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Deltan

Torch AY 2020-2021

Roster of Officers Patrizia Adeline Lucindo ‘17 Grand Archon Tamara Michal Natividad ‘16 Vice Archon Trisha Ortega ‘19 Keeper of the Rolls Nicola Fionna Delos Santos ‘18 Custodian of Funds Marian Michelle Arcinas ‘17 Manager of the Coffers Board of Admissions Isabella Angeline Blanco ‘18 Chairperson Yaneeza Macapado ‘15 Niegel Simon ‘17 Maria Cristina de los Reyes ‘18 Literary Committee Ameera Julia Tungupon ‘17 Chairperson Stefanie Klein Gatdula ‘16 Social Programs Committee Alayssah Mae Ruiz ‘19 Chairperson Armie Grace Ulzano ‘17 Pia Pollaine Magaoay ‘18 Academics Committee Jasmine Althea Siscar ‘18 Diane May Tajo ‘19 Finance Committee Bernadette Marie Kampitan ‘18 Trisha Jasmin Sun ‘19 Samantha Claire Cepeda ‘19 Intra-Fraternity Sorority Representative

What’s inside?

04 Words of the Grand Archon PGA Patrizia Adeline Lucindo ‘17

Words of the Grand Archon GA Ama Nikita Bayot ‘17

Words of the DLSAA President PGA Maria Rita Bonifacio ‘87

Events and Projects

10 Donation Drives Social Programs Committee

DLS Instagram Page Revamp Manager of the Coffers

Vice Archon’s Projects Tamara Michal Natividad ‘16

The Most Outstanding Resident: Tamara Michal Natividad ‘16

75th Deltan Month Projects Deltan Month Heads

The Most Distinguished Alumna: Joan Paula Deveraturda ‘08

Merchandise Feature Finance Committee

Leadership & Academic Achievements

Academic Projects Academics Committee

UP DLS Batch 2020 Board of Admissions

12 13 15

Intra-Fraternity Sorority Events IFS Representative

Alumni Association’s Projects DLSAA

Words of the Grand Archon PGA Patrizia Adeline Luncindo ‘17, Grand Archon ‘20

“Nevertheless, she persisted.” This pretty much sums up our entire year.

postponed for a few weeks, then a few months, and eventually postponed indefinitely. We went from face-to-face interactions to remote and virtual meet-ups, from frequent besos with sisters to physically-distanced flying kisses, from big and grand events to no social gatherings at all. Our lives took a dramatic turn so much so that we now have a “new normal”— a different routine, an entirely different way of life.

To say that this year has been challenging is an understatement. We were confronted with a crisis that never in a million years did we think would happen. When the pandemic hit our country, our movements were restricted, and there was not much that we could do about it. Our plans were 4

But in spite of it all, I am proud to say that But in spite of it all, I am proud we persisted.

