Tau Gamma Phi

Infobox Fraternity
letters= ΤΓΦ
name= Tau Gamma Phi
crest=
Triskelions' Grand Fraternity
founded= Birth date and age|1968|10|4
population= 500,000++
birthplace= University of the Philippines
type= Socio Economic Service Fraternity
scope= International
motto= " A Triskelion firmly believes in the power of reason and not in the use of force as reason. "
colors= ████ Gold and ████ Black
symbol= Triskelion (general),
Lion (animal),
St. Francis of Assisi (patron saint)
chapters= PHL = 4000+ Philippine Colleges, Universities and Community Based Chapters,
USA = 9 Active T.A.O. Regional Councils
Other Global T.A.O. / RC's :
flag|Australia = 3
flag|Bahrain = 1,
flag|Brunei = 1,
flag|Canada = 3,
flag|Guam = 1,
flag|Hong Kong = 1,
flag|Italy = 1,
flag|Iran = 1,
flag|Iraq = 1,
flag|Ireland = 1,
flag|Israel = 1,
flag|Japan = 1,
flag|Kuwait = 1,
flag|Libya = 1,
flag|New Zealand = 1,
flag|Oman = 1,
flag|Qatar = 1,
flag|Saudi Arabia = 3,
flag|Singapore = 1,
flag|South Korea = 1,
flag|Switzerland = 1,
flag|Thailand = 1,
flag|Vanuatu = 1
UAE = 1,
UK = 1
free_label = Cardinal Principles|free = The 3 Cardinal Principles:
"Fortis Voluntas Fraternitas "
(Strength, Freewill and Brotherhood)
address= University of the Philippines, Diliman
city= Quezon City
state= Metro Manila
country= Philippines
homepage= http://www.taugammaphi1968.org/
footnotes=

Tau Gamma Phi also known as the Triskelions' Grand Fraternity, is a fraternity founded at the University of the Philippines, Diliman on October 4, 1968. Besides being the largest and most dominant fraternity in the Philippines, the Tau Gamma Phi is also a protest fraternity, and as such it has committed itself uncompromisingly to the twofold task of providing the leadership in the quest for a Fraternity System devoid of fraternity violence as well as in the propagation of the Triskelion principles as a way of life. The Fraternity System in the University of the Philippines was not immune from these external developments. As extraordinary times, called for extraordinary breed of men. The year 1968 saw the wielding together of six concerned student leaders with a vision of introducing feasible changes and appropriate reforms in the feudal and decadent nature of the existing Fraternity System. Then the result was the creation on October 4 of the same year of the UP Triskelions' Grand Fraternity, better known as Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity.

Through the years, the Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity has never strayed from its goals, and although the cause of which it has chosen to champion has proven to be difficult and sometimes, seemingly hopeless, as it is sucked repeatedly into the void of fraternity violence that it has fought hard to end. The Fraternity has, nevertheless survived and even increased a thousand-fold in strength and in number. Knowing fully well that peace is a product of strength and not of weakness. Where other fraternities with the same noble intentions failed and succumbed into non-existence by adopting a passive stance against fraternity violence; the Tau Gamma Phi has chosen not to follow the same path. Lest it suffers the same fate.

Furthermore, as a manifestation of its sincerity towards the achievement of such goal, the Fraternity has taken an active role in organizing inter-fraternity alliances in the various schools and universities all over the country in the hope that such alliances will provide the conducive atmosphere where fraternities can slowly grow and mature together in fellowship and mutual trust by respecting each other's philosophies and ideals. "De gustibus non desputandum est - of likes and dislikes there should be no disputing, live and let live", this is one of the guiding principles of the Triskelion.

Tau Gamma Phi's vision and mission is to serve and excel in all fields of human endeavor. Thus, a way of life in accordance with the Tenets and the Triskelion Codes of Conduct while empowering the principle: "Man is Brother unto Man". All Triskelions share a common ground and that is to support every endeavor each member has chosen and help make every member's dream come true.

History

The Founding

The Tau Gamma Phi or the Triskelions' Grand Fraternity was established at the University of the Philippines, Diliman in Quezon City, Philippines on October 4, 1968, by student leaders from U.P. College of Arts and Sciences. They were all members of the U.P. Political Science Club. In the pre-martial law years, they were active street parliamentarians, knowing the impending social upheaval and political turmoil looming in the fatherland.

