RIYADH, 9 August - The Riyadh alumni chapter of the Alpha Phi Omega (APO) International Fraternity has elected its officers for 2001-2003.
They are: Dr. Raymond 'Doc-ray' Alipit, Jr. (Epsilon '63), president; Jamael 'Jimmy' Usman (Rho'72), vice president for internal affairs; Nestor Cerezo (Alpha Gamma '72), VP for external affairs; Elmer Villareal (Delta Omicron '84), secretary; Rona Medina (Iota Nu '84), deputy secretary; Roselle Yanzon (Gamma Xi '88), deputy secretary; Alinor Bantuas (Mu '82), treasurer; Melanie Marasigan (Zeta Iota '88), deputy treasurer; Omar Racman (Alpha Lambda '84), auditor; and Rouel Bustarga (Kappa Kappa '95), public relations officer.
Known by its acronym APO-RAA, the group had been one of the Filipino organizations in the Kingdom rendering numerous service contributions to the community and elsewhere since its founding on Aug. 1, 1986 by charter president Pat Raz of the King Khaled International Airport.
The new president, an anaplastologist and ocularist at the King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital in Riyadh who succeeds Macky Badillo of King Saud University, also led chapter members in collaborating with other local health organizations to render free medical and dental services to the public during the Philippine Independence celebration last June.
The past years saw APO-RAA made a number of medical and dental consultations to the many stranded female 'kababayans' at the OWWA headquarters and raised money for some to fly back home to the Philippines.
Dr. Alipit said the group will continue to support the National Project Hospicio de San Jose for the benefit of the orphans in Manila.
Lately, it raised money for the Kristian Cyril Foundation Fund intended for an eight-year-old-boy, Kristian, who is suffering from leukemia and awaiting bone marrow transplant in the United States.
Alipit also cited the endless support from all alumni brothers and sisters and the local APORANAO alumni now headed by Dabbs Guro of Marawi City.
The Philippine Embassy's labor office has classified APO-RAA as an "accredited community partner."
The officers are to take their oath of office on Sept. 6.
Reservations and inquiries may be directed to chairman Alinor Bantuas at 237-2959 (home) or 465-9975 ext. 257 (office); co-chairs Elmer Villareal at 498-5054 (work) or mobile phone no. 053122647 and Roeul Bustarga at 275-1111 ext. 1400 (work) or 275-0677 ext. 1400 (home).
Today, outgoing President Badillo will lead this year's 15th anniversary celebration at the home premises of Consul Jesus 'Gary' Domingo today, starting at 6 p.m.