Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity - Eta Chapter

The Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity – Eta Chapter proudly congratulates Brother Drex Allen Santos ‘24B1 on his appointment as a College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP) Councilor at the University of the Philippines Diliman.

Brod Drex continues to champion the welfare of the student body through active student governance. His election to the CSSP Council is a testament to his unwavering dedication to student rights, academic excellence, and progressive leadership within the university.

As a student leader, Brod Drex carries the torch of Alpha Phi Omega, translating our cardinal principles into on ground action in campus. By bridging the student body with the wider community, his leadership reflects the fraternity's enduring commitment to molding those who are ready to stand at the forefront of genuine representation and systemic change.

May your journey inspire more brothers and sisters to lead with honor, integrity, and a steadfast dedication to Leadership, Friendship, and Service.

Eta for Excellence!

May we always be!

𝙐𝙋 𝙎𝘾𝙊𝙐𝙏𝙎, 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙢 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙎𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙄𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙨! ⚜️

The wait is almost over! In just 2 days, scouts from different schools and communities will gather at UP Diliman for a day of learning, leadership, and adventure.

Get ready for exciting badge activities, new friendships, and unforgettable experiences as participants take on challenges that embody the true spirit of scouting.

The UP Scout Badge Challenge, in collaboration with the Boy Scouts of the Philippines - Quezon City Council, is also looking for dedicated volunteers to help throughout the workshop!

Whether you’re a scout, student or simply someone who wants to serve and support the youth challenge, YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN!

📅 Event Date: May 14, 2026 (8AM to 4PM)
📍 Venue: University of the Philippines Diliman
📝 UP Volunteer Sign up here: https://forms.gle/G2dYwAXE5oZa5XYL9

Join us in empowering young scouts to learn, lead, and thrive. ⚜️

OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON LABOR DAY 2026

The Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity - Eta Chapter raises its fist in solidarity with every Filipino worker this Labor Day.

Labor Day exists and is commemorated across the world because workers bled for it through generations of struggle. The eight-hour workday, humane conditions of labor, and the right to organize were not granted, instead they were fought for, and in many cases, died for. Behind each of these gains lies the blood and sacrifice of those who refused to have their labor exploited as the natural order of things. We don’t just celebrate that history today. We remind ourselves that the fight isn’t over.

This year gave us proof that workers still win when they stand together. After a six-day strike beginning April 15, the workers of Kowloon House in West Avenue, Quezon City, won a historic victory against management’s years-long refusal to honor their Collective Bargaining Agreement. The workers of Glowhrain - Kilusang Mayo Uno secured a P40 wage increase over two years, recovery of unpaid service charges, and a full package of benefits including signing bonus, leave benefits, and educational aid. The workers proved that their unity is not merely symbolic, but the very concrete mechanism that brings capital to the table.

But the victory at Kowloon does not dissolve the larger crisis of a broken system.

DOLE just announced it won't be pushing for a minimum wage increase this Labor Day, even as oil prices rise and everyday goods get more expensive. Right now, the average Filipino worker earns Php 470 a day. Against the monthly poverty threshold of roughly P14,000 for a family of five, the Php 1,200 living wage demand is not a radical ask. It is the bare minimum for human survival — yet it still remains unacted upon.

At the same time, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported that unemployment hit its highest point since 2022 earlier this year. The available jobs are increasingly becoming contractual, unstable, and poorly paid. IBON estimates that eight out of ten Filipino families are considered highly vulnerable to price shocks, meaning one bad month could push them under precarity. This was already true before the current oil crisis. It has become exponentially worse now.

The Marcos Jr. administration must answer for this. Neoliberal policies like the Oil Deregulation Law, the Rice Tariffication Law, and the historical protection of elite ruling-class interests in government have compounded the structural failures that keep Filipino workers poor. The bureaucrat-capitalists and corrupt legislators who block reform while raiding the public treasury must be held to account.

The Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity - Eta Chapter stands with the working class not as a gesture but as a commitment. The struggles of workers are inseparable from the struggles of youth, peasants, and all the oppressed.

SAHOD ITAAS, PRESYO IBABA!
DEFEND WORKERS!
WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE!