own Discord Server, which served as an

me. I thank the Past Grandout Archons avenue for sisters to hang and study whose and together.support, In spite ofguidance, physical separation, wisdom me all to consider we see allowed sisters from over the all world getting closer than ever—a testament perspectives in order totrue arrive at to how bond Thank and our the best amazing decision our possible. sisterhood reallytois.Archs Boni, Archs you especially Annalou, Archs Trixie, Archs Karen, I myself was often the receiving end of Archs Kacel, Archson Maika, and Archs this amazing sisterhood. Thus, I would Tracy for the many Zoom meetings like to express my immense gratitude to all and countless Messenger/Viber/ the sisters who went on board this Telegram conversations. Thank you seemingly impossible voyage with me. I to my Archon, Archs Archons Cathy, for thank the Past Grand whose being the anchor that keeps allowed me support, guidance, and wisdom grounded and all the wind that in keeps me to consider perspectives order to me forward. thank our arrivemoving at the best decisionI possible. Thank you especially ArchsMitzi Boni,and Archs faculty advisers,toDean Annalou, Trixie, Archs Archs Archs Tim,Archs for sharing their Karen, valuable Kacel, Archs and only ArchstoTracy thoughts andMaika, time not me for the to many meetings countless but theZoom resident sistersand as well. I M e s sthe e nroster g e r / of V i officers b e r / T and e l e the gram thank conversations. Thank you to my Archon, 75th Deltan Month Heads - Varchs Archs Cathy, for being the anchor that Tam, Trisha, Nikki, Yan, Sasa, Yza, keeps me grounded and the wind that Niege, Cristina, Ameera, Steffi, Vail, our keeps me moving forward. I thank Alay, Mimi, Pia, Thea, Diane, Berna, faculty advisers, Dean Mitzi and Archs Trish, Sam, Mon, Aya, and Gen. Tim, for sharing their valuable thoughts Your creativity, patience, and time not only to meand buthard to the work made ouras online and offline resident sisters well. I thank the roster of officers and the I75th Month projects a success. also Deltan thank my Heads - Varchs Tam, AC, Trisha, Nikki, setmates - Kisha, Pat, andYan, Sasa, Yza,- for Niege, Cristina, Steffi, Sammie being true, Ameera, being fair, Vail, Alay, Mimi, Pia, Thea, Diane, Berna, and being always there. I thank Trish, Sam, Aya, Sofia, and Gen. Batch 2020Mon, - Bea, Cha,Your creativity, patience, and hard work made Pauline, Alex, Aly, and Sheena - for our online and offline projects a success. I taking a virtual leap with us.

to say that we persisted.

We persisted in our pursuit of academic We persisted in our of excellence. While stuck at pursuit home, we continued to cultivate academic excellence. Whileacademic stuck at excellence among our sisters holding home, we continued to bycultivate workshops thatexcellence helped several aspects of academic among our student life. We invited sistersand by academic holding workshops that learned sisters to share theirof knowledge helped several aspects student on legal writing and to give their tips and and academic life. We invited insights on how to effectively prepare for learned sisters to share their the bar exam. In light of the shift to knowledge on legal and our to remote learning, we writing expanded give their tips and insights on how resources in our Google Drive. Taking to effectively prepare for the bar advantage of our developed expertise on exam. In light of the shift to remotea various online platforms, we conducted learning, we expanded our webinar on women thriving amidst adversity, empowering audience to resources in our the Google Drive. pursue excellence beyond thedeveloped university. Taking advantage of our

expertise

various

online

Weplatforms, persisted inwe our pursuit of a leadership. conducted webinar At on thewomen very beginning of theadversity, term, we thriving amidst spearheaded a donation drive for the empowering the audience to benefit of 250 UP jeepney drivers who, pursue excellence beyond the because of quarantine restrictions, lost university.We persisted in our their source of livelihood and were left pursuit of sisterhood. We adapted with no choice but to beg on the streets. our bonding to the Month, virtual In celebration of sessions the 75th Deltan setup by having online game nights, we held an online raffle that supported movie nights, e-numans, and Zoom local entrepreneurs by featuring products from 16 women-owned businesses. The parties. Taking the concept of the proceeds of this raffle wereplatform, then givenwe to “Home” to an online ourcreated long-time the ourpartner very institution, own Discord Meritxell World Server, Children’s which served as Foundation, an avenue Inc.for Also in celebration of ourand 75thstudy year, sisters to hang out we raised funds for the benefit of the together. In spite of physical Lumad Community that has been separation, we see sisters from all stranded in the UP campus for more than over Thanks the world getting closerofthan a year. to the generosity our ever—a true testament how sisters, we were able to todonate amazing worth our of bond our P30,000.00 freshand produce, sisterhood really is. cooking aids, and sanitation products to the community.

also thank my setmates - Kisha, AC, Pat, and Sammie - for being true, being fair, all, Ithere. thankI thank our beloved andMost beingof always Batch 2020 UP Delta Lambda Sigma forand - Bea, Sofia, Cha, Pauline,Sorority Alex, Aly, this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity Sheena - for taking a virtual leap with us.

to steer our ship on its 75th year. May sorority continue to inspire Mostour of all, I thank our beloved UP Delta Lambda Sigmain Sorority for this more women the same wayonce-in-athat opportunity to steer itlifetime inspires me. Cheers to our the ship UP on its 75th year. May our sorority continue Delta Lambda Sigma Sorority. to inspire more same way Cheers to 75women years inofthe seeking thethat it inspires me. Cheers to the UP Delta higher things!

