Tau Gamma Phi
Tau Gamma Phi (ΤΓΦ), also known as 'Triskelions’ Grand Fraternity', is a fraternity established in the Philippines. Its members call themselves Triskelion.
Tau Gamma Phi | |
---|---|
ΤΓΦ | |
Founded | October 4, 1968 University of the Philippines |
Type | Socio Economic Service Fraternity |
Scope | International |
Motto | "A Triskelion firmly believes in the power of reason, not in the use of force as reason." |
Colors | Gold Black |
Symbol | Triskelion (general), "Triskelion Hymn" (anthem) |
Cardinal Principles | The 3 Cardinal Principles: Fortis Voluntas Fraternitas (Strength, Freewill and Brotherhood) |
Headquarters | University of the Philippines Diliman Quezon City, Metro Manila Philippines |
Its aims are to see a Fraternity System devoid of violence in lieu of the rampant violence pervading the university campus at the time of its founding, to avoid elitism if they can, and to earnestly propagate their fraternity's principles as their way of life without political influence or pressure. Based on these goals, the Triskelions categorized their formal group as a 'protest fraternity'. The Fraternity encourages its members to strive for spiritual growth and to organize socio-civic activities for the benefit of communities.[1] Tau Gamma Phi claims to be one of the largest international fraternities. Its counterpart is called Tau Gamma Sigma (ΤΓΣ) also known as the Triskelions' Grand Sorority.
Founding
The fraternal organization, originally known as the [2]', was founded on October 4, 1968 by 6 arts and science students from the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. Membership grew when the Greek-lettered name Tau Gamma Phi was adopted. A few years later, chapters were established at other college and university campuses in the Philippines.
Martial law era
When martial law was declared on September 21, 1972 by the late Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, some university organizations including Tau Gamma Phi became targets of military harassment, believing that these school organizations posed a threat to the Marcos regime.[3][4][5]
With martial law forestalling most of its fraternal activities, the Triskelions faced the problem of continuous decline in recruitment. In the 1975 general assembly, they explored the idea of including younger members. Recruitment began in the high school sector with the "Junior Tau Gamma Phi", also known as the "Junior Triskelions", founded at San Beda College–High School in 1975.[6]
Notable members
- Ralph G. Recto[7] – is a Filipino politician serving as the president pro tempore of the Philippine Senate since 2017, previously holding the position from 2013 to 2016. Since 2010, he has been on his second stint in the Senate, first serving from 2001 to 2007.
- Joel Villanueva – is a Filipino politician, who serves as a Senator of the Philippines. He took his senatorial seat following the 2016 Philippine national elections, where he ranked second highest in the polls with 18,459,222 votes. He was a former Director General of the Philippine TESDA from 2010 until 2015 and a three-term congressman from 2001 through 2010.
- Dan Fernandez[7] – is a Filipino politician, actor, and optometrist who is currently serving as a representative of the 1st District of Laguna.
- Luis Manzano[7] – is a Filipino-American TV host, actor, comedian, VJ, and model. He is the son of actors Edu Manzano and Vilma Santos.
- Vhong Navarro[7] – is a Filipino comedian, actor, dancer, recording artist, and television host. He is a regular host on ABS-CBN's noontime variety show It's Showtime. He is also part of the dance group Streetboys in the Philippines.
- JM de Guzman[7] – is a Filipino actor, mixed martial artist, model and singer. He is currently working as an exclusive talent of Star Magic.
- Diether Ocampo[7] – is a Filipino actor, singer, model, and military officer.
- Oyo Boy Sotto[7] – is a Filipino actor. He is the son of Filipino actor-comedian-host Vic Sotto and Swiss-Filipino singer-actress Dina Bonnevie, nephew of Senator Tito Sotto, younger brother of actress Danica Sotto, half-brother of Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto.
- Joseph Marco[7] – is a Filipino actor, model, singer and endorser who played the role of Santi Domingo in the GMA Network Philippine drama series La Vendetta and who is currently a Star Magic artist in the ABS-CB.
- Ion Perez[7] – is a Filipino actor, model, and television host. He is best known as the Kuya Escort in the Miss Q and A segment of It's Showtime.
- Jao Mapa[7] – is a Filipino actor from the Philippines. He is also an accomplished painter.
- Vandolph Quizon[7] – is a Filipino actor, comedian and politician. He is known for being a councilor of the 1st District of Parañaque.
- Boy 2 Quizon[7] –is a Filipino actor and comedian.
