“BALIKADA” on February 24, 2023 was a campus fair held across the site of the newly inaugurated SDPAA Plaza on E. delos Santos corner Lakandula streets, near the UP Printing Press. The street fair featured tents telling stories from the 9 decades since SDP was founded and included several added attractions. Tent organizers were encouraged to come up with concepts that would give visitors a sense of history as well as engage them in interactive activities that people of all ages can enjoy.

Dekada 50s alumnae brainstormed on Zoom followed by an overnight slumber party reminiscent of what they used to do in the 50s. Their tent focused on the luminaries of their decade. For the swinging 60s, the Jubilarian organizers from Batch ’63 and ‘68 came up with at the idea to recreate The Basement, which was the popular cafe in Palma Hall (the College of Arts and Sciences) which was the setting for many a Sigma Deltan’s memories of UP. Jubilarian Batch ’73 spearheaded a fund raising campaign to finance the Dekada 70s tent and commissioned a documentary about SDP as their decade’s contribution to the SDP legacy. Entrepreneurial Sigma Deltans were the main feature of the Dekada 80s tent with guest participants including artist/chef/entrepreneur Claude Tayag who launched his Adobo book in Balikada. Dekada 90’s “Tunog Kalye” tent brought back memories of the street jams, campus concerts, UP Fair and the music that became popular in that decade. The Dekada 2000s tent involved Sigma Deltans from two decades in the 21st century who focused on Mentorship and Career and Life Counseling for their tent.

Overall, the effect of Balikada depended on what the organizers put in their Dekada tents in terms of ideas, hard work and combined resources so they were as simple or as elaborate as they wanted them to be. The tents were entertaining as well as informative giving visitors an introduction to the Sorority and our shared history. For many students, Balikada was their first encounter with Sigma Delta Phi and the many different personalities who make up this Grand Sisterhood. SDP Alumnae came from all over the world to celebrate SDP’s 90th anniversary and Balikada allowed them to revisit UP and renew the bonds of sisterhood. Sigma Delta Phi’s core values of “Ugnay, Saysay, Husay” sum up what the Sorority stands for and Balikada gave sisters an opportunity to demonstrate their understanding and appreciation of these values.

Lyca Benitez Brown’71
Balikada Coordinator