| Tau Gamma Phi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Letters: | Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΤΓΦ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crest: | File:Tau Gamma Phi fraternity seal.png | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Caption: | Triskelions’ Grand Fraternity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birthplace: | University of the Philippines | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliation: | Independent | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Service | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scope: | National | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Motto: | "A Triskelion firmly believes in the power of reason, not in the use of force as reason." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colors: | Gold and Black | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Symbol: | Triskelion (general) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chapters: | 471 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Address: | University of the Philippines Diliman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| City: | Quezon City | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country: | Philippines | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website: | |status=Active|pillars=Fortis Voluntas Fraternitas (Strength, Freewill and Brotherhood)|nickname=Triskelions}}Tau Gamma Phi (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΤΓΦ), also known as Triskelions’ Grand Fraternity, is a fraternity established in the Philippines. Its members call themselves Triskelions. Tau Gamma Phi is one of the largest fraternities in the Philippines in terms of membership.[1] It has a sister sorority, Tau Gamma Sigma (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΤΓΣ), also known as the Triskelions' Grand Sorority. HistoryThe fraternity was founded on October 4, 1968, by students from the University of the Philippines Diliman.[2] Originally known as the Order of the U.P. Triskelions, the organization later adopted the Greek-letter name Tau Gamma Phi.[3] In 1969, the fraternity established a chapter at the Philippine Maritime Institute. This was followed in 1970 by chapters at FEATI University, Mapúa Institute of Technology, and National University, in 1971 with a chapter at University of Santo Tomas, and in 1973 with chapters at Adamson University and the National College of Business Administration. 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. With martial law hindering most of its activities, the fraternity faced a decline in recruitment. In 1975, the fraternity 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 on February 7, 1974.[4] The fraternity celebrated its 45th founding anniversary in 2013, with President Benigno Aquino III offering an official message of congratulations to the organization.[5] SymbolsThe fraternity's colors are gold and black. Its symbol is the Triskelion. Its pillars are Fortis Voluntas Fraternitas (Strength, Freewill and Brotherhood). ChaptersSee main article: List of Tau Gamma Phi chapters. ControversiesHazingAlthough the fraternity has released a public statement declaring the organization has a "no hazing" policy, several hazing deaths directly linked to the fraternity have been reported since 2006.[6] In a 2012 interview, Tau Gamma Phi founder Vedasto “Tito” Venida condemned the fraternity's practice of hazing, adding that the organization has already "taken so many innocent lives." In 2015, after the hazing death of a Western Mindanao State University student, the fraternity released a statement calling on all chapters to abide by their fraternity motto Primum Nil Nocere or "First, Do No Harm" and commit to avoid violence related to hazing.[7] Still, three further hazing deaths have been reported since then.[8] List of confirmed hazing deathsSee also: List of hazing deaths in the Philippines. According to the ABS-CBN Investigative and Research Group, Tau Gamma Phi has the highest number of recorded hazing deaths among all Filipino fraternities, with 18 deaths as of October 16, 2023.
Rivalry with Alpha Phi OmegaTau Gamma Phi has been involved in several fatal clashes with long-standing rival fraternity Alpha Phi Omega:
Police investigators also believe that Tau Gamma Phi members were the intended targets of the grenade that exploded in the 2010 Philippine Bar exam bombing, that injured 47 people.[39] One member of Alpha Phi Omega was indicted for the crime.[40] [41] Rivalry with Alpha Kappa RhoSince 1990, Tau Gamma Phi's rivalry with Alpha Kappa Rho, particularly in Cebu, has escalated to the point where police and local government officials have intervened and organized peace talks several times between the two fraternities: in 2002 by the Cebu City government,[42] in 2005 by the Cebu provincial government,[43] and in 2006 by the Cebu Provincial Police Office.[44] Documented cases of clashes and killings between the two fraternities include the following:
Several other cases of Tau Gamma Phi and AKRHO members being murdered in Cebu have been documented, however, the identity of the perpetrators and motive could not be positively identified or have been intentionally withheld.[50] [51] [52] [53] [54] Notable members
See alsoReferences | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||