Message

GAYLORD ARATA

President

Greater Washington

Alpha Phi Omega

Treasurer

Filipino Cultural Heritage

Society of Washington

The Greater Washington Alpha Phi Omega (GWAPO) Alumni Association has been a proud supporter and participant in the annual Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival at the Seattle Center since 2001 when Sis. Melanie Paredes exhibited her collection of Philippine basketry artifacts and woven cloths. That year was the first official participation of GWAPO that later became the artifacts exhibit featuring her collections. She had earlier exhibited Grandier Bella’s paintings in 1998 in what was then the start of a regular feature of the festival, the art exhibit, that she currently chairs.  These art and artifacts exhibits became the core in the lofts area exhibits of the Seattle Center that also included the photography exhibit now chaired by Dr. Leia Maminta-Smith and the showing of feature films about Filipino heroes and available blockbusters now a film festival of short films chaired by Dr. Adrian Alarilla. The photography exhibit and film showing were also initiated and managed by GWAPO.

 

Part of the festival at the time was the Fil-Am Jam (now the Musika at Iba Pa) and one of the leading lights of that event during Pagdiriwang was Bro. Chito Refuerzo who played a leading role in coordinating several bands to perform during the weekend of the festival. As a lead guitarist, he had participated in the event since Pagdiriwang was held at the Seattle Center in 1987. He was appointed to chair the event in 2013 until 2018 when he passed on the torch to Ms. Teza Mendoza who has been working with him on several projects in the Seattle music scene.

 

Bro. Ruffy Ignacio, arts and culture mentor, stage actor and director, brought in talents from outside the state and of the country, not only for Pagdiriwang but also as part of GWAPO’s art and culture service projects throughout the years through his deep connections as founder of the Sining Kambayoka Ensemble (SKE) of the Mindanao State University. Bro. Reuben Roque sang as a performer together with his blood brothers for several years in Pagdiriwang.  Several GWAPO members even acted on stage under the direction of Bro. Ruffy Ignacio.

 

Since 2003, GWAPO has been silently working with the leadership of the Filipino Cultural Heritage Society of Washington when Bro. JP Paredes became Internal Vice President and proposed that GWAPO members adopt the festival as part of its regular activities.  GWAPO also assists in all manners of activities involving operations and facilities, set up of exhibits, backstage management, and all things in between. GWAPO officers and members are the major producers of Pagdiriwang as planners, coordinators, facilitators, etc.

 

Today, under the current leadership of FCHSW President Bro. JP Paredes who has held the position for the past 13 years, GWAPO has recommitted its support for the annual Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival as part of GWAPO’s service projects in a world-class setting in partnership with the City of Seattle and major sponsors.

 

This year is even more significant to us as we commemorate the 127th year of Philippine independence by celebrating the 100th year of the foundation of the Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity in Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania.

 

Mabuhay!