BRIEF HISTORY OF TAU GAMMA PHI HISTORY Moved from the discovery of a problem and seeking viable solutions, and initiating purposeful action for personal, familial, vocational and community betterment prompted the action-group of Rodolfo Sta. Maria Confesor, Roy Alolor Ordinario, Talek Jamias Pablo, Vedasto Sario 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 that for a second time it was renamed ORDER OF THE GRAND TRISKELIONS. The name of the elite order was once again changed to the TRISKELIONS GRAND FRATERNITY. Finding a common bond of interests and principles, the group finally had identified the trend then fashionable among the studentry- Greek lettered fraternities. Based on this observation, the Founding Fathers decided to name the Fraternity TAU GAMMA PHI on October 4, 1968 at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. Convinced of the success of a unified endeavor, the founding fathers proved to be real pillars of strength that was later manifested in the recognition of the Fraternity within the academe as an order of the intellectual elite and in society as a powerful force to catalyze change. Showing the public its organizational discipline, collective determination and good examples, the Fraternity got the attention and respect of the University of the Philippines student body. In the process, the enlightened group of Bro. Jun Flor took the leap-of-faith to the TAU GAMMA PHI in 1969 at Cavite - the first site of formal initiation. Under the leadership of Rodolfo Sta. Maria Confesor, the first Grand Triskelion, the Fraternity wielded influence and control which reached to tile heights of dominance in the College of Arts and Sciences (C.A.S.). These were trying times politically at the U.P. much so that the Fraternity founded its own political party which was named KAKASA.. The C.A.S. at that time was the dominant college within the university with regard to the logic of numbers and student personalities, our brothers included. Reaping the fruits of labor, discipline and confidence in the Diliman community, the Triskelion principles reverberated outside of the U.P. — Diliman. The Fraternity found a new home in the Philippine Maritime Institute (P.M.I.) on August 3, 1969. A few months later, on March 5, 1970, another group of students at the Feati University embraced the Tenets and Codes of Conduct of the TRISKIELIONS GRAND FRATERNITY. Following the success at P.M.I. and Feati University, the Fraternity explored time at Mapua Institute of Technology (M.I.T.). The MIT Chapter was born on April 1970. Following these developments, the wave of chapter foundation came to the National University (NU). There, the Fraternity found acceptance among the studentry. On October 23, 1970, the National University Chapter was founded. Trying to find Christian home for the TAU GAMMA PHI, the University of Santo Tomas Chapter (U.S.T.) was founded on March 1, 1971. Even in the most adverse circumstances, the Fraternity, true to its noble ideals, continued to evolve into a truly pro-people Brotherhood— strong and unified with the masses with its own distinct set of characteristics, rites and traditions. The Triskelion Hymn was arranged by Bro. Ben Beltran together with Bro. Toots Mijares and Bro. Jojo Quimpo of the University of the Philippines. The subjection mark in the center of the chest was informally adopted by most of the chapters in 1973. It accidentally started in one of the initiation rites conducted by the University of Santo Tomas Chapter in 1971. The Three-legged symbol of the Triskelions was given a deeper meaning and Ritual Rites were developed. With the establishment of numerous chapters in such a short span of time, a need to address problems endemic to a dynamic and fast growing organization became evident. Therefore, in 1971, the Metro Manila Regional Council (MMRC) was established in the First Regional Convention held in Narvaez Farms. It was tasked to coordinate the movements of the various chapters, harness the resources, and collectively decide on matters vital to the Fraternity. Bro. Florentino ‘Jun’ Flor Jr., M.DG-UP 1969, was elected as the first Secretary-General of the MMRC 1971-72 followed by Bro Joel Rillo, UST Chapter was the second Secretary General 1972-73. Martial Law was declared on September 21, 1972. All activities involving free expression of ideas were outlawed and all school-based organizations were closely monitored for semblance of ‘subversive’ activities. But the repressive climate did not deter the brothers from pursuing their vision of propagating the universal principles of the TAU GAMMA PHI to the entire student populace. On July 8.1973, Adamson University Chapter became the first chapter to be founded under the Martial Law Regime which was founded and sponsored by UST Chapter. In the same year, the National College of Business Administration Chapter in Manila was founded. The year 1974 gave birth to the chapters at the University of the East. Manila (U.E. – Mla.) on January 21 sponsored by UST Chapter; at the Philippine School on Business Administration-Manila; at the Manuel Luis Quezon University (M.L.Q.U.) on October 8 sponsored