The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
The Beta Epsilon Sigma (BES) Fraternity and the Hiyas ng Silangan (HNS) Sorority, honor societies of the University of the East (UE), celebrate their 50th year since their creation in January 1966. These two elite organizations were founded by Joe-Santos Bisquera and Jeanette Lim-Evangelista, respectively.
Inspired by the idea of achieving excellence not only in academics but also in extra-curricular activities, the two founders established their organizations using a standard of recruitment that would produce honor graduates and campus leaders.
Almost to a man and woman, BES and HNS members completed their college education at UE with high honors. Many of them were scholars and leaders in the classrooms and some held positions in the student government.
This tradition of excellence, perched on the pillar of the organization’s motto, SEMPER PREMIUM or ALWAYS FIRST, would carry over into the members’ professional careers. The Sigmans and Hiyas (Gems) would become either corporate leaders or business entrepreneurs here and abroad.
To commemorate the event, BES and HNS will hold a three-day affair from January 8-10, 2016, starting with a fund-raising golf tournament at Sherwood Golf and Country Club and visits to various sites including the groups’ alma mater UE, and culminating in a gala night at the Grand Ballroom of Marriot’s Hotel at Resorts World.
There will also be a viewing of the award-winning play, Bituing Walang Ningning and a sumptuous dinner at the Passion Restaurant at Resorts World. The event is expected to be attended by over 100 fraternity brothers and sorority sisters with a contingent coming from the USA Canada and Australia. It will be an occasion for renewing old ties of friendship and brotherhood/sisterhood.
The funds generated by this golden event will be funnelled into the groups’ scholarship project at UE. To ensure the sustainability of this civic project targeted to produce excellent graduates, and to act as an effective linkage among the members these two honors societies have formalized an association called the BES HNS Alumni Association, Inc.
The main sponsors of this grand reunion are Megaworld and Stradcom aside from individual members of BES and HNS.
A history of the fraternity and sorority together with the epic journeys of its members will be featured later in a coffee table book which should be a welcome addition to one’s library.