Images and stories intended to help promote Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity's internationalism movement, growth and expansion. Unbeknownst to Alpha Phi Omega Philippine initiates an alumnus of Epsilon Chapter of the Philippines has done his historic part at bridging the gap or bringing together APO USA and APO Philippines national organizations to the table starting in 1981. For over thirty years these two national Greek letter societies were far apart. Contacts yes, but no official ties. APO-USA is well established, leading national fraternity, APO Philippines, mislabelling itself as "international" ahead of the ICAPO organization established in 1997. All that changed in 1980 when an enterprising alumnus from Epsilon Chapter (at the University of the East, C.M. Recto campus) organized the first alumni colony in Los Angeles,California, fired up by what he witnessed and heard at the 1980 Alpha Phi Omega National Convention in Los Angeles, so inspired by the electrifying experience acquired fresh from the APO-USA convention attendance at the Marriott Hotel LAX, he befriended then NVP Earle Maurice Herbert (Chi '59), later asked NVP Earle Herbert to visit the Philippines in 1981 which he accepted. That initial voyage to the Philippines gave Herbert a very good idea at how effective Alpha Phi Omega Service fraternity impacted the lives of college students and alumni members in the Philippines. Herbert liked what he saw, returned to the island nation twice more as National President, succeeding visits that inspired NP Earle M. Herbert to create a program in APO-USA on internationalism. NP Earle Herbert asked his American brothers to consider visiting the Philippines prompting the interest of several national presidents and ranking national officers to heed his call. It will be recalled no high-ranking APO-USA national officer visited APO Philippines prior to NVP Earle M. Herbert's historic sojourn. By the way, that California alumni association originator from Epsilon Chapter is no other than this website's editor. + + + But what seems to hinder the expansion and growth beyond the borders of those two "Nationals" comprising ICAPO? Cultural differences as in singing the APO Toast song differently (I hasten to add that Filipinos are quite capable at replicating even the hardest song or tune? Different "grips" or fraternity handshake (why is that so, and is that necessary?) and differences in fraternity terminologies or languages? Economic dictates' maybe? ICAPO, sad to say, has been stagnant over two decades with only two national players--USA and the Philippines as of 2010. These are glaring gaps that need to be addressed. Compare APhiO's poor overseas expansion with that of other international organizations and you'll see the big descrepancy. To view the caption click on the picture's title. Send comments or questions to jess_castillo68@yahoo.com

1 APO Similarity	1 APO Timeline	1 Philly 2000	1 Too Many 2 Cool
1 Vandalism	1900s Pledge Pins	1909 Brainerd Hall	1909 FRH Pix
1920s-30s Lafayette	1925 Pin evolved	1926-1931 Insignia	1930s Insignia 1