Alpha Phi Beta

The Alpha Phi Beta Fraternity (also known as ΑΦΒ, Association of Philippine Barristers, or Abogado Para sa Bayan) is a fraternity based in the University of the Philippines College of Law with no recognized chapters outside University of the Philippines Diliman. The fraternity's membership hails from the College of Law and from pre-law colleges in the campus. 2019 marked the fraternity's 80th Anniversary. It is one of the three fraternities based in the College, the other two being Sigma Rho fraternity and Scintilla Juris.

History

''"In October 1939, some juniors and sophomores of the College f Lawwere moved to marshall unaffiliated scholars and student leaders into an organization that would be held together by close fraternal bonds. They aspired to be a relevant factor on campus, and in national affairs. The immediacy of their resolve was spurred by the desire to mobilize the studentry and place themselves in the forefront of the effort to dampen what they perceived was a threatened dictatorship about to be born when then Philippine President Manuel Quezon declared the creation of a “one-party” government."''

Establishment

In October 1939, 13 University of the Philippines Manila students founded the fraternity with the supposed goal of controlling key positions in the campus, particularly the Philippine Collegian editorship and the Student Council presidency, because of the impending World War II, the upcoming second election under the 1935 Constitution of the Philippines, and the looming dictatorship of President Manuel L. Quezon.

The Charter Members were Arturo B. Atienza, Antonio L. Azores, Benedicto Balderrama, Renato Constantino, Macario Cruz, Bienvenido C. Ejercito, Florencio B. Florendo, Adriano R. Garcia, Elias Lavadia, Rustico V. Nazareno, Rosendo J. Nuval, Francisco Sumulong, Gerardo Tioseco, Teodosio V. Valenton, Manuel Vijungco, Jose Villacorta, Manuel Vistan Jr., and Exequiel M. Zaballero Jr. Then Professor Ambrosio Padilla, the Collegian Editor-in-Chief in 1932, was the Charter Adviser of the newly-founded fraternity.

By November 1939, the constitution and by-laws of the fraternity were drafted and filed with the University Council Committee on Student Organizations and Activities. Shortly thereafter, the committee granted recognition to the fraternity. Charter member and respected nationalist-historian Renato Constantino wrote the fraternity motto which would also serve as its guiding philosophy.

During the early years, a weighted grade average of 1.75 was the prime qualification for an invitation into the fraternity. To test the neophytes' commitment to the fraternity's ideals of surrender of individuality to the group's interests and absolute obedience to the majority's decision, they were made to undergo tests of skill and humility.

In contrast with other fraternities' beliefs that severe physical tests ensured fraternal bonds, physical hazing was not encouraged on the belief that those with a low tolerance of pain should not be driven away. Moreover, applicants were not rejected on the basis of not having the social background or financial resources. The fraternity emphasized on recruiting students with a strong middle class background only. The Charter Members did not come from elitist backgrounds.

Post-war

After the war, the fraternity was reactivated in the UP College of Law which was re-opened at what was left of the Cancer Institute and the College of Engineering buildings in the Manila campus. Members Adriano Garcia, Arturo Atienza, Renato Constantino, Bienvenido Ejercito, and Benedicto Balderama, who also formed the Board of Editors of the Philippinensian from 1942 to 1946, spearheaded the reactivation. During this time, the fraternity's constitution was amended to allow admission of students still in their pre-law courses in order for the fraternity to be able to expand and recruit members with potential early in their lives on campus. Moreover, the scholastic standing rule was relaxed.

During the Marcos administration, many members of the fraternity fought for the cause of democracy, most notable of which is Abraham "Ditto" Sarmiento Jr. who was Editor-in-Chief of the Philippine Collegian at the time. Another member of the fraternity was the first chairman of the Movement for a Democratic Philippines, an alliance of Kabataang Makabayan and other sectoral national democratic organizations, which was responsible for the First Quarter Storm. A year later, another member of the fraternity led the students in barricading the campus during the Diliman Commune. Still, as one of the older fraternities together with Alpha Phi Omega, Sigma Rho Fraternity, and Upsilon Sigma Phi, the fraternity was still perceived as part of the bourgeoisie class by the more radical left. They were also identified with the Marcos Right. Those serving the administration include Gerardo Sicat as National Economic and Development Authority Director-General and concurrent Minister of Economic Planning and Reynato Puno as Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Justice.

Before the end of the millennium, the fraternity produced three bar topnotchers, one Student Regent, five Chairpersons of the University Student Council (USC), 15 Councilors of the USC, eight College Representatives, one Editor-in-Chief of the Philippine Collegian, and eight staff members of the Philippine Collegian.

