According to the
officers and prominent members of the said fraternity, they want to
clarify the negative issues that are being attacked to the said
organization through rendering community services. So far, the
Pledgees or the neophytes of APO have already rendered different
community services like clean-up drive at Barangay San Pablo, Tree
Planting at Buri Island, Donation of Book Stands and conducting a
clean-up drive in the SSU Main Campus. These activities are part of
the trainings being initiated by the said fraternity and sorority,
which is under the stewardship of Mr. Bonifacio Cosmod, the Master
Initiator.
Dr. Frank Reed Horton
founded Alpha Phi Omega, on December 16, 1925, at Brainard Hall 2nd
Floor, Lafayette College, Easton Pennsylvania, USA. And it was first
founded outside the
United States
at Room 214, Nicanor Reyes Sr. Memorial Hall of Far Eastern
University, Manila Philippines on March 2, 1950 by Mr. Librado I.
Ureta.
APO is an organization
that has produced great leaders of the Country like: DAR Under
Secretary Teddie E. Rivera and prominent members of the Society such
as: Honorable Kenneth Abad, Barangay Chairman of San Pablo Catbalogan,
Samar, Honorable Romeo Abad, SK Chairman, San Pablo, Catbalogan,
Colonel Joel Joseph Cabides of 801st Brigade 8ID Philippine Army. The
organization has also honorary members like: Senator Ramon “Bong”
Revilla.
Mr. Amador Hurtado one
of the Founders of Theta Alpha Chapter proudly recounts his memory
being the pioneer and of the founders of APO Theta Alpha Chapter that
though it may seem difficult and odd to be a pioneer member of the
organization, yet its worth it because of brotherhood. He also
explained to this reporter that Alpha Phi Omega is not an ordinary
organization because it has produced great leaders in the country
like, Hon. Jijomar Binay, Makati City Mayor and Hon. Lyndon Barbers,
Governor of Surigao Del Norte.
This reporter has also
conducted further research with pertains to the founders of the Theta
Alpha Chapter and found out that there were the 9 founders: Mr. Manny
Articulo which is now a mayor in one of the municipalities in Cagayan
Valley, Mr. Paul Balagat, a businessman which is now based in the
United States of America, Mr. Pablo “Bull” Cinco, Acting Alien Control
Officer Bureau of Immigration of Samar Province, Mr. Leo Frincillo, A
Major in Philippine Marines, Mr. Amador “Totoy” Hurtado, Businessman,
Mr. Ike Mamaki, Businessman, Mr. Rolando Manatad, a Doctor which is
now based in Southern Leyte, Mr. Julius Missiona, a Broker in Cebu
Family Savings Bank, and Colonel Oscar Pedrosa, Philippine Army which
is now based in Dumaguete City.
Members of APO proudly
enumerate the great people of this organization in order to show to
the world that APO has special visions in this planet and that is to
promote brotherhood and service to mankind. This reporter was amazed,
when they mentioned that Mr. Bill Clinton, the former President of the
United States of America is also an APO!
In spite of the
hardships and attacks to fraternities, Alpha Phi Omega remains strong
and still producing more and more better citizens of the society
because of its guiding principles that can boost the organization’s
credibility such as: Leadership, Friendship, and Service. The only
secret that binds the members of Alpha Phi Omega is the true
brotherhood and unity.
One of the members of
the organization told this reporter that,
APO is an effective character-building institution and this is
the main spice that makes the members different than the other
ordinary citizen of this country. “Actually, we have the 4 folds
programs of Service of APO which are the following: to render service
to the fraternity and sorority, to render service to the student body
and faculty, to render service to the youth and community and to
render service to the nation as a fully participating citizens,” Mr.
Adrian Molito Grand Chancellor of Theta Alpha Chapter said.
An alumni member of
Alpha Omicron Chapter of Divine Word University, Tacloban City and now
a member of APO Maqueda Alumni Association of Samar Province has also
revealed promising programs and visions for the Fraternity and
Sorority and according to her, “we would like to erase the negative
brand of fraternity to the people’s mind by showing them that we are
not villain members of the society rather we are promoting brotherhood
and service to the people”.
The said Chapter has
three proposed projects like: Community-based services through
clean-up drive, anti-drug campaign, hospital visits and jail visits.
National level services such as tree planting and blood letting. The
last proposed project would be tie-up activities with Local Government
Units (Municipalities and Barangays) and Non-Government Organizations.
The organization is now conducting Public Awareness Campaign to rebut
the negative brands of Fraternities and Sororities.
According to Mr. Pablo
“Bull” Cinco Jr., son of the Former Samar Governor Pablo Cinco Sr.,
that APO is training the youth to be better students who will stand
out from whatever field they indulge in. The said Alumni member
proudly incited the first batch who survived in Theta Alpha chapter of
then Samar Trade School
(now SSU), they were all board passers and became professionals and
now serving the country through their respective professions.
Two proud members to
mention are Major Princillo who is a member of the Philippine Army,
which is now based in Jolo, Solo and Attorney Antonio Pagatpat
Regional Director of National Bureau of Investigation NBI 08. “It is
very sad to know that people are generalizing the fraternities into
gangs in which very contrary to the reality,” Mr. Bull Cinco said. He
also added that
APO is recognized as International Fraternity through the
services and dedicated and disciplined members.
The Alumni and the
resident members will celebrate the anniversary by a simple Beach
Party here in Catbalogan.
