At the 1980 meeting in Wichita, President Emeritus Eugene Miller reported on a visit he had made to Alpha Chapter, University of the Philippines, during a trip he was on in East Asia. Faculty members at the university strongly urged that Pi Gamma Mu changed that part of its title that said “National” Social Science Honor Society and substitute the word “International”. The reason for this request was and is obvious. “National” can be seen as conveying an older ethnocentric relationship not accurately reflecting at all the relationship involving the great university and chapter in an independent nation. The 1981 Board of Trustees meting in Norwood, Ohio, approved the name change to “International”, too be stated as being in effect as of May 28,1980.

The Philippine Alpha chapter was founded on May 7, 1932, with Dr. W. Leon Godshall listed in the trustee minutes of that year as the organizer. It will be recalled that Dr. Godshall later became PI Gamma Mu’s third president, ascending to that post in 1951.

In the aftermath of the Japanese occupation and World War II, the Philippines Alpha chapter resumed activities and consistently has been one of our banner chapters in PI Gamma Mu in numbers of members elected annually, the quality of its people, and the scope of its activities. The induction ceremonies program for 1998 is extremely impressive with a processional with colors, national anthem, induction of new members, awards and address.

Again, the quality of the people elected to the Philippine Alpha chapter has been most impressive. They have included two Presidents of the Republic, two Prime Ministers, a dozen Supreme Court Justices, and two dozen Cabinet members. Concerning the University of the Philippines itself, there have been six Presidents, a dozen Vice Chancellors, “and dozens upon dozens of dean of the university…”

A second chapter of the Philippines is happily now in existence, De La Salle University in Manila.