Alpha Phi Omega Epsilon Alumni

Epsilon Today: Epitome of a Model APhiO Chapter

(2008-09 Progress Report)

By Jess L. Castillo (E ’68 at U.E.), Life Member

Epsilon Chapter, the third unit organized under the Alpha Phi Omega national umbrella in the Philippines with two actively supportive alumni satellites today—Epsilon Alumni (EAA) and Epsilon Overseas (EOA)—will mark sixtieth year of meaningful existence on campus, community and country on March 2, 2012.

2008-2009, now in the Epsilon history books, is marked literally by hundreds of combined individual service hours rendered by a dedicated network of alumni, chapter leaders and members. Epsilon’s outreach service programs included Gumaca Dental Mission on September 18, 2008 involving 18 initiates, an Imus Medical and Dental Service, a joint service project by EAA and newly organized Alpha Phi Omega France Alumni Association led by Bro. Emman de Castro (E ’94) attracting over 15 initiates. On May 10, 2009, a town in Bulacan saw action from the busy bees of Epsilon, this time collaborating with APO Meycauayan in staging the Meycauayan Dental Service putting to work ten untiring Epsilon dentists and manpower. Typhoon Ondoy’s Luzon-wide devastation in economic, housing, infrastructure destruction and loss in human lives saw the Epsilon network again at work thanks to Epsilon chapter’s quick response by more than a dozen initiates braving many flooded streets and highways at municipalities where APO-Epsilon members are known to reside, it launched Typhoon Ondoy Relief Service October 3^rd aiding countless Epsilon and Alpha Phi Omega Philippines members in Metro Manila areas underwater for weeks. To cap 2009, a ‘Pamaskong Handog’ 2009 on December 24^th was sponsored by APO Hollywood Alumni President Bro. Agustin “Jun” Bangan (E ’71), his delightful wife Carrie Bangan and Pandacan Hikers Club, Inc. presided by Sis. Syl Ilao (E ’78), a charitable project intended to benefit indigents in Manila.

2008-09 paved the way for the creation of Epsilon Chapter’s first tangible program to promote charity for her members. The new program, aptly called Epsilon Support Fund (ESF), showed a very promising response it drew in eighty-four thousand pesos (P84,000.00) from a group of thirty four (34) early donors based in Manila, Philippines and abroad. To date, ESF awarded over thirty thousand pesos (P30,020.00) in disbursements awarding timely financial assistance to needy Epsilon members’ families covering twelve different grants.

It is noteworthy to mention that a well-orchestrated task on collecting financial pledges for ESF ensued. Early donors from the alumni ranks in the United States, Canada, Australia, Okinawa and the Philippines came from the following initiates: Bro. Domingo “Jun” Garcia Jr. (E ’65), Bro. PGC Rolly Rosales (E ’68), Bro. Cesar Garingan (E ’68), Bro. Basilio “Beng” Solis (E ’65), Bro. Estifanio “Steve” Chicano (E ’63), Bro. PGC Rey Ocampo (E ’67), Bro. Roberto “Bobby” Cobarrubias (E ’65), Bro. Tony Basa (N ’67 at MCU and 1969 Epsilon Transfer Member), Bro. Casiano “Nonoy” Navarro (E ’67), Bro. Lito Venturina (E ’65), Bro. Gil Villamater (E ’68), Bro. PGC Agustin “JB” Bangan Jr. (E ’71), Bro. PGC Gaston “Kazunori” Taira (E ’74), Bro. Art Sana (E ’70), Bro. Robert “Rob” Merilo (E ’74), Sis. Ruth de Castro Tolentino (E ’78), Bro. Ernie de Leon (E ’74), Bro. Aim “Rey” Ramirez (E ’77), Bro. Enrique “Boy” Lee (E ’78), Bro. PP Salmer “Sammy” Amoroso (E ’73), Bro. PGC Rodrick “Yami” de Ocampo (E ’73), Sis. Chato de Ocampo ('78 at Petitioning PWU), Sis. PGLC Syl Carpio Ilao (E ’78) Bro. Lito Arasa (E ’81), Bro. PGC Jun Montilla (E ’84), IPP Shelley Vega (E ’90), Bro., Sis. Ann Cena (E '85 ), Bro. Aldrin Rubenicia (E ’91), Bro Emman de Castro (E ’93), Bro. Jessie Tavara (E ’94), Bro. Balmar “Magz” Magao (E ’91), Bro. V.P. Esmar Ermita (E ’91), Sis. Liezl Ceballos (E '94), and Sis. Ailen Reyes (E '02). Top money collection was coordinated by Bro. Beng Solis. Solis collected P33,985.00 from eleven brothers; followed in second place by a fairly good collection of team mates Sis. Syl and Bro. Abet. They remitted P27, 501.00 from twelve gift-giving members. That was closely trailed by Bro Esmar Ermita (DMD) solo effort bagging a revenue at P15,000.00 from six alums, while the team of Sis. Anne, Sis. Jinky and Bro. Shelley (DMD), not that far behind with P7,000.00 from four (4) kind-hearted donors, Sis. Ailen Reyes turned in P500 as of press time, out of her own pocket. The “snooze-you-lose” team of Bro. Placido “Terry” Galzote and Bro. Yami recorded zero collection as of the end of 2009.

