In 1988, the first Saturday Kapihan was peaking, with attendance at times exceeding 50 brods. The “free-wheeling” and “no official business” mood in the kapihan or “mamihan” at times was its main attraction. Brods would come and see brods, ka-batch or not, whom they had not seen for ages. Residents would also visit to promote and solicit support for their projects. Official and non-official businesses do prosper from this kapihan meetings. By the middle of 1988, the venue was at the Ha Kee mami house, just across the original and usual kapihan venue, Mr. Donut Greenhills, which was closed at the time because of labor problems.

By this time, the 60th founding anniversary was just around the corner and the kapihan brods decided it was time to formally organize a group that would address such recurring concerns, and to further enhance camaraderie amongst the alumni.

In late 1988, the brods elected its first 7 interim directors who then organized the more formal body which officially became the Beta Epsilon Alumni, Inc. The first 7 directors were Egbert Abiad, Tony Tanchuling, Lito Manahan, Ojie Alzona, Tristan Macapanpan, Mon Escueta and Jabby Jasminez. Board membership was then increased to 15 directors, with a novel consideration, i.e. membership must fairly represent brods from three (3) decades. Eligible directors are brods who were least 10 years old from their batch. (This practice is still being done today.)

The original 15 directors elected during a grand kapihan were:

Filemon T. Berba Jr, ‘55, President; Angelo V. Manahan, ‘58, VP; Pablo A. Jazmines, ‘51; Antonio N. Tanchuling, ‘50; Manuel U. Agustines, ‘55; Leopoldo V. Abis, ‘52; Ruperto R. Kapunan III, ‘59; Ramon D. Escueta, ‘64; Tristan H. Macapanpan, ‘62; Domingo T. Toledo, ‘64; Pablo T. Sugay, Jr., ‘74; Roberto D. Fabian, ‘75; Egbert B. Abiad, ‘62; Wilson C. Wy Tiu, ‘71; Joselito D. Alzona, ‘74; Prof. Dominador I. Ilio, Executive Adviser.

The first year of the BEAI was a hectic one. Preparations for the 60th anniversary were immediately put into place. Coordination with the resident officers was also set-up, as the residents, at the time, did not have any experience in organizing a very large event revolving around the fraternity sweetheart and the reunion ball. This was to be the first fraternity ball in about 10 years while the last one was during the 1979 golden anniversary. Fund raising was the first major activity and was handled superbly by the late Tony Tanchuling who at the time was EVP for Benguet Corporation, together with Emon Ilustre BE ‘75 who was Purchasing and Logistics Manager in the same company (Emon is now the president of Atlas Fertilizers). Entertainment and hotel arrangements were handled by Mike Villanueva and Ojie Alzona assisted by the other directors. Publications were handled by Prof. Dom Ilio and Egbert Abiad with terrific support from the likes of Lorie Febre ‘74, and very young alumni Ots Estrella ‘83 and Jojo Malolos ‘82. The residents who also worked very hard were the likes of MEB Bobby Enriquez, Ricky Manahan, Mikey Villanueva, Dante del Rosario and Mike Sicat. All the hard work culminated in a terrific fraternity ball held at the Manila Garden Hotel (now Hotel Dusit) with live band and ball room dancing, and well attended by Betans and Betanettes with several of them coming from the 1930’s and the 1940’s.

More alumni activities followed the fraternity ball throughout 1990 under the leadership of Fil Berba. Quarterly testimonial dinners were held with distinguished brods toasted and asked to give speeches on relevant technical and economic issues. With Makati as the deliberately and strategically chosen site, these formal dinners were meant to attract “corporate type” brods who are unable to attend the less formal kapihan by virtue of the kapihan’s location and schedule. Brods Dave Consunji, Cezar Buenaventura, Francis Ablan, and SW Josie Lichauco were some of the guests featured in these dinners. These activities helped further improve alumni relations and support.

Amidst the well publicized Leonard de Villa hazing death and several other fraternity violence in the news at the time, the BEAI strengthened its resident affairs and support program and initiated an alumni-resident summit to tackle concerns related to initiation, recruitment and campus rumbles. The summit of 1991 was hosted by brod Francis Ablan ‘48 who was then president of Caltex Phils, and was held at the Caltex auditorium. The summit ended with a declaration of alumni support for the residents’ capability to manage and address concerns related to fraternity violence.

Concerns for fraternity related violence was also the concern of other UP frats at the time. The Barkada ng UP Frats (the alumni golfing group) drafted a resolution that came to be known as the 1991 Peace Accord. Lito Manahan, BEAI 1990-91 president and MEB Stein Macabulos ‘89 signed in our behalf. Another signatory was Mike Villanueva ‘59 who was Barkada executive member at the time (and later Barkada and BEAI President). The signing ceremony was held at the executive house in the presence of UP President Abueva.

Many more activities have followed through the terms of succeeding presidents, varied and interesting. The BEAI through the years has evolved indeed, its varying activities dictated by what the times demanded. But one thing has remained, the BEAI vision to keep the Beta Epsilon fire burning in each one of us has persisted, and the BEAI movement has definitely helped. While other fratmen would say “I used to belong to a frat”, we would proudly say “Once a Betan, always a Betan”.

Roster of Past BEAI Presidents:

1989 Filemon T. "Jun" Berba, Jr., ‘55
1990 Angelo V. "Lito" Manahan, ‘58
1991 Miguel M. "Mike" Villanueva, ‘59
1993 Isidro A. "Sid" Consunji, ‘67
1994 Roberto D. "Robbie" Fabian, ‘75
1995 Alex Roselle F. Santos, ‘59
1996 Tristan H. Macapanpan, ‘62
1997 Alfonso R. "Al" Concepcion, ‘53
1998 Domingo T. “Doming" Toledo, ‘64
1999 Reynaldo C. "Rey" Salazar, ‘67
2000 Pedro H."Pete" Maniego, ‘68
2001 Edgar Raul "Rollo" Mauricio, ‘69
2002 Joselito D. "Ojie" Alzona, ‘74