Locked and Loaded

aMUnation Takes Off with AFP MUbility

2009-03-15T23:18:00.018+08:00

Mu Sigma Phi brods with AFP Medical Center Commander Brig. Gen. Ariel Zerrudo (far left), AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Alexander Yano (center), and Dr. Penny Bundoc (far left)

From turnover of wheelchairs

Mu Sigma Phi together with Brig. Gen. Natalio Ecarma III, Deputy Commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps and Brig. Gen. Ariel Zerrudo

From turnover of wheelchairs

Mu Sigma Phi 2013 represent!!!

From turnover of wheelchairs

In a sea of green-uniformed military officers and blue-clad soldier patients, Mu Sigma Phi brods and Mu Batch 2013 stood tall and proud in their white medical attire as aMUnation’s AFP MUbility symbolically handed over 20 wheelchair units to the Armed Forces last March 7, 2009, during a Handover of Donations Ceremony conducted in the AFP Medical Center Auditorium.

aMUnation is the week-long array of charitable activities from March 7 to 13, spearheaded by the neophyte Batch 2013. Beneficiaries of the University-wide events - which includes blood and book drives, basketball and video-game tournaments, and a raffle - are AFP servicemen, Philippine General Hospital patients, and Payatas grade school and high school students. The flagship project under aMUnation is AFP MUbility, an extension of the long-standing MUbility endeavor of Mu Sigma Phi that aims to provide free wheelchairs for personnel in the military, particularly those wounded in battle and those who have developed conditions meriting mobility assistance because of their valiant service to the nation.

The Handover of Donations Ceremony was a fitting launch for aMUnation and was well-attended by top-ranking officers of the Armed Forces: Gen. Alexander Yano, AFP Chief of Staff; Rear Admiral Ramon Punzalan, Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel (J1); Maj. Gen. Carlos Holganza, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations (J3); Brig. Gen. Reynaldo Sealana, Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operations (J7); Brig. Gen. Natalio Ecarma III, Deputy Commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps; and Brig. Gen. Ariel Zerrudo, AFP Medical Center Commander. Also in attendance were the husband and wife tandem of Dr. Rafael and Josephine Bundoc, who played instrumental roles in the provision of wheelchairs.

In his welcoming remarks, Gen. Zerrudo lauded the the Fraternity for pioneering socially relevant activities as he recounted its long and multi-awarded history. He challenged the undergraduate brods to carry on in the spirit of service and assist in the military as health personnel. He also challenged the hospital staff to remain steadfast in caring for the soldiers, citing the efforts of the Fraternity as inspiration and proof of the concerned public.

Dr. Josephine Bundoc delivered a speech describing the close ties of doctors and NGOs with the military. She related her experience of soldiers giving doctors piggyback rides through rough terrain in their outreach missions for remote locations such as Zamboanga. She said that she had always wondered how best to repay the soldiers for their dedication and hard work and noted that the aMUnation AFP MUbility would be but a small token of appreciation for their help. She also said that this project would hopefully open the door for more opportunities to restore wounded servicemen to full functionality and reintegrate them into the community through wheelchairs, braces, and prostheses.

Dr. Rafael Bundoc also took to the podium, elaborating on the history that Gen. Zerrudo had accounted: the Fraternity, in fact, already had collaborations with the military even from its humble beginnings. Many of the founding members went on to serve as military doctors and the aMUnation AFP MUbility would only bring full circle the relationship of trust and cooperation between the Fraternity and the Armed Forces. Dr. Bundoc expressed his aspirations that such partnership grow in the coming years as more wheelchairs are donated and as the project expands to aid all the more those soldiers whose health and well-being have been sacrificed because of their noble vocation.

Gen. Yano conveyed his heartfelt gratitude for the wheelchair donations and reiterated how this simple gesture, even apart from the cost and material benefit, helped motivate and inspire the soldiers to press on in their profession whose unique capital is that of human life.

