Beta Sigma Omega Phi Fraternity
Beta Sigma Omega Phi (ΒΣΩΦ, stylized βΣΩΦ, and also known as Betans 1968) is a service fraternity and sorority founded at University of Bohol on October 10, 1968.[1] This was organized by Frank Paz Jr., Frederick Loor, and Remy Galbizo. Their aims were to foster lifetime brotherhood and sisterhood and to build noble leaders and better citizens. Members are encouraged to promote the welfare of students and to work for better and greater involvement in the affairs of the school as well as in the community. The organization facilitates a variety of community civic involvement, and services like tree planting, feeding programs, bloodletting, operation tuli, and lately the Brigada Eskwela. Betans 1968 have established 72 collegiate chapters throughout Philippines; most of these are on the island of Mindanao.
History
On October 10, 1968, three students from the University of Bohol namely: Frank Paz Jr., Frederick Loor, and Remy Galbizo organized the Beta Sigma Omega Phi, service fraternity and sorority. Before organizing this fraternity and sorority decided to first walk 42 kilometers barefooted and a two-day fasting. They only drank water on their two-day fasting. After these sacrifices, the founders held their first initiation with 12 neophytes. Sad to note that after 4 years of growing, the organization was in vain because President Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law in the Philippines. During this time no fraternities and sororities were allowed to render initiation or to form organization and assemble in the public even if it is not contrary to law. However, a few years after the remaining members of the Betans decided to pursue the fraternity and sorority. By September 23, 1978 they held another initiation which served as an opportunity to those who wanted to join the organization.
For almost two decades the organization was limited to Tagbilaran City, Bohol schools and universities, particularly the founding school, University of Bohol (UB) as Alpha chapter, Philippine Maritime Institute as Beta chapter with some members coming from Holy Name University, formerly known as Divine Word College.
1980s
Some of the members of the schools came from the cities and provinces of Mindanao, gradually moving the organization to Mindanao. In the early 1980s there were members in UB who were apparently residing in Kibawe, Bukidnon, where they conducted initiations in the area wherein the pledges were studying at the University of Visayas, in Cebu City, at Southwestern University, in Cebu City, and some schools in CDO and Maramag, Bukidnon but under the supervision of the alumni members in Kibawe. Also of the same era, there were members in Butuan City who established a chapter in SJIT. In 1987, headed by Brod Boyet Abay of Holy Name University, brod Dennis Larrobis of University of Bohol and others who resided in Lupon, Davao Oriental held the first initiation of pledges coming from MATS College of Technology, Davao City and marked as the fourth collegiate chapter and named it as Delta chapter. That same year another initiation with pledges from the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP), Davao City created the fifth collegiate chapter and would later go on to establish another eight collegiate chapters in Davao City.
1990s
In 1991, headed by Brod Roy Dano, Brod Gabo Santiago of MATS went to Tacurong and recruited college students from Sultan Kudarat Educational Institute, Notredame Of Tacurong College, and Sultan Kudarat Polytechnic State College (Tacurong City Campus), known today as Sultan Kudarat State University. Later, students at these three schools established a chapter. The 1990s symbolizes a golden era of the organization particularly in Mindanao Island with tremendous growth in terms of membership. From Tacurong, the organization expanded to almost all universities/colleges of Isulan, Gen. Santos City, Koronadal City, M’lang, Midsayap, Matalam, Kidapawan City, Kabacan, and Cotabato City. In 1993, Central Mindanao University (CMU) in Musuan, Maramag Bukidnon created a chapter headed by Brod Jesser Pairat and in the same year another chapter at Cagayan de Oro College, headed by Brod Noel Mundo.
2000 - Present
Growth continued after the year 2000; alumni members from the University of Bohol returned to their home towns to create collegiate chapters particularly in Sacred Heart College in Calamba, Misamis Occidental. These alumni re-established several collegiate chapters in Cagayan de Oro like Cagayan de Oro College and also chapters at colleges/universities in the town of Balingasag and Jasaan, Misamis Oriental. Of the same year, two collegiate chapters in Mati City, Davao Oriental were created and also in the province of COMVAL, Bansalan, Dvo. del Sur and Bislig City. In 2014, membership of the organization had also reached as far as Paniqui, Tarlac and Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija. By 2023 the organization had a total of 72 collegiate chapters.
National Convention
On October 9–10, 2011, the first National Convention was held in Davao City with the leadership of the interim National Council: president of the organization Brod Brian G. Caintic of Omega chapter and Sai Che Gonzaga of Sigma chapter. The event was successful[according to whom?] because some of the queries as regards to the growth of the organization were answered even though only ten collegiate chapters were present.
Outreach program and community service
The organization has a various community services like tree planting, operation tuli, coastal clean-up, feeding program, blood donation (blood letting), project tsinelas, and brigada eskwela.