As already described in the article of Lito Manahan ("The Beta Epsilon Theatrum and UP Lagoon Park Project") and the Timeline on theatrum history, we are doing the current project because our fraternity decided to rehabilitate the theatrum -- then called Outdoor Stage or Bandstand --  and to develop the audience and surrounding areas and make the facility live up to its billing as a center for mounting lively and educational  cultural presentations and similar activities.

Click here to download 1983 BE newsletter announcing the theatrum project. This copy was found by Doc Leony in the baul of the late Brod Alejandrino. MEB Renan Pineda signed it and Emeritus Adviser Prof Ilio and Brother Adviser Prof. Leony Liongson endorsed it.

Here is a note sent today, January 26, 2012 by Renan Pineda '80, the MEB at that time 1983-84:
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Hi Mon, just a quick reply since it may take a major bump in the head for me to remember more.

First of all, the original design for the Beta Theatrum was a beautifully drawn "hyperbolic paraboloid" shaped structure which got all of us excited.

The picture you show is actually the second design also by Brod Roni after the complexity of the original was realized. Of course, we later found out that this second design was no less complex after all when us resident CE brods at the time tried to actually design the folded plate roof!

Brod Roni then came up with a third design which kept the stage but replaced the roof with a tent or parachute style canopy with a quarter twist (sort of like a seashell if viewed from above) supported on a single post located on the center of the lagoon water, between the stage and the audience area. In the end, although the stage was quickly completed, the canopy structure never materialized. And this is how it was when I last saw the Theatrum at the poetry reading event during Lenard's term.

Another knowledgeable person about this project would be Vic Ahorro as he was with me every step of the way and possibly Gerry Lipat who was our Brother Reporter in '83.
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Lenard Berba '81, MEB 1984-85, was also able to retrieve form his memory ells some good recollection of the theatrum event then. Here is his note:

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Hi Mon!

I just saw the FB email. Having read Renan's recollection also jogged mine. Quite frankly - it was a long time ago - and BE days all seem a blur at this point.

The only additional point or trivia I may add was - after the design was finalized and plans laid out during Renan's term - (ground breaking and time capsule laying all happened during Renan's term) - the actual mobilization for the construction probably happened late during Renan's term or early summer. I forget exactly when.

I remember - when I took over as MEB - one of our first tasks- and commitment of the resident brods - all in the spirit of the Beta Way - we all agreed that somehow the residents would physically contribute (blood, sweat, and hangover tears) to the construction efforts.

So, during the summer - up until August or September - the brods dug the original pit where the foundation would be laid, we also created pathways from existing pedestrian walkways leading to the lagoon area. In the pictures I posted of the 1984-1985 term - you will see pictures of SW 83-84 Celine Reyes-Mendoza helping out during the summer. It took the brods much longer to dig that hole - than for DMCI to build the whole structure as we see it today. Hahaha!

We held the Poetry Reading of Prof. Ilio's poems in December 1984. The brods again got involved in repairing the dirt pathways leading to the theatrum and clearing the grass and area where the audience would be sitting across the lagoon. Even SW 84-85 Felichi Pangilinan-Buizon helped the brods create pathways and dig canals to redirect rain water away from the audience area.

See, I actually remember!

Hope this helps.
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In 1989, a short 5 years after its inauguration, alumni brods Robbie Fabian '75 and Teddy San Juan '75 and resident brods Erwin Marqueses '88 and Stein Macabulos '89 initiated a campaign to have the theatrum renovated along the following lines:

1] elevate the audience area
2] install a lighting system
3] construct the roof as originally planned
4] paint the surface
5] clean up the lagoon
6] do the landscaping

Based on late 90s photos it seems that items 2, 4, 5 and 6 were done with certain levels of accomplishment. The brods were unable to construct a roof over the stage, the main item in the renovation plan.
 

Some years later, in the late 90s and early 2000s, the state of disrepair set in again, now with the lagoon area already acquiring a cover of weeds and an air of foul smell.

So in 2007 BEAI President Vic Ahorro and the board, responding to negative feedback on the theatrum summed up in one word, “eye-sore”, decided to face the issue of theatrum renovation with greater resolve.

As a first concrete step in the renovation plan, Vic asked Brod Bernie Mendoza for a proposal to do a topo survey of the 6.5-hectare theatrum area. You know the rest of the story as the project was picked up by succeeding boards and BEAI presidents: Roger Buendia, Deni Cuayo, Oca Arcinue and now Sonny Laigo.
 

Today, as ably and clearly explained by Doc Leony Liongson ‘67, Beta Epsilon, in partnership with the UP Diliman Administration, has embarked on a project that has three major phases:

 

Phase I

Complete theatrum renovation including provision for an audience area in front by backfilling and turfing the pond, upgrading the stage, landscaping the surrounding area, and upgrading the channels and footbridges. The ultimate objective is to have a facility where the UP community can hold cultural presentations and similar activities.

This is the principal task now of the brothers of Beta Epsilon and its UP partners. At the same time, the designers from Beta Epsilon and UP attend to preparatory studies and work on Phases 2 and 3. It is clear though that these are secondary tasks at this time.

 

Phase II

This is the Beta Epsilon Way wetlands development or the Diliman Lake (from Univ. Library to A. Roces Ave).
 

Phase III

The water quality management and effluent treatment (from Vinzons Hall to Univ. Library).

Stripped of the project's engineering technicals, what we Betans are doing here is simply to have the Beta Epsilon Theatrum on center stage for cultural activities while providing a nice world-class playground near it for the thousands of kids in the Diliman area, including the Betanaks and Betapos.