From Dennis Quinto <dennis@quinto.net>
To be_matters@yahoogroups.com
Date Fri, Dec 24, 2010 at 4:41 AM
Subject [be_matters] All is well with BE in 2010

Brods,

A few personal, indulgent words, although I think I speak for many among us, to  our brotherhood as we approach Christmas Eve 2010. From half a globe away one has this warm feeling that Beta Epsilon is doing the right things, taking stock of a banner year.

I am happy that BE participated significantly in the COE Centennial Year  activities. I note with pride that we engaged positively with the College of Engineering and contributed money and volunteered time and ideas generously. Betan leadership among the engineering alumni had a lot to do with the success of the celebrations. I felt good when JB Cruz told me during the BE gathering for Outstanding Alumni that Beta Epsilon has been the most effective networked  organization that he has been a member of.

I am gratified to have two outstanding ''58 batchmates doing their thing -- Manny  Agustines who has become an iconic father figure to the younger brods and Lito Manahan who has been the driving force behind fund-raising campaigns, subtly and effectively inducing us to to open our wallets for worthy causes. I am glad that we have brods like Pete Maniego in the new government appointed to help shape energy policy for our country.

I feel good that we have brods who quietly donate for big ticket items in UP  modernization and academic chairs or help a struggling brod to finish his engineering education in Diliman. When we heeded the call to aid an ailing brod and his very Betan-connected family, I am touched by his wife quoting a famous utterance of the first MEB: What are brothers for?

It is remarkable to have a second-generation Betan as MEB and his father takes up  a leadership post with the Engineering Alumni organization. No wonder the MEB is very communicative with the alumni elders who reciprocate with mutual respect. Beta Epsilon must again be (I can not confirm this) a respected name in the campus with the evident extracurricular service to the university. The UP Diliman  community hails us for having our money go up in fireworks as the Lantern Parade highlight. for fleeting moments of joy. (I used to think we could spend the money
for better things, but now I am a convert.) I am impressed that there is a  monthly Kapihan tradition still sheperded by young-hearted old brod Joe Arvisu,  Beyond other Philippine locations tt is now emulated in restaurants and private homes in various cities in the world where expatriate Betans in BEFAAA or BESA  congregate to reconnect and coordinate activities with our home-based brods. And as old brods pass on to the night, we have brods who remember them in kind words  to their families. I can go on and on.

From our archives there is a1961 piece entitled "I would that this be the Beta  Epsilon" penned by an MEB trying to redeem himself from a trying experience with divisive, nasty initiations at the time. I can only paraphrase it from memory: with an idealistic call to service to one's country and university and fellow man, "... when the Beta Epsilon has squeezed out the juice of the very best in him then will he be proud to call himself Brother to another Betan.." I was 20 years old  then and now I have turned 70 and finally I can truly say that we have become that Beta Epsilon of one's dreams. Brods, we should all feel proud of ourselves today and let tomorrow be more of the same.

Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones.

DTQ'58
__._,_.___

The renovation of the Beta Epsilon Theatrum was approved by the past two BEAI board and the present board had asked Leony to complete the technical stidu.

Doc Leony has done the initial plans and now coordinates with a team composed of Boy de Leon and Jon Kasilag and a few other brods.

Last January 4, the team conducted a site survey. These photos and a video tell the story.

All the while that the theatrum team was conducting the survey and while I was captiring some scenes into my camera card, I recalled the email posted by Dennis on how well Beta Epsilon did in 2010 (see copy posted here, left column).

With the resolve to do and complete the theatrum renovation this year, I think we will do even better this 2011 -- with brods all over the world pitching in and collectively doing a project right at the heart of the UP Diliman we love. After all, the renovation project is a commitment to UP (and we do not want a structure already called an "eyesore" to be identified with Beta Epsilon ;-) )

Jon introduces a member of his AMH staff who will assist in the project.

By the way, Brod Jon (Edgardo P. Kasilag II, MTM) is the President  of AMH Philippines, Inc.

 Their website is www.amhphil.com in case you need their engineering services

Boy de Leon's updates on the project

Jan 3, 2011

Subject: Re: Fwd: REVISED UPDATE FOR COMMENTS= Theatrum Project

Jon & Leony,

I will join your walk at the site tomorrow afternoon. What time?

Sonny & Oca, BEAI may need to give a new twist to this Theatrum project, based on  Tito Aliga's story this afternoon of incoming UP President Fred Pascual visiting the tennis courts recently and talking to them. He (Fred) said he would welcome project proposals from UP stakeholders that would be sustainable financially (i guess among other criteria). Bobby Angangco also talked about this factor during last Saturday's Kapihan.

In our Theatrum Project development financial sustainability was not a factor  previously considered, except for sizing the project to fit BEAI's fundraising capability.

During our walk-through in 2009, Roger Buendia and Roni Manahan were toying with  the possibility of a BE-operated cafe adjoining or on the Theatrum. The Sunday joggers-walkers-picnicers may be deemed the potential base market. Any other ideas to enhance our project proposal accordingly? It seems we will need to satisfy VCCA Gregorio's criterion of wetlands sustainability as well as Pres Pascual's criterion of financial sustainability.

