Fraternities in USC-Talamban join Gawad Kalinga in building houses

In a move to eradicate the impression that fraternities are just a menace to the society, at least 17 fraternities in the University of San Carlos in Talamban enlisted their members as volunteers of Gawad Kalinga in building homes for the poor.

Leading the move was the USC-based Alpha Mu chapter of the Alpha Phi Omega that gathered into the Inter-Fraternity and Sorority Group Council the 17 fraternities in the university to help Gawad Kalinga in building 98 houses for beneficiaries in Mananga, Talisay City.

Gawad Kalinga provincial head, Danilo Lagahit, welcomed the initiative of the fraternities and said that a memorandum of agreement for the purpose was already signed between his organization and the inter-fraternity and sorority group in the university.

Among those who joined and signed in the MOA were members of the Tau Gamma Phi and Alpha Kappa Rho, the bitter rivals that have been engaged in violent clashes in the past that claimed the lives of their members and innocent bystanders.

Various fraternities have been dismayed over the activities and attitudes of fraternities recently, such as rumbles and violent clashes committed by some misguided frat members, which have only brought a bad image to these organizations and the purpose of their existence.

Floro Noel Jr., APO-Alumni president of the USC-Talamban, believed that the inter-fraternity initiative in joining Gawad Kalinga to build homes for the poor would somehow change the image of fraternities to the eyes of the public.

Rey Setihana, a member of the Alpha Sigma Omega who also represented the Gawad Kalinga in Budlaan said the move could be a starting point for fraternities to change the image and impression of their groups as threats to society.

Dave Sisor, of Kappa Rho Sigma who is also one of the head marshals of the council, said: “This is to educate people, para dili na ma-stereotype ang frat nga murag mga criminal. Atong ibalik sa society ang ilang trust sa fraternities as training grounds for future leaders.”

Members of the fraternities under the council said they would help the skilled workers of Gawad Kalinga and would aim to finish at least eight houses over a a three-day-and-two-night construction work, said Lagahit.

The beneficiaries of the housing project in Mananga were chosen from a list of urban poor beneficiaries provided by the Talisay City government, and were screened by the Gawad Kalinga.

The fratmen said they also planned to encourage other fraternities in other schools to do a similar undertaking by joining in this endeavour. — Edwin Ian Melecio/RAE