Moved from the discovery of a problem and by seeking viable solutions and initiating purposeful action for personal, familial, vocational and community betterment, prompted the action-group of Rod Confesor, Roy Ordinario, Talek Pablo, Tito Venida, Restituto Alfonso and Romeo Fortes to form "The Order of the U.P. Triskelions". Initially however, this small group did not much influence the times and decisions within the university so that it was renamed "The Order of the Grand Triskelions". Again, due to lack of interest by the studentry, led to another renaming of the group. Realizing the trend of ever growing popularity of the Greek-named organizations in the campus, finding common interests and being bonded by very similar principles, the founders voted to change the organization to a Greek-Lettered name. Finally adopting the Greek letters Tau (Τ), Gamma (Γ) and Phi (Φ), which stands for Triskelions' Grand Fraternity on that fateful Friday of October in the year Nineteen Hundred and Sixty Eight.

The Founding Fathers proved to be the paradigm of leadership as the Fraternity attained official recognition at the University of the Philippines. By showing discipline, collective determination and good examples, the Fraternity further grabbed the attention and respect of the University of the Philippines students. Much influence and action came to the history of the fraternity which reached to the heights by gaining control of the College of Arts and Sciences (C.A.S.) student body. The C.A.S. at that time was the dominant college within the University with regards to the logic of numbers, which therefore proved that the Tau Gamma Phi is a group to reckon with.

The Early Chapters and the 1970's - A Decade of Awakening

Reaping the fruits of labor, discipline and confidence of the University of the Philippines Chapter, the Triskelion principles reverberated outside of the U.P.-Diliman campus, which signaled the advancement of the fraternity. The inspired U.P. Chapter founded a new home for Triskelions at the [http://www.pmicolleges.com/ Philippine Maritime Institute] (P.M.I.) on August 3, 1969. Seven months later, another group of students at the Far Eastern Aeronautics and Technical Institute (F.E.A.T.I.) now known only as FEATI University also embraced the Tenets and principles of the Triskelion on March 5, 1970. Following the success at the P.M.I. and FEATI University, the Fraternity explored at the Mapua Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) on April 1970, and was later revived on December 2, 1973. While at the National University (Philippines) (N.U.) the Fraternity readily found acceptance on October 23, 1970 and the Philippine School of Business Administration (P.S.B.A.) - Manila, on August 21, 1971. Following these developments came a succession of chapter foundations.

In the next few years many other chapters would follow suit. Trying to find a Christian home the Tau Gamma Phi was founded in the two biggest Catholic universities in the nation, the University of Santo Tomas (U.S.T.) on March 1, 1971, and at the Adamson University (Ad.U.) on July 8, 1973, and in that same year National College of Business and Arts (N.C.B.A.) - Manila on October 1973. The year 1974 saw the series of foundations and gave birth to the chapters at the University of the East (U.E.) - Manila and also on January 21, at the Manuel L. Quezon University (M.L.Q.U.) came on October 8 and at the San Sebastian College (S.S.C.) on November 19. These schools,colleges and universities will ultimately complete the phenomenal growth of the Fraternity in the early 1970s, but it didn't stop there. The meteoric rise of the Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity in that decade have only just began.

After the 3rd Regional Convention in 1975 at Narvaez Farm in Laguna, another school embraced the Tenets and the Codes of Conduct of the Fraternity. The Far Eastern University (F.E.U.) was founded on July 27,1975, the 13th and only chapter found in that year. Then the next year, 1976, six succeeding chapters have been founded one after the other. They are the Philippine College of Arts and Trades (P.C.A.T.), now the Technological University of the Philippines (T.U.P.) on February 22, 1976, the University of Manila (U.M.) on March 7, 1976, the Central Colleges of the Philippines (C.C.P.) on July 11, 1976, the [http://www.pccr.edu.ph/ Philippine College of Criminology] (P.C.Cr.) on August 7, 1976, the Lyceum of the Philippines on August 15, 1976, the Gregorio Araneta University Foundation (G.A.U.F.), now the De La Salle Araneta University on October 15, 1976, making 1976 the most productive year for the Fraternity.