After the brief ceremony, the officers, guests, and Mu Sigma Phi brods retreated to a function room for snacks and refreshments, thus providing ample opportunity for socialization and discussions of future joint ventures. The contingent then proceeded to tour the hospital and the nearby Prosthetics and Brace Shop, where they were introduced to Sgt. Artemio Ibana Jr., a skilled prosthetics craftsman who had served extensively for 3 years in Cambodia. Dr. Bundoc expressed delight over the equipment and technical expertise already present in the facility and was optimistic for the future of aMUnation AFP MUbility.

Photo Gallery: aMUnation Awards Scholarship Grants and Donates Books to Children in Payatas, Quezon City [March 14, 2009]

2009-03-15T13:29:00.017+08:00

Mu Sigma Phi representatives award Mark Joshua Pobadora, the grade school aMUnation scholarship grant recepient.

From Payatas scholarship grant turnover

Mu Sigma Phi representatives together with Gerald Irigan, the high school aMUnation scholarship grant recepient.

From Payatas scholarship grant turnover

Payatas kids beam with their newly acquired children's books from the aMUnation book drive.

From Payatas scholarship grant turnover

One fascinating trait that is innate to the Filipino is the ability to effortlessly put on a smile despite all the cruel actualities of life – the Filipino is thus a bastion of hope, a gem of resilience.

When you come visit the expansive community abreast the mountainous Payatas dumpsite, the first thing that welcomes you is the sight of children with huge smiles painted on their faces, a stark but refreshing contrast to the dire surroundings. One after the other they come near you, acknowledging your presence by greeting you the sweetest way they know how. One after the other they come near you, each one wanting nothing more than your approval when they ask you to play with them, sit with them, eat with them.

The dust collecting on bookshelves, the odours that waft to wrinkle your nose, and the garbage strewn left and right do not constitute a pleasant place to live in. The experience of being amidst smiles and laughter so honest and pure, however, is enough to touch the heart and simply shrug such troubles off. Your time and talent shared with these young ones are never wasted, if only to see the familiar whites that spell thank you a million times over. But it is these smiles and laughter that tell a little more about the challenges these kids face every day, if you would only look a bit closer and listen a tad harder.

They cry of the longstanding struggle and pain brought about by the neglect of even the most basic of rights, such as nutrition, protection, and education. It isn’t so much the neglect that is perturbing, but the absence of attention and sympathy from the society that envelopes them, who mostly prefer to be onlookers and passers-by, if not ignorant strangers. Blame the system all you want but the bottom line remains that this social crisis is as real as it gets and it is here to stay - unless we step away from the high road and make the move to dirty our hands, outstretched to help, serve, and uplift.

The Mu Sigma Phi Fraternity is aware of such circumstances and continues to uphold the glorious tradition of transcending the boundaries and limitations of the health sector to come up with significant solutions and improve living conditions of the marginalized.

For aMUnation, Mu Sigma Phi 2013 handed out Scholarship Grants to grade school and high school students in the blighted community of Payatas, Quezon City. Mu Sigma Phi acknowledges the crisis in education plaguing our nation and chooses to stand up and act to end the vicious cycle of helplessness and poverty.

The famous author Scott Adams once said, Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.

We in the Mu Sigma Phi emphatically agree and we do hope that you join us as staunch and whole-hearted allies in this advocacy to make the smiles and laughter gleam brighter this 2009.

aMUnation 20 PESO LAPTOP Raffle Names Winner

2009-03-15T01:00:00.003+08:00

As aMUnation celebrations winded down to a fitting close last Friday, March 13, 2009, the 20 PESO LAPTOP Raffle made one more heart a little happier as winds of fate blew an Asus eee PC 701 into the hands of our winner, Maui Villanueva, LU III student of the UP College of Medicine. Drawing the winning ticket was guest Chesca Quinio and looking on was Mu Sigma Phi's Most Illustrious Brother, Danilo Alpapara. Also present to hand out the prize and congratulate the winner were aMUnation Overall Head, Andro Licaros, and Charity Raffle Project Head, Daniel Dellosa.

ASUS! MIB Danilo Alpapara, Raffle Winner Maui Villanueva, aMUnation Overall Head Andro Licaros, and Charity Raffle Project Head Daniel Dellosa pose with the Asus eee PC 701.

