The Early Years
It all began with one Brother who believed that Alpha Sigma Phi should have a new home and share its unique history and ideals to the studentry in the campus. It was in 1983 when Brother Lemuel Malanog of Silliman University recruited then working student Mark Kinglan Galon to organize the Chapter. At that time the school’s administration acknowledged the existence of fraternities, however it did not formally recognized these Greek Letter organizations because of PCU’s anti-fraternity environment. And this was no easy task. The only way a fraternity could make it was to organize underground and operate cautiously. With such difficult conditions, Brother Lemuel Malanog organized the Chapter formally as a non-Greek Letter student organization - the Diamond Cross Society with Brother Mark Kinglan Galon as the pioneering member. Diamond Cross Society was the organization used by the Chapter from 1983 to 1985. This student organization was the predecessor of today’s Gamma Rho Chapter. The organization functioned as the preparatory organization to train and mold its members through the school’s academic and extracurricular activities. This is how the Chapter conducted its activities as well with recruitment of prospective members. On the other hand, the Chapter was successful in practicing Alpha Sigma Phi’s old tradition and ritual concealed therefore keeping the Chapter to grow and flourish successfully in spite of the conditions.
The Challenges Ahead
It all began with one Brother who believed that Alpha Sigma Phi should have a new home and share its unique history and ideals to the studentry in the campus. It was in 1983 when Brother Lemuel Malanog of Silliman University recruited then working student Mark Kinglan Galon to organize the Chapter. At that time the school’s administration acknowledged the existence of fraternities, however it did not formally recognized these Greek Letter organizations because of PCU’s anti-fraternity environment. And this was no easy task. The only way a fraternity could make it was to organize underground and operate cautiously. With such difficult conditions, Brother Lemuel Malanog organized the Chapter formally as a non-Greek Letter student organization - the Diamond Cross Society with Brother Mark Kinglan Galon as the pioneering member. Diamond Cross Society was the organization used by the Chapter from 1983 to 1985. This student organization was the predecessor of today’s Gamma Rho Chapter. The organization functioned as the preparatory organization to train and mold its members through the school’s academic and extracurricular activities. This is how the Chapter conducted its activities as well with recruitment of prospective members. On the other hand, the Chapter was successful in practicing Alpha Sigma Phi’s old tradition and ritual concealed therefore keeping the Chapter to grow and flourish successfully in spite of the conditions.
The Challenges Ahead
Gamma Rho Chapter was able to grow progressively over time despite the fact that membership to the organization was limited and selective in process. Gamma Rho Chapter came to be the organization of choice for PCU’s student leaders - from debaters and quizzers, the ROTC corps, to key officers of the student government.
And this was the golden years of the Chapter. However, in the mid 90s, recruitment went to a low as the last undergraduate members of Gamma Rho Chapter graduated and left the school. And this was further complicated by the media’s expose of hazing related incidents (related to other fraternities) that came into the scene those years. The outcome, appreciation for Greek Letter organizations became unpopular. And like the Chapter, other fraternities as well experienced decline on recruitment especially in the campus.
In 1997, the Alumni body was able to recruit new prospective members and rebuild the organization back to its glory, once again the Chapter was on its feet. Since then the Chapter was also able to share Alpha Sigma Phi’s Brotherhood to students from other schools, like Philippine Women's University (PWU), Mary Johnston College (MJC), Technological University of the Philippines (TUP), Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP), Philippine Maritime Institute (PMI), Adamson University and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasay (PLP).
In order to support the undergraduate Chapter and perpetuate Alpha Sigma Phi’s mission and purpose, the Alumni body established the Alpha Sigma Phi Alumni Association of PCU, Inc. (ASPAA-PCU) on May 10th of 2002 and incorporated as a non-stock / non-profit organization on July 14th of 2005 with Securities and Exchange Commission Registration No. CN200512126.
Since its organization 25 years ago, Gamma Rho Chapter remains resilient to the challenges of time and remains true to its commitment of ‘To Better the Man’. The chapter has successfully enriched the brotherhood experience of its members. Aware and appreciative, these members have remained loyal and supportive of Alpha Sigma Phi’s mission and purpose.
And this was the golden years of the Chapter. However, in the mid 90s, recruitment went to a low as the last undergraduate members of Gamma Rho Chapter graduated and left the school. And this was further complicated by the media’s expose of hazing related incidents (related to other fraternities) that came into the scene those years. The outcome, appreciation for Greek Letter organizations became unpopular. And like the Chapter, other fraternities as well experienced decline on recruitment especially in the campus.
In 1997, the Alumni body was able to recruit new prospective members and rebuild the organization back to its glory, once again the Chapter was on its feet. Since then the Chapter was also able to share Alpha Sigma Phi’s Brotherhood to students from other schools, like Philippine Women's University (PWU), Mary Johnston College (MJC), Technological University of the Philippines (TUP), Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP), Philippine Maritime Institute (PMI), Adamson University and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasay (PLP).
In order to support the undergraduate Chapter and perpetuate Alpha Sigma Phi’s mission and purpose, the Alumni body established the Alpha Sigma Phi Alumni Association of PCU, Inc. (ASPAA-PCU) on May 10th of 2002 and incorporated as a non-stock / non-profit organization on July 14th of 2005 with Securities and Exchange Commission Registration No. CN200512126.
Since its organization 25 years ago, Gamma Rho Chapter remains resilient to the challenges of time and remains true to its commitment of ‘To Better the Man’. The chapter has successfully enriched the brotherhood experience of its members. Aware and appreciative, these members have remained loyal and supportive of Alpha Sigma Phi’s mission and purpose.