- Victor Neri[7] – is a Filipino actor, singer and chef.
- Jiro Manio[7] –is a Filipino actor who started acting at the age of seven in the film Pamana in 1999.
- Jobert Austria[7] –is a Filipino actor and comedian.
- Kiko Matos[7] – is a Famous actor,model, MMA Player, Jiu Jutsu Champion, YouTuber and Social Media Personality from macau china.
- Tim Sawyer[7] –is a Famous Vlogger and YouTuber from Pabayao Chapter,Cagayan de Oro City Council.
- Pancho Magno[7] –is a Filipino actor of GMA.
- TJ Trinidad[7] –is a Filipino actor of GMA and ABS-CBN.
- RJ Padilla[7] – is a Filipino actor. he starred in the 2014 film Sa Ngalan ng Ama, Ina at Mga Anak and also appeared in La Visa Loca. He is the son of Rommel Padilla and Annabelle Antonio brother of Matt Padilla and Roanna Padilla and half-brother of Daniel Padilla.
- Frenchie Dy[8] – is a singer, TV personality and stage performer. Grand winner of the 2004 season 2 Star In A Million talent search of ABS-CBN.[13]
- Angeline Quinto[7] –is a Filipino singer, actress, and winner of Star Power: Sharon's Search For The Next Female Pop Superstar in 2011. She is currently managed by Star Magic and KreativDen.
- Lougee Basabas[7] – s a singer and songwriter based in Manila, Philippines. She is the lead vocalist of the alternative rock band Mojofly and was a host of the popular noontime variety show, Eat Bulaga!.
- Bong Alvarez[8] – is a Filipino retired professional basketball player of the Philippine Basketball Association. (PBA)
- Raymond Almazan[7] – is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Meralco Bolts of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
- JC Intal – is a Filipino former professional basketball player. He last played for the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
- Eumir Marcial[8] – is a Filipino boxer. While representing the Philippines as an amateur, he won a silver medal at the 2019 World Championships and bronze at the 2020 Summer Olympics, both in the middleweight division.
- John Riel Casimero[7] – is a Filipino professional boxer. He has held world championships in Four weight classes and current WBO Bantamweight Champion.
- Nathan Azarcon[7] – is a Filipino musician, nationalist, songwriter, and producer. He is currently the bassist, vocalist and one of the founding members of Filipino rock band Rivermaya. He was also a member of Filipino rock bands Pinikpikan, Kapatid and a founding member of Bamboo.
- Buwi Meneses[7] – is a Filipino bassist for the band Parokya ni Edgar,[1] and formerly for Franco.
- Alvin Aguilar[9] – formed DEFTAC Philippines in 1996, now one of the biggest BJJ academies in the Philippines. In September 2016, he won gold in Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championship at Tokyo, Japan.
Triskelion Youth Movement
Tau Gamma Phi and later on also the Tau Gamma Sigma, opened 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, might also participate in Tau Gamma Phi and Tau Gamma Sigma.
Hazing
Despite an anti-hazing law in the Philippines, many university fraternities in the Philippines have been involved in a dozen cases of hazing deaths since 2006, and have been implicated in numerous incidents of violence.[10]
Date of death | Victim | Institution | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
March 3, 2006 | Clark Anson Silverio | Technological University of the Philippines | [11][12] |
August 18, 2006 | Dennis Africa | Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa | [13][14] |
January 28, 2007 | Mark Rodriguez | Central Luzon State University | [13][15] |
August 2, 2008 | Chester Paulo Abracias | Enverga University | [16][17] |
2009 | Karl Anthony Gaudicos | Holy Cross of Davao College | [11] (With Tau Gamma Sigma) |
2009 | John Daniel Samparanda | Lyceum of the Philippines University–Cavite | [11] |
October 27, 2010 | Noel Borja Jr. | DepEd Alternative Learning System | [13][11][16] |
September 15, 2011 | Nor Silongan | Notre Dame of Tacurong College | [13][16] |
June 28, 2014 | Guillo Servando | De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde | [18] |
November 2, 2014 | Ariel Inofre | Southern Luzon State University | [13][19] |
September 30, 2015 | Anthony Javier | Western Mindanao State University | [20] |
The Tau Gamma Phi called on all chapters through their provincial and city councils to the fraternity motto Primum Nil Nocere or "First, Do No Harm", and commit to avoid violence related to hazing.[21]
Affiliated Groups
- Tau Gamma Sigma (ΤΓΣ) — Triskelions' Grand Sorority.
