The Alpha Kappa Rho International Fraternity and Sorority (ακρ or AKRHO) is a

fraternity A fraternity (from Latin language, Latin ''wiktionary:frater, frater'': "brother (Christian), brother"; whence, "wiktionary:brotherhood, brotherhood") or fraternal organization is an organization, society, club (organization), club or fraternal ...

established in the

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

in 1973. The fraternity, comprising men and women from different universities, was originally established to promote loyalty, unity and integrity in the

Fraternity A fraternity (from Latin language, Latin ''wiktionary:frater, frater'': "brother (Christian), brother"; whence, "wiktionary:brotherhood, brotherhood") or fraternal organization is an organization, society, club (organization), club or fraternal ...

amongst its members. Nevertheless, it is now registered as an International Humanitarian Service Fraternity and Sorority which encourages members to be involved in humanitarian projects and service to others wherever it exists. The fraternity is registered as "Alpha Kappa Rho International Humanitarian Service Fraternity and Sorority Incorporated" with the Philippine

Securities and Exchange Commission The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is an independent agency of the United States federal government, created in the aftermath of the Wall Street Crash of 1929. The primary purpose of the SEC is to enforce the law against market ...

with over 3,000,000 member as a non-profit and non-dividend corporation. It was originally founded in the Philippines and claims to have chapters worldwide.

Foundation

The Alpha Kappa Rho Fraternity and Sorority was founded on August 8, 1973, by sixteen college students of the University of Santo Tomas (UST). Except for the leader and elder of the group, Jose "Boy" Chua, who was enrolled at the UST College of Medicine, the 15 other founders were enrolled at the UST College of Commerce. The Alpha Kappa Rho original founders are: # Jose "Boy" Chua # Teddy De Lara (Deceased) # Edwin Solano (Deceased) # Tanny Bernabe # Obet Posadas # Arnel Lorenzo # James Bracewell (Deceased) # Renato Go (Deceased) # Philip Balangue # Roger Sarmiento # Ted Aves # Monchet Cabrera # Philip Diman # Gil Villegas # Mark Queyquep # Noli Manalo(Deceased) The Alpha Kappa Rho Sorority began in 1975 and the Sorority Founders are: # Girlie Tesoro (Deceased) # Joyce Gregorio # Alda Altiveros Bernabe # Marisa Cumuyog # JJ Aquino (Deceased) # Irene Ileto # Grace Mendoza The fraternity was founded on August 8 because it coincided with the

Feast Day The calendar of saints is the traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the day as the feast day or feast of said saint. The word "feast" in this context d ...

St. Dominic Saint Dominic ( es, Santo Domingo; 8 August 1170 – 6 August 1221), also known as Dominic de Guzmán (), was a Castilian Catholic priest, mystic, the founder of the Dominican Order and is the patron saint of astronomers and natural scientis ...

, a university holiday at UST. UST is run by the

Dominican Order The Order of Preachers ( la, Ordo Praedicatorum) abbreviated OP, also known as the Dominicans, is a Catholic mendicant order of Pontifical Right for men founded in Toulouse, France, by the Spanish priest, saint and mystic Dominic of Cal ...

also known as the Order of Preachers (OP).

Initiation rites

Soon after the fraternity was established in 1973, it achieved notoriety in the Philippines because of fraternity wars and the alleged initiation rites that members had to undergo to join it. After the introduction of the Anti-Hazing Law by the Philippine Government in 1995, the fraternity initiation rites are no longer sanctioned or approved by the fraternity leadership.

Motto

Its motto, "Vincit Omnia Veritas", meaning "Truth Conquers All" or "

Truth Prevails "Truth prevails" ( cs, Pravda vítězí, sk, Pravda víťazí, la, Veritas vincit) is the national motto of the Czech Republic. The motto appears on the standard of the President of the Czech Republic, which the Czech Constitution designates ...

", comes from the emblem of the

University of Santo Tomas The University of Santo Tomas (also known as UST and officially as the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, Manila) is a private, Catholic research university in Manila, Philippines. Founded on April 28, 1611, by Spanish friar Miguel ...

, where the fraternity was founded. Members are called "Skeptrons", a Greek word for the "ceremonial staff” or

sceptre A sceptre is a staff or wand held in the hand by a ruling monarch as an item of royal or imperial insignia. Figuratively, it means royal or imperial authority or sovereignty. Antiquity Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia The ''Was'' and other ...

carried by a monarch as a symbol of sovereignty.

Merger

The Alpha Kappa Rho Fraternity merged with the Omega Fraternity & Sorority International (OFSI) of San Sebastian College (SSC) and Zeta Upsilon Fraternity of the

University of the East The University of the East ( fil, Pamantasan ng Silangan), also known as UE, is a leading private university located in Manila, Philippines. Founded in 1946, business tycoon Lucio Tan acquired the university in 1990. UE was once labeled as the ...

Recto campus (UE-Recto) in 1976. The RITUAL (Burn Mark which is a circular scar from a heated coin applied to the back of the member's right wrist) and the Hand Sign of AKRHO was originally from OFSI but became part of AKRHO after the merger agreement between AKRHO and OFSI. From 1976, the new RITUAL was required for all new members and the Hand Sign was to recognize AKRHO members.

NDM73

5 out of the 16 Founders of Alpha Kappa Rho were alumni of Notre Dame of Greater Manila High School (NDM HS). Except Jose "Boy" Chua who graduated in 1972, the others belonged to NDM HS graduate of 1973. A number of other NDM 1973 graduates would also later join AKRHO.

Junior AKRHO

In August 1975, AKRHO grew in numbers with the acceptance of high school students from UE-Recto into the fraternity. The first Junior AKRHO was Founded by Jun "Labo" Pasaporte, Rey Quitariano (another NDM alumni), and Noriel Arcadio at UE-Recto,

Far Eastern University Far Eastern University (Filipino language, Filipino: ''Pamantasan ng Malayong Silanganan''), also referred to by its acronym FEU, is a Private university, private non-sectarian Liberal arts college, liberal arts university in Manila, Philippines ...

(FEU), Jose Rizal College High School (JRC),

Philippine School of Business Administration The Philippine School of Business Administration is a college located in Quezon City in Metro Manila, Philippines. The college was established in 1963. Academic programs Undergraduate studies *Bachelor of Science in Accountancy *Bachelor of Sc ...

(PSBA), and

National College of Business and Arts The National College of Business and Arts or NCBA is a private educational institution in the Philippines with campuses located in Cubao, Fairview and Taytay. NCBA Collegiate Department offers degree programs in the Arts, Sciences, Business an ...

(NCBA).

References

* https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/430727/why-frats-survive-despite-hazing-ban * https://dfa.gov.ph/dfa-news/news-from-our-foreign-service-postsupdate/23453-ph-consul-general-attends-alpha-kappa-rho-international-oathtaking-induction-in-macau * http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2014/08/08/message-of-president-aquino-to-the-alpha-kappa-rho-toronto-chapter-on-the-occasion-of-their-41st-founding-anniversary-august-8-2014/

External links

* {{Official website, https://web.archive.org/web/20160121193554/http://www.alphakapparho1973.com/ Student societies in the Philippines Fraternities and sororities in the Philippines Student organizations established in 1973 1973 establishments in the Philippines