MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY (MSU)
MARAWI CITY, PHILIPPINES

History of Rho Chapter

It was on August 11, 1979 when three (3) Althonians bloods – Edgardo Bermudo (Chemical Engineer) of Salug, Zamboanga del Norte, Onofre Jalipa (Agricultural Engineer) of Gen. Santos City and Teodoro Llanes (+) SPO4, PNP Iligan City) 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 {Dec2007-July2010}, currently DILG Surigao del Sur {July2010-present});

3. MODESTO “DOTDOT” LAGUMBAY JR. from Maco, Davao del Norte (connected with DENR – Central Office, Manila/currently DENR Region 13 Caraga);

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 Sto. Niño, South 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 (Connected with Nestle Phils, Cagayan de Oro City);

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/Currently in MSU-IIT, Iligan City);

2. DANILO “DANNY” CAMINCE from Tulunan, North Cotabato (Lives in Los Angeles, California, USA); and

3. FRANKLIN ORILLO from Surigao City (DILG R-7, Cebu City who died with a cancer in the neck).

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 (Alpha Omicron Chapter), St. Peter’s College (Alpha Pi Chapter), Iligan Capitol College, St. Michael’s College and the Maigo School of Arts and Trades in Maigo, Lanao del Norte (Alpha Rho Chapter). 

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!

Article By: Brod Pedrito "Boy Pedal" Alacaba 1979 - Rho Chapter [MSU, Marawi City] Article Submitted on 26 July 2005

Edited By:  Brod Modesto “Dotdot" Lagumbay Jr. 1979 - Rho Chapter [MSU, Marawi City]

Article Edited on 27 October 2017 (By Brod Boy Alacaba)