Mu Alpha Phi
Encyclopedia
Mu Alpha Phi is a sorority established in Puerto Rico
on October 24, 1927.
It is considered to be the first Puerto Rican sorority founded in the island. The sorority has Alumni and University chapters across the Island and even has an alumni chapter in Florida.
By September 13, 1946 the Beta
chapter was established at the College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. The first Beta sisters were Delia González, Maita Bravo, Andreita Martínez and Rochie Sabater. As a result of the Beta chapter the Río Piedras university chapter came to be called Alpha
and the "Capitulo Pasivo" came to be called Alpha Alumnae.
In June 1950, sorority sisters at Universidad Católica de Santa María, later called Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Puerto Rico, organized the Gamma
Chapter, its first president was Betty Zapater de McConnie. The chapter was officially recognized by University Authorities by November 1955. By the early sixties sisters at the Inter American University at San Germán organized the Delta
Chapter, it was led by Martita Mercado, Sally Zaragoza and Berníe Pa-bón, among others.
Two years later Mu sisters led by Leila Padilla de Balaguer and Katherine Morell de Domínguez at Arecibo
requested a charter; it was granted and thus the Epsilon
chapter came to be. This chapter closed and was later re-opened in 1985. Since so many chapters were being created by 1950 a central governing body was created called "Honorable Consejo Supremo". Its first president was Judith Mercader de Sifre.
Two alumni chapters, Chi Alumni in Cabo Rojo
and Gamma Alumnae in Ponce, were established; both chapters were closed. Nevertheless, Zonas were then established for sisters who had graduated, were married, or had other interests than those of the student sisters. The first "Zona" was established in Ponce by 1979 and called Zona Ponce. In San Juan the Alumni chapter was reopened as Zona Alpha Alumnae. By 1985, the Zona Beta was founded in Mayagüez and in 1989, the Zona Epsilon was founded in Arecibo. Furthermore, in 1993 Zona Phi Alpha was founded in San Juan and in 1995 the newest Zona was opened in San Germán: Zona Delta. An alumni chapter in Florida
is now in the process of opening. The sorority now has many notable members such as Melissa Marty
, winner of Nuestra Belleza Latina
2008, and Janina Irizarry
, winner of Objetivo Fama
, now a famous singer.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
on October 24, 1927.
It is considered to be the first Puerto Rican sorority founded in the island. The sorority has Alumni and University chapters across the Island and even has an alumni chapter in Florida.
History
The sorority was established in the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras campus on October, 1927. The founding sister were: Carmen Rosa Janer, Laura Muñoz, Emma Colón, Aida González, María Padial, Carmen Belén Cruz, Alicia Rivero, Luz Vilá, María Luisa Márquez, Luz Vilariño, Georgina Pastor, Mercedes Fernández, Ramona Santana, Ligia Noya, María Antonieta Delgado, Laura Cesteros, Blanca Martorell, Dolores Gutiérrez de Arroyo, Encarnación Rodríguez, Celia Machese, Sofía Oronoz, Josefina Gutiérrez, Sara Irizarry, María Inés Dávila and Ana María Santana. Since many sisters were graduating by 1930 the need for an alumni chapter was evident, thus the "Capitulo Pasivo" was founded; this chapter is now called Zona Alpha Alumnae.By September 13, 1946 the Beta
Beta (letter)
Beta is the second letter of the Greek alphabet. In Ancient Greek, beta represented the voiced bilabial plosive . In Modern Greek, it represents the voiced labiodental fricative ....
chapter was established at the College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. The first Beta sisters were Delia González, Maita Bravo, Andreita Martínez and Rochie Sabater. As a result of the Beta chapter the Río Piedras university chapter came to be called Alpha
Alpha (letter)
Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 1. It was derived from the Phoenician letter Aleph...
and the "Capitulo Pasivo" came to be called Alpha Alumnae.
In June 1950, sorority sisters at Universidad Católica de Santa María, later called Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Puerto Rico, organized the Gamma
Gamma
Gamma is the third letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 3. It was derived from the Phoenician letter Gimel . Letters that arose from Gamma include the Roman C and G and the Cyrillic letters Ge Г and Ghe Ґ.-Greek:In Ancient Greek, gamma represented a...
Chapter, its first president was Betty Zapater de McConnie. The chapter was officially recognized by University Authorities by November 1955. By the early sixties sisters at the Inter American University at San Germán organized the Delta
Delta (letter)
Delta is the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 4. It was derived from the Phoenician letter Dalet...
Chapter, it was led by Martita Mercado, Sally Zaragoza and Berníe Pa-bón, among others.
Two years later Mu sisters led by Leila Padilla de Balaguer and Katherine Morell de Domínguez at Arecibo
Arecibo
Arecibo may refer to:*Arecibo, Puerto Rico, a municipality located by the Atlantic Ocean*Arecibo Observatory, a very sensitive radio telescope located approximately south-southwest from the city of Arecibo...
requested a charter; it was granted and thus the Epsilon
Epsilon
Epsilon is the fifth letter of the Greek alphabet, corresponding phonetically to a close-mid front unrounded vowel . In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 5. It was derived from the Phoenician letter He...
chapter came to be. This chapter closed and was later re-opened in 1985. Since so many chapters were being created by 1950 a central governing body was created called "Honorable Consejo Supremo". Its first president was Judith Mercader de Sifre.
