Althonians Chapters
BETA RHO CHAPTER
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SAINT JOSEPH INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (SJIT) MONTILLA BLVD. BUTUAN CITY PHILIPPINES |
HISTORY OF BETA RHO CHAPTER
In the early 80’s, existence of the Alpha Theta Omega fraternity/sorority members was already evident in Butuan City and in the provinces of Agusan (Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur) but largely unorganized because most of the members have survived from various Chapters in Visayas and Mindanao. It was only in the year 1990 when the Althonians of Nasipit (Agusan del Norte), Bayugan 1 (Agusan del Sur) and Butuan City began to communicate and gather occasionally.Among the topics frequently discussed during meetings and social gatherings were to conduct initiations and to establish a Chapter in Butuan City. The dream of the members was finally realized when an initiation was finally conducted as a response of the Althonians call to “spread the wings”.
The first initiation was conducted on February 2, 1993. The initiation was conducted by Brod Nestor Apawan (Kappa Chapter), Rodelito Felias (Alpha Xi Chapter), Toto Moran (Alpha Chapter), Chito Honrada (Mu Chapter) and Sis Lorna Cabiao (Rho Chapter). Although only few Althonians were present during the initiation, the initiation rite was a big success and signifies a big leap for the Althonians in Butuan City. The pioneering batch “Lucky 6 Survivors” (all the 6 survivors were from Nasipit, Agusan del Norte) marks the beginning of the Althonians in Saint Joseph Institute of Technology (SJIT) and in Butuan City.
The Althonians in SJIT grew rapidly in numbers under the leadership of Brod Nestor Apawan (a transferee from Cebu Institute of Technology) who was elected as the first Grand Altho in SJIT and with the support of Brod Toto Moran (connected with DENR Butuan) who serves as the group adviser.
Among the projects that was accomplished by the group was a wall clock (with carved Althonians logo on a Yakal wood) that was donated to the SJIT school library.
The Alpha Chapter registered the Saint Joseph Institute of Technology in Butuan City as Beta Rho Chapter after the members accomplished the requirements. Series of initiations had followed in the succeeding years and the membership had spread rapidly to various Colleges in Butuan City namely; Urios College, Agusan Institute of Technology, Butuan Doctors College, Agusan Business & Arts Foundation Inc., Agusan Colleges and NORMISIST.
Among the Colleges mentioned above, Urios College has the rapid growth of members. The pioneering batch “Bizarre 17” obviously, consists of 17 new members who survived on December 20,1994 were responsible for the widespread of Althonians in Butuan City and in the neighboring municipalities of Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur.
Brod Roland Bataclan was elected as the first Grand Altho in Urios College and Sis Villanueva (Rho Chapter); a Math instructor in Urios College serves as the group adviser. Althonians in Urios College were very active in extending service to the community; provided assistance to the Bureau of Fire Protection thru SF02 Brod Boy Vasquez in their BFP “Fire Prevention Month” information dissemination campaign. A streamer bearing the Althonians logo on both end with the “Fire Prevention Month Campaign” information was hanged across the street fronting the Urios College school. This depict the resemblance of the Alpha Theta Omega Fraternity and Sorority as a service-oriented group.
Althonians who survived from various Colleges in Butuan City other than SJIT however, adopted the Beta Rho Chaptersince these schools have no Chapter name of its own. Today, Althonians of Beta Rho Chapter are very active in promoting camaraderie, molding the members to become future leaders and extending worthwhile service to the community and to fellowmen.
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Recent photos of the Beta Rho Chapter along with the Agusan del Norte Grand Masters Chapter.
