Chi Rho Omicron
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| Motto | Mga Lalaking Kagalanggalan ("Respectful Young Gentlemen") |
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| Colors | Black and Blue |
| Founded | 20 February 1995 at California State University, Fresno |
| Fraternity type | Cultural |
| Scope | International |
| Headquarters | 4049 Fawn Cir. Sacramento, CA, USA |
| Chapters | 7 |
| Nickname | XPO |
Chi Rho Omicron, Inc. (ΧΡΟ) (also Chi Rho Omicron) is a Filipino American based brotherhood at the American university level. Chi Rho Omicron was founded on February 20, 1995 at California State University, Fresno, and currently has seven chapters. Chi Rho Omicron is dedicated to the enrichment, education, and service of the Filipino American community.
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[edit] Mission
The purpose of Chi Rho Omicron shall be to promote the understanding, enrichment, and appreciation of the Pilipino culture, history, and heritage through a brotherhood/family environment; to instill the desire for self-improvement, scholastic excellence, and the cultivation of civic responsibility.
[edit] History
Chi Rho Omicron was founded on February 20, 1995 at California State University, Fresno by seven founding fathers. They sought an alternative to the existing Pilipino organizations on campus with a greater emphasis upon community service, post-graduation relations for alumni, and unity amongst the Filipino community. The fraternity is made up of Filipinos and non-filipinos in hopes of reducing regional, class, and language barriers.
[edit] Implementation of the Mission
[edit] Pilipino culture, history, and heritage
The organization has been involved with the preservation of Little Manila historical sites in Stockton, California, the reconstruction of the International Hotel in San Francisco, California, and the fight for full equity for Filipino World War II veterans. The organization is also involved in youth empowerment at events like the annual Filipino American Youth Leadership Conference (FAYLC) and the annual Pilipino Youth Coalition (PYC) Retreat. The fraternity also takes part in different theatre projects such as the Filipino Theatre and Performing Arts Association (FTPAA) and Interactive Asian Contemporary Theatre (InterACT), promoting their mission through other forms of performance art.
Each chapter holds at least two cultural events each year. The events have covered a plethora of topics, including Filipino fighting arts, Asian Americans in mainstream media, supernaturalism, sikolohiyang Pilipino (Philippine psychology), Filipinos in jazz, harana (Filipino courting customs), pre-Hispanic Philippine civilizations, and Philippine ingenuity.
Brothers of Chi Rho Omicron are encouraged to apply the organization's mission statement to their daily lives. Some of the results of their efforts include the recognition of Filipino American History Month in the California Public School system, public speaking engagements regarding the importance of educating people about Philippine and Pilipino American history, and speaking at a graduation and college recruitment event to urge students to always seek excellence, not just for themselves, but for their communities, both immediate and global.
[edit] Brotherhood
An annual retreat and annual formal provide the opportunity for brothers of Chi Rho Omicron from across the globe to see and reacquaint themselves with each other. National conferences also provide a venue for the fraternity to collaborate and discuss important issues, not only for the organization, but also for its individual members.
Each chapter hosts a minimum of two brotherhood events a year, inviting all brothers from all chapters to attend. These events are closed off to only the brothers. The event may be social, academic, or task-oriented, as the intention is for the brothers to share time and experiences together.
Members of Chi Rho Omicron extend their brotherhood outside of the university environment, through daily life and even familial events.
[edit] Self-improvement and Scholastic Excellence
Members of Chi Rho Omicron place a major emphasis upon self-improvement and scholastic excellence. Brothers are expected to be involved with the implementation of study hours, tutoring, and retention programs. Networking, interning, and volunteering are promoted throughout the brotherhood as well.
Alumni often remain active in the organization through overseeing the growth and development of newer members as well as providing them with advise. Brothers go into a variety of fields and are always seeking to excel in whatever field they choose, with the hope that they can also assist other brothers in reaching their goals as well.
[edit] Civic Responsibility
XPO became incorporated in California on March 24, 2006 and is currently seeking 501(c)(3) non-profit status. They are working to develop larger service events, like a national and international scholarship program, a Pilipino/Pilipino American museum and library, as well as major movements to aid in the recognition of the positive contributions of Pilipinos to the world. When conflict arose on the UC Davis campus, specifically the vandalism of some Filipino American organizations signs and the Philippine flag, the brotherhood represented the communities' views.
