The Decade of the 80’s: A Reminiscence

We welcome our Brother Alphans to our first monthly fellowship meeting this year, which is also the induction of the Directors and Officers of our Alumni Association.

Fraternity history will always remember the decade of the 80’s as the Alpha’s "golden Decade" not perhaps, in the same sense as the 60’s is billed by most as the "Golden Years" of Alphan achievement and accomplishment. It is simply because in this historical decade when the Fraternity marked its "coming of age" as an institution that has withstood the test of time. Fifty years of unbroken tradition of brotherhood in the pursuit of relevance and excellence.

The 80’s were rather turbulent and trying times for the Filipino people. Through all the ups and downs of our nation’s difficult journey, the Alpha Phi Beta remained steadfast. Drawing strength from both its alumni and resident brothers, it was able to withstand the onslaught of an even changing socio-political landscape of the ‘80s.

In the midst of turmoil and confusion, what kept the Alphans going was the singular thought of and obsession with the Fraternity’s golden jubilee year. Every one excitedly anticipated the lavish celebration of the momentous event. IF only for this thought, all obstacles and problems were worth struggling for.

The resident Alphans of the 80’s somehow knew that theirs was the task of paving the way toward a proud and glorious golden jubilee celebration. They knew that the best way to do this way was to reassert and reaffirm the Alphan tradition of excellence in forensics, academics and campus leadership. The alumni brothers have shown the way, the resident Alphans could therefore do no less. And so, "Toward a new golden era" have became the rallying call of the Alphans of the 80’s.

But so-called golden eras of the Fraternity do not come about overnight, especially after long years of neglect. This was one of the painful lessons of the ‘80s. One cannot tread the path of waste and carefree abandon and expect to come out as number one. The aimlessness inherited from preceding decades took their toll on the Fraternity during the 80’s. This would somehow explain the lackluster years if this period.

There is no long and impressive list if Philippine Collegian editors, USC Chairmen and PLJ editors. In the span of ten years, only Brod Roan Libarios managed to capture the editorship of the Collegian inspite of the almost yearly attempts by brods on the editorial exams.

On the bright side, however, the "arid years" of the Fraternity in the Collegian were sprinkled with valiant efforts of Brods Jijil Jimenez, Alexis Medina, Rollie Fabi, Armand Mejia and of course, LC Arnie Oclarit who kept the candle of journalism burning through their stints as Associate and Managing Editors.

Campus politics, to which the Alpha has a long standing claim to fame, having produced at least five shining Council Chairmen from Antonio Azores to Leo Quizumbing, Enrique Voltaire Garcia and Ben Muego to Ericson Baculinao, was another casualty in the 80’s. Having lost its way in the political mainstream of the UP studentry, the brods found it extremely difficult to reassert their political leadership in the light of the leftist domination of what passed for UP student politics. By the time the Fraternity regained its political composure in the post-Marcos period in 1987, it has lost much of its bailiwicks, most particularly the skill to achieve a successful conquest of the Chairmanship. However, its new found home with the founding of the Independent Student Alliance saw the Fraternity emerge as a respected political force in UP inspite of successive defeats by narrow margins at the polls. The resident brods started with the grassroots, capturing the leadership of their respective organizations. Thus, during the latter part of the 80’s, the Fraternity was able elect Brods Jijil Jimenez and Ariel Nepomuceno as USC Councilors.

Admittedly, the 80’s was no "golden era" for the Alpha Phi Beta as compared to the achievements of the 60’s . But come to think of it, the same was true for every would-be UP Fraternity. The Fraternity system in Diliman was at a low point and no single group could claim absolute sway. And this was perhaps the Alphans’ good blessing.

Toward the latter part of the decade, a resurgent Alpha Phi Beta emerged to reestablish its presence in the campus. In the brief period from ‘87-’89, the brods were able to regain their sense of purpose, confidence and momentum to move the Fraternity to greater heights. What was begun in the early 80’s, through the efforts of Lord Chancellors Dennis Habawel and Andrew Lagmay found their logical continuations.

Whatever judgment history may bestow upon the labors of the Alphans in the 80’s largely remains to be seen from the outcome of the 90’s. But if any achievement should be credited to the 80’s, it is the fact that the Alphans of this period succeeded in keeping the Fraternity together in one piece, intact amidst the turmoil of the decade, to turn it around in the face of setbacks and misfortunes, and emerge triumphant as a survivor in the vicious game of life.