DePaul University

Charters, what made you start the sorority in your campus? How did it all begin? I wanted to start the sorority with my line sisters because I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to be able to look back and say, I did something at DePaul that will change the way people think about Asian American Women. Alpha Phi Gamma stood for what I believe in and the Sisters demonstrated that belief every day. Claire Chun Thompson found us all…while it seemed like chance back then, it was meant to be. When we formed, we knew we had something special. The diversity within our group brought together 7 (formerly 8) women that have the drive and talent to make a change. Tell us a little bit about your line sisters. Me, Alice – Looking back, I was the one who was trying to �ind myself as a leader. I like to think I was the compassionate yet perfectionist one. Jane – Always the professional, �lustered, and loving one. Embraced everyone. Claire – The driven leader. Compassionate and strong. Joan – Our social leader. Lights up the room with her personality and loved to snuggle her line sisters. Ilia – The “let’s love everyone” Sister. Incredibly protective and happy. Bernice – The very sweet kind sister. Always wanted everyone to be happy. But one tough RC as well. Kelly – Also incredibly protective. Giving and kind. Wanted everyone to feel welcomed and loved. Tell us about your favorite memory when pledging. Now that many of us live in different areas (and countries!), my favorite memories were the times we had unlimited hours together – whether it be a sleepovers or simply going out to eat. We were inseparable in many ways but also had our individual lives. When together, we could lose track of time and spend the many hours laughing and telling stories all night. Where do you see Alpha Phi Gamma in 10 years? Evolving. There will certainly be changes that continue to broaden the sorority’s horizon. But the core will remain the same. Alpha Phi Gamma are a group of humble passionate and driven woman who will always �ight for our beliefs. Is Alpha Phi Gamma where you anticipated it to be, locally and nationally? Yes, steady yet not shy from the fact that our world is changing. I’m proud that our Chapter has evolved to who it’s become. It is not the same but better because of the individuals in it. I see the same passion and drive. Alpha Phi Gamma is who its members are. If we were to try and keep everything the same, we wouldn’t be growing. Where do you live now? Still in the Chicagoland area in Buffalo Grove. Bernice – Chicagoland area in Northbrook. Claire – Chicagoland area in Auror. Kelly – Palm Springs, California. Ilia – Chicagoland area in Palos Park. Joan - Chicago. Are you married now and have kids? I’ve been married for almost 5 years and together 12 with my college boyfriend. My dog, Snowy is my baby. Bernice – Is married for almost 4 years with a 3 month old son. Claire – Is married for 6 months. Kelly – Single and breaking hearts. Ilia – Single and breaking hearts too. Joan – Is married for over 3 years and is expecting a baby girl in a few days! Do you still keep in contact with your line sisters? Yes, absolutely. Many are my best friends. For those local, we see each other often. We also e-mail, text, skype with all the others. While maybe not as often in college, I think our bond is unbreakable. What’s one word of advice you have for Sisters across the nation? Similar to Jane’s response on sincerity, be humble and remember why you joined. Alpha Phi Gamma can bring you a wealth of memories and experiences that can/will shape your life if you let it. Don’t get bogged down with “rules”, rather go with what is right in your heart.

Name: Alice Lau Ra�lores Nickname: Tenderheart Bond Number: #6E Chapter/Colony: Epsilon Chapter, DePaul University Date of

Crossing: May 23, 2002 Your Big: Rita Cheng; Babs Bunny; Alpha Chapter, CPP Your Pledge Mom: Roniciel Joy Molano Vergara;

Sleepy; Beta Chapter, NIU My other line sisters: Jane provided her response. #1E, Claire Chun Thompson – Cleopatra #2E, Joan Jacinto

Cunanan – Chatterbox #4E, Ilia Laquihon – Chocolat #5E, Bernice Lau Paredes – Sweet Tart #7E, Kelly Mui – Beep Beep #8E For the

