UPLB Sophia Circle
The UPLB Sophia Circle is an accredited academic organization for philosophy majors and enthusiasts in the University of the Philippines, Los Baños (UPLB). It was established on 28 July 2000 and aims to promote philosophy within and outside UPLB.
Since its establishment on the 28th of July 2000, Sophia Circle has been the premier academic organization for philosophy majors and enthusiasts in UPLB.
Its founding members recognized the need for an organization that shall promote philosophy in and out of the university, not only as an academic discipline, but a way of life as well. They also began the endless pursuit to academic excellence, liberation from dogmatism, and ultimately, truth - a pursuit that transcends the limits of the classroom.
In its years of existence, it has reached most of these goals, and has established itself as a formidable force in the campus, as can be seen from its list of achievements and projects. More importantly, it has and continues to, produce an eclectic mix of members who are leaders in their own fields, excel in their own realms of interest, and cut through the different social strata of the campus.
History
On the evening of July 28, 2000, eight Core members and twenty-one Charter members met at Mt. Data St., Umali Subdivision, Los Baños, Laguna. It was here on this date that the UPLB Sophia Circle was officially founded upon formal ratification of its constitution.
History/Achievements/Activities
AY 2000-2001
1st Semester
July 28 - UPLB Sophia Circle formally founded through the promulgation of its 1st constitution
2nd Semester
Sophia Circle's Kiko de Guzman, Emalyn Concepcion and Bojer Capati championed in UPLB Campus Debate
AY 2001-2002
1st batch of recruits accepted, batch Thales
batch Moksha joined the UPLB Sophia Circle (?)
batch Virtu joined the UPLB Sophia Circle (?)
Orven Rapsing joined the UPLB Team to the Tañada Cup, a National Debate competition and declared over-all winner for the whole Southern Tagalog
Sophia Circle's Kiko de Guzman, Emalyn Concepcion and Bojer Capati won 2nd place in UPLB Campus Debate
AY 2002-2003
1st Semester
Philo Majors Unite! - 1st Sophia-sponsored philosophy majors acquaintance party
Sophia joined PalaCASan for the first time with Love Narvaja as its Ms. PalaCASan
batch Auxiliaries joined the UPLB Sophia Circle
September 16 - PhiloSOPHIAhan Critical Thinking Festival Finals (Grand Finals - UP Diliman)
September 17 - Philokula
September 18 - Cultural Night
2nd Semester
batch Parole joined Sophia
co-sponsor, Jean Paul Sartre's No Exit
Sophia Circle's Mickey Nieto, Carlo Cordero and Emalyn Concepcion won 2nd place in UPLB Campus Debate
Jacq Martirez won as CAS SC Councilor (?)
AY 2003-2004
1st Semester
batch Ex Pluribus Unum joined Sophia
Sophia Circle won 2nd place in UPLB Campus Debate (Kiko de Guzman, Mickey Nieto, Errol Torres?)
Carlo Cordero and Donna Orilla won as CAS SC Chairperson and CAS SC Councilor, respectively
Sophia Circle holds Critical Thinking Festival once more
Sophia Circle's Kiko de Guzman, Mickey Nieto and Errol Torres championed in UPLB Campus Debate
Sophia Week (Theme: Sophia Tricycle)
2nd Semester
Sophia Circle debate team (Carlo Cordero, Chico Borromeo, Mickey Nieto) championed the UPLB Campus Debate with Chico as the Best Speaker and Carl as the Best Debater
batch Summum Bonum joined Sophia
Chico Borromeo won as USC Councilor (?)
AY 2004-2005
1st Semester
Jouh Pabalate was Best Speaker in UPLB Open Debate
offering of BA Philo program to freshmen suspended; in response, Sophia used Death as its theme for Sophia week, and held the Sophia Death March
Sophia Circle Constitution revised; major revisions were: acceptance of non-philo majors, adding the office of auditor to the Executive Committee, and deletion of affirmation of Core members for future amendments
Sophia Circle holds Amore Amaro, a film festival
AY 2005-2006
1st Semester
Sophia Circle held Zersotorung, a film festival
joint symposium with UP Kapitas (Topic: Phenomenological Conception of Filipino Philosophy) - held in Palma Hall, UP Diliman on July 25, 2005
batch Afarenti joined Sophia
Runner-Up - 3rd UPLB Open Debate (Ayi Agcaoili, Jhoemar Altomea, Kezy Evangelista and Alpha Pural)
Sophia Week - SOPHIA CINING: Philosophy and Media
July 25 (Monday) – Opening of week-long Exhibit in Humanities Bldg
July 26 – 2 One - Act plays (held in Kofiholics ANonymous)
July 27 – Street painting
July 28 – Open Tambayan and Cultural Night
July 29 - Alumni Homecoming
2nd Semester
Sophia Circle co-presented The Laramie Project, a theatrical production
Outreach Activity (Kibo Children's House; Victoria, Laguna; Oct. 8, 2005)
Co-sponsor, “Writing a Thesis in Philosophy” a seminar held in UPLB on January 13, 2006
AY 2006-2007
1st Semester
batch Vincit Omnia Veritas joined Sophia
Andrew Estialbo was Best Debater in 4th UPLB Open Debate (Runner-Up Team with Jouh Pabalate and Sai Saipudin)
Sophia Week (July 24-28) - Sophia saya!
July 26: Cultural Night / Open Tambayan, Anti-Convention Day
Essay Writing Contest participated by PHLO 1 students (essay topic: What is happiness?)