In 2013, President Benigno Aquino III recognized the fraternity for being at the forefront of the UP student movement. " ur illustrious history bears testament to the significant role that you have played in shaping the future stewards of the University, and in providing a podium for the sonorous voices of the Filipino youth. Amidst today’s shifting sociocultural and political milieu, may the Alphans stand with the rest of the Filipino people as we dismantle the culture of apathy and self-interest that cripples our nation; may the University’s legacy of honor, excellence, and civic duty flourish under your watch as dynamic, transformative student-leaders," the President said in a message.

Starting in 2016, the fraternity holds the annual Ditto Sarmiento Essay Writing Competition in commemoration of the young campus journalists who died in the fight for press freedom during the martial law. The competition honors Abraham "Ditto" Sarmiento Jr. who died at the young age of 27 shortly after being imprisoned during the Marcos Regime. The nationwide competition is composed of a series of contests that were open to high school and college students.

Two "Former Lord Chancellors" of the fraternity, Alex Lacson and Francis Escudero, ran for Senator in the 2022 Philippine general election.

Controversies

Based on police investigations from 1991 to 1994, the fraternity was involved in a total of 24 reported violent incidents (which involve weapons such as clubs, explosives, bladed weapons, among others) between student organizations in the UP Diliman campus.

In 1998, a UP student died following a hazing conducted by members of the fraternity, some of which were later imprisoned.

In 1999, members of the fraternity were mauled by members of Sigma Rho Fraternity. The next year, a member of the fraternity was knifed and killed by members of Sigma Rho in front of the UP Law Center. There was also another reported instance of a rumble with Sigma Rho in the same year.

In 2011, a member of the fraternity was attacked near his house during a series of clashes with Alpha Sigma. The next year, the two fraternities were involved in a brawl again.

In 2013, the fraternity was implicated in a rumble with Beta Sigma.

In 2016, the fraternity was involved in a fight with Sigma Rho Fraternity during the UP Law Bar Operations. In 2017, the fraternity was again involved in a series of altercations with Sigma Rho for which the two fraternities reportedly kept score of attacks and retaliations. The next year, the fraternity was involved in a physical confrontation and car chase with Upsilon Sigma Phi. The latter three fraternities, in addition to Alpha Sigma and Scintilla Juris, are considered to have the longest traditional rivalry in the campus.

Roster of Lords

Members of the Alpha Phi Beta are called "Lords". The head of the fraternity is called the "Lord Chancellor".



In the arena of student leadership, the Roster of Lords include 22 Philippine Collegian Editors-in-Chief, nine Philippine Law Journal Editorial Board Chairpersons, eight Philippinensian Editors-in-Chief, nine Philippine Law Register Editors-in-Chief, seven University Student Council Chairpersons, and four Law Student Government Presidents.

The fraternity has also produced 31 Philippine Bar Examination topnotchers, seven Senators of the Philippines, six Justices of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, four Integrated Bar of the Philippines National Presidents, three Deans of the UP College of Law, six The Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines awardees, two The Outstanding Filipino Awardees, and 19 Justices of the Court of Appeals of the Philippines.

Notable members include:
*Francis Escudero – Senator from 2007 to 2016; Sorsogon Governor; Sorsogon Representative
*Reynato Puno – 22nd Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; Deputy Minister/Undersecretary, Department of Justice
* Benjamin Diokno – 5th Governor, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas; Secretary, Department of Budget and Management
*Renato Constantino – respected historian; honoree, Bantayog ng mga Bayani; 1992 The Outstanding Filipino Awardee
*Ambrosio Padilla – Senator from 1957 to 1972; Vice President, 1986 Constitutional Commission; Solicitor General
* Heherson Alvarez – Senator from 1987 to 2001; Minister, Department of Agrarian Reform; Secretary, Department of Environment and Natural Resources
* Genaro Magsaysay – Senator from 1959 to 1972; Zambales Representative
* Robert Barbers – Senator from 1998 to 2004; Secretary, Department of Interior and Local Government; Surigao del Norte Representative
*Joey Lina – Senator from 1987 to 1995; Secretary, DILG; Laguna Governor; Metro Manila Governor
*Leonardo Quisumbing – 140th Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines; Secretary, Department of Labor and Employment
* Hugo E. Guttierez, Jr. – Senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
* Abdulwahid Bidin – 117th Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines; first Filipino Muslim named to the Supreme Court
* Abraham Sarmiento – Associate Justice of the Supreme Court; Cavite delegate, 1971 Constitutional Convention; veteran, US Army Forces in the Far East
* Jose P. Perez – 167th Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
*Oscar Orbos – Pangasinan Governor; Pangasinan Representative; Executive Secretary; Secretary, Department of Transportation and Communication
*Pablo John Garcia – Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives; Cebu Representative
* Edcel Lagman – Albay