From raffle draw

Chesca Quinio from UPCM class 2013 was official civilian representative who facilitated the raffle draw.

Maui may have won the laptop grand prize, but each supporter of the Charity Raffle was a winner too - a champion for our advocacy for better education - as proceeds from ticket sales contributed to the aMUnation Scholarship Grants handed out to Grade School and High School students from the Payatas community. The scholarships were awarded the day after the Grand Raffle Draw, March 14.

aMUnation would like to thank the Charity Raffle supporters and congratulate Maui for the luck of the draw, ironically set on Friday the 13th. The Charity Raffle was brought to in cooperation with UP Manila's Quod Erat Demonstrandum.

aMUnation Blood Drive Scores 121

2009-03-13T00:39:00.008+08:00

Whether irony or fate, aMUnation blood donations beat all expectations and numbered a day past the average life span of a red blood cell.

From blood drive

In a rousing display of charity and goodwill, 121 brave donors stepped up to the challenge of aMUnation to save lives and help offset the 6000-unit yearly deficit of the PGH Blood Bank. The storm of generosity flooded the BSLR Lobby last March 11, 2009 and the CAS Little Theater last March 12, as the units of blood shot well-beyond the 30-unit quota. Also overflowing were free Jollibee Yum Burgers, Powerade refreshments, and Men’s Health and Top Gear magazines, as donors went home with a loss of a pint of blood and some 650 calories, but with a massive gain of aMUnation freebies and the abounding thanks of the PGH patients who will benefit immensely from their simple act of kindness.

aMUnation congratulates and thanks the league of donors for taking the proactive step to make a difference in the lives of others and uplift the condition of our Blood Bank. From the bottom of our hearts and our patients’, thank you!

aMUnation Basketball Celebrates its Victors

2009-03-13T00:31:00.008+08:00

aMUnation extends its warm congratulations to the deserving champions who duked it out on the basketball court last March 10 and 11, 2009:

Miko Daquilanea (2013) - Champion, 3-point Shootout
Mu Sigma Phi Batch 2009 - Champion, 3-on-3 Batchketball
Rodeo Abrencillo (2009) - Most Valuable Player, 3-on-3 Batchketball

AFTG!

From batchketbol

From Drop Box

From batchketbol

aMUnation Intubation Paraphernalia Turnover

2009-03-12T17:58:00.001+08:00

aMUnation donates ECG and hemoglobinometer through the kindness of Celso Antiporda MU '79 and David Lim MU '79.

From turnover of med equpiment?

aMUnation 2009 donates Intubation Paraphernalia to PGH Central Block Pharmacy

From turnover of med equpiment?

aMUnation Toy Fair for a Cause: Thank you for patronizing!

2009-03-12T16:45:00.000+08:00

From toy fair

aMUnation Wii Tournament Photographs. Thank you for supporting!

2009-03-12T16:34:00.002+08:00

From wiiii

aMUnation Calls Out to Blood Donor-Heroes

2009-03-11T00:53:00.009+08:00

Did you know that donating one pint of blood helps you burn 650 calories? And that the simple act of donating stimulates erythropoiesis so that you produce new blood cells? But what do these matter when the Philippine General Hospital alone experiences a YEARLY deficit of 6000 units of blood?

aMUnation brings you the opportunity to offset this persistent health dilemma and help save lives, starting with our very own PGH, through the aMUnation Bloodletting. From 8 am to 5 pm, our booths will service our bighearted donors in the BSLR Lobby and Little Theater (LT) Walk on March 11 and 12, respectively. Supporting this event is UP Manila's Quod Erat Demonstrandum.

Donors will receive:

a donor card from the PGH Blood Bank
FREE YUM BURGER from Jollibee
REFRESHMENTS care of Powerade, Bacchus Energy Drink, and Viva Mineral Water to replenish the donors' fluids
Men's Health magazine for the health-conscious , and
a chance to win a brand-new Asus EEE Pc netbook!