Outreach Activity (Kibo Children's House; Victoria, Laguna; Sept. 30, 2006)
2nd Semester
Champion UPLB Campus Debate (Sandra, Kezy, Diory)
Sophia Circle held Eudaimonia, a film festival
Sophia Circle held a series of philosophical discussions (twice a month on Thursdays)
Amendment of Constitution (Amendment I - Elections in the Case of Anticipation of Limited Membership)
AY 2007-2008
Finalist Annual Campus Debate
AY 2008-2009
SUMMER
Sophia Circle's The Critique joined Solidaridad
AY 2009-2010
co-sponsor, Philosophy Night
AY 2010-2011
1st Semester
BA Philosophy program re-opened to shiftees (?)
Sophia accepts new batch of apprentices
Philosophiahan and Philokula, a series of philosophical discussions and film showings
co-sponsor, Philosophy Night
batch Boethius joined Sophia
AY 2011-2012
1st Semester
BA Philosophy program opens to new freshmen
2nd Semester
apprenticeship program for new philosophy majors started
February - after several years, The Critique was released once again in the form of wallpost posted around the campus
February - Krissah Marga Taganas, Sophia apprentice, won as CAS SC Councilor for AY 2012-2013
March - apprentices elected a set of ad hoc officers who shall spearhead the preparation for the following academic year's activities
AY 2012-2013
1st Semester
Batch Negatio joined Sophia
July 18, 2012 – Orientation
Batch Damascus joined Sophia
Seal
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The Thinker represents the members as rational thinkers. The three pillars represent Socrates, Plato and Aristotle as representatives of the pioneers in philosophy. The rays transcending the three spheres represent the emanating light of reason and liberation from dogmatism. Their number corresponds to that of the Core and Charter members. The Roman numeral MM represents the year 2000, the year the UPLB Sophia Circle was founded. The laurel leaves symbolize honor and the founding date of the organization, which is July 28. The inner sphere represents the self, the middle sphere the organization, and the outer sphere the society.
Members
CORE
Victor Endriga
Alfred Marcos Magno
Jossa de Pano
Lovelyn Narvaja
Carlo Paolo Pangilinan
Marianne Plete-Yee
Orven Rapsing
Castor Junel Sanguyo
CHARTER
Herbert Calvin Abugan
John Aquino
Michael David Azucena
John Ian Boongaling
John Philip Cabugao
Bojer Capati
Emalyn Conepcion-Garcia
Francis Ron de Guzman
Mary Irene Domingo
Carmi Espineda-Farenas
Ann Margaret Guya
Glenn Lague
Nehemiah Macabuhay
Carolyn Magno
Jacqueline Rossini Martirez
Jerdy Paul Mercene
Karen Pimentel
Simon Louis Errol Torres
Janice Umali
Leonardo Yabes
THALES
Marie Aileen Camara
Franchesca del Barrio-Alcanse
Wilrich Jeffrey Nieto
MOKSHA
Carlo Antonio Cordero
Louise Adelaine Francisco
Juan Paolo Santos
VIRTU
Judith Ann Alejo
Maricar Juaneza
Donna Marie Orilla
Karen Rojas
AUXILIARIES
Aurelio Agcaoili II
Jhoemar Altomea
Juan Carlos Borromeo
Ariose Megan Cruz
Simeona Maria Cuevas
Mary Beth Desano
Katrina Joy Esguerra
Kezia Evangelista
Angelica Garcia
Raisa Lumampao
Ernesto Macaloi
Alpha Loreine Pural
Alejandro Soriano
PAROLE
Karmela Jorvina
Gladdy Mae Rojo
Mary Claire Vega
EX PLURIBUS UNUM
Jill Catherine dela Luna
John Andrew Estialbo
Joharah Lou Pabalate
Sandra Levette Panganiban
Maria Diory Rabajante
Amabel Raflores
Iñigo Rudio
SUMMUM BONUM
Florence de Guzman
Joanna Eden Rose Ebora
Christian Valor Sorisantos
AFARENTI
Joanne Zoe Aquino
VINCIT OMNIA VERITAS
Sheila May Abucay
Reynaldo Araja
Sairah Mae Saipudin
BOETHIUS
Jona May Alcazar
Clarence Joy de Guzman
Sara Em
Cherish June Galamay
Venezia Maxinne Lacuata
Genevieve Yao
NEGATIO
Karlo Miguel Abuda
Cherrie Rose Ang
Ian Carlo Benitez
Christian Ray Buendia
John Moses Chua
Karisse Anna Garcia
Katherine Lagman
Julie Lazo
Shanna Clein Pamatmat
John Hermie Ramirez
Danielle Marie Ramos
Beverly Ann Rugas
Lady Cezanie Sabanal
Ma. Nadisha Priyadarasani Tabirao
Krissah Marga Taganas
Kris Jireh Tongol
Annieza Nica Udarbe
DAMASCUS
Marvel Velez
HONORARY MEMBERS
Efren Alverio II
Ulysses Aureus
Anthony Jan Cabatic
Aleli Caraan
Arwin Chua
Ma. Theresa de Guzman
Erwin Espiritu
Windell Russ Espada
Marjohn Esteves
Arlyn Pinpin-Macapinlac
Nicolo Masakayan
Lumberto Mendoza
Allan Jay Natividad
Donna Patricia Nuguid
Allan Pasamonte
Ma. Teresa Payongayong
Ma. Scheherazade Ruivivar
Cherry Villafuerte