Then a few more chapters had been added in the later part of the 1970s. The [http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2006/02/23/SCAU2006022356872.html De Ocampo Memorial College] (D.O.M.C.) on August 30, 1977, the Eulogio "Amang" Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (E.A.R.I.S.T.) on March 19, 1978, the Philippine Air Transport and Training Services (P.A.T.T.S.), now called [http://www.patts.edu.ph/ PATTS College of Aeronautics] on September 5, 1978, and to close the decade with a bang, the [http://www.pmms-online.com/index.html Philippine Merchant Marine School] (P.M.M.S.) - Manila on March 2, 1979, and the Perpetual Help College of Rizal (P.H.C.R.) - Las Piñas, now University of Perpetual Help System on August 9, 1979, were established.

The 1970s is the most challenging but also the most fruitful decade for the Tau Gamma Phi being a young Fraternity. This trend of chapter foundations goes on through the 1980s and 1990s, and until now, in the new millennium, new chapters in schools, colleges, universities and even communities in some far flung corners of the Philippines were being established. Making it the biggest and most dynamic fraternity in the country.

The Martial Law Era

The Raid

Preceding the declaration of Martial Law on September 21, 1972 it was noted that advancing the cause of the studentry and spreading social awareness were unifying activities among fraternities and other cause-oriented groups. This is when nationalism and brotherhood were so intense that the efforts of the Triskelions were gradually made manifest and distinguished. Through Proclamation No. 1081 by the late dictator President Ferdinand E. Marcos, the Fraternity being a staunch critic of the Marcos administration, together with other fraternities and organizations in UP, became the target of military harassments and illegal detentions. The oppressive Marcos regime, believing that these student organizations posed a threat to the status quo. Ostensibly due to "leftist" leanings, the Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity's office inside the UP campus was raided under an Arrest-Search and Seizure Order signed by then Secretary of Defense and one of the "Architects of Martial Law", Juan Ponce Enrile which resulted in the confiscation of several allegedly "subversive" materials and documents. Fortunately, no one was in the office at the time of the raid.

The Junior Triskelions

Struggling from the effects of Martial Law which suspended all fraternal and organizational activity within the collegiate levels and the arrests of all militant students, the Fraternity decided to stay low to avoid being tagged as a subversive group working for the Communists out to destabilize the government, although a lot of its members went underground and took up arms to join the New People's Army, the armed paramilitary group of the Communist Party of the Philippines, in the mountains and jungles. These developments temporarily freezed the recruitment of new members, and without fresh bloods to replace the old ones, these resulted in the dwindling down of membership population, due to graduating members or just simply dropping out of school.

The Fraternity's Metro Manila Regional Council at that time, led by Secretary-General Atty. Ramoncito "Monching" Ocampo, explored the idea to tap the younger generations. They decided to recruit in the High School sector. This gave birth to the "Junior Tau Gamma Phi" or better known as the "Junior Triskelions", founded at San Beda College - High School in 1975, where Triskelion Boyet Gorospe was one of the founders. The rationale behind this is, to be able to solve the recruitment problems in the collegiate levels since these High School students will eventually graduate and attend college in the future. This initiative was both simple and effective but the recruitment problem was somehow solved. A milestone in fraternity history in the Philippines, the Tau Gamma Phi was the first fraternity to have high school students as equal members. When other fraternities learned about this successful fraternal venture they followed suit.

Triskelion Youth Movement

Another first in the history of fraternity in the Philippines. True to its objective of changing the elitist orientation of the fraternity system, the Tau Gamma Phi decided to open its doors to aspiring youth in the community through the Triskelion Youth Movement (T.Y.M.), so that they too, who temporarily stopped pursuing higher education to continue their chosen vocation, may also share in the glory of the Tau Gamma Phi. Another first in the history of fraternity in the Philippines. Again conceptualized and conceived by the Fraternity's Metro Manila Regional Council through the enigmatic leadership of then Secretary-General Atty. Ramoncito "Monching" Ocampo.

Like the Junior Triskelions, the Triskelion Youth Movement was born out of necessity. As Triskelions they also persevered to preserve the Fraternity's existence during its trying times. Numerous notable alumni of the Tau Gamma Phi actually started their Fraternal Journey as Triskelions in the T.Y.M.

