Tau Gamma Phi


Tau Gamma Phi, also known as 'Triskelions’ Grand Fraternity', is a fraternity established in the Philippines. Its members call themselves Triskelions.
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. Tau Gamma Phi is now one of the largest international fraternities, with about 2,500,000 registered members worldwide. Its counterpart is called Tau Gamma Sigma also known as the Triskelion Grand Sorority.

Founding

The fraternal organization, originally known as the , was founded on October 04, 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.
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.

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, 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.
Date of deathVictimInstitutionNotes
Technological University of the Philippines
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa
Central Luzon State University
Enverga University
Holy Cross of Davao College
Lyceum of the Philippines University–Cavite
DepEd Alternative Learning System
Notre Dame of Tacurong College
De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde
Southern Luzon State University
Western Mindanao State University

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.

Affiliated Groups