What is the history fraternities in the Philippines?

Answer 1

In all times and among all nations which have reached a sufficient level of cultural development, there have always been fraternal associations formed for higher purposes. The development of Fraternities can be traced from trade unions or guilds that emerged in England. These guilds were set up to protect and care for their members at a time when there was no welfare state, trade unions or National Health Service. Various secret signs and handshakes were created to serve as proof of their membership allowing them to visit guilds in distant places that are associated with the guild they belong.

In the Philippines, fraternities have its roots from different fraternal societies that reached the country in the 1800's. Among the fraternities that first reached the Philippine Islands are the Brotherhood of Freemasons and Brotherhood of Odd Fellows. Both are ancient fraternities that originated in England on or before the year 1700's. These brotherhoods were brought to America sometime in the late 1700's to the early 1800's which was then brought by the Americans to different parts of the world. The oldest greek-named fraternity is Phi Beta Kappa founded on December 5, 1776 but this fraternity do not have any chapter in the Philippines and also converted into an honor society rather than a social fraternity.

As early as 1850's, Spaniards and other colonizers established several Fraternal Societies in the country but these chapters only admitted Spaniards or their own race and did not welcome the natives (Filipinos).

According to the book, History and Geography of the Philippine Islands, fraternities played an important part in letting the Filipinos realize the injustice practiced upon them by the colonizers. According to this book, the Fraternity of Odd Fellows first spread in the Philippines in 1872. Most members were basically American Military men and their allies who helped fought the Spanish-American war. The fraternity established their lodges (chapters) and held their meetings in naval and military base camps.

Although there was an alleged lodge formed exclusively for Spaniards in 1856, the Freemason fraternity that we know today, reached the Philippines in 1877 brought by the Americans. The lodges (chapters) are also established mostly by military men assigned in Manila. When Filipinos who were admitted as members in Spain went back to the Philippines, they also started up chapters (lodges) in the country. The first Filipino Freemason lodge (chapter) was founded in 1891.

The first brotherhood to be founded by Filipinos is the Katipunan, short for Kataastaasang Kagalangalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (Supreme and Venerable Society of the Sons of the People), which was founded by anti-Spanish Filipinos in Manila in 1892. The primary aim of the fraternity was to gain independence from Spain through revolution. As many of us know, the brotherhood already disbanded.

In 1899, the ties between Filipino and Americans was disrupted and the Filipino-American war emerged. When this war ended in 1902, fraternities started to rise again. Odd Fellows, Freemasons and even the Elks established lodges in Manila area.

Later, college fraternities began to form especially when American Education (philosophy) reached our shores. State Universities were the first to enjoy Fraternity Life, particularly in the University of the Philippines, when the first College Fraternity Rizal Center, a brotherhood of Jose Rizal followers and who viewed the hero in iconic fashion, was founded (This fraternity is already defunct). The first Filipino Greek Letter Fraternity, Upsilon Sigma Phi, was founded in 1918. This fraternity is now considered the oldest in Asia and continues to exist up until today but membership is exclusive only to UP Dilliman and UP Los Banos students. The oldest sorority in the Philippines is the UP Sigma Beta Sorority founded on February 14, 1932. Membership is exclusive only to UP Dilliman, UP Los Banos, UP Iloilo and UP Davao students.

The progress of fraternities was again interrupted when Japan occupied the Philippines in 1941. When the Filipino-American-Japanese war ended in 1944, Philippine fraternities started to rise up again and many Filipinos started setting up their own fraternities and sororities.

The peak of fraternalism in the Philippines was probably in the 1950's to 1990's when many fraternities where founded. Several American fraternities were also imported to the country such as the Alpha Phi Omega. Also, some locally founded fraternities made allies with some fraternities in the United States. After that the rest is history.

Source:

Sarmiento, Louie Blake S. (2011). Research and Lectures on Philippine Fraternalism.

Further Reading:

Major O.W. Coursey, U.S. Volunteer, author of the History and Geography of the Philippine Islands

Answer 2

Fraternities in the Philippines, also known as "Greek-letter fraternities," were introduced during the American colonial period in the early 20th century. These fraternities were initially founded in universities, primarily to promote camaraderie and leadership among male students. Over time, they have evolved to encompass various aspects of campus life, including community service and social activities.