU [Coffee] PLANTATION adjacent to the DAIRY RANCH; [the] old bridge of the [Cattle] RANCH; CMU RUBBER PLANTATION; CMU SUGAR PLANTATION; CMU WATER RESERVOIR; FOOT OF MT. MUSUAN;
Then back to the CMU SUGAR [Plantation] & RUBBER PLANTATION (in sequence). The final of the series was set as agrees at LAKE APO on AUGUST 16, 1973
Of the 52 students who started the organization, only18 made it to the finals. But for unknown reasons, two (2) of them resigned and waived their loyalty to other fraternity. As [the] merit of loyalty, only sixteen (16) were named in the official set of founders.
To wit:
1. MARFORI AGUS
2. EUGENE AGUS
3. EPHRAM ABONITALLA
4. BONIFACIO CALFOFORO
5. VICENTE ACEDILLO
6. JOSE ACERA JR.
7. PETER BANATAO
8. BENECIO MALIG-ON JR.
9. ALLAN DAMPAL
10. GEORGE ACAPULCO
11. ROMEO MONDIGO
12. RICARDO MARTIREZ
13. DIOSCORO RATUNIL JR.
14. WILLIAM VIADO
15. ANTONIO CASALMIR
16. LYLE ALIDO
