Triskelion Articles
Triskelion Articles
PREAMBLE
We, the members of the Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity and Tau Gamma Sigma Sorority of the Region
of Leyte and Samar, adhering to the Codes of Conduct and Tenets of the Triskelion honor society,
cognizant to the vital contribution of a collective effort in order to build a just and humane society
under a rule of truth, justice, freedom and democracy, do ordain and promulgate this constitution.
ARTICLE - I
Sec. 4. The Triskelion Organization shall adopt its national colors - Black for the Triskelion
Organization's Initials and Emblem of the three legged mammals, and Golden Yellow for
the background;
Sec. 5. The Triskelion organization shall follow the traditional handshake of the Triskelion Grand
Fraternity whose members will follow as demonstrated below using the three (3) middle
fingers of the right hand and shall bind or shake with the same right hand (palm) of
fellow Triskelion members;
Sec. 6. The Triskelion Organization shall be headed and composed of,
a. Region Grand Council shall be the policy making body of the Triskelion Organization
whose main functions and responsibilities are to formulate guidelines and procedures,
enact rules and regulations of the Triskelion Organization of Eastern Visayas Region,
and receive and review directives from the National Council;
b. Executive Department shall be the implementing and coordinating body of the
Triskelion Organization whose general functions and responsibilities are to supervise
the day-to-day activities and operations, execute the rules and procedures directed
by the Grand Council, and perform other duties and functions as may be directed by
the Grand Council.
The Executive department shall be composed of:
1. Region organization, and
2. Chapter organizations composed of,
a. City or Municipality and Barangay level,
b. Colleges or Universities, and
c. Out-of-School Youths (Triskelion Youth Movement)
ARTICLE - II
Sec. 1. The Triskelion Organization shall strive to brotherly and sisterly fellowship among its
members;
Sec. 2. Shall do its best to attain supremacy in all fields of human endeavor;
Sec. 3. Shall encourage scholarship, stimulate intellectual creativeness and encourage physical
strength among its members;
Sec. 4. Shall do the best of its capacity to render services to the institute for the welfare and
benefit of all;
Sec. 5. Shall emphasize the discouragement of gambling and the use of liquor and substance of
abuse drugs;
Sec. 6. Shall delegate more duties and responsibility to the center for attaining these ends;
Sec. 7. Shall strive and diffuse responsibility in order to develop leadership;
Sec. 8. Shall achieve cooperation in solving problems for the school, community and of the
individual;
Sec. 9. Shall recognize and uphold the sovereign will of our people and all authorities emanating
from them;
Sec. 10. Shall seek and help in the realization of a truly democratic and thriving society and the
promotion of unity, equality, discipline and fraternity among the people;
Sec. 11. Adheres to the Codes of Conduct and Tenets of the Triskelion Organization;
Sec. 12. Abhors any form of violence and human rights violations, however always ready to
defend and preserve the sovereign will of the people;
Sec. 13. Shall pursue an independent policy in relation to other existing organizations, institutions
or authorities;
Sec. 15. Shall honor and respect the Deity;
Sec. 16. Shall stand to maintain peace and order in the highest ideal the fraternity can possess to
the best of one's ability.
ARTICLE - III
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES AND POLICIES
Sec. 1. The Triskelion Organization staunchly advocates to the brotherhood of man regardless of
race, creed, social, and economic status;
Sec. 2. The Triskelion firmly believes that the fraternity's and sorority's stability is attainable only
when all of its members are loyal to the principles formulated by the decision of the
body;
Sec. 3. The Triskelion renounces the fraternity and sorority as an instrument for the supremacy's
to peaceful means for the attainment of such ends;
Sec. 4. The Triskelion shall seek to respect the existence of individual differences among its
members if such difference would not be determined to the fraternity's existence;
Sec. 5. The Triskelion firmly believes in the privacy of love and reason over feelings and
emotions but not in the use of force as a means to attain once goals;
Sec. 6. The Triskelion recognizes the autonomy of other city, municipality and barangay level
including school and university Triskelion residents as well as their contributions to the
Triskelion Organization;
Sec. 7. The Triskelion shall maintain a coordinating structure that will be beneficial to city,
municipality and barangay level including school and university chapters;
Sec. 8. The Triskelion is equal unto his and/or her fellow Triskelion.
