Recollections from a couple of Varrons

Danny

Frank is busy with various consultancy services involving industrial agroforestry development and zero pesticide agriculture. Danny, the official booth/exhibit designer of the UPVL during his undergraduate years, is still recovering from stroke and currently resides in Umali Subdivision, Los Baños.

We did not have laptops and digital cameras during our time. It was rather difficult to document our Varrons batch activities even with the use of the old camera format. We can only try to remember the infant stages of UP Varrons Ltd. (UPVL) years; thanks, we have not suffered from full Alzheimer’s yet.

Souvenir program cover designed by Kurde de Asis (Honorary Member ’90)

UPVL was recognized as a legitimate campus organization in 1962, composed of scholars who were afraid of becoming victims of hazing as commonly practiced by other Greek-letter orgs. Ad Astra Per Aspera! That Varrons motto was facing a test with the following questions: Could we have a student brotherhood without hazing during initiation? Could our organization last without the blood compact between brothers? Could we just be a happy organization with its headquarters (HQ) at Copeland Heights? Backed by the words “Ad Astra Per Aspera,” could we grow just like the other organizations? Could we establish a sister organization or a coed organization in the campus?

Batch ’63 was a test batch to determine the possibility of recruitment and brotherhood without hazing. Truly, UPVL proved that there were so many students wanting to join organizations but were afraid of hazing. One of us (Frank) and Mario Q. Sulit were the first forestry recruits of Nelson Mercado (Forestry Charter Member). We still remember our strategy of building a pyramid-like recruitment system to increase membership. We recruited practically all the research assistant scholars from the UP College of Forestry (UPCF) who then organized the Varrons Forestry Chapter.

It was also during our time that the lady Varrons, fondly christened as Varronettes, were recognized (by the way, Frank got married to one, Manuela Y. Panol, batch ‘65). Perhaps, the frequent activities together developed lasting relationships.

Our Varrons’ house was situated along Copeland Heights at the back of Men’s Dorm. Mr. Alejandro Apacible, an official of PHILSUGIN and the father of charter member Manny, requested UPCA Dean Dioscoro Umali to allow his son Manny to build a cottage in the area. At that time, cottages were built in Copeland Heights to house indigent students of the UPCA. The house was split-level, with two bed rooms. The roof was made of nipa and the walls and floorings were constructed from sturdy bamboos. At some point, two other Varrons lived in the cottage: one of us (Danny) and charter member Armand Atienza. The house also became the meeting and bonding place for Varrons. Our meetings were always held in the living/dining room and “pulutan” was easily cooked in the kitchen. It amazes us up to now how Varrons could consume gallons of alcoholic drinks as often as the occasion permitted and still maintained their scholarships. Truly a Varron character!

We did not have any modern means of communication between the Forestry and Aggie chapters (no cell phones yet), but through word of mouth, we knew where to assemble for org meetings. We practically joined all activities in UPCA which were usually held at Baker Hall since the Social Garden was too small for campus activities. Our most memorable moment was, of course, participating in the campus-wide formal balls where we could dance with our sis and other girls in the campus. This annual event engendered intimate relationships particularly among the members of the same student organizations – Varrons and Varronettes, Upsilons and Sigma Deltans, Beta Sigmas and Sigma Betans, etc. Our Forestry vrods also attended another school ball held at the UPCO swimming pool where some sis were invited. We also had the September Fair, now popularly known as February Fair. Yours truly (Danny), a skillful carpenter and a frustrated architect, was always assigned to head the construction and design of the Varrons booth in the fair, which was held during that time inside the Baker Hall. The Varrons participation in the September fair was not only meant to showcase the org but also to raise funds for its various activities in the campus. We held Bingo games, which were very well attended by the students.

We also had several outings which were joint activities of “ons” and “nettes,” usually during fiestas, social picnics, final rites held at Flat Rocks, and our very own annual anniversaries. Some vrods and sis were fortunate enough to keep old photos of these events.

Hopefully, with the various modern gadgets available at our disposal, we can fully digitally document our Golden Anniversary celebration, take photos of the different Varrons batches in attendance and with the help of some of our batchmates in the UPVL, fill in the missing gaps in our humble recollection of this time.

Congratulations to all of us on our 50th year anniversary as a student organization!

AD ASTRA PER ASPERA! GO…GO…GO………60th Anniversary!