Boy
 

------------------------------------------------

From: Cesar de Leon

January 3, 2011
Subject: Fwd: REVISED UPDATE FOR COMMENTS= Theatrum Project

Jon,

Beyond Phase 1, the Frat consensus is to obtain ownership of the longterm Park  Development between the Main Library and Quezon hall, woven together in Leony's Theatrum-Park-Wetlands Master Plan. Ideally, we should also develop the parametric costs of all the components and the timeframe for the ultimate Development. Inasmuch we got the brods in AMH aside from you- namely Egbert and Alexis- to commit this engineering work when the project started last 20April 2009, this email is cc to them. BTW, the 18April09 project description is appended below.

Please coordinate with Leony when you rapidly do the engineering plans and  estimates because we have further simplified Phase 1 based on the present shortage of time and the uncertainty of the project size that BEAI will commit. Attached is Leony's last Master Plan (22Dec2009) which will be slightly modified by the reduced project elements in the Simplified Theatrum Renovation (3Jan2011) which i also attach.

Boy

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Cesar de Leon

Date: 2 December 2010 10:41
Subject: REVISED UPDATE FOR COMMENTS= Theatrum Project
 

Brods,

Update is corrected and simplified, based on our last meeting Dec 1.

We have a tight schedule to obtain UP approval when we meet VCCA Grace,  hopefully within 10 days from today. Our presentation to her and her DEC may be conceptually written up but our backup engineering details and estimates should be firm because this will be a Fraternity commitment.

Boy
--------------------------

Brods,

Please add your comments if i have any omissions in the following notes of our
meeting.

Thanks to the survey results submitted by Jon/AMH yesterday, we (Leony, Ricky,
Roger & I) were able to derive the ff observations after a meeting at Trigo Cafe
followed by another walk-through at the site:

1. Leony will get from Jon/AMH more survey data on the inlets from Roces Ave
(3 culverts of 1-mtr dia and 1 culvert about 0.60-m dia) Unit costs for quick
estimating of construction costs may also be obtained by Jon from contractor
brods.

2. Ricky will give Roni/PROS a copy of the survey results (2 sheets) and
obtain a recommended plan for the uses of the large reclaimable lagoon area
(almost 3,000 sq mtrs) shown in the survey.The surveyed lagoon area is about 3x
larger than that needed for the Theatrum audience area directly in front.

3. Leony will estimate storm drainage design flows from the areas across Roces
Ave based on 10-year return period.

4. Jon/Leony will liase with UP Campus Architect Office for info on the
existing combined drainage flows from the areas north of Osmena Ave. BoyDL noted
the absence of smelly septic water in the canals. Perhaps Leony can check if the
UP STP system has already intercepted the previously smelly flow. Leony also noted
some fish and birds along the length of the existing canals. He was inspired to
innovate the canal section design to enhance such environmentally friendly
features.

5. The rear of the Theatrum may be also developed as an audience area if the
stage platform will be extended rearwards to include the two large trees behind.
Some balling of smaller trees may be needed but deemed feasible. This will lead to
justifying access for vehicles from the corner of Roces and Roxas (near the
existing shed of about 4 convenience/snack stores).

6. Leony will develop a scheme (with engg inputs from Jon/AMH) that will
divert the flow from the two culverts at the middle of Roces and combine it with
the flow from the single culvert at the corner of Roces & Osmena. This will
require redesigning the existing canal to accommodate the combined flow. With a
regulating gate upstream, a further decision can be made either to drain the
heavily-silted lagoon or still allow a smaller lagoon with bypass canal through
the area fronting the Theatrum (the minimum area to be filled up). Hopefully,
Leony can quickly prepare the powerpoint presentation for obtaining clearance and
approval from the Campus Architect, the VC for Community Affairs, and other
concerned UP units.

7. Ricky can tap sources of fill material up to 3,000 cu mtrs. The fill
material is available immediately but is continually being disposed and may not be
there anymore if and when UP will approve the filling scheme to be proposed.

8. Roger B & Ricky SJ will represent BEAI as the official proponent with the
concerned UP units, to be supported by Jon, Leony, and Roni in elaborating the
multiple aspects of the scheme. While BEAI is focused on getting only the limited
audience area for the Theatrum, the objections or buy-in of the UP authorities may
depend on the other aspects. Leony is thinking of tying in academic and
environmental aspects. Roger is thinking of a parks development program with
commercial components. Clearly, the presentation will have to be well-coordinated
to ensure buy-in and approval to proceed.

Notes prepared by BoyDL
18 April 2009

Area in front of the Theatrum. Used to be a pond with ronamental floweing plants.

In the plan drawn up by Doc Leony, this will be filled up and the audience can stay right in front of the performers on stage.

Here, at the bottom of this webpage, is the bottom line:

Brods are already donating time and effort, engineering skills and talents,

but the Theatrum Renovation project can only be completed

with funds donated by the generous brothers of Beta Epsilon