Bowling contest brings cheer to Filipino expats

Around 32 teams from various companies and Filipino organisations participated in the pre-anniversary celebration for AKP-Q organised in the support of distressed OFWs. By Anand HollaThe sound of falling bowling pins brought news of relief and joy for several troubled Filipino expats of Qatar, last weekend. About 160 people, split into 32 teams, from various companies and Filipino organisations, participated in Bowling for a Cause ‘Isang Gulong, Malaki ang Tulong’ organised by Alpha Kappa Rho-Qatar Chapter (AKP-Q) at the Qatar Bowling Centre.The event was a pre-anniversary celebration for AKP-Q. The beneficiaries of the event were the distressed OFWs at the Philippine Overseas Labour Office and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (POLO-OWWA). Philippine Labour Attache to Qatar David Des Dicang was the guest speaker at the event.Grand Skeptron of AKP-Q, Daryl Jan Violenta, told Community, “We are overwhelmed by the support from the different Qatar-based organisations, most of which are part of the Filipino community. We would like to thank everybody for contributing to the success of this event and making it a truly memorable one.”For AKP-Q, tending to the needs of the community comes naturally. AKP-Q shared with Community their grand history and how the Qatar unit of the organisation came into existence. Established in the Philippines in 1973, the Alpha Kappa Rho Fraternity and Sorority, also called AKRHO, made up of men and women from different universities was formed to promote loyalty, unity and pride in the fraternity amongst its members.Today, it is registered as an International Humanitarian Service Fraternity that encourages members to be involved in humanitarian projects and offer various services to people. Founded in the Philippines, it is now in several other countries such as the United States, Australia, Malaysia, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Qatar, Korea, UAE, Kuwait, Canada, Italy, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand.It was on August 8, 1973, that the Alpha Kappa Rho Fraternity and Sorority was founded by 16 college students of the University of Santo Tomas (UST). But the fraternity soon became notorious in the Philippines because of the initiation rites members had to undergo to join it. “Those who wanted to join the fraternity had to undergo interviews and orientations followed by a period when the aspiring member is asked to do humiliating acts in public. This would be followed by an initiation rite where the aspirant would be blindfolded and receive blows in the back of the thigh with a wooden paddle. Those who were unable to bear the pain were given a choice to resume on another day or to quit,” says AKP-Q, “If the aspirant was able to complete the initiation rite, the aspirant would undergo the final rite of initiation known as the Ritual where a heated coin would be placed at the back of the aspirant’s right wrist, leaving a circular scar as a sign of full membership to the fraternity.”However, with the introduction of the Anti-Hazing Law by the Philippine government in 1995, the fraternity initiation rites were no longer sanctioned or approved by the fraternity leadership.The fraternity’s motto ‘Vincit Omnia Veritas’ meaning ‘Truth Conquers All’ or ‘Truth Prevails’ comes from the emblem of the University of Santo Tomas where the Alpha Kappa Rho Fraternity and Sorority was founded. Members are called ‘Skeptrons’ a Greek word for the ‘ceremonial staff’ or the sceptre carried by a monarch as a symbol of sovereignty.As for the Qatar unit, AKP-Q was founded in June 2008 by seven Skeptrons from different chapters in the Philippines who moved to Doha and organised the Alpha Kappa Rho Qatar National Council. “Their main objective is to unite all fellow Skeptrons around the Qatar archipelago,” says AKP-Q, “These fellow Skeptrons are heroic and equipped enough to sacrifice their time, hectic schedules and even finances to pursue their dreams and to be recognised as one of the active Filipino communities in Qatar. Today, AKP-Q has been involved in numerous humanitarian services in Qatar and abroad especially in the Philippines to show what AKP-Qatar is all about.”AKP-Q is composed of six chapters within Qatar – Doha, Mesaieed/Wakrah, Industrial Area, Ras Laffan/Al Khor, Sanaya and Shahaniya – with 184 registered and active members. These chapters are under the ruling of AKP-Q National Council, the Chairman of which is Jayson Mora, the co-Chairman is Lance Magpoc, the Grand Skeptron is Daryl Jan Violenta, and the Vice Grand Skeptron is Robert Senoron.