MANILA, Philippines--THESE FRAT MEN are out to prove what real brotherhood should be about.

Members of the Phi Kappa Mu--a fraternity of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine--are keeping their hands busy with community service.

"It's unfortunate that some fraternities have been associated with incidents of hazing and brawls or 'rumbles,'" lamented superior exemplar Roland Joseph Tan, 25, the group's top official.

Another UP fraternity, the Sigma Rho, has been in the spotlight recently because some of its members are suspected to be involved in a hazing incident that resulted in the death of Cris Anthony Mendez, a student council leader, last month.

Tan, a medical student, said that while they condemn Mendez's death, he hopes people would look beyond the negative image of fraternities.

"It's sad people seem to always equate fraternities with violence. I wish they would also look at the good things most of these organizations have been doing," he added.

Tan said he is proud to say that the Phi Kappa Mu has played an important role in molding not just good doctors but outstanding leaders in medicine.

Established in 1933, the fraternity counts among its members some of the founding fathers of the medical profession in the Philippines. The list includes Doctors Luis Torres Jr., Quintin Gomez and Alfredo Ramirez, the acknowledged fathers in the practice of urology, anesthesiology and modern burn surgery, respectively, in the country.

"When a student joins Phi, he does not merely join a group that will enhance his college life," Tan said. "He will belong to a brotherhood that lasts for life and that which embraces the ideals of academic excellence, leadership, camaraderie and service."

"And besides, we're not just a group of doctors and medical students. Our main goal is to save lives so we really do not tolerate violence," he stressed. "We focus more on what challenges the mind."

Apart from expanding their knowledge, Phi members have also been reaching out to those in need.

These days, in between their studies and other responsibilities, Phi brothers have been putting together hundreds of wheelchairs that will be distributed free to persons with disabilities (PWDs), particularly those who belong to indigent families.

The fraternity, which has over 1,000 members here and abroad, has linked up with the Free Wheelchair Mission (FWM), a nonprofit Christian organization in the United States which distributes free wheelchairs to poor PWDs in other countries. The FWM has already wheeled in hope, so to speak, to some 250,000 PWDs worldwide.

According to John Paul Mariñas, 23, Phi Kappa Mu's vice superior exemplar, at least 550 PWDs all over the Philippines are expected to benefit from the project.

"This is just the first batch of beneficiaries. Together with the FWM, we plan to make this a continuing effort," he added.

The beneficiaries would be selected by several institutions, including the Manila City government, the Philippine National Red Cross, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and several nongovernment organizations, hospitals and charities.

Mariñas said the wheelchair project is among the fraternity's activities in line with its upcoming diamond anniversary which aptly carries the theme "Empowerment through Mobility."

Another is the Operating Room Assistance (Opera) project that aims to provide antibiotics and other surgical materials to poor patients scheduled for surgery at the Philippine General Hospital.

"We hope this will somehow lighten the burden of sick and poor patients and their families," Mariñas said, adding that they are now in the process of looking for donors.

According to him, their projects uphold Phi Kappa Mu's 75-year-old tradition of service.

For several years now, the fraternity's members have been lending their money, time and expertise to projects like the annual "Operation Gift of Smile" in Palawan, which corrects cleft lip and palate problems of children on the island; livelihood projects in Cebu, undertakings of the Missionaries of the Poor in Naga and support for the Street Children's Village in Alabang.

Through its service arm, Pagkalinga sa Kalusugan ng Mamamayan (Pagkalma), the members and alumni of Phi Kappa Mu volunteer in medical missions and extend community assistance in various forms.

"We are also working on our Hero (Health Education Reform Order) program where we adopt elementary schools and conduct free health lectures and tests on students," Mariñas added.

According to him, this is their way of giving back to their community and the country. "We hope to erase the common notion that frat men do nothing but engage in violence," Tan said.

"We are proud to be a part of this fraternity and we want to protect its legacy and untarnished name," Mariñas added.