THE TAU GAMMA PHI COLORS
Over the years, certain matters come into light, some seen
in a different light. Such is our Fraternity's history and
other facts and allegories closely related. When I joined the frat in 1972, all 4 founding fathers still
frequented the "tambayan" on an almost daily basis. In fact
it was Rod Confesor's brilliant and eloquent delivery at the
orientation that made me and s
even others decide to join
Tau Gamma Phi that Friday evening in late August, one of them
the late Allen Hernandez (former Sec. Gen 1976). The seal
we had to "kiss" was actually done in primary colors:
red, yellow and blue. Even the decals and silk-screened t-shirt
logos were done in 3 colors. I could only assume the 3 primary
colors equated with the 3 dynamic forces of
"Fortis, Voluntas and Fraternitas". In the '1990's, these
dynamic forces were even likened to the
Triune God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit); go figure. If I am not mistaken, my "ka-batch", Roland "Adi" Adriano,
who later transferred to NU and worked for KBS involved in
TV productions, made possible the procurement of reflectorized
decals. Either his father, or another close relative, worked for
3M Philippines and that we were given a handsome discount for a
minimum order of 500 pieces but only in 2 colors since 3 would
bump up the price, considering the cost of offset printing in
those days (1973 BC, "before computers"). So a decision was made
to use black and gold since the contrast made the 3 legged symbol
glow when light, esp headlights, reflected upon it. For P2.00 each,
half a day's allowance for a typical college kid in those days,
the brods snatched them up like crazy, sticking them on wallets,
briefcases, "Cattleya" notebook covers and car bodies, windshields
and other windows. I was at a gun show some years back, rummaging through military
"distinguished insignias", enameled metal "pins" worn on headgear
such as berets and garrison caps. One such item caught my attention:
a 3 legged symbol in gold on a round, green background with the word
"FORTIS" below. I thought to myself, since Tito Venida was a history
major, could he have come across this symbol before his inception
of forming a fraternity? In 1967, Star Trek had an episode entitled
" The Gamesters of Triskelion" about inhabitants of a solar system
with 3 stars (suns) who were always gambling with each other, pitting
intergalactic Gladiators in fights to the death, betting on who wins
and what the odds were. Captain Kirk engaged an alien warrior
in hand-to-hand combat in an arena with the 3 legged symbol painted
on the floor of battle. I guess the brods' penchant for "pusoy" is
just a coincidence. But clearly, Tito could have been, and still
probably is, a "TREKKIE". I still have one surviving decal, affixed to my leather checkbook
cover since 1979, still intact to this day. How are we to know that
from such trivial beginnings, noble principles could be derived? It
is a classic version of "function following form" and "the means
justifying the ends". Pure symbolism, yet true to principle. And it
takes real Triskelions to find the true meaning of our norms and ideals
and live our lives according to them.
