The following are the newly-elected officers of the Association and Foundation:

The Grand Chancellor Fritz Sapon and Grand Lady Chancellor Lady Ivy Vanity Velasco were also appointed as members of the Board.
The President of APO ETA ANA is also automatically a Member of the Board.

In excellence,

Fritz Sapon
Grand Chancellor

1. Doane Christian Fellowship Academy, 52 students

2. Miagao West Central Elementary School, 560 sudents

3. Guibongan-Igtuba Elementary School, 530 students

Recently, two desktop computer units were donated by Brod Vicente Mayor, Eta Chapter, Batch 1964-A (Four Horsemen). Brod Tito sent the computers from New Jersey, as he was preparing to return to the Philippines for good. Speakers were bought to complete the multimedia package. The units were donated to a previous recipient, the Igtuba-Guibongan Elementary School. The school caters to the primary education needs of poor farming families of Miagao. Teachers of the school were highly appreciative of the donation. Principal Celsa Negrido plans to invite Etans for the opening of their computer education program. Her representative can be reached at cellphone 0929-4837-608 for further information. Image below is the handing of certificates of appreciation for this particular donation.

Almost a decade ago Brod Sinfronio Balderama, Batch 1963-A (7-7 Bulbas of the APO Cossacks), began this practice of donating infotech-based hardware support to educational institutions in Iloilo. In 2000 Brod Frony donated a brand new computer and printer to UP Visayas, Miagao Campus. The advocacy and physical presence of an Etan teaching at UPV has helped facilitate and monitor these kinds of education-related service projects.

The APO-Eta experience in Miagao, Iloilo has attracted multisectoral support from Parent-Teacher’s Associations, local government, and NGOs (e.g. Rotary Club) who have provided counterpart labor or financial support. These initiatives improve the reputation of APO collegiate chapters in Iloilo Province and, provide a training ground in the conduct of off-campus service projects. It illustrates that APO-Eta service projects need not be high-profile and expensive to achieve inter-generational unity, cooperation among various stakeholders, sustainability and success.

Initial Board of Directors
Ruffy Ignacio
Lester Arevalo
JP Paredes
Cesar Picazo
Chito Dakis
Lito Quiray
Alex Tamayo
Ojie Laurente
Melvin Villaver
Aris Corpuz
Bernie Castillo
Joe Servanda
Ben Tuason
Joe Daroya
Edmon Zamora
Gene Licauco
Joy Carlos-Smith

Officers (2009-2011)
President – Manny Martinez
Vice President East Coast – Alex Tamayo
Vice President West Coast – Lester Arevalo
Secretary – Jeff Guevara
Treasurer – Ceasar Bobbitte Picaso
Assistant Treasurer – Ray Nocon
Auditor Director Sorority Affairs– Cynthia Villar

Directors for Planning and Development
JP Paredes – Northwest
Bitit Lukban – Central Valley and Sacramento
Gene Licauco – Northern California
Bodgie Gapido – South California
Lito Quiray – East Coast
Gary Hernal – Midwest
Dessie or Pidge Quiray – Southeast
Rod Panizares – Canada

Directors for Special Concerns

Frony Balderama
Director for Membership and Donor Database

Ruffy Ignacio and J P Paredes
Director for Grants & Contracts

Art Rivera
Director for Special Projects

Pidge Quiray (Not Confirmed)
Director for Internet Communications

Aris Corpuz
Director for Cultural and Civic Activities

Joe Servanda & Joy Carlos-Smith
Co-Directors for Social and Fellowship Programs

Ojie Laurente
Director for Biennial and Donors Fundraising Banquet and Ball

Atty. Marlon “Butch” Alo
Director for Arbitration

Lito Quiray
Director for Publications

Thru the office of our National President Mel Adriano and his support, APO International (Phils), Inc. have solicited from Nestle thru Brod Gid Manuel, 1975C, Eta, Milo products and from San Miguel Beverages products thru the help of Brod Dick Saria, Alpha Epsilon Chapter. Further, APO will be the sponsor for the 5 water stations during the 5k and 10k marathon, which will kick off at 6:00am sharp at SBMA.

Thru the valuable service extended by Brod Gerry Cruz, Section Chair, we have projected 75 APO volunteers to man the water stations.

All National Officers are expected to attend the event. NP Mel Adiano will be present, a day after his arrival from the ACNA Convention.

Mahalin APOng Pinaghirapan!

