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"The spirited young knows enough to be bravely prudent, generation after generation, they attempt the impossible... and they achieve it."
- Pearl Sydenstricker Buck
For so long a time, the potentials of the younger members of the fraternity have not been carried beyong their respective areas and chapters. Though some might have transcended the limits, there still remains a huge number whose capacities remain unrealized and whose intentions to contribute to the greatness of this organization linger as mere intention.
Since his election, May this year, Bro. Oswald Go - Iota Eta has steadfastly worked to transform the unrealized APO youth's capacity into actuality. He has made this one of his foremost visions in his capacity as National Vice-President for Fraternity Affairs, for the organization. In pursuit of this aspairation he assembled some of the most daring men and women of APO to constitute what can probably be dubbed as APO - Philippines' Council of Gen-X, the Fraternity Affairs Office (FAO).
The Alpha Phi Omega Philippines Fraternity Affairs Office aims to be catalyst for the development of the fraternity and its members, particularly the youth sector in both organizational and personal aspects. It envisions an organization that will play a pivotal role in societal affairs through empowerment and professionalism. Anchored on our cardinal principles of Leadership, Friendship and Service, the FAO facilitates the realization of its objectives through three main committees that work hand-in-hand to provide service and leadership to the resident brothers of the organization - the Committee on Adminstration, Planning and Operations, Committee on External Affairs and Committee on Education, Training and Development.
Leading Forces - Spheres of Development
The Committee on Administration, Planning and Operations (APO) is the arm of the FAO that handles all executive matters such as policy implementation and management of the regional and sectional arms of the office. Directly under it are the appointed Regional Youth Governors and Section Mayors who work closely with their respective Regional Development Directors for the accomplishment of the FAO's projects and for the monitoring of the collegiate chapters of the fraternity. The committee is ably headed by Bro. Maylong Villasante - Iota Eta, former Student Council Chairman, and BS Development Studies graduate from UP Manila.
Bro. Rudolph Castillo - Theta is the Chairman for External Affairs (Externals) of the Fraternity Affairs Ofice. A BS Applied Physics major from UP Los Ba�os, Bro. Oloops is in-charge of linkages of the offices, fraternal or otherwise in nature. Aside from linkages, the committee is also charged with formulating policies regarding projects and activivities of the organization. Press releases regarding various national issues are one of the main tasks of the committee. Among its present undertakings is addressing the problem of non-recognition of several chapters in their respective schools, a project that is jointly undertaken with the sub-committee on Legal Affairs.
The Committee on Education, Training and Development (EduCom) banners and paradigm of fraternal development through individual empowerment. Tasked to prepare learning modules on the various facets of organizational life, the committee likewise facilitates trainings and seminars, which aims to help the resident brothers to advance both in in their personal and fraternal lives. It is also charged with formulating policies regarding the development of the fraternity and to suggest measures on how to meet various challenges, it also review policies on recruitment and membership, crisis and conflict management among others. Heading the committee is Bro. Francis Raon de Guzman - Theta, a law student from UP Diliman, who also serves concurrently as head of the Sub-committee on Legal Affairs.
Supporting the three main committees o the FAO is an able group of young leaders taksed to run the office. Sis Lay Villapando - Iota Eta, a BS Organizational Communications graduate of UP Manila is i charge of all the internal linkages of the ofice being its Communications Officer, while Sis. Lisa Borbon - Kappa Gamma, is the Business Manager and Finance Officer. Bro. Neil Puga - Kappa Gamma, is the Secretary General of the Fraternity Affairs Office. Providing guidance to the members of the FAO is Sis. Mary Dacanay - Iota, the FAO's adviser.
Working for Excellence
Aside from the individual advocacies of the FAO's committees, the Office as a whole endeavors in various projects for the residents. Among this is a project that aims to visit the chapters and to hold dialogues and consultations with the members there. Another is the giving of awards to outstanding chapters and members who have excelled in their respective fields.
As an initial venture, the Fraternity Affairs Office held o December 19-21 of last year the first APO National Youth Festival (NYF) at the University of the Philippines in Los Ba�os. The NYF gathered more than 200 resident brothers and sisters from as far as North as Ilocos too chapters in Mindanao. The NYF provided a venue for disucssions, groups activities and learning. The Festival featured seminars on personality development, organizational communication and management, human rights and legal matters, leadership and other matters that concern the fraternity. The affair also included a plenary where the residents were encouraged to air their opinions on various issues concerning the organization and the nation and where several resolutions were passed to be submitted to the National Council.
At present, the Fraternity Affairs Office is preparing for the Mindanao leg of the National Youth Festival which is tentatively slated April of this year. The Fraternity Affairs Office is also working to have Alpha Phi Omega sa duly recognized organization by the National Youth Commission. It is also seeking partnerships with various Non-Governmental Organizations and People's Organizations for its projects and activities. Likewise, the Office has pledged to sponsor service activities in several areas in the country.
Vision - Distinction, Mission - Service
The Fraternity Affairs Office envisions that the youth members of Alpha Phi Omega will continue to emerge as a strong force in leading the organization to higher limits. it believes that through proper motiviation and guidance, the youth of APO will rise and develop into superior leaders not just of the organization but of the nation. And the Fratetnity Affairs Office will never cease to work towards this end. Because this is service as the FAO knows it.
The Fraternity Affairs Office - R.E.A.L. APO - Responsive, Emerging Active Leaders of Alpha Phi Omega.
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