Each chapter participates in or organizes a variety of community service events, which have included raising funds and material goods for Asian tsunami victims, Philippine landslide victims, 9/11 victims, and Hurricane Katrina victims. However, more than just funding, the brothers also have volunteered to phone bank for organizations like the Public Broadcasting Service or their campuses. Within their communities, the chapters take part in the organizing of various community events such as the different "Filipino Fiestas" across the nation, and different conferences, and seminars.
Epsilon chapter hosted an black-tie event to honor of Filipino American World War II veterans called, "Closing the Gap and Giving Back." The epsilon brothers each became an ading, or younger sibling, of a Sacramento-based Filipino World War II veteran. The evening included dinner, entertainment, a special oral history video featuring the sponsored veterans, and special recognition and awards for the veterans. The funds raised were used toward care packages and other essential living and estate expenses for the guests of honor.
[edit] Chapters
The brotherhood has grown to establish itself on seven campuses, including:
- Alpha Chapter - California State University, Fresno
- Beta Chapter - San Francisco State University
- Gamma Chapter - California State University, East Bay
- Delta Chapter - University of San Francisco
- Epsilon Chapter - California State University, Sacramento
- Zeta Chapter - University of California, Davis
- Eta Chapter - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
While the fraternity philanthropy specifically delineates the promotion and understanding of the Pilipino culture, the brotherhood consists of individuals of all ethnicities.
[edit] Α Chapter
The Alpha Chapter was founded on February 20, 1995 at California State University, Fresno.
[edit] Β Chapter
The Beta Chapter was founded on February 16, 1996 at San Francisco State University, one of the birth places of ethnic studies.
[edit] Γ Chapter
The Gamma Chapter was founded on the campus of California State University, Hayward, now known as California State University, East Bay. There are currently no actives of Gamma Chapter and all of the brothers of Gamma Chapter are now alumni.
[edit] Δ Chapter
The Delta Chapter was founded at University of San Francisco, the first time the fraternity was established on a private school campus.
[edit] Ε Chapter
Epsilon chapter was founded at California State University, Sacramento. They assisted in the reestablishment of Samahang Pilipino, the Filipino culture based club on campus as well as establishing a Filipino ethnic graduation, where they could celebrate the rite in a cozier setting than the overwhelmingly large auditoriums with thousands of graduates. However, this led to criticism that a "frat" was taking over the Filipino community at Sac State, and caused a rift. Today, however, that rift apparently has been mended and Samahang Pilipino and Chi Rho Omicron collaborate to host a few events each year, even sharing leadership among its group members.
The Epsilon chapter was a supporting organization in the North American screening of An Untold Triumph, a documentary film about the story of the 1st and 2nd Filipino Infantry Regiments of World War II.
[edit] Ζ Chapter
Zeta Chapter was founded on June 28, 1999, by seven individuals at the University of California, Davis. This is the only chapter on a University of California system campus. The Zeta Chapter is one of eight Filipino organizations on campus and has collaborated with several of the groups to host events.
The Zeta Chapter worked with another organization, Chi Delta Theta, to host two successive events called eXplorasian and eXplorasian 2, talent showcases used to emphasize the participation of Asians in the media. The funds raised at these events were donated to charities like the Red Cross, Health for All and My Sister's House. There have not been subsequent eXplorasian events.
The chapter also served as part of the Sacramento marketing and outreach team for the UC Davis Presents 2001-2002 Season of Performing Arts, when the Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Company performed on 18 September 2001 at the Sacramento Community Center Theater, Sacramento.
They also helped to revive the annual Filipino Heritage Week after a six-year hiatus from being celebrated.
[edit] Η Chapter
Eta Chapter was founded at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona in the Spring of 2000 by four individuals. This chapter is the first of Chi Rho Omicron to establish themselves in Southern California.
[edit] Evaluation
Some who believe that fraternities are too exclusive also believe that the fraternity is itself exclusive. These people believe that the fraternity actually separates, rather than unites people. They point to the bonds of brotherhood as being like that of a clique that are too difficult to penetrate.
There are also those that believe that the fraternity has an untapped potential, which has not been realized. These people see the bonds of brotherhood as a way to mobilize and provide leadership.