ARTICLE - IV
OBJECTIVES
Sec. 1. Triskelion, develops responsibility for the preservation, care and wise use of the natural
environment;
Sec. 2. Triskelion, develops an awareness and understanding of the inter-relatedness of all
nature;
Sec. 3. Triskelion, develops an understanding and appreciation of man's heritage of outdoor
living, skills and pursuits;
Sec. 4. Triskelion, develops the value of higher education through the attainment and excellence
of a greater academe;
Sec. 5. Triskelion, develops an active role and task of eradicating the use of substance of abuse
in our society;
Sec. 6. Triskelion, develops a good and friendly outdoor relationship;
Sec. 7. Triskelion, develops resourcefulness, self-reliance and adaptability;
Sec. 8. The Triskelion Organization devotes to make a contribution to physical and mental
health.
ARTICLE - V
ARTICLE - VI
MEMBERSHIP
Sec. 1. Membership is open to all college students and local residents in Eastern Visayas Region
who have attained the age of 16 years of age and above are eligible to join in this
organization;
Sec. 2. Pursuant to the process provided in the by-laws, persons of notable ability and who are
in sympathy with the objectives of this organization, may have membership conferred
upon them (matters to be taken up at the discretionary powers of the Grand Council
Membership committee);
Sec. 3. The guidelines and procedure of membership in the organization will be drafted and
approved by the Grand Council Membership committee;
Sec. 4. Membership will become official upon filing a written application, undergoing the
membership process which includes organization and community services, ritual of
initiation, payment of dues, and the pledge of allegiance to the organization.
ARTICLE - VII
In the mid to the late 70's, Divine Word University of Tacloban, the largest academic institution in
Eastern Visayas Region was experiencing the resurgence of student activism but also saw the
deterioration and near collapse of Greek letter societies, social clubs and civic organizations in the
academe due to frequent brawls, demoralization and discords. This incidence was not only
confined at the university but to other academic institutions in the city and the entire region.
A college freshman, Bro. Wendell Cam, a product from Adamson University in Manila rose to the
occasion, tasked to lay the foundation by drawing-up the Article of the Constitution and
maintaining the Tenets and Codes of Conduct set by the Triskelion honor society. Bro. Vedasto
'Jun' Elardo also from Manila, assisted in the set up of the fraternity in order to restore the
formation of Greek letter societies in the university.
On June 29, 1979, eve of the city fiesta of Tacloban, enlisted seven young men and talented
college students namely, Gerardo Demillo, Virgilio Malooy, Juan Monge, Joselito Quibin, Juanito
Renomeron, Danilo Timola, and Richard Villarosa to pioneer the establishment of Tau Gamma Phi
Fraternity at the Divine Word University of Tacloban, Tacloban City, Leyte.
Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity not only restored the formation of Greek letter society in the academe
but also led in instituting reforms and changes of how a Greek letter society was governed
including the active participation in the school programs and activities and community civic mission
and services.
On September 11 of the same year, Bro. Wendell Cam set up the sorority component at the same
academic institution enlisting six women college students namely, Elenita Pesado-Doctolero, Divina
Duellosa-Dueñas, Marjorie Maraya, Virginia Paa-Mora, Cynthia Santos, and Narcisa Magalona-
Velasco to pioneer the Tau Gamma Sigma Sorority.
Despite minor setbacks, Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity and Tau Gamma Sigma Sorority encountered
during the initial stages of its establishment, the organization steadfastly stood ground its goals
and objectives, maintaining good governance among its members, foster relations with other
Greek letter societies, clubs and civic organizations and move forward in its quest to be the leader
organization and role model in the academe, community and the entire region.
As Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity and Tau Gamma Sigma Sorority gained prominence, recognition and
foothold in the academe, pioneering Triskelion members set-out to establish the organization in
other colleges and universities throughout the city namely, Leyte Institute of Technology (LIT),
Leyte Normal College (now Leyte Normal University), U.P. College of Tacloban, Leyte Colleges and
Holy Infant College and eventually the entire region of Leyte and Samar.
The Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity and Tau Gamma Sigma Sorority, having earned the respect,
admiration and acceptance of not only the academic institutions but by the local government units
and agencies, private companies and the religious sector gained a well-founded foothold in various
academic institutions throughout Eastern Visayas Region encompassing the provinces of Biliran,
Leyte, Southern Leyte, Samar (Western), Northern Samar and Eastern Samar.
The Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity and Tau Gamma Sigma Sorority was able to transform the image of
the organization into an outstanding Greek letter society, envied by clubs and civic organizations in
the region due to its relentless effort to render services in the communities, participated and
assisted in school programs and activities, promotion of the local government programs and
projects, and stayed away from brawls and discords from other competing groups.
ARTICLE - VIII
On October 4, 1968, six (6) University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City students
disappointed with the deteriorating fraternity system "glamorized" through repeated occurrence of
rumbles among warring fraternities in the campus, conceived the idea of giving the fraternity
system a new and sound outlook by founding an honor society, named The Order of the U.P.
Triskelions.
The said honor society had its paramount aim of denouncing violence as an instrument in uplifting
the fraternity's prestige. Thus, it abhorred fraternity rumbles and would only be compelled to
submit to violence if only to preserve its existence.
The six founding fathers, namely, Vedasto Venida, Rodolfo Confesor, Roy Ordinario, Talek Pablo,
Restituto Alfonso*, and Romeo Fortes*, then embarked on the task of framing the constitution,
drawing up the Tenets and the Codes of Conduct, and recruiting manpower (later to number nine
categorized as founders).
The task being successful, the Founding Fathers and the Founders were compelled to change the
name for The Order of the U.P. Triskelion to TAU GAMMA PHI on the contention that retaining the
former name would advance the difficulty of subordination the fraternity to the other Greek
lettered fraternities along the prestige lines.
The stabilization of the fraternity structure was secured through the establishment of the charter
board composed of thirteen (13) energetic young men. TAU GAMMA PHI progressed
tremendously. And now, it has around fourteen (14) chapters in the Greater Manila area. They
are from PMI***, Feati U., NU, UST, MIT, UE, PSBA***, Adamson U., NCBA***, SSC, MLQU, FEU, PcaT,
and at the UM**.
*Expelled, **Still affiliated with UE Chapter, ***All brods graduated.
ARTICLE - IX
GRAND COUNCIL
Sec. 1. There shall be a council of nine law making body members the authority to govern this
organization, by directing its policy and operations in all matters relating to the objects
for which it has been formed. The Grand Council shall be the highest ruling body in the
fraternity and sorority. It shall be headed by a Chairman whose duties are provided
herein;
Sec. 2. The Chairman and Deputy Chairman shall be elected by the Triskelion members who
have registered with the Election and Reforms committee for the election exercise.
a. The election exercise will be held on the third (3rd) Monday of June every after two
(2) years, and casting of votes will begin at seven (7:00A.M.) in the morning and will
close at twelve (12:00P.M.) noon of the same day;
b. The Chairman and Deputy Chairman shall be elected to a two (2) years tenure of
office, and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, provided, that any
officer elected to fill any vacancy shall hold office only for the unexpired term of the
officer so removed. The officers elected shall be eligible for reelection and vie for
office up to two (2) terms or four (4) years in office;
c. Every officers, including the Grand Chairman, shall be subject to removal* at any
time by the Election and Reforms committee;
d. Tenure of office shall begin at noon on the twenty-ninth (29th) day of June and will
end at noon of the same date after two (2) years.
Sec. 3. There shall be appointed members of the Grand Council by the Chairman and will hold
the same office term and CO-terminus as that of the elected officers of the Grand
Council. The appointed members are as follows:
1. Secretary-general
2. Chairman, Committee on Membership
3. Chairman, Committee on Finance
4. Chairman, Committee on Programs and Projects
5. Chairman, Committee on Publicity and Information
6. Chairman, Committee on Election and Reforms
7. Chairman, Constitutional Commission
Sec. 4. The Grand Council shall convene eight (8) regular sessions on the first year beginning on
the 29th day of June and ten (10) regular sessions on the second year. The tenth and
last regular session shall be held the day prior to the third Monday of June at the end of
the second year.
ARTICLE - X
ARTICLE - XI
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
ARTICLE - XII
Sec. 1. Grand Triskelion, shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Triskelion Organization and
shall have the general supervision of its affairs. He/she shall,
a. Preside at all meetings of the organization;
b. Be the chief enforcer of all provisions of the constitution all authority enacted under
his/her authority;
c. Authorize expenditure;
d. Prescribe duties to other officers and members;
e. Officially represents the fraternity's and sorority's chapter on all occasion which
warrant such representation;
f. Be an ex-officio member in the Grand Council Membership Committee and
Constitutional Commission;
g. Submits monthly status and progress reports to the Grand Council;
h. Performs other duties and functions as maybe assigned by the Grand Council.