Notable Members

Politics

*Ralph Recto (DLSU) - Secretary of the National Economic and Development Authority or NEDA. Former Senator of the Republic of the Philippines.
*Pryde Henry Teves (DLSU) - Congressman, 3rd District of the province of Negros Oriental
*Albert S. Garcia (DLSU-GH) - Congressman, 2nd District of the province of Bataan.
*Al Francis Bichara (TYM) - Congressman, 2nd District of the province of Albay.

Entertainment

*Diether Ocampo (DLSU-Dasma) - Actor, Model, Vocalist, TV Host.
*Vhong Navarro - Actor, Comedian, Dancer, TV Host.
*Oyo Boy Sotto (ADMU)- Actor, TV Host.
*Luis Manzano (DLSU-CSB) - Actor, Model, TV Host.
*Jao Mapa - Actor, Model, Artist.
*Jiro Manio - Actor.
*Dan Fernandez - Actor/Politician, married to Actress Shiela Ysrael and currently serving as congressman for Laguna.
*John Wayne Sace (TYM) Actor.

News, Print Media and Radio

*Diether Ocampo (DLSU-Dasma) - Publisher UNO Magazine

Sports

*Alvin Aguilar,MDG (DLSU-Manila) - Black Belt Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Champion and founder of URCC.

Arts and Literature

*Jao Mapa - More famously known as a movie and television actor, but he is also a very successful artist, did several acclaimed paintings, especially his "Mag-Ina" and "Lakbay" series. Had a one man exhibition last November 2007 dubbed "Mga Ala-Ala" (Memories).
*Eric Go (UST) - Gold Medal Awardee for Etching in 1981 at the China Selection of Philippine Art, Beijing, China.

Affiliated Groups

*Tau Gamma Sigma ( ΤΓΣ ) — Also known as the Triskelions' Grand Sorority, is the affiliated Sorority of the Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity.
*Triskelion Alumni Organization (T.A.O.) - The umbrella organization of all Triskelion alumni worldwide.
*Triskelion Order of Law (T.O.L.) — Triskelion Alumni members who are in the judiciary and paralegal profession.
*Triskelion Order of Medicine (T.O.M.) — Triskelion Alumni members who are in the medical profession.
*Triskelion Order of Business (T.O.B.) — Triskelion Alumni members who are in the corporate world, businessmen and or those who operate their own entrepreneural ventures.
* [http://tito.taugammaphi1968.org/links.html Triskelion Information Technology Organization] (T.I.T.O.) — Triskelion Alumni members who are in the Computers and Information Technology profession.
*Triskelion Law Enforcers Group (TRILEG) — Triskelion Alumni members who are in the Police, Military and Armed Forces profession.
* [http://www.bagongtao.com/4436.html Bagong Tao Movement] (B.T.M.) - A duly accredited political party list organization of the Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity and Tau Gamma Sigma Sorority.
*Triskelion Seafarers League (TRISEAL) - Triskelion Alumni members who are working as seamen, navy personnel, and crew in ships that are plying oceans around the globe.

See also

*Triskelion
*Tau Gamma Sigma
*Fraternal and service organizations
*University of the Philippines, Los Baños
*List of UP Diliman student organizations
*List of fraternities and sororities in the Philippines
*List of fraternity and sorority mottos
*List of social fraternities and sororities
*List of high school fraternities and sororities

External links

* [http://www.taugammaphi1968.org/ Triskelion Web Portal]
* [http://taugammaphi.info/ Tau Gamma Phi International Website]
* [http://taugammasigma.org/ Tau Gamma Sigma International]
* [http://thomasiantriskelion.org/ University of Santo Tomas Triskelions]
* [http://www.northeast-triskelion.org/ Triskelions of Northeast USA]
* [http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/1453/ Tau Gamma Phi Alumni Association of Midwest, USA]
* [http://www.triskelions.net/ Middle East Triskelions]
* [http://msutriskelion.org/ MSU Ranao Triskelions]
* [http://www.triskelion-grand-fraternity.jp Japan Triskelions]
* [http://www.triskelion-mapuamakati.org/ Mapua-Makati Triskelions]