ESTABLISHING THE SIGMA DELTA PHI, LOS BAÑOS CHAPTER
Adapted from Corazon Cacdac Flores-Azucena ’55
“Traditions We Want to Keep”

During the first half of the 19th century, UP Los Baños (then UP College of Agriculture) sororities were unreal. The biggest student group at the time was the UP Students Catholic Action (UPSCA) not just because of the influence of the UP Diliman Rector, the late Fr. Delaney, but also because it was easy for students to join. However, there were already fraternities like the Upsilon Sigma Phi which was the most popular fraternity on campus.

It was not till the later part of 1955 that a young Dentistry graduate from UP Diliman decided, through the encouragement of some Diliman Sigma Deltans and Upsilonians, to organize the “crème de la crème” of the female student population, and organize the Sigma Delta Phi, Los Baños Chapter. Since she had previously graduated with a degree in Dentistry from UP Diliman in 1951, she had to enroll in a special cooking class at the Department of Home Technology (now College of Human Ecology) to qualify for the position in the sorority. This young lady was no other than Emma P. Juliano ‘51. Through the support of the Diliman Brods and Sis, particularly Brod Fernando A. Pedrosa ’52, she successfully set up the sorority and later became the first Grand Archon of the Chapter.

Membership to the Sigma Delta Phi was purely invitational; a fusion of brains, beauty, talent and popularity is what it took to get into the sorority. Although no written criterion was ever formulated, the screening was primarily done thru scheduled personal interviews which Emma performed herself. She would scrutinize one’s academic record and display of talent in the arts. The sorority constitution states that no student shall be approved membership to the sorority unless she is in good scholastic standing, thus, the honor list was the always the easiest way for Emma to recruit new members.

The sorority’s constitution also states that members shall not undergo any form of preliminary initiation, therefore no physical initiations were performed. January 15, 1955 was very eventful for both the “initiates” and “masters” as they went to San Pablo for lunch.

When they got back to UP Los Baños, an hour of final “brainwashing” was done at the Department of Plant Pathology building. Unknown to the “initiates”, the Upsilonian brods were waiting outside to welcome the new sisters into the group. Thirty-seven sorority members came out successfully after which dinner was shared by both Sisters and Brods after the rites.

Guided by its first adviser, Professor Dolores Barile (Dean of Women at the time) and later Miss. Justina Mabesa, the sorority became true to its objective of promoting social and intellectual intercourse thru the arts, and often, the charter members found themselves acting on stage or singing and dancing in programs and convocations.

The University Council Committee for Student Organizations and Activities did not permit any formal organization to hold a social affair such as a sorority ball without having produced or sponsored a cultural activity hence, the sorority sponsored numerous dramas and musicals, sometimes with the Upsilonians. It was not until January 12, 1957, that the first Sorority ball was held at the Molawin Mess Hall (now the ACCI Dormitory).

The highlight of the affair was the pinning ceremony, with Miss Tenny Mabesa pinning the 1955-1956 Batch, who in turn pinned the 1956-1957 Batch of sisters. For fun, Elsa C. Cosico and Cora Cacdac Flores baked a huge cake with the Sigma Delta Phi Seal on it. It was lit by a single candle. Dance favors were given out to Upsilonians present who pulled ribbons off a cake. The ribbons had the names of different Sigma Deltans on them.

The Sigma Delta Phi stands for leadership, making student politics part of the activities Batch ’55 engaged in.  As student life settled down, sorority members found themselves a rightful place under the sun.

LB CHARTER MEMBERS
1. ARCELIA MIRANDA ALFONSO-ALEJAR
2. EMMA A. ARTUZ-PHILIP
3. CONSORCIA BALLESTEROS-MELCHOR
4. MAGDALENA L. BRIONES
5. LUZVIMINDA R. CARANGAL-SANTOS
6. PRISCILLA TRESPALACIO CHINTE-SANCHEZ
7. HERMINIA L. CHU-SALVACRUZ
8. ELSA C. COSICO
9. ESPERANZA GESMUNDO CUENTO
10. WILHELMINA CABAUATAN DANCEL-ANTONIO
11. ROSALITA R. DELAMAR-SMAGULA
12. CORAZON CACDAC FLORES-AZUCENA
13. DELIA ALMARIO GALVEZ-CALORA
14. FELICITAS E. GONZALEZ
15. NATIVIDAD LOPEZ-VALBUENA
16. DIANA M. MACAHILIG-GUSTILO
17. EDNA R. DELA MAR-SAVADY
18. MARTA P. MORALES-LAMBERTS
19. ESTELA PATRIARCA NOVERO-ALQUEZA
20. EMILIANA SIERRA NOVERO-BERNARDO
21. ESTER PATRIARCA NOVERO-NOCON
22. AURORA O. OCFEMIA-NAVA
23. NORMA M. ORLIDO-AGUILAR
24. DOLORES ALTOVEROS RAMIREZ
25. PREPEDIGNA ALTOVEROS RAMIREZ-VILLANUEVA
26. CRISPINA G. RECINTO-CASAYURAN
27. NELIA CACDAC RIMANDO-MARQUEZ
28. CHITA CACDAC RIMANDO-SALES
29. AURELIA G. RODRIGUEZ-OLIVEROS
30. SYLVIA SISON SANDEJAS-REYES
31. EDITH U. SEGAY
32. MELINDA KATIGBAK TAPALLA-ALCASID
33. TRINIDAD M. TRINIDAD-GOLETA +
34. ELVIRA S. TAN-QUINTANA
35. EDEN MOLEÑO VARONA-LAZO
36. LYDIA G. VELASCO-MAGNAYE
37. JOSEFINA KALAW VILLEGAS-OBED