I myself was often on the Wereceiving persisted inend our pursuit of sisterhood. of this amazing Wesisterhood. adapted ourThus, bonding sessionslike to the I would to virtual setup by having online express my immense gratitude game to all nights, e-numans, and Zoom the movie sistersnights, who went on board this parties. Taking the concept of the “Home” seemingly impossible voyage with

Lambda Sigma Sorority. Cheers to 75 years of seeking the higher things!

to an online platform, we created our very

Words of the Grand Archon GA Ama Nikita Bayot ‘17, Grand Archon ‘21

“She stood in the storm and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails."

our sorority was formed, we have faced and are currently facing a global crisis that no one anticipated. The pandemic has affected not just our public health but as our daily lives - work and classes were put to a halt - and everyone and everything were forced to adapt to the ‘new normal’.

— Elizabeth Edwards, attorney, author, and health care activist The Delta Lambda Sigma Sorority was formed during the end of World War 2. This just shows how resilient and fearless our sisters are and how the women in our sorority rose to the occasion when needed the most. Similar to the time when

Much like how our founding sisters stepped up during a crisis to help bring peace and change to the world, we, during these not so 6

normal times, were able to prove time and time again, that we can conquer whatever obstacle we are faced with through our collective action bound by the ties of sisterhood.

the rights of the oppressed and the marginalized were not hindered. Through our countless efforts and the generosity of our hearts we were able to launch numerous donation drives that helped a number of our fellow Filipinos who are in need during these trying times.

Amidst the pandemic, the residents and our alumni were able to excel and display our various capabilities in different fields.

As we entered our diamond year, though the celebration may not what we envisioned it to be, it was still true to our sorority’s goals academic excellence, leadership, and sisterhood.

As residents, a number of sisters took on the challenge of learning and studying in a remote set-up, which proved to be challenging and tough. Still, as women who are persevering, this did not prove to be a barrier for our sisters to excel academically by being recognized as University Scholars, College Scholars, and being part of the Order of the Purple Feather. Aside from academics, resident sisters also shined through their extracurricular activities by taking on roles as President, or officers of their various organizations, and by joining and winning international competitions.

All of these, we were able to do not despite being a woman, but because WE ARE WOMEN – strong, independent, and always ready to make the hard decisions for the collective good. With the upcoming national elections and the various issues our nation is going through, may this year continue to challenge us into representing not just women empowerment but by becoming empowered women – empowered Deltans who will stand for truth and justice and will become nation builders.

As alumni, we have seen sisters succeed in their own fields of expertise, even going beyond their profession by going out of their way to extend a helping hand to fellow sisters and other Filipinos through donation drives, legal clinics, government work, and of course braving the line of fire by being medical front liners.

As we enter a new chapter in our sorority life, still in the middle of a pandemic, through the motivation and guidance by our alumni and our residents, the roster and I vow to be the embodiment of determined light seekers as we seek more for the sorority, the university, and the nation. We vow to continue to seek the higher things in life.

Though all our lives were drastically changed due to the health crisis we are currently facing, our goal to help and advocate for 7

Words of the DLSAA President PGA Maria Rita Bonifacio ‘87, Grand Archon ‘91

Congratulations, dear Resident Sisters, on yet another year of meaningful and collaborative work!

doing your best in making Delta Lambda Sigma relevant on campus; for not letting the Sorority slip into oblivion even when it was easy, maybe even understandable, to do so in the current situation; for keeping the torch ablaze with your perseverance, loyalty, and Deltan love.

Your Big Sisters are mighty proud of your accomplishments. You did not let the constraints of the pandemic diminish your passion and determination to do good for the community, for the Sorority, and for the Sisters. You mounted projects that were timely and responsive, and successfully pivoted from the customary to the innovative. You were bold and brave and ready. It is admirable how you prevailed over the Sorority’s challenges and the difficulties of academic learning in the present setting.

