NMI Triskelions celebrate TGP’s golden year

Philippine honorary consul to the CNMI Glicerio Arago, standing back center, joins some of the members of the NMI Council of the Triskelions’ Grand Fraternity during their 50th anniversary celebration last week at Club C. (Contributed Photo)

The Northern Mariana Islands Council joined their fellow brothers and sisters around the world in celebrating the 50th founding anniversary of the Tau Gamma Phi or the Triskelions’ Grand Fraternity last Thursday, Oct. 4, at Club C.

Close to 30 members of the NMI Council, including those from their counterparts from Tau Gamma Sigma or Triskelion’s Grand Sorority, attended the celebration that had Philippine honorary consul to the CNMI Glicerio Arago as guest of honor.

Arago, in his short message, said that he too was a member of the Upsilon Sigma Rho fraternity while studying at the University of the East in Manila, Philippines.

“The most important is the brotherhood. It is a very exciting experience to be part of any association, not only in a fraternity, because you get to meet a lot of people and also help one another,” said Arago.

“You also stand for the objective of the organization. “The [Tau Gamma Phi] has become a very strong organization. I wish you all the best and also ask you to help us promote the welfare of our kababayans [fellow Filipinos].”

It was a night of fun and laughter as members enjoyed parlor games and the company of each other. A video of the Triskelions’ grand celebration at the Rizal Park in Manila, where thousands of brothers and sisters attended, was also shown.

The Triskelion’s Grand Fraternity/Sorority has also entered the Guinness World Record in forming the world’s largest human seal. More than 25,000 members participated in the record-breaking feat that was also held last Thursday.

The NMI Council chapter was officially formed on Jan. 27, 2007 on Saipan and was later incorporated under the CNMI Office of Registrar of Corporation as a non-governmental organization.

Erick Dizon and Edwin Orejola helped form the council after learning that there are a number of brothers and sisters in the CNMI through a daily Filipino music program where Triskelions’ listeners frequently greet each other.

The first gathering was during relief efforts for victims of Typhoon Reming (Durian) in Bicol in November 2006.

Since then, they became involved in various community projects like in the annual Lenten trek up Mt. Tapochau and had been present in various United Filipino Organization events.

Four student leaders—Rod Confessor, Roy Ordinario, Talek Pablo, and Tito Venida—from the University of the Philippines College of Arts and Sciences founded the Triskelion Grand Fraternity on Oct. 4, 1968. The Triskelion Grand Sorority followed three months after on Jan. 17, 1968.

From there, it branched out to other groups—the U.P. Triskelions Alumni Inc., Triskelion Youth Movement, Triskelion Alumni Organization, and professionals in the law, judiciary, paralegals, medicine, business, information technology, computer engineers, technicians, business process outsourcing, government armed services, seafarers, and teachers.

Philippine chapters can be found in colleges, universities, and community-based organizations. Chapters were also established in 30 other countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Spain, United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, Norway, and the Pacific Island in Vanuatu and Guam. (PR)