On 8th day of
August year 1973, the celebration of the Feast Day of St. Dominic,
patron saint of the University of Santo
Tomas, Espana St., Manila, Philippines sixteen young, all-male,
energetic and ambitious freshmen and sophomore students of the University, sharing
the same interest, dreams and ambitions, formed their own kind of fraternal
organization - the ALPHA KAPPA RHO
Fraternity. This was during the tumultuous early years of the martial rule in
the Philippines. However the time was then, these young men guided by the
Almighty, bonded themselves together as one. Our group was formed out of necessity since all that time, as it
is now, members of other fraternities in the AB-Commerce building of University
of Santo Tomas, would recruit potential neophytes to join their ranks. But
since this new grouping, who’s for the boys in Metro Manila were themselves
already in a band in the campus, and in order to ward-off the pesky recruiters
who could not wait to lay their hands on them, they thought - why not form
their own? Lead by Bro
"Boy" Chua, whose idea was it to form their own brand of
fraternity, and with Bro Noli Manalo,
Bro Roger Sarmiento, Bro Teddy Aves, Bro Philip Balange, Bro Tanny Bernabe, Bro
James Bracewell, Bro Monchet Cabrera, Bro Philip Diman, Bro Renato Go, Bro
Teddy De Lara, Bro Arnel (Lim) Lorenzo, Bro Vismark Quequep, Bro Edwin Solano,
Bro Ronnie Leuterio and Brod Gil Villegas, they founded the ALPHA KAPPA RHO Fraternity or AKRHO. Thus, the seed of the organisation
was planted and soon after the birth of ALPHA
KAPPA RHO came to be. Happy times and good times followed out to this AKRHO barkadahan.
However, what started out as a cluster of young students out to have a good
education while having fun inside the University campus began to take seriously
their being members of this new group. Little did our Founding Fathers realised
that they were already creating ripples of anxiety with other fraternities for
grabbing attention for themselves inside the school. It happened that our founders themselves were likewise starting to
recruit young members to join their own rank. Tensions rose within University
of Santo Tomas campus among fraternities with our presence. Inevitably, we had
to show true grit during heightened emotions, even when others tried vainly to
erase the name ALPHA KAPP RHO in
the face of the earth. Our growing young fraternity then stood their ground and
faced adversities with much courage, vigor and fortitude, in defense of, and
for the protection of its existence. The collective unanimity among our founding members to pursue with
firmness the existence of ALPHA KAPPA RHO became very clear. Soon after, under
the guidance of the Founding ALPHA KAPPA RHO brods, the ALPHA KAPPA RHO
Sorority was likewise established. With smart and friendly Sister such as Sis
Marissa Cumuyog, the late Sis Jayjay Aquino, Sis Alda Altiveros, Sis Girlie
Tesoro, Sis Grace Mendoza, Sis Jay Mercado and Sis Irene Ileto, they formed the
first Sorority Members of the ALPHA KAPPA RHO in University of Santo Tomas. In so short a time, the small group developed into a strong
force-in character and spirit, as well as in great number. Its popularity grew
by leaps and bounds! More Collegiate Chapters were formed in different
Universities and Colleges in Metro Manila, and over the years spread as well to
all parts of the Philippines. Later, Junior and Community Chapters were
likewise established and became part of the ALPHA KAPPA RHO family. Bro Jun
Pasaporte (deceased) and Bro William
Ho founded the Junior ALPHA KAPPA RHO at the University of the East. In addition to the adaption of the ALPHA KAPPA RHO Sorority, other
fraternities and sororities with the same thoughts and feelings as that of the
ALPHA KAPPA RHO at that time merged with it. From these mergers evolved one
practice which becomes the hallmark of our group. For one, the noble, the traditional hand mark and its handclasp
was a covenant agreed by our foreleaders from both ALPHA KAPPA RHO and the
Omega Fraternity and Sorority, Inc. Reresented by our OFSI Bros from San
Sebastian College, Bro Alex Ramirez, Bro Dennie Ravarra, Bro Alex Mangubat, to
name a few, and together with the Officers of the founding Members and the
Officers of ALPHA KAPPA RHO, they signed pledge for and in behalf of each
other’s group. This merge which happened in September 1976 at Rancho, Marikina
(then a municipality) was momentous for to this day we carry in our hands the
mark of synthesis, the handclasp that set a strong bond and true unity under
one name, the ALPHA KAPPA RHO. And
on August 8, 2008, the 35th Anniversary of ALPHA KAPPA RHO, the
first National Convention was conducted; Brothers and Sisters from all over the
Philippines meet and elected the rightful Officers from Luzon, Visayas and
Mindanao. Thus the first National Council was established. |