Here is JP’s Who’s Who List on APO, particularly Eta, recognized last reunion.
Pa-thank you naman ang mga nasa List. Perahin na lang daw, sabi ko.

Comment ni Menggie, mabuti na lang daw hindi nakuha ni JP yung mga Barangay Captains na mga Eta na nasa audience din. Otherwise, hanggang Lunes ang Reunion.

Here is JP’s piece with the Who’s Who List (of those in the audience pala that evening)…
–

Speech Delivered by APO-ETAANA Foundation
President JP Paredes during the Anaheim Reunion, August 25, 2008

To all APO members of ETA and other chapters, your spouses and significant others, families and guests.
I had a very short time to prepare so I scribbled this short 8-page speech.

It is good to meet you all again, as well as see new faces during these biennial events. As an activity of the APO ETAANA Foundation, this event is officially our Biennial and Donors Fundraising Banquet and Ball according to the protocols and organizational hierarchy of our tax-exempt 501(c)3 organization.

I must confess that I am a bit nervous speaking before a very illustrious crowd of bigwigs – OK some of you may need wigs – but you know what I mean.

I am proud to say that if I closed my eyes and pointed anywhere in this room, the person I randomly point is eminently capable of leading our Foundation into the future.

It is therefore with humility that I am in the presence of leaders; leaders in the true sense of the word and not merely as a slogan that we always hear when we speak about APO principles. As products of the University of the Philippines, all of us bear the marks of leadership even before we joined APO.

Let me acknowledge the presence of the delegation from the Greater Los Angeles AA led by President Sancho Sy and Chair of the Board Jun Linsangan, my good friend past GLA President Doms Tunque as well as ETA-initiated past GLA President Baby Rivera. Also, Sis (or Brother) Christine Topacio who is the President of Theta Alpha Chapter at Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey, daughter of our Brod Ted Topacio.

If I miss anybody, my advance apologies. That said, it is actually the silent ones who delivered so much to establish the stellar reputation of our chapter.

Let me acknowledge our ETA leaders.
Charter Member Albert Suguitan
UP APO Alumni Association President for Life Manny Clarino who heads our Philippine delegation
Past UP APO Alumni Association President Tony Luciano
Bro. ETAANA Alumni Grand Chancellor Ben Tuason
First Alumni Grand Chancellor Lito Quiray
Past Alumni Grand Chancellor Ding Viray, 4th place in the civil engineering board exam
Past Alumni Grand Chancellor Ojie Laurente
Past Alumni Grand Chancellor and First ETAANA Foundation President Ruffy Ignacio, 3rd place in electrical engineering board exam
Past Grand Chancellor and current Foundation Treasurer Claro Rabago
My Grand Chancellor Gene San Juan
Past Grand Chancellor Boy Ilaga
Past Grand Chancellor JB Lim, 5th place 1977 geology board exam
Past Grand Chancellor Butch Alo
Past Grand Chancellor Jepoy Guevarra
My long-lost ka-batch and Past Grand Chancellor of Alpha Phi – Dr. Jerry Salvador
Past Grand Chancellor of Alpha Eta – Edmon Zamora
Past Grand Chancellor of Alpha Delta – Gary Hernal
First student member, youngest member and one of the longest serving members of the NEB of APO Philippines, Jose Vargas Eco, the name that leads
Past Alumni Council of North America President Gene Licauco
Past Alumni Council of North America President Mel Gonzales and Librado Ureta Foundation President for Life. Brod Mel is a very generous person. He shared his generosity to his chapter’s foundation as he is generous with LIUF.
Current Alumni Council of North America President and Regional Administrative Director of the Alumni Region of North America Lester Arevalo
Past Prime Chancellor Menggie Cobbarubias, who sacrificed much during one of the darkest days in our chapter’s history – the humble superstar, actor and bomba-star look-alike.
First Grand Lady Chancellor Desi Quiray.
Past Grand Lady Chancellor Joy Carlos-Smith (who is not here tonight)
Past Grand Lady Chancellor Chill Poblete
Past Grand Lady Chancellor Ellen Corpuz-Vios
Past Grand Lady Chancellor Melody Ang-Gayon

Pioneers who established or were instrumental in the strengthening of other chapters:

Bobbitte Picazo who co-established Gamma Pi Chapter
Rene Amon, a product of ETA but pioneer of Beta Sigma Chapter
Art Rivera, former faculty adviser and stalwart of both Gamma Pi Chapter and later as Past President of the Alumni Association of GLA
Past President of the Alumni Association of GLA Melvin Villaver
Past President of the Alumni Association of Midwest Bernie Castillo

