ItbeganundertheacaciatreesofDiliman.
ThisisthestoryofhowasororitycrossedthePacific,toldthewayasisterwouldtellit.
MNL
Manila
LAX
United States
7,300 miles · 17 time zones · one sisterhood
01
Diliman
Quezon City · UP Diliman · est. 1957
Beforeanyofusboardedaplane,therewasacampus.AcaciatreesoverUniversityAvenue,theOblationwithhisarmsopen,andasororitycalledPhiDeltaAlpha,wherestrangersbecamesistersoverorgwork,examssurvivedtogether,andpromisesthatsoundeddramaticattwentybutturnedouttobetrue.
Whatwelearnedtherehadnothingtodowithgrades:showupforeachother.Thatwasthewholecurriculum.
02
The crossing
MNL → LAX · one suitcase at a time
Thenlifehappened,thewayitdoes.Residenciesandboardexams.Joboffersandpetitions.Weddings,children,one-waytickets.Onebyone,sisterslandedinCalifornia,Illinois,NewYork,Texas,buildingcareersandfamilieseightthousandmilesfromthetambayan.
Thegroupphotosgothardertoschedule.Thesisterhooddidn'tnotice.Ittraveledfineinbalikbayanboxes,long-distancecalls,andbirthdaygreetingssentatstrangehoursacrossseventeentimezones.
03
Finding each other
Living rooms · reunions · group chats
Itstartedsmall:adinnerinsomeone'shouseinLA.Areuniontablethatoutgrewtherestaurant.Agroupchatthatneverslept,becausesomebodywasalwaysawakeinsometimezone.
Sisterswhohadn'tseeneachotherintwentyyearspickedupmid-sentence.Theoneswhoarrivedrecentlyfoundjobs,advice,andacouchtolandon.That'swhenweunderstood,thiswasn'tnostalgia.Thiswasinfrastructure.
04
The committee
United States · 501(c)(3) · est. 2016
Sowemadeitofficial.UPPDAUSistheUnitedStatescommitteeofthesisterhood,aregistered501(c)(3)thatturnsfivedecadesoffriendshipintosomethingthatgivesback:scholarships,outreach,inductionsthatwelcomethenextgenerationofsistersonAmericansoil.
Themissionhasn'tchangedsinceDiliman.Showupforeachother.Nowwithawebsite.
Said at a reunion, remembered ever since
"Wedidn'tleavethesisterhoodbehind.Wepackedit."
A sister, Los Angeles
The Violet Book
Prudenceanddignity,inallactions.
Thecreed,symbols,andsistersthatmadePhiDeltaAlpha—keptsince1957,andcarriedwithusacrossthePacific.
Our beginning
July 17, 1957
PhiDeltaAlphawasconceivedduringthefirstweekofFebruary1957andrecognizedonthe17thofJuly1957,throughthehelpoftheAlphaPhiBetaFraternity.
Preamble
We, the members of this organization, in order to foster closer and lasting relations among ourselves, to afford opportunity to serve the university through cultural and social activities, and to dedicate ourselves to the living ideals and traditions of Filipino womanhood, do hereby ordain and promulgate this Constitution.
The Pledge
I, neophyte, aware of the honor of being a neophyte of the Phi Delta Alpha Sorority, hereby apply as a pledgee. I declare I know fully well the consequences of my act and further pledge to submit myself to the rigid but constructive initiation; to obey with absolute fidelity the code of honor imposed upon neophytes of the Sorority, and to inform the officers of whatever transgressions that may be committed in the conduct of initiation. I take this oath without any mental reservation on my part, and further pledge to submit my intellectual, physical, and material resources to the Sorority if I be inducted as a member.
The Emblem
Face of a Greek Lady
Known for her courage, strength of character, dignity, and loyalty to her family and country.
Torch of Wisdom
Symbolizes the guiding light and enlightenment.
Golden Laurel Wreath
Symbolizes achievements.
Our motto
“Todogood,toliveforsomething,toleavebehindamonumentofgoodactions.”
Role of a Neophyte
To be a slave to the ladies.
The Sorority Vows
I will love the Phi Delta Alpha Sorority.
I will be loyal to the Phi Delta Alpha Sorority.
I will respect my senior sisters.
I will love my Sorority Sisters as if they were my own true-blood sisters.
I will be an active member of the Phi Delta Alpha Sorority.
The Cardinal Rules
The word of the Lady Chancellor is the law.
Seniority.
Secrecy.
I will stand by my Sorority Sisters, be it right or wrong.
Once a Phi Deltan, always a Phi Deltan.
Hierarchy of Values
- God
- Country
- Family
- University
- Sorority
Sorority Colors
Violet stands for royalty and dignity.
Gold stands for wisdom and loyalty.
Waling-waling
The rare orchid of the sisterhood — every petal a meaning.
It is rare.
A rare chance to become a neophyte and a member.
It is white,
with tinges of violet and yellow — signifying purity and dignity.
It comes in clusters.
Symbolizing sisterhood, unity among members, and solidarity.
The Sorority Song
Phi Delta Alpha Sorority,
UP's beloved pride and glory,
A dedicated sisterhood,
A living ideal of womanhood.
We brave daughters rise, always rise,
With ever-glowing torch in our hands.
So young we are and oh, so few,
But in unity our hearts sing,
But in unity our hearts sing.
Onward dear sisters we march,
Prudence, dignity in action our guide.
Let Phi Delta Alpha reign forever —
Hail, hail Phi Delta Alpha, hail!
Hail, hail Phi Delta Alpha, hail!
Code of Honor
Roll of Lady Chancellors
Every sister who has led Phi Delta Alpha since its founding. Two names in a year mark a term shared across semesters.
Charter Members
The forty-one founding sisters of 1957 — where the sisterhood began.
Officers on record
2012–2013 · for the recordThe officer set preserved in the heritage booklet. Elections are held on the last Saturday of every academic year. For today’s U.S. committee officers, see Leadership.
What we keep
Sisterhood
kapatiran · The people who knew you at twenty, still here at every age after.
Service
paglilingkod · Honor and excellence, carried into the communities where we live now.
Scholarship
karunungan · Education opened our doors. We hold them open behind us.
Our mission
OurorganizationisorganizedundertheNonprofitCorporationLawofCaliforniaexclusivelyforpublicandcharitablepurposes.Ourspecificmandateistosupplyessentialcharitableandeducationalservicestolow-incomepopulations,drivingself-sufficiency,socialresilience,andcommunityupliftment.
Governance & transparency
We believe in radical transparency.
As a dedicated 501(c)(3) public charity, and per federal guidelines and our corporate bylaws, our application for tax exemption and annual information returns are openly available for public review.
EIN 81-2465010 · CA CT File No. CT0243079
The story continues