We value our heroes who continually patronize Mu Sigma Phi's blood drives. More important than these benefits, donors get the heartfelt gratitude of the PGH patients who benefit immensely from your act of kindness.

Step up and save lives – give blood today!

aMUnation Makes You Go Wii

2009-03-11T00:19:00.015+08:00

Would Wii ® have been as big a hit as it is today if it were called “Revolution” instead? The developers planned to, but “Wii” was straight-to-the-point and easier to pronounce. Don’t care? Then just play exciting Nintendo games with your friends as aMUnation brings the Wii craze to UP Manila!

From March 12 to 13, 2009, Wii ® Want You to enjoy all the vibrant goodness of Wii ® without having to take a hot noontime’s step outside of your beloved UP Manila campus. For just Php 50 pesos, you can register at the Mu Sigma Phi Hut beside the MSU Building and start playing for fun and for the chance to win Jollibee Gift Certificates, Bacchus Gift Packages, and other awesome prizes. Plus, proceeds will contribute to the aMUnation scholarship fund for Payatas kids!

Wii can make the difference - join the Wii tournament today and start the "revolution" for better education!

CONTEST RULES
1. Contestants will compete 1-on-1 over Nintendo Wii games which will be announced on the day of the competition.
2. The winner of each match will be challenged by the next registered player.
3. Players need a winning streak of 3 in order to move on to the finals.
4. By 3pm, all qualified players will compete for the championship.
5. The champion will win a Bacchus gift pack, Jollibee GC, and other exciting prizes!!! Wowow-Wii ®!!!

aMUnation Invites You to Stop Shooting Blanks

2009-03-10T23:16:00.006+08:00

Forget for a minute that school won’t be letting up till a few more weeks : a minute is all you’ll need to stop shooting blanks and start turning that Php 50 into Php 500 AND MORE!
aMUnation invites you to its 3-Point Shoot-Out Challenge at the Biochem Court on Wednesday, March 11, 2009. For a minimal fee of Php 50, you get four balls and 60 seconds to shoot it out from anywhere on the three-point arc. Garner the most points and get yourself Php 500 and a Bacchus Gift Package. Simple enough?
So gear up for this one-of-a-kind summer send-off – and lend a helping hand as well! Proceeds of the event will contribute to the aMUnation Scholarship Grants for Grade School and High School students from Payatas.

aMUnation sets up Book Drive Dropboxes

2009-03-10T22:44:00.007+08:00

The aMUnation Book Drive for the benefit of Payatas Grade School and High School youth is currently in full swing, as dropboxes were stationed in key college lobbies throughout the UP Manila campus. If your books are collecting dust and taking up precious space in your homes, take them to our dropboxes to not only see the light of day but also the light of beaming, eager eyes and minds, waiting to read, enjoy, and learn.

Proud partners in our mission of uplifting the condition of education beginning in urban yet marginalized communities are the UP Manila Colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Public Health, and Arts and Sciences. The Book Drive will run the entire aMUnation week, from March 9 to 13, 2009, with the Turnover to be held on March 13. A collaboration with the 20 PESO LAPTOP Raffle provides for 1 complimentary raffle ticket for every 4 books donated. Give the gift of a lasting legacy. Help end the chokehold of illiteracy and the vicious cycle of poverty and misinformation. Pave the way for a better education for tomorrow’s bright leaders and great thinkers – donate your used and idle books today!

aMUnation Introduces the aMUnation Payatas Scholarship Grant

2009-03-05T16:39:00.009+08:00

When you come visit the expansive community abreast the mountainous Payatas dumpsite, the first thing that welcomes you is the sight of children with huge smiles painted on their faces, a stark but refreshing contrast to the dire surroundings. One after the other they come near you, acknowledging your presence by greeting you the sweetest way they know how. One after the other they come near you, each one wanting nothing more than your approval when they ask you to play with them, sit with them, eat with them.

The dust collecting on bookshelves, the odours that waft to wrinkle your nose, and the garbage strewn left and right do not constitute a pleasant place to live in. The experience of being amidst smiles and laughter so honest and pure, however, is enough to touch the heart and simply shrug such troubles off. Your time and talent shared with these young ones are never wasted, if only to see the familiar whites that spell thank you a million times over. But it is these smiles and laughter that tell a little more about the challenges these kids face every day, if you would only look a bit closer and listen a tad harder.

