The Bayanihan Spirit: Philippine Tradition, Culture and Heritage Highlighted

-By Sis Trixie Ela San Mateo, MDG, UPLB ’03

The Philippine contingent brought home the bacon! It was its 2nd year that the Filipino pride was showcased and applauded as it was awarded the Best Over-all Exhibit in this year’s Asian Festival. Held last August 4, 2009 in Reston, Virginia, the annual Festival’s Destination Asia exhibited collaborative masterpieces and displayed healthy competition between and among several Asian countries known to exist and co-exist. The effort and creativity of every participant brought life to the whole celebration.

Having the pride of the roots, the Philippine delegate, led by the partnership between Philippine Embassy and the Philippine American Foundation for Charities, Inc., made way to make it to the top. The collection of colorful exhibit materials, fruit carvings, costumes and native dances undoubtedly caught the attention of the organizers, judges, guests and other fellow Filipinos who witnessed this year’s event. It was indeed a joint success and effort by this partnership, together with the rest of the supporting organizations, namely, Paete Carvers Association, Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity and Tau Gamma Sigma Sorority of Mid-Atlantic Region, Barangay ng Sining Pilipino, Tanghalang Pilipino Angklung Ensemble,, UP Alumni Association of DC/MD/VA, College of the Holy Spirit Alumnae Association, World Bank Group-IMF Filipino Association (WBIFA) and Philippine American Metropolitan Washington Engineers (PAMWE), NaFFAA and Travel Outlet.

The demonstration of creative visual and kinetic skills and talents manifested a high regard of prominent Filipino customs.  Likewise, the unity through bayanihan encompasses the prominent value of Filipinos that highlights our identity as one and as a unified entity. Furthermore, the degree of unity overachieved the extent of each other’s diversity. By aiming for a common goal, hand in hand everyone worked to achieve the sought after success.

Triskelion Marines

 

UST Triskelions in Action!

On December 19, 2009 Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity and Tau Gamma Sigma Sorority
Alumni of UST or simply known as Thomasian Triskelions visited the Children of White Cross. 
An annual tradition that started in the late 70s
Thomasian Triskelions gave entertainment to the kids by having various games and with the participation of party clowns. 
During the flow of program designed for the outreach, special meal were prepared for the children, while the clowns performed their presentation.
The children with their eyes glowing in happiness liked the face paint and the balloons prepared by to them by clowns.After the program of the Triskelion Alumni of UST (TAU), the equipments of sound system and DVD player were donated and hand down to Ms. Mely Reluya White Cross Executive Director for future use.White Cross is a non-profit organization dedicated to caring for abandoned and neglected children ages 0-6.  Established in 1936, the organization has 85 kids to date under their care and 280 being educated at the daycare.Thomasian Triskelions again demonstrated leadership in service on this worthy endeavor, Riyadh 5 and La Pacita Biscuits are partners on this service project.

LETRAN TRISKELIONS - Arriba Letran Triskelions!

CARITAS MANILA is the lead Catholic agency for social services and development in the Archdiocese of Manila and a lead provider of technical assistance to social service and development ministries in the five other Metro Manila dioceses. The CSJL Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity and Tau Gamma Sigma Sorority donated several boxes of clothing and goods to the needy people of City of Manila.

The service is a joint effort between the Letran Triskelions and Triskelions of Southern California. Letran College is for Cradle of Heroes, Presidents and Saints... Home of Great Men!,  Arriba Letran Triskelions !

 

 

SILIMAN UNIVERSITY TRISKELIONS

Founders Day at Silliman University (SU) is the time when alumni from different parts of the globe are reunited on the campus by the sea that remains home to them. This is the best time for students to get a glimpse of true Silliman spirit – the natural bond that draws one Sillimanian to another.

Silliman celebrates its 108th Founders Day on August 2009, with the theme “Living Justice, Mercy and Humility with God.” This year’s celebration is a reaffirmation of the institutional commitment of the University to develop with in its students not just competence and character but more importantly faith. The SU Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity and Tau Gamma Sigma, voted and ranked 4 of 10 most outstanding organizations in the whole university. In Strength, Freewill, Brotherhood and Sisterhood, we remain.  

FEU AND UST TRISKELIONS - Civil Servants of the Community

Brothers and sisters bonded by courage and volunteerism are always at service. The FEU and UST  Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity and Tau Gamma Sigma Sorority promptly responded to the call of duty to help out their fellow kababayans who were solely affected by the natural disasters of Ondoy and Pepeng that hit the country just recently and the welfare of fellowmen comes first.

The Triskelions consolidated their time and effort given by its volunteer members, Through Kapuso Foundation, GMA 7 Network as selected media partner on this effort, their little help were able to reach the affected kababayans who need this help most. Becoming “Good Samaritans” in their own simple way make their little help a huge advantage to our fellow Filipinos in the Philippines. And this little offering could be the least thing they could do but the best goal they could achieve in the name of service and brotherhood.

LADY TRISKELIONS

Four decades and one make up the strength of our well embraced sisterhood. Autonomously we strive to make it this far. we conquer the odds to make it to the top. And at the end of the road, what matters most is that we are one. We continuously perform exceptional in the Triskelion and real world. Our community dedication uplift the spirit of Lady Triskelions. With pride and diligence, together we surpass. As upholders of excellence and devotees of the sisterhood bounded by genuine principles, WE ARE ONE. Triskelions' Grand Sorority, forty one years of distinguished sisterhood, with unity, and always in service

 

UP DILIMAN TRISKELIONS

Young Triskelions, In Action!

UP Diliman fraternity brothers participated at the Gawad Kalinga’s “Frat War: From rumbles to rubble"  Tau Gamma Phi fraternity brothers posed as contingents of voluntary deed for fellowmen.

