Golden Jubilee: Pi Sigma Delta deepens commitment to twin principles
BIRTHDAY TOAST Pi Sigma Delta founders Juliet Punzalan-Pingol and Flor Galvez (third and fourth from left) lighting the 50th anniversary birthday cake with (from left) Pi Sigma Fraternity Alumni Association chair Ray Batomalaque, Pi Sigma Fraternity founder Robert Sombillo and Supreme Council of Sigmans chair Atty. Crisotomo Uribe while the PSD@50 core group toasts to the sisterhood
It was a night of nostalgia, laughter, dancing and invigorated commitment to a principled sisterhood as generations of women scholars marked the golden jubilee of Pi Sigma Delta Sorority at the University of the Philippines’ Bahay ng Alumni on January 25.
Juliet Punzalan-Pingol and Flor Galvez, two of the 12 founders of Pi Sigma Delta, graced the 50th anniversary homecoming that brought together sisters of all ages, clad in crisp Filipiniana outfits, from 10 university-based chapters.
“We had no idea that the seeds that we had sown would grow to be a movement bigger than ourselves, produce generations of student leaders, and continue their advocacy in one way or the other, outside the university. Among our ranks are thought leaders, technocrats, educators, civil servants, entrepreneurs, esteemed professionals, change makers, even as many become spouses and mothers,” Punzalan-Pingol said during the program.
“Whether it’s standing up against a dictator, calling for a more equitable tuition fee system, campaigning against the US military bases, mobilizing resources during the COVID-19 lockdowns and supporting good governance, we are very proud of how our sisterhood has evolved, yet kept its original ideals, how it has branched out to more universities and responded to the needs of the times,” she added.
KEYNOTE Jo Ann Bueno-Eala, head of sustainability office at Bank of the Philippine Islands, delivers the keynote address.
The hall was filled with about 150 residents and alumnae Deltans from UP Diliman, UP Manila, UP Pampanga, UP Los Banos, UP Baguio, Holy Angel University, UCC College of Law, PUP Law, Lyceum and Bicol University, alongside brothers from Pi Sigma Fraternity and supporters.
“Our celebration started as early as last quarter of last year when we launched Pi Sigma Delta’s 50 Days of Giving. Our intent is to give back to the community and create impact in the different sectors of society for 50 days until the end of 2025, commemorating the 50 years of existence of our sorority, true its twin principles of Paglingkuran ang Sambayanan nang may Dangal (Serve the People with Dignity) and Paragon of Self-Development,” said Cecille Reyes-Garcia, chair of PSD@50 organizing core group.
1980s in retrospect
Jo Ann Bueno-Eala (Batch 1983, UP Manila), head of sustainability office at Bank of the Philippine Islands, delivered the keynote address, sharing her journey as a student leader during the Martial Law regime. The author of various chants, many of which are still relevant to this day — “Edukasyon, edukasyon, karapatan ng mamamayan (Education is the right of citizens) is just one of them — Bueno-Eala had her fair taste of tear gas and sulfur bombs and landed on the military blacklist at one point.
Staying true to the Deltan twin principles, she graduated at the Top 10 of her batch with a degree in Economics. After college, she became a fund manager and handled as much as P100 million in stock investments.
“From the streets to the boardrooms the mission remains the same, building a better Philippines one community at a time,” she said.
These days, Bueno-Eala overseas the development, management and reporting of environment, social and governance or ESG-related programs at BPI.
DELTA! Using their hands, sisters doing the triangular “Delta” sign: From left: PSD@50 Core group head of finance and marketing Angela Anila; PSE@50 chair Cecille Reyes-Garcia; Deltans Tina Maninang, Atty. Arlene Mendoza-Wilkerson, Cherryl Mendoza and newly-appointed UP vice president for public affairs, Atty. Marian Coquia-Regidor
“Sustainability is not just a buzzword. It’s a commitment to nation-building, ensuring that our growth benefits not just the present but the future generations,” she said, adding that she loves this job that it’s something she could do for free.
Despite the political turbulence in the years leading to the 1986 EDSA Revolution, the early 1980s was a good time to be a Deltan, said Nanette Ganan-Meyer (82-D UP Diliman).
She recalled the lightning rallies, mass protests and human barricades, and how Deltans had responded to the call of those times.
“We were there to barricade Camp Crame. There was a call to protect Radio Veritas; we answered that call as well,” she said.
There was a time when gunshots were heard at the mass protests. She recalled diving under a jeepney to seek refuge.
Now a seasoned attorney based in California, Ganan-Meyer urged her sisters to continue to embody the twin principles of the sisterhood.
“In this world of Alpha females who develop themselves for their own profit and Beta females who have no sense of self, be a Deltan, a woman who develops herself to her highest so she can best serve the disenfranchised, the oppressed, the voiceless. Be a Deltan always, everywhere.”
Five decades
Representatives from each decade also shared the highlights of their time, such as the mass protests against the US military bases in the 1990s and the People Power 2 that toppled Joseph Estrada in 2001.
Business Journalist Doris Dumlao-Abadilla (UP Diliman, 91-B) represented Deltans of the 1990s, followed by Jacqueline Encarnado (UPLB, ’02-A) who represented the 2000s. Resident Deltans Cherry Roxas Lacson (Tarlac State University 16-B) and Hazel Anne Day Gil (UP Clark ’18-A), respectively the current Lady Excelsius of Holy Angel University and UP Diliman chapters, represented the 2010 to 2020s.
Deltans and Sigmans of all ages breaking bread
Reyes-Garcia challenged the sisterhood to “work side by side with each other to complete the “50 Days of Giving” program this 2025.
“With our anniversary theme, Pi Sigma Delta @50: Pagpupugay sa Limampung Taong Paglilingkod at Maprinsipyong Pagharap sa Hamon ng Kinabukasan, let us all celebrate the sisters who came before us, who lived in a time different from our own, whose promises made and kept have meant a Pi Sigma Delta for all of us to appreciate, to support and to love,” Reyes-Garcia said.
“In the same breath, let this serve as a reminder to have the strength and courage to overcome the challenges of tomorrow and to maintain steady progress towards the realization of our goals as a sorority. We have the obligation of doing our very best to uphold our twin principles and create traditions which shall be sources of inspiration to the sisters of the future,” she said.
The grand homecoming was supported by Converge ICT Solutions, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Pi Sigma Fraternity Alumni Association, as well as Deltans and Sigmans from all over the world.
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