We have:

Bro. Bobby Gochangco who was Executive Vice President of Allied Bank
Bro.Oscar Tabtab – No. 1 in the 1964 chemical engineering exam in 1964.
Bro. Mike de Guzman, 1st place in the 1963 civil engineering Board exam
Bro. Loy Espino – Mechanical engineer – one of top executives at Goodyear Philippines till his retirement

Bro. Frony Balderama, Director for Membership and Donor Database, may not hear us very well but he did hear loud and clear our appeal for donations and will grant us endowments as a part of his will. We will receive his donation sometime in the future.

Bro Leland Ronquillo, favorite son of the late Dr. Ronquillo, the eminent fisheries scientist. Bro. Leland is the entertainer’s entertainer. He has gifted us with several stand-up comedies.

Bro. Bojji Martinez, the first neophyte during my term as Grand Chancellor. As President of Honda of Pasadena, he is a tireless advocate for the needy.

Bro. Joel Carbon, who, as now, was always the industrious Brod, who delivered whatever job had to be done, a charismatic no-nonsense leader with a wry sense of humor.

Bro. Ellery “Elot” Ateinza, another musician of international status, member of the UP Concert Chorus (as was of course past GLC Sis Melody Ang-Gayon).

Sis Wilma delos Angeles-Winkler, ROTC sponsor. Nobody becomes an ROTC sponsor who is not attractive and intelligent. Need I say more?

The Tamayo brothers, Brods Alex and Nap, tireless workers, good soldiers, so to speak, reliable and true through the good and hard times during my term as GC.

Mon Clemente, silent then as now but served without question. Another good soldier, as well as Brods Bodgie Gapido and Mike Quiray.

Titus de Guzman, a top executive of PNB who audited the financial affairs of Pantranco. Had we been together there during the years I was involved in the investigation of syndicates in Pantranco, that company might still be existent today. We will need your financial help in the Foundation.

Sis Rosie de Ocampo, a charter member of the sorority who, together with Sallie Licauco, kept the APO joggers well-fed.

Boy Clamor, Eric Evidente and Ompong Panizares have molded me to a great extent through their profound indoctrination. Marlon Veloso’s indoctrination stuck to me in the environs of Rm. 228. Dr. Fred Cabling did not demand much but he asked hard questions. What is a neophyte to do? Iking Azores, scary guy to the neophytes but he was really a very kind person to scared young men who did not know anything about his sterling character. The ever gentle Cesar Almazan who was always kind to neophytes —NOT!.

Many more of you, my older Brods, I met in past reunions, thank God not when I was a neophyte. Many of you younger Brods, I have had the honor to indoctrinate.

We have stalwarts of the Foundation whose service and leadership have not only been excellent but indispensable as well to the eventual success of the Foundation’s endeavors:

Foundation Vice-President Bro. Chito “Bigtime” Dakis, whose dictionary does not include the word “pessimism.” Any project worth pursuing is, to him, always achievable. While everybody around him is discouraged by the challenges, he will ask: Is there a problem?

Our Secretary Ray Nocon who has been with me through good and bad times since college, a guy who is never at a loss for good ideas, fundraisers and the like.

Our Auditor Brod Joe Daroya who is there to keep us honest. Believe me, he will audit our Foundation to see if we have really been honest.

Director for Internet Communications Bro. Pidge Quiray who not only designed the logo of the Foundation, but also our webpage with PayPal capabilities to make donating to the Foundation easy.

Director for Cultural and Civic Activities Aris Corpuz is an untiring implementor of projects, raising money through golf tourneys that he headed as well as donating the money he received for his and Marivic’s wedding anniversary.

Director for Publications Lito Quiray who, aside from being the first ETAANA AGC, was our Greentimes guru, superior in layout and substantial in content. He is busy making his real estate millions. The Foundation will settle for a few thousands of your millions.

Co-Directors for Social and Fellowship Programs: Joe Servanda and Joy Carlos-Smith, always available to help and quick to understand issues.

