Althonians Chapters

RHO CHAPTER

MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY (MSU)
MAIN CAMPUS
MARAWI CITY, LANAO DEL NORTE
PHILIPPINES

HISTORY OF RHO CHAPTER

It was on August 11, 1979 when three (3) Althonians brods – Edgardo Bermudo (Chemical Engineer) of Salug, Zamboanga del Norte, Onofre Jalipa (Agricultural Engineer) of Gen. Santos City and Teodoro Llanes (SPO4, PNP Iligan City, deceased) have merged and replicated themselves by giving birth to the Pioneering Batch of the Alpha Theta Omega - RHO CHAPTER (Mindanao State University, Marawi City).

All the way from the mountainous university campus of MSU in Marawi City, the organizers guided the 10 recruited young students to a hidden seashore of Cabili Village, Iligan City for a one-day initiation rite. With strong determination, the 10 neophytes survived the rite and they called their pioneering batch as the D’ Pioneers.

The ten (10) members of the D’ Pioneers are the following:

1. VIRGIE PARILLA from Maco, Davao del Norte (the only Rose of the batch – She’s now Mrs. Cabesa, frequents USA since 1999);

2. PEDRITO “Boy PEDAL” ALACABA from Mlang, North Cotabato (now the Provincial Director of DILG Agusan Del Sur);

3. MODESTO “DOTDOT” LAGUMBAY JR. from Maco, Davao del Norte (connected with DENR – Central Office, Manila);

4. LEO “OEL” CAPON from Maco, Davao del Norte (now connected with DENR – Oriental Mindoro);

5. JULIUS “JOY” DE LEON from Maco, Davao del Norte (was stricken by nervous breakdown when he took the engineering board exam);

6. FRANCISCO “PAKY’ LAGAAC from Maco, Davao del Norte (now connected with Hyundai, Manila).

7. FORTUNATO RATES from the province of North Cotabato (whereabouts uncertain yet);

8. GERRY GARCIA from the province of North Cotabato (whereabouts uncertain yet);

9. ERIC “RIC” PACLIBAR from Mlang, North Cotabato (now connected with Dept. of Labor & Employment – Region XI Davao); and

10. MARLO “MARL” DUEÑAS from General Santos City (whereabouts uncertain yet);

A few days after the survival of the D’ Pioneers, three (3) other young students informed the group of their desire to join the pioneering batch but were not informed of the schedule of the initiation rites. It was unanimously agreed that their request be accommodated. Subsequently, a special initiation was conducted on September 21, 1979 and the three survivors of “The Striking Batch” (considered part of the pioneering batch) were:

1. FERNANDO “NANDING or GRINGO” GARINGO from Banga, South Cotabato (now a Professor, Dept. of Philosophy, MSU – Marawi City);

2. DANILO “DANNY” CAMINCE from Tulunan, North Cotabato (no update yet of his whereabouts); and

3. FRANKLIN ORILLO from Surigao City (now retired from DILG R-7, Cebu City).

From then on, several batches of brilliant and bright students were added to the growing numbers of Althonians population in MSU, which made Alpha Theta Omega as one of the famous and respected organizations in the campus.

The first elected Grand Altho was Brod Edgar Bermudo. The much able and active advisers of the Rho Chapter during its early stage of existence were Brod Roger Saldia – Secretary, University Finance Office; Bro. Engr. Antonio Mendoza – Professor, Dept. of Engineering and Sis. Doris Dinoro-Ilupa – Professor, Dept. of Sociology.

Aside from producing high quality Althonians within the MSU campus in Marawi City, the Rho Chapter was also responsible in organizing new chapters in Iligan City and nearby provinces, most specifically the MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology, St. Peter’s College, Iligan Capitol College, St. Michael’s College and the Maigo School of Arts and Trades in Maigo, Lanao del Norte.

Thanks to the three organizers of the Rho Chapter, the Althonians blood had continued to flow warmly, with wings widely spread – soaring far and high in MSU and nearby territories!

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