28/08/2025
A Legacy Begins — University of Santo Tomas, August 8, 1973
On August 8, 1973, coinciding with the Feast Day of St. Dominic (a UST holiday), sixteen pioneering students from the UST College of Commerce forged a brotherhood unlike any other—Alpha Kappa Rho Fraternity and Sorority. Their guiding principle: Vincit Omnia Veritas—**“Truth Conquers All.”**
These original Founding Fathers were:
1. Jose “Boy” Chua
2. Tanny Bernabe
3. Renato “Ato” Go
4. Arnel (Lim) Lorenzo
5. Roger Sarmiento
6. Robert “Obet” Posadas
7. Philip Diman
8. Philip Balangue
9. Teddy De Lara
10. Teddy Aves
11. Edwin Solano
12. Monchet Cabrera
13. Gil Villegas
14. Bismark “Mark” Quequep
15. Noli Manalo
16. James Bracewell
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The Junior Founders — UE Recto, 1975
A couple of years later, in August 1975, the youthful spirit of AKRHO spread into the high school halls of University of the East, Recto Campus. This marked the birth of the Junior AKRHO chapter, initiated by three committed young men, known as the Junior Founding Fathers:
Gonzalo "Jun Labo” Pasaporte
Rey Quitoriano
Noriel Arcadio
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The Story — Brotherhood in the Making
Here’s a narrative that brings history alive:
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Prologue: Seeds of Unity in UST
In the early 1970s, amidst the bustling corridors of UST’s Commerce Building, 16 young men sensed a deeper need: to build something that stood for loyalty, honor, and shared aspirations. Guided by Bro. Jose “Boy” Chua, they founded Alpha Kappa Rho on August 8, 1973—a date symbolically tied to the feast of their patron saint. They declared their purpose: a fraternity rooted in truth, service, and unwavering brotherhood.
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Chapter One: Forging the Brotherhood
From humble beginnings, these brothers—Chua, Bernabe, Go, Lorenzo, Sarmiento, Posadas, Diman, Balangue, De Lara, Aves, Solano, Cabrera, Villegas, Quequep, Manalo, and Bracewell—stood firm against the pressures of competing fraternities and the campus status quo. Their conviction and solidarity planted the seeds of a movement: AKRHO—the "Skeptrons."
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Chapter Two: Growth and Tradition
As AKRHO’s presence grew, a bold move in 1976 saw it merging with the Omega Fraternity & Sorority International (OFSI) of San Sebastian College and the Zeta Upsilon Fraternity of UE, Recto—creating a stronger, unified front, both morally and ceremonially.
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Chapter Three: The Junior Vanguard
In 1975, the Junior counterpart took shape. Jun “Labo” Pasaporte, along with Rey Quitoriano and Noriel Arcadio, carried the torch of AKRHO into high school students’ lives at UE Recto. They built the Junior AKRHO chapter—major contributors to the organization's early expansion.
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Epilogue: Foundations That Endure
From the original sixteen visionaries at UST to the three energetic youth at UE Recto, AKRHO’s founding story is one of courage, unity, and legacy. The names of those Founding and Junior Founding Fathers are more than lists—they are milestones etched into the fraternity’s soul.
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✦ UNITY SPEECH ✦
Brothers and Sisters, Fellow Skeptrons,
We may come from different places. We may hold different beliefs. But no matter our differences, we carry the same mark on our wrist — a mark that burns bright with truth, loyalty, and unity.
This should be enough to remind us: we are one family.
Let us stop dividing ourselves. Let us stop creating councils and groups that separate us. Let us stop using our Brotherhood for power and personal interest. Because this fraternity was never built for selfish gain — it was built for brotherhood, sisterhood, and legacy.
The flame lit in 1973 at UST and carried forward by our Junior Founders in 1975 is the same flame we hold today. That flame does not belong to one man, or one council, or one chapter — it belongs to all Skeptrons worldwide.
So I ask you, my brothers and sisters:
Let us unite.
Let us protect what we have built.
Let us live a legacy that future generations will inherit with pride.
Because one day, when they ask what we did with our Brotherhood, may we all answer with one voice:
We chose Unity. We chose Brotherhood. We chose to be Skeptrons — one flame, one family, forever.
Vincit Omnia Veritas — Truth Conquers All.
🤟🤟🤟
KEEP THE FIRE BURNING 🔥🤟
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✦ DISCLAIMER ✦
The following images of the Founding Fathers and Junior Founding Fathers of Alpha Kappa Rho were AI-generated for artistic and commemorative purposes only.
We sincerely acknowledge that these renderings may not perfectly reflect their true likeness, and any differences are unintentional. We mean no harm, insult, or misrepresentation to our beloved founders.
These images are created solely to honor their legacy, to keep their memory alive, and to inspire unity among all Skeptrons worldwide.
With the deepest respect, we dedicate this work to the men who lit the first flame of our Brotherhood.