UST Chapter; and at San Sebastian College (S.S.C.) on November 19 sponsored by UE Chapter. After the 3rd Regional Convention in 1975 at Narvaez Farm, Laguna, another school embraced the Tenets and the Codes of Conduct of the Fraternity, the Far Eastern University (F.E.U.). It was founded on July 27, 1975 sponsored by UST Chapter, the 13th and only chapter founded in that year. 1976 to 1979 saw a colossal increase in the Fraternity’s activities which in turn gave the Tau Gamma Phi an awesome reputation—academically and in extra—curricular aspects. In those years, the following chapters were founded the Philippine College of Arts and Trade (P.C AT.), now the Technological University of the Philippines (T.U.P.) on February 22, 1976 sponsored by Mapua Chapter; The University of Manila (U.M.) on March 7, 1976 sponsored by UE Chapter; the Central Colleges of the Philippines (C.C.P.) on July 11, 1976 sponsored by UP Chapter; the Philippine College of Criminology (P.C.Cr.) on August 7, 1976 sponsored by UE Chapter; the Lyceum of the Philippines on August 15,1976; the Gregorio Araneta University Foundation (G.A.U.F.) on October 15.1976 sponsored by MLQU Chapter; the De Ocampo Memorial School ( D.O.M.S.) on August 30. 1977 sponsored by Adamson Chapter; the Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute Science and Technology (E.A.R.I.S.T.) on March 19, 1978 sponsored by De Ocampo Chapter; the Philippine Air Transport and Training Services (P.A.T.T.S.) on September 5. 1978 sponsored by Adamson Chapter; and the Philippine Merchant Marine School-Manila (P.M.M.S.-Mla.) on March 2, 1979 sponsored by PMI Chapter. Under the Martial Regime, it was noted that during these times, causes of the student masses and propagation of social awareness became the unifying activity among the members of the Fraternity in tactical alliance with the various cause-oriented groups. The intensity of the struggle further galvanized the Fraternity into truly nationalistic amid progressive entity as manifested by its contributions in the fight for truth, justice, freedom and national democracy. All throughout the Martial Law Regime of the Marcos Dictatorship, fraternities and other legal school organizations became the target of military harassment because the then dispensation believed that they posed a threat to the order and stability of the regime. Fraternities were infiltrated in order to divide the student populace. This was carried out through systematic coercion and by creating misinformation and intrigues among and in between organized forces. On one hand, this was one of the primary causes of the infamous all-out fraternity wars of the 70’s and early 80’s. Struggling from the effects of Martial Law which suspended all fraternal and organizational activity within the collegiate levels, Bro. Pete “Tusok” Conti of PMI Chapter took the initiative to explore and tap the younger generation of the studentry ---the High School students. This gave birth to the Junior Triskelions which found its home at San Beda College- High School in April 4. 1974. Bro. Manolito “Boyet” Gorospe and Bro. Oscar “OK” Esguerra were the founders. With courage and determination in inculcating further the vision of the Triskelion within the community, the Triskelion Youth Movement (T.Y.M.) was organized in September 11, 1977 in Tejeron, Paco, Manila by Bro. Monching Ocampo, who was also the Secretary General at that time. As the Fraternity was expanding, our elder brothers eventually graduated and went on to pursue their careers and some became very successful in business and profession. To harness the resources, which this new sector of the Fraternity can contribute, the Triskelion Alumni Organization was established in August 13, 1979. The times restricted movement and healthy activities between and among the fraternity members. With their active minds and young bodies made idle, a new trend of competition emerged - the physical rivalry and dominance. This resulted to the infamous university rumbles. The rapid growth of the TAU GAMMA PHI was taken as a threat by the older fraternities. We were besieged from all sides by intrigues and unjust criticisms. Abiding by the Codes of Conduct of the Fraternity, our brothers had no recourse but to rise and defend the name of the Fraternity. Victory after victory consolidated the name TAU GAMMA PHI as the major force in the fraternity system. No fraternity could dislodge us from the new reputation we have earned-the warriors. This was during the time of the late Bro. Allen Hernandez as Secretary General of Metro Manila Regional Council. But on August 3, 1977, our involvement in the violent character of the system claimed its first victim among our ranks. Bro. Hernando “Nando” Guevarra died of multiple stab wounds while attempting to break a cordon set up by a rival fraternity at Mapua Institute of Technology in Intramuros. This event, however painful to accept became a major factor around which the brothers rallied. It further cemented the solidarity of the Triskelions. Loyalty to the Fraternity and to the principles for which it stands was to become the primary concern of each and every member.
