Ating Kwento
Our Story
Mission
The purpose of Chi Rho Omicron shall be to promote the understanding, enrichment, and appreciation of the Pilipino culture, history, and heritage through a brotherhood/family environment. To instill the desire for self-improvement, scholastic excellence, and the cultivation for civic responsibility.
Our Pillars
Academics
Brotherhood
Culture
Community
Our Journey “Maglakbay”
Chi Rho Omicron was founded on February 20, 1996 at Fresno State University by Wenceslao Oscar Gonzalez III, Joseph Bautista, Marc Dolor, Jay Ladran, Alerberto Palma Jr., Augustine Tuliao Jr., and Florencio Costales Jr. Becoming one of the first local Pilipino Cultural based fraternities at Fresno State and within California. The main goal then as is now was to foster the next generation of Respectful Young Gentlemen who had a place to call home and a group of men they could proudly call their brothers.
Chi Rho Omicron soon expanded to San Francisco State University on February 16, 1997. Home of the birthplace of the College of Ethnic Studies. Beta Chapter prides itself on being an active member of the Pilipino American Community at SFSU and within the San Francisco Bay Area. Beta Chapter host its historic Tonight Show every year at SFSU, leads trolley tours of the SOMA District within San Francisco, and partakes in the Fil-Am events within the city such as Pistahan, SOMA’s Parol Lantern Festival plus much more.
The Manalo Movement was founded and recognized by SFSU in 2006 by XPO Brother Mike Terrado, Andrea Deleon (Beta Phi), Jack Stephens (LFS), Crystal Gines, and Jennifer Tavares (PACE Core). The movement campaigned to get Victoria Manalo Draves, the first Filipino American Olympic gold medalist, inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame (BASHOF). The Manalo Movement worked to inspire its members and the community to educate, take action on Asian American issues, and honor Asian American heroes/heroines from the past and present. The organization’s focus was on Victoria’s life and especially her career in the 1948 Olympic games in London where she swept the diving events to win two gold medals in the 3-meter and the 10-meter springboard events. In doing so she became the first woman and the first Asian/Filipino American to win two Olympic gold medals in diving. Victoria passed away on April 11, 2010 at the age of 85.
XPO Brother Mike Terrado with Victoria Manalo Draves at an event.
The original idea to form an Alliance of the Pilipino student organizations at San Francisco State University was conceived and spearheaded by XPO Brother/PACE Community Chair Alumni Andrew Kalt. Originally known as "The Big Five", the Alliance of SFSU Pilipino organizations was created on September 15, 2012 when Andrew brought together the main leadership from XPO, KPsiE, AKO, PACE and LFS (Later Kapwa joined) with the intention of creating a formal alliance built in solidarity and systematic impact for Pilipino culture at SFSU and the greater SF community at large. As momentum in the Alliance continued, so did the active participation of all organizations involved. The main goal was to provide a platform that would enable all the Fil-Am Organizations at SFSU to work as one and have a larger community impact. This alliance led to the first-ever social and community events with all Fil-Am organizations working together and present. The 10th Annual Mural Celebration led by Joy Ng was one of the first formal events with all organizations working in solidarity for its creation.
“The end hope was to have a winter and summer MSU conference/retreat with the aim of creating systemic solidarity at SFSU that could be scaled out for a bigger positive impact in San Francisco and beyond. This Alliance is to be a holistic and welcoming home for all Fil-Ams and Fil-Am organizations at SFSU. An Alliance that encourages community, hope, and love for our culture and each other. Each generation stands on the shoulders of those who came before. Let us build bigger shoulders that we may carry the world and dreams of our children’s children.”
-Andrew Kalt
In Fall 2013, of the following year, the Big Five was renamed to Mula Sa Ugat (MSU) “From the Roots” when Chi Rho Omicron Brothers Nate Alarcio, Chris Altamero, Timothy Balilo, LFS members Jordan Ilagan, Pat Racela and Pyxie Castillo, Kappa Psi Epsilon sisters Shannon Deloso and Jeannel Poyaoan, PACE Core Members Myles Pedronan, Eleazar Malabanan, Emily Enriquez, Alpha Kappa Omicron sister Janelle Corpuz, and Kapwa’s Aaron Agudelo got together to support the families affected in the Philippines by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) which was the strongest Typhoon ever recorded at the time. This was the biggest community project of the Alliance centered around supporting the Philippines.
We are proud to know that each successive generation of SFSU Fil-Am leaders continues to add to the vision, integrity, and livelihood of the Alliance. Each year brings a stronger sense of solidarity and social impact to the Fil-Am community at large, and we continue to wish the alliance further success.
“For those looking to grow similar success in their community. Follow the tried-and-true formula of: Food, Fun, Friends, and Fulfillment. We all love food it brings us together. If it’s not fun folks won’t show up. Folks need to be friends with each other in order to work together. Lastly, fulfillment is what guides us, grows us, and generates legacy.”
- Andrew Kalt