They cry of the longstanding struggle and pain brought about by the neglect of even the most basic of rights, such as nutrition, protection, and education. It isn’t so much the neglect that is perturbing, but the absence of attention and sympathy from the society that envelopes them, who mostly prefer to be onlookers and passers-by, if not ignorant strangers. Blame the system all you want but the bottom line remains that this social crisis is as real as it gets and it is here to stay - unless we step away from the high road and make the move to dirty our hands, outstretched to help, serve, and uplift.

The Mu Sigma Phi Fraternity is aware of such circumstances and continues to uphold the glorious tradition of transcending the boundaries and limitations of the health sector to come up with significant solutions and improve living conditions of the marginalized.

For aMUnation, Mu Sigma Phi 2013 will be handing out Scholarship Grants to grade school and high school students in the blighted community of Payatas, Quezon City. Mu Sigma Phi acknowledges the crisis in education plaguing our nation and chooses to stand up and act to end the vicious cycle of helplessness and poverty.

The famous author Scott Adams once said,

Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.

We in the Mu Sigma Phi emphatically agree and we do hope that you join us as staunch and whole-hearted allies in this advocacy to make the smiles and laughter gleam brighter this 2009.

aMUnation Readies 20-PESO Laptop Raffle

2009-03-04T23:00:00.016+08:00

The brand-new Asus Eee PC 701 Laptop arrived in the aMUnation headquarters late last March 4, 2009 – a compact vision in black. A welcome development as the Grand Raffle Draw date draws nearer, the charitable 20-PESO LAPTOP RAFFLE will run the entire aMUnation week, from March 7-13, 2009. Up for the luck of the draw, the Asus Eee PC is a formidable operations machine that can propel the fortunate winner to the forefront of entertainment, education, and efficiency, being the very netbook that sparked the continuing technological revolution to develop the ultimate UMPC (Ultra Mobile PC) of today. This unit comes with One (1) Year Warranty (parts and service covered).

ASUS MIO! YES YOU CAN - win it today.

Proceeds of the Raffle will contribute to the aMUnation Payatas scholarship grants, to be turned-over to the deserving scholars on the date of the raffle draw as well. Never before has an Asus gone for Php 20: get this rare chance, buy your tickets today! For tickets and more information, contact 09228261292.

aMUnation webmasters recommend this unit for lightning-fast trans making and blogging!

aMUnation invades the AFP

2009-02-27T18:09:00.011+08:00

Preparations for Mu Sigma Phi 2013’s aMUnation Charity Project stepped up last February 26, 2009, as Project Heads Andro Licaros and Popo Dumlao, Project Coordinator Chuck Ecarma, and other key representatives paid a courtesy call to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff, Gen. Alexander Yano, and AFP Surgeon General, Gen. Joselito Castro, to discuss the planned wheelchair donations for wounded and differently-abled servicemen. This extension of the MUbility Program that has long been giving wheelchairs to the deserving is set for a grand turnover on March 7, 2009 as a fitting kick-off for the week-long aMUnation celebrations.

THE GENERALS. Gen. Yano and Gen. Castro discuss with aMUnation representatives.

“It’s not the material things that touch us, but the gesture of sympathy and concern, giving our soldiers the motivation boost for serving the citizenry with their lives,” Gen. Yano said of the wheelchair endowment, giving the example of simplicity that young students set - sending in letters to encourage the war-weary heroes, aptly addressed “para sa magigiting na kawal Pilipino.”

NOT FOR YOU. NOT FOR ME. BUT FOR US. Gen. Yano discusses Service and Inspiration with Chuck Ecarma.

Mu 2013 representatives presented a Certificate of Partnership to Gen. Yano and Gen. Castro for their invaluable support and cooperation with keen efforts to lighten the predicament of the less-fortunate soldiers of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. As a gesture of appreciation, the bemedalled Chief of Staff offered the AFP Medical Center Auditorium as venue for the turnover and discussed plans of including the event in the military publication to spread the good word of inspiration among the armed forces, particularly those in remote areas campaigning for peace and justice.