---

Sources:

Bulatlat. (2026, April 17). Kowloon House workers’ strike vs management’s insistence on pittance wage hike. https://www.bulatlat.com/2026/04/17/kowloon-house-workers-strike-vs-managements-insistence-on-pittance-wage-hike/
IBON Foundation. (2025, March). Minimum wage and family living wage per region as of March 2025. https://www.ibon.org/minimum-wage-and-family-living-wage-per-region-as-of-march-2025/
IBON Foundation. (2026, April 8). Most Filipinos trapped in precarious work. https://www.ibon.org/most-filipinos-trapped-in-precarious-work/
Philippine Daily Inquirer. (2026, May 1). DOLE: No minimum wage hike for May 1. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2205502/dole-no-minimum-wage-hike-for-may-1

PAGBATI SA MGA BAGONG ISKOLAR NG BAYAN!

Ang pagtapak ninyo sa Unibersidad bilang mga Iskolar ng Bayan ay higit pa sa personal na tagumpay—ito ay panawagan. Panawagan na gamitin ang talino at kakayahan hindi lamang para sa sarili, kundi para sa kapwa at sa bayan.

The Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity – Eta Chapter proudly congratulates Brother Atty. Andrew Ian P. Edrada ‘00E7 on his promotion and appointment as Department Manager of the Policy and Strategy Development Department (PSDD) of the National Transmission Corporation (TransCo).

A true embodiment of an Iskolar ng Bayan, Brod Ian has dedicated his career to public service—from his leadership as OIC of the Right of Way Litigation Department (ROWLD) to his new role shaping policies for the nation’s power transmission sector.

May your journey inspire more brothers and sisters to serve with Leadership, Friendship, and Service.

Eta for Excellence!
May we always be!

The residents of the Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity and Sorority - Eta Chapter enjoyed an unforgettable scuba diving experience in Anilao, Batangas.

Grateful for moments like these that strengthen our bond beyond service.

Special thanks to Brod Raymond for making this experience possible, and to the dive instructors and masters of DiveNur Scuba & Freediving Studio for guiding us every step of the way!

ACLE 2026: SIGWA

This February 24, the Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity and Sorority - Eta Chapter conducted its Alternative Classroom Learning Experience (ACLE) themed, “𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙖 𝙨𝙖 𝙏*𝙩𝙚 𝙤 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙖 𝙨𝙖 𝙈𝙖𝙨𝙖? 𝘼 𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙪𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙣 𝙊𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙍𝙪𝙣, 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝘼𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙢, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙪𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙎𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚.”

The forum, as part of the University Student Council’s two-day ACLE, with its second leg held during the EDSA People Power Commemoration, gathered students at the Peace Rocks Monument in front of the College of Education. In this symbolic site, we confronted the question of when tradition and protest become performance, and when they rise into genuine student resistance.

The discussion revisited the history of the Oblation Run, examined the thin line between spectacle and substance in student activism, and challenged participants to move beyond optics toward principled political engagement. By grounding the conversation in the legacy of the tradition and the realities of campus struggles today, the ACLE affirmed its relevance in an era where visibility is easy but commitment is rare. The speakers shared insights drawn from lived experience, while the audience responded with thoughtful and active participation throughout the program. In the spirit of Leadership, Friendship, and Service, APO-ETA continues to affirm that student action must always be to serve the people, and never reduced to mere display.

The Alpha Phi Omega Sorority ETA Alumnae Association, Inc in cooperation with the APO National Service for Health & the APO ETA Alumni Association is back with Health on Wheels! 🩺

This initiative is in its 4th year of providing affordable access to essential healthcare. The different services that will be offered are listed down below with a significantly reduced cost, courtesy of the project’s donors and volunteers.

Don’t forget to pre-register using the link down below. See you there! 💙

https://bit.ly/4acuZSw
https://bit.ly/4acuZSw
https://bit.ly/4acuZSw

🩸 Happening TOMORROW! ❤️

Give the gift of life by donating blood on January 30, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM at the Public Health Section, UHS.

A small act can save lives—see you there!

🩸GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE🩸

Join us in saving lives by donating blood!

A simple act can make an extraordinary difference. Your donation helps patients in need, strengthens our community’s health system, and reminds us that service to others is always within reach.

📅 Friday, 30 January 2026
🕘 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
📍 Public Health Section, University Health Service

This blood drive is spearheaded by the Public Health Section of the UP Diliman Health Service, in coordination with the UP Community Chest Foundation, Inc. (UPCCFI), the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, the Alpha Phi Omega Sorority - Eta Chapter, and the Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity - Eta Chapter.