Two alumni chapters, Chi Alumni in Cabo Rojo
Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico
Cabo Rojo is a municipality situated on the southwest coast of Puerto Rico and forms part of the San Germán–Cabo Rojo metropolitan area as well as the larger Mayagüez–San Germán–Cabo Rojo Combined Statistical Area....
and Gamma Alumnae in Ponce, were established; both chapters were closed. Nevertheless, Zonas were then established for sisters who had graduated, were married, or had other interests than those of the student sisters. The first "Zona" was established in Ponce by 1979 and called Zona Ponce. In San Juan the Alumni chapter was reopened as Zona Alpha Alumnae. By 1985, the Zona Beta was founded in Mayagüez and in 1989, the Zona Epsilon was founded in Arecibo. Furthermore, in 1993 Zona Phi Alpha was founded in San Juan and in 1995 the newest Zona was opened in San Germán: Zona Delta. An alumni chapter in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
is now in the process of opening. The sorority now has many notable members such as Melissa Marty
Melissa Marty
Melissa Marty is a beauty pageant titleholder from Puerto Rico. Marty placed as a semi-finalist in Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2008, competing as "Miss Caguas." She then became a contestant on the reality show/beauty contest Nuestra Belleza Latina, and after weeks of competition and eliminations,...
, winner of Nuestra Belleza Latina
Nuestra Belleza Latina
Nuestra Belleza Latina is a reality TV show revolving around 12 young women competing title of Nuestra Belleza Latina also win a cash price and become a personality for the Spanish television network Univision....
2008, and Janina Irizarry
Janina Irizarry
"Janina Irizarry Nazario" is a Puerto Rican singer more known for being the winner of the first season of Objetivo Fama, a singing talent contest held in Puerto Rico. Janina has also hosted several television shows in the island. She is a member of Mu Alpha Phi sorority.-Rising Star:Janina...
, winner of Objetivo Fama
Objetivo Fama
Objetivo Fama is a Puerto Rican singing talent contest that has been on air for over five years on WLII, the Univision outlet in Puerto Rico; and on Telefutura in the mainland United States...
, now a famous singer.
Chapters
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Notable members
| Name | Notability | References |
|---|---|---|
| María del Mar Rivera | Miss Puerto Rico Miss Puerto Rico Miss Puerto Rico is the common name or sash used to identify a Puerto Rican representative in an international pageant. Currently, Miss Universe Puerto Rico, Miss Mundo de Puerto Rico and Miss Earth Puerto Rico are the official national preliminaries to the Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss Earth... 1977 |
|
| Delis Castillo Delis Castillo Rivera de Santiago Delis Castillo Rivera de Santiago was interim mayor of Ponce from 2004 to 2005. She filled in the post left vacant by the sudden death of long-time Mayor Rafael Cordero Santiago, completing Mayor Cordero Santiago's term. Prior to filling in the office of mayor, Ms. Castillo Rivera was vice-mayor... |
Ex mayor of Ponce | |
| María del Carmen González | Journalist | |
| Mercedes Marrero de Bauermeister | Ex Director of "Administración de Tribunales de PR" | |
| Janina Janina Irizarry "Janina Irizarry Nazario" is a Puerto Rican singer more known for being the winner of the first season of Objetivo Fama, a singing talent contest held in Puerto Rico. Janina has also hosted several television shows in the island. She is a member of Mu Alpha Phi sorority.-Rising Star:Janina... |
Singer | |
| Melissa Marty Melissa Marty Melissa Marty is a beauty pageant titleholder from Puerto Rico. Marty placed as a semi-finalist in Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2008, competing as "Miss Caguas." She then became a contestant on the reality show/beauty contest Nuestra Belleza Latina, and after weeks of competition and eliminations,... |
Nuestra Belleza Latina 2008 Nuestra Belleza Latina 2008 Nuestra Belleza Latina 2008 was the Second season of Nuestra Belleza Latina. The second season of Nuestra Belleza Latina premiered on February 2008. Auditions were once again held in five major US cities and in San Juan, Puerto Rico... |
|
| Rosarito Ferrer Rosario Ferré Dr. Rosario Ferré is a Puerto Rican writer, poet and essayist. Her father, Luis A. Ferré, was the third elected Governor of Puerto Rico, and the founding father of the New Progressive Party. When her mother, Lorenza Ramírez de Arellano, died in 1970... |
Businesswoman | |
| Rosita Velázquez | Actress | |
| Sor Isolina Ferrer Isolina Ferré Isolina Ferré Aguayo was a Puerto Rican Roman Catholic nun. Known as the "Mother Teresa of Puerto Rico", she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of her humanitarian work.... |
Humanitarian | |
| Lcda. Ana Margarita Mateu | First Lady of Ponce |
See also
- Concilio Interfraternitario Puertorriqueño de la FloridaConcilio Interfraternitario Puertorriqueño de la FloridaThe Concilio Interfraternitario Puertorriqueño de la Florida, Inc. is an umbrella council for the Florida chapters of 5 oldest Puerto Rican fraternities established in 2002.-Members:-History:...
- Puerto Rican fraternities and sororities