Brothers and Sisters, last May 24-26, 2019, during the General Assembly held in Laoag, the mandate of Alpha Phi Omega Philippines was heard and I, Bro. Marcelino Tatang Ferry, was elected as part of the Board of Trustees and ultimately as National President for DY 2019-2021. It is with the utmost humility and gratitude that I accept this call to service. I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to every single worthy Brother and Sister who made sure that the election was conducted in a fair and honest way, that the rights of each member of our great brotherhood was protected, and that the real voice of the assembly was heard. I thank all those who extended their support and guidance during the process. My highest respects and appreciation to the Brothers and Sisters at the grassroots whose belief in my capabilities to lead our beloved Alpha Phi Omega Philippines has positioned me to be able to render the greatest and noblest service I will be able to provide for our organization. I am humbled by the overwhelming trust you have given me and I vow to make sure that this trust was not misplaced.
During the campaign period, I pledged, “Asahan nyo po na magiging bukas ang aking mga mata, tenga, isip at damdamin sa hinaing ng bawat kapatid.” I will work hard in the next two years to live up to this oath. With this in mind, the 2019-2021 Developmental Theme is: Unity in Diversity, Bridging Traditions and Innovations. Our goal is to unite all Brothers and Sisters, all the different collegiate chapters and alumni associations, by acknowledging our diversity and recognizing that our differences does not prevent us from fulfilling our meaning and purpose as an organization. We shall link together traditions of old and the innovations we need to adopt in order to endure in this constantly changing world. We recognize the importance of keeping sacred customs alive as this defines our identities not only at the chapter level but on the national scale as well. But, we also recognize that in order to survive as an organization in these times, we have to be open to change and accept the fact that compromises must be made. I reject the idea that APO is a dying breed because it refuses to transcend. Together, we shall forge stronger bonds of brotherhood anchored by mutual respect and acceptance of our differences while at the same time working towards the healthy amalgamation of the old ways with the new.
In the next two years, together with the rest of the trustees, we shall endeavor to fulfill our duties to you by continuing and innovating on the hard work of the previous administrations when it comes to our National Service Programs specifically in the areas of health and wellness (bloodletting; medical, dental, and surgical missions; sports programs); environment (green scouting APO Tree/Forest Camp; coastal cleanup); education and training (Balik Eskwela, APO Academy, National Book Giving); peace and governance (Yes for Peace, Adopt a Barangay, APO Interfaith Prayer Battalion); scouting (Balik Scouting Program, ROVIC, basic training courses, advance programs in scouting); and, pledging (APO Pledge Program).
In closing, I would like to appeal to you, my worthy Brethren, to stand with me and help me attain our goals for the next two years. Let us prove to everyone that the strands of our brotherhood is stronger not because we are cut from the same cloth but because we are a diverse group that feeds off the positive things we see in each other and try to improve on those we view as a deterrent to our growth as individuals and as an organization. Once again, I am Bro. Marcelino Tatang Ferry, standing with you in Leadership, Friendship, and Service.
Mabuhay tayong lahat! Mabuhay ang Alpha Phi Omega!
Comments