As we commemorate our 75th year, we thank Archon Pia, Vice Archon Tam, and all the Li’l Sisters involved in the frenzy of the preparations for the celebration, as well as in our other events in the last months. Thank you for sharing in our joy of working for Delta Lambda Sigma. It was a pleasure and privilege to have done it with such responsible and talented young ladies. With you, the future of our beloved Sorority continues to shine bright.

But then, again, you are Deltans. You do not shy away from challenges. You face them with the maturity and faith that let you thrive and collectively continue the Deltan tradition. Thank you, Sisters, for

Again, Congratulations Happy 75th Anniversary! 8

and

Events and Projects 9

DONATION DRIVE FOR UP JEEPNEY DRIVERS Last July 2020, the UP Delta Lambda Sigma Sorority, in partnership with Sunbaked, Para Kay Manong, Lines for Lives, UP Alyansa, STAND UP, UP Pugad Sayk, BUKLOD CSSP, Sikhay Eduk, KALikha UPD, UP Circle of Landscape Architecture Students, UP Portia Sorority, Geographic Society of the University of the Philippines, Model UN UPD, UP Palawenos, and Alpha Phi Beta Fraternity, launched a donation drive to raise funds for the drivers plying the UP Ikot and Toki, UP

Campus-Katipunan, UP-Philcoa, UP-Pantranco, and UP-SM North EDSA routes. By September 2020, we were able to raise a total of Php126,693 which was used to hand out relief packs for 182 drivers for the first round of distribution, and to 228 drivers for the second round.

Social Programs Committee BOOK DONATION DRIVE The UP Delta Lambda Sigma Sorority together with Adarna Publishing House and Teach for the Philippines, launched a monetary donation drive to fund Filipino storybooks for the public school students of Teach for the Philippines. This project is in line with the sorority’s vision to help in making quality education accessible to all Filipinos. From this drive, we were able to raise a total of Php6,580 which was used to provide 2 storybooks each for 55 students.

MANAGER OF THE

Coffers

This year, we strengthened our online presence by completely redesigning our DLS Instagram Feed. We uploaded regular content into our Instagram which included videos, photos, and stories featuring the UP Community, local online stores, and our very own sisters. Through this project, we've made lifelong partnerships with local stores and used this platform to share ideas, advocacies, and heartfelt stories.

Vice Archon Even without seeing each other face-to-face, nothing can stop Deltans from growing stronger as sisters. To help the sisters find an avenue to continue bonding and getting to know one another even more, the sorority launched the DLS Quaralympics during the first semester. The residents were grouped into four teams that raced to garner the most points by participating in a series of internal online events. Some of these included a game night at the beginning of the semester, a Halloween movie viewing, and a culminating Christmas Party. 11

LUX: DELTAN EXHIBIT & LUMIERE: ONLINE RAFFLE The Deltan Exhibit showcased a video featuring the highights in the history of UP DLS for the past 75 years in 75 seconds. Aside from this, an Anniversary Raffle Giveaway was also held by partnering with various local businesses. All proceeds from the raffle ticket sales were given to Meritxell Children’s Home Foundation, Inc.

DLSAA THANKSGIVING SERVICE In celebration of the sorority’s diamond anniversary, the UP Delta Lambda Sigma Alumnae Association (DLSAA) spearheaded a Thanksgiving Service led by preachers from diverse religions: Catholicism, Protestantism, and Islam.

75 Deltan Month th

LUMINOSUS: DELTAN MOBILE The Deltan Mobile is a donation distribution project by the sorority. With the Lumad community currently residing in UP Diliman as beneficiary, the project provided them with fresh food to not only sustain, but also nourish the 70 children and 15 adults within the community.

LUSTRE: WEBINAR

LEADING

LADIES

UP DLS hosted a webinar featuring women specializing in different fields. Three empowered women shared how they thrived amid adversity during the pandemic.

