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ALTHONIANS: Breaking Barriers...Exploring New Ground...

By:  Brod Larry Agpalo (Extracted from the 10th National Convention Souvenir Program; Nov. 30 - Dec. 2, 2012) Chairman, 10th National Convention at Kidapawan City (2012) Former SGA, North Cotabato Unified Grand Masters Chapter Former member, National Executive Board (NEB) Eight young and visionary students from Central Mindanao University (MSU) in Musuan Bukidnon started discussing about creating a brotherhood/sisterhood and leadership-building organization in between their group studies sometime in 1967. Sonny Guttierez and Antonio Paterno from Luzon; Jose Pioquinto Jr. from Visayas; Michael Ritardo, Emmanuel Balingit, Benjamin Jumawan, Leon Canino and Eugene Lacayanga from Mindanao started as dormitory mates, study group mates but eventually decided to call each other brother.  The eight young students were all Bachelor of Science in Forestry students at CMU.  After a year of informal meetings, sharing ideas and planning, they finally decided to call the group the ALPHA THETA OMEGA Fraternity and Sorority and call every member an ALTHONIANS (used as plural or singular by current members). Forty-four years after, there are already sixty-five Student Chapters and thirteen Alumni Chapters, including two overseas chapters - one (1) in the United States of America and Canada and one (1) in Saudi Arabia.  Thousands of its members are now spread across the country and in a numbers of countries outside the Philippines - establishing their niche in the society. Forty-four years ago, the forest, located north of CMU Campus was the founder's safe-haven and hatching ground.  The big trees are the living witnesses to the evolution of the eight young teens into responsible men, citizens, innovators and leaders.  A process of evolution and transformation aimed at breaking through an impending barrier.  That time, BS Forestry in CMU was it its infacy stage; students had to deal with the "birth-pains" recalled Brod Michale Retardo. "At that time, you have to draw strength from each other and use every resource available.  It was not time for Individualism and competition.  It was time for unity to achieve a common goal, which is completing the course and eventually passing the licensure examination," he stressed.  "With the problem of scarce resources and literatures, you have to think of other means, you have to think outside the box in order to survive -- organizing and sharing our individual's strengths, knowledge and resources was, to us, the best way to get through the barrier at that time," he stressed. The founders enlisted the services as consultants of Mr. Constancio Torres and Atty. Wilfredo Alcantara.  It also sought the assistance and guidance from known and respected personalities inside the campus.  Among them: Dr. Lydia Mercado, the College Dean of Home Economics; Dr. Esther Cabotaje, Vice-President for Academic Affairs; and Mr. Socorro Gomez, an instructor from the CMU's High School Department. The group committed to pursue three main objectives: Education, Brotherhood and Service.  When the organization opened its gate to new prospective members, a group of fifty-six (56) students subscribed to the ideals and mission of the organization.  The "Jolly 56" batch served as the launching pad to the fast growth of its membership within the campus and soon expanded to other universities and colleges in Mindanao.