The Beta Epsilon of North America brings together a community of over two hundred Betans living in the Western hemisphere. Through B.E.N.A., the values, principles, camaraderie and brotherhood nurtured at the University are continually practiced, reinforced and strengthened. B.E.N.A. is able to serve as an alumni association as well, providing important connections and steady communication between the resident brothers in U.P. and the rest of the members of the Beta Epsilon Fraternity worldwide.

The consolidation of Betans living overseas through an organization such as B.E.N.A. has proven to be an expedient endeavor made possible only through the collaborative efforts of all Betans who have lived in unity with one another as if bonded by true blood. B.E.N.A. continues to thrive since its official establishment seventeen years ago into a successful nationwide organization with definite objectives and numerous noteworthy accomplishments for which it can hold great pride.

It was in June of 1986, in fact, during the wedding of Luz and Etao Salcedo (BE ‘60) that talks of a first national reunion of Betans all over the Americas started. Brods from the West Coast, Canada, the NY Tri-state area, Virginia and Pennsylvania were present in the gathering, though some were not invited. It may be said that the occasion was the beginning of the Beta Epsilon of North America. To maximize attendance, San Francisco was chosen to be the site of the very first reunion. Roger Panlasigui (BE ‘60) was to spearhead the project, having a lot of free time being househusband to Nora, who was doing her PhD in Toronto.

Mario Manio (BE ’60) showed up in New York after a month or two, heard about the plan and picked up the torch from batch-mate Roger. With ingenuity, he and Bert Agustin (BE ‘62) used the SF Department of Motor Vehicles records to locate brods in the Bay Area. The Northern California brods then launched a project to establish a continental network of Betans with the intention of creating a database that could be a source of information and likewise encourage communication lines and interchange of ideas between brods. One of the first projects was to publish a directory of Betans in North America.

A year later, the dream became a reality. The first ever Beta Epsilon reunion outside of the Philippines was held in San Francisco in August of 1987. It was absolute madness that Thursday night in that Chinatown hotel where brods met for the first time in a very long time, some as long as 30 years. In conjunction with the celebration was the 58th Anniversary of the Beta Epsilon. Seventy-three brods from all over the North American continent showed up for the historic affair. In the general meeting held at the Valhalla in Sausalito, BENA was formally established and Jose B. Cruz, Jr. (BE ’50) was elected its first president, setting the trend of electing the president from the site of the next reunion, LA. The highlight of the event was the grand ball at the Carnelian Room in the Bank of America Building. This established the format of the succeeding reunions, a welcome reception on a Thursday night, a Friday picnic, a Saturday business meeting and a Saturday night grand ball.

BENA’s official newsletter, the BE NEWS published its first issue right after the 1987 reunion. Monty Dionisio (BE ’60) was its first editor. This quarterly publication became a significant part of BENA as it kept all its members informed with news bits and special features from the different regions. The BE NEWS has been a perfect medium by which BENAns are able to communicate, prior to the internet.

Two years later, California became the host once more to another unforgettable reunion in Los Angeles. Frank Aguiling hosted the welcome reception at his “mansion” in Cerritos. The 60th Anniversary of the Fraternity was celebrated in grand fashion with a dinner/dance at the Sheraton Hotel Ballroom in Long Beach. Surely it was an affair to remember as was promised by the hosts from Southern California, who undoubtedly left nothing to chance in making every aspect of the reunion exciting. During the general meeting, the BENA constitution was ratified, New York City was selected as the next venue, with Bert Malicsi (BE ’54) as the next president.

It was the Eastern USA’s turn to host in 1991. Sixty-six brods attended the third BENA reunion and the Fraternity’s 62nd Anniversary celebration in New York. Surely, the Big Apple added to the excitement of this affair. For the first time, Prof. Ilio (BE’37) made it to a BENA gathering, as well as the most senior Betan in America, Johnny Ramos (BE’29) who came from Maryland. Also present was New York’s “most senior,” Ben Soriano (BE ‘39). The general meeting was held at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center. In the general election that followed, Etao Salcedo (BE ‘60) was elected president for the 1994 Las Vegas reunion. The main event was the dinner/dance at the Skylight Roof of the Waldorf-Astoria, where the brods gave a standing ovation for Ato Galvez (BE ‘58) who graced the ball despite facing a losing battle to cancer.