To commemorate the sorority's 75th Year, the finance committee, in collaboration with the literary committee, produced a line of 75th Year Merchandise which consists of a hoodie, two tote bags, and a dri-fit shirt. The entire line features the 75th Year logo produced by alumni, making it a beautiful collaboration of the alumni and resident sisters. Despite the pandemic, the finance committee was able to deliver all its merchandise to sisters all over the world, selling out most of its stocks.

Finance Committee

The Most Outstanding Resident Tamara Michal Natividad ‘16 ———————– Write up by PGA Mary Camille de Mesa ‘16, Grand Archon ‘18

“A truly remarkable woman, Tam is someone who thinks of her personal achievements as not just her own, but the achievement of all women.”

When Tam joined the sorority in 2016, she did not have any expectations of what and how a Deltan is. All she knew was that, unlike the stereotype people had in their minds of a sorority being filled with cookie-cutter women, DLS was a sorority full of diverse women from different backgrounds. The first Deltans she met were Yesha ’13 and Ely ’15, who oriented and sponsored her, respectively. They were so confident and easy-going that from the moment of her orientation, she realized that she wanted to surround herself with these women. Women who, in her own words, are strong and like-minded, rendering service to the community and to the nation.

Since the pandemic hit, Tam has started keeping a strict calendar and schedule to keep up with everything. Proper scheduling is key because to her, the biggest challenge has been time; And the sorority demands a lot of it from her. Being an officer has never meant dedicating time only to the committee she’s in, but in every project of every committee. She’s never felt that she was only the Academics Committee CoHead, or just a member of the Board of Admissions. Even now as Vice Archon, she knows she is a Deltan first and foremost, and that means keeping the promises she made the moment she became a Deltan.

All these, too, while juggling her responsibilities as a law student, Vice Chair of the Philippine Law Journal Editorial Board Vol. 93, and a part-time legal researcher in a law firm. And she still manages to find time for her love life and to maintain her physical and mental health together with all her responsibilities.

regularly, retreating from their social circles and drifting back into their own lives, she remains close with her sisters. She says: “The sisters are still there to randomly make kamusta, make (oftentimes unsolicited) kwento about their lives right now, and to say, ‘I miss you.’” A truly remarkable woman, Tam is someone who thinks of her personal achievements as not just her own, but the achievement of all women. She is one who seeks to lift her fellow women up in action and in deed. When asked what an outstanding Deltan is in her own words, Tam said that “an outstanding Deltan is someone who loves the sor and really lives by what the sor stands for uncompromisingly, whatever circumstances they may find themselves in.” She might not have realized it then, but she was simply describing herself as her sisters see her. In her almost five years with DLS, Tam has loved the sorority; Uncompromisingly living by the institution’s values, no matter what circumstance she finds herself in. Indeed, an outstanding Deltan through and through.

Through all of these, Tam has never wavered in her commitment and love for the sorority. She still looks back to the happiest period in her Deltan life – her baby year. For her, “being able to get to know more my newfound sisters and immerse myself into the projects and culture of the sorority immediately after joining was one of the joys of my college life. There isn’t any one particular experience that I consider to be the ‘happiest,’ but I do cherish that year as a special one.” Even when she faced challenges, Tam found comfort in the support of her sisters. When she was going through a particularly tough time in her academic and personal life in 2018, she felt she could lean on them as she was struggling. Especially now, at a time when she has found herself talking less to the friends she used to be with 20

The Most Distinguished Alumna Joan Paula Deveraturda ‘08 ———————– Write up by Jasmin Althea Siscar ‘18

“Paula understood what seeking the higher things in life meant, and in her case, it was knowledge.”

