A coed intercollegiate and professional organization that was
founded in
Central Mindanao University (CMU) in Musuan, Maramag,
Bukidnon, Philippines on November 27, 1968. The members of this
organization are called ALTHONIANS.
ALTHONIANS: Breaking Barriers...Exploring New Ground... By: Brod Larry Agpalo (Extracted from the 10th National Convention Souvenir Program;
Nov. 30 - Dec. 2, 2012)
Chairman, 10th National Convention at Kidapawan City (2012)
Former SGA, North Cotabato Unified Grand Masters Chapter
Former member, National Executive Board (NEB)
Eight young and visionary students from Central Mindanao University (MSU)
in Musuan Bukidnon started discussing about creating a
brotherhood/sisterhood and leadership-building organization in
between their group studies sometime in 1967.
Sammy Guttirez and Antonio Paterno from Luzon; Jose Pioquinto
Jr. from Visayas; Michael Retardo, Emmanuel Balingit, Benjamin
Jumawan, Leon Canino and Eugene Lacayanga from Mindanao started
as dormitory mates, study group mates but eventually decided to
call each other brother. The eight young students were all
Bachelor of Science in Forestry students at CMU. After a
year of informal meetings, sharing ideas and planning, they
finally decided to call the group the ALPHA THETA OMEGA
Fraternity and Sorority and call every member an ALTHONIANS
(used as plural or singular by current members).
Forty-four
years after, there are already sixty-five Student Chapters and
thirteen Alumni Chapters, including two overseas chapters - one
(1) in the United States of America and Canada and one (1) in
Saudi Arabia. Thousands of its members are now spread
across the country and in a numbers of countries outside the
Philippines - establishing their niche in the society.
Forty-four years ago, the forest, located north of CMU Campus
was the founder's safe-haven and hatching ground. The big
trees are the living witnesses to the evolution of the eight
young teens into responsible men, citizens, innovators and
leaders. A process of evolution and transformation aimed
at breaking through an impending barrier. That time, BS
Forestry in CMU was it its infacy stage; students had to deal
with the "birth-pains" recalled Brod Michale Retardo.
"At that time, you have to draw strength from each other and use
every resource available. It was not time for
Individualism and competition. It was time for unity to
achieve a common goal, which is completing the course and
eventually passing the licensure examination," he stressed.
"With the problem of scarce resources and literatures, you have
to think of other means, you have to think outside the box in
order to survive -- organizing and sharing our individual's
strengths, knowledge and resources was, to us, the best way to
get through the barrier at that time," he stressed.
The founders enlisted the services as consultants of Mr.
Constancio Torres and Atty. Wilfredo Alcantara. It also
sought the assistance and guidance from known and respected
personalities inside the campus. Among them: Dr. Lydia
Mercado, the College Dean of Home Economics; Dr. Esther
Cabotaje, Vice-President for Academic Affairs; and Mr. Socorro
Gomez, an instructor from the CMU's High School Department.
The group committed to pursue three main objectives: Education,
Brotherhood and Service. When the organization opened its
gate to new prospective members, a group of fifty-six (56)
students subscribed to the ideals and mission of the
organization. The "Jolly 56" batch served as the launching
pad to the fast growth of its membership within the campus and
soon expanded to other universities and colleges in Mindanao.