Mu Sigma Phi (medical fraternity)

Mu Sigma Phi, or MΣΦ, (founded August, 1933) is the first medical fraternity in the Philippines and in Asia.^[1] Based in the University of the Philippines College of Medicine, the fraternity aims to "foster brotherhood, leadership, scholarship and service" among its members. The Fraternity has in recent years won acclaim as a model student organization, garnering among others, the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations of the Philippines (TAYO) citation in 2004. Noted members includes University of the Philippines alumni Dr. Honorato Quisumbing and Dr. Juan Escador.^[2]

The fraternity was first mentioned in the Philippine Collegian on November 1933 as the "first and only medical students' fraternity."

Fraternity Seal

ΜΣΦ Seal

The seal of the fraternity is a black circular design within which the words MU SIGMA PHI FRATERNITY and U.P. MEDICINE are inscribed. Bounded by thin outer and inner stripes of gold, the inscriptions encircle the Coat of Arms.

The Coat of Arms is composed of a golden syringe with the wings of Mercury and two sacred snakes of Aesculapius near the handle.

The Greek letters MΣΦ (Roman - M, S, F for Medical Students' Fraternity) in respective green, red, green fields are found on the body of the syringe.

The Roman letters U and P (University of the Philippines) are in its left and right side respectively, with the numbers 1933 at the tip, the year of its founding.

The Service Arm of the Fraternity

Being a fraternity of medical students, the Mu Sigma Phi has developed a tradition of service. This parallels the College of Medicine's vision of a medical education "directed to the underserved". Less than two years after its inception, Mu put together a fund for typhoon victims in the island province of Leyte. This unprecedented act was commended by then Governor-General Frank Murphy (the Philippines was under American rule until 1946). In the succeeding decades, the Fraternity put up projects for the College and its training hospital, the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). These projects, notably the Mu Blood Bank and the Mu Eye Bank, were turned over to the College. To facilitate access of indigent patients of the PGH to free medicines, Mu put up a 'Charity Medical Bag' in 1956.

In line with the College's emphasis on community medicine, Mu has adopted several communities since the 1970s. Mu contributes medical and educational assistance to these areas through medical missions, public health seminars, and the training of local health workers.

Several organizations, including the Philippine government, have recognized the efforts of Mu Sigma Phi in socio-civic work. In 1997, the Presidential Commission for Urban Poor cited the Fraternity as its "Most Active NGO Partner^[1] in Luzon", an award conferred by then President Fidel V. Ramos. The Committee of Health of the Philippine Senate, for its part, declared Mu to be the "Best Community Oriented Student Organization" in 2002. Recently, the Mu Sigma Phi was named as the 2007 Most Outstanding Student Organization in the University of the Philippines-Manila after also being bestowed the same honor the previous year.

Today, service activities of the Fraternity include medical missions, blood-letting drives, benefit concerts, and working trips to its adopted communities. These are usually held on Saturday and Sundays as the undergraduate brods have classes from Monday to Friday. Major medical missions are occasionally held during summer and semestral breaks.

The Mu Sigma Phi Foundation

In 2004, alumni of the Mu Sigma Phi and its counterpart sorority formed the Mu Sigma Phi Foundation, a nonprofit organization which aims to support the projects of the UP College of Medicine. Its most recent project was the renovation of the Anatomy laboratory for the benefit of first-year medical students. This undertaking was completed on July 2006.

On October 2008, Mu Sigma Phi will celebrate its diamond jubilee. Its website lists over 1,400 brothers from all over the world.

External links

• MU SIGMA PHI homepage
• MU SIGMA PHI DIAMOND BALL page
• University of the Philippines College of Medicine official website
• Philippine General Hospital official website

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Hernando, Merlina R. (2004-04-03). "Unplugging the sounds of silence". Manila Bulletin. http://www.mb.com.ph/node/161688. Retrieved 2008-11-22. 
2. ^ "The first Quisumbing-Escandor film festival for health". Manila Times. 2008-02-18. http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/feb/18/yehey/life/20080218lif3.html. Retrieved 2008-11-22. ^{[dead link]}

• Lasco, G. and Balderia, P. (2005) "A look at the fraternities of the College of Medicine"
• "UP Medicos Resurrect Cadavers" article from The Philippine Collegian Vol. XIV No. 25, Nov. 24, 1933, p. 1
• "Medic Frat Gives to Typhoon Fund" article from The Philippine Collegian Vol. XVI, Jan. 7, 1935, p. 1
• http://www.musigmaphi.net/FratSeal.html