Dear Brod,
 
It has now become a tradition for the UP Vanguard Incorporated to celebrate the Fraternal Monthly Birthday Fellowship Dinner.  This will be our 51st successful monthly fellowship in honor of the Brods who are birthday celebrants for the month. This monthly fellowship started in August of 2004.
 
To express our fraternal solidarity with the Birthday Celebrants for this month, we would like to request your presence during the Birthday Fellowship Dinner, which will be held on Friday, Nov. 28, 2008, 6:30 P.M. at the Vanguard Hall of Fame.
 
Kindly confirm your attendance with our Secretariat 920-6881 or 385-7640 c/o Fanny or Grace.

Hope to see there brods!

Fraternally,

(Sgd.)Vgd. Peale Jon L. Bondoc ‘85                  
Adjutant General       
 
Noted by:
(Sgd.)Vgd. Jaime S. Delos Santos ‘66                
National Commander

In its original form, the U.P. Vanguard started as a fraternity (the "Diamonds and Studs" fraternity) in 1922 composed of those enrolled in both Basic and Advance ROTC courses. On 29 March 1952, it was further revitalized as an alumni organization composed of graduates of the UP ROTC Advance Courses, and in 1963 was incorporated as a non-stock, non-profit corporation.

Since its founding, it has had a long fruitful history of partnership in nation building, contributing both to the national and university cause. It has produced some of the top men in the military, government, and the private sector.

Duty well performed, Honor untarnished, and Country above-self has been the shibboleth and clarion call of the UP Vanguard since its inception.

The UP Vanguard tradition begins with the UP ROTC Cadet and the academic system and military program under which he is developed. It is a tradition incepted from the time he enters the Corps as a humble but dignified member in search of truth and knowledge. It is the tradition engendered through the years even after he graduates from the ranks of the Corps and the University; a tradition that marks him not only for service but also for leadership in his chosen field of endeavor. It binds him to his brethren and his Alma Mater; and keeps him forever tied to the development of succeeding generations in the Corps.

Military Training Before World War I

Organized military training in the University of the Philippines started in 1912 when it was made a required subject for all able-bodied male students in all colleges; institutes; and schools of the University. The international situation, the prevailing; preferred the foreboding of worse things to come. The inabilities in Asia, particularly the Russo-Japanese conflict and Western intervention in China, brought home the point to Filipino and American leaders of the need to develop gradually a fledgeling military force that may be mobilized in the event of emergency.

Training was mainly in infantry and the use of the rifle. Capt. SILVINO GALLARDO of the Philippine Constabulary, was the first Commandant of Cadets and assumed office during the first semester of 1912.

As war clouds loomed in Europe, the needs of national defense became more acute. The United States government authorized the organization of the Philippine National Guard (NG) in the archipelago patterned after the National Guard outfits in the various states of the US.

In 1913, military training in the UP was placed under the supervision of the Phillipine National Guard with training support from the Philippine Division; US Army Captain JUAN VILLASANTA, of the Philippine National Guard as Commandant of Cadets.

The training during this period has many limitations. Mostly wooden guns were used, there was no definite program of instruction and very little equipment are available for military training. The greatest difficulty was the fact that there was no promise of a military career for those who underwent this training due to the absence of an organized reserve corps.