Alpha Tau Omega (Philippines)

:"This article is about the student fraternity in the Philippines. For the student fraternity in the United States, see Alpha Tau Omega."

Alpha Tau Omega is a fraternity founded in the University of San Jose - Recoletos, Cebu City, Philippines on 1968.

ATO Philippines is duly registered with the Philippines Securities and Exchange Commission (S.E.C) as a non-stock and non-profit organization under SEC REG. NO. C200200127. The Organization is independent and is not a subsidiary to any group with a similar name that may be existing in another country outside the Philippines.

History

First Founding

Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity in the Philippines started its early beginning in 1966 when Manuel Momongan, a student of Political Science at Silliman University, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental came to Cebu City and finished his Bachelor of Arts at the University of Southern Philippines. His plan was to expand his fraternity he founded at Silliman University in 1965, the Alpha Sigma Phi.

In that year, he formed the fraternity recruiting students Guillermo Napuli and Celso Guillermo Aznar of Southwestern University, Romeo Alfafara and Melchor Crisostomo of the University of the Visayas, Eugene Arriesgado and Reynaldo Caratao of the University of Southern Philippines all of Cebu City where the pioneers of Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity, Philippines.

One year after, a group of the alleged the same fraternity with different origin at Central Mindanao University which has a satellite chapter in the University of Bohol came to Cebu City. They imposed their will to ASP-CEBU on the basis that they are much ahead and much older than ASP-Silliman University, having been established in 1959 at Central Mindanao University in Bukidnon, Mindanao. The younger breeds of ASP-Cebu were confused and were later on subdued by the so-called ASP-BOHOL. Manuel Momongan strongly opposed their intrusion because the existence of ASP-CEBU is entirely different from that of ASP-BOHOL, considering that their origin as Alpha Sigma Phi was through the effort of Ramon del Carmen, a member of Upsilon Sigma Phi Fraternity of the University of the Philippines, Manila. He insisted that the real Alpha Sigma Phi is the fraternity from Silliman University because its existence was not done by anyone of different fraternity membership. His insistence was futile because the loyalty and support of ASP-CEBU shifted to ASP-CMU that even the fraternity he founded at Silliman University, inspite of their knowledge that there existed in Araneta University and University of the East in Manila, an Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity in 1952 and 1959 respectively, they did not exert any effort to oppose but instead agreed to merge with the ASP-CMU.

Feeling disgusted of its distorted history and orginality, the idea of founding another fraternity came to his mind three year after. In 1968, he contacted 5 "Colegio de San Jose Recoletos" students now University of San Jose Recoletos and a meeting was held at the University of Southern Philippines, Cebu City. Manuel Momongan introduced to them the name of the Fraternity, Alpha Tau Omega and the response was encouraging. Initiation rites were conducted and after one month, the membership expanded not without the knowledge of ASP-CEBU. Knowing the charisma and expertise of Manuel Momongan, they anticipated that Alpha Tau Omega will soon became a threat to Alpha Sigma Phi.

A meeting of ASP in Cebu was purposely called to prevent him from further spreading ATO to another school. He reasoned out that he could no longer continue in conscience staying with Alpha Sigma Phi which history and orginality were distorted and desecrated. A threat to his life caused him to stop his plan to spread Alpha Tau Omega in other schools. He decided to remain inactive with Alpha Sigma Phi if only to show his strong desire to build Alpha Tau Omega.

econd Founding

The desire still fresh in the mind of this principled man, Manuel M. Momongan. He is determined to revive ATO by all means. He then contacted remnants of ASP-CEBU and revealed to them about his plan. Rolando Marigomen, Jesus Flores, Raul Murillo and Wilfredo Ursal were chosen by him to be his co-founders.

The plan was to officially declare the 2nd Founding ot Alpha Tau Omega on March 5, 2000 at Hardrock Beach Resort, Victoria, San Remigio, Cebu. Rolando Marigomen, the owner of the resort, went ahead of the group to prepare the place in this historic event. The ritual started at exactly 1:30 dawn of March 5, 2000 with the burning of Alpha Sigma Phi materials, a show of disgust of the distortion and desecration of the history of ASP-Philippines. ASP-CMU does not deserve to be an Alpha Chapter knowing that there are other ASP much ahead and similarly existed in the year that ASP-CMU was organized. Araneta University-ASP existed in 1952 and University of the East-ASP also existed in 1959. These two existed without the assistance of Ramon del Carmen of Upsilon Sigma Phi, the basis that ASP-CMU was coined after its name. Without del Carmen, ASP-CMU could not have existed.