Sec. 2. Deputy Grand Triskelion, shall serve as the personal secretary of the Grand
Triskelion. He/she shall perform the function and duties, and exercise the powers of the
Grand Triskelion in cases of absence or incapacity in the part of the later. He/she shall
perform other duties and functions as maybe assigned and directed by the Grand
Triskelion.
Sec. 3. Master Initiator, shall,
a. Be in charge in all stages of the rituals of initiation;
b. Guarantee the responsibility during the rituals of initiation;
c. Be a disciplinarian among fraternity/sorority members;
d. Must keep decorum in all fraternity/sorority meetings and during rituals of initiation;
e. Be an ex-officio member in the Grand Council Membership Committee;
f. Perform other duties and functions as maybe assigned by the Grand Council.
The position of the Master Initiator will be abolished under the new membership setup of
the Triskelion organization at the end of the first term of office. It shall be replaced with
a new committee body and position as may be determined by the Election and Reforms
Committee of the Grand Council.
Sec. 4. Scroll, shall handle all the official correspondence, filing all records and communications,
and the recording of all the proceedings of the Grand Council Committees and those of all
members, and all the business in general that comes before and disposed of by this
organization. The Scroll shall act as an ex-officio member of the Grand Council Publicity
& Information and Programs and Projects Committees. He/she shall perform such other
duties and function as maybe assigned and directed by the Grand Council and Grand
Triskelion.
Sec. 5. Chest, shall,
a. Have custody of the fraternity & sorority funds for any project expenditures and
business in general;
b. Keep an account of receipts and disbursement thereof;
c. Responsible of funds for keeping it in any way but that the fraternity/sorority may
direct;
d. Render to the Grand Triskelion whenever he/she may require so, an account of the
Triskelion Organization transactions and other duties as may pertain to his/her
position;
e. Be an ex-officio member in the Grand Council Finance Committee;
f. Perform other duties and functions as maybe assigned by the Grand Council.
Sec. 6. Auditor, shall examine the books of records of the organization at certain intervals, to
make sure that all transactions are in proper order. He/she shall check over bills,
payments, and receipts of the organization. Finally, he/she shall go over the accounts of
the Chest of the organization. He/she will be an ex-officio member of the Grand Council
Finance Committee and will perform other duties and functions as maybe assigned by the
Grand Council;
Sec. 7. Public Relations, shall be in charge of all external affairs pertaining to the fraternity's &
sorority's matter or duties assigned to him/her by the Grand Triskelion regarding
external organization image. He/she shall be the official spokesperson of the fraternity &
sorority in all official functions. He/she will be an ex-officio member of the Grand Council
Publicity and Information Committee.
ARTICLE - XIII
ARTICLE - XIV
ORGANIZATIONAL SET-UP
ELECTIONS
Sec. 1. Any bonafide member of the Triskelion Organization of the region of Leyte and Samar
can quality to any elective positions in the organization;
Sec. 2. There shall be an election of officers of the Grand Council and Executive branch on the
third Monday of June, Triskelion members who wants to run for any elected position in
the organization should:
a. Grand Council,
1. Register with the Committee on Election and Reforms, and write a formal letter of
candidacy addressed to the committee Chairman ninety (90) days prior to the
election date;
2. Must have the financial resources for the election exercise and during his/her
tenure in office;
3. In the Grand Council, the elected officers will be:
1. Chairman, and
2. Deputy Chairman
4. Be elected and serve a two (2) years tenure in office. Eligible for reelection and vie
for office up to two (2) terms or four (4) years in office;
5. Assume office beginning at noon on the twenty-ninth (29th) day of June and shall
end at noon of the same date after the second year.
b. Executive branch:
1. Regional office,
a. Register with the Committee on Election and Reforms, and write a formal letter
of candidacy addressed to the committee Chairman sixty (60) days prior to the
election date;
b. Must have the financial resources for the election exercise and during his/her
tenure in office;
c. In the Regional office, the elected officers will be:
1. Grand Triskelion
2. Deputy Grand Triskelion, and
3. Master Initiator
d. Be elected and serve a two (2) years tenure in office. Eligible for reelection
and vie for office up to two (2) terms or four (4) years in office;
e. Assume office beginning at noon on the twenty-ninth (29th) day of June and
shall end at noon of the same date after the second year.