In 1994, BENA celebrated the 65th anniversary of the fraternity in Las Vegas. Unlike the previous reunions, no local regional chapter hosted the event. Etao Salcedo, Bert Malicsi, Frank Aguiling, Sonny Mirasol (BE ‘54) and other California and NY brods organized the affair successfully. The grand dinner & dance was held at the Aladdin Hotel and Casino. Prof. Ilio was again the special guest. He came with then MEB Allan Lavarias who won a trip to the reunion during the 65th anniversary celebration in Manila that year, courtesy of Bert Malicsi. In the general meeting, Edong Punzalan (BE ‘61) was elected President for the next designated reunion, San Diego, CA.

The “Fabulous Five Brods of San Diego” and the San Francisco brods pooled their efforts to make beautiful San Diego the site of the 5th BENA reunion in 1996. The dinner and gala ball, held in the historic Hotel Del Coronado was enough to make the affair one of the most memorable. The three-day event included a welcome cocktail at the Mission Valley Hilton, a golf tournament, picnic and games. Fil Berba was keynote speaker (via teleconferencing) at the business and technical meeting arranged by Elmer Rodriguez (BE ‘75A) at the Navy Officer’s Club in North Island. Toronto was chosen for the next reunion and Roly Reventar (BE ‘58) accepted the presidency despite dire warnings of brother, Brod Rod Reventar (BE ‘58) who couldn’t attend.

Without a doubt, the BENA reunion of 1998 was truly extraordinary. The Toronto brods and Betanettes gave us a remarkable experience in the fascinating views of Niagara Falls, a winery tour, picnic at Niagara on the Lake and Center Island. The “Rendezvous in Toronto” was highlighted by a dinner/dance at the Old Mill. During the business meeting, Doming and Tess Toledo’s presentation on “investment climate in the Philippines and Southeast Asia” and Mulong Manlapig’s (BE ‘68) “retirement issues in the Philippines” drew interesting discussions. Sonny Ramos was unanimously elected as the next President, knowing full well that Emma would really be in charge, and Chicago was selected as the site of the 7th BENA reunion in 2000.

As expected, Emma and the Chicago Betanettes did not disappoint but rather surpassed all expectations in their tireless preparations for the Tall Towers Celebration. The river boat tour featured the architectural feats the city has accomplished. At the picnic in Lincoln Park, a special feature was the Annual Chicago Air & Water Show which was being held at the same time. Sonny Ramos, by special presidential decree, named Marty Martinez (BE ‘53), BENA Treasurer-for-life and Respi Respicio (BE ‘51), BENA Editor-for-life. The next venue was Las Vegas in 2002 with Gene Corpus (BE ‘76) at the helm. The dinner/dance at Palmer House Hilton was the culmination of the BENA 2000 Reunion.

Las Vegas 2002 was hot, hot and hot but Gene C. and company surprised everybody for finding a picnic spot in the middle of the desert. Lone Mountain Park was cool and shaded from the burning sun to allow fun and games not considered gambling. It was obvious at the meeting that BENA would join in the celebration of the BE 75th anniversary in Manila and Vic Reyes (BE ‘61) was chosen to lead us there. The ball at Bellagio was different in a lot of ways. It was held at 12 noon, no alcoholic beverages, in the middle of a lot of distractions but it was great nonetheless with the presentation of Polynesian dances by the beautiful dancers: Judy Reyes, Abeth Corpus (Gene ‘76) and Helen Dela Cruz (Rey ‘78) under the tutelage of Wil Reyes (BE ‘54). Philippine brods, Ojie Alzona, BEAI President, Sid Consunji, Doming Toledo, Boy de Leon (with former BE sweetheart Agnes), CS Simbulan and Prof. Ilio, as usual, attended the reunion in the desert.

In its seventeenth year, the Beta Epsilon of North America has been $upportive of the various project$ that include the audio-visual room project at the U.P. College of Engineering, the Beta Way reconstruction, the granting of assistance to the U.P. Library Development Fund and the supply of computers and equipments to different schools and offices. The BENA Foundation, founded in 1992, is looking forward to award scholarships leading to post graduate degrees in the United States to deserving Betans. Joining hands with the BEAI in various projects, BENA members have generously supported the BE scholarship fund, the e-Beta Way, and other Fraternity endeavors.

More than anything else, the Beta Epsilon of North America is a family. Eager to welcome every Betan who happen to be in this part of the world, it has provided moral support and encouragement, brotherhood and friendship to every member. Now more than ever, the Betanaks have been looking forward to every Betan gathering, party and reunion without realizing that they probably will never be second generation Betans.

We honor our departed BENA brods Bert Malicsi, Ato Galvez and Melo Tolentino who will join us in spirit for this 75th anniversary.