The Upsilon Sigma Phi () is the oldest Greek-letter organization and fraternity in Asia. Founded in 1918, it is also the oldest student organization in continuous existence in the University of the Philippines. It has two chapters—a single chapter for the UP Diliman and UP Manila campuses, and another for UP Los Baños. Membership remains exclusive to UP students, and is by invitation only. Among its alumni are two Philippine presidents, a vice president, fifteen senators, fourteen supreme court justices (including three chief justices), three house speakers, a chairman of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, three executive secretaries, four solicitors-general, twenty-six ambassadors, an AFP chief of staff, a NEDA director-general, a Central Bank governor, twenty-four honorees of The Outstanding Young Men, four national scientists, three national artists, a recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award, and five UP presidents. History Early years The Upsilon Sigma Phi was founded in 1918 by twelve students and two professors from the University of the Philippines Manila. It was formally organized on November 19, 1920 in a meeting held at the Metropolitan Restaurant in Intramuros, Manila where the fraternity elected its first officers (among which include Agapito Jose del Rosario y Abad Santos, one of the founders of the Socialist Party of the Philippines and later on Mayor of Angeles, Pampanga). Four months later, on March 24, 1921, the Greek letters "ΥΣΦ", standing for the initials of the name "University Students Fraternity" were formally adopted. The fraternity also adopted its themes, rites, and motto "We Gather Light to Scatter". During its early years, invitations for membership were given out only to individuals who served in leadership positions, or individuals which the fraternity deemed in possession of leadership potential or regarded as excellent in their respective fields. From 1930 to 1949, thirteen of its members chaired the UP Student Council (including Jose Laurel Jr., and Sotero Laurel, sons of Jose P. Laurel, himself an Upsilonian). Its members were prominent contributors in campus publications, a number of whom served as editors-in-chief of the Philippine Collegian (such as Arturo Tolentino and Armando Malay) and the now defunct annual publication, The Philippinensian. During this time, then UP Student Council President Wenceslao Vinzons, together with members of the fraternity, led demonstrations before the Philippine Congress to protest the insertion of a provision in the appropriations act that gave lawmakers a salary increase. The UP administration relocated to the