The Delta Phi Omicron Fraternity, ∆ФO was founded by 24 young men from the then Araneta University Foundation (AUF) on Valentine's Day of 1964. These were mostly students from Northern Luzon, inspired to form a fraternity after realizing a need to collectively act on their common needs and aspirations. Ernesto Ganal was the first Grand Omicron of the fraternity during its founding year.
Charter members:
●Gerardo Alameda ●Eugenio Acena
●Antonio Asprec ●Rodolfo Barros
●Arnold Belvis ●Edwin Brasileno
●Edilberto Cabel ●Vivencio Dalem
●Benjamin Dalisay, Jr. ●Eliseo Dulay, Jr.
●Ernesto Ganal ●Antonio Gilo
●Angel Guillermo ●Fredilito Igarta
●Arnold Ines ●Gregorio Jose, Jr.
●Edwin Karganilla ●Miguel Labao
●Horacio Madamba ●Angel Ramos, Jr.
●Ashley Segundo ●Eleuterio Velarde
●Felix Rubio
Jackson “Jack” Roa Yu was an honorary founder.
Pioneer members:
●Emmanuel Barangan ●Romeo Dayap
●Sotero Gonzales ●Hisberto Lomio
●Vicente Pineda ●Alfredo Servento
●Apolinario Torrado ●Leonardo Valcos
●Ma. Jesus Valdes II
In December 6, 1964, these young men and their officers were formally inducted thru a dinner and ball held at the Gold Room of the Carbungco and Sons Building in Quezon City.
The fraternity was organized with the primary purpose of gathering young and energetic minds to achieve self empowerment, taking responsibility and skills for human inter-action, patience and resiliency towards achieving goals in academics, human relation and character development. It was designed to achieve goals by utilizing individual skills, participation in programs and activities of the school as a community while boosting individual strengths and characters. Brotherhood among men was significantly emphasized towards accumulation of memberships in other fruitful sectors of the society.
Soon enough, chapters were organized in other universities and colleges in Manila, with founding members of these chapters initiated and accepted at AUF.
The 1980s’ at GAUF (AUF was made G. Araneta University Foundation in 1978) saw the flourishing of many fraternities, sororities, varsitarians, academic, college and course organizations in the university. The school administration began recognizing these student organizations as encouraged by the students themselves but on a basis of self regulation and control. As this developed, these organizations began recruiting prospective members to boost their strength and capabilities. Also during this time, the university also accepts students with scholarships and grants from the government aside from the scholarships granted by the university. In the 1980s’, Delta Phi Omicron boast of members who were either COCOFED (scholarship granted to dependents of farmer members of the Coconut Farmers’ Federation), NI (National Integration, scholarship granted to dependents of rebel returnees) and AFP (scholars for dependents of soldiers who died in action) scholars. Aside from these, students granted by the government under Presidential Decree 932 also form part of the membership. It was during this time that a member is possibly a part of the student regulating body, student council or an officer in another organization. It was also during this time, that many members graduated with honors and topped several government board examinations. Samuel Dalisay Jr was among them who placed 2nd in a nationwide board examination for agricultural engineers in 1982. Rene San Andres placed among the top 20 in the same examination in 1987.
Talks have been circulating that the university will be taken over by another group as early as 1987. On February 20, 2002, the Board of Trustees approved with the consent of the Araneta family, the integration of GAUF into the DLSU System and making it the seventh member of the system, becoming the De La Salle Araneta University. Sooner, with the new management taking over, only few organizations and fraternity was given recognition. Students now prefer to join registered and recognized organizations and fraternities rather those operating underground. With few memberships in the next couple of years, fraternity folded its operations.
Delta Phi Omicron in Nueva Ecija
In February of 1972, a group of 13 neophytes were initiated at Barangay Pias, General Tinio in Nueva Ecija, by members from AUF and PCCr (Philippine College of Criminology). These were students mostly from schools and universities in Cabanatuan City, the provinces’ capital. Headed by Ursulo Padolina, several others including Isauro Andasan Jr., Isaias Pidenes, Virgilio Maducdoc, Reynaldo Apan, a man surnamed “Pangilinan” and several others huddled the initiation. They were students from the then Cabanatuan City Colleges with several others from different schools.
Jun Andasan unfortunately stopped studying a few months after the initiation but was handed down the fraternity Constitution and By-Laws. He kept these documents with him together with other notes and lectures. As he was out of the school, he never had the chance to communicate and re-connect with other members. After nearly four years, he was able to enroll again but this time at the Araullo-Lyceum in the same city. This time saw several and different fraternities beginning to flourish in many schools and universities in the area. Jun Andasan was not able to make contacts with any of his previous colleagues at CCC. In 1977, he again transferred to another school, the Central Luzon Polytechnic College (now Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, NEUST). Although already married, Jun managed to stay and attend his classes regularly. Together with his family, they stayed in a boarding house along with other students. One time, 8 of his board mates were having discussions and decided on joining a fraternity. Learning about this, Jun introduced him self and urged them to join Delta Phi Omicron. He presented to them the Constitution and By-Laws he kept with him at CCC. While not informing AUF, Jun proceeded in organizing the fraternity. In December 7, 1978, the CLPC chapter was formally organized with all 8 of his board mates as founding members (Isagani Reyes, Resty Villaviza, et.al).
