04/10/2024
Tau Gamma Phi History
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.
Today, the Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity is already the biggest and most cohesive fraternity in the Philippines. It boasts membership numbering to about eighthundred thousand including community chapters known as the Triskelion Youth Moement or TYM. It maintains numerous college and university chapters around the country, and now with Triskelion Alumni Organizations (T.A.O.) in all regions of the United States of America and other continents of the world.
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.
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.
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 Four Founding Fathers
By now only four of the original six founders were left to continue the saga of their vision for the Fraternity, more famously known to its members as the "The Four Founding Fathers" or just plain "FFF" for short. They are Rodrigo "Rod" Sta. Maria Confesor, Roy Alolor Ordinario, Talek Hamias Pablo, and Vedasto "Tito" Sario Venida. Convinced of the success of a unified endeavor, the Founding Fathers proved to be the real pillars that was later manifested in the succeeding recognition of the Fraternity at the University of the Philippines. Showing the public a discipline and collective determination and good examples, the Fraternity got the attention and respect of the University of the Philippines student body so that in the process an enlightened group headed by Triskelion Jun Rodriguez took the leap-of-faith forward by inaugurating the Fraternity in 1968 at Cavite - the first site of formal initiation, to be the first "Founding Batch" of the Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity. Under the leadership of Founding Father Rod Confessor as the first Grand Triskelion, 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.