PARTNERS. aMUnation presents the Certificate of Partnership to the Chief of Staff and Surgeon General. (L-R:) Surgeon Gen. Castro; Coordinator to the AFP, Lt. Pernito; Overall project co-head, Popo Dumlao; Publicity head, Uly Gopez; Overall project head, Andro Licaros,; AFP Chief of Staff, Gen. Yano; AFP MUbility coordinator, Chuck Ecarma; Documentation, Daniel Dellosa; Logistics, Loloy Santos; Col. Taguibao.

ATTEN-HUT! aMUnation representatives with the servicemen in formation.

Contact us

2009-02-25T22:04:00.005+08:00

List of Activities

2009-02-25T02:22:00.007+08:00

From March 9 to 13, 2009, Mu Sigma Phi will be hosting aMUnation, a week-long array of University-wide activities in the continued tradition of 75 years of glorious existence:

• MUbility: Wheelchair Assembly and Donation for the handicapped of the Armed Forces of the Philippines

• Grade School and High School scholarship grants for the blighted Payatas community residents

• Blood-letting in UP Manila for the benefit of the Philippine General Hospital and Mu Sigma Phi blood banks

• Book drive for the underprivileged youth in Metro Manila

• Basketball tournaments

• Video game face-offs

• Charity raffle draw for the benefit of the Mu Sigma Phi Service Committee

The aMUnation Corps

2009-02-24T02:48:00.002+08:00

aMUnation is a week-long event of Mu Sigma Phi batch 2013 featuring different service activities. It also includes minor fund-raising drives that are aimed to reinforce our resources for the service activities.

The aMUnation corps

Over-all Project Coordinators: Andro Reginald L. Licaros / Carlo Polo F. Dumlao

AFP MUbility Coordinator: Nathan Charles A. Ecarma

Scholarship Grant Coordinator: Jose Vicente M. Danguilan

Blood Drive Coordinators: Rolando D. Ventura Jr. / Reno Eufemon P. Cereno

Book Drive Coordinator: Arginino Romeo V. Dorado

Basketball Tournaments Coordinators: Brent Andrew G. Viray / Miko C. Daquilanea

Video Game Face-off Coordinators: John Edwil S. Yambot

Head of Finance: Mark Anthony R. Ruanto

Sponsorships Coordinator: Maxim E. Salva Jr.

Heads of Logistics: Gerald Paul D. Santos / David Jonathan D. Santos

Head of Publicity: Ulysses King G. Gopez

Documentation: Daniel Adrian G. Dellosa

We represent Mu Sigma Phi fraternity batch 2013. Guided by the four pillars of the fraternity: Brotherhood, Leadership, Scholarship, and Service, we strive to serve the people by trying to improve their quality of life. As students of the UP College of Medicine, we uphold the values of a Filipino doctor in our quest of eliminating our nation’s ailments.

Welcome.

2009-02-23T22:01:00.003+08:00

The MU SIGMA PHI FRATERNITY, INC. is the pioneering medical fraternity of the UP College of Medicine, an eminent figure in the campus and the Philippine General Hospital for over 75 years. Guided by its pillars of Brotherhood, Leadership, Scholarship, and Service, the Fraternity aims to cultivate among its members true comradeship and brotherhood, a sense of responsible and dedicated leadership, a lifelong pursuit for scholastic advancement, and an unselfish spirit of self-denying service. Since 1933, it has proven itself repeatedly as one of the country’s most exceptional. Most recently, it was named as the First among 2008’s Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) by the National Youth Commission under the Office of the President. In 1997, the Fraternity was the recipient of the Most Active Non-Governmental Organization Partner in Luzon Award given by the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor. Mu Sigma Phi was chosen by UP Manila as its Most Outstanding Student Organization for a record 10 years—the most for any organization—and was elevated to the Hall of Fame, thus becoming the first organization to be accorded such honor.