 

 

 

 

A participant Triskelion of  UP Gawad Kalinga (GK) wearing the activity shirt for GK’s “Frat War”. Featured on shirt are the participating fraternities from University of the Philippines Diliman campus.

 

 

XAVIER UNIVERSITY-CAGAYAN TRISKELIONS

Tau Gamma Phi brothers and Tau Gamma Sigma sister of Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan with their fraternity and sorority jackets on. Seal and Greek letters identify that they belong to the supreme fraternity and sorority.

 

 

 

 

UP LOS BAÑOS TRISKELIONS

UPLB Triskelions’ Grand Fraternity and Sorority Residents and Alumni on UPLB’s 91st Annual Loyalty Day at the Freedom Park (Baker Field) - UPLB’s Centennial Year (October 2009).  Loyalty Day is the best time to meet and greet fellow “Iskolar ng Bayan”; a successfully done tradition being held annually with the goal of reuniting all fellow alumni, with the participation of faculty and students. Fraternities, Sororities and Organizations mass up to parade with their banners. Respective organizations are recognized as they march down the D.L. Umali Hall, with their banners, being acknowledged and applauded by the Administration, fellow students and alumni, faculty and staff.

 

 

UPLB Tau Gamma Sigma on their Silver Anniversary – Open Tambayan during Anniversary Week, August 2009. An annual tradition of feast, sponsored by the collaboration of Triskelions’ Grand Fraternity and Triskelions’ Grand Sorority as part of their anniversary celebration. Usually carried out on a Thursday of the week, followed by the exclusive get together of the residents and some meeting up with the alumni and alumna afterwards. Open Tambayan is a tradition done before the Grand Alumni Homecoming, done usually to close the celebration among the residents of the fraternity and sorority.

 

 

 

CATANDUANES TRISKELIONS

Catanduanes State Colleges (CSC) organized a Belen Making Contest, featuring the creativity of the participating recognized fraternities and sororities. The main goals of the activity were to display creativity, foster unity and instill environmental consciousness among the fraternities and sororities of CSC. Giving pride and great example to fellow Triskelions, especially those on collegiate domains, our Tau Gamma Phi and Tau Gamma Sigma contingent was able to be highly recognized and be awarded by a consolation prize.

 

 

 

UAE TRISKELIONS

Embarks on a noble mission:

The Triskelions, being a recognized Filipino Community organization in the United Arab Emirates, continuously aim to bring a little smile in the face of turmoil in the lives of our fellow Filipino OFW’s here in this part of the world.Triskelion International- UAE has sent distressed OFW with the most touching case being the recipient of our modest assistance from a selection of three individuals.

Ms. Alicia Cao Reyes,  the second to be sent home when the Tau Gamma Phi - UAE began this noble mission since 2007. She is a typical sole breadwinner who was forced to try her fortunes abroad. However, not everyone seems to be fortunate enough to find their luck somewhere else. She ended up staying for a couple of months in the compound of POLO OWWA here in Dubai when she ran away from work because of the maltreatment she had undergone in the hands of her hostile employer. To add woes in her ordeal, she was not even paid her salary for  5 months making life difficult not just for her, but to her family as well. Suddenly, all she ever wanted was to be reunited with her children and face life’s tough challenges at least… together.

As noble Triskelions, we feel it is our moral obligation to extend a helping hand to our distressed kababayans  in our own little way. Triskelions' Grand Fraternity, a brotherhood of civil servants to the Filipino community, ready to serve at anytime.

KUWAIT TRISKELIONS

The Triskelion International-Kuwait is a non-profit, non-government organization with the objective of consolidating all Triskelions in the State of Kuwait to join hands for the fulfillment of the Triskelion Supremacy around the world and contributing to the efforts of our Tau Gamma Phi fraternity and Tau Gamma Sigma sorority to stand proud wherever in the world we find our place while healing negative impressions brought about by the past. This is also an effort of helping our country regain its respectable rank among nations of higher standards and development through the spirit of “Man is Brother Unto Man” encouraging Overseas Filipinos to be more generously cooperative and open to fellow Filipinos even more to other nationalities and to become more serious on the field of Information Technology together through a triad of principles basic to the entire Libreng Aral for OFW program: (1)computer education, (2)motivational activities, and (3)fraternal involvement in computer learning while reaching out to people of all ages in different sectors of the society especially churches, schools, Filipino community centers, clubs, migrant labor camps, hospitals and health clinics.

The primary objectives of the Libreng Aral program is: (1) to provide materials and computer resources for the free tutorials and hand-on training of the participants, (2) to incline or motivate fellow Filipinos to the field of Information Technology (IT) and to generate community support for computer literacy.

BAHRAIN TRISKELIONS

Musik Pasiklaban - A charity concert

By: Abby Aquino, UPLB '02 -TIKOB '09

An all-Filipino band charity concert was successfully held recently at the Ramada Place Hotel in Gudaibiya.

The charity endeavor, dubbed as “Musik Pasiklaban”, was organized by the Tau Gamma Phi and Tau Gamma Sigma of Triskelion International Kingdom of Bahrain (TIKOB) Council and was fully supported by the Philippine Embassy.

Five Pinoy bands took part in the day-long activity, namely - The Amatz, In Yo Face, Love Child, First Element Band, and Crazy Knot.

The audience – which was a mix crowd of Filipinos and guests of other nationalities - clapped, cheered, danced, and waxed nostalgic as each of the bands took turns in dishing out numbers that brought the house down.

Beyond providing good music and promoting camaraderie, Musik Pasiklaban’s primary objective is to augment the remaining funds in completing Gawad Kalinga’s “2nd Bahrain Village ” – a housing project for the poor located in Tarlac , Philippines.