My dear brothers and sisters,
Eighteen brothers have now taken the presidential oaths. These were oaths spoken with sincerity and true dedication to lead and serve our beloved brotherhood. Solemn words recited in times of so much hope and anticipated achievements and prosperity. Every so often these words were spoken when we were faced with seemingly impossible challenges but each time we surmount these, not because of the efforts of those in the leadership and the National Council, but because we, Alpha Phi Omegans, have remained faithful to the ideals of our founding brothers. We remained true to our guiding principles of Leadership, Friendship and Service. So it has been said. So it will remain strong in our fraternal organization.
Standing before you tonight, I am humbled by the tasks ahead us, grateful of the overwhelming trust you had bestowed us and mindful of the sacrifices made by our predecessors. I thank particularly President Chato Marinas and President Jimmy De Castro for giving me strength, words of wisdom and guidance when I needed them most during my first two years in the helm of our organization.
The past two years has been full of heart pounding challenges as well as successes. The full implementation of the institutionalized service projects had been our administration’s priority ever since we had adopted the vision that Alpha Phi Omega Philippines, Inc. must play a vital role in the country and the rest of the world as an international service organization composed of world class membership. We are not about to abandon very worthwhile projects that were started by the organization just because of someone’s personal preferences. We had committed ourselves to do what is right for our beloved Alpha Phi Omega. An organization professionally led and managed, was our battle-cry from the very beginning. Because of these we had seen the resurgence of our membership’s morale and pride to be called an APO. We also had seen during this period the increased trust and confidence towards your National leadership, the Executive Council and the Board of directors.
We started by a meticulous repackaging of the image of APO Phils from that negative one into a positive one. It is a very tall order and it is still a work in process. To have an immediate impact in public, we strengthened our ties and joint efforts with our traditional established reputable partners in service. Through these persistent efforts, our focus in transforming APO Phils into a service organization that our children and relatives can be proud of is starting to bear fruit. The positive media coverage about APO Phils herald activities we have undertaken together with our partner institutions;
- Mass Blood Donations with the Philippine National Red Cross
- Trees for Peace in cooperation with Local Water Districts
- Turn-over of housing units, a health center and a multi-purpose hall to Gawad Kalinga project sites
- Coastal Clean-ups with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
- YES for PEACE with the Department of Education, Philippine Postal Corporation, and the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of the Philippines.
However, we are still looking for that one service project that will be synonymous with the name of Alpha Phi Omega. We need to adopt and implement a “One APO-One Advocacy” policy. Through various consultations within our ranks, we had identified an ambitious advocacy that, if implemented the right way, will propel our organization into greater heights. This is the “Adopt-A-Barangay” project. It will be an intensive program that will provide health education, feeding and anti-malnutrition programs, medical check-up and basic livelihood programs in the adopted barangay. This program will not be a one-time program but a year-long endeavor to get good results on each barangay. With our 300 plus collegiate chapters and 200 plus alumni associations spread out across the nation and the world, we are very optimistic of the success of this project if approved and supported by our general membership.
We are looking forward to the time that all news about APO Phils that will hit the nation’s media will project it as the only college-based alumni assisted fraternal organization that the youth of our nation will consider to join with the prodding and support by their parents.
We are in the best financial position in our organization’s history. During the past years, Revenues and Other Support dramatically increased primarily due to increases in collected Membership Dues, Chapter/Alumni Dues, Donations and Fundraising Projects.
Our initial fundraising project of PCSO special sweepstakes raffle draw, although it eventually raised much needed funds, ran into some marketing and legal problems when PCSO printed extra tickets beyond our signed MOA. However, after a series of talks and negotiations with them, your organization managed to generate almost PHP 1.2 million in net revenues with some PHP 500,000 more remaining for collection.
Continued improvement in the collection of biennial dues and chapter dues was also realized. The number of members in good standing had more than doubled from the previous development year. Almost 7,000 members had renewed their IDs and these contributed to almost PHP3.5 Million to our organization’s coffers. Just imagine, if only 50% (or 20,000) of our total members in our database with IDs religiously pay their obligations to the organization, that translate to PHP10 Million in funds that can be used by your organization to fund the “One APO-One Advocacy” we are proposing. That member’s obligation translates to just PHP500 every two years, PHP250 per year or 20 pesos plus every month.
I therefore enjoin all our brethren to comply with their obligations to our organization. Each and every one of us earned the right to be called an APO. However, with that right come responsibilities and one of them is paying your mandated dues.
We have many more plans that we will forward to our memberships in the few months. Needless to say these programs will further improve and bring our organization to the next level.
Next year, 2010, is an election year. Numerous of our brothers and sisters and will be vying for elective offices. Individually and voluntarily thousands of our members had already been very active in support of their selected prospective candidates. Who knows, by this time next year we will have an APO as President of our Republic. We will be having our grand meetings in Maharlika Hall. We will be voluntarily supporting any member who will seek help in their campaigns.
To further promote and support our advocacy, we will also field our very own partylist in the upcoming 2010 elections. We all know that with our concerted efforts and unified support; we will be able to win not one, nor two but three representatives in Congress. These Representatives will have our principles of Leadership, Friendship and Service as guides in their governance.
My brothers and sisters, the future is up to us. We need responsible membership to attain our common goals. We need a new sense of responsibility for our future. There is work to do, work that your council alone cannot do. Work to be done in our “One APO One Advocacy” program and other service programs. Let us all take time out from our lives to serve others.
To end my talk tonight, let me borrow the words from another fraternity brother, USA President Bill Clinton said in his 2nd inaugural speech;”…we must be strong, for there is much to dare. The demands of our time are great, and they are different. Let us meet them with faith and courage, with patience and a grateful happy heart. Let us shape the hope of this day into the noblest chapter in our history. Yes, let us build our bridge, a bridge wide enough and strong enough…to cross over to a blessed land of new promise.”
May God bless us all! Mabuhay ang Alpha Phi Omega!
June 26, 2009, Camp Crame, QC
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