- Triskelion Alumni Organization (T.A.O.) — The umbrella organization of all Triskelion alumni associations worldwide.
- Triskelion Order of Law (T.O.L.) — Alumni association of Triskelions who are in the judiciary and paralegal profession.
- Triskelion Order of Medicine (T.O.M.) — Alumni association of Triskelions who are in the medical profession.
- Triskelion Law Enforcers Group (TRILEG) - Alumni association of Triskelions who are in the field of Law Enforcement.
- Triskelion Order of Business (T.O.B.) — Alumni association of Triskelions who are in the corporate world, businessmen and those who operate their own entrepreneurial ventures.
- Triskelion Information Technology Group (T.I.T.G.) — Alumni association of Triskelions who are computer engineers, technicians and information technology professionals.(Formerly known as TITO)
- Triskelion Order of Call Center Professionals (T.O.C.C.) — Alumni association of Triskelions who are in the Business Process Outsourcing industry or contact/call centers.
- Triskelion Order of Engineers, Contractors, and Architects (T.O.E.C.A) — Alumni association of Triskelions who are in the engineering, design, architectural and construction business field.
- Triskelion Seafarers League (TriSEAL) — Alumni association of Triskelions who are professional mariners, shipping executives, military personnel, and crew in ships sailing oceans around the globe.
- Triskelion Order of Teachers (T.O.T.) - Alumni association of Triskelions who are in the teaching profession. The T.O.T. was first organized at the West Visayas State University, Iloilo City, Philippines.
- Triskelion Order in the Profession of Arms (ΤΓΦPA) - The Triskelion Order in the Profession of Arms aims to conglomerate all Triskelions that are members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It was blessed by no less than the FF RODRIGO CONFESOR on 4 October 2010 and then founded by Philippine Air Force Triskelions on 10 October 2010 at Fernando Air Base, Lipa City, Batangas.
- Marikina Triskelion City Government Employees - it is still a chapter under Makatao Marikina Council but composed of Marikina city government employees
- Triskelion Information Technology Association (T.I.T.A.) — Alumni association of Triskelions who are in information technology field founded in 2008 and are actively engaged in Triskelion Database Project for VisMin.
- Triskelion Order of Graphic Artist (TOGA) - Aim to connect fellow Triskelion graphic artists together in one group where they can share their art, interact with fellow Triskelion Graphic Artist and enhance their knowledge by sharing tips and tricks with each other.
See also
References
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-10-22. Retrieved 2014-09-22.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - 'Order of the East Triskelions
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-05-29. Retrieved 2014-09-18.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - "Mrkowalzki21's blog".
- "INTPRIN: The Press Under Martial Law". mysite.dlsu.edu.ph. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- Archived December 21, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- Fraternity, List Of Popular Celebrities Who Are; Members, Sorority (2017-12-04). "List Of Popular Celebrities Who Are Fraternity, Sorority Members". Philippine News. Retrieved 2021-10-17.
- Triskelion Handshake by Bro. Eumir Marcial and Bro. Senator Joel Villanueva at the Senate, archived from the original on 2021-12-21, retrieved 2021-10-17
- "DEFTAC Philippines". DEFTAC Philippines. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
- "FAST FACTS: Get to know Tau Gamma Phi". Rappler. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
- "Hazing deaths in the Philippines: A recent history - News Feature, News, The Philippine Star - philstar.com". philstar.com.
- A Day of Sorrow TUPians mourn on Hazing Victim’s Death
- "Deaths Caused by Hazing". ABS-CBN News. ABS-CBN Investigative and Research Group. 27 September 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
- "Stude patay sa hazing".
- "10 frat members wanted in fatal hazing of CLSU student".
- Inquirer, Philippine Daily (August 2012). "What Went Before: Previous hazing victims".
- "Suspect in fatal hazing of Lucena freshman student nabbed".
- Reformina, Ina (2 December 2014). "Tau Gamma members in Servando hazing indicted". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
- Serafica, Raisa (5 November 2014). "Tau Gamma Phi tagged in Quezon hazing death". Rappler. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
- Larato, Vic; Toribio, Dan Jr. (2 November 2015). "8 fratmen in fatal hazing case charged, jailed". Daily Zamboanga Times. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
- Gonzales, Yuji Vincent. "Tau Gamma Phi pioneers condemn death of WMSU student by hazing". Retrieved 2018-03-26.