SDPAA History

The History of  Sigma Delta Phi Alumnae Association, Inc.

 By Linda C. Gamboa ‘61

The Sigma Delta Phi Alumnae Association, Inc., or SDPAA, is close to four decades old today, counting in all the years of the Alumnae Association as an informal organization with a structured leadership throughout its operation as an incorporated non-profit and non-stock corporation at present. Its membership is composed of all members of the Sigma Delta Phi Sorority, in active or inactive standing, who had left the University of the Philippines upon graduation or for other reasons.

The Alumnae Association was organized in 1970 by a core group of alumnae sisters, in response to the need for an organization of sisters once they leave the portals of the University of the Philippines. The SDPAA is geared to provide sustainable and meaningful activities for its members to rekindle the Sigma Delta Phi spirit in our sisterhood;  nurture our young alumnae and resident sisters; assist, protect and preserve our core values and traditions; and provide role models to inspire and guide the young.

In 1983, the SDPAA held the auspicious 50^th Sorority Jubilee commemorating the founding anniversary of the Sorority, which brought together a huge number of alumnae sisters. This served as a catalyst for  SDPAA’s expanded membership and its enhanced program of activities. In 1985, the SDPAA was formally incorporated as a non-profit and non-stock corporation with its own Charter and By-laws,  that defined its structured leadership and framework of operations. The above was ratified by the alumnae members during the 1^st National Convention in May 1985 at the U.P. Youth Hostel in Diliman, Quezon City. SDPAA has a Chapter in the Philippines, the U.P. Los Banos Alumnae Chapter, and two in the United States, then known as the East and West Coasts Chapters. Shortly thereafter, the Sigma Delta Phi Foundation was incorporated as a non-profit, non-stock and tax-exempt donee institution. Its operations ceased in the mid-90’s.

In 1993, initiatives were made to amend the SDPAA Charter and By-laws. However,  the required approval process  was not completed, and thus, the 1985 Charter and By-laws prevailed up to 2006.  In 1994, the SDPAA, through its December 1993 Board Resolution, organized the Sigma Delta Phi Outreach Trust Fund Inc., entrusting the net revenue of the series of fund drives for sustained outreach socio-civic projects of the SDPAA. In 2004, the SDPAA secured its Tax Identification Number (TIN) from the Bureau of Internal Revenue, thereby completing all government-prescribed requirements for corporations and fully established the SDPAA as a legal entity for the conduct of its business and activities.  In 2006, the SDPAA amended its Charter and By-laws, completing the subscribed process, from  ratification by the SDPAA members up to its approval by the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), to enable the Association to be more responsive to the developments in the University System of U.P. and the evolving changes in the landscape as well as to the expanding needs of members, the resident Sorority, and the times.

Through its thirty-eight years, the SDPAA has been led by fourteen (14) sisters as Board Chair & President, with its business affairs and activities  managed by a 9-member Board of Directors. Its program of activities was enhanced and enriched to add more meaning and relevance to Sigma Delta Phi in this milieu. And as an Alumnae Association, it extended its nurturing care to the Resident Sorority and its young alumnae members.

Throughout the years, the SDPAA developed and grew in leaps and bounds. Coping with various challenges from its strong-willed membership of Sigma Deltans in the Philippines and all over the world, SDPAA succeeded in weathering through the winds of change that affect the Sigma Delta Phi as a Greek-letter society.

The Sigma Delta Phi Alumnae Association, Inc. will sustain its development and growth in the years ahead. Along the vision of growth, the SDPAA will have additional alumnae chapters in the country, in the U. S. A., and other parts of the world. As most leaders of the SDPAA worked in service to sisterhood, and along the thrusts of deepening the SDPAA leadership bench, younger leaders will soon emerge and progressively pass on the leadership baton to the much younger ones. Cor unum, via una will prevail for generations yet to come.

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Linda C. Gamboa ‘ 61, served the Alumnae Association as Vice-President for External Affairs in 1983 – 1984, executive editor of the Golden Yearbook of the 50^th Sorority Jubilee, executive producer of the interactive presentation “50 Years of Sigma Delta Phi”, editor of the SDPAA newsletter and its special magazine, “ Karats”, head of the PR/Publicity Committee of the 1^st SDPAA National Convention, SDPAA Corresponding Secretary in 2001 – 2002, SDPAA Board Chairman & President from 2002 to the present, and Overall Chairman of the 70^th and 75^th Sorority Jubilees.