To these illustrious gift-givers, a short verse: We in Epsilon Chapter know how to fix things. We enacted ESF, timely and quiet fitting for our hapless men and women. So, watch out APO toast song, our eyes are eagerly focused to rectify the erroneous tune in the decades old Filipino rendition between now and the sixtieth reunion.

The ESF concept was hatched via lively internet discussions resulting in its adoption, under the alumni presidency of Bro. Shelley Vega, a dental surgeon.

Another act of charity by our avant-garde house came from the laudable initiative by Bro. Herbert “Herbie” Manarang (E ’75) to purchase a laptop for www.apo-epsilon.org editor Jess Castillo ’68. Bro. Herbie Manarang on learning that the unemployed website writer does his daily website chores at Los Angeles Public Library computer rallied fellow Epsilon alums for donations. The e-group campaign by Manarang yielded swift response from overseas brothers such as website publisher Rob Merilo ’74 ($100), PGC Jun Bangan ’71 ($70), Rudy “Porgie” Portugal ’63 ($70), Ben Sabangan “70 ($70), Steve Chicano ’63 ($50), Bro. Angel and Tessie Baquiran ’59 ($50), Bro. Ernie D. Ramos ’65 (50), PGC Ariel Belisario ’78 ($35), Bro. Aim Ramirez ’77 ($25), Bro. Terry Galzote ’56 ($25) in addition to Herbie’s $70.00 and a $35 pledge from Bro. Paquito “Kit” Palay ‘79. Manarang’s family resides and conducts a thriving Accuratus Professional Pest Service in Philadelphia.

Commendation or award was bestowed upon Epsilon Chapter on winning at the APO Philippines Olympics 2009 as Volleyball Tournament champion. Victorious team members were Sis. Syl Ilao, team captain, Sis. Ann Cena, Sis. Mercy Villas, Sis. Kate Lacdao, Sis. Bley Balenti, Bro. Rap Sibbaluca, Bro. Ian Bagsic, Bro. Sherwin de Luna and, Transfer member Sis. Shan Uriarte.

Alumni societies led by Epsilon graduates (initiates) in 2008-2009 around the world are: Alpha Phi Omega Hollywood Alumni led by Bro. Agustin “JB” Bangan ’71, charter president; Bro. Emman de Castro, APO France Alumni Association charter president, Sis. Syl Ilao, organizer, past president and advisor of APO Pandacan Alumni Association, Bro. Dr. Balmar “Magz” Magao ’91, APO Dental Association of the Philippines president, and Bro.Dr. Esmar Ermita Jr. ’91 is president-elect of APO Dental Association of the Philippines.

Epsilon Chapter’s Pledge Classes (a.k.a. Batch or Line):

Class of 2006 passed three initiates:

       Isagani Nicandro Jr.
       Nica Dale Ricardo
       Hyacinth Ermita

Class of 2007:

       Sri-Haniyah C. Baculti
       Ezra Delani
       No Pledge Recruitment in 2008.

Class of 2009, 1st and 2nd semesters were:

       Faisal Usman Jr.
       Jomark E. Duave
       Jeffrey C. Valderama
       Alexis C. Charcos
       Amedorin D. Hamdag Jr.
       Gregorio Jose D. Hora
       Joseller Santibanez

‘Passings’ in 2008-09:

Bro. Alberto Brosas (E ’78)
Bro. Benjamin “Benjie” Rodrin (E ’68)
Bro. Atty. Charlie Lumang ’68, (Transfer Member from Alpha Tau chapter. 38th G.C. at Epsilon)
Bro. Elmer Hong (E ’56)
Bro. Estelito “Lito” Narag (E ’68)
Bro. Mike Abantas (E ’74). Abantas was past national president of APO Philippines.

Fraternity/sorority lexicon:

Initiate: any member who pledged APhiO and underwent its ritual.

Organizer: an initiate who led in chapter or alumni society extension.

Founder(s): is attributed to Frank Reed Horton and those who first established APO at Lafayette College in 1925. All others are organizers or extension chair/member.

Active (not Resident): a local, chapter member or initiate still in college/university.

Alumni: any initiate beyond his/her ‘active’ status.

House: another name for chapter, lodge or fraternity order.

To the readers: A cheer for your feedback, any constructive comment will inspire us to work our pen better.

The author received invaluable assistance from 2010 EAA President Syl Ilao in Manila, Philippines, and Bro. Rob Merilo in Los Angeles, California, USA on piecing together the article. January 7, 2010.