While working as a faculty member of the Civil Engineering Department at CLPC, Jun continued to recruit more members. He worked for the recognition of the fraternity by the school administration. Although they knew that the fraternity already exists in some other schools and universities in the area, no formal contacts were made. Even then, recruitment for new members in the remaining schools continues. Visitations from members of other chapters like GAUF and other chapters (as far reaching at San Pablo City Colleges in San Pablo City, Laguna) soon became a regular activity.
During the recognition process, a lady named Erlinda Leabres approached the members of the fraternity and presented to them documents proving her to be a affiliated with the Omicron Phi Delta Sorority. She was also teaching at CLPC and graduated from the National University in Manila. The founding and organizing of the sorority at CLPC and surrounding schools in Nueva Ecija was credited to her.
In February 13, 2010, Alberto Roxas Jr. was elected Supreme Grand Omicron. He joined the fraternity in February 1991 and graduated from the NEUST. He was the Grand Omicron of the fraternity in 1993 and was made an adviser from 1994 to 1996. Members Edwin Sardena, August de Jesus, Arnold Manuzon, Edinel Talania and Nino dela Cruz were all assisting him in managing the activities of the fraternity in the area.
Several members of the fraternity and sorority during their college days remained connected with the organization while some took their fortunes somewhere else. Others, while already professionals themselves joined the fraternity on their liking. Jun Villareal and Eric Espineda were already have their teaching careers at NEUST when both undergone the initiation at GAUF. JunVillareal is now in Canada while Eric Espineda stayed at NEUST. Alma Galang and Jonathan Donato, both members during their college days were given teaching jobs at the university and served as current advisers together with Erlinda Leabres. These people, together with Jun Andasan and Eric Javier, Laarnie Reyes, Milagros Sumawang and Mary Farjardo, served as the current advisers of the organization. Emerlinda Binuya who served in the same capacity before, is out of the country at the moment.
Formative Years in Mindanao
In 1969, while in Southern Mindanao, Dan Pajarillaga recruited and organized initially a group of 13 young and daring adventurous recruits wanting to form a fraternity at the Mindanao Institute of Technology (now University of Southern Mindanao). He was a member from the Philippine College of Criminology (PCCr) in Manila. The initiations commenced through tests of physical and mental endurance aside from civic, social and weekly errands. Teachings, lectures, character building & training as a good DELTAN were part of the neophyte period. While it’s not recognized by the administration yet, the initiation proceedings were usually made at night time beneath hidden structures & canopies of the school. After three months of rigorous tests, 18 young men survived and made up the nucleus of pioneering members in Mindanao. In November of 1969, the Constitution and By-Laws was brought by Dan Fajarillaga from the Luzon Chapter. Patterned after the former, 6 more new survives were accepted in the fraternity to form the 24 pioneering members of the Mindanao Chapter. The school then recognized the fraternity under Accreditation no. 7. To this date, many chapters were actively participating, responding collectively in many programs for community and human development.
As time unfold its’ vigorous existence, the fraternity remains with its’ feet on the ground. Never been boasting, but never been trampled. To this effect, the fraternity became silent partners in community development and progress of the country. While the mother chapter in AUF (changed later to G. Araneta University Foundation and now De La Salle Araneta University) no longer functions, alumni members form part and participate in the development and progress of the country. To this date, many of them were work in government and private entities, business, participants in politics and local government, media, health, finance, military services and working expatriates to foreign countries.
As the fraternity continue to grow and have its’ presence felt, chapters were organized in schools and universities in Northern Luzon areas of Pangasinan and Baguio City. Equally, chapters were also organized in schools and universities in the Central Visayan Islands of Ilo-ilo and Romblon. Members were becoming active in these areas cognizant of participatory attitudes exemplified by the pioneers. The fraternity however, did not remain to be based on schools and universities alone.
Community Chapters
Community chapters were also established in cities and municipalities and noted amongst these was the San Jose City chapter in Nueva Ecija. Young members of the fraternity engaged themselves and participate in civic action programs either sponsored by the City government or thru their own initiatives. With the success of the system, it is now being replicated in the nearby areas of Talavera and Munoz.
The students, out-of-school youth members and alumni of the fraternity lived to the ambitions and purposes envisioned by the founding fathers. So much so, that the sorority itself, Omicron Phi Delta, OФ∆, was organized and lived to the expectations of becoming partners in progress with the soft touch of patience, reliability and conscience.
The fraternity will exist for as long as there will be young men and women requiring guidance in self-empowerment and discipline. It’s the DELTANS’ way of life that will continuously guide every member to achieve its ultimate goal of success.