2. Chapter offices,
a. Register with the Committee on Election and Reforms, and write a formal letter
of candidacy addressed to the committee Chairman thirty (30) days prior to
the election date;
b. Must have the financial resources for the election exercise and during his/her
tenure in office;
c. In the Chapter offices, the elected officers will be:
1. Grand Triskelion
2. Deputy Grand Triskelion, and
3. Master Initiator
d. Be elected and serve a one (1) year tenure in office. Eligible for reelection and
vie for office up to two (2) terms or two (2) years in office;
e. Assume office beginning at noon on the twenty-ninth (29th) day of June and
shall end at noon of the same date after the first year.
ARTICLE - XVI
RECALL, REMOVAL & SUSPENSION FROM OFFICE & VOLUNTARY WITHDRAWAL OF MEMBERSHIP
Sec. 1. Any officers of the organization may be recalled from office any time for loss of
confidence in him/her by the members or a petition by two-thirds of the registered
members;
Sec. 2. Any officers may be suspended or removed from office during his/her term on the
following grounds:
a. Absenteeism, dishonesty, neglect of duty, abandonment, and misconduct in office;
b. Soliciting for personal use of a fee, gift or other valuable things in the course of
his/her official duties;
c. Conduct prejudicial to the organization and improper practice of the Codes and
Conduct and Tenets of the organization.
Sec. 3. The Grand Council Committee on Election and Reforms shall conduct all preliminary
hearings regarding such removal of officers from office;
Sec. 4. Any Triskelion member who wish to get-out and distance themselves from the
organization should fill-out and sign a Affidavit of Voluntary Withdrawal of Membership
(form available from the Founding Members only) duly approved by the organization and
notarized by an independent public lawyer.
a. The ex-member who voluntarily withdraws his/her membership from the organization
shall be taken off the membership list nationwide;
b. The ex-member's right and freedom shall be respected by the organization and shall
not be harassed or intimidated by any Triskelion members;
c. The ex-member shall not issue or make any statements against the organization as
this is provided in the affidavit;
d. The ex-member's membership with the organization shall end when the affidavit has
been notarized and copies of the affidavit has been received by both parties;
e. The ex-member shall not be able to join the organization in the near future.
ARTICLE - XVII
MEETINGS
Sec. 1. On the fourth Monday in June of each year, the annual meeting of this organization shall
be held;
Sec. 2. Not more than two regular meetings shall be held every month, and power shall be
vested in the Grand Council Chairman to fix the date of such meetings;
Sec. 3. Upon the written request of fifty (50) members of this organization, or whenever deemed
desirable by the Grand Council, special meetings shall be called;
Sec. 4. Advisory and/or consultative meetings will be called by the Founding Member or
Organization Advisers on certain occasion and intervals.
ARTICLE - XVIII
ADVISERS
Sec. 1. The organization Advisers shall be appointed by the Grand Council Membership
committee with the concurrence of the Region and Chapters Grand Triskelion and the
Founding Members of the organization;
Sec. 2. The organization Advisers qualifications shall be:
a. A professor of a reputable school or university or a outstanding citizen within the
community and must be of good moral character and active in their respective faculty
or community organization;
b. A member of the religious order or organization and must be active in the service of
the church;
c. A private individual with good moral character and who occupies a good position in
work or a businessman;
d. At least 30 years of age, physically and mentally fit to render in a voluntary capacity
to guide and give advise to the organization.
Sec. 3. The organization Adviser shall be conferred honorary membership the Triskelion Order if
he/she has rendered services in the organization and shall be accorded with all the rights
and privileges as that of regular Triskelion members;
Sec. 4. The tenure of office on the organization Adviser is subject to the principle and guideline
that the Grand Council may direct;
Sec. 5. The organization Adviser shall only be granted honorary membership by the Founding
Members of Leyte and Samar as per recommendation of the Grand Council.
ARTICLE - XIX
AMENDMENTS
Sec. 1. Any amendments to, or revisions of this constitution may be proposed by any member of
the organization through the Grand Council Constitutional commission and upon a vote of
three-fourths of all its members;
Sec. 2. Any amendment to, or revision of this constitution shall be valid when ratified by a
majority of votes cast in a plebiscite called for the purpose, which shall be held not later
than two months after the approval of such amendment or revision.