Sigma Delta Phi Sorority
History
The University of the Philippines Sigma Delta Phi or Society of Dramatics and Fine Arts, was founded in 1931 through the initiative of Mrs. Adeline C. Stevens, who was commissioned by the mother chapter at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
On February 24, 1931, The Zeta Chapter of Sigma Delta Phi Sorority was founded by Catalina Manguerra Santos and Gloria Lucero Monzon. The Zeta Chapter was officially recognized by the University of the Philippines in 1933. With chapters in the Diliman and Los Banos campuses, the purpose of the sorority is to form a strong bond among women university students interested in the arts and sciences and to promote social and intellectual intercourse among its members.
Core Values
The UP Sigma Delta Phi Sorority is an organization of women based in the University of the Philippines Diliman. Since 1933, UP Sigma Delta Phi has been developing women to be excellent and self-propelled leaders who use their capabilities to serve the community around them.
In their continuous pursuit for excellence, Sigma Deltans empower one another to do more and unite themselves to be able to help the community. Together, they work to bring positive impact to society.
Empowering one another, Sigma Deltans nurture a lifetime bond of sisterhood, a deep rooted tradition formed in the Sorority’s 86 years of excellence.
Servant Leadership
Sigma Deltans use their interests, talents and skills to serve the community around them. They are servant leaders who use their capabilities to be able to reach out to communities and help people improve themselves.
Excellence
Sigma Deltans place a premium on excellence in all their endeavors which empowers them to become productive and outstanding members of their immediate communities.
Sisterhood
Sisterhood is a reward Sigma Deltans receive and nurture as they grow in the sorority. This unwavering bond and culture is formed with unity, and through embodying the heritage of excellence for 86 years.
Mariang Maya
The Mariang Maya Awards are bestowed on outstanding Sigma Deltans in recognition of their contributions to the growth and development of their professions, communities, people, country, Sorority, its Alumnae Association, and Filipino womanhood.
Introduced by the Sigma Delta Phi Alumnae Association National Board in 1983, the first award honored ten outstanding Sigma Deltans in different fields of endeavor. The Association coordinates the Award through its National Mariang Maya Awards Committee that selects a board of judges from among Mariang Maya Awardees.
The Award is named after Mariang Maya, the Filipino zarzuela written by renowned and multi-awarded literary and cultural writer Virginia R. Moreno for the Sorority’s 1953 musical production. Since August 1983, the Mariang Maya Awards are given every five years to honor outstanding sister-achievers of Sigma Delta Phi. To date, sixty Sigma Deltans are proud owners of the Mariang Maya statuette that was designed and sculpted by National Artist Napoleon Abueva.
Some Notable Sigma Deltans
Arts
Purita Kalaw Ledesma ‘33 - Founded the Art Association of the Philippines
Anita Magsaysay Ho ’35 - Numerous awards in local and foreign art competitions for depicting figurative abstracts of women at work
Araceli Limcaco-Dans ’47 - Internationally-acclaimed oil and watercolor artist
Ofelia Gelvezon-Tequi '59 - Internationally-acclaimed painter and printmaker
Felicitas Layag-Radaic ’53 - Prima ballerina, first Filipino member of London’s Royal Academy of Dance
Joy Gamboa-Virata '53 - Stage performer, played a leading role in establishing Repertory Philippines
Felice Prudente Sta. Maria ’66 - Commissioner of the Philippine Centennial Commission and UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines, bestowed the rank of Chevalier in the Grand Ordre des Artes et Letres by the Republic of France in 1990
Economics
Solita “Winnie” Collas-Monsod '56 - Renowned Economist, former NEDA Director, Professor Emeritus at the UP, Diliman
Entrepreneurship
Lilia Calderon-Clemente ’57 - First Filipina investment broker, Chairman and CEO of Clemente Capital, Inc.
Yolanda Bello-Pajaro ’61 - Founder, President and CEO of Via Venetto Phils., Inc.
Government Service
Virginia Oteyza de Guia ’38 - Youngest lady Mayor of Baguio City, 1946
Josefina Trinidad Lichauco ’47 - Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications from 1979 to 2000
Lilia R. Bautista ’52 - Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office, World Trade Organization, World Health Organization, International Labor Organization, and other international organizationsin Geneva, Switzerland
International Relations
Estefania Aldaba Lim ’68 - First Filipino clinical psychologist, first Female Cabinet Member, recipient of the UN Peace Medal Award
Law
Ameurfina Melencio Herrera ’46 - Second female appointed to the Philippine Supreme Court
Flerida Ruth Pineda Romero ’47 - Associate Justice of the Philippine Supreme Court from 1991 to 1999
Mass Communication
Betty Go-Belmonte ‘52 - One of the founders and first Presidents of The Philippine Star
Ces Oreña Drilon ’80 - Broadcast journalist, news anchor and senior correspondent of Bandila, the ABS-CBN flagship nightly news program
Frances Rivera-Fraas ’89 - Television journalist and the News Anchor of NBC, first Filipina to win an Emmy Award
Medicine
Aleli Guzman Quirino, M.D. '33 - First woman surgeon to perform an abdominal operation in the Philippines
Websites & Social Media
UP Sigma Delta Phi Diliman Residents: http://upsigmadeltaphi.org/
UP Sigma Delta Phi Alumni Association: http://upsigmadeltaphi.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/upsigmadeltaphi1933/
Instagram: @upsigmadeltaphi