Focus on Filipino American Organizations
May 10, 2008 -- Got something to say?
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Alpha Phi Omega (Phils) District of Columbia Alumni Association (APODCAA)
Ferdi Gomez, current APODCAA president, speaks with a glint in his eye that carries intensity. When asked what project APODCAA was working on , he replied with great enthusiasm, “We’re working on sending 29 used dialysis machines in good working order to the Philippines. These machines were donated by Holy Cross Hospital in Maryland. We worked with Dr. Eleanor Daquioag of Holy Cross and are working hard to deliver these to Bukidnon Provincial Hospital and the Provincial Hospital of Misamis Oriental.” These dialysis machines were sent off the middle of April to their destinations after the APODCAA had crated each and every machine with their own hands. This is perhaps APODCAA’s most intensive project to date requiring numerous volunteers and hundreds of manhours through 11 weekends to move and pack these fragile machines. Each machine is valued at about $1,250 and in peso-terms would cost a small fortune. Its impact on the health situation in Mindanano will be immeasurable.
Service is the cornerstone of Alpha Phi Omega District of Columbia Alumni Association (APODCAA). And service it gives in a very passionate and humble way. While other associations are built around goals of education, charity, or assistance to their members’ provinces, the APODCAA mission is that of service to the community sector that needs it and with their own family members deeply involved.
APODCAA has undertaken its mission like a gentle storm.. After its induction in 2002, the organization took off with various projects including helping build affordable housing for families in need with Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia. With guidance from the experts, they put saws to wood and brushes to paint to help build houses that year.
APODCAA had humble beginnings. In the 1990s, a group of eight alumni members and their families in the DC/MD/VA region would hold informal gatherings at each others house. As brods with growing families and all familiar with the inner satisfaction of community service, they talked about formalizing their group. Finally, on December 1, 2001, at the home of Danny Francia, who is recognized as the inspired leader of the group, their hearts and minds came together. The pioneers — Danny Francia, Leo de Jesus, Lemuel Banaga, Junie Babatuan, Jesse Dayrit, Ellen Dayrit and Doods Castellano — toasted to the formation of an alumni association held together by the three cardinal principles of APO: Leadership, Friendship and Service with Service being the raison d’etre.
Doods Castellano, an affable father of two, was elected APO’s first president in 2002. With his vice president Jesse Dayrit and other officers, plus the commitment and solidarity of the membership, they started the ball rolling. Since then, APODCAA has completed numerous service-oriented projects for both the Fil-Am and mainstream communities, in fulfillment of their motto: Service through active involvement in our community.” This important year set the direction of the association, which in a few short years became a familiar name in the Fil-Am Community and gained the reputation as having hardworking and reliable volunteers.
APO in the Philippines. APO is an international organization. It was brought to the Philippines back in the 1950s by Solomon Levy, a professional scouter and friend of Dr. Roe Barle, then National President of Alpha Phi Omega USA. At a speech before a group of Filipino Scouts, he distributed some APO literature. Librado Ureta, an Eagle Scout a graduate student at the Far Eastern University happened to be sitting in the audience. He took the information to a group of scouts at FEU and began organizing the first chapter of APO in the Philippines. It was established in March 1950. The organization grew rapidly and became a national organization named Alpha Phi Omega International Collegiate Service Fraternity.
Projects speak louder than words. Mody Olympia, board member and former president explains that the organization has four major projects every year. Every April APODCAA volunteers with a local organization called Hands On DC to paint and refurbish DC public schools. In June, APODCAA pitches in with the Philippine American Foundation for Charities, Inc. sponsored Philippine Fair in downtown Washington, DC and at the Community Picnic at Tucker Road Regional Park in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Members volunteer at the Marine Corps Marathon in October and the Feed the Homeless Thanksgiving project in November. In between these projects, they support the Feed the Hungry’s Book Drive and the Philippine Embassy’s Heritage and Paskong Pinoy Projects. APODCAA also financed the construction of five houses in Leyte through Gawad Kalinga, the organization that aims to build 7,000 homes in 7 years all over the Philippines. Furthermore APO helps out other organizations that call on them for assistance.
A Cohesive Force to Reckon With. Santi Sipin, secretary of the organization, explains the success of APO. “ I’d rather rate Alpha Phi Omega not as a successful organization but as a cohesive force to reckon with in terms of service.” He further explains that “Although APO allows every member to be a leader (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Alpha_Phi_Omega_members) in any form or another, we always work as a team. A strong sense of fellowship develops during the times that the group spends time together like participating in service programs and family activities that help form a bond thus becoming friends for life. Our numerous Service projects for the school, community, nation and the Fraternity are what make Alpha Phi Omega so special.” He recalled that during their pledge months in their younger years as college students, they were taught the values of humility, another factor that makes the group stronger.
APODCAA members have embraced the community, and the community has embraced them back.
For more information on APODCAA, go to www.apodcaa.com
Officers:
President: Ding Gomez
Vice President : Anthony Busog
2nd Vice President : Soan Velasquez
Secretary : Santi Sipin
Treasurer : Victor Basamot
Auditor : Rudy Magsalin
Historian : Jesse Dayrit
1st Sgt at Arms: EphEph Escobar
2nd Sgt at Arms : Sherwin Landicho
Board of Directors:
Danny Francia
Mody Olympia
Dely Schwab
Jun Cristobal
Deejay Alfaro
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