Ten minutes of silence was observed after which ATO prayer was said by Manuel Momongan followed by the first official wearing of ATO T-Shirts proclaming the second founding of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity in the Philippines. The five founders; Manuel L. Momongan, Rolando C. Morigomen, Raul C. Murillo, Jesus D. Flores and Wilfredo R. Ursal solemnly pledged never to follow the steps of their former fraternity by way of drafting ATO Code of Ethics.

Two other ASP; Celso Guillermo Aznar and Rene G. Jose became the first ATO Alumni Pioneers with Manuel L. Momongan Jr. and Ryan Paul B. Jose as the first undergraduate pioneers as of the second founding of ATO.

The first batch composed of 14 undergraduates started at the University of San Carlos who were initiated on July 23, 2000 at Hardrock Beach Resort. They were Lawrence Dwight T. Savior, Rannie T. Bayulos, Raul Gemchrist T. Macachor, Jordan E. Abano, Jerome E. Abano, Carlos O. Casas Jr., Michael Vincent O. Casas, Lyle Razon, Wenifredo Cahilog, Victor V. Lagnada Jr., Jose Juliever C. Carido, Joryll Ceasar de Dios, Eleuterio B. Navia Jr. and Eduardo D. Sacay Jr. Alpha Chapter was Installed to University of San Carlos, Cebu City.

Alpha Tau Omega policy of expansion was realized with the opening of pioneers at the University of San Jose Recoletos and Cebu Institute of Technology, Floyd L. Escanuela of USJR together with Mark T. Semblante and Ceasar Franco A. Munasque of CIT passed the initiatio rites on August 18, 2000 at Warren Beach Resort in San Remegio, Cebu. On December 16, 2000 eight (8) first batch of USJR passed the initiation; James M. Carredo, Alexis Ray B. Celestino, Tim V. Gantalao, Ricci Lee Comedador, Paul Eric C. Pingkian, Mitchyll Uyanguren, Jade Manto, Jay Steven P. Roble, Lowelle Gem Arana. Cebu Doctors College had only 5 pioneers who passed the initiation on the same date December 16, 2000. Beta Chapter, Manuel Te. Jr., Freddie A. Covedo Jr., Nil Frank Pio Tan Jr., and Allan Patual. Beta Chapter was given to University of San Jose Recoletos, Cebu City.

On January 14, 2001, Gamma Chapter was given to Cebu Institute of Technology when additional four (4) first batch; Emael C. Narvaez, Danillo P. Albano Jr., Isagani I. Umaslay and Joseph Vincent Remulta passed the initiation. Southwestern University had two (2) pioneers; Vaugn Neri and Carlos Abejo together with University of the Visayas pioneers; Karl S. Dael, Panchito Aragon and Norman Rosos. Delta Chapter was given to Southwestern University Kappa Chapter to Cebu Doctors' College and Lambda Chapter to University of the Visayas.

Julan Antig of ATO-USC 2nd Batch, organized the fraternity at St. Vincent College, Dipolog City, the first to be established outside Cebu.

Epsilon Chapter was given to ATO-SVC and it expanded to Andres Bonifacio College of the same place and given the title of Theta Chapter. ATO-USJR first batch, Tim V. Gantalao followed suit by organizing ATO at Tiburcio Tancinco Memorial Institute of Technology, Calbayog City of which the title of the Zeta Chapter was given.

The first National Congress of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity was held at Bay City Resort Hagnaya, Cebu on December 1 to 2, 2001. Wilfredo L. Sayson was elected National President, Rene G. Jose was elected National Vice-President, Wilfredo Sayson appointed Manuel L. Momongan Jr. as the National Executive Director. The next site of the 2nd National Congress as approved by the Congress was Davao City. However, the unstable condition of the peace and order brought about the spate of bombings resulted in the drastic change of venue. Cebu City ultimately became the last alternative.

The 2nd ATO National Congress was realized in the City of Cebu at Cebu Business Hotel. It started with parade in the major city streets participated in by ATO members and delegates. Cebu has a big number of participants in the parade; USC,USJR,CIT,SWU,UC,and CDC. Other delegates came from SVC,ABC and DMC of Dipolog City and in Ozamiz City, delegates represented Misamis University, Misamis Institute of Technology and ICC-La Salle.

Trivia

ATO Philippines is not related to the American fraternity also named as Alpha Tau Omega.

ee also

*Fraternal and service organizations
*List of fraternities and sororities in the Philippines
*List of fraternity and sorority mottos
*List of social fraternities and sororities

External Links

* [http://atophilippines.org Alpha Tau Omega Official Website]