Gamman Lunch at the Sicilian, October 20, 2009
Gamman Lunch at The Sicilian, October 20, 2009
Gammans met over lunch of pizza and pasta at The Sicilian last October 20, 2009 at The Sicilian, an Italian restaurant along Dapitan Street. Despite being in the middle of the second shifting exams, over 20 brothers and Gamman friends came to partake of an Italian lunch sponsored by Lord Drs. Noel Martin Bautista and Gene De Leon.
The Gamman lunch is a once-a-week tradition of the GBE fratenity when brothers meet over food, talk and celebrate brotherhood.
Gamman Barbecue Night at the Frathouse, October 2, 2009
Gamman Barbecue Night at the Frathouse, October 2, 2009
Gammans and and invited friends gathered anew at the Gamma Beta Epsilon Fraternity frathouse for another night of brotherhood – serious and light talk, jokes and laughter over rounds of beer. Aside from pork barbecue and pancit, the usual fare of the Gamman Friday Barbecue Nights (GBN), a new but equally savory ‘pulutan‘ fare was introduced – Buttered Chicken from Noodle King .
Aside from Gammans who took time off from their busy schedules to chill out and relax with the brods, several first year medical students were invited to the GBN, introducing them to the unique brand of Gamman Brotherhood.
The Ionic Bonds of Gamman Brotherhood
Tomorrow, September 20, 2009, our fraternity, the Gamma Beta Epsilon will be celebrating its 39th year of existence. Being a Gamman brod in 21 of those 39 years, I look back with both joy and pride of that day when I made that fateful decision of joining a fraternity, of joining GBE.
Everybody has his reasons in joining a fraternity or not. At first thought, I knew that a fraternity was not for me nor was I for a fraternity.
When I was a medical student two decades back, I looked at fraternties in the wrong way. I saw them from the not-so-selfless view of what I could get and how it would benefit me in my quest to be a doctor. I concentrated on what I would gain in joining such a group, if ever. If I would have to undergo such an uncertain (and what i heard, hard) initiation process, it should be for a good cause. It must be worth it.
But I was wrong. Dead wrong.
It was not until an elder Gamman talked to me and changed my perspective. He told me simply that a fraternity was not for anyone who was joining to gain something, but for someone who was willing to give and share. Something akin to medicine – for then, and until now, I believed that being a doctor is not the business of getting, but of giving – one’s talent, time and if needed, treasure.
Right there and then, I signified my intention and underwent the process. At that time, I was already a third year medical student. It did not mater then that it seemed late in a day for a third year med student to be joining a fraternity. I got some sneers, jeers. Some supported, others shook their heads and saw madness.
Why GBE? Why Not?
Everybody has his reasons in joining a fraternity or not. At first thought, I knew that a fraternity was not for me nor was I for a fraternity.
However, I looked at fraternties in the wrong way. I looked at them from the view on what i could get and how it would benefit me in my quest to be a doctor. I looked at what I would gain in joining such a group, if ever. If I would have to undergo such an uncertain (and what i heard, hard) initiation process, it should be for a good cause. It must be worth it.
It was not until an elder Gamman talked to me and changed my perspective. He told me simply that a fraternity is not for anyone who is looking to gain something, but for someone who is willing to give. Something very similar to medicine – being a doctor is not the business of getting, but of giving – one’s talent, time and if needed, treasure. Read more
