Alpha Phi Beta Fraternity ΑΦΒ

 

The Alpha Phi Beta Fraternity (also known as ΑΦΒ, Association of Philippine Barristers, or Abogado Para sa Bayan) is a fraternity based in the University of the Philippines College of Law with no recognized chapters outside University of the Philippines Diliman.^[1] The fraternity's membership hails from the College of Law and from pre-law colleges in the campus.^[2] 2019 marked the fraternity's 80th Anniversary.^[3] It is one of the three fraternities based in the college, the other two being Sigma Rho fraternity and Scintilla Juris.^[4]

History

Establishment

In October 1939, 13 students of the University of the Philippines Manila founded the fraternity with the supposed goal of controlling key positions in the campus, particularly the Philippine Collegian editorship and the University Student Council presidency.^[5] The founders cited the need of the students to mobilize in response to the second election under the 1935 Constitution of the Philippines, President Manuel L. Quezon's plans for a "one-party" government, and the looming threat of a possible war in the pacific.^[6][7][8]

The Charter Members were:

• Arturo B. Atienza
• Antonio L. Azores
• Benedicto Balderrama
• Renato Constantino
• Macario Cruz
• Bienvenido C. Ejercito
• Florencio B. Florendo
• Adriano R. Garcia
• Elias Lavadia
• Rustico V. Nazareno
• Rosendo J. Nuval
• Francisco Sumulong
• Gerardo Tioseco
• Teodosio V. Valenton
• Manuel Vijungco
• Jose Villacorta
• Manuel Vistan Jr.
• Exequiel M. Zaballero Jr.

Then-professor Ambrosio Padilla was the Charter Adviser of the newly founded fraternity.^[6]

By November 1939, the constitution and by-laws of the fraternity were drafted and filed with the University Council Committee on Student Organizations and Activities. Shortly thereafter, the committee granted recognition to the fraternity. Charter member and nationalist-historian Renato Constantino wrote the fraternity motto which would also serve as its guiding philosophy.^[8][7]

During the early years, a weighted grade average of 1.75 was the prime qualification for an invitation into the fraternity.^[9] To test the neophytes' commitment to the fraternity's ideals of surrender of individuality to the group's interests and absolute obedience to the majority's decision, they were made to undergo tests of skill and humility.^[9]

In contrast with other fraternities' beliefs that severe physical tests ensured fraternal bonds, physical hazing was not encouraged on the belief that those with a low tolerance of pain should not be driven away. Moreover, applicants were not rejected on the basis of not having the social background or financial resources.^[9] The fraternity emphasized on recruiting students with a strong middle-class background only.^[10] The Charter Members did not come from elitist backgrounds.^[9]

Post-war

After the war, the fraternity was reactivated in the UP College of Law which was re-opened at what was left of the Cancer Institute and the College of Engineering buildings in the Manila campus. Members Adriano Garcia, Arturo Atienza, Renato Constantino, Bienvenido Ejercito, and Benedicto Balderama, who also formed the Board of Editors of the Philippinensian from 1942 to 1946, spearheaded the reactivation.^[11] During this time, the fraternity's constitution was amended to allow admission of students still in their pre-law courses to allow the fraternity to expand and recruit members deemed with early potential.^[11] Moreover, the scholastic standing rule was relaxed.^[12]

During the Marcos administration, many members of the fraternity fought for the cause of democracy, most notable of which is Abraham "Ditto" Sarmiento Jr. who was editor-in-chief of the Philippine Collegian at the time.^[13] Another member of the fraternity was the first chairman of the Movement for a Democratic Philippines, an alliance of Kabataang Makabayan and other sectoral national democratic organizations, which was responsible for the First Quarter Storm. A year later, another member of the fraternity led the students in barricading the campus during the Diliman Commune.^[6] As one of the older fraternities together with Alpha Phi Omega, Sigma Rho Fraternity, and Upsilon Sigma Phi, the fraternity was still perceived as part of the bourgeoisie class by the more radical left.^[14] They were also identified with the Marcos Right.^[15] Those serving the administration include Gerardo Sicat as National Economic and Development Authority Director-General and concurrent Minister of Economic Planning and Reynato Puno as Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Justice.^[16]

Before the end of the millennium, the fraternity produced three bar topnotchers, one student regent, five chairpersons of the University Student Council, 15 councilors of the USC, eight college representatives, one editor-in-chief of the Philippine Collegian, and eight staff members of the Philippine Collegian.^[7]

In 2013, President Benigno Aquino III recognized the fraternity for being at the forefront of the UP student movement, praising the fraternity's role in "shaping the future stewards of the University, and in providing a podium for the sonorous voices of the Filipino youth."^[17]

From 2016, the fraternity has held the annual Ditto Sarmiento Essay Writing Competition in commemoration of the young campus journalists who died in the fight for press freedom during the martial law era. The competition honors Abraham "Ditto" Sarmiento Jr. who died at the age of 27 shortly after being imprisoned during the Marcos Regime.^[13] The nationwide competition is composed of a series of contests that are open to high school and college students.^[18]

Controversies

Based on police investigations from 1991 to 1994, the fraternity was involved in a total of 24 reported violent incidents (which involve weapons such as clubs, explosives, bladed weapons, among others) between student organizations in the UP Diliman campus.^[19]

In 1998, a UP student died following a hazing conducted by members of the fraternity, some of which were later imprisoned.^[20][21][22]

In 1999, members of the fraternity were mauled by members of Sigma Rho Fraternity.^[23] The next year, a member of the fraternity was knifed and killed by members of Sigma Rho in front of the UP Law Center.^[24][25] There was also another reported instance of a rumble with Sigma Rho in the same year.^[26]

In 2011, a member of the fraternity was attacked near his house during a series of clashes with the Alpha Sigma fraternity.^[27] The following year, the two fraternities were involved in another brawl.^[28]

In 2013, the fraternity was implicated in a rumble with Beta Sigma.^[29][30]

In 2016, the fraternity was involved in a fight with Sigma Rho Fraternity during the UP Law Bar Operations.^[31] In 2017, the fraternity was again involved in a series of altercations with Sigma Rho for which the two fraternities reportedly kept score of attacks and retaliations.^[32][31] The next year, the fraternity was involved in a physical confrontation and car chase with Upsilon Sigma Phi.^[33][34] The latter three fraternities, in addition to Alpha Sigma and Scintilla Juris, are considered to have the longest traditional rivalry in the campus.^[15]