The Final Initiation Day
By: Laurence Tabanao Gayao, MD
It was the day of our final initiation into a medical school fraternity, after a week of enduring doing the bidding of the members of the group. We had to run errands, had to memorize information under duress of punishment. It was just like any other tropical day, bright, sunny, and humid. There we were, part of 15 finalists, Bebes, Ely, Greg and I, all living in one apartment in A. Luna St., San Juan, Philippines, about a 10-minute walk to from our medical school. There was a measure of fear and excitement among us neophytes. Fear of what would happen to us and excitement that we have almost made it.
My fraternity brothers and apartment mates in medical school with their spouses and a classmate together in their 40th class reunion
The rite of passage was intended to teach us how to be in control in spite of whatever mental, emotional, or physical adversity that may come our way and making sure that we knew what the brotherhood stood for. Our response to pain was sort of numbed by our excitement. When we got past the final hurdle, all seemed to be forgotten after receiving all the congratulations and welcome to the brotherhood. We had a big party after that; I remember part of menu; we had fried chicken, rice, and Henry, the brother that recruited us, brought a dish of raw herring fish in vinegar and with a lot of spices. It was called kinilaw.
When we got home to our apartment, when the excitement and adrenalin went down, it was then we started to feel the aches and pain, mainly in butts and legs. Our apartment had two floors, first floor had a combine living room-kitchen and the only bathroom. The second floor had two bedrooms. At about midnight we all woke up having diarrhea, so one by one we had to take turns going to the restroom. Let me tell you with our legs so sore it was pure torture repeatedly navigating the steps going up and down several times added to that was the anxiety and tension keeping one from having an accident while waiting your turn to use the commode. The following morning we were all exhausted. We still all made it to our classes as though nothing had happened, or we made it appear that way. Thanks to the resilience and the physical strength of youth.
It didn’t long for us to learn that other members of the fraternity suffered the same fate, getting bad diarrhea. One of our EENT resident brothers, Paulo, was said to be in the middle of doing surgery on a patient the following morning when he was forced to quickly excuse himself to make a run to the rest room. After looking into the cause of the diarrhea, it was thought the culprit was the food poisoning from the fried chicken that was left in the trunk of a car all day long before we ate it at the conclusion of our initiation.
For some, fraternities and sororities mean something messy or aggressive, intolerant and even violent group. Many times, school fraternities are thought of also as groups of hard partying, irresponsible members, which is rather very far from the truth. Severe hazing by some irresponsible members has given fraternal organizations a bad rap when they go to the extreme, causing severe injuries and even the death of a neophyte. That is unconscionable and it in itself is a crime that should never happen.
The fraternal ultraistic principles have been ingrained in us members. These have helped us make a difference for good in our families and the community at large. Through the years, I have seen it work through the corporate efforts among of its members for generating a positive influence in various organizations. A good example which has taken place several times, is when a medical student could not enroll or go on because there was no money for registration or for continuing school, a call would be made by concerned member of the fraternity or sorority from our the school, and help immediately would be on its way, without going through layers of administrative channels. Frequently, I have seen medical missions that are organized through fraternity and sorority member members. That fraternal and sorority bond comes in really handy to provide advice and support when you need it to achieve your goals of serving others.
Personally, I have learned from the fraternity:
Developing that fighting spirit to succeed even if all the odds are stock against you
It strengthens the scholarship of our members.
Balance academic and social activities.
Promote brotherhood and sisterhood to help achieve common goals.
Cultivate leadership skills.Learn to play well with others.
Create Lifelong Friendships.
Gain a sense of social identity.
Make connections.
Build your resume
Engage in community service.
To this day, I could say I am glad to be part of a network brotherhood and our sorority sisters helping me to have a positive influence on many facets of life.
Are there benefits in joining a fraternity or a sorority? Is it worth it?
Congratulation, Beta Sigma Fraternity, the Brotherhood of Scholars for its 75 th year Founding Anniversary.
Laurence T. Gayao, MD ’69 batch, UERMMMC Beta Sigma Fraternity (Brotherhood of Scholars)