We have our Directors for Planning and Development who oversee our activities and operations in their respective areas of jurisdiction:

Ruffy Ignacio – Northwest
Nap Tamayo – Northern California
Alfred Salamanca – Southern California
Alex Tamayo – East Coast
Gary Hernal – Midwest
Pidge Quiray – Southeast
Jerry Arnaldo – Canada

I mentioned Ruffy Ignacio several times and as you may have noticed, I seem to always mention his name. And with good reason. Ruffy has been a solid support for me, for the use of his government connections, and most of all for his knowledge. Imagine how fortunate I am to be his student, teaching me things exclusively as a mentor and as a friend. Sometimes he is humble enough to even be my assistant. Can you imagine a very senior Brod in both years and stature being my assistant? But he does give me that support whenever I need stuff to be done in behalf of the Foundation from his connections in Washington’s state capital. He is my professor, my friend and my confidant who has given me more knowledge than I learned in school, although som etimes he might as well talk to a wall. His student is dumb when it comes to discussing the “m” theory of quantum physics, especially after a sumptuous brunch when his student is more interested in a good nap. Ruffy has been instrumental in getting our tax-exempt status.

Reserving the best for last, unbeknownst to many, the person who is the bedrock that supports my work in the Foundation and in other organizations is my wife, Melanie, our sorority Sister from Alpha Chapter. I’ll tell you a secret. Although her chapter is Alpha, Melanie has been extensively indoctrinated by ETA brothers. Amongst her batch, she has been adjudged a superior neophyte because of her profound understanding of the principles of APO.

Because she was my girlfriend at the time she joined APO, she also received some of the harshest forms of hazing. I know, I was at her finals and witnessed everything. Among her batchmates, she was the only graduate student taking up her masteral course. Many of you have had the chance to “indoctrinate” Melanie before she even became a neophyte.

Melanie is a product of both Alpha and ETA (informally). And so, whenever I lose focus because of my commitments as a community activist, Melanie provides me with a fresh look at the issues. In our ETAANA 1997 reunion and in the 1998 ACNA convention, both held in Seattle, Melanie helped me navigate through the big picture. Do not underestimate her intellect.

If I missed acknowledging some of you, the reason is that we have a truly big event and I am overwhelmed by the star power that is present tonight. All of you will show your leadership as we do the Foundation’s work.

Since we all know that this is a gathering of ETA stars, it is perhaps redundant to state the obvious that ETA is a chapter composed of men and women of superior intellect, a characteristic of ETA that is but a reflection of the policy of the University of the Philippines in Diliman to accept only the best and the brightest. Hence, any gathering of ETA is, of necessity, a gathering of stars.

Now that we all feel so proud of ourselves, it is time to knock down that pride. I remember in college that we all lived by the motto that one APO ETA member is worth more than 25 members in any other UP organization, be it fraternal, academic or social. Yet, much as I hate to pierce our collective egos, we seem to bask in past glory, to rest on our laurels – so we do nothing to continue earning that glory.

Well, I have news for you.

The price of excellence is eternal vigilance. We cannot claim superiority without earning our keep. We serve as the model for other chapters and organizations, and we have proven true to the task. We blazed trails in ever creative ideas and ways to engage in projects. Yet we seem to think that our intellect alone will carry the day.

The smart student is surpassed by the industrious one. If we want to maintain our excellence, we should be industrious and committed. The work we do will never be complete, so we must continue working. That is the price we pay for being excellent because we have been given much blessings. To whom much is given, much is expected. We must never forget that.

I have given you earlier today a copy of the relevant documents about the Foundation as well as presented to you one week ago the State of the Foundation Address, which is also part of the documents I gave out today. They are roadmaps to our policies and directions.

You have procedural questions? We have the manual of operations. Corporations ask you for proof of incorporation and of our tax-exempt status? We have the certificate of incorporation and the IRS determination letter. You want ideas on how to raise funds? There are suggestions in two letters outlining my vision for the biennium 2005-2007, as well as the development potentials for 2007. We spent money to produce these documents. They must be within easy reach at any time of the day or night.

Now that we decided to be one collective entity, we can focus our intellect, our energies and our creativeness as a forward step to move our organization toward greater professionalism while pursuing our APO principles.

Imagine the enormous potential. Present day communication is instant. In the ETA egroups alone, we have something like 325 email addresses representing about 250 members, and we are increasing in numbers by the day. In our chapter, we have about 1,500 members. What we do with that enormous resource is limited only by our imagination. Harness that resource and we have a powerhouse.

In the past two years, we disbursed probably more than thirty thousand dollars for our activities and yet we barely scratched the surface of our potential. We need more funds and we need lots of it.

