Lord Chancellor's Message

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.

We sincerely thank Brod Associate Justice Rey S. Puno for joining us today as our Inducting Officer and Guest of Honor and Speaker, despite his hectic schedule. As we know, he is one of the visionary Alphans who founded our Association in 1966. We feel honored with his presence.

In the near future, Brod Justice Rey will become the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He will thus have the rare opportunity to make a difference in the life of our people by improving the quality of the administration of justice in the country. Very few have enjoyed that privilege and we are proud that one of them will soon come from the Alpha Phi Beta Fraternity.

The outstanding achievements of Brod Justice Rey Puno in the Judiciary serve as an inspiration to us all Alphans. So do those of other Alphans who serve or have served the Highest Tribunal with distinction such as Brods Leo Quisumbing, Abe Sarmiento, Hugo Gutierrez and Abdul Wahid Bidin.

Another opportunity to make a difference in our national life beckons in the legislature where in the past many Brods distinguished themselves, and local governments in the next elections. (You bet there will be elections in 2004.) For the Senate alone, we will have at least four (4) highly qualified Alphan candidates, namely Brods Bobby Barbers, Joey Lina, Sonny Alvarez, and Oca Orbos. This is not to demote Brod Sen. Bobby who may have a clear shot at the Vice Presidency of the land. For the House of Representatives, we have a number of unbeatable Alphan re-electionists such as Brods Reps. Caloy Padilla, Tony Abaya and Chiz Escudero as well as the formidable line-up led by veterans Reps. Edcel Lagman, Dante Liban, Manny Sanchez and Roan Libarios.

Add to this the list of prominent Alphans who aspire to serve in the local governments and we get a good number of our members who can, when elected, help promote collectively or individually the greater good of the greater number of our people, through legislation or policy initiatives.

This is not to forget many Alphans waiting in the wing in the Executive Branch who can ably fill high and sensitive posts if given a break. Nor our equally capable Brods in the private sector who also can make a difference in their fields of work, profession or business. We are sure the same opportunity to bring about meaningful changes exists in their own private endeavors. Our networking efforts, soon to get underway, will aim to identify the particular areas and concerns where positive action can be facilitated.

Our Brotherhood intends to be actively involved in helping the Alphans pursue their goals, ready to provide all the support it can muster, to the end that Alphans will be first in the country in the same manner they are first in UP. Our National Political Affairs and Placement Committees will be there to spearhead the task.

We hope to kick off this undertaking with our fellowship meeting today. We say again, we will further strengthen our bonds of brotherhood as a stepping stone for the work that lies ahead. By its Charter, our Association indeed seeks to promote fellowship and provide assistance to our members. Fellowship will facilitate extension of assistance to brother Alphans.

We are grateful that the Brods agreed to join me in the Board and the Committees to serve in our own modest way. There may be sacrifice about our time or personal comfort but all of us are prepared to work and do something good for our Fraternity.

Ours being a voluntary Association, its success depends largely on the support and cooperation of our leaders and members as well. We have no illusion to expect differently. But this does not mean we will be lacking in dedication and commitment. For we are determined to make a difference too.