For the past few months that I have worked as a research assistant under Paula’s wing, she has never once failed to express her gratitude for all the work that I have done. She is very hands-on in helping me adapt to the work environment, but she never resorts to micromanaging me or my work. She gives me room for innovation, and she gives space for improvement. Undeniably, her kind words always push me to do better and be better. Paula’s patience and work ethic are already striking on their own. But I have to admit that what struck me the most is her humility. One afternoon, when I thanked her for being a great boss, she corrected me that I should only think of her as a colleague. Perhaps it is the culture in law school where lawyers expect high regard from law students that Paula’s answer shocked me. Perhaps it was also the thought of how lucky I am to have a colleague—most especially, a sister—who has achieved skyhigh feats but still has her head on the ground. And that is Paula. Prior to law school, Paula took up Communication at the

Ateneo de Manila University where she was the recipient of the Japan Foundation Scholarship. It was also in college where she bagged the highly acclaimed Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Award for Literature. For her thesis, she wrote about media and firsttime voters. In 2008, ever the excellent person that she is, she completed her undergraduate degree as cum laude. It was also in 2008 when she entered the University of the Philippines College of Law. This was the year when she became a Deltan. Paula was a truly remarkable because not everyone can find the balance between academics and extracurricular activities, and be exemplary in both. During her stay at the College of Law, she joined the Jean Pictet Humanitarian Law Moot Court Competition and earned a citation for the same. She even went on to become the President of the UP Law Debate and Moot Court Union. When she graduated in 2012, she received the Dean’s Medal for Academic Excellence. Paula was admitted to the Philippine Bar after one take. In the practice, she was a Junior

Associate at Castillo Laman Tan Pantaleon & San Jose. She also worked as a Court Attorney and Consultant for the Office of Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen at the Supreme Court.

Unit of The Asia Foundation Philippines. She is also a Lecturer at the Far Eastern University – Institute of Law where she teaches Special Issues in International Law (International Security Law), Torts and Damages, Obligations and Contracts, and Legal Technique and Logic.

Paula understood what seeking the higher things in life meant, and in her case, it was knowledge. Already armed with a law degree, she took further studies abroad. She took a Master’s Degree in Human Rights and Democratisation at the University of Sydney where she wrote about food security in the Philippines. For this, she received a full scholarship from the European Union. Not long after, she took her Master of Laws, focusing on International Security Law, at the Australian National University. She wrote about ASEAN and Philippine counterterrorism architectures and graduated in 2019.

On top of all of these commitments, Paula still managed to have a book published this year. It is entitled, “An Introduction to International Human Rights Law” which was released by Rex Book Store, Inc. When I saw a photo of her book circulating online, there was a woman who commented that she was excited to read the book as she has looked up to Paula “ever since high school.” Seeing that comment did not come as a surprise because Paula is indeed admirable. I am sure that the woman who commented such praise is just one among the many who have been inspired by Paula. She is not easy to forget, and maybe, this is because it is easy to look up to people who are excellent, but it is exceptionally hard to find people who are both excellent and kind.

At present, Paula specializes in international security law and human rights in the development sector. She is currently a Project Director for the International Security Program at the University of the Philippines Law Center – Institute of International Legal Studies, and a Program Officer for the Law and Human Rights 24

Achievements For Leadership Bianca Micaela Gancayco ‘14

Denise Gabrielle Milarion ‘18

Alodia Ivy Tenebro ‘15

Shania Vie Bautista ‘18

Jena Veronica Fernandez ‘16

Isabella Angeline Blanco ‘18

Patricia Marie Sales ‘16

Maria Cristina de los Reyes ‘18

Ronalyn Pilones ‘16

Therese Jules Tomas ‘19

Niegel Simon ‘17

Angela Mae del Rosario ‘19

Ama Nikita Bayot ‘ 17

Samantha Claire Cepeda ‘19

Pia Pollaine Magaoay ‘18

Alexandra Vitasa ‘20

Achievements For Academic Excellence Kathleen Felise Constance

Maxine Gabrielle Joven ‘18

Tantuico ‘13

Angela Maxine Monsalud ‘18

Clarisse Anne Peralta ‘14

Angela Mae del Rosario ‘19

Aimee Nicole Oliveros ‘16

Trisha Ortega ‘19

Francesca Louise Pajaro ‘17

Beatrice Nathalie Caurezz ‘20

Armie Grace Ulzano ‘17

Anna Sofia Ysabel Mateo ‘20

Marian Michelle Arcinas ‘17

Chamonix Moreno ‘20

Berenice Joanna Dela Cruz ‘18

Julia Alyssandra Castillo ‘20

BATCH

2020 27