DePaul University

What made you start the sorority in your campus? I have always been active in various high school organizations and thrived on the feeling of accomplishment as our teams wrapped up every project. I knew that becoming involved in activities would be the fastest way to build a feeling of home in a new country and starting university life. As fate would have it, I became intrigued in starting an Asian-Interest group in DePaul after I met the ever-affable Claire Chun. The warmth and almost instant camaraderie I felt from the rest of the ladies clinched the deal for me. I loved that Alpha Phi Gamma stood for empowering women with emphasis on Asian history and cultural roots, which means a strong focus on family values. I was also very impressed with the sorority’s philanthropic drive to stop violence against women. Tell us a little bit about your line sisters. Only with Alpha Phi Gamma did our unique blend worked. We all have divergent interests and personalities, so I hesitate to “box” us into one type. However, for the purpose of the question, I’ll try to boil my initial impressions of the line sisters into concise descriptions. I was a rather quiet and serious one, always typing away on my palm pilot or jotting notes. I did get some zingers in that got everyone laughing once in a while! Claire was our wild and crazy Mama Bear from the start; I looked up to her leadership and experience, but we could always count on her to get things started on the dance �loor. Kelly is �iercely protective yet has the most generous heart and a highly contagious laugh. Alice always had a solid head on her shoulders, reliable and fun. Bernice is a sweetheart, but just like her Sweet Tart nickname, can really crack the whip when she needs to! Joan can light up the room with her exuberance and can get a crowded room to hang on to every word. Ilia is loving, giggly and generous with her time. She has a huge heart! Tell us about your favorite memory. I treasure memories of travelling with my line sisters, be it road trips or �lying across the nation. The road trips, many of them to go visit our Northern Illinois sisters, provided much time to gabber and simply get to know one another. We even went pumpkin picking one time, a �irst for me! Our hotel stays were always a hoot - quiet ones who like the lights out at a reasonable hour roomed together, while the exuberant ones with boundless energy stayed in another! Is Alpha Phi Gamma where you anticipated it to be, locally and nationally? Alpha Phi Gamma has grown so much better than I ever anticipated! I am in awe of how much it has expanded yet maintained the close bond amongst sisters, even with a few of us living abroad. I think this is partly due to the rise of social media since my time. Thanks to Facebook and other resources, I can stay in touch with Alumnae and Actives! Tell us about yourself. I live in Singapore, a city-state in Southeast Asia. My college sweetheart and I tied the knot in Ubud, Bali on June 20, 2008, which means that we’ve been married for more than 5 years, together for nearly 13! We have a 15-month old baby girl. Do you still keep in contact with your line sisters? My favorite mode of communication used to be chats over coffee, but it has obviously been more dif�icult ever since I moved back to Singapore at the end of the summer in 2005. I used to email more frequently, but have been hindered lately �irst due to demanding work schedules and now with a young baby. I still send emails when I can, we have webcam chats once in a while, and I like to send mini “newsletters” maybe 3 times a year! Despite my irregular online presence, I do my best to let my line know that I think of them often and fondly, and that I miss them all very much. What’s one word of advice you have for Sisters across the nation? In one word - Sincerity. Be earnest in your devotion to Alpha Phi Gamma’s values, be true to yourself, be open and accepting of all sisters past and present. I believe that it is in our differences that Alpha Phi Gamma derives her strength and makes it a truly special sisterhood.

A word from your FOUNDING SISTER...

Name: Sandie Rillera YimNickname: Wacko

What made you start the sorority? Allex was very convincing... haha!Tell us a little bit about your line sisters. Who was the funny one (Grace

and Candy), serious one (Kolleen, Allex, and Christine), weird one, crazy one (Candy).

Where do you see Alpha Phi Gamma in 10 years? On the same trajectory. Where do you live now? Orange County, CA

Are you married now and have kids? Yes and yes.How old are your kids and how long have you been married? 12 years.

Kids are 8, 5, and 4.Do you still keep in contact with your line sisters? Yes, some of them.

What’s one word of advice you have for Sisters across the nation? Accept that others are diffeent than you. Respect the differences and life will be

easier.