{"id":1953,"date":"2015-09-25T02:09:48","date_gmt":"2015-09-25T02:09:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/apo.org.ph\/?page_id=1953"},"modified":"2017-08-25T09:36:18","modified_gmt":"2017-08-25T09:36:18","slug":"history-of-alpha-phi-omega-philippines","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/apo.org.ph\/?page_id=1953","title":{"rendered":"History of Alpha Phi Omega Philippines Fraternity"},"content":{"rendered":"

It all started with a service project.<\/p>\n

(1<\/u><\/a>) World War II had recently ended, but it had left its devastation around the world. The major cities of Europe had been heavily damaged, and many of the cities of Asia and the Pacific had been destroyed. Manila, the capital of the former US colony Philippines had been occupied and was now in ruins; its universities, rubble. What, if anything, could college students across the Pacific in the United States do that would have any real effect? It turns out, quite a lot!<\/p>\n

Some of the Alpha Phi Omega-USA<\/span> Brothers in Texas and the Pacific Northwest had fought in these islands. They knew, firsthand, of the friendliness of the people and of their need. They knew that education of the young people was a vital necessity if the country was to get back to its feet. They could do something, and they did. Book drives were started on their campuses and hundreds of textbooks, used but useable, were gathered from their libraries and fellow students to be sent to the Philippines to help re-stock the many burnt-out college libraries in Manila.<\/p>\n

It was a successful service project, but like many one-time projects, it was soon forgotten, remembered only in the scrapbooks of the chapters involved and in the mind of the then APO-USA<\/span> National President (1931-1946) H. Roe Bartle \u201cThe Chief\u201d. It was a good example of a service project; it had all of the elements of a good story; and the Chief never forgot a good story.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

Rare 1950 photograph of 22 Alpha Phi Omega pioneers at the Far Eastern University (FEU) campus in Manila led by foremost organizer, Fullbright scholar, Scouter and college professor Dr. Librado \u201cBado\u201d Ureta, PhD. Scan courtesy of old T&T newsletter collector Bro. Michael Lim, Zeta Iota 1993 and Jess Castillo (Epsilon ’68)<\/p><\/div>\n

Time passed. It was January 1950, and (2<\/u><\/a>) Sol George Levy<\/u><\/a> (Gamma Alpha 1947), a professional scout, an APhiO member at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington and a friend of Dr. Bartle, was going to the Philippines to help generate more interest among the Scouts here. The Chief told him what\u00a0APO<\/span> had done a few years earlier to help re-establish Filipino university libraries. One January evening that year, scouts in Manila were invited to a conference by Mr. Levy. He passed on the story to them, mentioning how nice it would be if a Scouting-based fraternity similar to Alpha Phi Omega could be established in the country. He expressed his desire to organize Alpha Phi Omega, and distributed some copies of three APO<\/span> publications: Questions and Answers, National Constitution and By-laws, and Ritual Rites and Ceremonies.<\/p>\n

The story was of particular interest to a group of Scouts at Far Eastern University in Manila. It may be that their library was one of those which had been helped, or it may be that the idea of a Scouting-based fraternity just struck fertile ground. Librado Inocencio Ureta, an Eagle Scout, a graduate student, and was among the audience; together with a group of over twenty Scouts and advisors began organizing work.<\/p>\n

\"APO<\/a>

The Charter Members during one of the organisational meeting of APO Philippines. Clockwise: Sitting \u2013 Hawkins, Sevilla, Atienza, Ureta, Neric and Velasco. Standing \u2013 Dominguez, and De los Reyes. Scan courtesy of old T&T newsletter from Bro. Edmar Par (Sigma ’75)<\/p><\/div>\n

On March 2, 1950, at the Nicanor Reyes Hall, Room 214, Far Eastern University, Manila, Philippines; the first organization of Alpha Phi Omega outside of the United States of America was established. It is now known as the Alpha Chapter.<\/h3>\n

Alpha Phi Omega rapidly and healthily grew in the Philippines. In its third year, it became a national organization with seven chapters chartered in Manila and Visayan campuses. It was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC<\/span>) on October 21, 1953 as a non-stock, non-profit and non-dividend corporation with a registered name of Alpha Phi Omega (Philippines) Incorporated. It renewed its registration on June 8, 1981 with the SEC<\/span> Registration No. 0099381 under the name of Alpha Phi Omega International Philippines Incorporated.<\/p>\n

The Charter members who served as the first National Officers were:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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    \n
  • Dr. Librado I. Ureta \u2013 National President<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Col. Ignacio J. Sevilla, Sr. \u2013 National First Vice President<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Dr. Romeo Y. Atienza \u2013 National Second Vice President<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Dr. Guillermo R. Padolina \u2013 National Third Vice President<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Godofredo P. Neric \u2013 National Secretary<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Leonardo R. Osorio (BSP<\/a>)<\/u>\u00a0\u2013 National Treasurer<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
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