The turbulent 60's was a decade of social and political
upheavals in the annals of Philippine History. The period saw the breakdown
of traditional beliefs and long-held values in favor of newer and more progressive
ideas. In almost every aspect of Philippine life and culture, CHANGE seemed
to be the rightful order of the day.
The Fraternity system in the University of the Philippines was immune from
these external developments. As extraordinary times, called for and breed
extraordinary men. 1968 saw the wielding together of 25 concerned student
leaders with a vision of introducing change and 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.
The Tau Gamma Phi is a protest Fraternity, better life, and as such, it has
committed itself in the Fraternity Life and as such it has committed itself
uncompromisingly to the two-fold 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 as a Way of Life.
Through the years, the Tau Gamma Phi has never strayed from it's goals, and
although the cause of which it has chosen to champion has proven to be difficult
and sometimes, seemingly hopeless, 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 to succumbed into non-existence
by adopting a passive resistance to 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 a fellowship of mutual trust and respect
in 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 Triskelions.
Today, the Tau Gamma Phi is already one of the biggest, most cohesive, and
most dynamic fraternities in the Philippines. It boast of membership of every
colleges and universities around the country, and now in all regions of the
United States of America and other continents of the world; and true to its
objective of changing the elitist orientation of the fraternity system, the
Fraternity had decided to open its door to out-of-school youth so that they,
who were not privileged of education, may also share in the fruits and the
glory of the Tau Gamma Phi.
On October 4, 1968, the Triskelions' Grand Fraternity was established in the
University of the Philippines, the rest is History.
* Province of Camiguin