Please be generous. Fill up your pledge forms, donate via PayPal at our website, send checks, include the Foundation in your wills, tap government and private grant sources, work for the registration of our Foundation in State Combined Fund Drives just as we have done in Washington, get your friends to donate and grant endowments. No amount is too small or too large, and no source is unapproachable.

Thank you and may our Creator bless you all for your generosity towards the needy though YOUR Foundation.

L-R: Eric Evidente, Mel Gonzales, Grace (Mel’s Wife), ?, Gene Licauco, Raq Rivera, Ted Topacio, Ping Fargas, ?

Photos courtesy of Eugene Licauco

Marami sila tanong sa pagpasok sa Eta at sinagot ko naman. Masaya kami sa kuwentuhan kahit na hindi sila magaling managalog at hindi naman ako marunong ng salita sa surigao. Mayamaya dumating si Ernie Alcanzare ng mga 7AM at mag-aalmusal daw siya. Binigyan siya agad ng beer at pulutan. Ipinakilala ko si Ernie na kachap ko at tinanong ko kung anong chap sila. Si Ernie na ang sumagot “E, hindi naman mga brods iyan e” Inis pa ako kay Ernie at mayabang yata tapos painumin. Yun pala mga waiter natin sa kainan yung mga kausap ko. Sabi ko, “Bakit kayo sabi rin ng sabi ng brod?” Sabi nila ” e kasi brod ang tawag mo sa amin, akala namin ganun talaga ang tawagan”! Tawa ng tawa si Ernie kasi nagpuyat pa ako.

I didn’t get to see Surigao at all nor visit Siargao pero na-accomplish ko naman ang mga trabaho ko. Attend the ICAPO meeting, work out a compromise to the ACNA issue and avoid any untoward amendment to the CBL. I failed, however, in a number of things. These are in working a suitable compromise to the issues on the Comelec, on Oswald, on Edmar and on the disputes being raised a la carte on the floor. At the past presidents’ meetings, I implored my fellows to lead by example and not to exacerbate the tensions that go with the election. In this, too, I failed. My counsel on the issues were unpalatable to the warring camps.

I asked the backers of Oswald if they would be willing to allow the Comelec Hour to push through so that the candidates can be allowed to speak. I failed. As you all know, Etan collegiates vied for several positions and I wanted this first opportunity at a collegiate election to be given the chance to work. Our collegiates spent a considerable amount to be able attend the convention and to present themselves for consideration. They do not belong to the Oswald ticket and they are virtually unknown in Mindanao. About the most that people knew is that they are from Eta and, to some, Eta is a very bad word. This is despite or inspite of the good record of governance that Eta has shown. Aside from myself serving as National Editor, National President and now chair of the IRC, we have had Joe Eco ’58B serving a long time as the very first collegiate board member in the 60s, Bobby Tuason ’71B as the first EVP, Nana Corpus ’76A as the first VP for Sorority, Luis Paredes ’76B as RDD (together with Maybelle Raquel ’75A) and later as ConCom chair and first SAC Adj. General, Benjie Montecillo ’73C and now Ernie Alcanzare ’75C as National Secretary/Exec Director, Boyet Corpus ’76B as RDD of Region IV, Peter Panis ’73D as RDD, NEB member and legal counsel, Art Rivera ’72A as RDD region I and later as chairman of APO-GLA, USA, Mel Gonzales ’73D as NEB Public Relations Director and National Editor and later as president of NorCal and President of ACNA, you all have read of Lester Arevalo ’72B, Bobby Manansala ’71A, Emmac Macapagal ’62A, Rico lainez ’70A, Harlan Lee ’63B, Mel Adriano 69C, Bobby Del Carmen ’70A, forgive me but the list will be endless as etans venture forth serving in various capacities in various chapters and AAs and even across continents. This is only in the APO structure. In government, business and civic affairs, we have and continue to serve through our members. You have met some of the best of us and even the worst of us. Some of the bad you probably even thanked because it would have been far worst had they been on the opposite camps. All of them we call brothers in Eta. Yet, despite this, I continue to meet brothers who, not knowing an iota about us other than we are Etans, disparage us and dismiss us from even trying to serve.

Our collegiates went to Surigao with the noblest of intention to serve. They have been deprived of even the opportunity to speak.

It is not our loss. They will continue to serve in Eta and other fields and do us proud. If ever we have been branded as outcast in the same company as Alpha Mu, then we accept the honor as we will be proud to march alongside Alpha Mu in fulfilling our mission as comrades in arms, as brothers of Alpha Phi Omega.

Chato Marinas ’73