Erik Mendoza 2003 was recruited to join the Board of Trustees of the Upsilon Sigma Phi Alumni Association with one clear mission: to help bring order to the fraternity's disparate digital assets by integrating them into a unified online platform, the 'one ring to rule them all.'

With a background as a systems architect, Mendoza took up Statistics at the University of the Philippines Los Baños and earned a specialization certificate in Big Data from the University of California San Diego. He has built a career around innovative systems thinking, most recently as the CEO and Founder of O-KUN Frontier Innovations Inc. (OFI), a company that integrates Web3 technologies with real estate and software development.

As Chair of the IT and Communications Committee, one of his first tasks was coming up with an inventory of digital assets the fraternity owns.

“In less than a month, he mapped out everything we had, or rather, did not have—from domains to servers to social media accounts,” observed President Gerry Sirios. “It was the first time we had a clear picture of our digital assets.”

Once the inventory was completed, Erik imagined a complete digital overhaul. New domain name. New Content Management System. The works. In coordination with the author of the article, Javi Flores ‘89, the pair discussed the strategy needed for the fraternity to communicate and thrive in an increasingly digital world. Erik also held meetings with brods, especially with those currently holding the keys to the fraternity's digital assets, to identify bottlenecks and find out what they needed to see in a unified hub.

Erik then submitted a detailed proposal to the Board of Trustees of the USPAA, laying out a clear timeline, feature set, and cost structure. The work would be executed by OFI, the company he co-founded. While Erik offered his own time and expertise pro bono as a fellow brod, the scale of the project required a team of developers and specialists to bring the platform to life. This involved costs, which the Board reviewed and approved.

The agreement was formally signed today between the USPAA, represented by its Chairman Eric Gene C. Pilapil ‘86, and OFI, represented by Erik Mendoza 2003, marking a significant milestone in the fraternity's move toward digital modernization. Present at the signing was Lester Ople 2001, head of the USPAA Legal Committee, who has been providing guidance throughout the contracting process.

A Digital Tambayan, For Every Brod

The new platform will include: (1) A member directory exclusive to Upsilonian; (2) An integrated event dashboard for scheduling and registration; (3) A podcast page for interviews and fraternity stories; (4) Private and public chatrooms for real-time conversation; and (5) A curated marketplace for alumni offerings and collaborations

Development will begin this April and will proceed in three phases, with the first release—an MVP (Minimum Viable Product), a functional early version of the platform containing the core features—targeted in three months.

"The platform is inspired by the current Upsilon directory and is designed to strengthen and supplement fraternal connections," said Mendoza. "We're building tools that allow brods to find one another, stay updated, and support one another more easily."

"It will feature KYC-verified profiles, a scheduling board for events, and dedicated modules for podcast hosting and real-time communication through private and public chatrooms. It’s built to be engaging and useful. We also want it to serve as a way for brods to connect to legal and medical fraternal services when needed."

He added, "There will also be a secure marketplace, where brods can purchase official fraternity merchandise. Only registered, logged-in users will be able to access it—which helps protect our identity and culture."

A Strategy, Not Just a Project

For the current USPAA Board, the digital transformation is part of a larger movement: to professionalize systems while keeping the fraternity rooted in its values. Chairman Eric Gene C. Pilapil ‘86 described the platform as a strategic investment in creating the Upsilon online community.

"The last Red Book or hard copy of the directory of fellows that was published was seven years ago. We need a new directory—an online directory—that the brods can update themselves and truly keep in touch with," said Pilapil.

"It is 2025, and it’s time to integrate everything: the Red Book, the Sun, the Store, among other fraternity assets. We owe this to the thousands of active Upsilonians."

The project is funded under USPAA’s 2025–2027 roadmap, with development costs tied to clearly defined milestones and deliverables. The IT and Communications Committee will continue to oversee development, along with feedback from members across batches.

Spreading Light in the Digital Age

As the Upsilon Sigma Phi approaches its 110th year, this platform represents more than just a website. It is a signal that the fraternity is evolving.

President Gerry Sirios put it this way: “If Upsilon was a tambayan, this is the online version—full of stories, ways to connect, ways to make a difference in each other's lives. The only difference is that it is open 24/7.”

#OnePlatformOneBrotherhood #DigitalUpsilon #UpsilonSun