GREATER WASHINGTON APO
Greater Washington
Alpha Phi Omega
The Greater Washington Alpha Phi Omega (GWAPO) was established on May 11, 2003 (Mother’s Day) to re-confirm its commitment to the principles of Leadership, Friendship and Service (LFS), to ensure that only bonafide members of APO are accepted pursuant to APO’s principles. GWAPO submitted an application for a charter with APO Philippines on October 31, 2006, was subsequently granted Charter No. 175 on April 17, 2007 during the Board of Directors’ meeting in Café Milinari, Quezon City, under Resolution No. 90, Series of 2005-2007 or the “Resolution Granting the Recognition of the Greater Washington Alpha Phi Omega as the 175th Alumni Association of Alpha Phi Omega (Philippines) Incorporated”, which charter was formally awarded during the National Biennial Convention in Tagaytay City, Philippines.
Charter members with their respective chapters and batch years were: Gaylord B. Arata, Iota Zeta 1990-C, Melanie Q. Corcoro-Paredes (Vice-President), Alpha 1979, Gerardo P. Duque (Adviser), Pi 1962-1963, Jose C. Gonzales, Epsilon Omicron 1985-A, Rufino S. Ignacio (Adviser), Eta 1960-A, Rodolfo P. Mendoza (Treasurer), Beta 1986-B, Ernesto T. Paragas, Jr., (Adviser), Epsilon Tau 1976, Juan Pablo A. Paredes, Eta 1973-A, Dante P. Pielago, Beta 1981-B, Chito A. Refuerzo (Secretary), Alpha Omicron 1969-B, Manuel A. Reyes, Alpha Zeta 1966, Reuben R. Roque (Auditor), Gamma Iota 1985, Noel V. Santos (President), Beta Pi 1977-B.
Past Presidents of GWAPO are: Founding President Chito Refuerzo (2003 and 2004), Rufino S. Ignacio (2004-2006), Noel V. Santos (2006 and 2007), Ernesto T. Paragas, Jr. (2007-2009), Caesar S. Mitre (2010 and 2011), Reuben Roque (2012 and 2013), Leslie Arthur de la Cruz (2014 and 2015), Guidz N. Pacada (2016 and 2017), Earl Jeremy “EJ” Hangsitang, (2018), Aldin dela Cruz, (2019 and 2020), Juan Pablo “JP” A. Paredes (2021). Current President from 2022 – 2023 Gaylord B. Arata.
GWAPO’s activities include community service and leadership and art and culture activities. It engages in Park service projects, medical/dental missions, homeless feeding programs, fundraisers to benefit Philippine indigents and other projects.
It has leadership, administrative and other support roles for over 15 years in the annual Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival celebrating Philippine Independence, arts, culture, and history at the Seattle Center sponsored by the City of Seattle, the Festal program, and other cultural groups.
GWAPO sponsored Philippine groups such as the De La Salle University Chorale (2004, 2010). It was one of the two sponsors together with the Filipino Cultural Heritage Society of Washington (FCHSW) that presented the Nightingales at the University of Washington, August 19, 2016. It presented the Integrated Performing Arts Guild (IPAG) of the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (2006), the UST Singers (2004), and the Saranay of Edmonton, Canada (2001). These activities reinforce GWAPO’s role as a patron of arts and culture within the Puget Sound Region of the State of Washington.
In service to the fraternity, GWAPO supported the ETA Chapter (UP Diliman) Alumni Association of North America (ETAANA) on July 2-5, 2009 at Cornet Bay, Washington. It also raised funds for purposes, such as, support for scholarships for indigent elementary school students in cooperation with the International Sorority Sisters in Service (ISIS), and contributed funds for medical assistance to APO members and their relatives.
In service and friendship to the Filipino community at large, GWAPO engaged in several adopt-a-park projects in Millersylvania State Park. In cooperation with the Filipino-American Community of South Puget Sound (FACSPS), and a joint camping fellowship with the same group at Cornet Bay, WA July 1-5, 2011, strengthening its ties with that major Olympia-based organization. In September 2011, GWAPO cleaned and power-washed the social hall and the patio of the Ronald United Methodist Church (RUMC). During the term of Bro. Reuben Roque, RUMC was the venue for the regular quarterly meetings, special meetings, and other GWAPO-sponsored events. In 2017, GWAPO supported a chess tournament held in partnership with Alpha Gamma chapter and other groups.
In service to the nation, GWAPO collects funds and relief goods for victims of natural disasters in the Philippines. It co-sponsored with APO MANDIN and the Office of the Vice President of the Philippines two medical and dental missions: (a) May 2, 2011 in Boac, Marinduque, and (b) April 9, 2012, in Barangays Canat, Boi and Bayute, all in Marinduque. Its continuing project since 2017 is the collection of goods for flood-ravaged Caba, La Union. Other areas supported are the Itogon landslide and chess sets for the blind.
GWAPO participated in the first Regional Conference of the Administrative Region of North America (ARNA), San Diego, CA, December 4, 2010. It sent a delegation to the August 31-September 2, 2012 APO Alumni Council of North America (ACNA) meeting in Sta. Clarita, California with Bros. Reuben Roque and Aldin de la Cruz as official delegates. GWAPO sent delegations to several APO ACNA conventions and National Biennial General Assemblies. The 15th APO ACNA convention in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on September 3-5, 2021 was the latest attended by GWAPO members Reuben Roque, Aldin dela Cruz, Keigh dela Cruz, Meryl Townsend, Felma Dacut and Maye Nunag, where they presented and successfully got the GWAPO’s bid to host the 16th APO ACNA biennial convention in Seattle. In all these activities, fellowship is the common thread that binds the members, making otherwise challenging activities fun and fulfilling. GWAPO has at least 38 active members and about 20 members on leave. GWAPO was instrumental in the establishment of the ARNA, a foreign region of APO Philippines. The first ARNA Regional Director Bro. Dan Razon and Deputy Regional Director Damian Barrameda were GWAPO members.