Susan Peñaranda Ledesma-Batac

When I was a little girl, I enjoyed weaving dreams. I fantasized on childhood wishes of a life of fairy tale. As I grow older, I continued weaving dreams. This time I was looking at the future. I was wishing for the best life for me. Now that I am at the prime of my life, I feel looking going back to the best days of my life, when there were no wrinkles to worry, no aching joints to contend with and no graying hairs to color. The year 1962 was one of the best years in my student life, maybe because it was my last year in college but more so because I became a MU SIGMA PHIan.

Yes, September 1962. When all the campus politics have died down, when all the officers and members of the different student organizations were chosen and after the celebration of the August feast of St. Augustine, the first University Sorority, the MU SIGMA PHI Sorority, recognized and supported by the administration was born.

Atty. Tomas A. Sajo, founder of the already existing SIGMA CHI Fraternity, felt that while there were BROD in the USA campus, there should also be SISTERs to pose some challenges to the male species. So he decided to institute a Sorority.

The first moves were not so rosy for Brod Tom or Uncle Tom as we all fondly call him. He had to scout for members who embodied the characteristics of a true MU SIGMA PHIan spiritually, morally and academically. A MU SIGMA PHIan has to be somebody worth emulating and looking up to. On top of it, she has also to excel academically.

Invitations to join were extended to a few “cream of the crop” of the different academic departments. At first, not all responded, since a Sorority was a novelty in the USA campus. At that time, selection was done very discreetly. Only five attended the first brainstorming session held at the residence of Sis Elyce Jaleco Hechanova in La Paz. The first selected few were Elyce Jaleco Hechanova (Commerce), Joanna Villanueva Barrido, (Education); Nilde Sazon Bedua, (Dentistry); Rhodora Alva Fernandez, (Normal) and Susan Peñaranda Ledesma (Liberal Arts). The succeeding session brought in additional three more – Meredith Mondejar Carag, (Education) Evelyn Canillas Camposano, (Law) and Emma Riccio Masigon, (Normal).

After more brainstorming sessions with Uncle Tom, the group of eight were inducted as the charter members of the MU SIGMA PHI Sorority on September 27, 1962. This day a Sisterhood was sealed with Joanna Villanueva Barrido as the first Most Idyllic Sister (MIS). In attendance during this very significant day were no less than the members of the Augustinian Community headed by Fr. Bienvenido Junquera, OSA, rector. Also in attendance were some faculty members from the different academic departments. Mrs. Elisea Saldana was the first adviser.

Only a few months after, the first batch of neophytes were initiated and inducted and before we knew it another batch joined in. There were three batches of initiations for the first year of existence, each incoming neophytes armed and embellished with characteristics called for a true MU SIGMA PHIan.

Our first year was a very rewarding experience. Aside from increasing the tribe, we have developed the ties of true sisterhood and have created a special bond with our brothers in the SIGMA CHI Fraternity. Most Sorority activities were held hand in hand with our Brods in the Fraternity. Brainstorming sessions with Uncle Tom did not end with the induction of the Charter Members. These sessions went on and they were the guiding hands of this very young sisterhood.

We have grown in years, forty five years from now, yet the inspiring guidance of the man behind the birth of SIGMA CHI and MU SIGMA PHI goes on. We salute him and thank him most sincerely for his commitment.

We also have grown in numbers, proof of the many gifted past and present female students of the University of San Agustin. We were not wrong to choose to be part of this noble Sorority. Joining hands, we have accomplished a lot not only for ourselves, but also for our community and for our school. We have shared our gifts with those who need it.

Sisters, let us go for another forty five years and more!!!