In the late 60’s, it was seen that there was a rise in the number of the female students in the College Forestry and Natural Resources (CFNR)*, University of the Philippines Los Baños. The passage of the time proved that the forestry career- safeguarding the wise use and administration of our forest resources- is not solely a man’s profession. Through initiative and guidance of then College Instru
ctor Mercedes Umali-Garcia (who served as the Sorority’s adviser for many years), a movement binding women into potent group sent ripples among the would-be lady foresters and scholars in the college. On this day, an organization was conceived from among the ranks of the future lady foresters and outstanding scholars of the College. The founded Sorority chose the name MUSSAENDA, a genus of variegated flowering plant whose common names honored the wives of the former presidents of the Philippines and outstanding ladies at that time (Doña Aurora, Doña Trining, and the like). Nine young ladies, worthy holders of undergraduate scholarship grants from the Bureau of Forestry and Reforestation Administration, became the charter members. They were Jane A. Cadaweng (who served as the first Grand Mussaenda), Eloida P. Alvarez, Corazon L. Lira, Monina G. Torres, Teresita Ely C. Nuevo, Elnora Gaona, Felicitas P. Martin, Marietta P. Mendoza, and Elvira O. Nisperos. Today, the Mussaenda Honor Sorority (MHS) has come along long way from its founding as a female honor students group, the only one of its kind in the College. MHS has successfully sponsored projects on forest conservation, educational fetes, cultural and social activities, athletic competitions, and many others. The annual forest conservation program “Educating the Youth on Forest Conservation” is one such project. MHS has been continuously co-organizing with its brother Zeta Beta Rho Honor Fraternity (ZBRHF) the National Forestry Olympiad (NFO) which was first staged in 1990. It is a biennial competition among forestry schools from different parts of the country. The Surveying, Leaf Identification, Wood Identification, Tree Measurement, and Quiz Contest are the major events of NFO. On the average, 11 schools from Luzon, Vizayas, and Mindanao have participated during the past six staging of NFO. Through the years, MHS members have continuously aimed to work shoulder-to-shoulder with their Zeta Beta Rho Honor Fraternity (ZBRHF) brothers as partners and co-equals in their pursuit of HONOR, SERVICE, and CONSERVATION. In its existence, MHS has produced and developed successfully women in the various field of specialization in Forestry in the government service, educational, and research institutions. In fact,during the Golden Anniversary celebration of its brother organization – ZBRHF, three Mussaenda achievers were honored. These are DENR Regional Technical Directors Adeluisa Garcia-Siapno and Neria A. Andin, and member (now Chairperson) of the Professional Regulation Commission’s Board of Foresters, Dr. Monina Torres-Uriarte. As a campus organization, MHS was awarded for two consecutive years (A.Y. 1994-1995 and A.Y. 1995-1996) the “Most Outstanding Sorority” by the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), Office of Student Affairs – Student Organizations and Activities Division (OSA-SOAD) for its valuable achievements in service to studentry, the University, and the community in general. To date, MHS has more than 400 members (Nine Charter, Five Honorary, and more than 400 regular). Like ZBRHF, its membership is also increasing through the five Chapters in LSAU, CMU, LSU, WMSU, and NVSU.
*formerly known as the College of Forestry (CF)
