Varrons Vignettes

Melin

“Melin dela Peña, First Quarter Storm ’78”]. . . A Valentines Day celebration when the vrods gave the Varronettes bracelet (sweet memory) . . . when we were invited by then GV of the Forestry Chapter, Vrod Rod Fuentes, to attend their finals and Vrod Tonton Contreras lost consciousness (terrifying moments) . . . when we (me, Sis Meklay and Vrod Obet Acda) represented the UPVL in the ASH quiz contest and we were kulelat (Very embarrassing considering that Varrons had always been the Champion) . . . when we were “smuggled” inside the Women’s Dorm by the sisses (Sis Lelen F, et al) who were residing there (suspense/thriller) . . . a particular Feb Fair when we were asked by the then OSA Dean Patrick McDivith: “Hiwalay or Magkasama?” when we were judged in the Best Booth competition and we were announced as that year’s winner as “Ang dalawang pinag-isa”. . .

John

“John Alvin Reyes, Unlimited ‘05”]Maaga akong namulat sa loob ng organisasyon. Malaki ang naitulong ng UP VARRONS LTD sa buhay ko bilang estudyante at bilang tao, at kahit hanggang ngayon, dala ko pa rin ang aral na itinuro sa akin ng ating organisasyon: “Makataong pamumuhay”. Kahit saan magpunta ay kailangan at bitbit-bitbit ang mga aspeto nito na katotohanan, pag-ibig, hustisya at kalayaan. Masayang kasama ang mga Varrons at alam mong sa Varrons ay hindi ka mag-iisa, lagi kang may kasangga at kasama, sa lungkot man o saya. Sa kabila ng pagkakaiba ng bawa’t isa ay sama-sama pa rin tungo sa pagkakaisa. Masarap maging Varrons para sa pag-unlad mo bilang tao. Masarap maging Varrons para sa kapwa mo dahil masarap tumulong sa kapwa nating tao. AD ASTRA PER ASPERA!

Tess

“Tess Harina-Borromeo, Rodeo ‘74”]*** Ang napakainit, malaya at makabuluhang talakayan ukol sa pagtatanggal ng paddling during initiation rites. Ang galing, those were really a discussion of great minds which I really cherish. I think that was where I got the guts to speak out what’s in my mind. *** Regular meetings were all special; brods and sisses were all prepared for the agenda to be tackled. Late comers were punished with a fine, so we always started the meeting on time. Brods were so sweet and gentlemen, they had to make ‘sundo and hatid’ the sisses. *** Ang paglalala ng mga kinolektang dahon ng niyog para sa dalawang dome for the February/September(?) Fair, plus the posting of the photos for the exhibit. *** Ang pagsakay namin ni Pola ng tren at 25 cents sa Crossing para kumuha ng mga kalakal sa New Bilibid Prisons, Muntinlupa para sa fund raising activities tuwing Feb Fair. *** Ang pagbabasa ng ‘Dearest’ upang maaliw at makiisa sa kasayahan o kalungkutan ng kapwa Varrons. *** Asan na kaya ang mga record books, with the minutes of every meeting? As a former Varron Scribe, I had to submit the summary of the minutes to OSA to get a permit for the use of PhySci rooms for the next meeting. It was a great experience in managing time.

Olah

“Olah Aldemita, DST ’77”]Being a new member of the UPVL in the summer of 1977, I programmed myself to be a faithful follower of our elderly vrods and sis. So when they said, “O Olah kanta ka”, eh di kanta ako. “Mag emcee ka sa 25th anniversary,” eh di emcee ako. Pero of all the things that they asked me to do which was really NOT me, was to write a song and sing it in a competition. Wala talaga, Vrod Mario Granados and I tried very hard to compose one, until the night before the contest. We wrote and we sang. Yun nga lang talo, I forgot the lyrics kasi . . . hay!!!. But the experience was good. Thanks UPVL!!!

I joined the UPVL because of the prodding of people close to me: Sis Malou Torrizo-Santos, Sis Lyn and Brod Mar Torrizo. I just wanted to have a barkada to hang-out with. But now as I look back, it was through the UPVL that I developed my pro-people stance which paralleled with my upbringing as a UCCP Christian youth. The faith was honed in the church but the action was sharpened in the company of social practitioners . . . the UPVL. In times when I am asked to give a talk in the church, I always insert a few Varrons’ principle “the humane life” which is also the “Christian life”.

My fiancé (now my husband Nestor) and I usually drop by the house of our Sisses in Palis Apt in De Marses every after work before going home to San Pablo. It was one of those rainy days in September that I had to get an important document from them, even if there was a brown-out. The house was only lighted with a candle. We were asked to sit and as we did, the light came back. This was when Ate Nene (Sisses Pola and Meklay’s sister) saw that the dress I was wearing was inside out. I turned red and everybody was laughing because they understood that something just happened in the course of the brown-out. Anyway, we got married a month after.

Some Vrods and Sisses in one way or the other have been part of my life and served as inspiration. My roommates Sisses Malou, Lelen, Belle and Sis Lenlen and Meklay are my undergrad close friends; Sisses Pola, Tess, Lyn, Christy are my soul mates; Vrod Tantso, Aris, Philip, Nestor, Edwin, Mar and Edmund are my intellectual vrods who awed me with their intellectual and political rhetorics; and Manang Cion Raymundo and Sis Nina Halos are my most loved and honored Sisses I am lucky to have worked with, as we have closely-related expertise and discipline. Thanks UPVL for the camaraderie and the inspiration.

Ogie

“Rogelio Gibe, Orion ’98”]My UPVL applicant days were not smooth-sailing; in fact I was ready to quit on my 7th day of reporting after I approached Kuya Noel Urriza (whom I long to see again). He lambasted my reason for joining UPVL, insulted me in the process, and eventually did not sign my tickler. But after the Kuya Noel experience, I reported to Ate Maricon Reyes, and she inspired me with these words “Ogie, unang usap ko pa lang sa’yo, alam ko bagay ka dito sa Varrons?” But, because of Kuya Noel, I still had doubts. After Ate Con, I reported to Kuya Oli (the MemCom Chair) and he struck me and really inspired me to continue with these words “Wow, di natin napapansin, bukas Vrod na kita!!!”After that conversation, I decided to pursue the UPVL, but first I needed to go back to Kuya Noel to prove myself. After class, I think it was a Monday morning, I sought Kuya Noel, saw and approached him at the CFNR Administration Building, and told him “Varron, gusto ko pong mag-report sa inyo para makilala ko po kayo at makilala din po ninyo ako.” I didn’t know if I really said something right, but he smiled at me and brought me in front of the building. We talked and he gave me a lecture on national issues, signed my tickler and said to me “Kita tayo sa finals ninyo sa Friday!”

Then, came the finals. To be honest, the most difficult part for me was the talent portion, where I sang “Flowers” by Rivermaya. After that, even though I received a few blows and kicks during “Ungguyan”, and received what was really intended for my buddy Rubie, I didn’t find it difficult because I had expected the worst. The most touching part was the last portion, when everyone sang the “Impossible Dream” while Ate Dolly and Kuya Jonar read the Varrons Allegiance and my batchmates and I were holding each other. We removed our blindfold, and opened our eyes…we were officially UPVL members! Batch Orion was born on August 1, 1998, which is also, incidentally, the birthday of the then Grand Varron More.