JEDDAH, 25 October - Members of the Alpha Phi Omega, a respected collegiate fraternity/sorority in the Philippines, are bitterly split in Riyadh and fingers are pointing to an embassy official for nursing the division.
The APO Riyadh Alumni Association (APORAA), formed 15 years ago, are now facing competition from a group calling itself the APO-Central Region Unified Chapter or APO-CRUC.
APORAA officials said they could understand the motives of the breakaway group's founding president, Virgilio "Boggs" Bolor, but what they couldn't understand is why Consul Jesus S. Domingo is helping in the divisive move.
On Oct. 21, Domingo issued a press statement inviting APO members to the induction and founding ceremonies of the breakaway group, which is scheduled at 7 p.m. today at the Philippine Embassy.
The press statement, published by Arab News yesterday, showed that Domingo is the adviser of the new group.
APORAA leaders said Domingo's taking an active role in organizing the new group is unfortunate because he is supposed to foster harmony among members of the Filipino community in the Kingdom.
In a letter to fellow chapter members, APORAA president Dr. Raymond Alipit, noted: "If you remember his speech to us on that memorable night on September 6, Consul Jesus "Gary" Domingo exhorted us about unity and even mentioned 'ting-ting' (broomstick) when bound strongly will produce a united front, but when loose, each stick soon will go on separate ways."
Domingo reportedly made the speech during the induction of the current APORAA officers on Sept. 6, of which he was guest of honor.
Asked for comment, Ambassador Rafael Seguis said that it is indeed a duty and responsibility of every official and personnel of the embassy to help foster unity and harmony among Filipinos in the Kingdom.
But he said he still had to talk with Domingo about the concerns raised.
"I will first discuss the matter with him before making any comment," the ambassador told Arab News by a telephone. Seguis said APORAA had called his attention to the dispute.
APORAA leaders also called on Bolor and his co-founders of CRUC to discontinue their "divisive" activity.
"It's unfair to allow you to taint and use the name of APO for your ulterior motives," said Mario Brinas, another APORAA officer, in a letter written in Filipino to Bolor.
Still another APORAA officer, Eufrepes E. Pangapalan, said those members who wish to introduce changes in the alumni chapter should do so in a "professional way."
Dr. Alipit, in his letter to the breakaway group, also said said the planned gathering today at the embassy "will surely mark a sad and bitter day in the history of APO which you have elected to hold... ."