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Dr. Frank Reed Horton (See also Frank Reed Horton: The Early Days) while
a student at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, USA, conceived of "an
organization that could influence college men and women to be of service to
campus, community and nation." Along with thirteen fellow students who all had
scouting background (See also The Founding Fathers), and with the help of six faculty and scouting advisers,
Alpha Phi Omega was born on December 16, 1925 at Hogg Hall, Lafayette
College. This organization was soon recognized by the college, and later mushroomed
throughout the United States. By 1950, it already boasted of 227 chapters coast
to coast. On the same year, APO reached the Philippine shore.
In 1950, Manila scouts were invited
to a conference by Sol Levy, Boy Scout Executive from Washington, USA. Levy
expressed his desire to organize the APO in the Philippines as he gave copies
to the scouts publications from the Alpha Rho Chapter, University of Texas, Austin,
USA encapsulating the APO history, national constitution and by-laws, and ritual
rites and ceremonies.
Among those interested who was
awakened was an Eagle Scout from the Far Eastern University, Dr. Librado I. Ureta, (See also Librado I. Ureta - President Emeritus)
inspired by Sol Levy's words, read the publications and later started a movement
which found its affiliation into the Alpha Phi Omega International Service Fraternity
on March 2, 1950 at Nicanor Reyes Sr. Hall, Room 214, Far Eastern University. The charter members were:
LIBRADO I. URETA
IGNACIO J. SEVILLA SR.
ROMEO Y. ATIENZA
GUILLERMO R. PADOLINA
GODOFREDO P. NERIC
LEONARDO R. OSORIO
RALPH G. HAWKINS
ALFREDO DE LOS REVES
BONIFACIO V. LAZCANO
LAMBERTO T. DOMINNGUEZ
MAX M. VELASCO
After early preparations, a petition for official status and copies of the
publications were sent to Far Eastern University Administration. Few days later,
the university recognized the organization.
Alpha Phi Omega grew rapidly
and healthy in the Philippines, in its third year when seven chapters had been
chartered on Manila and Visayan campuses, it was registered with the Securities
and Exchange Commission as a non-stock, non-profit and non-dividend corporation.
Alpha Phi Omega (Phils.) Inc. was the first chapter country to be chartered
independent from its mother country. It adheres to the cardinal principles
designed by Brother F.R. Horton. The pin and revised Coat of Arms created by
Everett W. Probst, one of the original members, however, were adopted. However,
the handclasp was patterned from the Boy Scouts' and not from that of Thane J.
Cooley, another original member.
The Fraternity first came to Region 8 when Alumni Brothers Aurelio "Loy" Tabangcura - MAPUA (Delta '56 ID#545), Jose "Pepot" Pedrosa - MAPUA (Delta '60 ID#3114) and Liberador "Libby" Villegas - National University (Beta '64 ID#1574) organized APO in Divine Word Unversity (Alpha Omicron Chapter), Tacloban City on August 8, 1966. From then on, Alpha Phi Omega spread further to the different provinces in the Region that now boasts of more than 20 chartered collegiate chapters, 8 chartered alumni associations and more than 20 petitioning groups.
(See also Chapters, Alumni and Petitioning Groups)
There are more than 400 chartered fraternity and sorority collegiate chapters and more than 100 chartered alumni associations of Alpha Phi Omega in the Philippines today.
For more information about APO in the Philippines,
CLICK HERE...
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